Freefalling Chicago has a .282 winning percentage entering Tuesday's game at Arizona. Only four Blackhawks teams have finished worse in the Original Six franchise's previous 97 seasons.
Even with injuries and lousy luck, the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks weren't supposed to be this bad.
Heading into Tuesday's game at Arizona, Chicago was 15-42-5 with an NHL-worst 35 points. The Blackhawks had lost seven straight overall and a team-record 22 on the road. They hadn't won away from the United Center since Nov. 9, 2023, when Connor Bedard had two goals and two assists in his first NHL multipoint game to power a 5-3 victory over the Lightning at Tampa Bay.
The freefalling Blackhawks were 1-12-3 in their last 16 when the puck dropped against the Coyotes at Mullett Arena. The lone win was on Feb. 17, 3-2 over Ottawa.
The Numbing Numbers
Chicago's winning percentage – based on points earned versus possible points – was .282. Only four Blackhawks teams have posted worse marks in the Original Six franchise's previous 97 seasons.
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Even Bedard is struggling as he still learns the ropes of the NHL on a thin team that has been further depleted by injuries. The industrious 2023 top draft pick has been digging hard enough and getting chances, but not finishing against tougher NHL goalies and opponents.
The 18-year-old had two goals and six points in his first three games back after returning on Feb. 15 from a broken jaw. In his last six contests, Bedard has just two assists and is a minus-10 while taking 14 shots on goal.
Bedard's minus-34 is second worst in the NHL. Linemate Philipp Kurashev is a minus-35 on a Blackhawks team that has scored a league-low 125 goals while allowing 223.
Chicago has been disjointed as a group, top defenseman Seth Jones said after a 5-0 loss Monday to Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. See video and story in following links.
Lousy Luck, Lots of Injures
Only one Blackhawks player, center Jason Dickinson, has appeared in all 62 games this season. Dickinson, who signed a two-year contract extension in January, is a plus-2 on a team with a minus-98 goal differential. His frequent linemate, Joey Anderson, is a team-best plus-4. See story in link.
Former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall was lost for the season with right ACL surgery after getting hurt in the game at Tampa. Andreas Athanasiou, one of Chicago's two 20-goal scorers last season, has been out with a groin/core injury since that night.
Forwards Tyler Johnson, Anthony Beauvillier and Nick Foligno have been out for long stretches. Foligno, the team's de facto captain, has tried to keep the Blackhawks "playing the right way" to "build a winning culture," but there's only so much the 36-year-old son of former NHLer Mike Foligno can do.
Veteran defenseman Connor Murphy been sidelined since Jan. 13 with a groin/core condition. Jones, who leads the team with 25:48 of ice time per game, missed 15 games with a shoulder injury. Rugged D-man Jarred Tinordi has been in-and-out with assorted conditions.
Not Just Injuries to Blame
Forward Lukas Reichel, the team's No. 2 forward prospect behind Bedard, fizzled completely with confidence and consistency issues and was sent to AHL Rockford last month. Winger Taylor Raddysh, the Blackhawks other returning 20-goal man last year, hasn't scored since Dec. 14.
Corey Perry was cut on Nov. 28 after violating team policies. There's no wiggle room on the Blackhawks for HR slip-ups in the wake of the Brad Aldrich sexual assault cover-up and ensuing lawsuits.
The good news: The Blackhawks odds of winning the 2024 NHL Draft lottery were 25.5%. They'd take center Macklin Celebrini, who has had sensational season as 17-year-old Boston University freshman with 26 goals and 22 assists in 30 games. Like Bedard, Celebrini is from the Vancouver area and would nicely bookend the 2023 top draft pick.