New Year, New Blackhawks Roster Ideals
A look into the team's wishes for the New Year and getting Connor Bedard roster help
Welcome to the THW Chicago Blackhawks Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Blackhawks writers.
In today’s edition, we look at the Blackhawks’ New Year’s Resolutions and examine how the roster around Connor Bedard can be improved moving forward.
It would be great if you’d share the THW Blackhawks Substack with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
Now, onto the good stuff…
Blackhawks Roster Not Talented Enough for Connor Bedard’s Skills
January 1, 2024 by Hunter Crowther
As we discard the 2023 calendar and open up the one for 2024, unofficially the halfway point of the 2023-24 regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks have faced a considerable amount of uncertainty. But within the bewilderment that’s fallen on this Blackhawks squad, both on and off the ice, there has been one sure thing: Connor Bedard.
The 2023 first-overall pick, the latest version of hockey’s “Next One,” has come into the league with no fear, playing on the first line for each of the Blackhawks’ 36 games (as of Jan. 1), scoring 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points. Bedard, just 18 years old, is 11 points ahead of second-place Philipp Kurashev, and three goals ahead of second-place Jason Dickinson.
But just how good is he really? And are the Blackhawks and general manager Kyle Davidson doing everything they can to surround this generational talent with enough skill to succeed?
Chicago Blackhawks’ New Year’s Resolutions for 2024
January 1, 2024 by Gail Kauchak
The Chicago Blackhawks finished out their first 36 games of the 2023-24 season and marked the end of 2023 with a record of 11-23-2, which is good for 31st in the league. Yes, only the San Jose Sharks are below them in the standings. But this was somewhat expected for this rebuilding team. Even with the addition of the 2023 No. 1 draft pick Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks’ goal is not so much to win this season as it is to foster development and instill a positive culture.
That said, every team wants to get better as they go along. While 36 games are in the books, 46 more matchups remain in the 2023-24 campaign. Here’s a look at some resolutions for the Blackhawks as they enter 2024.