Chicago Blackhawks 2025-2026

#352      
bdutts
Forward help is not far away.

I don’t really like Lardis on the 4th line but there aren’t really any other options for him in the middle six.
 
#362      
bdutts
Second worst in the league right now. They'll get a good player in this draft. If aren't close to the playoffs in 2026-2027, well, they'll have some tough decisions to make.
 
#363      
Mr. Roberts
bdutts said:
Second worst in the league right now. They'll get a good player in this draft. If aren't close to the playoffs in 2026-2027, well, they'll have some tough decisions to make.
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We are in about year 8 of the rebuild. I think the tough decision point has come and gone. The Blackhawks are now just like the Bulls, filling the arena because of past glory. As long as the UC is full, nothing will change.
 
#364      
bdutts
Mr. Roberts said:
We are in about year 8 of the rebuild. I think the tough decision point has come and gone. The Blackhawks are now just like the Bulls, filling the arena because of past glory. As long as the UC is full, nothing will change.
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I would contend that the rebuild started in 2021 when he took over from Bowman. Stan tried to piecemeal a contending team together but they never really committed to blowing it up. In the offseason before the 2022-2023 year is when they traded DeBrincat, Dach, Hagel and traded Kane midseason - and didn’t resign Toews. And hired Richardson.

Davidson is in his fourth full year running the team. If they don’t get near the playoffs after next year, Davidson’s 5th, he may be out the door.
 
#365      
Joel Goodson
Mr. Roberts said:
We are in about year 8 of the rebuild. I think the tough decision point has come and gone. The Blackhawks are now just like the Bulls, filling the arena because of past glory. As long as the UC is full, nothing will change.
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Bowman left 8 years ago? who knew?
 
#367      
Illiniaaron
There is a lot of parity in the league this year so being #2 from the bottom isn't quite as bad as previous seasons but still not good. I don't see how they contend for a playoff spot next season unless they add significant free agents that can help NOW. Just waiting for the young guys already there to develop and the few that will be added next season as rookies isn't going to get it done. After the '23-'24 season Davidson said it was no longer acceptable to be bottom three in the league moving forward and unfortunately that's exactly what has happened.
 
#368      
Joel Goodson
Illiniaaron said:
There is a lot of parity in the league this year so being #2 from the bottom isn't quite as bad as previous seasons but still not good. I don't see how they contend for a playoff spot next season unless they add significant free agents that can help NOW. Just waiting for the young guys already there to develop and the few that will be added next season as rookies isn't going to get it done. After the '23-'24 season Davidson said it was no longer acceptable to be bottom three in the league moving forward and unfortunately that's exactly what has happened.
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you do realize the free agent landscape has changed dramatically with the rapidly rising salary cap, right? the quality of the crop is WAY watered down from just a few years ago. I don't disagree that KFC has to make a big move (or two), but that's gonna need to be via trades. take Toronto's Knies, for example
 
#370      
Illiniaaron
Joel Goodson said:
you do realize the free agent landscape has changed dramatically with the rapidly rising salary cap, right? the quality of the crop is WAY watered down from just a few years ago. I don't disagree that KFC has to make a big move (or two), but that's gonna need to be via trades. take Toronto's Knies, for example
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I should have included trades in my post but the point stands that if they want to contend for a playoff spot next season, they need to add some significant veteran help.
 
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