It certainly hasn’t progressed as soon as I thought it would. When the Blackhawks drafted Connor Bedard before the 2023-2024 season, I was excited; I don’t think Connor has necessarily done anything to tell me I shouldn’t have been excited. In fact, I think he’s been just fine. He’s a young player; he’s still learning, but the talent is there; is it generational talent like we all thought it would be? Time will tell. Of course, after we got him, I was ready for the playoffs, instantly; maybe this was an unfair expectation. One guy cannot turn a franchise around that quick, right? Michael Jordan did, but… bad example. For the Blackhawks, the turn around has been slow. This year looks to end a lot like last year, at the bottom of the NHL standings. When CAN we expect playoffs?
OK, so year 1 with CB didn’t result in the postseason; surely year 2 would. Maybe this was still an unfair expectation? When will I be unable to use that excuse any longer? The Blackhawks just lost their 4th game in a row on Tuesday night in Utah; they’re no strangers to losing streaks. We’ve had streaks of 5, 4, 4, 5, and now again, 4; this isn’t getting any better. In fact, it feels like we’re running in place, or should I say “skating” in place? A quick look at the standings shows the Hawks as the 2nd worst team in the NHL; thanks San Jose for holding down the worst spot. In fact, rewind to last year, and the same two teams finished in the same two positions. The Sharks don’t have Bedard; we do. What gives?
What gives, on the bright side of things, are more high draft picks. Last year with the 2nd overall selection, the Blackhawks selected Artyom Levshunov; what’s up with him? He’s played 47 games in Rockford, got 21 points with a -4 rating. I’m not sure if those are the stats we go by nowadays in the NHL, but… he’s only 19. You do know Bedard is only 19 too right? One of our first round picks from the year before Bedard, Frank Nazar, is up playing with the big boys; he’s one of the older young guns at 21 years old… This year, unless the Hawks go on a miraculous run, they will get another top pick. Doubling, tripling up on the high draft picks has to yield some results, eventually… It’s nice to have the high picks; it’s even nicer to win. When will that be again?
Maybe I should have titled this blog “patience”; this is what Hawks’ fans have to have. Surely thought we’d be better than 2nd worse in the league this year, but… if we ain’t winning it all, getting high draft picks is a nice consolation prize. Still, next year… we’re going to make strides, right? Playoffs? I don’t even know what my expectations should be; maybe we’ll have a better idea between now and the start of next season? I guess all I have left is patience; I hope Bedard has it too.
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