This is not another lost season for the Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are struggling. They are playing poorly, getting outplayed, do not have the best lineup in the NHL, and might be better served with another year in the draft lottery. All that considered, this is still not another lost year.

Ever since the rude awakening in 2017 when the Blackhawks got swept by the Predators, this team has been scared and not the same. While yes, they made the playoffs last summer that was partly because of all the changes going on.

This team might still not be the best in the league, but they have the pieces now to help make that next franchise. The next round of Stanley Cup champions might be on the ice, be it in five or ten years after players progress and age a little more.

The point is, this Blackhawks roster has seen a lot of progress, and while the success is not showing against Tampa Bay, Carolina, or Florida, it might show more next season.

The Blackhawks’ great February now seems a little pointless, but April can fix everything that happened in March.

All the Blackhawks need to do is get back in the win column. I do not care how many goals are scored or if it is a game the team steals, get a win. The ‘Hawks have struggled mightily this season, holding leads and ending games in regulation, and as long as they get a win in the next few games, I do not care how it happens.

This season is not about just winning and losing. I am a fan, I get it; watching the Blackhawks lose games by four or five stinks, and it can make your blood boil, but at the same time, seeing the little things change within this franchise pay off in the long run.

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Alex DeBrincat scored the Blackhawks only goal last night. Connor Murphy was a vocal point during the game, making defensive stops and keeping the puck going in the right direction. It amazes me how far Murphy has come with this team in the past few years, and I can not wait to see where he will be in a few more years.

Honestly, Murphy is the Blackhawks’ top guy on defense. Other teams know they need to get him off his game to succeed, and that is why teams like Tampa Bay want to fight him to get him in the penalty box and off the ice for five minutes.

Another defenseman who stepped up is Adam Boqvist. During the first period, there was a good sequence for the Blackhawks where they held the puck for a minute or two in the offensive zone, applying pressure and getting shots on goal. It did not end with a goal, but it was fun to watch.

While Kane and DeBrincat were on the ice during that drive, I believe that Boqvist was the driving force. Seeing these young and up-and-coming players step into the Hawks lineup is super fun. Everyone does show different signs of greatness and can help change the trajectory of this franchise for the better.

Yes, March has been bad for this team. They have not won consecutive games in a row in a long time, and they are currently on a four-game losing streak, but at the end of the day, this team has already beaten a lot of odds, being as good as they were earlier this season. Sure, they are experiencing a down-to-earth movement, but maybe it will all end with them turning it around and doing better again!

Chicago has a game at home against Florida on Tuesday. As the fifth team now in the Central, Chicago could really use a comeback victory to try and bump Columbus back out of the playoffs/

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