Blackhawks: Five Players That Need To Step Up Next Season

2. Dylan Strome

Dylan Strome is an interesting player. On paper, he should be one of the main pieces within this organization, but it already seems like the team has moved on from him. The Blackhawks need Strome to be better than what they have gotten as of late. Whether that means playing him in a new role consistently or giving him new linemates next season.

Strome very well could be traded this off-season or next year. Any other team probably would get more out of him and it just seems like he isn’t working with Jeremy Colliton and the current system.

Strome has talent, and if he cannot use it in Chicago the team will be wise to trade him for some type of return.

3. Pius Suter

Pius Suter is reliable, and he quietly became one of the team’s leaders. Now all this Blackhawk needs is a contract for next season. Suter was fourth on the team in points. During his rookie season, he played great and his game really translated over to the NHL well.

The Hawks did not know when the season began if Suter would be as successful as Kubalik. I would argue he was even more successful just in a different way. Suter was one of the top faceoff takers for the team, he played critical minutes throughout every game for the Hawks and he was someone that Coach Colliton trusted with anyone on the ice.

Next season the Blackhawks’ top two centers will be Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews should he be back healthy and ready to go, but right behind them would be Suter. Suter scored goals in any way possible and is someone that can make the bottom six better. I cannot wait to see what he can do during a full 82 game season, again assuming he gets a contract.