Blackhawks' rout of Blues could be harbinger of good times

The Chicago Blackhawks won a tough road game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night. But they didn’t just win the game. The club destroyed the opposition.

The 8-3 victory was more than a decisive one; it was the sort of performance Blackhawks fans have been waiting for in a long time.

Lukas Reichel had a big night, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Alex Vlasic had two assists, while Ryan Greene got his first NHL goal.

Then, there was Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. If anyone had any doubts about the Blackhawks signing Nazar to that extension, those doubts may be dissipating by now. The goal Nazar scored, and the ensuing brouhaha, was proof of the raw power and talent Nazar brings to the table.

As for Bedard, he had three assists on the night. Bedard is slowly morphing into a solid all-around player. He’s gone from the sort of raw skillset and talent that comes from prodigious but unpolished players to the sort of high-end performance that emerges from players who hone their craft with time and dedication.

Of course, the contributions for all other veterans must not go unnoticed. The strong performance across the board could be a harbinger of good times for Blackhawks fans. The club could be turning a corner, with all those tough years finally coming to fruition.

Blackhawks may actually exceed expectations this season

Following the win, the Blackhawks improved to 2-2-1 on the season. That’s actually much better than most analysts could have predicted. If the Hawks were 0-5, no one would be surprised.

But the fact that Chicago is now at .500 signals that the club is playing much better than anticipated. Part of that turnaround had to do with Jeff Blashill’s influence on the club. The team has played with a renewed sense of structure and purpose.

Perhaps previous coaches like Luke Richardson felt like nothing more than placeholders. But Blashill, by the looks of things, has entered the frame with the intent of turning the still rebuilding Blackhawks into a winner.

It might be too soon to declare the rebuild over in Chicago. But judging from the way rebuilds have turned out in other Original Six markets like Detroit and Montreal, the Blackhawks could be the next club to parlay draft picks and prospects into a winning core.

With high-end talent like Bedard, Vlasic, and Nazar, among others, the sky could be the limit for the young, up-and-coming Blackhawks squad.