Blackhawks show improvement at the midpoint of the season

After a very good start to the year for the Chicago Blackhawks, they have shown signs of regression following the injuries to Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. Even with the team going through a five and six-game losing streak, they have shown considerable improvements in their point totals over the last three years. There have been several reasons for this growth, but the major factors include coaching, Bedard's rise to superstardom, and the arrival of top prospects.

More Points in 2025

The Blackhawks’ record has shown significant improvement this season, with the team earning more points at the halfway mark than in any of the previous three years of the rebuild.

2025-2026: 16-18-7 – 39 points
2024-2025: 14-25-2 – 30 points
2023-2024: 12-27-2 – 26 points
2022-2023: 11-26-4 – 26 points

Even if the wins have not come as consistently, the eye test has shown that the Blackhawks have competed and have been competitive in almost every game so far this season. If they turned some of those overtime losses into wins, they would be in a position to tie for a wild card.

Coaching and Consistency

Perhaps the biggest reason for the Blackhawks first half improvement this year is directly due to head coach, Jeff Blashill. The players, both veterans and rookies, have bought into his system and his coaching methods. This has been a far cry from the last couple of seasons with Luke Richardson and Anders Sorensen. The difference was seen from the first day of training camp when Blashill was skating the team hard and demanding effort on every occasion.

Perhaps one of the biggest benefactors from the arrival of Blashill is Tyler Bertuzzi. He once skated under Blashill in Detroit, and the two had a good relationship that has translated to Chicago. Bertuzzi entered the second half of the season tied with Bedard in goals and second on the team in points. The consistency of Blashill’s coaching has remained evident even after Bedard’s injury, as the team has stepped up in recent games in ways we would not have seen in years past.

Emergence of Superstar Bedard

Bedard has, on multiple occasions, carried this team to victories and has taken gigantic steps in his game, particularly defensively. He has 44 points in just 31 games so far this season, surpassing last year's totals when he scored 26 points in his first 31 games. In the offseason, we heard about him working on his skating, and that has shown on the ice with his straight-line speed. According to NHL EDGE tracking data, Bedard has recorded 70 “20 or more miles per hour speed bursts” so far this season. That places him in the 97th percentile among NHL forwards in that category.

Even with Bedard showcasing himself as one of the game's best players this season, he was left off of Canada's Olympic roster. This can only give him more motivation as the team heads into the second half of the season. Bedard has shown growth on almost every metric there is which is another reason for the Blackhawks increased point total.

Youth Movement

Defenseman Artyom Levshunov has essentially replaced TJ Brodie on the roster, and that by itself has offered more skill and points along the blue line. The confidence Levshunov has shown recently is characteristic of the league’s elite defensemen. Goaltender Spencer Knight, playing on this team instead of Petr Mrazek, has improved this team's record.

Many younger forwards have played more games for the Blackhawks this year, who have given the team a boost of energy. Ryan Greene, Nick Lardis, and Oliver Moore have given this team the much-needed speed. The points might not be there for these players yet, but they have given the team the speed that it has so desperately lacked. Super prospects, Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov, will also be available at the end of the year for this team to play spoiler.

With the Blackhawks playing much better and Bedard and Nazar set to return in a few weeks, it gives the fans hope for the future. And if you are crazy enough, perhaps a playoff berth this season, as the team is within arm's reach of a wild card position