Disaster season will shape the Blackhawks into a youth movement this summer

Here’s the problem with the Blackhawks: They’re a young team infused with veterans who are mainly past their respective primes, minus a few outliers. It’s one reason their 2024-25 season ended in disaster.

Players like Connor Bedard, Joe Veleno, Artyom Levshunov, Alex Vlasic, and Frank Nazar, to name a handful, comprise an intriguing core along with goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom. 

But players like Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Ilya Mikheyev, and Connor Murphy are either too old, too bland, or a combo, and probably won’t be around when the Hawks finally set this rebuild straight. Okay, Bertuzzi and Teravainen I’ll give the benefit of a doubt to because they’re signed a little longer, but that’s about it.

Ryan Donato might be the only outlier here, and it’s why I’d love to see the Hawks extend him immediately. If they can extend Donato, then it’ll give them a seasoned veteran who has another three or four productive seasons left in the tank while a few more assets develop in the lower leagues. 

Blackhawks youth movement will extend into the summer, guaranteed

I understand guys like Nick Foligno and Ilya Mikheyev can still play, but part of me would rather see the Hawks trade them away. Foligno has no trade protections while Mikheyev has a 12-team no-trade list. Now, this statement comes with an asterisk, so avoid criticizing me for this take until you hear me out. 

I would only justify this if the Hawks end up getting a good return for young players who are either ready to make the leap into the NHL, OR are already playing with their respective big clubs, but may not see so much ice time because of a major influx of talent at the top. That could make them excellent trade bait in a package for someone like Foligno or Mikheyev. 

My reasoning? If the Hawks can’t win with an influx of youngsters and veterans, then why even bother? Get the kids playing alongside one another in 2025-26, along with a decent coach capable of developing young players, and get this rebuild right. 

The Hawks aren’t winning too many games with Foligno, nor are they winning much with Mikheyev, so why are they in town? Neither player will warrant a ransom, but for a team desperate to make a deep playoff run next season? Oh, they’ll get some decent talent. 

Youth movement has already arrived, but there will be more to come

Other players I wouldn’t see moving on would be Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie. Pat Maroon’s already called it quits, and Shea Weber will never suit up for the team as the Hawks are just the latest recipients of his contract, in case you were wondering why he’s listed on the team over at Puck Pedia.

Still, looking up and down the team’s current roster, unless I missed a name, moving on from players like Connor Murphy, Martinez, Brodie, Foligno, and Mikheyev, it’ll leave Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen as the oldest players there. Oh, and before I forget, I also wouldn’t expect Laurent Brossoit to ever man the crease in Chicago. 

Expect the Hawks to move a few of those names listed above, even if it’s unrealistic that they’ll move all of them. But still, moving on from just a couple of those aforementioned names, look for general manager Kyle Davidson to replace them with much younger talent. It would probably work better for their rebuild.