Former Chicago Blackhawks are making major impacts already in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to watch their former players thrive in the playoffs.

It is one of the downsides of going through a rebuild. In some cases, you would love to have some of these former players back.

A player like Brandon Hagel had to go in the name of tanking for Connor Bedard and getting more draft picks to build a contending team around the phenom.

In the case of Phillip Danault, he was traded as the organization was still trying to win the Stanley Cup. His leaving the organization represents why the team had to rebuild in the first place, as the front office kept trading away young players because the head coach at the time, Joel Quenneville, always wanted gritty veterans.

All he has done is gone on to be one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.

He scored the game-winning goal for the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first round series against Edmonton.

Danault was not the only former Blackhawk player to score a game-winning goal.

Max Domi called game for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their Game 2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

Colin Blackwell also scored the game-winner for Dallas.

A lot of former Blackhawks made their impact felt in the early goings of the Stanley Cup Playoffs opening round.

Now, you could wonder why the Hawks would allow so much talent to leave. In the case of Danault, it was a lack of trusting a young player carving out a vital role that championship teams need.

Domi was a short-term veteran brought into be traded for a draft pick at the deadline in 2023 which the Hawks did get when he was sent to Dallas.

Strome was misused by the coaching staff that replaced Quenneville and was allowed to bolt in free agency.

Anthony Beauvillier did not work out last season during his brief time in Chicago.

It would be great to still have Hagel with the Blackhawks, especially since Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk did not work out. However, the Hawks did use one of the draft picks in that shocking trade to Tampa to take Oliver Moore, who has the potential to be a top-line player for years to come.

Still, it would be nice to see actual Blackhawks players doing damage in the playoffs wearing a Blackhawks sweater.