The Positives from the 25-26 Blackhawks Season

The 2025-2026 Chicago Blackhawks season was another trying campaign when it came to winning games, as the team finished the year with a 29-39-14 record with 72 points, as the club once again found itself out of a playoff spot near the bottom of the standings.

It is easy to be negative after the disappointing way the year ended for Chicago. Nevertheless, the group saw modest improvement in play compared to recent Blackhawks seasons. This latest season showed signs of promise and more positive takeaways than past basement-dweller years.

Here are some of the main positives from this Blackhawks season to look back on.

Connor Bedard's progression

The number-one positive from this season was the performance of Connor Bedard. Prior to this year, there were some doubts regarding Bedard and whether he would truly become the generational player that was expected of him when Chicago drafted him first overall in 2023.

Those concerns were erased this year as Bedard enjoyed a breakout season, producing at just under a 90-point pace over a full 82-game slate. His game took strides across the board as the hard work he put in over the offseason paid off. He showed up this year faster, stronger, and with a compete level that was noticeably higher.

It is a wonder how this season would have played out had Bedard not gone down with a shoulder injury in December, which sidelined him for a month. Does Connor end the year with similar totals as Macklin Celebrini and find himself in the Hart trophy conversation? Do the Blackhawks find themselves fighting for a wild card playoff spot for the duration of the campaign like the San Jose Sharks? Unfortunately, the world will never know.

With that being said, the way Bedard began the first half of the year has to have Kyle Davidson and the Chicago brass feeling great about their chances moving forward. It is up to Davidson to reward Bedard and surround him with talent that can help him continue to make strides.

Spencer Knight is Chicago's starting goalie of the future

This year was the first season in which Spencer Knight was a full-time starter after spending his career up to this point as a backup behind Sergei Bobrovsky during his time with the Florida Panthers.

After being acquired from Florida in the Seth Jones trade last season, Knight impressed during his brief time with the Blackhawks. He showed flashes of potential that he can be this team's starter of the future and earned an extension over the summer.

Knight took further steps forward this year as he was the most valuable Blackhawk behind Bedard. He kept this team in games they had no business being in and gave them a chance to win virtually every game he started.

There is arguably nothing more important to a team having success at the NHL level than having an elite netminder that can be relied upon in the key moments. Knight proved this year that he can be that guy and could be a possible Vezina-winning goaltender down the line as the defense around him gets better in the coming years.

Anton Frondell is Him

Anton Frondell spent most of the season playing for his Djurgardens club in Sweden, where he impressed with 20 goals and eight assists in 43 games. That type of production in the SHL as an 18-year-old is nothing to scoff at. Frondell also performed well at the World Juniors, helping lead his Swedish team to a gold medal.

The 2025 third overall pick of Chicago got a taste of the NHL level at the end of the season with a 12-game sample size. Frondell adjusted to the North American game right away, amassing three goals and six assists for nine points in that stretch.

Just under point-per-game production as a rookie is impressive for Frondell. It will be exciting to see what he can do in his quest for the Calder trophy in 2026-27. where he looks to be one of the favorites.

With Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Frondell leading the charge, Chicago has the makings of what could be a dangerous core at center for the future. The next step is to supplement that core and build on the foundation that has been laid.

Another top draft pick on the way

While another bottom-three finish is anti-climactic, it could be a blessing in disguise. The Blackhawks have the second-best odds to land the first overall pick heading into the draft lottery on May 5.

A top two draft pick would be ideal for Chicago, as they would likely leave this draft with one of the forwards, Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg. The thought of adding one of those weapons to this group is a scary one and would even further strengthen this group's prospects for success.

Either way, the Blackhawks are guaranteed a top-four pick in this draft. No matter what, they will be adding another top prospect to their loaded pipeline if they decide to keep the pick. If Chicago drops to three or four, does Davidson consider trading the pick for an established star?

Davidson will have options to work with when it comes to the draft and to be aggressive over the offseason, given all the cap space this team has. Playoff hockey in 2027 may not be a pipe dream for Chicago, depending on how this summer plays out...

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