3 Chicago Blackhawks storylines to follow for next season

Which of the New Guys Steals the Fans' Hearts?

Chicago sports fans are truly great people. Despite a silly article which was published earlier this year ranking the Hawks fans as the "coldest" in the league, my experience with Hawks fans has been nothing close to that. We are largely loyal, happy, and optimistic. We enjoy watching our favorite team and falling in love with the players on it.

In recent seasons we have seen guys like Brandon Hagel, Sam Lafferty, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Alex Stalock all become beloved in Chicago in a very short period. I believe that this team will be no different. So which player will it be? I think there are a few strong candidates.

First, the obvious one: Our returning hero, winner of a cup in Chicago, and all-around good guy, Teuvo Teravainen.

I'm thrilled to have Teuvo back on the Hawks and I am truly excited to see how he helps our team to improve next season. He is exactly the kind of player that this team has needed. He is defensively responsible, highly skilled, and has a talent for creating offensive opportunities for himself and others. I think Teuvo will get over with his skill and his history with the team.

Another name that I think Hawks fans will quickly come to love is Tyler Bertuzzi.

This reminds me a lot of the Hawks signing Max Domi a few seasons back. Domi has always been one of my favorite non-Hawks players in the league. When he was signed before the 2022-2023 season, I was ecstatic. However, many Hawks fans were unsure about Domi, as he had a bit of a reputation as a hothead before coming to Chicago.

However, I recall a game early in the season against Detroit when Domi potted a beautiful OT winner, and the Chicago fans officially embraced Domi as "one of our guys."

I think the same thing will happen with Bertuzzi. Sometime early in the season I can see Bertuzzi scoring a big goal, laying a devastating hit or maybe sticking up for his new linemate Connor Bedard by dropping the gloves. Whatever it is, I can see this guy quickly and definitively endearing himself to the Chicago faithful.

One final guy worth mentioning is Alec Martinez.

While the story has been told to death at this point, we all are aware that Martinez once slayed the Hawks' playoff run in 2014. However, he is the type of defenseman that any fanbase would adore, and Chicago fans will be no different. He blocks shots, he defends the rush well, he is responsible with the puck, and as a bonus, he seems to be a world-class guy too. I think that Hawks fans will quickly become attached to the veteran blue-liner.