5 Storylines To Follow During the Second Half of the Season for the Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are sitting dead last in the NHL standings at the All-Star break. On the bright side, that means the Hawks currently have the best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery. The winning prize is the right to draft Macklin Celebrini, who is considered another generational talent.

A lot can happen between now and the final game of the season that will alter the Hawks' position in the Tankathon.com standings.

The team's lottery odds are one of five storylines that are worth following over the rest of the season.

How bad do the rest of the contenders for the best NHL Draft Lottery chances get at the trade deadline?

Remember the panic everyone had last season when the Hawks won games before the deadline? A majority of the fans acted like every victory ruined any hope of drafting Connor Bedard. Then general manager Kyle Davidson held a fire sale at the NHL trade deadline and the Blackhawks won five games the rest of the season.

Davidson does not have a lot of players to trade this season to ensure a second half where the Chicago Blackhawks barely win. The team has a ton of injuries and that is why the franchise is at the bottom of the standings.

Getting healthy combined with the other franchises getting worse at the deadline will have an impact on the Hawks' final lottery odds.

The San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Columbus Blue Jackets all have players that will be sought after before the deadline. Once they finish trading off their assets, those three teams might just reach a level of bad that will out do the Hawks' level of terrible.

Taylor Raddysh, Lukas Reichel, and Arvid Soderblom trying to finish the season strong.

Raddysh's and Reichel's offensive struggles are a contributing factor to the Hawks not producing much offense. They have a combined 19 points (Raddysh has 10 while Reichel has nine) and eight goals (Raddysh with five of them) this season.

Raddysh has missed some time with an injury, but he has not played anywhere near the level we saw last season when he racked up 37 points. Reichel is one of the Blackhawks' most gifted offensive players, but his confidence has been shot with the rough way his first NHL season is going.

If both of them can rebound in the second half, it will help the offense. It will also help their future standing with the team. Both are set for restricted free agency. Reichel is 21 so his age and potential, however diminished it feels like right now, should get him another contract. He is costing himself money and years on that deal right now.

Raddysh will be 26 next season so he is still young enough for the Hawks to consider him as a long-term piece. With this production and all the prospects the Hawks have, if he continues to play like this, he is likely to be non-tendered.

Soderblom is another young player disappointing in his first full NHL season. The hope by now is he would have a firm grasp on the No. 1 goaltender spot. Instead, he is one of the worst goalies in the NHL. He has been so bad that the Blackhawks have extend Petr Mrazek to a bridge-deal until Drew Commesso is ready.

That does not mean the clock has run out on Soderblom's hopes to be the long-term starting netminder for the Hawks. If he plays like he has the rest of the year, it will solidify him as nothing more than a backup goalie, or worse, a player the team loans out to a European club next season.

Frank Nazar's (possible) NHL debut.

There is speculation that the Blackhawks' second first-round pick in the 2022 draft will sign with the team after Michigan season ends.

When the Wolverines' season ends could throw a wrinkle on his signing and making his NHL debut. If Michigan makes the NCAA Tournament and a run to the Frozen Four, there will be no chance of him playing for the Blackhawks. The Frozen Four is April 11th and 13th. That would leave just two games left on the schedule once Michigan's season wraps up.

If Michigan does not make the tournament (they are 14-9-3 so there is a chance) or has a short stay, then there is some time for him to sign and debut with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Giving him a taste of the NHL is probably the best way to start his development. He is an amazing playmaker that the Hawks could use for the season's final games.

He had a strong World Juniors and projects to the team's future second-line center or play the wing (or center) on the top line with Bedard.

Colton Dach and Landon Slaggert possibly getting some NHL ice time

Two other prized prospects could make their NHL debut at some point this season. Dach has missed time this year in Rockford with an injury. He has 16 points in 23 games for the IceHogs.

There is hope among Blackhawks fans that Dach will get a call-up this season, especially with Reichel struggling. Dach can play up and down all four lines. The front office does not want to rush him like the team did with his brother, Kirby.

Slaggert is a Hawks prospect who confirmed he will sign with the team once Notre Dame's season ends. The Blackhawks' top brass consider him as the most NHL-ready player the team has among their group of prospects.

He is another forward with the ability to play on the top line or the fourth line. Whether he gets an opportunity to play in the NHL this season depends on the timing of the Fighting Irish finishing their season and the Hawks front office choosing his career should start in Chicago or Rockford.