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.

Connor Bedard's return from injured reserve and the impact it will have on the offense.

Bedard has been out since January 5th with a fractured jaw. He provided an update on his return at the All-Star Game.

The return timetable appears to be the same six to eight weeks as it was projected when he had surgery. It sounds like a return in February is unlikely. That means a March return.

It also means the Chicago Blackhawks offense will continue to struggle. The Hawks have been shut out in four of the 11 games they have played without Bedard. They also have four games during that span where they have scored one goal in regulation or overtime.

It is not like the Blackhawks are not shooting the puck. They just do not have a load of talented skill players to find the back of the net with Bedard on IR. Now the scoring drought is getting into the team's heads.

Jason Dickinson has been the only threat to score on a nightly basis. Otherwise, finding offense has been laborious. The only positive with Bedard out is everyone has stopped standing around watching Bedard try to make amazing things happen.

Once he returns, the hope is the effort everyone is playing with, along with Connor's amazing skills starts to produce more scoring.

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.