Chicago Blackhawks 2024-2025 Season Predictions

Prediction Four: Frank Nazar and Kevin Korchinski Will Both Spend a Large Portion of the Season in Rockford

I know that this is a prediction many fans don't want to hear and I can understand why. Whenever we get a "new toy" we want to play with it. I think many fans are desperate to see the "young core guys" take a huge step and immediately grow into the roles that they will eventually occupy. However, the context here is crucial.

Brent Seabrook was drafted in 2003. He wasn't a full time NHL player until 2005-2006 and even then he wasn't the best version of himself until probably the 2007-2008 season when he started to really dominate games.

Duncan Keith was drafted in 2002, and he played two full seasons in Rockford before coming to the Hawks in 2005-2006, where he struggled for two more full seasons before realizing his potential in 2007-2008.

Development takes time, and it isn't linear. It would be foolish to give up on a player with the talent of Kevin Korchinski because he spends a season in the AHL. Honestly, the more I look at that decision, the more I feel that it is the right move.

He and Nazar would be playing on an elite Rockford team, packed with veterans like Brett Seney, David Gust, and Zach Sanford, as well as young studs like Colton Dach, Landon Slaggert, and Artyum Levshunov.

It is a perfect place to grow and develop. Lastly, no one is going to care where Nazar and Korchinski played in the 2024-2025 season if, in the 2029-2030 season, they are key pieces of a Hawks team that makes a deep playoff run.

Prediction Five: Lukas Reichel Will Score 20 Goals

This one is heart over head. I want things to go well for Reichel and I still believe that he has the talent and the ability to be a very good NHL player.

He will start this season, in all likelihood, among the Hawks' top six and he will possibly even play alongside Philip Kurashev and Teuvo Teravainen. Those are two excellent playmakers, and in that line, Reichel would be the best "scoring" option.

This certainly feels like Reichel's last chance to prove himself with the Blackhawks, and they are going to give him every opportunity to do it. I believe in him, and I'm going out on a limb saying that he will score at least 20 goals this season. I think he will finally cement himself as a very solid middle six forward for the Blackhawks.

We will have to wait and see how these predictions play out, but I'm excited to be right! Or wrong... who cares! Hockey is almost back, as the regular season is right around the corner!