The good, the bad, and the ugly: Blackhawks' October 2026 recap

The Chicago Blackhawks finished October just like they began the month, suffering another loss that brought their record to 4-9-1 after 14 games. Overall, there were several moments to cheer, many to boo, and plenty of head-scratching ones too. Today, we will look at the good, bad, and ugly of the past 14 games. 

The Good: Roman Kantserov proves the wait was worth it

If Chicago fans asked hockey fans around the league who was leading the Blackhawks in goals, most would assume it was Connor Bedard or Patrick Kane. However, 22-year-old Roman Kantserov has five goals in 14 games. Although no one is discussing Kantserov as a potential Calder Trophy winner, he is tied with James Hagens (Boston) and Gavin McKenna (Toronto) for most goals by a rookie. One of the biggest knocks on the youngster is that he has the second-worst plus-minus rating (minus-9) among rookies, trailing only San Jose's Ivar Stenberg, who is minus-10.

Last year in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where Kantserov served as an alternate captain, he tallied a professional career-high of 36 goals in 63 games with 64 points. Although he won’t be able to match his point-per-game average from last season, he is on pace for 30 goals. No matter what happens over the next 70 games, Kantserov has been a bright spot for the Blackhawks. The only active players in Chicago with 30-goal campaigns are Kane, Bedard, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Ryan Donato. Hopefully, the list can expand if Kantserov continues his decent NHL start. 

The Bad: Blackhawks still can’t escape the bottom of NHL standings

Ahead of their clash with the Boston Bruins on Halloween, the Blackhawks ranked near the bottom of the league in goals scored, which is one of the main reasons the club remains 31st in the overall standings. Unfortunately for Chicago fans, many hockey experts thought that with the return of Kane and the youngsters getting another year of NHL experience, the club would take a step forward. However, after 14 games, it appears to be the same ol’ same ol’.

Instead of focusing on the few positives that the Blackhawks have provided their fans, now they are busy debating the merits of the current rebuild and whether it’s actually working anymore. What’s even more insulting is that other teams, like the Calgary Flames, for example, who have a far more challenging roster with few game breakers, managed to rattle off four straight wins and found new ways to score goals. Experts pegged the Flames to be a top contender for the top pick at the 2027 NHL Draft, but that’s a race where the Blackhawks find themselves entrenched in yet again after the first month of the season. 

The Ugly: Bowen Byram suffers an injury and misses the majority of the month

During the offseason, the Blackhawks surprised many people across the hockey world by trading for defenseman Bowen Byram, then signing him to the most expensive contract in team history. Of course, his spot at the top of that list was short-lived, as weeks later Bedard signed the richest deal. Still, Byram is now living under intense expectations, and in six games, he has a single assist and is minus-7. 

Despite not playing in the last seven games, he still maintains one of the worst plus/minus totals on the team, and the Blackhawks are just 2-4-1 without him in the lineup. Currently, Byram is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury and continues to skate, but has yet returned to the ice. Considering Chicago gave up two draft picks and Louis Crevier in hopes that the 25-year-old would make an immediate impact, the club has yet to see any return on its investment.

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