This summer feels like a turning point in the Blackhawks’ rebuild

The Chicago Blackhawks enter yet another summer as a rebuilding team coming off a bottom-feeder season. The Blackhawks finished 31st in the standings this past year, the third campaign in a row that they have finished in that position.

While the Blackhawks have made small gains when it comes to points, having improved by 20 during Connor Bedard's tenure, it is about time this team starts making some real progress. General manager Kyle Davidson was quoted two years ago, stating that Chicago can't finish bottom three again. Well, two seasons have transpired and this group has still not escaped the basement.

However, this summer feels different than past summers. Kyle Davidson will be entering the final season of his five year rebuild plan that he presented ownership when he took over as GM in 2022. Despite the contract extension, their should be pressure on Davidson to ice a winning team in 2026-2027.

Now is the time for the Blackhawks to start winning

Next season should be the year the Blackhawks start to leave the rebuild behind and enter contention status. This will be year four of Bedard, who will be freshly extended and the likely captain of this team.

Davidson has done a stellar job building Chicago's young talent pool, especially compared to the empty cupboards he had to work with when he took over the job. The Blackhawks have one of the top prospect pools in the league. With that said, the draft should no longer be this front office's priority. They have already made 11 first round picks in the last four years. And this 2026 edition will be the fourth year in a row that the Blackhawks have a top four pick.

Acquiring talent through the draft is all well and good. That played a key factor in the 2010's Blackhawks success with core players such as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Corey Crawford being found in the draft. But, that dynasty group was not constructed solely through those means. Marian Hossa was signed in free agency. Patrick Sharp was acquired via trade. There are other ways to add players; that is something Davidson needs to start doing more of.

The Blackhawks will have over $40 million in salary cap space to utilize this summer via Puck Pedia. Of course, much of that will go towards the Bedard extension. But, there will still be plenty of money to spend. The free agent class projects to be a dry one, meaning Davidson will probably have to go the trade route when it comes to catching a big fish.

Now is the time for Chicago to get back to winning hockey. Playoff hockey has not been seen in this city since 2020. That fact in itself is debatable as the Blackhawks finished 23rd in the NHL that season in a Covid-shortened campaign. They received an invite to the delayed postseason based on the fact they were never mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The last season without any asterisks that this team made the playoffs was 2017. This was also the last year that the United Center has seen the playoffs, since the 2020 bubble postseason took place in Edmonton and Toronto. The last non-Covid playoff series win for the Blackhawks? The 2015 Stanley Cup final versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bottom line, this rebuild has gone on for long enough. Blackhawks fans have been patient, for the most part. That patience is starting to wear thin. Chicago showed signs of promise for the first time in years in 2025-2026. The season was going smoothly, until Bedard's injury derailed it. The moment has arrived to put it all together next year.

It is fair to start truly judging the on-ice product next season. The Blackhawks are not waiting on the majority of their top prospects; they are here now. Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Roman Kantserov, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, Alex Vlasic, Sam Rinzel, Artyom Levshunov, etc... The future core is not on the horizon, it has arrived

It may be a tall ask to expect this youth team to make the big dance. But, they have to be in the mix and be playing meaningful hockey all year. No more selling at the trade deadline with the season being over effectively months in advance. No more talk and banking solely on hypothetical potential. It is time to see some actual results. The onus is on Davidson to cook this summer in his most important offseason as GM.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow