What needs to happen for the Blackhawks to make a 2027 playoff push?

"Playoffs?" That may seem like a tall prospect for the 2026-2027 Chicago Blackhawks team to achieve. After all, this is a rebuilding club coming off three consecutive years of 31st-place finishes in the NHL standings. And not to mention, the Blackhawks play in the grueling Central Division, which is always competitive.

With all that being said, winning appears to be the main goal for the first season in a long time. This upcoming campaign is the first one where there seems to be real expectations for this young group. Kyle Davidson became the first general manager to move a top-four pick in over two decades with the Bowen Byram trade this summer. That is not the sign of a team that plans on embarking upon another season of toiling away as bottom-feeders.

If the playoffs are indeed the vision for this team, that will be a difficult objective to reach. A lot will have to go Chicago's way to make that happen. Let's get into what an ideal season would look like.

Connor Bedard in the Hart race

In a surprise to no one, the Blackhawks' success next season will mainly have to come from the play of franchise player Connor Bedard. He is far and away this team's best player. Chicago will go as far as he takes them in the long run. Bedard needs to take another step next year, and it needs to be a big one. If this team is to push for a playoff spot, Bedard has to be in the Hart Trophy conversation like Macklin Celebrini was for the San Jose Sharks this past season. That may feel unrealistic, but Bedard was playing his best hockey prior to his shoulder injury last December. Avoiding injuries will be the key; unfortunately, that has not been the case for him so far this offseason. Hopefully, Bedard will be fully healthy by the start of the campaign. If he can produce at over a 100-point rate over an 84-game season, that would be a nice jump for him.

Frondell and Kantserov fighting for the Calder

The Blackhawks have two X-factors joining their top-six forward core full-time next season. Those exciting rookies are Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov. Frondell has already gotten a sampling of NHL experience with 12 games under his belt. Kantserov will be brand new to the show, arriving in the big leagues after an incredible run in the KHL. Both players will need to be in the Calder mix for rookie of the year. They have to be immediate threats on Chicago's top two lines. This is especially the case if Davidson does not make any more forward additions. Bedard needs guys he can play with. Hopefully, these two will be viable options for the future.

Byram becomes a top defenseman

The biggest addition to this team is Byram. He inked the richest contract for a defenseman with Chicago shortly after his trade from Buffalo. With how much the team has invested in Byram, between his deal and the Sabres' return package, it is time for Byram to repay the favor. Davidson has put much of his faith in Byram becoming that true number-one defenseman he was drafted to be. Byram needs to assert himself in that role next season for this team to move forward. He needs to be able to play effectively in all situations, especially the power play, where he will be counted on to quarterback the point.

Frank Nazar finds consistency

Frank Nazar had a hot-and-cold season last year. Like Bedard, his season started off strong. Like Bedard, his year was derailed thanks to a midseason injury. Nazar was inconsistent for the remainder of the campaign. Nazar will have to grab the bull by the horns as his seven-year, $6.6 million contract extension kicks in next season. Nazar has to prove that he is a core piece that can help drive this team forward.

The youth continue to improve

The Blackhawks iced a flurry of rookies on their 2025-2026 squad. Those players will need to show progression in their sophomore seasons. What can Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis do in their first full seasons with the team after splitting time in Rockford and Chicago? How much better can Ryan Greene get? Can Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel make strides? This team's breaking out hinges on the youth core steering the ship.

Spencer Knight remains in strong form

After Bedard, Spencer Knight was this team's MVP last season. In many games, the only reason the scoreboard looked close was Knight's strong play in the crease. He has been able to bail out an inexperienced defense in front of him throughout his tenure. That defense should be better next year, which would help him. Hopefully, there will be fewer games where Knight has to face 30-40 shots a night. He will once again have to be an anchor in the net if this team is to sniff the postseason.

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