Chicago Blackhawks' Ideal Look by End of 2024-25

The Chicago Blackhawks are still a rebuilding team and there are going to be growing pains. I think that the roster has to remain steady somewhere in the middle of how the Blackhawks began 2023-24 and how the team began 2024-25.

By this I mean that, even though Chicago is rebuilding, Kyle Davidson explained how there was too much responsibility and pressure given to the young players last season and how it didn't work. The general manager went the completely opposite direction this season by bringing in eight veterans and having them take up roster spots over younger players or prospects.

It hasn't changed much as the Blackhawks still sit at the bottom of the league. So while injuries have allowed more up-and-coming players to get chances, playing time, and opportunities at this stage, that has to be the normal. Chicago can get there by the end of the season and really provide excitement and anticipation for what the future holds.

A healthy Blackhawks at the start of this season looks like this:

Forwards:

• Connor Bedard

• Ryan Donato

• Teuvo Teravainen

• Taylor Hall

• Tyler Bertuzzi

• Nick Foligno

• Craig Smith

• Jason Dickinson

• Lukas Reichel

• Pat Maroon

• Ilya Mikheyev

• Philipp Kurashev

• Joey Anderson

• Andreas Athanasiou

Defense:

• Alex Vlasic

• Seth Jones

• Connor Murphy

• TJ Brodie

• Nolan Allan

• Alec Martinez

• Isaak Phillips

Goalies:

• Petr Mrazek

• Laurent Brossoit

This is a rebuilding team where there were only five players 23 and under - Bedard, Vlasic, Reichel, Allan, and Phillips. The latter has played three games this season and is currently in the AHL.

Forward continues to be filled up by mostly all veterans with only Bedard, Reichel, Kurashev, and Anderson being under the age of 28 when there are players like Frank Nazar, Cole Guttman, Colton Dach, and Landon Slaggert in the AHL right now doing well.

Related: “I heard it’s coming”: NHL Insider Believes Frank Nazar’s Season Debut Is Imminent

Defense has actually started to change for the better with Wyatt Kaiser being up for the majority of the season, Kevin Korchinski just getting the call, and Louis Crevier on the roster. More changes have occurred on the back-end because of injury though. I don't think there would have been any movement beyond Phillips being swapped out if not.

Barring any unforeseen players coming back in trades by the deadline, this is what the Blackhawks will ideally look similar to at the end of the season:

Forwards:

• Connor Bedard

• Teuvo Teravainen

• Tyler Bertuzzi

• Nick Foligno

• Jason Dickinson

• Lukas Reichel

• Ilya Mikheyev

• Philipp Kurashev

• Frank Nazar

• Landon Slaggert

• Colton Dach

• Oliver Moore

• Cole Guttman

Defense:

• Alex Vlasic

• Seth Jones

• Connor Murphy

• TJ Brodie

• Nolan Allan

• Kevin Korchinski

• Wyatt Kaiser

Goalies:

• Petr Mrazek

• Arvid Soderblom

This sees a team that is a good mix of veterans (with some term left) and young players who are already acquainted with the NHL or should get a taste in anticipation for next season.

Some of the young players deserve it and the Blackhawks are going to be sellers. If possible, they should move on from every UFA on an expiring contract, and that includes Hall, Donato, Maroon, Smith, and Martinez.

Given how good Soderblom has looked, it would be a wasted opportunity to not move Brossoit if he's healthy. There are always teams in need of goalie help, especially with injuries down the line. If not, he has to be moved by the start of next season, but Soderblom deserves to stay on the Blackhawks roster all season.

I could see Murphy being moved as he's reliable and has one more year on his deal after this. Counter to that, Donato could be someone who is extended. He's a Swiss army knife and is playing great this season.

What this hopeful end-of-season Blackhawks looks like is a path to improvement next season without holding back the young players. More than enough of them have proven they should get time in the NHL and the only veteran to be demoted is Athanasiou. Chicago's future is still bright, but the youth movement has to continue because that's the future.

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