Blackhawks 2024 review

[yave1964]

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS  Nobody expected them to be good, but everyone wanted to watch a season of Bedard, to find out if he is the next Messiah for the game of Hockey. 

 

FINAL RECORD 23-53-6 52 points, dead last in the Central division. 

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR This was a very, very bad road team, among the worst in years winning only 7 games all year on the road. Petr Mrazek has one of the most amazing home/road splits in net, just bizarre. 

MRAZEK home:14-11-2 2.48 goals against.. Road: 4-20-1 3.72 goals against. His home record would have the Hawks as a serious playoff contender in both conference, his road record would mean the Hawks prorated out would have scored 29 points all year. Biggest differential in years.

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR MAY OF last year when the Hawks ping pong ball fell their way and they drafted Conner Bedard. On tyhe ice it was game 12 against Tampa when Bedard announced his presence, he had his first four point game against Tampa to lead them to a 5-3 victory. I watched that game, blown away that a kid his age had such powerful legs and how he dominated. 

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR The Corey Perry fiasco was an ongoing problem with meme after meme. On the ice, after upsetting the Isles 4-3 in OT on January 19th they went into a massive tailspin, losing 15 out their next 16, in that stretch they were outscored 58-22. The offense more or less quit for the year other than Bedard, in total the Hawks were shut out 8 times in their last 37 games. Ugh.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT Bedard missed 14 games and yet still led all rookies in most every scoring category and is a lock for the Calder trophy as rookie of the year. Jason Dickinson was rock solid as a middle six center and tied Bedard in goal leader for the team. Kurachev had a very good year. Foligno and Tyler Johnson provided some scoring and veteran leadership. Mrazek held his own against a barrage of shots. Seth Jones played 25 plus minutes a night and scored decently. Alex Vlasic was very solid on the back end.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG The Perry incident which led to his release. Reichel and Korchinski were touted rookies who while they didnt completyely flame out didnt impress. Arvid Soderblom wnet 5-22-2 with a 3.92 goals agaisnt. I am sorry the list is so shjort, truth is most players did not underperform, they just played as poorly as one would have expected.

 

FREE AGENTS Tyler Johnson and Colin Blackwell are ufa aty years end, nobody else matters. They are loaded with picks, 2 in the first, 3 in the 2nd and 2 in the third. 

 

TOP ROOKIES Frank Nazar is multi talented, a top ten pick and will stick in the top six, possibly on the top line. Oliver Moore is another first round Big Ten player who wants to fight ihis way into the top six. Ethan Del Mastro is a puck mover on the back end who played very well in the AHL and will crack the top four next year, Ryan Greene will turn pro next year but is a hell of a top six forward prospect. Landon Slaggert got into a few games in the NHL and is a nasty hard hitting forward who can score a bit. Nolan Allan had a fine year at Rockford and may step into a bottom six role on the back end.  I dont like Guttman and Kaiser but some people do. 

This team is loaded with A and high B prospects. Many will stick and the teamns identity will change next year

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS Will Patrick Kane be resigned to play on the wing for Bedard? Rumor is both Kane and Hawks management are open to it. Lots of young kids, how many will crack next years lineup? Are they satisfied with Mrazek and Soderblom? Should they try to add in net or wait another year? Can they, will they find a way to deal Seth Jones?