Three thoughts heading into November for the Chicago Blackhawks
By Jim Lynch
The Chicago Blackhawks finished the month of October with a record of 4-3-2, good enough for third in the Central Division at this time. While there is little doubt the team is going to fall out of that potential playoff spot, there are some takeaways to be made at the end of a month in the NHL.
Chicago is eighth in the league with 31 goals for, and their power play has been great, scoring on eight of 29 attempts so far, good enough for a power play percentage of 27.59%. Max Domi leads the charge with three power-play goals, but Patrick Kane is the one driving the play with six PP assists.
The Hawks have played in just nine of their 82 games so far, so here are a few thoughts after the first nine in October!
Three thoughts heading into November for the Chicago Blackhawks
1. This team is showing losing is hard.
The Blackhawks entered this season trying to lose. The roster the Blackhawks are icing right now is, without a doubt, one of the worst in the leagues, or at least it should be. This team is finding ways to win games by coming back from behind and doing everything they can to win.
One big issue for the team has been the offseason additions they made are helping them win now. Max Domi has seven points, including four goals, and Andreas Athanasiou has three goals as well, one was a big goal in the Hawks game the other night.
2. Jonathan Toews looks like himself again.
Jonathan Toews has been impressive on the ice to start the season. His seven points are tied for second on the team, and his five goals is the best total on the roster. Toews has basically willed this team to be successful to start the year like how he willed this puck in the net the other night.
With how good Toews has been this season, I almost wish he was back to 100 percent to star last season, maybe things would have gone differently and Chicago could have made the playoffs in 2022. This Jonathan Toews looks like a completely different player from what we have seen since the last time Chicago made the playoffs.
3. They have a lot of work to do.
Sure, the Hawks are third in the Central and have been playing competitive hockey, but if there is one thing looking around at other teams has shown it is that this team is nowhere near close to contending. Chicago has a long rebuild ahead of them to improve their team.
Look at teams like the Detroit Red Wings, who have so much talent amongst their forward group and used this offseason to add guys like Dominik Kubalik and Andrew Copp, for example. Chicago is still years away from being able to go out and add with the intention of keeping those players around and not just moving them at the deadline.
Hopefully, the Blackhawks can land a top prospect at this upcoming draft as well as bring in some more assets in trades around the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline before the year is done.