The Chicago Blackhawks have kicked off their 2024-25 season similarly to other teams in the league, and the results have been a mix. They suffered a loss to the Utah Hockey Club in their first game, followed by an overtime defeat to the Winnipeg Jets in their second match. However, they managed to secure their first victory of the season against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Winning games this season will likely be a challenge for the Blackhawks. Although they made improvements during the offseason, they still aren’t quite ready to compete against some of the stronger teams in the Western Conference. While they are expected to reclaim a competitive status soon, that readiness isn’t here just yet.
Chicago made some strategic additions in NHL Free Agency to bolster their roster, particularly focusing on enhancing their top-six forwards. They succeeded in this endeavor by signing Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year contract and reuniting with Teuvo Teravainen. These transactions were certainly beneficial, but the team still has unresolved issues.
The most pressing issue persists despite their offseason efforts. Chicago must address this if they hope to challenge for a playoff spot in the Stanley Cup. Last season, the team struggled offensively, primarily due to its predictable style of play. Opponents didn’t have to overthink their defensive strategies; focusing on limiting Connor Bedard was enough. Although Bedard had an impressive rookie season, he was not yet able to carry the team on his own.
As the season begins, this situation hasn’t changed. Bedard is likely to remain the team’s leading offensive contributor, but he still lacks the support necessary to elevate the Blackhawks significantly. Despite the additions, Chicago’s offensive strategy still heavily relies on Bedard.
Tyler Bertuzzi is a solid choice for the top six, Teuvo Teravainen is a capable all-around player, and Philip Kurashev has shown promising chemistry with Bedard. Yet, none of these players can sufficiently support Bedard to add another dimension to the offense. If opponents successfully contain Bedard, it will likely lead to victories over the Blackhawks.
A recent matchup against the Winnipeg Jets exemplifies this issue. Bedard did not register a point, and neither Bertuzzi nor Teravainen made an impact on the scoresheet, allowing the Jets to stage a comeback, largely driven by Mark Scheifele.
Someone on the team will need to step up significantly during the 2024-25 season. Jason Dickinson cannot end up as the top scorer again, as he did last season, and while the likelihood of that repeating is low, the larger issue is the need for the offense to evolve. They must discover ways to win even when Bedard doesn’t score.
Overall, the Blackhawks’ season is expected to be inconsistent. Their young stars, particularly Bedard, will spearhead the team. However, Chicago must learn to diversify their offense and not become too dependent on him as the season unfolds.
