Despite several acquisitions during the 2024 offseason, the Chicago Blackhawks are still positioned near the bottom of the NHL’s Central Division standings.
It’s early in the 2024-25 season, but the Blackhawks’ 2-4-1 record through their first seven games places them just slightly ahead of the last-place Nashville Predators, who had a rough start with five consecutive losses before managing to secure their first win.
However, the Blackhawks may be considering additional roster improvements. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman noted in his recent 32 Thoughts column that Chicago is actively seeking to bolster their center position, referencing this strategy in relation to the Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators’ own search for centers as well.
“Cut-and-paste with Chicago when it comes to centres,” he remarked. “Centres for everyone!”
The forward lineup for the Blackhawks includes 2023 first overall pick Connor Bedard, supported by Philipp Kurashev, Jason Dickinson, and Lukas Reichel. Nevertheless, head coach Luke Richardson recently scratched Kurashev after a lackluster performance, sending a message that only full effort will be accepted in the Windy City.
The Blackhawks are set to face the Nashville Predators next at the United Center, with the game beginning at 8:30 PM EST. After finishing last in the NHL during Connor Bedard’s rookie year, the team’s management aimed to support him with more seasoned NHL players.
In their quest for improvement, the Blackhawks were among the most active teams in free agency, bringing in veterans such as forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Craig Smith, Pat Maroon, defensemen Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie, and goaltender Laurent Brossoit. They also traded for forward Ilya Mikheyev and re-signed 2015 Stanley Cup champion Teuvo Teravainen, who returned from the Carolina Hurricanes.
It now appears that the organization intends to pursue further additions to expedite their rebuilding efforts.
