The Chicago Blackhawks headed to Salt Lake City on Tuesday for their season opener against the new Utah Hockey Club, followed by a game against the Winnipeg Jets. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks lost both matches, falling 5-2 to Utah and succumbing to the Jets 2-1 in overtime. While some players made strong first impressions, others appeared to need more time to adjust.
One game alone cannot lead to sweeping conclusions about the team. However, the first week provided insight into the Blackhawks’ current status and the improvements necessary moving forward.
**Connor Bedard:** As expected, Bedard stood out for the Blackhawks, becoming only the second teenager in team history to record points in two season openers with two assists against Utah. Bedard is clearly the team’s primary offensive asset, exhibiting both scoring ability and impressive puck-handling skills. He played a crucial role in both goals against Utah, assisting Teuvo Teravainen and Nick Foligno. Although Utah emerged victorious, Bedard showcased his skill, finishing the game with two hits and five shots. He had a quieter showing against Winnipeg, logging 18:44 of ice time and only registering one shot, likely due to the back-to-back games. His strong start suggests he is on track for an even more impressive sophomore season.
**Seth Jones:** Jones ended the season opener with an assist and a neutral plus/minus rating while logging a hefty 26:42 of ice time, despite Utah scoring five times. In the game against Winnipeg, he once again led Blackhawks defensemen with 24:10 of ice time, finishing with a -1 rating, two shots, and two blocked shots. As the top defender for the team, Jones is expected to consistently log significant minutes. Following a disappointing previous season, he delivered a solid performance in these games and aims to maintain that momentum for consistency.
**Ilya Mikheyev:** Although Mikheyev did not score against Utah, he illustrated why the Blackhawks brought him on to enhance their Top Six. He played 15:50 with a +1 rating, two shots, two hits, and one takeaway. Against the Jets, he logged 17:30, gathering a -1 rating with one hit. Mikheyev is set to contribute a reliable two-way game and hopes to improve his scoring as the season unfolds.
**Petr Mrazek:** Last season, Mrazek had a 3.05 Goals Against Average (GAA) and a .908 Save Percentage (SV%). This season, greater expectations rest on him. For the Blackhawks to make strides in the standings, they’ll need improved goaltending. In his first game, he stopped 22 of 26 shots for an SV% of .846 and a GAA of 4.09. Mrazek’s career averages suggest that even modest improvements could translate to more victories for the team.
**Taylor Hall:** Hall’s long-awaited return from injury was anticipated to energize the Blackhawks. However, his impact during the first week was minimal. He logged 17:28 against Utah with a -2 rating and two shots, and followed with a -1 rating against Winnipeg, again failing to create a significant impact. Although it’s understandable given his recent injury, the team hopes Hall will quickly regain his form, as his offensive skills will be vital moving forward.
The Blackhawks demonstrated resilience after facing a 3-0 deficit against Utah, but it wasn’t enough to turn the game around. They also led 1-0 against Winnipeg for much of the match but couldn’t hold on, allowing a tying goal late and losing in overtime.
Despite some setbacks, there were more positive takeaways than negatives from the first two games. The Blackhawks will aim to establish their rhythm early in the season and hope to start accumulating victories.
