The Chicago Blackhawks window is not closing or shut
The Chicago Blackhawks have missed the 2017–18 Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2008. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong, went wrong for them this season. But, the sky is not falling, this was a flukey season with stepbacks, possibly growing pains, and sometimes going younger comes at a cost.
But, not everything went wrong, there were bright spots to this distraught season, and next year, the Hawks will come back to being a Stanley Cup contender.
The Youth movement for the Blackhawks this year was astonishing to watch, and could possibly be the next core of the team in the future. The first bright spot of the youth movement is Alex DeBrincat, he was a 2nd round pick in the 2016 NHL draft, and has shocked the hockey world with his skill. He lead the team in goals this season, and became the top scorer for the Hawks this season. He also recorded three hat-tricks in his rookie season, which is the first time in franchise history that a rookie has three hat-tricks.
The next bright spot is Nick Schmaltz, he was a first round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. This season he has emerged as the 2nd line center, for the Hawks, and will be the top line center in the future.
Vinnie Hinostroza has also shocked the hockey world by his skill, and goal scoring in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, and with the Blackhawks in the NHL. He also can very well be a top nine or six forward in the near future with the Blackhawks.
Other prospects had made their NHL debut in the last weeks of the 2017–18 season. Victor Ejdsell, a potential 3rd line center in the near future came from the Swedish Hockey League went to the Hawks through a trade with the central division rival the Nashville Predators who got Ryan Hartman at the trade deadline. Defenseman Blake Hillman who came from the University of Denver scored his first NHL goal in his 2nd NHL game against the St. Louis Blues. Dylan Sikura from Harvard University made his NHL debut and is another bright spot for the Blackhawks future. John Hayden, Andreas Martinsen, and top defenseman Henri Jokiharju could be NHL ready at this year’s training camp.
The Hawks are getting younger and faster as each year passes on, they may not have made the playoffs this year, but they will be back. When Corey Crawford comes back with the Hawks in September, and have to have a legitimate backup goaltenders. The core players will have comebacks. Sometimes, younger players especially defensemen take time to develop, and most people forget that. This season had a lot of things happening. But, it’s not over.
What I am saying is that, the window is far from closing or from being shut completely. It’s not over for the Hawks, it’s just the beginning. I relate the Youth movement to the ‘storm.’ A lot of people forget that just because there is one bad season, doesn’t mean to turn their heads and just forget about it. All teams have bad seasons, all teams, even the best teams fall down, but it is all about getting back up and redemption. I know the Hawks will come back, and be the team that they can be. This season may have been the dagger, but there is another season and year where you all can believe. Again, it’s not over.
