It’s no secret that the 2024-25 season hasn’t exactly been what the Blackhawks expected. The team brought in a slew of veterans during a hectic free agency window in hopes of at least getting out of the basement of the NHL standings. Now, with 27 games remaining in the year, they find themselves with the second-lowest points, ahead of only the Sharks.
That isn’t to say that this year hasn’t been a success on at least some levels. We saw Ryan Donato put up a career year already, scoring 19 goals and 37 points while securing one of the best plus-minus marks on the team. A few players exploded on the scene, with guys like Arvid Soderblom playing their way into franchise cornerstone status.
For the rest of the Blackhawks, the two-week break that is nearly over offers a fresh start. With Chicago getting its legs back after being off the ice for exactly 14 days during the 4 Nations Face-Off, players will be able to separate what happened in the first 55 games and shift their focus to a new 27-game stretch. With the Blackhawks coming off an extended break, a few players in particular are poised to finish the season strong.
Frank Nazar
In 26 games with the big club, Nazar has been everything Chicago could ask for and more. Now 21 years old, he was excellent with the IceHogs, being named an AHL All-Star before being called up. Now, he spends most of his time on the top line next to Connor Bedard and has adjusted well, playing a solid game at both ends of the ice.
The problem? The shots aren’t quite going in for the young star. He’s putting plenty on net and getting a bunch of high-quality chances, but he only has four goals on the year. As such, he’s the perfect candidate to take a step forward in these final 27 games. With high expectations as a 13th overall pick, all eyes will be on Nazar as he closes out what has been a transformational season.
Petr Mrazek
Whether it’s spent in Chicago or somewhere else, these final 27 games will be important ones for Mrazek. Tabbed as the starting goaltender to open the year, Mrazek has seen his numbers dip a bit, with his save percentage dropping below .900 and a GAA of 3.27. In the meantime, Arvid Soderblom has burst onto the scene, turning the Blackhawks’ situation into a true 1A-1B ordeal. That’s great news, but backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit should be coming back sometime soon. When he does, GM Kyle Davidson has said he doesn’t mind carrying three goaltenders, but that’s only a short-term situation. Mrazek is the most likely of the three to be traded, but he’ll have to step up a bit over the next few weeks, or the rest of the season, to make that happen.
Lukas Reichel
Speaking of players with plenty on the line, Reichel will have to improve if he wants to secure his spot on next season’s roster. He’s already shown flashes of getting there, becoming a more confident player with the puck and making a few highlight-reel plays. But his lack of willingness to shoot the puck has always been an issue. Could the break have done him some good mentally? If so, he could be in line for a big finish as he looks to prove that he’s still the player the Blackhawks drafted 17th overall back in 2020.
