The Chicago Blackhawks finished their third straight season at the bottom of the Central Division standings, but signs of progress have started to emerge — and Kyle Davidson isn’t ignoring them.
Led by a wave of promising young talent, including Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks closed out the 2024-25 season with encouraging flashes.
Still, Davidson made it clear Thursday: those glimpses of hope don’t alter his cautious approach to the summer ahead.
In all likelihood, there’s going to be a point where we do acquire someone that’s going to be a contributor in a big way. But I just, again, it’s so out of our hands, in many cases, right, that I can’t say ‘Yeah, that’s what we’re going to do this summer.’ Because I just don’t know if that’s the case. And honestly, in all likelihood, it’s not.
Davidson said.
That doesn’t mean the Blackhawks won’t explore big names. There’s speculation that if a player like Mitch Marner hits free agency, or if an impactful forward becomes available via trade, Davidson would entertain the possibility. But for now, the team’s focus is centered on development and continuity, not splashy moves.
Nazar, 21, capped off the season with five goals and four assists in his final eight games. Rinzel, just 20, impressed in a nine-game run. Meanwhile, Artyom Levshunov, Oliver Moore, and Ryan Greene all saw NHL ice before turning 22 — a clear signal the next generation is already arriving.
Once I get to a spot and start to study and learn and understand how the game’s played at that level, then I start to do a lot better
Nazar said.
It’s like that for a lot of people and I think toward the end of the season, just able to figure it out and understand the game a lot better and slow it down a lot more.
At the center of it all is Bedard. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick shook off a sluggish start and found chemistry with Chicago’s faster, younger lineup late in the season. He finished with 23 goals and 44 assists in 82 games — a promising foundation.
With the young guys coming up, I think there was so much positivity surrounded by it, especially at the end of the year
Bedard said.
Connor Bedard is eligible for a contract extension this summer, and both he and Davidson sounded open to starting that conversation. However, the more immediate focus is on finding the team’s next head coach.
Following the dismissal of Luke Richardson in December, Anders Sorensen served as interim coach for the remainder of the season. He’s being considered for the permanent role, but Davidson emphasized that experience won’t be the deciding factor.
The next head coach could very well have significant experience or they might not
Davidson said.
It’s not something that we’re going to use as a filter to rule people in or out with.
That echoes the team’s recent history — each of Chicago’s last four coaches, including Sorensen, Richardson, Derek King, and Jeremy Colliton, were first-time NHL head coaches.
While the coaching search is underway, Davidson also plans to revisit contract talks with veteran forward Ryan Donato. The 29-year-old shattered his previous career highs, finishing the year with 31 goals and 31 assists across 80 games.
We’ve talked, and I’ve voiced plenty of times how much I love being here and want to be a part of the future here Donato said, as he prepares to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.
Chicago may not be ready to chase the league’s biggest stars just yet, but with its young core blossoming, a crucial offseason is already taking shape — and the next chapter of the Blackhawks rebuild is being written.
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