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It is time to put the awful 2024-2025 NHL season behind us. Bedard's regression through the first 2/3 of the season was not fun to watch. The adding veteran's to the team to try to win some extra games was even more not fun to watch. Seth Jones being a little bitch and making everyone on the team hate hockey was also not the best.
However, the last 1/3 of the season was actually a hell of a lot of fun. After getting rid of Seth Jones (and somehow getting Spencer Knight out of it and retaining not that much salary) and starting to play young players, the season got fun. Nazar looked great the last 10 games. Rinzel actually came on and was the Blackhawks best defenseman for the last 10 games of the season. The pairing of Vlasic and Rinzel is going to be exciting moving forward. It was great that the last moment of the season was Bedard feeding Nazar for a game winner in OT. Rinzel on the ice as well during the goal.
If the Blackhawks are able to build a cup contender, it will be from the blueline in. It also may involve spinning off some of that blueline talent for help in the top 6. Levshunov has looked like he belongs in the NHL during his stint with the team. Vlasic already is a shut down defenseman that has shown some promise on offense. You still have Korchinski in line showing some promise. The core of the Blackhawks dynasty really came down to Hossa, Toews, Kane, Seabrook, Keith, and Hjammer. Without those players in the blueline, it wouldn't have happened. I think the team has the talent there now.
This offseason is a failure unless one thing happens. Mitch Marner to Chicago. Go out and get it done. Make him the highest paid winger in the NHL. Yes, I would rather of gotten Mikko, but he is off the table now. I'd love to see Donato brought back, but I think he wants much more than the 4 million AAV that is out there for him, I don't know that it happens.
Chicago is in danger of Bedard walking at some point if there isn't some positive momentum with the team. We can't just wait for players to come through the system. Plus, there isn't much in the line of wingers in the system right now. Bedard and Nazar look good together, but long term it would be better to have Nazar centering the second line.
A line of Marner-Bedard-Mikheyev next year sounds pretty damn good. I also like the idea long term of Nazar centering a line with Oliver Moore. Also, Moore is damn fun to watch. He has a ton of speed. It is noticeable how much faster he is on the ice than everyone else.
As for the draft, for the first time since the Bedard draft, I'm not so invested in the Blackhawks winning the lottery. With the rule that you can only win 2 times in 5 years, I kind of would rather than don't. The top prospect is a defenseman, and we are kind of set there. The ideal would be keep the second pick and go with Misa. Even if they drop down a few spots, I don't really think it will hurt the draft all that much.
Back to Marner though, get it done Kyle. Marner in Chicago must happen.
However, the last 1/3 of the season was actually a hell of a lot of fun. After getting rid of Seth Jones (and somehow getting Spencer Knight out of it and retaining not that much salary) and starting to play young players, the season got fun. Nazar looked great the last 10 games. Rinzel actually came on and was the Blackhawks best defenseman for the last 10 games of the season. The pairing of Vlasic and Rinzel is going to be exciting moving forward. It was great that the last moment of the season was Bedard feeding Nazar for a game winner in OT. Rinzel on the ice as well during the goal.
If the Blackhawks are able to build a cup contender, it will be from the blueline in. It also may involve spinning off some of that blueline talent for help in the top 6. Levshunov has looked like he belongs in the NHL during his stint with the team. Vlasic already is a shut down defenseman that has shown some promise on offense. You still have Korchinski in line showing some promise. The core of the Blackhawks dynasty really came down to Hossa, Toews, Kane, Seabrook, Keith, and Hjammer. Without those players in the blueline, it wouldn't have happened. I think the team has the talent there now.
This offseason is a failure unless one thing happens. Mitch Marner to Chicago. Go out and get it done. Make him the highest paid winger in the NHL. Yes, I would rather of gotten Mikko, but he is off the table now. I'd love to see Donato brought back, but I think he wants much more than the 4 million AAV that is out there for him, I don't know that it happens.
Chicago is in danger of Bedard walking at some point if there isn't some positive momentum with the team. We can't just wait for players to come through the system. Plus, there isn't much in the line of wingers in the system right now. Bedard and Nazar look good together, but long term it would be better to have Nazar centering the second line.
A line of Marner-Bedard-Mikheyev next year sounds pretty damn good. I also like the idea long term of Nazar centering a line with Oliver Moore. Also, Moore is damn fun to watch. He has a ton of speed. It is noticeable how much faster he is on the ice than everyone else.
As for the draft, for the first time since the Bedard draft, I'm not so invested in the Blackhawks winning the lottery. With the rule that you can only win 2 times in 5 years, I kind of would rather than don't. The top prospect is a defenseman, and we are kind of set there. The ideal would be keep the second pick and go with Misa. Even if they drop down a few spots, I don't really think it will hurt the draft all that much.
Back to Marner though, get it done Kyle. Marner in Chicago must happen.
I missed a good one.
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