After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2022-23 regular season, which starts Oct. 7. Today, the Chicago Blackhawks:
2021-22 season: 28-42-12, seventh in Central Division; did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key arrivals
Petr MrazekG: The 30-year-old was acquired with the No. 25 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 7 for a second-round pick (No. 38) in 2022. Mrazek was limited to 20 games (18 starts) last season because of a groin injury, going 12-6-0 with a 3.34 goals-against average and .888 save percentage. … Max DomiF: The 27-year-old signed a one-year contract July 13. He had 39 points (11 goals, 28 assists) in 72 regular-season games for the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets last season, and six points (three goals, three assists) in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Hurricanes. … Andreas AthanasiouF: The 27-year-old signed a one-year contract on July 13. He had 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 28 regular-season games and one goal in six playoff games with the Los Angeles Kings last season. … Alex StalockG: The 34-year-old, who signed a one-year contract on July 13, played in one game with the San Jose Sharks last season and is expected to be the backup to start the season. … Colin BlackwellF: The 29-year-old, who signed a two-year contract on July 13, had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 58 games with the Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken last season. … Luke Richardson, coach: The 53-year-old was hired June 27 to replace Derek King after four seasons as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens.
Video: Max Domi joins Chicago Blackhawks
Key departures
Alex DeBrincatF: Traded to the Ottawa Senators on July 7 for the Nos. 7 and 39 picks in the 2022 draft and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, DeBrincat had 78 points in 82 games last season, leading the Blackhawks with 41 goals. … Dylan StromeF: Became an unrestricted free agent after not receiving a qualifying offer and signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals on July 13. Strome had 48 points (22 goals, 26 assists) in 69 games last season. … Kirby DachF: Traded to the Canadiens for the No. 13 and 66 picks in the 2022 draft on July 7, Dach had 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 70 games last season. … Dominik KubalikF: Became an unrestricted free agent after not receiving a qualifying offer and signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 13. He had 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 78 games last season. … Calvin de HaanD: The unrestricted free agent had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 69 games last season. … Erik GustafssonD: Signed a one-year contract with the Capitals on July 13. He had 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 59 games last season. … Kevin LankinenG: Signed a one-year contract with the Nashville Predators on July 14 after going 8-15-6 with a 3.50 GAA and .891 save percentage in 32 games (29 starts) last season. … Collin DeliaG: Signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 13 after going 1-4-1 with a 3.85 GAA and .899 save percentage in eight games (six starts) last season. … Henrik BorgströmF: Signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Capitals on July 14 after the final season of the two-year contract he signed with the Blackhawks on May 12, 2021, was bought out. He had seven points (four goals, three assists) in 52 games last season.
On the cusp
Lukas ReichelF: The 20-year-old, a first-round pick (No. 17) in the 2020 NHL Draft, had one assist in 11 games with the Blackhawks last season and 57 points (21 goals, 36 assists) in 56 games with Rockford. the American Hockey League. With all the offseason moves, he should get an opportunity with Chicago this season. … Alex VlasicD: The 21-year-old had a goal and an assist in 15 games with the Blackhawks last season after signing an entry-level contract on March 15 and could make the opening night roster. He had eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 32 games with Boston University before turning pro. … Arvid SoderblomG: The 22-year-old, who could get his share of starts this season, played three games for the Blackhawks last season, going 0-2-0 with a 5.01 GAA and .863 save percentage. He was 21-15-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .919 save percentage in 38 AHL games.
What they still need
They need to know if veterans Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will buy into the rebuild. General manager Kyle Davidson said July 14 that he’s had discussions with the two forwards, but doesn’t know where they stand on the Blackhawks’ plan moving forward. If Toews and Kane don’t want to be part of the rebuild, Chicago needs to move them to acquire assets for the future.
They said it
“I think it’s really hard to determine (expectations) right now to be honest, because going into last season, a lot of the preseason projections probably had us doing a lot better than we did. And I’m assuming going into this season, a lot of people will be doubting us, so it’s up to the players that are on the ice to determine where that ends up and the coaching staff to put in place a good game plan and strategy each night. When the puck drops, we’ I’ll see how things go, but that’s why you play the game.” — general manager Kyle Davidson
Fantasy focus
After a lot of movement this offseason, forward Taylor Raddysh is one young player who could provide some sneaky value this season. The 24-year-old, acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 18, had 10 points (six goals, four assists), including three on the power play (all goals), in 21 games with Chicago last season. Raddysh could eventually be given a top-six and first power-play role with possible exposure to Kane, making him a potentially overlooked breakout candidate this season. — Pete Jensen
Video: LAK@CHI: Raddysh fires Kurashev’s feed short side
Projected lineup
Lukas Reichel — Jonathan Toews — Patrick Kane
Andreas Athanasiou — Max Domi — Tyler Johnson
Philip Kurashev — MacKenzie Entwistle — Colin Blackwell
Sam Lafferty — Jujhar Khaira — Taylor Raddysh
Jake McCabe — Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic — Connor Murphy
Riley Stillman — Caleb Jones
Petr Mrazek
Alex Stalock
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