Last Season: 33-39-10 76 pts (7th in Central Division; Did Not Make Playoffs)
Key Additions: D Brandon Manning, F Chris Kunitz, F Marcus Kruger, and G Cam Ward
Key Departures: D Adam Clendening, D Cody Franson, F Marian Hossa, F Patrick Sharp, and F Vinnie Hinostroza
Top Questions Facing the Blackhawks:
- How is Corey Crawford’s health going to be going into this season?
Crawford missed the second half of last season due to concussion issues, and questions are still in the air, some saying that these concussion issues are career threatening, in regards to his health going into this season. The Blackhawks did sign Cam Ward as a back up plan just in case, but at the same time Ward is near the tail end of his career. Crawford is a difference maker when healthy, and Chicago could be in major touble if he isn’t.
2. Could major change be coming to Chicago?
Last season the Blackhawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08, and are now in the need of doing a rebuild before they can make the playoffs again. Players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Brandon Saad all need to have bounce back seasons this year to help the Blackhawks turn around what was an abysmal season that saw them go from 109 points in 2016-17 to 76 points last season. However, what happens if they start poorly? With the massive contracts that Toews, Kane, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook have, moving them would be very difficult. So would you fire Joel Quenneville? How about Stan Bowman? Or what about both? One way or the other, it will be interesting to see how the Blackhawks do this season.
