from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

For as bad as the Hawks were in 2022-23, there aren’t very many NHL GMs who wouldn’t trade places with Chicago, simply because Bedard looks to be an all-time-great potential force for the Hawks. The Blackhawks’ marketing now can move toward the days and years ahead, as opposed to looking back on the recent glory days of the franchise.

But Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has mapped out where his team will have to be in the coming years, and our guess is that his team will have to be at or near the basement of the league yet again in 2023-24. Bedard can only do so much, and it would be unfair to expect him to singlehandedly lead the Hawks to the post-season for the first time in the past four years.

No, the rebuild in Chicago will take much more time than that. Let’s remember the Blackhawks finished 36 points out of the final wild-card playoff berth in the Western Conference last season. That’s 18 wins they’d need to make up to become a post-season team this coming year. Not happening. And if it isn’t happening, it makes sense for the Blackhawks to remain at or near the bottom of the West.

They might not get another first overall pick, but they’re more likely to land another terrific young player to use alongside Bedard for the next dozen years or more

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