After two years of losing, can the Blackhawks build a winner?
Sometimes our questions to athletes don't come out perfectly.
Such was the case Wednesday when I asked the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard how difficult this season has been on him.
“I mean, it's a pretty obvious question,” Bedard said. “Losing sucks and no one enjoys losing. …
“It’s been tough sometimes for sure, but we’re just trying to stay as positive as we can and grow and obviously take a step here in the last bit of the season.”
Kudos to Bedard for giving me a few decent comments after semi-roasting my query.
Losing does suck, and the Hawks have experienced quite a bit of it since Luke Richardson took over as coach. They went 26-49-7 last season and are 15-40-5 after falling 5-0 to Colorado at the United Center on Thursday. They have one winning streak all season — a two-gamer over Anaheim and St. Louis in early December.
If all of that isn't bad enough, the Hawks might become the fourth team since 1995 to finish last in goals scored in back-to-back seasons. The last franchise to “accomplish” that feat was the 2013-15 Buffalo Sabres.
Just like last year, some fans hope the Hawks keep losing so they'll have the best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft. It's an understandable position but one veteran forward Nick Foligno despises.
“I'm a believer in good karma,” Foligno said after Wednesday's practice. “What’s the right way? Is it bringing in a high pick into a culture that’s sustaining winning and making him understand how hard it is to win in this league and … that every night is competitive? Or is it having the first overall pick and trying to find your way?
“You’ve seen teams do that. They toil and you don’t really find that culture and understanding of winning because there’s just not that mentality or mindset.”
Case in point: The Edmonton Oilers. They had the No. 1 pick in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. They also had the No. 7 pick in 2013, the No. 3 pick in 2014 and the No. 4 pick in 2016.
The Oilers made the playoffs once between 2010-19 and were still dumped before the second round in 2020 (by the dismal Hawks) and 2021.
“I’m sure Connor (McDavid) had that conversation in Edmonton: Hey, what are we doing here?” Foligno said.
Buffalo’s another fantastic example as the Sabres have not made the playoffs since 2011 despite having top 10 picks from 2013-22.
Tampa Bay is the model franchise when it comes to building the right way. In the early 2010s, the Lightning allowed talented players like Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn to develop in the minors before promoting them to the NHL.
It took time and patience. But the results were dramatic, with those three playing vital roles in the Lightning’s run to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.
“Now they’re not 20 (and in the NHL),” Foligno said. “They’re 23, 24 and grizzled in the minors. (They're saying,) ‘Bring me in. Let's go.'”
This is the fine line Hawks GM Kyle Davidson must walk in the coming years. Colton Dach (No. 62 in 2021), Frank Nazar (No. 13 overall in 2022) and Oliver Moore (No. 19 in 2023) probably shouldn't be skating in Chicago in the next season or two. Let them cut their teeth in the minors.
Years ago, I was talking with Hawks analyst Troy Murray about this subject. His theory is simple: Players should be promoted after they dominate each level en route to the NHL. While that's not always possible, Davidson should do his best to adopt this philosophy.
He should also add solid free agents in 2024-25, just as he did this season by bringing in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno and Corey Perry. Now shoot a little higher by inking a couple difference-makers to three-year deals; maybe one to a five-year deal. Don't wait too long to build a strong base or — as Foligno said — it will take forever for the culture to change.
“I'd rather be the team that has that direction, that has that understanding,” Foligno said. “Maybe you pick later (in) rounds … and (still get a) pretty good player.
“That to me is more important to what we're trying to accomplish here to get the Chicago Blackhawks back to greatness.”