New guys on the Blackhawks want to win

Last year was a dumpster fire for the Blackhawks organization. In the span of 12 months, the team dealt with a sexual assualt investigation which led to a $2 million fine and the resignation of both the general manager and president of hockey operations, started the season 1-9-2, fired their coach, and then traded three of their top players away before the start of this season.

Good thing almost half of the current team wasn't even there.

"As far as I'm concerned," said first-year Blackhawk Max Domi, "last year is totally irrelevant. Yesterday is irrelevant. We're a group that's gonna always have to look forward and be present with where we're at."

Domi, coming from the Carolina Hurricanes, is one of 11 total players on the current Blackhawks roster who began their first season with the organization just several week ago. And it was for the better that they weren't here last year.

"This is all I've known, since training camp" said Jack Johnson, who won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche last season, "And it's been a great experience so far. There's good vibes in the room, good vibes in the building."

The Blackhawks started their season as underdogs in all of their first seven games. In that span, they finished 4-3 with 8 points, which is good for the third spot in the Central Division. It's a bit of a shock for fans and general hockey followers, as this team is supposed to be among the worst in the NHL. Yes, it's early, but this team has exceeded expectations so far, and give credit where credit is due:

These new guys just want to win.

"Whatever happened last year, I don't know," Johnson said. "I wasn't a part of it, but I think there's good excitement in the room amongst players and everything, and we feel like we can win. That's the thing. We've got some belief and that's the starting block."

Through seven games this season, the nine new skaters have tallied a total of 25 points including 7 from Domi, 5 from Jason Dickinson and Taylor Raddysh (who was traded from the Lightning in March 2021), and 4 from Andreas Athanasiou. Among the others is Johnson (2) and Colin Blackwell (2). Boris Katchouk (included in Raddysh's trade), who was activated Friday morning, is yet to play a game, and Filip Roos (four games played) and Jarred Tinordi are two others who have not recorded a point.

And it would be blunder not to mention the two new goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Alex Stalcok.

"You gotta go all out in the NHL, right?" Stalock said after his Blackhawks debut against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Stalock has taken over for Mrazek (groin strain) since the Hawks' comeback victory against Detroit on Oct. 21. In the five games he's appeared in, Stalock has a 3-2 record and .913 save percentage.

It's been noted by several players, including Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, that there is a different atmosphere in the building, and it only makes sense that part of that is credited to the number of new faces.

"I think overall, it's a brand new team," Toews said before their upset win over the Panthers. "(There's a) lot of new guys, but everyone's pretty committed to getting to know each other on and off the ice. ... And everyone's kind of just letting the chips fall and going out there and playing their role and doing what they can for the team. It's (early), but there's a good feeling in the locker room."

None of this would be possible, seemingly, if it weren't for one other new addition: head coach Luke Richardson.

"I just came in looking for a great opportunity," Richardson said before their game against the Oilers. "I know a lot of the players, whether they're new or (were) here last year, they're looking for an opportunity for a fresh start ... and we're doing it together. We're not preaching to them and (are) above the players. We're all in it together, and I think they feel that, and we feel it back."

Obviously, with 11 players being new to the team, there are about 13 others who were in Chicago last year, so there are plenty of people who freshly remember what it was like to be one of the worst teams in hockey. With the new group, however, the early success could be a sign that the veteran group doesn't want to go through that again.