The Blackhawks are so Back (For Now)
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser battle for the puck during the third period at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (PC: David Guralnick/The Detroit News/TNS)
Are you not entertained? (You should be).
The Blackhawks are holding on to the 4th spot in the Central Division after 18 games.
At this point last season, the Blackhawks had won 6 out of 16 games, with only one loss in overtime. This season puts them at 9 wins, with five losses (three overtime, one shootout). The team is standing on stronger ground than they have in past seasons.
Most Blackhawks players are off to a solid start, but three have been outstanding.
Connor Bedard is currently tied for fourth overall scoring leader with 26 points (alongside Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks, Macklin Celebrini of the Sharks, and three others). They trail behind Nathan MacKinnon with 33 points (because he’s, well, Nathan MacKinnon. An absolute beast on the ice).
Bedard has been proving his place as a number one draft pick this season, scoring his first-ever hat trick against the Ottawa Senators. He is more aggressive, willing to get into scrums and stand up for himself on the ice.
Tyler Bertuzzi scored 7 goals in the last five games, with a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 5th. He is contributing heavily to the offensive success of the Blackhawks so far, proving to be an impressive free-agent pickup in 2024.
Spencer Knight has been one of the major stars of the team’s season so far. With an SV% of .924 in 13 games played, he’s proven to be impressive and essential for success. The days of eternal complaints about the team’s goalie may be over.
A young team is working to the Blackhawks’ advantage. They appear to be playing faster with less slop. At this point in the season, data about speed is distorted when compared to the 2024-2025 season. Still, when watching, the team doesn’t look so brutally inadequate.
They have finally gotten into their groove, just as Frank Nazar, the up-and-coming star of the team, returned from injury.
Nazar was taken out in a cross-check from Joel Farabee of the Calgary Flames. It looked more like he was blown over by a slight wind; nonetheless, he left during the first period and never came back.
He was ruled day-to-day and didn’t play against the Red Wings, but returned to play the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Young stars like Bedard and Nazar, combined with those like Bertuzzi and Knight who have a little more experience in the league, are giving the Blackhawks what they need: speed, precision, and skill.
If the Blackhawks keep up the momentum they currently have, the team and fans can expect to come out of this season with a solid record.
