Are the Blackhawks a playoff team?

A question that few would’ve expected to be asking as December begins is whether or not the rebuilding team in the Windy City would be playoff contenders.

Well, they might need to keep asking it, as the Chicago Blackhawks don’t seem to be going away.

Heading into the holiday season, the Blackhawks are sitting in a Wild Card spot. For a team that has been a doormat for the rest of the league for several years, it has been a pleasant sight to see the team still be competitive. Connor Bedard is establishing himself as a superstar, currently tied for second in the NHL with 37 points thus far, and Spencer Knight has been playing lights out in the first two months of the year.

While there’s still plenty of hockey to be played, the Hawks are a team worth watching down the stretch.

On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discuss the legitimacy of the Blackhawks’ playoff hopes.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I think for the Hawks – push, push, push. If you miss the playoffs by two points, I don’t think the season would be a failure by any stretch. Give this group everything you can. Part of the reason why I may be a little bit higher on them is they’re maybe showing a bit of an ability to stay in games in different ways. There have been lots of nights where Spencer Knight steals the show…The fact they’ve surrounded [Bedard] with talent. The fact their power play is good. Penalty kill is really good, top 10 in the league. Goaltending’s good. I think they got a shot…What’s your percentage on the Hawks being a playoff team?

Carter Hutton: I want to give them the benefit of the doubt because I want them to get in, because I think it’d be exciting. But I’m going to kind of roll around that. I might go 30%, even less. I just feel like with the teams that are coming, it’s really worrisome. I do think it is in their control if they add a few additions. We’re only 25 games in. We still got so many to go that can really separate this team the other way.

When I look at the standings, I worry. When I think about Edmonton, I think about the Winnipeg Jets coming. Then it’s just a numbers game. Then it’s just like they have to beat out one team from the Pacific, per se. It’s going to be really tough. I do hope they get in because it would be fun to watch them down the stretch playing some meaningful hockey.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…