Reasons to be pessimistic about the 2026-27 Blackhawks

As previously outlined, there are plenty of reasons to feel better about the
Chicago Blackhawks chances for success this season as opposed to past years. That said, there are also a plethora of ways this 2026-2027 campaign can play out poorly for the team. It's only fair to get into the negatives as well. Here are five reasons to be pessimistic about this year's edition of Blackhawks hockey.

Recent history does not bode well

It is no secret that the Blackhawks are still in the rebuilding process. The results in recent seasons reflect this fact. This is a team that has not seen playoff hockey since 2020 (and the validity of that playoff run is up for debate). While general manager Kyle Davidson has been more aggressive than most summers when it comes to improving this roster, it is still a tall task to ask this squad to suddenly jump out of the league's basement and into contention. They would need to find at least 10+ more wins and 20+ more points. That is no easy order.

That being said, the counter-argument could be raised that this team is statistically due for a turnaround. The Blackhawks have finished 30th or worse in four straight seasons. Surely this run has to end eventually. Surely...

The Connor Bedard injury

With the excitement of the Patrick Kane signing, it's almost easy to forget that the Blackhawks will be without their best player to start the season. The return timeline for Connor Bedard is not 100% clear. But, he was given a four month approximation when his shoulder surgery was made public in early July. That sets him up for a comeback sometime in November, depending on how efficiently his rehab process plays out.

No matter which way you slice it, this is a major blow to this team. While Kane will help ease that blow, the opening stretch of the season will be a challenge for this group. It's very possible the Blackhawks already find themselves well below .500 by the time Bedard returns. Then they would have to play catch up for the rest of the year. There's also the question of how Bedard performs when he comes back. Will there be rust? Does it take him a while to get his season going?

Unproven young team

There's a lot of hope in the youth of the Blackhawks core; the talent/skill is there. The reality is there is no guarantee that this translates into success off the rip. There is hope Frank Nazar breaks out this year, but what if injuries continue to plague him? The fanbase has high confidence that Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov will find themselves in the rookie-of-the-year conversation. It's also very possible these two forwards struggle with the pressure that will be immediately thrusted upon them to perform in top-six roles. There's also going to be a ton of competition for ice time on this roster. This could be to the detriment of young players like Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore, who may have a harder time earning the trust of coach Jeff Blashill over the established veterans in the lineup.

Inexperienced Defense

Ian Cole is the oldest player on the Blackhawks blueline; the grizzled vet leading the way at 37 years old. Otherwise, the rest of the defensive core consists of players 25 or younger. Davidson has placed his betting chips in favor of Bowen Byram taking that next step into becoming an elite defenseman. However, what if the prevailing skepticism is proven true and Byram is shown not to be all that? Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski still have long ways to go in their development. Spencer Knight's life may still be difficult this season with such an inexperienced D-core in front of him.

The Central division is brutal

Unfortunately for Chicago, they happen to play in arguably the toughest division in hockey. The Central division is an absolute gauntlet. The Colorado Avalanche won the Presidents Trophy last season, and many consider them to be the Stanley Cup favorite this season. The Dallas Stars have been knocking on the Cup door for years. The Minnesota Wild have emerged as a frontrunner. The Utah Mammoth have assembled a stout core for the future. The St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators are always competitive these days. The Winnipeg Jets are only a year removed from a Presidents Trophy win, although look to be trending in the wrong direction.

The Blackhawks are not the San Jose Sharks; they do not have the luxury of partaking in the Pacific division pillow fight. Therefore, their task to make that postseason breakthrough is much more challenging.