The Chicago Blackhawks finished 31st in the NHL for the third consecutive year, despite a promising start. Their final record was 29-39-14, marking their first 70-plus point season since 2019-20.
Key points
Chicago Blackhawks finished 31st in the NHL for the third year in a row
First team since 1998-2001 Tampa Bay Lightning to finish in bottom three for three seasons
Final record was 29-39-14, first 70-plus point season since 2019-20
Started the season with a 10-5-4 record
Featured several first-round picks on a young blue line
The 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks finished as the 31st-ranked team in the league for the third year in a row, while also becoming the first club since the 1998-2001 Tampa Bay Lightning to finish in the bottom three of the NHL standings in three consecutive seasons.
As a group, the Blackhawks perhaps didnât make the strides the organization was hoping for, especially considering the 10-5-4 start through the first 19 games. Finishing with a 29-39-14 record did result in the first 70-plus point campaign since 2019-20, but it still wasnât enough to get Chicago out of the basement.
Expectations werenât through the roof entering the season by any means, but there was a belief that this Blackhawks squad featured much more talent, with a slew of GM Kyle Davidsonâs first-round picks on the roster. A couple of those first-rounders were on the blue line, which was among the youngest in the entire NHL this year.
Because of all the youth and inexperience on the back end, there was sure to be peaks and valleys throughout the course of an 82-game schedule. That was to be expected, and itâs precisely how it played out. But with the belief that defensive struggles would be inevitable, it does make grading each player and their respective seasons a little challenging.
Hereâs Part 1 of Chicago Hockey Nowâs report card grades for the 2025-26 Blackhawks, starting with eight defensemen and two goaltenders. Preseason expectations were considered for each player.
Following the departures of Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson at the trade deadline, Alex Vlasic, still only 24 years old, is now the longest-tenured member of the Blackhawks. The 2025-26 season was just his third as a full-time NHLer, where he officially eclipsed the 200-game plateau.
Q&A
Why did the Chicago Blackhawks finish 31st in the NHL for the 2025-26 season?
The Blackhawks struggled throughout the season, finishing with a 29-39-14 record, which reflected their inability to maintain early-season momentum.
How does the Blackhawks' 2025-26 performance compare to previous seasons?
The Blackhawks have now finished in the bottom three of the NHL standings for three consecutive seasons, a feat not seen since the Tampa Bay Lightning from 1998-2001.
What was the Blackhawks' record at the start of the 2025-26 season?
The Blackhawks started the season with a 10-5-4 record through their first 19 games.
Who are the key players contributing to the Blackhawks' defense and goaltending?
The Blackhawks' defense featured several of GM Kyle Davidson's first-round picks, contributing to a young blue line that was among the youngest in the NHL.
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Vlasicâs rookie campaign in 2023-24 saw him blossom into one of the leagueâs best even-strength defenders at just 22 years of age. However, he hasnât been quite as crisp defensively over the last two seasons, although the lack of team success surely hasnât helped his cause. Still, thereâs no denying that Vlasic hasnât developed into the bona fide top-pairing guy he showed flashes of becoming not too long ago.
After missing the season-opener against the Florida Panthers, Vlasic suited up in each of the final 81 games of the year. Among all Blackhawks defensemen, he finished third with 21 points (2G, 19A). Diving into his analytics, Vlasic had the worst Corsi percentage among the eight blue-liners, while only Ethan Del Mastro had a worse expected-goals percentage.
Averaging a team-high 21:08 of ice time and playing predominantly in defensive situations certainly impacted those numbers, but itâs not like Vlasicâs role was much different back in 2023-24. He just hasnât found the same success these last two seasons, and it seems more likely that he becomes a No. 3 or No. 4 defenseman in the rebuild, as opposed to a top-pairing player.
Wyatt Kaiser had appeared in 98 NHL contests for the Blackhawks from 2022-2025, but this past season was his first as a full-time big-leaguer. The 2020 third-round pick suited up for 77 of the teamâs 82 games in 2025-26 and recorded career-highs across the board, with six goals, 11 assists, and 17 points.
Personally, with Kaiserâs skating ability and offensive instincts, his production from this season was a little underwhelming. Heâs absolutely capable of being a consistent 20 or 25-point producer in this league, given how well he reads plays, his willingness to join the rush, and his passing skills. Regardless of the stats, though, the 23-year-old was arguably the most impactful defenseman for the Blackhawks this year, as his well-rounded nature was on full display often.
There were some lackluster stretches from Kaiser throughout the season, but thatâs to be expected for a player of his age. But when he was firing on all cylinders, he was an exceptional jack-of-all-trades blue-liner who showed no glaring weakness in his game. Even as a somewhat undersized player, Kaiser can play a scrappy style and will fool his opponent with a big body check now and then.
However, the best parts of Kaiserâs game are his wheels and his hockey IQ. He can skate the puck out of harmâs way in the defensive zone and efficiently recognizes whatâs developing on the ice around him. As he continues to gain experience, the Blackhawks hope those traits help him further develop into a unique, all-around defenseman who can be trusted in all situations.
Like Vlasic, Kaiser probably fits into the rebuild as a second-pairing defenseman, although thereâs still plenty of room for him to grow.
After getting a taste of the NHL level at the end of the 2024-25 season, Artyom Levshunov played exclusively for the Blackhawks in 2025-26. Even amidst a disastrous stretch before the Olympics in late January/early February, the organization never sent him down to Rockford in the AHL this year.
Levshunov, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, had a roller-coaster ride of a rookie season, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. When evaluating his season as a whole, few defensemen in the league were as poor as he was defensively. However, there were stretches of play where Levshunov was much improved in his own end. Sadly, those moments were a little too few and far between.
Offensively, Levshunov fared about the same. At times, he flashed a combination of size, skill, and skating that few NHL defensemen possess, but he couldnât do it consistently throughout an 82-game season. His production on the teamâs top power-play unit also dropped off a cliff as the year wore on.
Being only 20 years old, Levshunov isnât the first defenseman his age to deal with inconsistencies and bone-headed mistakes. However, for a player as highly regarded as he was heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, itâs undeniably concerning how far Levshunov still has to go to become a trusted NHL blue-liner. There were way too many instances of âwhat the heck was he doing there?â or âwhat was he thinking?â during his rookie campaign.
Altogether, Levshunov finished second among all Blackhawks defensemen with 24 points (2G, 22A) in 68 games and was tied for second among NHL rookie defensemen with 22 assists. After his reset leading into the Olympic break, he cleaned up some of the mistakes that were plaguing him earlier in the year. Still, it wasnât the rookie year that he or Chicago had hoped for.
Itâs still too early to say what Levshunov will develop into, but itâs clear he doesnât have the same luster as he did a few years ago. Offensively, the top-pairing skills are apparent, but thereâs a long way to go defensively.
Looking back, the expectations for Sam Rinzel going into his rookie season with the Blackhawks were simply too high. But to be fair, the reason he had those expectations was because of how well he fared in his first nine NHL games at the end of 2024-25. Rinzel tallied five assists while averaging 23:22 of ice time per game, and he already looked capable of being a top-four defenseman immediately after departing the NCAA level.
Unfortunately, Rinzel couldnât carry over that momentum into the early parts of this season, where he started as a top-pairing player who also quarterbacked the top power-play unit. Because of that role, Rinzel was getting plenty of love as a Calder Trophy candidate going into the year, but he couldnât ever get comfortable. Eventually, he was demoted from those two spots and assigned to the Rockford IceHogs for a 23-game minor-league stint.
Offensively, Rinzel didnât make the impact he was expected to provide, as he finished fifth among all Blackhawks defenseman with 14 points (4G, 10A) in 54 games. Defensively, the stats and analytics werenât too poor, as he was on the ice for 35 goals for to 39 against this season. However, he was mostly utilized in offensive situations, and he certainly must get stronger to fare better in his own end.
There are still plenty of reasons to believe in Rinzelâs upside as a top-pairing defenseman, but like Levshunov, strides need to be made this summer.
While two young right-handed defensemen in Levshunov and Rinzel had lackluster seasons, the same cannot be said for former seventh-round pick Louis Crevier. Believe it or not, Crevier led all Blackhawks defensemen in goals (7) and points (25) this year while also showing off his abilities as an effective penalty killer.
With Crevierâs 6-foot-8 frame, he not only possesses the long reach and size to be a disruptor in the defensive zone, but also the power to blast slap shots from the point and chip in offensively. Few other players in the NHL can wire the puck like Crevier, and thatâs proven to be a huge asset for the Blackhawks.
Considering Crevier opened the season as the No. 7 defenseman on the roster, the fact that he became arguably the second-best blueliner on the team is nothing short of remarkable. Especially with two high-end prospects in Levshunov and Rinzel also playing the right side, who were handed more of the opportunities earlier in the year.
Altogether, Crevier was the most productive defenseman on the team and finished with a minus-7 rating in 78 games, which shouldnât be forgotten in a season where the Blackhawks were the second-worst team in hockey. Crevier proved that he shouldnât be a forgotten man in the rebuild, and thatâs quite impressive considering his expectations going into the year.
After entering training camp on a PTO, Matt Grzelcyk performed well enough to earn a one-year contract and suited up in 69 of the teamâs 82 games in 2025-26. Analytically, he was the teamâs best defenseman this season, leading all Blackhawksâ blueliners in Corsi percentage (46.86) and goals for percentage (49.45).
Now, Grzelcyk played a sheltered role and averaged just 16:58 seconds of ice time, but he made the most of his opportunity. Despite defensive issues throughout his career, he did well to stay out of trouble in his own end and finished with a respectable minus-9 rating.
Offensively, Grzelcyk didnât offer much, with only nine assists and no goals on the year. After recording 40 points in 82 games the season prior with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the lack of production was somewhat disappointing.
Still, the expectations werenât too high for Grzlecyk going into the season, and he fared about as well as he could have, given the situation. With the lack of veteran depth on the blue line in 2026-27, thereâs a chance that Grzlecyk returns on a cheap, team-friendly deal this offseason.
Grade: C
Ethan Del Mastro
After appearing in 24 games in 2024-25, Ethan Del Mastro played in only 19 games for the Blackhawks this past season. Del Mastro had a chance to crack the opening-night NHL roster but had a woeful preseason, which forced him to begin 2025-26 down in the AHL with Rockford.
The 2021 fourth-round pick was on the ice for only three goals for to 14 against with the Blackhawks this season, giving him a team-low 17.65 goals-for percentage. Neither the analytics nor the eye test was ideal for EDM, who needs a new contract this summer to return to the team.
Set to turn 24 years old next January, Del Mastro has yet to prove capable of being a full-time NHLer, and he requires waivers to be sent to the AHL level next season. With all the bodies on a crowded blue line, thereâs a chance that Del Mastroâs time with the organization has come to an end.
Truthfully, he didnât do himself any favors with how much he struggled when given a chance to play for the Blackhawks this year. Weâll see what the future holds for EDM.
The No. 7 overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Kevin Korchinski has played in only 29 games for the Blackhawks combined over the last two seasons. He made 13 NHL appearances in 2025-26, tallying two assists while averaging a measly 13:38 of ice time.
Korchinskiâs development plan hasnât gone as swiftly as the Blackhawks had hoped, but he at least wrapped up this past season on a positive note, playing arguably the best hockey of his career. The 21-year-old stood his ground effectively in the defensive zone and was also impactful on the offensive side of the game. Those were statements that could not be said about Korchinski, in the NHL, at least, until his late-season stint.
Like Del Mastro, Korchinski needs a new contract as a restricted free agent this summer. Between the two, Korchinski is undoubtedly more likely to be re-signed, as thereâs a decent chance the Blackhawks donât bring both back in the offseason. Korchinski also would require waivers to be assigned to Rockford, so GM Kyle Davidson will likely have him on his opening-night roster in 2026-27.
The upside of becoming a top-pairing defenseman might not be there anymore for Korchinski, but that doesnât mean he cannot turn into a pivotal piece in the rebuild. Itâs just more likely to happen on the second or third pairing now.
Spencer Knight has played in the NHL since 2021-22, but this past season was his first as a legitimate No. 1 netminder. The 24-year-old made a career-high 55 starts and handled the workload incredible well, particularly in the first half. Knight was among the best goaltenders in the league for the first few months of the season before things went awry for the Blackhawks down the home stretch.
Knight ended up losing 14 of his last 17 starts, and while he wasnât as sharp as he was earlier in the year, most of those defeats werenât because of his poor play in net. The remarkably young defense in front of him certainly played a part in his numbers dipping in the second half, as he finished the season with a .902 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average. For most of the year, Knightâs save percentage floated around .910, while his goals-against average was closer to 2.50-2.60.
The former first-round pickâs stellar play early in the season showed what heâs capable of in this league, and when heâs performing at that level, the Blackhawks have a chance to beat anyone. He was a pivotal reason why the Hawks were postseason contenders early on. If he can be on top of his game more times than not in 2026-27, thereâs a chance the long postseason drought finally gets snapped.
Set to turn 27 in August, Arvid Soderblom has now served as the Blackhawksâ backup goaltender for the last three and a half seasons and still hasnât proven capable of handling the position. Heâs made 101 career NHL starts and has been one of the worst goaltenders in the league over that stretch, with a 25-65-14 record, a 3.61 goals-against average, .887 save percentage, and just one shutout.
Sure, Soderblom hasnât been in an ideal spot on a bottom-feeder Blackhawks team since arriving to the big leagues, but the lack of consistency in his play once again this season was concerning. Across his 24 starts, there were a handful of dandies, but a few too many duds. He surrendered five goals or more seven times. There were only six games where he finished with a save percentage better than .910.
Compared to the last two years, Soderblom did make some strides in 2025-26. However, with the Blackhawks ready to make strides of their own in the rebuild next season, with a goal of at least being postseason contenders, the question is whether the franchise trusts Soderblom as Knightâs backup when it matters?
From what weâve seen out of Soderblom so far in his career, itâs hard to believe that they do. But with one more year left on his current deal, the Blackhawks are in somewhat of a tricky situation. Drew Commesso has been waiting patiently in Rockford over the last few years to get a full-time NHL opportunity, and if he performs well in training camp/preseason in the fall, he could finally get his chance. However, heâs still unproven at the highest level, and it would be somewhat risky to have him as Knightâs backup in a meaningful season.
Soderblomâs future in Chicago is unknown, but itâs more likely than not that heâs back in 2026-27. For any hopes of being here beyond that, heâll need to play the best hockey of his career next season.
