The Chicago Blackhawks concluded the 2025-26 season with their highest points total since 2019-20, showcasing the development of young talent. Player performances varied widely, with some excelling and others struggling throughout the season.
Key points
Blackhawks finished with highest points since 2019-20
Young players are developing well in the NHL
Player performances varied from great to inconsistent
Grading criteria included games played and midseason acquisitions
Chicago BlackhawksRyan GreeneRyan Donato
Apr 15, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Greene (20) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks with center Ryan Donato (8) during the third period at United Center. Mandatory Credit:
Apr 15, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Greene (20) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks with center Ryan Donato (8) during the third period at United Center. Mandatory Credit:
The Blackhawks wrapped up yet another disappointing season, but there are still things to be positive about. The team finished with the most points in the standings they’ve had since the 2019-20 season, and young players are starting to truly find their footing in the NHL.
With that said, each player has provided a uniquely different product. Some were great year-round, some were inconsistent. Some started hot and ended cold, and some did the opposite. Let’s take a look at how each player did with the help of the following criteria and grading system:
Finished the season with the team
Minimum 25 games played
Minimum 10 games played with the team for midseason acquisitions via trade or signing
The Blackhawks have their starting netminder for the time being. Knight faced the fourth-most shots against in the league, and he handled it like a champ in his first full season as a starter. The Boston College alum stood on his head in many games and consistently gave the players in front of him a chance. With a maturing defensive core, Knight could very well be a Vezina candidate in the near future.
There isn’t much to be said about Bedard’s game this season. Without a freak midseason accident resulting in a lengthy time missed due to injury, Bedard very well could have pushed for the 4o goal, 100-point mark. Wrapping up his final under-21 season, Bedard is possibly the best in franchise history in that age group. If he can play a full 82 next season and have an improved linemate situation, Bedard can easily develop more consistency in his game and solidify himself as a face of the NHL.
If Bert maintained his early-season production, he would have certainly been in the ‘A’ category. He led the team in goals and power play goals, while finishing second in assists and total points. He hovered around the top six for most of the season, and more often than not, he looked like he belonged. The human backboard proved himself to be a veteran of worth for this young roster.
His stats may not look the most impressive, but Mikheyev was the definition of consistent this season with the Blackhawks. Night in, night out, Mickey did exactly what he was expected to do – fly up the wing, create opportunities with his high motor and physicality, and play sound defense on the way back. As the only ‘+’ player on the team with a +2, Mikeyev joins Bertuzzi as a veteran worth keeping around. Although he’s looking for decent length on his next contract, don’t be surprised to see him back at the Madhouse next season.
Nazar is extremely close to getting over the hump and becoming a legit first-line forward. Of course, positional fit matters in determining his spot in the lineup, but he showed some serious flashes throughout the season. At certain stretches, Nazar was over a point per game and potentially the most productive Blackhawk. Like Bedard, he will benefit deeply from playing a full 82 next season and building some chemistry with his linemates.
A small sample size, but Frondell looked legit. The third overall pick in the 2025 draft proved every reason why he was picked where he was. At just 18 years old, he was the hardest working and, arguably, the most noticeable Blackhawk down the final stretch of the season. An offseason to get to work, and there is likely to be a Calder Trophy candidate in Chicago. The question remains as to whether he ends up a center or a winger, but don’t be surprised if he ends up running the second line up the center.
Crevier has a serious argument for the best blueliner on the Blackhawks after this past season. At -2, Crevier had the second-best +/- from a Blackhawk that played a substantial piece of the season, behind the aforementioned Mikeyev. Crevier boasts the hardest shot resulting in a goal. This goal came in mid-March, a testament to his strength and durability that he used all season long. At 24 years old and a full frame, his ceiling likely isn’t much higher, but he looks to be a productive top-four defenseman.
Kaiser struggled a bit more, according to the analytics, and he did have some major lowlights. Throughout the majority of the season, Kaiser provided the best defensive game on the Blackhawks. His offensive game was not bad either, being featured on both power play units at different parts of the season. The end of his season was quiet, but he also seems to be an established part of the blueline in Chicago.
Vlasic had an up-and-down season, but ultimately, he played a fine defensive game. In year two of his six-year extension, he’s teetering on the line of being worth the money and being slightly overpaid. He’s proven he can be a top shut-down defenseman in the league, but at times, he looked timid and unwilling to take calculated defensive risks. He has to find the aggressiveness that made him so valuable in the first place, and he’ll be in the ‘A’ category by the end of next season.
The Blackhawks needed a better season out of Bedard’s linemate, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Greene. Going into the season, he was supposed to be a Rockford IceHog. Due to some injuries around the lineup, he got the call and solidified his spot on the team. Greene’s role will likely be diminished next year, but the 22-year-old rookie has the makings of a mainstay bottom-six forward that every championship-calibre team needs.
Söderblom is a serviceable backup goaltender. For goalies between 15 and 30 games played, where you’ll find a majority of backups, Södie faced the second-most shots against. He also accumulated the third most saves under that criteria. This season also featured his first career shutout against the Mammoth. His stats are ugly, and he has had numerous rough patches. His future with the team is uncertain, but behind a contender, Söderblom would be a very solid backup option.
The log jam at the goaltending position complicates Söderblom’s future even more. Drew Commesso was a stud in his three starts this season, and Adam Gajan just wrapped up a phenomenal season with Minnesota-Duluth. With a year remaining on his deal, don’t be surprised if Söderblom is traded over the offseason.
In his rookie season, Moore smashed the eye test. Everything they said about his skating ability on draft night was in full effect. Unfortunately, that’s all empty without production. An injury in early March ended his season, which certainly didn’t help, but Moore needs to learn how to turn his speed into goals. He certainly improved in this area as the season progressed, but there’s still a lot more to be desired. An offseason of training with Connor Bedard might just unlock his potential.
Yet another rookie who showed flashes, but just struggled to turn it into production. Are you seeing a trend here? Questions circulated as to whether Lardis’ goal-scoring touch would translate to the NHL. So far, he looks close, but he left a lot of points on the table with poor finishing. On the bright side, he led rookies who played half of the season at most in goals, while landing third in points under the same criteria.
After the trade deadline, Grzelcyk became the only veteran blueliner. After signing a one-year deal over the summer, it was clear he was meant to be a solid depth piece and a teacher for the young defensemen. Sometimes he was a healthy scratch, sometimes he was playing over 20 minutes. He played his role to a tee, and it would be no surprise to see him back on the Blackhawks next season.
After a career year and solidifying himself as a fan favorite, it was unfortunate to see this season play out for Donato. By no means did he play bad hockey, just nowhere near where he was playing before he received a four-year extension this past offseason. If he can get back into the 25-30 goal range next season, then he will shoot up in grade. Until then, he seems to be a decent enough veteran to stick on the fourth line. Extra points for being the only Blackhawk to play 82 games!
It’s extremely difficult trying to grade a player who, at times, looked like the worst player on the ice and, at others, could have been the best. By far, Arty had the biggest issue with consistency. In fewer games than those in front of him, Levshunov ranked fourth in points among rookie defenseman. That’s a rookie defenseman class with some serious talent, and Lev was up there with the best of them. A summer regimen based around film review and building some swagger would work wonders for the 20-year-old.
Another rookie, and he had a very unique arc. Rinzel finished the 2024-25 campaign looking like a stud, but this year, he struggled to find his footing. After a productive midseason stint in Rockford, Rinzel gained back some of his confidence. Still, there is a lot left he needs to do to be a legit NHL blueliner, especially as far as his defensive motor goes. Regardless, the 21-year-old’s 200-foot offensive game was rock solid and keeps his potential quite high.
This is the first of the Blackhawks ‘net negative’ players listed. Mangiapane was brought in as a salary dump from the Oilers at the trade deadline. At first, he actually seemed to be a really solid player with some upside for the Blackhawks bottom six. Since then, he was in and out of the lineup and failed to gain traction. Time will tell if Mangiapane will remain on the roster for next season, but for the time being, he is merely a fringe NHLer who helps the Blackhawks meet the cap floor.
Slaggs simply hasn’t been able to put it together through over 100 NHL games. Some players take a while to develop, and the 23-year-old is no exception. His playstyle is conducive to a fourth-line grinder, which is a valuable asset, but probably not what they had envisioned when he was selected in the 3rd round of the 2020 NHL draft. It’s possible he can use his motor and physicality to solidify a spot in the bottom six, but for the time being, Slaggert might end up a penguin that fell off the rebuilding iceberg.
It’s hard to be too critical of Lafferty, as he wasn’t exactly meant to be a huge addition. Depth to slot in for an injury is necessary, but Lafferty oftentimes felt like a liability when he played. Being a former fan favorite from seasons ago certainly helped his case early on, but by the end of the season, that narrative turned on its head. With his contract officially up, it’s unlikely we’ll see Lafferty back in a Blackhawks uniform next season.
When Teuvo was signed in the 2025 offseason, he was seen as the first addition of mid-to-high-end veteran talent to the rebuild. In his first season, he was solid and produced at a respectable level, all while performing as a top-two defensive forward on the roster. This season, his defense took a slight hit, but it was still a strength. Unfortunately, the production fell off a cliff. With a year left on his deal and a $5.4 million cap hit, it’s unlikely he gets bought out. It would be interesting to see if they can coach him back to his 2024-25 playing ways.
If this list were made after the first third or so of the season, Burky would be an A+. At first, it seemed like the Davidson regime nailed it by bringing in an underperforming forward on a bad contract. He was in the top three in each major stat category and was a legitimate driver of the offense. Finally, a veteran forward who plays a quality game and can keep up with the youth. Once the injuries around the lineup accumulated and players were moved around, Burakovsky not only struggled to find his game again, but he became a consistent liability.
He has one year left on a $5.5 million deal. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him bought out, but if the coaching staff has any faith in themselves, they could think about retaining him. They can treat the last year of his contract as a trial to whip him back into shape. For what it’s worth, he looked like a different player (for the better) in their season finale against the Sharks. Ultimately, Burakovsky fans shouldn’t hold their breath, as his future is almost certainly away from the Blackhawks organization.
Looking To Next Season
This Blackhawks team is closer than they seem. Some development from the youngsters is a necessity if this team wants to push for the playoffs next season. Levshunov and Rinzel developing a higher level of confidence and decision-making would work wonders for the Blackhawks blueline. Moore, Lardis, and Greene can all be major cogs of the offense if they can turn their chances into production. Nazar taking the next step and becoming a bonafied point-per-game star would take some pressure off of Bedard, all in front of an excellent starting netminder.
Some players may need to depart from the organization, but addition by subtraction is a bad mindset when developing a young roster. Ship out any player, and the team is still left with a wealth of raw talent trying to put it all together. Ultimately, it’s up to those guys to take over and make this Chicago Blackhawks team their own.
