Securing Connor Bedard as their first overall pick has transformed the Blackhawks from a team in rebuild mode to one with sights on future championships. Yet, for their fans, the word "future" may not hold much patience.
Having witnessed the glory of three Stanley Cups in the 2010s, powered by the legendary duo of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks' fans have high expectations. With both Toews and Kane having exited the Blackhawks' roster, all eyes are on Bedard to potentially guide them to more triumphs.
In a pre-season face-off against the Detroit Red Wings, after Bedard netted his inaugural NHL goal, the crowd erupted with chants of "we want the cup!".
The Blackhawks' lineup boasts of Bedard and former number one pick Taylor Hall. They also have dependable Seth Jones at the defense and Lukas Reichel, a budding talent. Moreover, with Corey Perry and Nick Foligno pooling in a combined salary of $8-million, their fourth line looks robust. However, when it comes to overall team, they still have some gaps to fill to truly compete at the championship level.
