The Chicago Blackhawks improved their record to 2-2-1 with a solid 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. Scoring for the Hawks were Taylor Hall, Todd Bertuzzi, Nick Foligno, and Jason Dickinson, while Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen each contributed two assists. Goalie Petr Mrazek had a strong performance, stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced. This game could serve as a blueprint for the Blackhawks’ success this season, particularly since they outshot their opponent 31-24.
The defense appears to be better this year, thanks to some added experience on the blue line. Free agent signing T.J. Brodie has teamed up with returning defensemen Seth Jones and Connor Murphy, helping to stabilize the Hawks’ defensive zone.
The skill level of the team has notably increased. Connor Bedard is expected to elevate his game even beyond his impressive rookie season, partly due to his age—he was only 18 last year. Additionally, playing alongside Teuvo Teravainen is likely to enhance their performance; both players have tallied seven points in five games, with Bedard netting one goal and six assists, while Teravainen has three goals and four assists. They combined for a beautiful power play goal, assisting Foligno, showcasing their chemistry.
Defenseman Seth Jones has also made a strong start, recording five points with one goal and four assists. The point here is that skilled players tend to excel when paired with others of similar talent, making Bedard’s rookie achievements even more remarkable.
While the Hawks’ top line looks promising, there may be challenges in scoring depth beyond that. Fans are hopeful for additional support soon.
Now, how about those IceHogs? Yes, that’s intended as a question. The Blackhawks have several highly regarded prospects playing with the Rockford IceHogs, and monitoring their progress will give fans insight into how soon Bedard and his teammates might receive help. So, what’s happening in Rockford? They won their first game.
The Hawks are particularly strong on defense. This year’s second overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, Artyom Levshunov, is currently sidelined with an injury but is expected to return soon. He will start the season in Rockford but could see some action in Chicago if things go well.
Levshunov will join other top prospects, such as center/wing Frank Nazar and defenseman Kevin Korchinski, on what should be a formidable IceHogs squad. Korchinski performed well as an 18-year-old with the Blackhawks last season and has a high ceiling.
Both the Blackhawks and the IceHogs promise to be exciting teams to watch this season.