Pundits across NHL coverage generally have the Chicago Blackhawks projected for the bottom of the standings for the 2026-27 season. As we recently analyzed, if there’s one area that will anchor the Hawks to a lottery race, it’s the defense. However, there is room for optimism: and that comes from the other end of the rink, where the Blackhawks’ offense has the potential to elevate Chicago above expectations.
The pieces are there — they just all need to click together.
Bedard and Nazar in 2025-26
Chicago’s offense was putrid last season. During 5-on-5 play, the Hawks were ranked poorly in the share of expected goals (29th) and actual goals (26th) they accumulated. There was inconsistency from the team’s forwards, meaning that Chicago couldn’t generate meaningful offense in-zone, struggled with offensive zone entries, and didn’t capitalize on an aspect that could have made them a little more dangerous: the rush.
Last season, Connor Bedard was the only true offensive threat. At the time of his mid-December injury, he was at 44 points (19 G, 25 A) in 31 games — a 116-point pace. Post-injury, Bedard just wasn’t the same, but he wasn’t the only player who battled with inconsistency. Frank Nazar started the season hot and, even though he finished with 41 points (15 G, 26 A) in 66 games, Nazar had a very quiet middle to the season: just nine points (2 G, 7 A) in 25 games from Nov. 23 to March 1. If the Hawks have any hope of replicating their early success last season, both Nazar and Bedard need to be consistent. For Bedard, we’ll have to wait until his return, but scoring at that pace of 100-plus points is a must. Nazar doesn’t need to produce anywhere close to Bedard, but he needs to prove that he’s consistent.
There are four players who could help Nazar and Bedard: Nick Lardis, Roman Kantserov, Anton Frondell, and Patrick Kane.
Kane, Lardis, Kantserov, and Frondell
Nick Lardis (10 G, 5 A, in 41 games last season) has the potential to be a top-six scoring winger. While technically an unknown, highly anticipated Russian forward Roman Kantserov has the potential to be a very effective top-six winger. Anton Frondell displayed strong forechecking skills and passing during his brief 12-game, 9-point (3 G, 6 A) appearance last season. And from what we’ve seen so far in the preseason, all three are off to the right start but questions remain on each player. Will Lardis have a breakout season? Can Kantserov’s offense translate from the KHL to the NHL? How will Frondell’s first full season in the NHL look?
But there’s another new-ish Blackhawk who is more established: Patrick Kane.
When the Blackhawks signed Kane, there was a strong (and reasonable) reaction that this was nothing more than a knee-jerk signing to the news that Bedard was out to start the season. While not the winger that Bedard needs long-term, there’s no denying that Kane will actually help this offense out. According to Hockey Stats’ model, Kane was in the 96th percentile in rush shot assists and the 99th percentile in rush offense. While questions surround Kane’s age at 37 (How many games will Kane miss? How much of a regression in his offense will there be?), Kane’s ability to generate offense on the rush will elevate the young players on whichever top-six line he joins.
Rush Offense
Last season, Connor Bedard led the Blackhawks in shots off the rush per 60 with 13.33, according to All Three Zones. Nick Lardis was next at 8.96, and the other fast skaters on the team (Nazar and Moore) were towards league average, which was just above seven shots per 60. All of Nazar, Moore, Lardis, and Bedard can be effective rush players. Plug in Kane, and Chicago should be generating dangerous looks off the rush.
Chicago’s capabilities for rush offense aren’t limited to the forward core, either: the back end will participate in the rush as well.
Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel are both offensive-minded defensemen with a penchant to utilize their excellent skating to join the rush as an F4. The Hawks also have Bowen Byram now, who has a tendency to create offense from his own end, manipulate space in the neutral zone, and roam the offensive zone. Byram’s aggressive mindset will pair well with Alex Vlasic’s ability to connect stretch passes, although Byram is a more effective puck mover. And let’s not forget about Kevin Korchinski, either.
However, offense shouldn’t be limited to just the rush.
The Offensive Zone
It comes as no surprise that the only proficient players in zone entries last season were Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. According to All Three Zones, Bedard led Chicago in controlled entries per 60 and entries leading to scoring chances per 60. Frank Nazar was the second-highest on the Hawks and was in the 90th percentile in controlled entries, according to Hockey Stats. Last season, most of the Hawks relied on chipping the puck into the offensive zone. This season, they have players who can carry the puck or present themselves as passing options. Once they’re in the zone, what are they going to do with the puck?
The Hawks of last season didn’t really have a plan in offense. They rarely got the cycle going and wasted time looking for perfect seam passes in the rare moments of extended possession. It’s no wonder that Chicago ranked 31st in both scoring chances per 60 and high-danger chances per 60 during 5-on-5 play. Where they did show a little flash was in their motion offense.
In the event a player didn’t turn the puck over and create an odd-man rush against, the Blackhawks often activated their D1. So long as the high-forward (F3) covered the vacant spot, the Hawks created good looks. Rinzel, Levshunov, and Korchinski were all involved in the genration of quality offensive chances at times. With Byram in the mix, things could get fun. And we’ve already seen it. In the clip below, watch as Rinzel did exactly what Han described from his excellent 2026 edition of Hockey Tactics, but it’s Byram who stole the show.
Bowen Byram – Chicago Blackhawks (1)* pic.twitter.com/wihHeKitOK
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) September 22, 2026
But there’s one last area Chicago needs to improve if it’s going to realize its offensive potential: the forecheck.
The Forecheck
Jeff Blashill started last season with a more aggressive 2-1-2 offensive zone forecheck. When odd-man rushes were given up, Blashill resorted to a more conservative 1-2-2 forecheck. When the Hawks were up even by one goal, the F1 rarely made aggressive plays on the team’s breakout. Let’s bring in Anton Frondell here.
Frondell displayed a tendency to play physical on the forecheck during his incredibly small sample last season. Should Frondell continue to excel on the forecheck, there’s no reason the Hawks shouldn’t play a more aggressive forecheck, whether that’s after an offensive zone faceoff loss or an opposing turnover in the Chicago offensive zone. Frondell has the tools to be a punishing forechecker. So far in preseason—at least in the one “NHL-roster” game—the Hawks have been playing with a more aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck, and Frondell has met expectations.
Strong move by Frondell on the forecheck to win the puck: pic.twitter.com/UEcwZ66rqe
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) September 22, 2026
Questions and Answers
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Chicago still has a lot of questions for offense. Unlike last season, though, they have more possible answers available. Should all of (or even just most) of the Hawks’ young players take a step forward, we can expect to see improvements in the offensive zone. Both Kane and Byram are established NHLers who will improve Chicago’s goal scoring. Will it be enough to push the Hawks close to a wild card spot? We’ll have to wait and see. Before we can even think about postseason dreams, young players will have to establish themselves, and Connor Bedard will need to return with a bang.