<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is Off-Season Recap, a summer series where we’ll look at what the other 15 teams in the Western Conference have done ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. So far in the series, we’ve looked at every Pacific Division team, and we&#8217;re now covering the Central Division. In this article, we’ll look at what the Chicago Blackhawks have been up to.</span></i></p>
<p></p>
<h2 data-start="0" data-end="56">The Chicago Blackhawks’ 2024-25 Season in a Nutshell</h2>
<p data-start="58" data-end="189">The dynasty that was the 2010s Blackhawks is long gone, and it does not look like they will reach those heights again anytime soon.</p>
<p data-start="191" data-end="414">Like the season before it, 2024-25 was another dud, as the Blackhawks finished 25-46-11 for 61 points, the second fewest in the league. For the second consecutive season, only the San Jose Sharks finished with fewer points.</p>
<p data-start="416" data-end="766">The Blackhawks did well to add a future pick while getting out of a not-so-great contract, trading Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick. They also traded former Oiler Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 third-round pick (they also ate Mikko Rantanen’s contract).</p>
<p data-start="768" data-end="959">Thanks to their poor season, the Blackhawks picked third overall and selected Swedish centre Anton Frondell. They also used first-round picks on Vaclav Nestrasil (25th) and Mason West (29th).</p>
<h2 data-start="961" data-end="1013">Will this young Chicago core take a step forward?</h2>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1233">Moving forward, Connor Bedard is the main piece of their core. Pegged as a generational talent before going first overall in 2023, Bedard has not had that type of season yet, posting 23 goals and 67 points in 82 games.</p>
<p data-start="1235" data-end="1539">He was not the only young talent to play significant minutes. Frank Nazar appeared in 52 games with 12 goals and 26 points and recently signed an extension. German forward Lukas Reichel finished with eight goals and 22 points in 70 games. On defence, Alex Vlasic had four goals and 30 points in 82 games.</p>
<p data-start="1541" data-end="1805">As you’d imagine, recent first-rounders are poised to make an impact soon. Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore, Artyom Levshunov, and Frondell could factor in as early as next season, with Nestrasil, West, Sacha Boisvert, and Marek Vanacker in the pipeline.</p>
<p data-start="1807" data-end="2094">That said, much of the 2024-25 scoring came from veterans. Ryan Donato led the team with 31 goals and 62 points in 80 games. Teuvo Teravainen had 15 goals and 58 points, Tyler Bertuzzi 23 goals and 46 points, Nick Foligno 15 goals and 35 points, and Ilya Mikheyev 20 goals and 34 points.</p>
<p data-start="2096" data-end="2430">Between the pipes, Spencer Knight is the goaltender of the future after arriving in the Jones trade before the deadline. Last season, he posted a .896 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average in 15 games. Arvid Söderblom should also see significant time after recording a .898 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average.</p>
<hr />
<figure id="attachment_179895" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-179895" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-179895" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25305597_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25305597_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25305597_168383996_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25305597_168383996_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25305597_168383996_lowres.jpg 1178w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-179895" class="wp-caption-text">Jan 30, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar (91) skates with the puck against Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov (7) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure>
<hr />
<h2 data-start="2432" data-end="2459">Off-Season Transactions</h2>
<p data-start="2461" data-end="2797">So what did the Blackhawks do to improve this off-season? Honestly, not a whole lot.</p>
<p data-start="2461" data-end="2797">They traded Joe Veleno to the Seattle Kraken for André Burakovsky, who scored 10 goals and 37 points last season. They also reacquired Sam Lafferty for a 2026 sixth-round pick and traded Ilya Safonov to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations.</p>
<p data-start="2799" data-end="3052">On the free-agent front, their moves were largely entry-level deals and extensions. Nazar signed a seven-year deal worth $6.6 million annually. Söderblom earned a two-year deal worth $2.75 million, and Donato signed a four-year deal worth $4 million.</p>
<p data-start="3054" data-end="3278">Two veterans retired: Patrick Maroon and Alec Martinez. Both won Stanley Cups and were brought in to provide leadership for a young group. The more notable departure was Philipp Kurashev, who signed with the San Jose Sharks.</p>
<p data-start="3280" data-end="3439">Kurashev did not have a great 2024-25, with seven goals and 14 points in 51 games, but he is a year removed from 18 goals and 54 points in 75 games in 2023-24.</p>
<h2 data-start="3441" data-end="3476">What’s next for the Blackhawks?</h2>
<p data-start="3478" data-end="3629">First, they need to sign Bedard long-term. He remains a right-shot centre with ample upside, even if he never quite reaches the “generational” label.</p>
<p data-start="3631" data-end="3867">They also need to be bad in 2025-26, because future first-rounder Gavin McKenna has the potential to be a real game-changer. Any organization landing the 17-year-old instantly brightens its future. Imagine him and Bedard as a 1C and 2C.</p>
<hr />
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Other Off-Season Recaps:</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
<li>Predators need more from stars after last year&#8217;s flop</li>
<li>Mammoth revealed, expectations rise in Utah’s second season</li>
<li><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/st-louis-blues-off-season-recap-offer-sheet">Offer sheet additions have helped lift the Blues</a></li>
<li><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-minnesota-wild-kaprizov-priority">Extension for Kaprizov remains top priority for Wild</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-colorado-avalanche-rantanen-curse">Avalanche haunted by Rantanen as Game 7 struggles continue</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/dallas-stars-off-season-recap-2025">Stars keep Stanley Cup window open despite cap squeeze</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/jets-hoping-jonathan-toews-can-dial-back-the-clock-off-season-recap">Jets hoping Jonathan Toews can dial back the clock</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-san-jose-sharks">Sharks are looking to take a step forward in their rebuild</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/seattle-kraken-off-season-recap-pressure-young-players">Pressure is on young talent to lead Kraken out of mediocrity</a></li>
<li class="">
<div><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/anaheim-ducks-off-season-recap-playoff-drought"><span class="font-bold">Ducks appear poised to end playoff drought</span></a></div>
</li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-off-season-recap">Golden Knights dealt major blow despite adding top free agent</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-los-angeles-kings-ken-holland">Ken Holland takes old-school approach with desperate Kings</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/vancouver-canucks-2025-off-season-recap">Canucks banking on rebounds from core players</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/calgary-flames-quiet-summer-after-narrowly-missing-playoffs-off-season-recap">Flames had a quiet summer after narrowly missing playoffs</a></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<p><em>Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.</em></p>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is Off-Season Recap, a summer series where we’ll look at what the other 15 teams in the Western Conference have done ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. So far in the series, we’ve looked at every Pacific Division team, and we're now covering the Central Division. In this article, we’ll look at what the Chicago Blackhawks have been up to.</span></i>


<h2 data-start="0" data-end="56">The Chicago Blackhawks’ 2024-25 Season in a Nutshell</h2>
<p data-start="58" data-end="189">The dynasty that was the 2010s Blackhawks is long gone, and it does not look like they will reach those heights again anytime soon.</p>
<p data-start="191" data-end="414">Like the season before it, 2024-25 was another dud, as the Blackhawks finished 25-46-11 for 61 points, the second fewest in the league. For the second consecutive season, only the San Jose Sharks finished with fewer points.</p>
<p data-start="416" data-end="766">The Blackhawks did well to add a future pick while getting out of a not-so-great contract, trading Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick. They also traded former Oiler Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 third-round pick (they also ate Mikko Rantanen’s contract).</p>
<p data-start="768" data-end="959">Thanks to their poor season, the Blackhawks picked third overall and selected Swedish centre Anton Frondell. They also used first-round picks on Vaclav Nestrasil (25th) and Mason West (29th).</p>

<h2 data-start="961" data-end="1013">Will this young Chicago core take a step forward?</h2>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1233">Moving forward, Connor Bedard is the main piece of their core. Pegged as a generational talent before going first overall in 2023, Bedard has not had that type of season yet, posting 23 goals and 67 points in 82 games.</p>
<p data-start="1235" data-end="1539">He was not the only young talent to play significant minutes. Frank Nazar appeared in 52 games with 12 goals and 26 points and recently signed an extension. German forward Lukas Reichel finished with eight goals and 22 points in 70 games. On defence, Alex Vlasic had four goals and 30 points in 82 games.</p>
<p data-start="1541" data-end="1805">As you’d imagine, recent first-rounders are poised to make an impact soon. Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore, Artyom Levshunov, and Frondell could factor in as early as next season, with Nestrasil, West, Sacha Boisvert, and Marek Vanacker in the pipeline.</p>
<p data-start="1807" data-end="2094">That said, much of the 2024-25 scoring came from veterans. Ryan Donato led the team with 31 goals and 62 points in 80 games. Teuvo Teravainen had 15 goals and 58 points, Tyler Bertuzzi 23 goals and 46 points, Nick Foligno 15 goals and 35 points, and Ilya Mikheyev 20 goals and 34 points.</p>
<p data-start="2096" data-end="2430">Between the pipes, Spencer Knight is the goaltender of the future after arriving in the Jones trade before the deadline. Last season, he posted a .896 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average in 15 games. Arvid Söderblom should also see significant time after recording a .898 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average.</p>


<hr />

[caption id="attachment_179895" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-179895" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_25305597_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> Jan 30, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar (91) skates with the puck against Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov (7) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images[/caption]

<hr />

<h2 data-start="2432" data-end="2459">Off-Season Transactions</h2>
<p data-start="2461" data-end="2797">So what did the Blackhawks do to improve this off-season? Honestly, not a whole lot.</p>
<p data-start="2461" data-end="2797">They traded Joe Veleno to the Seattle Kraken for André Burakovsky, who scored 10 goals and 37 points last season. They also reacquired Sam Lafferty for a 2026 sixth-round pick and traded Ilya Safonov to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations.</p>
<p data-start="2799" data-end="3052">On the free-agent front, their moves were largely entry-level deals and extensions. Nazar signed a seven-year deal worth $6.6 million annually. Söderblom earned a two-year deal worth $2.75 million, and Donato signed a four-year deal worth $4 million.</p>
<p data-start="3054" data-end="3278">Two veterans retired: Patrick Maroon and Alec Martinez. Both won Stanley Cups and were brought in to provide leadership for a young group. The more notable departure was Philipp Kurashev, who signed with the San Jose Sharks.</p>
<p data-start="3280" data-end="3439">Kurashev did not have a great 2024-25, with seven goals and 14 points in 51 games, but he is a year removed from 18 goals and 54 points in 75 games in 2023-24.</p>

<h2 data-start="3441" data-end="3476">What’s next for the Blackhawks?</h2>
<p data-start="3478" data-end="3629">First, they need to sign Bedard long-term. He remains a right-shot centre with ample upside, even if he never quite reaches the “generational” label.</p>
<p data-start="3631" data-end="3867">They also need to be bad in 2025-26, because future first-rounder Gavin McKenna has the potential to be a real game-changer. Any organization landing the 17-year-old instantly brightens its future. Imagine him and Bedard as a 1C and 2C.</p>


<hr />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Other Off-Season Recaps:</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
 	<li>Predators need more from stars after last year's flop</li>
 	<li>Mammoth revealed, expectations rise in Utah’s second season</li>
 	<li><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/st-louis-blues-off-season-recap-offer-sheet">Offer sheet additions have helped lift the Blues</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-minnesota-wild-kaprizov-priority">Extension for Kaprizov remains top priority for Wild</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-colorado-avalanche-rantanen-curse">Avalanche haunted by Rantanen as Game 7 struggles continue</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/dallas-stars-off-season-recap-2025">Stars keep Stanley Cup window open despite cap squeeze</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/jets-hoping-jonathan-toews-can-dial-back-the-clock-off-season-recap">Jets hoping Jonathan Toews can dial back the clock</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-san-jose-sharks">Sharks are looking to take a step forward in their rebuild</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/seattle-kraken-off-season-recap-pressure-young-players">Pressure is on young talent to lead Kraken out of mediocrity</a></li>
 	<li class="">
<div><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/anaheim-ducks-off-season-recap-playoff-drought"><span class="font-bold">Ducks appear poised to end playoff drought</span></a></div></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-off-season-recap">Golden Knights dealt major blow despite adding top free agent</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/off-season-recap-los-angeles-kings-ken-holland">Ken Holland takes old-school approach with desperate Kings</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/vancouver-canucks-2025-off-season-recap">Canucks banking on rebounds from core players</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/news/calgary-flames-quiet-summer-after-narrowly-missing-playoffs-off-season-recap">Flames had a quiet summer after narrowly missing playoffs</a></li>
</ul>

<hr />

<em>Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.</em>

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