The Chicago Blackhawks have been average so far this season, maybe even below average. The core of this team is on the decline and the new core needs to take over, as analyzed in depth here.
I thought Stan Bowman probably should’ve taken one more year retooling before trying to compete again, but he made some aggressive moves in an attempt to get back in the playoffs instead. Either way, it’s not the end of the world if the Blackhawks aren’t amazing this season, as help is on the way.
Defenseman Ian Mitchell could make his NHL debut at the end of this season or at the beginning of next season.