Would you believe it if I said the drama with Corey Perry unfolded in the same calendar year as when we lost legend Bobby Hull? Or that Patrick Kane departed in the same year as Connor Bedard met fellow 2023 first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama? It’s safe to say it’s been a long year for Blackhawks fans. With enough roster turnover to last a decade, the team has shooed the championship era out the door while ushering in a new group of young, hungry skaters. With that many changes happening all in the span of 12 months, the new year marks a great opportunity to see how far we’ve come by recapping the most important/viral events of 2023 for the Blackhawks.
Patrick Kane headlines trade deadline flurry
In perhaps the most emotional trade deadline in Blackhawks history, general manager Kyle Davidson officially turned over a new leaf for his franchise, embracing a full rebuild with nearly a dozen moves. The biggest saw one of the team’s biggest stars of the past 15 years sent to the Rangers, closing the book on Kane’s time in Chicago. The Blackhawks also dealt stars like Max Domi, Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, Jack Johnson and more while bolstering their pipeline with countless prospects.
Jonathan Toews ends time in Chicago
Things didn’t get any less emotional for Blackhawks fans for more than a month after Kane’s departure. As Chicago ended its 2022-23 season, legendary captain Jonathan Toews marked the end of his time with the Blackhawks. The longest-tenured captain in franchise history enjoyed a storybook 16-season stint in Chicago before he and the team mutually agreed to part ways so that the “baby Blackhawks” could find new on-ice leadership from within.
Blackhawks win draft lottery, select “future of hockey”
Of course, the biggest, most shocking event of the year came on May 8th when the Blackhawks, who had the third-best odds of getting the first-overall pick in the 2023 draft, did so and won the right to select Connor Bedard. The then-17-year-old was one of the most highly touted prospects entering the draft of all time, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when he was put into a Blackhawks sweater on draft night more than a month later. Since starting his career a few months ago, Bedard has been everything the team could ask of him and more with the most points in Chicago by a mile. He’s a near-lock to take home the Calder Trophy at the end of the year, and it’s becoming clearer by the day that the Blackhawks have themselves a superstar.
Though Bedard was certainly the headline for Chicago in the 2023 draft, Davidson and his staff were quite busy locking in the future of the Blackhawks. The team drafted 11 players in total including Oliver Moore at 19th overall, and Davidson even delivered one of the more iconic moments of the year as “Kyle from Chicago” while being questioned by an unsuspecting interviewer.
Blackhawks acquire Hall and Foligno in draft week
The Blackhawks, aiming to balance their young team with veteran leadership, acquired Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno the day before the draft from the cap-strapped Bruins. Hall began the season on a top line that showed a ton of promise, but he was in and out of the lineup with injury before ultimately being shut down for the year. He should be back next season to finish out his deal, though it’s unclear which line he’ll appear on. On the other hand, Foligno has been stellar for the Blackhawks both on and off the ice. The de facto captain of the team has logged 17 points on the year and should be extended before his one-year deal runs out.
Owner Rocky Wirtz passes away at 70 years old
Rocky Wirtz inherited the Blackhawks when his father, Bill, passed away just days before the rookie seasons of Toews and Kane, and Chicago’s dynasty, began in 2007. Just a month after Bedard was drafted to hopefully begin another dynasty, Rocky passed before seeing his young star on the ice. Though Wirtz’s legacy was marred amid his knowledge of the Kyle Beach scandal, he’ll be remembered for turning his team from the “worst-run franchise in professional sports” to a powerhouse of a franchise, both on the ice and off it. Rocky’s son, Danny, who was already effectively running things, officially took over in wake of his father’s passing.
Corey Perry drama
Just five months after he was signed to provide veteran leadership to the young Blackhawks, the contract of Corey Perry was terminated for “unacceptable” conduct. As rumors began to fly, the Blackhawks got it right by taking swift action to fix the situation. It was never announced specifically what Perry’s actions were, but after a great start to the season on the ice, the veteran’s time in Chicago came to an end just as quickly as it began.
Bedard delivers highlights on and off ice
The month of December was highlighted by Bedard, over and over again. Within the span of eight days near the end of the year, he gave us four great moments with reactions ranging from “Aww…” to “Ahh!!!”. On the 19th, the Blackhawks held their family holiday skate at the United Center, and Bedard provided fans with the most wholesome moment of the NHL season when he was shown skating with Foligno’s kids. Just two days later, Bedard made headlines off the ice when he and Wembanyama swapped jerseys, an event that resulted in some pretty comical photos. Two days after that, Bedard and his squad faced off against the Blues, where the 18-year-old delivered the play of the year with a sweet backhand “Michigan goal”. Finally, the first-overall pick got his first overtime goal in a performance where he single-handedly beat the Jets.
Sure, the vast majority of 2023’s highlights were about Chicago’s newest prodigy, but the entire franchise had more than its fair share of ups and downs. Countless other moves were made to help shape the future of the franchise, and the Blackhawks continue to work toward that future in hopes of eventually winning a Stanley Cup. Here’s to 2024!
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