The Blackhawks still have one game left in January when they visit the Hurricanes Thursday night, but at this point in the season, we’ve got a good idea of where every player on the team is in their overall play. The Blackhawks are still one of the worst teams in the NHL (but actually have one more point in the standings than the Sharks for the moment), but Chicago has gotten a lot more fun to watch lately, with nine skaters aged 23 and younger on the active roster.

A handful of the Blackhawks’ long-term assets are turning into pleasant surprises, but others couldn’t be having more disappointing seasons. As we flip the calendar to February, it’s time to check in on this season’s biggest surprises and disappointments through January.

Surprises

Tyler Bertuzzi

Bertuzzi struggled out of the gate this season, with many questioning his status on the Blackhawks’ top line. Then, in mid-December, something finally clicked between Bertuzzi and Connor Bedard. Since December 19, the 29-year-old has nine goals and 15 points in just 18 games, moving him all the way up to fourth in points on the team – and he’s still climbing. Bertuzzi has enjoyed a terrific season as a result of his net-front presence, using his stick or skate to redirect shots into the net. If he can continue this production, he’ll represent one of Chicago’s biggest wins from last summer’s free agency spending spree and earn himself a spot on the future roster, especially since his contract doesn’t expire until 2028.

Frank Nazar

Nazar hasn’t done a ton in the scoring column in 21 games since he was called up, scoring three goals and eight points. Still, he’s doing more than enough on a nightly basis to get Chicago excited about his future career. Nazar is earning a spot on the top line next to Bertuzzi and Bedard, and his standout skating speed makes him fun to watch whenever he’s on the ice. The 21-year-old faced high expectations after being a 13th-overall pick, but it’s certainly a pleasant surprise to see him playing at such a high level already.

Arvid Soderblom

Easily the biggest surprise of this season, Soderblom has somehow transformed into Chicago’s future true No. 1 goaltender. Before the season, he was seemingly left behind, with Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit expected to share the NHL net and Drew Commesso given the starting job in Rockford. With Brossoit out for most of this season, Soderblom has taken full advantage. After another excellent performance on Tuesday, the 25-year-old now boasts an incredible .910 save percentage on the season, putting him above the likes of Igor Shesterkin and Lukas Dostal. The Blackhawks could have some problems if and when Brossoit comes back, but after a shocking career turnaround, Soderblom is at no risk of losing his job.

Disappointments

TJ Brodie

There was always a chance Brodie wouldn’t pan out after a questionable season in Toronto a year ago, but the Blackhawks took a chance on him anyway with a two-year contract. That’s clearly been a disappointment for Chicago, as Brodie is often the worst skater on the ice. He’s picked up nine points in 45 games and often finds himself clearly out of position. There’s a case to be made for a veteran presence like Brodie in the lineup, but there’s a reason he’s starting to find himself being a healthy scratch more often – it’s much more beneficial for the Blackhawks at this point to give players like Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro more ice time and send him to the press box.

Philipp Kurashev

Speaking of players spending time in the press box, perhaps no one has been more disappointing on the Blackhawks than Philipp Kurashev. It was no secret that the 25-year-old reaped huge benefits from playing next to Bedard last season, scoring a career-high 54 points. After last summer’s free agency window, Kurashev was squeezed out of the top six, but many expected him to continue his development in a bottom-six role and continue to produce. That projection couldn’t have been further off, as Kurashev has underperformed to the point where he spends half the time as a healthy scratch. He’s picked up just eight points in 35 games, and with his contract set to expire this summer, his time in Chicago should be nearing its end.