Will The Blackhawks Make The Playoffs

With the Chicago Blackhawks sporting a 24-33-x record, it's rubber to say that they will not be in the playoffs this season. This was fabricated fifty-fifty more apparent when full general manager (GM) Kyle Davidson announced that the team was rebuilding and then traded several players away. Yet, fans should even so be excited for the postseason, and in that location are a few teams Blackhawks fans should be rooting for.

Minnesota Wild

Of every playoff team, Blackhawks fans should be cheering for the Minnesota Wild the most. That may seem strange every bit the 2 teams have been division rivals for years. Still, the primary reason for this is a major component of the Marc-Andre Fleury trade.

In this trade deadline 24-hour interval swap, the Blackhawks acquired a conditional second-round pick in 2022 from the Wild, but information technology volition become a first-circular pick if Minnesota reaches the Western Conference Terminal and Fleury wins 4 games in the first ii rounds. Every bit Chicago enters their rebuild, landing another first-round pick would be a major win. This is especially truthful since they acquired the veteran goaltender from the Vegas Gilt Knights for most naught.

Information technology would besides exist prissy to see the Wild succeed because of Fleury. Although the future Hall-of-Famer's time as a Blackhawk was very curt, he immediately became a fan favorite, and information technology's very hard non to root for the 37-year-old. A quaternary Stanley Cup championship would brand his remarkable NHL resume even better. Nevertheless, at a minimum, fans should be hoping that Minnesota makes it to the Western Conference Final.

Edmonton Oilers

Last summer, Duncan Keith requested a merchandise from the Blackhawks to exist closer to his son, Colton. The 38-year-old was and so moved to the Edmonton Oilers in substitution for Caleb Jones and a 2022 conditional third-circular pick. This trade marked the cease of the ii-time Norris Trophy winner'southward fourth dimension in Chicago, and it is nonetheless strange to see him wearable a different jersey.

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The biggest reason why Blackhawks fans should be rooting for the Oilers is that the conditional third-round choice will go a second-circular pick if the latter win 3 rounds in the postseason. Yet, given their goaltending issues, there is doubt that they will make it that far, simply with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they shouldn't be taken lightly, either. Furthermore, Keith volition demand to be at least 4th in water ice time amidst their defensemen for the option to change.

Although the Blackhawks take a lot going against them with the weather condition of this pick, fans should still root for the Oilers considering of Keith. He was part of the system's core for over a decade and a major reason for their 3 Stanley Cups in the 2010s. Truthfully, it would be difficult not to cheer for him.

Calgary Flames

Although Ryan Carpenter was non as impactful on the Blackahwks as the two players above, it would be nice to see him win his first-e'er Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames. The 31-year-one-time came close to winning it with the Gilt Knights in 2018 but lost out to the Washington Capitals in the Final.

As a Blackhawk, Carpenter always played with a total try. Although he never dominated the scoresheet, he was an effective punishment killer and never shied away from the physical side of the game. The Flames will love having him in their lesser-six once the playoffs come around, as he is congenital exactly for it.

For Carpenter, the Blackhawks received a 2024 fifth-round pick, and the Flames' playoff success doesn't bear upon this return at all. Yet, it's still difficult not to cheer for a one-time player like Carpenter.

Even if the Blackhawks are not going to be in the playoffs this season, there are many reasons to watch. The Wild should exist the squad Chicago fans should exist cheering for, as that extra showtime-round selection would be fantastic for their rebuild. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that Keith and Carpenter shouldn't get some love from fans also. We tin also root for Brandon Hagel, simply information technology's hard to cheer for the Tampa Bay Lightning overall as back-to-back Stanley Cup champs going for the three-peat.

Michael DeRosa is a contributor who covers the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks for The Hockey Writers. Since 2017, he's written and edited for numerous websites. Also his work for THW, you can also find him on NHLTradeRumors.me, BBallRumors.com, BaseballRumors.me, FootballRumors.me and The Rat Trick.