Following a disheartening 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, the Chicago Blackhawks held a players-only meeting in hopes of changing the tide heading into the final four games of the NHL regular season. After the emergency gathering, a veteran teammate of Connor Bedard issued a powerful statement about the discussion held behind closed doors, and without interim head coach Anders Sorensen.
The Blackhawks lost to the Penguins, failing to string together consecutive victories over Sidney Crosby’s side in the NHL. It wasn’t surprising, however, as Chicago registered only three winning streaks this season, and none lasted longer than three games.
The Blackhawks last secured back-to-back wins on March 2 and 3, when they took down the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. That troubling stat is just one of many that paint a clear picture of a disastrous NHL season in The Windy City.
While holding a players-only meeting this late in the season may have little to no impact on Bedard and the Blackhawks, veteran and alternate captain Connor Murphy emphasized the importance of addressing certain topics directly among the players.
Connor Murphy #5 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on December 12, 2024 in Elmont, New York.
‘‘Sometimes it’s good to blow off some steam and not sit on it for days, so [we talked about] just how bad we played,’’ Connor Murphy said, via Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘It’s good to hear guys talk and be a part of a locker room at any stage. As a young guy, [it’s good] to know the dynamic and feel that communication.’’
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Never too late
The Blackhawks’ roster features a blend of seasoned veterans and rising young talent. However, the team’s newcomers have recently faced a steep learning curve, with their early NHL experiences marked by tough outings.
“As veterans or guys who have been around long enough know, you’ve got to bring [young players] with you and teach them the right way,” Ryan Donato admitted. “There’s some hard lessons in there, but it makes the team better. I think everybody can look at themselves in the mirror and find something they didn’t do great this game. You’ve got to continue to build. It’s a hard league.”
On the verge of history, the wrong one
The Blackhawks have dropped 56 games so far this season, and if they go winless the rest of the way, they could finish with as many as 60 losses. That would mark the worst record in franchise history, as Chicago has never recorded fewer than 23 wins in an 82-game campaign.
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Chicago should aim to win at least one of its final four outings to avoid setting a historic low in Blackhawks history. However, that won’t be a walk in the park, as the Chi-town franchise faces the seventh-toughest remaining schedule, closing out the season against the Bruins, Jets, Canadiens, and Senators.
