The Chicago Blackhawks experienced the dark side of having players participate in international competitions during the NHL offseason, as one of Connor Bedard‘s key teammates suffered an injury during the 2025 IIHF World Championship and has been forced to miss the rest of the action.
The Blackhawks are still searching for their next head coach after firing Luke Richardson midway through the 2024-25 NHL season and appointing Anders Sorensen as interim coach. However, the job behind the bench isn’t the only big question mark looming in Chi-town.
Bedard and the Blackhawks have yet to figure out their true identity, though they’ve shown great signs of improvement during the latter stretch of the season. Still, the roster in Chicago is missing firepower in order to finally escape the NHL‘s basement.
In addition to the struggles within the organization, the Blackhawks have now learned more discouraging news as one teammate of Bedard was injured in the 2025 IIHF World Championship and could be affected when the team returns to the ice for training camp.
Lukas Reichel #73 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates with the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at the United Center on December 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Blackhawks’ Lukas Reichel sustained a wrist injury during Germany’s 5-2 win over Norway in the IIHF World Championship, which will impede him from returning to the ice in the international competition, as the German Ice Hockey Association announced on its X account.
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Small silver lining in disastrous year
Although his numbers were far from mind-blowing, Reichel put on strong performances for the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 season. The former 17th overall selection in the 2020 NHL entry Draft recorded 22 points in 70 appearances; yet, his impact was bigger than his numbers indicate.
Awaiting coach decision
While the rest of the NHL continues to make head coach signings, the Blackhawks are concerningly quiet, as there’s been little news emerging out of Chicago on who might take over behind the bench at United Center.
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The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly signing Rick Tocchet, taking one of the biggest candidates off the market, which means the options continue to slim for Bedard and the Hawks. Time is not a problem at the moment, but it could quickly become one if the uncertainty amid the coaching search extends deeper into the offseason.
