{"id":816771,"date":"2026-05-23T12:02:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/816771\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T12:02:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T12:02:32","slug":"chicago-blackhawks-player-grades-for-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/816771\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Blackhawks player grades for 2025-26"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Blackhawks finished the 2025-26 season with a 29-39-14 record, their fourth consecutive season in the league\u2019s bottom four. A few weeks later, they watched the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks jump them in the NHL draft order, dropping the Hawks to the No. 4 pick<\/a> \u2014 more salt on the wound.<\/p>\n

The Hawks won 10 of their first 19 games, then won only 19 of the next 63. They weren\u2019t expected to leap into contention under first-year coach Jeff Blashill but rather grow with what became the youngest team in the league. Through all the close losses \u2014 and blowouts \u2014 some of the Hawks did exactly that.<\/p>\n

Connor Bedard completed a career-best season despite missing time because of a separated shoulder<\/a>, and Louis Crevier rose to the top defensive pair. In contrast, Andr\u00e9 Burakovsky and Artyom Levshunov stumbled through forgettable seasons.<\/p>\n

Which players need to take the next step, and which players are set to blossom? Here are the Tribune\u2019s grades for each Hawks player in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

Forwards<\/p>\n

Connor Bedard: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BlackhawksBlackhawks center Connor Bedard adjusts his necklace in the third period against the Mammoth on March, 9, 2026, at the United Center. (Josh Boland\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Bedard didn\u2019t play 82 games like he did in his second season, but that was the only blemish. The Hawks drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2023 to lead a culture shift, and he\u2019s producing according to general manager Kyle Davidson\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n

He finished with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points, all career highs. He also posted his highest average ice time (20 minutes, 52 seconds), shots on goal (226) and faceoff percentage (47.1%).<\/p>\n

Bedard, who turns 21 in July, is reaching superstardom and will have the leverage in contract extension talks. The captain\u2019s patch is likely his reward<\/a> upon the ink drying.<\/p>\n

The center has played well with underachieving wings \u2014 the biggest problem the Hawks need to address this offseason. That answer may come via trade after the unlucky draft lottery.<\/p>\n

We saw heightened suaveness in Bedard\u2019s puck handling as he set up Ryan Greene and Burakovsky for piles of opportunities. He\u2019s treating himself to shots too \u2014 his hardest shot last season clocked in at 90.74 mph, compared with 83.11 mph in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

He also displayed the results of his skating training during the last offseason. His top speed was 22.36 mph \u2014 close behind his rookie season (22.73) and a significant improvement from his second season (21.44). He had 11 bursts of 22-plus mph after none in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Tyler Bertuzzi: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

A letter grade to match the patch he earned at the trade deadline. Blashill bestowed the \u201cA\u201d on one of his remaining veterans not only for their personal experience together \u2014 he coached Bertuzzi on the Detroit Red Wings from 2016-22 \u2014 but also for the heart he brings on the ice.<\/p>\n

\u201cTyler\u2019s earned it, big time \u2014 he\u2019s a great voice in the locker room (and) fun to be around,\u201d Blashill said at the time. \u201cMost importantly, the way that he\u2019s played in his approach, he\u2019s been a great model for winning hockey night in and night out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bertuzzi punched in a career-high 32 goals along with 26 assists in 79 games. He was usually found near the net, either deflecting shots or scrambling for loose pucks, putting his body on the line.<\/p>\n

It may be hard to replicate that goal scoring next season, especially with more young talent coming to the Hawks, but the effort will be there.<\/p>\n

Ilya Mikheyev: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BlackhawksBlackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev tries to score in the third period against the Wild on Nov. 26, 2025, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

In the shadow of Bedard\u2019s contract situation lie the discussions for the remaining Hawks veterans. Mikheyev\u2019s name appeared in rumors leading up to the trade deadline, but he remained a Hawk.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Mikheyev) is someone I want to keep around. I really like what he brings to the team,\u201d Davidson said after the deadline. \u201cIf someone was going to approach us, they had to make it worth our while and compel us to act.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keeping the right wing, however, may have only delayed the inevitable. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported Monday that the Hawks made Mikheyev\u2019s negotiating rights available for trade after the sides struggled to agree to terms on a new contract.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old Russian had a respectable scoring output \u2014 18 goals, 18 assists \u2014 while establishing himself as one of the NHL\u2019s best penalty killers.\u00a0His efforts helped lift the Hawks penalty kill to one of the best units in the league for most of the season, finishing second at 83.6%.<\/p>\n

Mikheyev can become an unrestricted free agent in July and would be a popular name on the market if he remains unsigned. Locking him in would keep a solid special teams player and veteran voice on the roster, but the Hawks shouldn\u2019t overpay to retain him.<\/p>\n

Ryan Greene: B-<\/strong><\/p>\n

The rookie out of Boston University had an interesting season, vaguely similar to that of Frank Nazar. He skated with Bedard on the left side for most of the season, producing opportunities with his impressive ice vision.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the best part of Greene\u2019s game, but he\u2019s a quick learner all over the ice, specifically on defense. His active stick turned into 37 blocked shots and 21 takeaways, and he added to his fun with 50 hits.<\/p>\n

Blashill praised Greene\u2019s consistency with fundamentals. It\u2019s exactly what he wants to see from the young Hawks \u2014 the development of all the winning skills, not just scoring.<\/p>\n

Eventually, though, scoring must join the party. That\u2019s where Greene\u2019s season fell short.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old had 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 81 games with 109 shots on goal. He needs to be better at finishing, but he has a chance to build on the three-game goal streak he ended the season with.<\/p>\n

He also was one game away from playing a full season \u2014 something he wants to check off in 2026-27.<\/p>\n

\u201cSucks it wasn\u2019t 82, (but I\u2019m) thankful that I was given the opportunity to be able to play pretty much every game,\u201d Greene said at his exit interview.<\/p>\n

Nick Lardis: B-<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BlackhawksBlackhawks left wing Nick Lardis takes a shot on goal in the first period against the Stars on Jan. 1, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Lardis\u2019 season was all over the place \u2014 but it wasn\u2019t his fault.<\/p>\n

He was the shootout hero Dec. 27 in a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars. That\u2019s when he started to turn heads until he was assigned to Rockford on Jan. 26, then recalled on March 7.<\/p>\n

In 51 games with the Hawks, he spent most of his time on the fourth line. That changed after a while as he floated all across the lineups. He had 15 points (10 goals, five assists) on 57 shots on goal, showing spurts of his Brantford Bulldogs days<\/a> in the Ontario Hockey League.<\/p>\n

Lardis, 20, performed the best he could amid a wild transition from Rockford to Chicago. Some roster stability would be a welcome sight for the 2023 third-round draft pick.<\/p>\n

Landon Slaggert: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Slaggert, 23, spent last season flipping back and forth from Rockford to the Hawks. He skated on the fourth line for most of his 53 NHL games and didn\u2019t stand out on the stat sheet with seven points (three goals, four assists).<\/p>\n

He was a physical force in the bottom six, laying 79 hits while being active in scrums and giving effort every night.<\/p>\n

The Hawks have plenty of forward-related queries this offseason. Where will recently signed Roman Kantserov<\/a>, a 2023 second-round draft pick, slot in? Will the Hawks draft Caleb Malhorta<\/a> or another forward at No. 4? Will they make a free-agency splash? Will Mikheyev re-sign?<\/p>\n

At the end of all of those questions lies a consistent predicament \u2014 Slaggert may be one of the odd men out. It would be a tough decision given his passion but might be necessary to open space for newcomers.<\/p>\n

Oliver Moore: C<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BlackhawksBlackhawks center Oliver Moore falls on the ice during the first period against the Sharks on Feb. 2, 2026, at the United Center. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Moore was seen recently doing offseason work with Bedard. If the Hawks\u2019 star center is looking to become an even faster skater, then Moore is a good person to learn from.<\/p>\n

The University of Minnesota alumnus zoomed through the neutral zone past opposing defenseman in his 51 NHL games. His max skating speed was 23 mph, and he had 131 bursts of 20-22 mph \u2014 well past the average of 71.4 such bursts for NHL forwards in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

But Moore can be too speedy for his own good. His acceleration drove him into set defenses, causing giveaways and opposing scoring chances. It will take some time to put the speed and poise together, and it might help Moore to play on the wing for more opportunities to send centering passes back to his linemates on breakaways.<\/p>\n

Moore, 21, missed the last five weeks of the season with a lower-body injury suffered March 8 in Dallas. He\u2019s playing for the United States in the IIHF World Championship<\/a>, his first action since then.<\/p>\n

Frank Nazar: C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nazar signed a contract extension last offseason, and greater expectations were tied to that. There were flashes, but the 21-year-old center needs to show more consistency in 2026-27.<\/p>\n

Despite the sporadic flips between putting on offensive clinics and going silent, Nazar posted career bests of 15 goals, 26 assists and 41 points in 66 games.\u00a0He scored the first goal of the NHL season<\/a> Oct. 7 in Florida and had 11 points in the first 11 games. But after sounding the horn Oct. 28 versus the Ottawa Senators, he didn\u2019t do so again until Dec. 18.<\/p>\n

Nazar then missed a month because of a broken jaw. From March 3-17, he had 10 points in seven games, then proceeded to go pointless in the final four games.<\/p>\n

Nazar\u2019s confidence remained despite the fluctuating production. He sent 138 shots on goal while positioning his teammates for scoring chances. Blashill praised his play, as Nazar did almost everything but put the puck into the net.<\/p>\n

He averaged 18 minutes,19 seconds of ice time and spent a large portion of the season centering the second line, which should remain his lineup placement next season. Finishing should be Nazar\u2019s emphasis of improvement \u2014 that would help take pressure off Bedard.<\/p>\n

Ryan Donato: C-<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BlackhawksBlackhawks center Ryan Donato chases after the puck during the first period against the Flyers on Dec. 23, 2025, at the United Center. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Donato was bound for a setback from his career season in 2024-25, when he had 62 points (31 goals, 31 assists) as one of the few highlights of a forgettable year for the Hawks.<\/p>\n

His point total in 2025-26 was less than half of that (30 points, 15 goals, 15 assists), and he took 60 fewer shots on goal. Blashill experimented with his lines, and Donato was one of the players most affected as he shifted across the bottom six.<\/p>\n

His voice will be extra prominent in 2026-27, when Kantserov and other young players arrive. Donato is expected to be back after signing a four-year, $16 million contract extension in June 2025, but the same can\u2019t be said for some of his veteran teammates.<\/p>\n

Mikheyev, Burakovsky, Teuvo Ter\u00e4v\u00e4inen, Sam Lafferty and Matthew Grzelcyk aren\u2019t certain to return. There\u2019s a chance Donato will be one of two players over 30 on the roster in 2026-27, along with Bertuzzi.<\/p>\n

Teuvo Ter\u00e4v\u00e4inen: D<\/strong><\/p>\n

A bronze medal in the Olympics<\/a> isn\u2019t something to brush over \u2014 despite what could\u2019ve been. Ter\u00e4v\u00e4inen, 31, was inches from blocking the airborne puck that Connor McDavid passed to Nathan MacKinnon for the winning goal that sent Canada past Finland and into the gold-medal game.<\/p>\n

When he returned to the United States, Ter\u00e4v\u00e4inen and his Finnish teammates got stuck in New York because of a blizzard before rejoining their NHL teams. It was a hectic return but a chance for the forward to regain his footing after a lackluster start before the Olympic break.<\/p>\n

Frankly, he\u2019s still looking for stability.<\/p>\n

Ter\u00e4v\u00e4inen finished with 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 75 games, a far cry from his 58-point campaign in 2024-25. There was an obvious lapse in confidence \u2014 he sent only 89 shots on goal compared with 111 the season before and 142 in 2023-24 with the Carolina Hurricanes.<\/p>\n

He joined Finland again for the IIHF World Championship and a chance to regain his swagger. But his tournament ended as soon as it started because of an undisclosed injury suffered in a 3-1 win over Germany on Friday.<\/p>\n

Now he enters an offseason full of questions regarding his Hawks future.<\/p>\n

Andr\u00e9 Burakovsky: F<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BlackhawksBlackhawks left wing Andr\u00e9 Burakovsky skates along the boards in the third period against the Lightning on Jan. 23, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

The Hawks traded for Burakovsky, 30, in hopes that the two-time Stanley Cup champion would be a dependable wing for Bedard.<\/p>\n

He was not, and the Hawks now enter a fourth offseason searching for the answer to the same question regarding the top line.<\/p>\n

Things started all right for Burakovsky. In his first 38 games, he had 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists), including eight shots on goal over the first five games. Then \u2026 silence.<\/p>\n

Four points (one goal, three assists) were all he could muster in his next 37 games, a mark that was lower than his penalty minutes (six) in that span \u2014 and add in 28 giveaways.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t get much worse in my head than it\u2019s been, but you\u2019ve got to stay positive,\u201d Burakovsky said in April<\/a>. \u201cWe all have to pay the price and dig in to help the team. (It\u2019s) bigger than the individual, so (it\u2019s about doing) whatever you can to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blashill kept the veteran on the top line until Anton Frondell\u2019s arrival March 24. Burakovsky skated mostly on the bottom six to close the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hasn\u2019t been easy. It hasn\u2019t gone the way I want to,\u201d Burakovsky said. \u201cI disappointed a lot of fans and people that I didn\u2019t do more than I have. I\u2019m disappointed in myself and you don\u2019t want to be in this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amid contract talks with Bedard, the Hawks might want to add salary-cap space \u2014 they already have the most in the NHL \u2014 to bring in help via the trade market. Buying out Burakovsky\u2019s contract would be a step toward doing that.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s determined to flip the script in 2026-27, but it\u2019s up in the air whether that redemption arc would be in a Hawks sweater.<\/p>\n

Sam Lafferty: N\/A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lafferty, 30, didn\u2019t play much in his second Hawks tenure after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last season. He averaged just 8:36 of ice time across 29 games, scoring two points.<\/p>\n

Blashill praised him as a helpful presence in the locker room for the young Hawks, but his on-ice play was nothing to note in the limited time he received.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unlikely he remains a Hawk next season, as he\u2019ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.<\/p>\n

Other forwards<\/p>\n