Theo Fox: Worlds Collide A perspective on how the outlook on the 2022-23 season and beyond by captain Jonathan Toews and new head coach Luke Richardson impacts the Blackhawks rebuild designed by general manager Kyle Davidson.

Thank you, Theo.
I'm definitely ok with the Blackhawks winning more and winning sooner. Can imagine KD would ok with that too. A new coach, a lot of new players and a new defensive scheme. With winning, or being on the cusp of winning, it's much easier envisioning Kane and Toews wanting to stay on as productive elder skatesmen.

Theo Fox: Worlds Collide
A perspective on how the outlook on the 2022-23 season and beyond by captain Jonathan Toews and new head coach Luke Richardson impacts the Blackhawks rebuild designed by general manager Kyle Davidson.
- Theo Fox

Man Theo if they win games they are going to have to be great defensively. Is it possible, sure. You just have to keep in mind Murphy is still here, he's KDs lottery ticket, hahaha

LR is charged with getting the 23 guys on the NHL roster to improve and play to their fullest potential. If they win more than expected KD can slow that down by moving players out.
Personally I hope Toews is healthy and plays like he did at times during the end of last season. Kane is healthy and plays like Kane. T. Johnson takes his game up a couple of notches now that he has had time to recuperate. Domi had a good season. Murphy is healthy and plays ok. McCabe ups his game his 2nd year after knee surgery. They both should benefit from LR”s new defensive system. And KD moves them all at the TDL for a boatload of picks and prospects.

Man Theo if they win games they are going to have to be great defensively. Is it possible, sure. You just have to keep in mind Murphy is still here, he's KDs lottery ticket, hahaha
- BetweenTheDots

Good morning Theo. Great stuff as always. So when you speak of this team defying the odds and challenging for a playoff spot are we talking about in this universe or an alternate reality?

Good morning Theo. Great stuff as always. So when you speak of this team defying the odds and challenging for a playoff spot are we talking about in this universe or an alternate reality?
- HawkintheD

Just thinking about our own division, do we even win 5 games?

Thanks Theo, nice write up. TBH, I’d love to see both Kane and Toews playing their entire career with the Blackhawks. They can both score 30 goals this year and the Hawks would still be a lottery team. I’m also okay with moving them, as long as the return brings back good value. I would also not be opposed to signing them to a reasonable three year contract. While I may sound indecisive and wavering on this subject, it’s because I am. These guys led the team to their best run in the history of the Blackhawks, if they stay it will not impact their rebuild much(unless there are attitude issues), as they already have four first round picks in the next two years….

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD
- Ging72

Hawks are as bad as your speeling. Sheesh

Thanks Theo -

I will state the obvious, if the Blackhawks win games this season where they outplay the opposition, then the rebuild is on a faster track than most are thinking. If we are focusing our sights on Bedard, then this season may be a disappointment.
#BeHappiwithFantilli

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD
- Ging72

They are giving themselves the best chance by accumulating draft picks, especially high ones.

I think Vlasic will be a solid 20 minute dman

Realistically if you get 1 stud in the draft you've done well, flipping Dach for Nazar, we'll see.

Reichel?
Commeso?
C. Dach?
Allen?

We might actually have some quality NHL players in the system already, they just need a chance to develop.

And we may have a few surprises in the later rounds.

If we win the draft lottery, generational talent, from what i keep hearing.

That's a pretty good start especially with most likely 8 (oops 7) picks in the 1st 2 rounds in the next 2 years. Not including whatever deals KD can make this year.

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD
- Ging72

EXHALE

It's very common for a team raising a banner to lose that night. And I just noticed that the hawks first game of the season is in Colorado. Something's got to give.

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD
- Ging72

So the Hawks could be one of the best eight teams in the West? Let's see, there's Edmonton, LA, Calgary and Vegas in the Pacific . Then there's Colorado, STL, Minnesota, Nashville, and Dallas in the Central. That's nine teams in the running. Non playoff caliber teams IMO are Anaheim , SJ, VAN, SEA, Arizona and WPG, with the Canucks and Jets being border line playoff teams.

Yes, Hawks can mesh and come together and win games for LR, but will that drive and fire be sustainable for 82 games? Doubt it.

LR is charged with getting the 23 guys on the NHL roster to improve and play to their fullest potential. If they win more than expected KD can slow that down by moving players out.
Personally I hope Toews is healthy and plays like he did at times during the end of last season. Kane is healthy and plays like Kane. T. Johnson takes his game up a couple of notches now that he has had time to recuperate. Domi had a good season. Murphy is healthy and plays ok. McCabe ups his game his 2nd year after knee surgery. They both should benefit from LR”s new defensive system. And KD moves them all at the TDL for a boatload of picks and prospects.
- Ztra

Was that your post in one of the last couple blogs that brought up these possibilities? That post along with Laz on a podcast yesterday at The Athletic mentioning the Hawks were in a playoff push at about the 3/4 mark last yr made me wonder about the possibility the that Hawks could outplay expectations.

Add that it's nearly impossible to think the Hawks can have worse NHL coaching than they did the last 3-4-5 yrs and one could argue they just might play better than expected.

But the roster is bad, 6-7-8 ifs would have to happen to have them even competitive, the front office has set a plan to injure the roster even further and of course they have a rookie HC who I'm excited about but he's still a rookie over an 82 game schedule.

Sure anything can happen but this will be a bad team. If they play fast, structured, high energy/motor/hussle/gritty hockey they might be entreating but they should be a bad hockey team.

So the Hawks could be one of the best eight teams in the West? Let's see, there's Edmonton, LA, Calgary and Vegas in the Pacific . Then there's Colorado, STL, Minnesota, Nashville, and Dallas in the Central. That's nine teams in the running. Non playoff caliber teams IMO are Anaheim , SJ, VAN, SEA, Arizona and WPG, with the Canucks and Jets being border line playoff teams.

Yes, Hawks can mesh and come together and win games for LR, but will that drive and fire be sustainable for 82 games? Doubt it.
- boilermaker100

They don't have to be a playoff team to screw the chances of getting a top 3 pick. And yes I agree, they may, probably will, have some decent stretches of hockey but over 82 games they will be what their roster says they are.

Hawks are as bad as your speeling. Sheesh
- Slimtj100

He posted once on the Rangers board. One of your guys called him Captain Caps Lock. LMAO.

They don't have to be a playoff team to screw the chances of getting a top 3 pick. And yes I agree, they may, probably will, have some decent stretches of hockey but over 82 games they will be what their roster says they are.
- Mr Ricochet

And teams like SJS, WPG, PHI and Anaheim have new coaches. These coaches won't light a fire under their players and get them to play better overall and overachieve for stretches?

And teams like SJS, WPG, PHI and Anaheim have new coaches. These coaches won't light a fire under their players and get them to play better overall and overachieve for stretches?
- boilermaker100

Sure, but all those teams simply have better rosters than the Hawks and that's before Kane and Toews possibly being moved at some time.

I do think Philly and SJ look like the Hawks a few yrs back. Time to rebuild, at least a serious retool, but they are refusing to do so. Add SJ hired a rookie GM with very little front office experience.

Well I do at least expect (hope) that they start at least one point better than 1-9-2.

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD
- Ging72

You realize that Edmonton has been horribly mismanaged for like a decade right?

Luke Richardson has received more positive comments from his players without coaching a game than Colliton did in 3 seasons. That is a positive. Hopefully, he can maintain his fire and passion through what's bound to be a rough couple of seasons at a minimum.

IF ANYONE THINKS THEY CAN REBUILD THIS TEAM THROUGH THE DRAFT ONLY 5 YEARS, THERE CRAZY, CONNOR MCDAVID WAS DRAFTED 7 YEARS AGO AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS AND GETTING # 1 PICK, AND THEY ARE STILL SHORT PIECES, IN COLORADO LANDESHOG , WAS DRAFTED 11 YEARS AGO , MACKINNON WAS DRAFT 9 YEARS AGO AND FINALLY MAKAR WAS DRAFTED 5 YEARS AGO, AND REMEMBER THE LOTTERY RULE CHANGE NOW YOU CAN ONLY GET SO MANY NUMBER 1 PICKS IN A TIME SPAM. THE HAWKS WILL BE LOOKING AT A 10 -12 YEAR REBUILD
- Ging72

Avalanche have been a cup contender for a few years now and I think that is the goal of a rebuild.

But if you want to play this game, Kane and Toews won a cup in their 3rd seasons. Crosby and Malkin in their 3rd and 4th season respectively.

Thanks Theo -

I will state the obvious, if the Blackhawks win games this season where they outplay the opposition, then the rebuild is on a faster track than most are thinking. If we are focusing our sights on Bedard, then this season may be a disappointment.
#BeHappiwithFantilli
- powerenforcer

Fantilli would be a nice consolation prize, but Bedard looks to be a real difference maker.