I have started my BigOl’JetAirliner to scout all the teams that the Winnipeg Jets will compete against in the upcoming season. Upon our return to River Heights, I aim to have a comprehensive understanding of our rivals’ main players, their strengths and weaknesses, and the overall strength of each team. In order to help with that final subject, I decided to utilize the expected line combinations given by DailyFaceOff.com, but as the presentation of the lineups was more visually appealing on PuckPedia, I ultimately selected that website for designing the graphics featured in the posts. I am grateful for the assistance provided by those two beneficial websites.
Following a short break for regular upkeep, I am returning to the task of visiting the remaining 27 NHL teams. En route to Lake Michigan, aboard my jet, I was eagerly anticipating touching down in the Windy City to explore…
The Hawks had a terrible season, finishing second to last in the NHL with a record of 23-53-6 (52 pts), the lowest scoring team with only 179 goals, giving up the fourth highest number of goals against (290), and having a dreadful -111 goal differential. The goal difference was only superior to the San Jose Sharks (-150), the only team that had a worse record than Chicago last season.
At least it leads to strong picks in the draft. The Chicago Blackhawks aim to expedite their rebuilding process by winning the NHL Draft Lottery and having the opportunity to pick a once-in-a-generation talent. However, even without that lucky break, the Hawks have been accumulating a lot of talent in the past three Entry Drafts. The beginning was the 2022 draft, with Chicago making three 1st round, two 2nd round, and three 3rd round picks. In the first round, the Hawks acquired Kevin Korchinski (7th pick), Kevin Korchinski (13th pick), and Sam Rinzel (25th pick).
In the recent draft, the Hawks struck gold by selecting future star Connor Bedard as the 1st overall pick of the 2023 Entry Draft. Additionally, the team acquired Oliver Moore at 19th overall in the 1st round, along with three 2nd round picks and two 3rd round picks.
