Last week, I went out on a limb with my prediction. I thought the Chicago Blackhawks front office would land somewhere in the Top 10 to Top 15 in The Athletic’s yearly rankings. I figured Kyle Davidson’s rebuild, the Bedard effect, and some strong prospect development would push the Hawks forward. I also wrote about their climb in this earlier article on their front office rise.
Well… OUCH, Coach! I missed that one by a mile. The rankings came out yesterday, and Chicago slid all the way down to 25th overall with a C- grade. That’s a massive drop from last year’s 12th place finish (B-).
So what happened? And why do I still think this ranking doesn’t tell the full story?
Blackhawks: From B- to C- in One Year
In 2024, the Hawks were moving up. The Athletic gave them credit for patience in prospect development and smarter free-agent signings. They finished 12th overall with a B- grade, and it looked like Davidson’s plan was trending in the right direction.
Here’s how 2025 turned out instead:
• Roster Building: D (30th public / C- fan base)
• Cap Management: C (20th public / C+ fan base)
• Draft & Develop: C (22nd public / B- fan base)
• Trading: D (30th public / C- fan base)
• Free Agency: D+ (29th public / C- fan base)
• Vision: C- (26th public / C+ fan base)
• Total: D+ (27th public / C+ fan base)
Not only did the grades slide, but public confidence dropped 61% in just one year. The fan base is still more optimistic (22% increase in confidence), but the outside perception of Davidson’s regime is clearly sinking.
The Athletic’s Explanation
The Athletic didn’t hold back in their critique:
• The Hawks are basically throwing their kids in the deep end to see who can swim. That’s risky for development.
• Free agency misses and overspending hurt the front office’s reputation.
• Skepticism is building about their draft choices (especially skipping Ivan Demidov).
• The teardown was easy, but the rebuild? That’s proving to be the real challenge.
• There’s excitement around Connor Bedard, but also growing distrust about whether Davidson and his staff can actually get this team out of the hole.
Why I Disagree with 25th
Yes, the criticism is fair in some areas — free agency hasn’t been great, and the rebuild has been painful. But putting Chicago at 25th overall feels way too harsh.
Here’s why:
• The Seth Jones trade was a massive win — landing Spencer Knight and a 1st-round pick.
• The Hawks have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL. Nazar, Korchinski, Moore, Levshunov, Frondell, and others are legitimate NHL-caliber players in the making.
• Roster Building: I get the argument about lacking more experienced players, but Davidson is cautious and calculated. That doesn’t deserve a D.
• Free Agency: D+ is way off. Yes, Davidson was quiet, but that was the point — he learned from the year before and chose patience instead of overspending. Montreal got a B for doing nothing in UFA, while Chicago got a D+ for the same approach. That doesn’t add up.
• Vision: His entire plan is tied to giving the young core real opportunities to grow. That deserves more respect.
For me, Chicago should be closer to a C- or even a C overall, not sitting with a D+ at 25th.
Final Take: Critics Underrate Blackhawks
I’ll admit it — I was off with my prediction. I thought the Blackhawks front office would be in the Top 10–15, and The Athletic dropped them all the way to 25th. That’s a big miss on my end.
Look, I get why the Hawks are being criticized. The rebuild takes time, the kids are under pressure, and the fan base wants results now. But patience is the key here for the Blackhawks.
For me, Chicago belongs somewhere between 20th and 22nd overall. They’re not top 10 yet, but they’re also not one of the worst-run front offices in the NHL.
This season will be a huge test. If Davidson’s young core shows progress and Bedard keeps shining, the Hawks will climb back up the rankings quickly. Until then, it’s fair to be critical — but let’s not bury them at 25th just yet.
???? What do you think, Hawks fans? Is 25th fair, or is it too harsh? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
(Rankings and grading source: The Athletic)
It’s funny how easily people forget you build winners from the backend out or you get these overly heavy forward teams that won’t win when it counts since the back end is so bad. Toronto, looking at you. Also, the NHL has never seen a rebuild like what Davidson has done. Where should they be at this point?
SJ has a GREAT (sarcasm) rebuild because they are so forward heavy. Their D sucks, Askarov hasn’t proven anything, but they have decent forwards. Two years of 50+ losses a year, a league record, with a good chance of a third is how you’re supposed to rebuild now. Losing on the Hawks is bringing down their moral, but things are always sunny in SJ. Some media guy the other day was saying the Hawks were tanking on purpose now, but SJ was improving. Delusional.
I have never seen so many media people be so wrong. They see the Hawks as the red head step children of the NHL because they don’t understand what they have never seen before. Also, it is easy to pile on to the Hawks and some of their players, like Bedard. Messier vilifying Bedard for handing out at the top of the zone when he lauds Matthews for doing exactly the same thing. “That’s what you’re top offensive players are supposed to do”. Hypocrite.
Sorry for the long rant, it’s just that the most frustrating part of this rebuild has been the media and media wannabes, not the decisions of Davidson/McIver.
Keep up the good work coach, good to see someone wondering the same things I am.
Thanks for taking the time to share this, really appreciate it! ????
You’re absolutely right — building a winner starts from the backend out. We’ve seen too many teams stack forwards but collapse when it counts because the defense isn’t there. Toronto’s a good example of how tough it is to balance talent and structure.
I also agree that Davidson’s rebuild is something different — the patience, the focus on drafting and development, and the willingness to take some short-term pain for long-term gain. The media doesn’t always give Chicago credit for that, and sometimes it feels easier for them to pile on.
And with today’s news of Frank Nazar’s 7-year extension, that’s another example of Davidson locking in key pieces the right way. Pairing him with Bedard and the young core is exactly how you build something sustainable.
As for Bedard, I hear you. Star players get critiqued differently depending on the market, and it can look hypocritical at times. Bedard is learning, adjusting, and he’ll only get stronger with experience.
At the end of the day, Hawks fans know what’s being built, even if the outside noise doesn’t always see it. Thanks again for your support — always great to have sharp fans like you part of the conversation.
I gotta say i appreciate you coach for posting info about the Blackhawks.
I just gotta say most fans, writers and so on don’t have vision with patience. We live in an instant gratification world.
With that being said, i don’t care what pro analysts, writers say the Blackhawks are hoarding as many 18, 19, 20 and 21 year old talent as they can. Remember what a reach Rinzel was? By the numbers and where the Blackhawks have drafted in the past 4 years mathematically gives them the best farm system in the NHL. It’s funny how Grier liked what KD was doing he began acquiring extra 1st and 2nd round picks
I’m a huge fan of what KD has done, when everyone is trying to do a soft rebuild or buy there way to the top we are hoarding as much young talent as we can, I’ve never seen anything like it.
And i don’t know about you coach but the last month to month and a half i felt like Nazar was the best forward on the Blackhawks.
On another blog i get teased for saying KD can’t do anything wrong, but in my eyes he should be gm of the year for unloading Jones and in return we get Knight and a 1st round pick, are you kidding me.
Thanks a lot for sharing this — I really appreciate your support! ???? You’re absolutely right about patience. Most fans and even some writers want instant results, but building a real contender takes time and vision.
Right now, the Chicago Blackhawks pipeline is top 3 in the NHL, and with another likely top-5 pick in the 2026 Draft, it’s only going to get deeper. Like you said, Rinzel was once called a “reach,” but when you look at the system today, it’s loaded with young talent and already among the league’s best.
I also agree with you on Nazar. In March and April he played some of his best hockey, and what makes him so valuable is that he can contribute on both special teams — power play and penalty kill. That’s exactly the type of forward every team needs to build around.
Davidson’s vision is becoming clearer every month. He’s managed the roster with patience, focusing on acquiring, developing, and now starting to sign these prospects to long-term, fair deals. If fans give him two more years to keep executing this plan, the Blackhawks will be in a fantastic position for long-term success.
Love the Nazar deal. Things are falling into place to make this team bypass anything the media thinks of this team. It Bedard signs low, watch out. Even CHGO was commenting on the stupidity of national NHL media today. Another thing they don’t talk about in the Chicago market is the endorsements that end up more than the contracts. Nazar and Vlassic will take advantage of that. Bedsy already has.
Thanks a lot for your comment! ???? Unfortunately, my article about the Nazar deal hasn’t been released yet — I submitted it right after the news yesterday, and it should be published this morning.
Well said about Nazar — this deal is very important. Locking up young prospects long term while keeping contracts fair for both sides is the key. The more deals signed at reasonable cap hits, the better chance the team has to build depth across the roster.
We’ve seen the opposite example in Toronto, where nearly 40% of the cap was tied up in just four core players, and it really limited flexibility. On the other hand, teams like Carolina and Montreal have built smart salary structures that allow them to remain competitive.
That’s why I’m gaining more and more confidence in Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks’ management decisions over the past few months. They’re laying the right foundation for the future.