From 30th to Top 10? The Blackhawks Front Office Rise Under Davidson

Three years ago, the Chicago Blackhawks’ front office was near the very bottom of the NHL in public perception. Now, Kyle Davidson’s patient rebuild has the Hawks knocking on the door of the Top 10 — and they haven’t even started winning yet.

Every year, The Athletic releases its NHL front office rankings, grading each team in six categories: Roster Building, Cap Management, Draft & Development, Trading, Free Agency, and Vision. The results are split between public and fan base votes, and here I’m focusing on the public results, which tend to be more balanced and less emotional than the fan vote.

Now, Kyle Davidson’s patient rebuild has the Hawks knocking on the door of the Top 10 — and they haven’t even started winning yet.

Every year, The Athletic grades NHL front offices in six categories:

  • Roster Building
  • Cap Management
  • Draft & Development
  • Trading
  • Free Agency
  • Vision

The results are split between two groups — Public and Fan Base.

For this breakdown, we’re looking only at the Public results, which tend to be more balanced and less emotional than the fan vote.

2022 — Davidson’s First Year with Blackhawks (30th Overall, D-)

Kyle Davidson stepped in as the youngest GM in the NHL and immediately shook the roster.

The trades of Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach made it clear a full rebuild was underway.

But that direction didn’t earn him much praise early on.

One public comment in 2022 summed up the skepticism:

“It feels like the Hawks are burning everything down without a clear plan for how to build it back up.”

The Blackhawks finished thirtieth overall with a rough D- total grade. Every category got a D-, except Cap Management, which held at D.

Roster BuildingD-
Cap ManagementD
Draft & DevelopmentD-
TradingD-
Free AgencyD-
VisionD-
Total GradeD-

2023 — Blackhawks’ Big Leap Forward (15th Overall, C+)

One year later, the tone shifted. The Hawks climbed from thirtieth to fifteenth overall as Davidson’s plan began to take shape.

The Connor Bedard lottery win — call it luck or perfect timing — was the reward for a bottom-three finish. The public started to see a vision forming, even if it was still in its early stages.

Three categories — Cap Management, Draft & Development, and Vision — improved to B-. Roster Building and Trading rose to C-, while Free Agency held at C.

Roster BuildingC-
Cap ManagementB-
Draft & DevelopmentB-
TradingC-
Free AgencyC
VisionB-
Total GradeC+

2024 — Moving Up the Rankings (12th Overall, B-)

By 2024, the Hawks had climbed into the top half of the rankings, landing twelfth overall with a B- total grade. The front office earned credit for smarter free-agent moves and continued patience in prospect development.

Cap Management and Free Agency both came in at B-, while Roster Building improved to C+. Draft, Trading, and Vision each settled at B

Roster BuildingC+
Cap ManagementB-
Draft & DevelopmentC
TradingC+
Free AgencyB-
VisionB
Total GradeB-

2025 Prediction — First Time in the Top 10? (Predicted Total: B)

This year could be a milestone for Kyle Davidson’s regime. I predict the Blackhawks will crack the Top 10 for the first time under his leadership.

Roster Building should move from C+ to B-, Trading from C+ to B-, and Draft & Development could hit B+, maybe even A-. Vision — Davidson’s strongest category — could also rise to A-. Cap Management and Free Agency should remain steady at B-.

Roster BuildingB-
Cap ManagementB-
Draft & DevelopmentB+
TradingC+
Free AgencyB-
VisionA-
Total GradeB

Davidson’s Trade Patterns

Kyle Davidson’s trade history is surprisingly quiet for an NHL GM:

  • Only 3 trades in July 2022, his first offseason.
  • No trades in July in 2023, 2024, or 2025.
  • No trades in August or September since becoming GM.
  • His busiest trade month? June.

It’s all part of his patient approach — making moves only when they align with the big picture.

Final Thoughts — Eyes on The Athletic’s 2025 Ranking

The Blackhawks’ front office has gone from D- in 2022 to a projected B in 2025. That’s steady, measurable progress.

It hasn’t been perfect, and not every pick or signing will work out. But the direction is clear, the patience is real, and the public perception is better each year.

Next week, The Athletic will make it official. Will Davidson’s vision push the Hawks into the NHL’s Top 10 for the first time?

Hawks fans — and the rest of the league — are about to find out.

What’s your take? Do you agree with my prediction? How do you feel about the Blackhawks’ management under KD? Drop your thoughts below.

6 thoughts on “From 30th to Top 10? The Blackhawks Front Office Rise Under Davidson”

  1. Funny thing is most Canadian hockey media seems to think Kyle has no vision, though I think is most of it is they have never seen a foundational teardown for a rebuild. You usually only see this in baseball.

    1. Thanks for your first comment on my article! I agree — for many hockey fans who don’t follow the Blackhawks closely, it can be hard to fully understand what Kyle Davidson is doing. Like you said, a true foundational teardown is rare in hockey and more common in baseball. If KD sticks to his plan, it could set the Hawks up for long-term success.

  2. I think KFC is doing it the right way. No overpriced free agents. Let the lids grow and develop. I don’t think he was expecting to draft Bedard and I give him credit for not signing a bunch of free agents. Stick with the plan. This team could be very exciting in a couple of years. Thumbs up, Kyle.

    1. Thanks for your comment! I completely agree — I really like the way KFC has been working so far. No overpriced free agents and letting the kids grow and develop — it’s the right approach. Like you said, sticking with the plan will pay off, and with The Athletic releasing their NHL management rankings next week, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Blackhawks land in the top 10.

  3. Thanks for the detailed articles. I’ve been a longtime reader at Hockeybuzz but their new website is not easy to use. I agree that the Hawks are on the right path and I’m looking forward to the season.

    1. Welcome to Hockey Hot Stove, and thank you for your kind words! Always great to connect with a fellow Blackhawks fan. I’m glad you’re enjoying the content here, and if you ever have questions or want me to dive into a specific topic, don’t hesitate to let me know — I’d be happy to cover it for you

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