The Chicago Blackhawks may be one of the youngest teams in the NHL, but they continue to trend upward thanks to stronger structure, improved depth, and the emergence of true star power. When you break down the season by the numbers, you see a team that battles every night — and at the center of everything is Connor Bedard. His production, usage, and impact are driving Chicago forward in a season where meaningful games are finally back in the picture.
NUMBER 1 — Tyler Bertuzzi: NHL Leader in High-Danger Goals (14)
Tyler Bertuzzi has become the heartbeat of Chicago’s identity around the net. With 14 goals scored from high-danger areas, he leads the entire NHL in this category. No one gets to the blue paint more consistently, no one battles harder below the hashmarks, and no one finishes more plays in traffic.
For a young Blackhawks roster, Bertuzzi brings the grit and finish that every rebuilding team needs. His chemistry with Bedard is real, and his willingness to pay the price in front of the net is a major reason Chicago’s offense is taking a step forward this year.
NUMBER 2 — Artyom Levshunov: Second in Rookie Scoring Among NHL Defensemen
Artyom Levshunov continues to prove why he’s a cornerstone piece of the rebuild. With 13 points, he ranks second among all rookie defensemen in scoring and 6th among all NHL rookies overall.
What makes this even more impressive is how steady and mature his game already looks. Levshunov plays tough minutes, handles pressure well, moves the puck with confidence, and continues to build chemistry with Chicago’s young blue line.
For a 20-year-old defenseman to produce like this — and do it while learning the NHL on the fly — shows how high his ceiling truly is.
NUMBER 5 — Blackhawks Penalty Kill Ranks 5th in the NHL at 84.4%
Chicago’s penalty kill has become one of the team’s biggest strengths this season. Sitting 5th in the NHL at 84.4%, the PK has kept the Hawks competitive in tight games and allowed them to survive momentum swings.
A big part of that success comes from the heavy minutes played by their top defenders: Vlasic, Murphy, and Mikheyev all average over three minutes per game shorthanded. They block shots, protect the crease, and keep chances to the outside.
Then, Teravainen, Dickinson, Foligno, and Kaiser each log around two minutes per game, bringing structure, smart positioning, and veteran reads.
This is a true team effort. Both PK units work together, stay aggressive, and clear rebounds — and it’s a major reason why Chicago is in so many meaningful games this year.
NUMBER 7 — Spencer Knight: 7th in the NHL in Save Percentage
Spencer Knight is quietly putting together one of the most impressive comeback seasons in the league. Sitting 7th in the NHL in save percentage, Knight has given the Blackhawks stability, confidence, and timely saves every single night.
His numbers don’t even tell the whole story — he’s facing high shot volumes, dealing with young defensemen learning the league, and still delivering big saves in key moments. When Chicago hangs around in tight games, it’s often because Knight gives them a real chance to win.
NUMBER 11 — Blackhawks Have 11 More Points Than Last Season (After 26 Games)
This is the clearest sign of progress in the rebuild. After 26 games, Chicago sits 11 points ahead of last year’s pace, a massive jump for a roster still developing its core.
The Hawks compete harder, defend better, and play in meaningful games — something that simply wasn’t happening a year ago. This improvement proves that structure, player development, and coaching changes are working. The rebuild is trending in the right direction.
NUMBER 12 — Bedard’s Projected Extension: ~$12 Million AAV
If the Blackhawks lock up Connor Bedard long-term, the number circling the league right now is around $12 million per year on an eight-year extension.
Bedard is already a top scorer in the league, drives all of Chicago’s offense, and plays elite minutes at age 20. A $12M cap hit would place him in the same tier as other franchise players — and based on his production, Chicago will have no choice but to invest in their superstar.
This number shows two things:
- Bedard is already a cornerstone player.
- The Hawks must plan their future cap structure around him starting now.
NUMBER 14 — Fourteen One-Goal Games: Real Meaningful Hockey for a Rebuilding Team
The Blackhawks have already played 14 games decided by a single goal, posting a record of 3-5-6. For a rebuilding team, this is gold. These are meaningful games, where every shift matters, every mistake is costly, and players learn how to handle real NHL pressure.
Whether they’re protecting a one-goal lead or chasing the game late, Chicago is constantly playing with scoreboard pressure — and that’s exactly what you want for a young roster. These situations build habits, maturity, and future winning culture.
NUMBER 16 — Best in the NHL: Only 16 Goals Allowed in the First Period
The Blackhawks have become one of the stingiest teams in the NHL when it comes to opening periods. They’ve allowed only 16 goals in the first period, the fewest in the league.
This is a huge step forward. Chicago starts games prepared, structured, and mentally locked in. For a young team, consistently winning the first 20 minutes sets the tone. It also gives them a chance to play ahead — something they rarely did last year.
Strong starts are now part of this team’s identity.
NUMBER 38 — Bedard Ranks 3rd in NHL Scoring (38 Points)
We keep this one here since it matches your earlier setup. Bedard sits third in league scoring with 38 points, a ridiculous number for a 20-year-old on a rebuilding roster.
He drives the offense at even strength, controls the pace on the power play, and steps up in crunch time. Chicago relies on him every night — and he delivers like a true franchise player.
Superstar numbers. Franchise impact.
NUMBER 39 — Most Third-Period Goals in the NHL (39)
If the Blackhawks are alive in games late, this is why. Chicago leads the NHL with 39 third-period goals, making them the most dangerous closing team in the league.
This is a combination of:
- Confidence
- Young legs
- Bedard taking over late in games
- Better structure and puck support
Chicago doesn’t fade anymore — they attack. This is the biggest sign that the team has taken a major step forward mentally and physically.
NUMBER 51 — High-Danger Goals: Chicago’s Offensive Identity Is Built Around the Net
The Blackhawks rank second in the NHL in high-danger goals, a huge step for a young team still building its offensive foundation. They attack the inside of the ice, crash the blue paint, and finish plays in the toughest areas — all signs of a team playing the right way.
Chicago also leads the entire league with an incredible 27.3% shooting percentage in high-danger areas, showing how efficient they are when they get to the prime scoring zones.
And it doesn’t stop there: the Blackhawks sit third in the NHL in overall shooting percentage at 12.6%, proving that when they generate chances, they make them count.
This is a major reason Chicago stays in games and finds ways to score in the third period — they finish their chances better than most teams in the league.
NUMBER 92 — Bedard’s Speed Jumps Into the 92nd Percentile: A Faster, More Explosive Superstar
Connor Bedard didn’t just get stronger this year — he got faster. The tracking data shows a major leap in his skating, with Bedard now ranking in the 92nd percentile or higher in all explosive-speed categories:
- 18–20 mph bursts
- 20–22 mph bursts
- 22+ mph high-end speed bursts
In the two highest tiers, he has already surpassed his totals from last season, which tells you everything about his offseason work. His first few steps look sharper, his edges are cleaner, and he’s attacking defenders with more pace and confidence.
For a 20-year-old still filling out physically, this type of progression matters. More strength equals more power. More power equals more speed. And more speed makes Bedard even harder to contain in transition, on zone entries, and on broken plays.
This is the natural evolution of a franchise player — each year, he adds another layer to his game. And now, with elite speed to match elite skill, Bedard is becoming even more dangerous.
NUMBER 127 — Chicago Has Allowed 127 More Shot Attempts Than They’ve Generated
The Blackhawks sit at a –127 shot-attempt differential, and that’s one area that still needs real improvement. Too often, Chicago spends long stretches defending instead of dictating the pace. This puts pressure on the goaltending, forces young defensemen into tough minutes, and limits the transition game.
For a rebuilding team, it’s not unusual — but it’s the next step. If the Hawks want to turn close games into wins, they must flip this number by creating more pressure, sustaining O-zone time, and cutting down on wasted shifts in their own end.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When you break down the Chicago Blackhawks by the numbers, one message becomes clear: this rebuild is moving in the right direction. The Hawks are faster, tougher, better structured, and far more competitive than they were a year ago. Young players like Bedard and Levshunov are already driving results, veterans like Bertuzzi and Teravainen set the tone, and the team is learning how to win tight games against top opponents.
There are still areas to clean up — the shot-attempt differential, breakdowns in their own zone, and growing pains that come with a young roster. But the foundation is stronger. The special teams are improved, the goaltending is stabilizing, and Chicago is building an identity built on work ethic, pressure, and resilience.
The numbers don’t lie:
The Blackhawks are no longer an easy matchup.
They compete. They push back. They stay in games.
And for a rebuilding team, that’s exactly how you take the next step.
KEEP READING:
Blackhawks Weekly Recap: (Week 1
)Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 2)
Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 3)
Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 4)
Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 5)
Blackhawks Weekly Recap (Week 6)
Blackhawks Week in Review:Week 7
Blackhawks Week in Recap (Week 8)
Blackhawks October Report Card
Blackhawks: November Report Card
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