We’re now only a month from the start of the NHL regular season, and excitement about the Blackhawks is already ramping up. The team spent a bunch of money this summer to turn its roster upside down. After being forced to put players into certain roles just to field a roster at times last season, Chicago now has the luxury of putting together a real, competitive lineup when they open the regular season at Utah. But how will the new-look Blackhawks fit together?
Today, we’re kicking things off by taking a look at Chicago’s top attacking line. The proverbial breadwinners of the lineup have a ton of promise this season and could even be one of the better units of the NHL. Connor Bedard is obviously locked in at the 1C spot, and it seems Tyler Bertuzzi is almost unanimously being chosen to play on the left wing. The debate really opens up on Bedard’s other side – some assume Teuvo Teravainen will earn the role while others feel Philipp Kurashev should stay where he had so much success last season.
It’s unclear at what point Bertuzzi became the obvious choice for the top LW spot, but it’s a role he should certainly excel in. Bertuzzi’s signing almost seemed to be overshadowed by the return of Teravainen on July 1, but there’s no question he has what it takes to be one of the Blackhawks’ most prized possessions. The 29-year-old forward has a proven track record of scoring production, notching 43 points last year in Toronto and having scored 62 points in 68 games in 2021-22 with the Red Wings. For all his energetic, fast skating and great scoring touch, Bertuzzi is perhaps even better in his 200-foot game. He’s aggressive (sometimes to a fault), wins puck battles regularly, initiates contact, and shows tremendous hustle, making a difference on both ends of the ice.
Based on that description, Bertuzzi is an ideal candidate to play on Bedard’s wing. Everyone obviously expects the 19-year-old to take another step forward offensively and perhaps even turn into one of the league’s premier scorers. However, it’s no secret that his defensive ability is lacking, and he struggled at times last year because he didn’t have any offensive help. Bertuzzi can fill both of those gaps and essentially turn Bedard loose this season.
We’ve talked about Bedard plenty over the past year and a half. Chicago’s “golden boy” somehow exceeded expectations with a big year offensively last season, showcasing his unique ability to make seemingly impossible plays appear normal. His ideal skill set made him the most obvious No. 1 pick in years. With 61 points in 68 games last year, it certainly felt like Bedard was just getting started.
Now that Bedard should have some competent linemates this year, his ceiling is limitless. He was a huge threat offensively last season while playing alongside guys like Ryan Donato and Nick Foligno. Moving him to a line with better scorers and more responsible veterans that can help his woeful plus-minus could be just what Bedard needs to turn into a bona fide superstar, if he’s not there already.
I mentioned the battle between Kurashev and Teravainen for the top RW spot earlier, and the 24-year-old is just too ideal to pass up this time around. Kurashev was on the hot seat at this time last year – after 21 and 25 points in each of the last two seasons, he was awarded a sizable contract through arbitration but needed to prove himself on the ice. Playing alongside Bedard for the majority of last season allowed him to do just that. Though his plus-minus was just as bad as Bedard’s, his production was undeniable, with 18 goals and 54 points.
Kurashev’s best-case scenario on this line is simple – keep developing chemistry with Bedard. It’s no secret he wouldn’t be putting up the same numbers on any other line, but there’s obviously something there between the two of them. If that can continue to blossom, Kurashev could cross the 60-point threshold, solidifying himself as a cornerstone of the new-look Blackhawks.
