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- calendar_today October 9, 2026
Blackhawks Face Defining Stretch in Early NHL Season
The Chicago Blackhawks are set to begin a pivotal seven-game home stand on Saturday, a run that may define the direction of their 2026-27 NHL season. The early results have been mixed, as the Blackhawks hold a 1-4-0 record. However, improved play in the last two games has offered hope that the team could be on the brink of a broader turnaround.
Early Comparisons: Sharks’ Turnaround or Past Struggles?
As October unfolds and the NHL season settles in, questions loom about the Blackhawks' season trajectory. Will it resemble the San Jose Sharks' impressive recovery last year, or could it mirror Chicago’s own struggles from several seasons ago? Observers note that the possibilities encompass both ends of the spectrum—and perhaps a middle ground—but it is instructive to examine the two most extreme outcomes from recent league history.
The 2025-26 Sharks: A Model for Blackhawks’ Improvement?
Last season, the San Jose Sharks began with a disheartening six-game winless streak, marking their fourth consecutive year with such a start. Their statistics were bleak, including a 37.0% expected-goals ratio and 40.4% scoring-chance ratio during five-on-five play, while conceding 29 goals.
Everything changed after a wild 6-5 overtime win against the Rangers in their seventh game, which kicked off an 8-2-1 stretch. This surge put the league on notice and signaled a turnaround in San Jose’s multi-year rebuild. The Sharks remained in playoff contention into March, excited fans with an electrifying style, saw Macklin Celebrini emerge as a superstar, and finished the season with a 39-35-8 record—a 34-point improvement from the prior year.
For the Blackhawks, the parallels are evident. Sporting young talents and recent high draft picks like Artyom Levshunov and Anton Frondell, the team is showing signs of chemistry and steady development. With the potential return of Connor Bedard by the end of the month, optimism is not misplaced. The home stand features challenging opponents, but as the Sharks' example shows, strong stretches against tough teams can quickly change a team’s fortunes and status within the NHL.
2021-22 Blackhawks: A Warning from Recent History
The other possible outcome for the current Blackhawks season is considerably less rosy. In 2021-22, the team entered the campaign with high-profile additions—such as Seth Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury—but lost nine consecutive games out of the gate. At 1-9-2 by early November, interim general manager Kyle Davidson fired head coach Jeremy Colliton.
While that team’s off-ice challenges included the departure of former GM Stan Bowman and the fallout of a sexual assault scandal, their on-ice analytics at the low point—41.0% expected-goals ratio, 43.3% scoring-chance ratio—were slightly better than current Blackhawks metrics through five games (37.8% and 40.8%, respectively).
Coach Derek King replaced Colliton and managed only minor improvements, as the season finished with a disappointing 28-42-12 record. Presently, both Davidson and head coach Jeff Blashill have more job security than their predecessors, though a sustained poor performance could alter that status, particularly with mounting frustration among segments of the fan base.
Key Players and the Road Ahead
Youngsters Artyom Levshunov and Anton Frondell have been bright spots for the Blackhawks, contributing to what could be a foundation for a promising turnaround. The potential return of Connor Bedard adds another dimension to the optimism. The seven-game stretch at home—including challenging games against the Hurricanes, Stars, Canadiens, and Panthers—will be an important test of whether the Blackhawks are on the brink of a breakthrough like the Sharks, or at risk of repeating difficult recent seasons.
Outlook: Momentum or Another Disappointment?
As play resumes, the Blackhawks’ performance over these coming games will provide clarity about which path their season is likely to take. The next several weeks are expected to be telling, either validating hopes for growth and a possible Blackhawks turnaround, or serving as a warning that there is still much work to be done.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com.
