The Chicago Blackhawks finished their 2024-25 campaign 31st in the league, with a record of 25-46-11 and 61 points. It was an improvement from last season’s totals of 23-53-6 (52 points), but the organization had a more progress in mind when they embarked on this campaign. The good news is the Blackhawks ended things on a high note, going 4-1-1 in their final six games. Over the stretch run of the season, the team has been infused with fresh young talent that brings energy and hope for the future.
Today we’ll hand out individual player grades, starting with the forwards.
Connor Bedard
23 goals, 44 assists, 67 points, minus–36 in 82 games played. Average time on ice (ATOI) of 20:17 minutes
43.9 Corsi For Percentage (at Even Strength) (CF%), 37 blocked shots, 47 hits, 26 takeaways, 90 giveaways, 70 penalty minutes
38.3 Faceoff Percentage (FO%)
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $950,000, Entry-level contract (ELC)
Bedard finished the season tied with Tyler Bertuzzi for second place in goals, while he led the team in assists and points. His totals were all slightly higher than last season’s stats of 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points, but he was also out 14 games last season with a broken jaw. Meaning Bedard, and everyone else in the hockey world, probably expected more from him.
It’s true that Bedard struggled and lacked confidence at times this campaign. He was guilty of hanging onto the puck too long, passing instead of shooting, and just not keeping things simple. There were numerous games where the 19-year-old didn’t even register a shot on goal.
But…he’s only 19 and he’s learning as he goes. The 2023 first overall draft pick did end the season on a high note, posting three goals and seven points in the last four games. Among other things, Bedard plans to work on his speed and acceleration over the summer. I would chalk this season up to a bit of a sophomore slump. Look for a much stronger 2025-26 campaign.
Bedard’s Final Grade: B+
Tyler Bertuzzi
23 goals, 23 assists, 46 points, minus–39 in 82 games played. ATOI of 16:00 minutes
45.1 CF%, 28 blocked shots, 60 hits, 20 takeaways, 53 giveaways, 51 penalty minutes
46.8 FO%
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2027-28 season, $5.5 million cap hit
Bertuzzi’s reputation as a streaky player has followed him to Chicago. He was invisible at times, and then scoring goals in bunches at other times. As I already mentioned above, he was second on the team in goals scored, with his bread and butter being parked in front of the net. His 17.6 % shooting percentage was also the highest on the team.
The 30-year-old placed fifth on the team in helpers and fourth in points. So, the overall picture is not too shabby. I think the problem is the organization expected Bertuzzi to be a bigger piece of the puzzle, especially considering his cap hit and term. If he could just be a little more consistent.
Perhaps next season.
Bertuzzi’s Final Grade: B-
Colton Dach
2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, minus–3 in 25 games played. ATOI of 12:08 minutes
41 CF%, 12 blocked shots, 86 hits, 13 takeaways, 12 giveaways, 17 penalty minutes
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, $825,000 cap hit (ELC)
Injuries always seem to get in the way for Dach. As soon as he starts to get on a roll, he gets hurt. The latest was a hyperextended left elbow that caused him to miss the last 13 games of the season. It’s unfortunate, because the 22-year-old has the potential to be a effective power forward.
Colton Dach, shown here with the Rockford IceHogs, is currently finding his way up with the Chicago Blackhawks. (Jonathan Kozub / Manitoba Moose)
Dach isn’t afraid to be physical, as 86 hits in 25 games attests to. At one point in March he got a handful of games on the top line with Bedard and Frank Nazar, but for the most part he was a bottom-six depth player. Dach will be someone to watch during training camp next season. Can he establish himself as an everyday player for the Blackhawks, or will he get pushed out by other young prospects coming into the organization?
Dach’s Final Grade: C+
Jason Dickinson
7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points, minus–11 in 59 games played. ATOI of 15:42 minutes
43.4 CF%, 53 blocked shots, 102 hits, 13 takeaways, 26 giveaways, 38 penalty minutes
49.5 FO% (highest on the team)
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $4.25 million
Dickinson didn’t have the offensive output he enjoyed last season (22 goals and 35 points), but his role has always been that of a defensive forward. Once again, he did that effectively this season. The 29-year-old started 74.6% of his zone starts in the in the defensive zone (the most on the team), making his minus-11 plus/minus rating commendable.
The Ontario native took the most faceoffs on the team (916) and his 49.5% success rate led the team as well. His 53 blocked shots was the most among forwards, and he was also a valuable contributor on the penalty kill. All in all, a solid season for Dickinson, despite missing 23 games to injuries.
Dickinson’s Final Grade: B+
Ryan Donato
31 goals, 31 assists, 62 points, minus–15 in 80 games played. ATOI of 16:19 minutes
45.7 CF%, 18 blocked shots, 104 hits, 23 takeaways, 48 giveaways, 41 penalty minutes
44.6 FO%
Cap Status: Unrestricted free agent, previous cap hit of $2 million
It’s pretty amazing the campaign Donato put together. He led the team in goals, was second in points and third in assists, while blowing away his previous career highs in all three categories. His 182 shots on goal was also a career high, and second on the team only to Bedard. Oh, and he ranked third on the team in hits.
Ryan Donato has earned a spot centering the fourth line for the Chicago Blackhawks’ opening night lineup. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Yes, Donato gave his all every time he was on the ice. He was the ultimate team player, and his energy and tenacity set a perfect example to the younger players on the right way to play. The 29-year-old might test the market in free agency, but he and the Blackhawks are discussing an extension as well. He’s made it clear he loves Chicago and could see it being home for his young family moving forward. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we see Donato in a Blackhawks jersey next season.
I don’t really believe in giving a player a perfect score. But considering what Donato’s accomplished after being a bubble player at the beginning of the season, I’m going to make an exception this time.
Donato’s Final Grade: A+
Nick Foligno
15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points, minus–17 in 78 games played. ATOI of 15:55 minutes
46.3 CF%, 34 blocked shots, 200 hits, 16 takeaways, 50 giveaways, 48 penalty minutes
48.4 FO%
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $4.5 million
At 37 years old, Foligno doesn’t contribute production-wise like he used to. But he ranked second on the team in faceoffs taken (704), faceoff percentage (48.4%) and shorthanded time on the ice (174 minutes). He also led the team with 200 hits. That’s far and above second-place Connor Murphy (117 hits).
Like Maroon, the Blackhawks’ captain is the ultimate team player and is selfless in this role.
Foligno won’t be around when this team reaches contention again, but he’s all-in for helping plant the seeds for the next generation. That earns him an extra half mark to his final grade.
Foligno’s Final Grade: B+
Ryan Greene
0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, plus/minus-0 in 2 games played. ATOI of 13:12 minutes
43.6 CF%, 3 blocked shots, 0 hits, 0 takeaways, 3 giveaways, 0 penalty minutes
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2026-26 season, cap hit of $825,000 (ELC)
Greene signed an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on Apr. 13, right after finishing out his junior season at Boston University and serving as their captain. The 21-year-old joined the Hawks for their final two games of the season. He slotted in on the third line, and averaged a healthy 13:12 minutes of ice time.
The idea was to get the 2022 second-round draft pick (57th overall) into a couple games at the NHL level before the offseason. He didn’t really stand out one way or the other, which is usually a good thing when thrust into NHL games. The good news is Greene got to participate in two pretty intense contests, and both of them were wins! He will now compete for a spot on the team at training camp in September.
Greene’s Final Grade: Incomplete
Philipp Kurashev
7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points, minus–28 in 51 games played. ATOI of 13:43 minutes
43.5 CF%, 16 blocked shots, 30 hits, 13 takeaways, 27 giveaways, 14 penalty minutes
47.1 FO%
Cap Status: Restricted free agent, previous cap hit of $2.25 million
There’s no way to sugarcoat it; Kurashev had a dreadful season. His seven goals and 14 points in 51 games did nothing to give the organization a reason to re-sign him. The 25-year-old enjoyed a standout 2023-24 campaign (18G, 36A, 54P) flanking the rookie Bedard, but now more capable players have taken his place in that regard, essentially pushing him out of the future lineup.
Philipp Kurashev has completed his current contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, and is now a restricted free agent. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
The Swiss forward was a healthy scratch more often than not as the season wore down. As a restricted free agent, I expect Kurashev has seen his last game in a Blackhawk’s sweater.
Kurashev’s Final Grade: (D-)
Patrick Maroon
5 goals, 14 assists, 19 points, minus-13 in 68 games played. ATOI of 11:32 minutes
44.2 CF%, 9 blocked shots, 102 hits, 4 takeaways, 37 giveaways, 97 penalty minutes
46.2 FO%
Cap Status: Retired, previous cap hit of $1.3 million
It’s hard not to be biased when it comes to grading Maroon, since he decided to hang up his skates for good at the end of the season. Upon announcing his retirement, an emotional Maroon put his heart and soul on display when describing how much the game meant to him. The 36-year-old played his role perfectly; he was a mentor and a leader while also being an enforcer on the ice. He took all the youngsters under his wing, especially Lukas Reichel, whom he brought home and treated as part of his family over the Christmas holiday.
On the ice, Maroon was a fourth line depth player that could be relied upon to do his job. He was even part of the second power play unit for much of the season. I already mentioned the enforcer role above. According the HockeyFights.com, Maroon was in nine fights this season, never hesitating to drop the gloves to stand up for a teammate, or to give the team a boost when they were struggling.
He was the ultimate pro and teammate, and I’m sure he will be sorely missed.
Maroon’s Final Grade: B+
Ilya Mikheyev
20 goals, 14 assists, 34 points, plus-4 in 80 games played. ATOI of 15:41 minutes
46.3 CF%, 15 blocked shots, 34 hits, 21 takeaways, 54 giveaways, 16 penalty minutes
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $4.75 million
What a pleasant surprise Mikheyev was this season! The 30-year-old fit in up and down the lineup, offering defensive prowess and a nice offensive flair. He started and ended the campaign on the top line, complementing Bedard with his speed and smart play. But mostly he was utilized on a shutdown third line that was always a threat to score.
Ilya Mikheyev, Chicago Blackhawks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Mikheyev ranked fourth on the team in goals, and his 34 points was a career-high. He was somewhat of a penalty kill wizard, logging a third-place 158:23 shorthanded minutes and tallying a team-high three short shorthanded goals. His 138 shots on goal was third place on the team. Plus, Mikheyev finished the season with a plus-4 rating. He was the only player besides defenseman Sam Rinzel (a plus-1 and only played in 9 games) to finish the season with a positive plus/minus rating. That’s quite a feat.
Mikheyev turned out to be quite the asset for the team, and will be a solid veteran presence next season.
Mikheyev’s Final Grade: A-
Oliver Moore
0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, minus–2 in 9 games played. ATOI of 13:35 minutes
44.5 CF%, 2 blocked shots, 6 hits, 1 takeaways, 11 giveaways, 4 penalty minutes
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2026-27 season, cap hit of $941,667 (ELC)
Moore only played in nine games after signing with the Blackhawks at the end of his collegiate career with the University of Minnesota. But he made a very positive impact with this small sample size. The 19th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft had a solid NHL debut, posting two shots on goal in a substantial 15:03 minutes of ice time.
In his short stint with the Hawks, Moore slotted in mostly on the third line. But did get rewarded with a few games on the top line with Bedard and Mikheyev. The 20-year-old is known for his speed and hockey sense, and it projected to be a top-six forward. He should be an exciting prospect to watch progress next season.
Moore’s Final Grade: B
Frank Nazar
12 goals, 14 assists, 26 points, minus–11 in 53 games played. ATOI of 15:52 minutes
44.2 CF%, 35 blocked shots, 30 hits, 8 takeaways, 57 giveaways, 24 penalty minutes
44.6 FO%
Cap Status: Signed through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $950,000 (ELC)
Man, this kid is dynamic! He works his butt off every shift, his speed is a huge asset and he creates and finds chances left and right. His energy is contagious, and he certainly seems to have the right mix of being cocky yet somehow humble at the same time.
This 21-year-old started the season in Rockford, but soon proved he belonged in the NHL instead. He got off to a bit of a slow start, but he just kept learning and growing and building; and it paid off. The Michigan native contributed not just on 5-on-5 but on the power play and penalty kill, and the overtime winner to end the season for a win! Plus, he had a respectable 44.6% success rate in the faceoff circle. In his last eight games, Nazar boasted five goals and nine points.
This is hopefully going to be an exciting Blackhawk’s player to watch for years to come.
Nazar’s Final Grade: A
Lukas Reichel
8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points, minus–16 in 70 games played. ATOI of 11:55 minutes
41.1 CF%, 29 blocked shots, 24 hits, 13 takeaways, 36 giveaways, 12 penalty minutes
39.9 FO%
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $1.2 million
Expectations were definitely higher for Reichel this season. Granted, he was improved from last season (5G, 11A, 16P in 65 games), but that wasn’t a very high benchmark to begin with. The 22-year-old was often-times a healthy scratch this season, and when he was in the lineup he couldn’t seem to move past the fourth line.
Why is it that Reichel just can’t seem to put it all together? He has speed and finesse, but he struggles with puck battles and the intangible drive to win. Is he lazy? A product of coaches that can’t get the most of him? Is he just not very good? Or maybe just slow to develop?
This 2020 17th overall pick is signed with the Blackhawks through next season, and not all development is linear. I would guess Reichel will have one more campaign to prove himself to the Blackhawks.
Reichel’s Final Grade: C
Landon Slaggert
2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, minus–7 in 33 games played. ATOI of 12:18 minutes
41.8 CF%, 13 blocked shots, 25 hits, 9 takeaways, 12 giveaways, 23 penalty minutes
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2026-27 season, $900,000 cap hit
It’s hard not to love Slaggert for his tenacious style of play. He also seems to be a really good and genuine guy. But nothing really stands out from his stats. After being called up from the IceHogs at the end of January, Slaggert started out strong with two goals in his first three games. But his production was pretty much non-existent after that.
Landon Slaggert could make a case as a depth forward for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Granted, Slaggert’s role is more of a shutdown forward than a scoring forward. 71.6% of his zone starts were in the defensive zone, second only to Dickinson. As with Dickinson, Slaggert’s minus-7 plus/minus rating is admirable considering this deployment. All in all, Slaggert brings energy and speed to the bottom-six. We’ll see where he fits in next season.
Slaggert’s Final Grade: C+
Teuvo Teravainen
15 goals, 43 assists, 58 points, minus–23 in 82 games played. ATOI of 17:04 minutes
47.1 CF%, 29 blocked shots, 27 hits, 23 takeaways, 76 giveaways, 12 penalty minutes
39.2 FO%
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2026-27 season, cap hit of $5.4 million
Here’s another solid veteran presence that can continue to complement the young core moving forward. Teravainen’s 43 assists was second on the team, and his 58 points ranked third. The 30-year-old’s 24 power play points was second only to Bedard’s 29 PP points.
At five-on-five, Teravainen was originally meant to complement Bedard and be a member of the top-six forwards. But when he wasn’t producing there, he was moved down in the lineup to be part of a shutdown line. I’m sure Teravainen, and the organization, would have liked to see more goals and more consistency from the Finnish forward.
But he is also a solid all-around player, and being able to utilize him up and down in the lineup is a plus. Teravainen ended the season flanking Nazar and Bertuzzi on a very successful second line.
Teravainen’s Final Grade: A-
Joe Veleno
3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, minus–9 in 18 games played. ATOI of 12:38 minutes
45 CF%, 12 blocked shots, 46 hits, 3 takeaways, 9 giveaways, 4 penalty minutes
46.1 FO%
Cap Status: Contract runs through the 2025-26 season, cap hit of $2.275 million
Veleno joined the Blackhawks at the trade deadline as the return for the moving Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith to the Detroit Red Wings. It took some time for the Quebec native to acclimate to a completely new system. But once he did he performed admirably. Veleno mostly slotted in as the fourth line center for the Hawks, contributing a 46.1% success rate in the faceoff circle. He ended his campaign with a goal and an assist in his last two games.
Forward Joe Veleno took some time adjusting to his new team, the Chicago Blackhawks, but performed well after that. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The 2018 first round draft pick (30th overall) had fallen out of favor with the Red Wings, and the hope was a change of scenery could be advantageous. At just 25 years old, Veleno so could easily fit into the rebuilding plan as a solid depth player if he can continue his positive trajectory into next season.
Veleno’s Final Grade: B-
What are your thoughts, Blackhawks fans?! How would you grade the above listed forwards? Which ones do you agree and disagree on? We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments section, or via your favorite social media platform.
Player grades on the defensemen and goaltending are coming soon, here at The Hockey Writers. That, and much more as the offseason unfolds!
