The Chicago Blackhawks are coming down the final stretch of their abbreviated 2021 season and find themselves in the middle of a playoff chase.
That’s good news for Blackhawks President of Hockey Operations and General Manage Stan Bowman for obvious reasons.
Less obvious, however, is the fact that the team could very easily fall short of the postseason, and that could ALSO be good news for Bowman. In an odd win-win situation, Chicago could find themselves in the postseason for the second time in as many seasons or find themselves in the draft lottery, picking in the early teens. At this point, there is little to no difference between where they would likely draft in the lottery and if they were to get into the postseason (and likely lose in the opening round).
BEAT DETROIT, Taylor Hall and the Buffalo Sabres Fallout, Canucks Schedule Somehow Seems Worse, and Other Blackhawks Notes
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BEAT DETROIT, Taylor Hall and the Buffalo Sabres Fallout, Canucks Schedule Somehow Seems Worse, and Other Blackhawks Notes
The Chicago Blackhawks are in “Must-Win” mode.
Of course, I said that on Thursday and what happened? They did not win. They looked bad against a bad team. Luckily for them, the Nashville Predators also lost, so they did not lose ground in the Central Division playoff race as far as points go, but their opportunities are narrowing. Chicago has 12 games remaining this season with nine of them coming against teams that are in the top four playoff spots in the Central Division. Tonight they take on the Detroit Red Wings for the final time this season, and after the 4-1 embarrassment on Thursday, they MUST WIN tonight.