Blackhawks Weekly

Back in Black

Blackhawks fans recently received news they’ve been waiting more than a decade to hear: the return of the team’s iconic black alternate jerseys. The Blackhawks officially brought the look back this season, marking the first time the jerseys have appeared on the ice since the 2008–09 campaign.

During their absence, Chicago occasionally wore black-based uniforms for outdoor games, including the 2009 Winter Classic, the 2014 Stadium Series, and the 2019 Winter Classic. The 2014 Stadium Series design came closest to the original black alternates, though it featured noticeable differences.

The Blackhawks are scheduled to wear the black alternates in seven games this season and have already donned them twice. The first appearance ended in a 4–3 loss to the Nashville Predators, extending the team’s losing streak to five games. The second outing, however, delivered a much different result. Chicago defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5–3 in an exciting game highlighted by Connor Bedard’s four-point night, as he recorded two goals and two assists.

Looking to Bounce Back

Despite the excitement surrounding the jerseys, the Blackhawks have struggled recently. Prior to Wednesday night’s matchup against the New York Rangers, Chicago sat at 2–6–2 and endured one of the worst weekends in franchise history.

Between December 6 and December 7, the Blackhawks were outscored 13–1 in losses to the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. It marked the first time since 1951 that the franchise lost consecutive games by six or more goals. Unsurprisingly, fans have been asking what has gone wrong.

Back-to-back games have been particularly troublesome this season. Earlier in November, Chicago was outscored 12–5 over consecutive games against the Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres.

Goaltending has not been the issue. Spencer Knight has been solid between the pipes, posting a .916 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. Instead, injuries have taken a toll on the lineup.

Captain Nick Foligno is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. Jason Dickinson has moved in and out of the lineup, while Frank Nazar and Landon Slaggert have also dealt with injuries. The constant lineup changes have begun to affect team chemistry.

Chicago had been utilizing an 11-forward, 7-defenseman system that worked well earlier in the season, but injuries disrupted that approach. Before Wednesday’s game against the Rangers, the Blackhawks sent defenseman Sam Rinzel and forward Landon Slaggert to Rockford and recalled Dominic Toninato, signaling a return to the traditional 12-forward, 6-defenseman setup.

The adjustment paid off. Chicago shut out the New York Rangers 3–0 on Wednesday night. The Rangers, celebrating their centennial season, wore blue throwback jerseys against the Blackhawks’ red centennial uniforms, creating a memorable visual matchup. Knight recorded his second shutout of the season, stopping all 21 shots he faced.

Who Could’ve Seen This Coming?

Connor Bedard continues to be one of the league’s brightest stories. The former first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has silenced early critics who questioned his fit in Chicago or doubted his long-term impact.

Bedard has embraced the challenge, emerging as one of the NHL’s hottest players. He currently has 42 points, tied for fourth-most in the league, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon, who leads with 51.

At just 20 years old, Bedard has already tallied 19 goals and 23 assists and has been the Blackhawks’ most consistent offensive force. He sits only four goals shy of his career-high 23 goals—and he’s reached that mark just 30 games into the season.

Bedard has more than lived up to the hype, and Blackhawks fans are watching a star take shape in real time.