As the 2022-2023 NHL season progresses and the Stanley Cup Final approaches, the Chicago Blackhawks continue to hang on by a thread. The Blackhawks started their regular season with a loss against the Colorado Avalanche–last year’s Stanley Cup Champions. While fans hoped that the Blackhawks would make up for this loss, the streak continued and it wasn’t until their fourth game where they finally pulled through with their first win in overtime.

Since then, the Blackhawks have won 21 games and have lost 39. Antioch Community High School alumnus Ty Jones says the Blackhawks’ performance is inexcusable. Jones has been an ice hockey goalie for 10 years and is continuing his career beyond high school to play with the Pennsylvania Huntsmen in order to be able to play NCAA.

“The Hawks need new goaltending and they need to get rid of Toews and Kane,” Jones said. “No amount of trades could save the Hawks for the next two seasons.”

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, and assistant captain Patrick Kane, have been playing together for 16 years. Kane and Toews led the team to three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Fans are beginning to prepare themselves for the loss of these two-star players.

“There’s a lot of talk about it, but I really don’t think they will [trade Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews] because that’s all that they have going for them,” life-long Blackhawk fan Hannah Schaufele said.

On the other hand, fans like junior Tyler Wolfe believe that the Blackhawks will trade their two-star players.

“They’re very old and out of their prime. The Blackhawks need better players,” Wolfe said.

Blackhawks fans have had their eyes on 17-year-old Connor Bedard, who played in the World Junior Championship for Team Canada. Bedard’s skill and adaptation have caught the eyes of hockey fans nationwide. If the Hawks continue to lose, their chances of acquiring Bedard rise each day. However, there is always a chance he will be drafted to another team, meaning the Hawks need to continue working together to win.

“There could be some lack of skill but I feel like most of it is a lack of time in the NHL for some of our younger players,” Schaufele said. “So they just have to work together and figure out the communication.”

The future of the Chicago Blackhawks remains uncertain, but fans continue to remain loyal to the franchise and hope for a brighter future.