Blackhawks eliminated, hurt by poor special teams, lack of scoring

The Chicago Blackhawks failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

The Blackhawks (24-39-6) were eliminated from contention when they lost to the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 and the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.
After qualifying for the playoffs nine straight seasons and winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, the Blackhawks have made the playoffs once in the past five seasons (2019-20).
Here's a look at what happened in the 2022-23 season for the Blackhawks and why things could be better next season.

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The skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Jonathan Toews, F, Andreas Athanasiou, F; Jujhar Khaira, F; Buddy Robinson, F; Jarred Tinordi, D; Andreas Englund, D; Alex Stalock, G, Anton Khudobin, G
Potential restricted free agents: Anders Bjork, F; Austin Wagner, F; Joey Anderson, F; Philipp Kurashev, F; Caleb Jones, D; Ian Mitchell, D
Potential 2023 Draft picks: 11

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What went wrong

It's a rebuild: This is not so much a what-went-wrong mention as simply explaining what's going on this season. The Blackhawks are in a major rebuild. They began paring their roster down last season after a failed attempt to get back to the playoffs with big free-agency signings in the summer of 2021 (including defensemen Seth Jones and Jake McCabe, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and forward Tyler Johnson). This season, they even traded Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers before the NHL Trade Deadline. With a roster consisting mainly of less-experienced players, the Blackhawks worked hard throughout the season, but the results usually weren't there.
Special teams not special: Neither has been good for the Blackhawks this season. Their power play is 28th in the NHL (16.8 percent) and penalty kill is tied for 20th at 77.0 percent. It's tough to win consistently without one, or both, special teams clicking.
Lack of scoring: This has been a problem all season. Once they fall behind, the Blackhawks don't have the offensive firepower to come back very often. Chicago is last in scoring in the NHL with 173 goals and 8-31-2 in games when its opponent scores first.

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Reasons for optimism

Draft lottery: Getting that No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft is the hope, right? That's why the Blackhawks are going through all of this, right? Having the ping pong balls bounce their way so that they can select forward Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick is the dream scenario for the Blackhawks. They enter the 2023 NHL Draft with 11 picks, but where they land in the lottery is most important. Presently, they have the third-best odds to win the lottery behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks, though that can change between now and the end of the season.
Lukas Reichel: The Blackhawks didn't want to rush the No. 17 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and they haven't. The forward has played 24 games the past two seasons, including 13 this season, when he's had seven points (three goals, four assists). You would think next season is the one when he gets a full-time spot with the Blackhawks. Reichel turns 21 on May 17 and there's not much more he has left to prove in the American Hockey League. He's had 103 points (38 goals, 65 assists) in 107 games for Rockford, the Blackhawks AHL affiliate. It's Reichel time.

Luke Richardson: Named the 40th coach in Blackhawks history June 27, Richardson has been a great fit for them. He doesn't have a lot to work with, but Richardson repeatedly said he knew that coming into the job and would do his best. And he has. Richardson has brought a positive vibe to the Blackhawks who, despite not having the talent nor experience of most teams, have dispalyed a great work ethic in most of their games this season. Once the Blackhawks start rebuilding their roster, it'll be interesting to see how Richardson can take the next step as coach.