The Chicago Blackhawks are officially eliminated from playoff contention. It was always going to be the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Carolina Hurricanes occupying the top three spots in the division in any order but the fourth spot was up for grabs all season. The Hawks were the favorites to hang onto that spot with a few weeks left in the season but they blew it. It was honestly a good thing because it stopped fooling people into thinking this was actually a good roster.
Chicago Blackhawks fans should be livid at the way things are with this team right now.
Stan Bowman actually had people fooled at the beginning of the season. He was really strong at this year’s trade deadline but that was about the only thing he’s been good at for a long time now. This team was overachieving by a lot when they looked like a playoff team early. They are not loaded with talent like they once were. Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat were great but the depth was certainly challenged.