Blackhawks and Sharks: Two Rebuilds, One Shared Path Toward NHL Relevance
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone circling Blackhawks vs. Sharks on the calendar as a marquee rivalry.
These two franchises have crossed paths plenty of times since San Jose entered the league in 1991, but it’s never had the heat of a true grudge match. Sure, there have been moments - like the 2010 Western Conference Final, when Chicago swept San Jose en route to a Stanley Cup, or when the Sharks, led by former Hawk Doug Wilson, tried to pry away key pieces of the Blackhawks’ Cup-winning core with offer sheets.
But even then, the animosity never really stuck.
That might be changing - not because of old wounds, but because of where both teams are headed.
The Blackhawks and Sharks are walking parallel paths right now. After extended runs of contention, both organizations hit the reset button, tore things down to the studs, and handed the keys to first-time general managers.
Both have landed No. 1 overall picks in recent years, and both are starting to see the early returns of their rebuilds. The light at the end of the tunnel isn’t just flickering - it’s starting to shine.
If they stay on this trajectory, we might be looking at the early stages of a future Western Conference rivalry, one built not on history, but on shared ambition.
Coaches with a Common Blueprint
It’s not just the front offices and draft strategies that mirror each other. Behind the benches, both teams are led by coaches who speak the same language when it comes to building culture and demanding accountability.
In Chicago, Jeff Blashill is back behind an NHL bench after grinding through the tough years in Detroit. In San Jose, Ryan Warsofsky is getting his first shot at running the show at the highest level. Their resumes don’t match exactly, but the paths they’ve taken have a familiar rhythm - starting in the lower leagues, earning respect in the AHL, and preaching the same core principles: play the right way, compete every night, and don’t cheat the game.
Both coaches have Calder Cup rings, and both have made it clear that they’re not just here to develop talent - they’re here to build winning habits.
Blashill has long emphasized the importance of young players learning to succeed even when they’re not at their best. Warsofsky, asked about that very idea, echoed the sentiment almost word for word.
“Especially in the long grind of a season, you’re not going to feel great for all 82,” Warsofsky said. “So, you’re going to have to learn how to make your B and C game impactful.”
That’s the kind of message that resonates in a young locker room. It’s not about being perfect every night - it’s about finding ways to contribute, even when the legs aren’t there or the puck’s not bouncing your way. That’s how you build a team that’s tough to play against.
Talent Is Only Part of the Equation
Blashill knows better than most how difficult it is to win in this league with a young roster. His time in Detroit was defined by growing pains and lottery luck that never quite tilted in the Red Wings’ favor. Warsofsky, on the other hand, has a franchise cornerstone in Macklin Celebrini - a luxury Blashill never had in Motown.
Still, there’s a mutual respect between the two coaches, and Blashill has taken notice of the job Warsofsky is doing in San Jose.
“When young guys come in, most of them, honestly, because they’re super talented offensive players, the level they were at, they really didn’t have to play a lot of defense,” Blashill said. “They had the puck most of the time, and they could outscore their mistakes. In this league, you almost never outscore your mistakes.”
That’s the crux of it. The NHL isn’t a place where talent alone gets the job done.
It’s about efficiency - creating more than you give up, and minimizing the kinds of mistakes that can bury a team. Warsofsky is instilling that mindset early, and it’s showing.
Blashill also sees the similarities in their situations, but he doesn’t view them as obstacles.
“They’re just really good opportunities to watch young, talented players grow,” he said. “I’d rather have young, talented players, or just talented players in general, and help them learn how to play both sides of the puck than not have that talent.”
A Glimpse of What’s to Come
Tonight’s game might not carry playoff implications, but make no mistake - it matters. Not just in the standings, but in the broader arc of where these two teams are headed.
Warsofsky has been watching the Blackhawks closely, and he likes what he sees.
“Obviously, Blashill and his coaching staff have done a really good job,” he said. “They’ve taken the next step in how they need to play with structure.
They’ve gotten some uptick in play for the younger players. They have some young defensemen who have come a long way, as well.
This is a good, young team that’s hungry. They work every night.
They skate. They can get on you quick.”
That description could just as easily apply to the Sharks - and that’s the point. These are two franchises in sync, not by design, but by circumstance and strategy. They’re building from the ground up, banking on youth, and trusting that their coaches can mold raw talent into a sustainable contender.
Blashill, ever the process-driven coach, is keeping an eye on the future even as he stays locked in on the present.
“It’s an organization similar to ours that’s gone through a rebuild,” he said. “Both hope to be really good here in the near future and be teams that are going to compete against each other.”
That’s the vision. And while Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini will rightfully grab the headlines tonight, don’t overlook the chess match happening behind the benches. Blashill and Warsofsky are laying the foundation for what could be one of the league’s next great rivalries - one built not on bad blood, but on mutual respect, shared challenges, and the relentless pursuit of relevance.
If both teams stay the course, we might just be watching the first chapter of something special.