The Blackhawks are 4-13-1, and nobody in the organization is pretending that record is anything other than ugly.
Still, Kyle Davidson spent nearly 45 minutes on Nov. 11 making one thing clear: the plan is not to blow things up. The general manager acknowledged the obvious with a blunt line - "Simply put, we've not been good enough." - but the bigger theme of his press conference was confidence in the group the Blackhawks have built and the people guiding it.
Davidson said the team is still exploring trades, but he stressed that he is not interested in making a move just to make one. The message was consistent with the rebuild approach the Blackhawks have talked about from the start: trust the long-term picture, even if the present is rough.
That belief extends to the coaching staff. When asked about urgency, Davidson said, "I certainly understand the preference for something like that, big action.
But that's not necessarily the best way, in my opinion, to productive progress. I believe in this coaching staff.
I believe in Blash (Jeff Blashill). We're going to support some of the coaching staff with bringing Mark Eaton in."
He then explained that the team’s "forward-centric" structure meant many staff members had backgrounds on the forward side, and that adding Eaton was meant to help with the defensemen who need to improve. Davidson called it urgency, too, pointing to the fact that the Blackhawks are pulling an assistant general manager out of the field at the request of the coaching staff.
"He's out in the field working with our prospects that are in amateur and pro in Rockford a lot too, and he's going to embed here, and so that's some pretty meaningful action and some reorganization going on there internally.
"But at the same time, I believe that the players believe in Blash and the staff. I believe in Blash and the staff, and so we're going to get out of this together, and we're going to work together to make sure that we keep taking steps and dig our way out of the hole that's been created. And so, I think that's something we believe in because of the people we have in this organization we feel can get us out of out of where we started."
Davidson also took questions about whether he is the right person to turn things around, and he pointed back to how much the roster has changed since that first training camp four years ago. He said there are very few players left from that group, either in the NHL or in the organization, and argued that the Blackhawks have added meaningful foundational pieces through the draft and other avenues.
"It's not easy, but with the maturation of young players and the players we drafted and are bringing in the league, we have to get through these rough times that they're experiencing in their development in order to get to the other side.
"And they'll have that under their belt. They'll have that experience to draw from because we've got a lot of players that are going to be great players in this league.
Help this team win and help this team be very good for a long time. And so we still fully believe that, while also recognizing the moment we're in.
And through that, though, yes, these players have to keep developing and enter their prime. That's not the only way that we continue to get better.
We're going to remain relentless in our pursuit of players and people that can help us, and these young players take the next step and continue to build towards the team we want to be, and so that's been the plan since the outset.
"That's the plan moving forward, and we're going to work every day to either put our players here in the best situation to succeed, give them what they need to develop, and also do our part externally to continue to improve the roster both now and in the future."
That’s the organizational view. The problem is the standings don’t care about belief.
The Blackhawks still need results, and they need them fast. Davidson’s refusal to take the "big action" route will be judged by wins, not words, and the team’s own players know that.
Sam Rinzel said, "We know we can be good, and we've been good at certain times. So the belief is there.
That's not the issue. So, just putting it together.
Obviously, we dug ourselves a hole. So just kind of digging ourselves out of it, really."
The Blackhawks had three straight days of hard-working practices before their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 12, and ending a six-game losing streak would be a meaningful first step.
In Other News...
Patrick Kane Returns As Blackhawks Desperately Search For A Spark
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Kane had been practicing with the team and had already been sidelined for six games overall, leaving the Blackhawks to keep searching for more offense and a steadier rhythm without one of their most important players. His return gives Chicago a familiar presence to lean on, but the bigger question is how quickly he can settle back in and help a club still trying to find a spark. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Face A Delicate Matvei Michkov Situation
Kyle Davidson has left the door open to bigger roster changes after the Blackhawks rough start, and that alone is enough to keep the focus on Chicago as the season settles in. The general manager has signaled a willingness to shake things up if needed, a notable stance for a team trying to get itself back on track without making panic moves too early.
At the same time, the leagues trade chatter is already starting to spill into the Blackhawks orbit, with other clubs dealing with their own delicate situations and deadline pressure. Philadelphias handling of Matvei Michkov rumors has only added to the noise around the market, and for Chicago the question is less about any one rumor than whether Davidson decides the current roster needs a more dramatic reset as the losses pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Keep Getting Pushed Around And One Flaw Stands Out
The Blackhawks rough start has put a spotlight on a problem that goes beyond the standings. Elliotte Friedman said Chicago is still looking for ways to boost its offense, but the bigger issue is how often the team gets pushed around. He pointed to a young roster that is still learning how to defend as a unit, and to a lack of structure that leaves the group vulnerable when games get heavier and more demanding.
What stands out most is how little resistance the Blackhawks are offering in the areas that usually help a team survive those stretches. Friedman noted that Chicago has not been nearly physical enough, and that the club needs to tighten up its checking and overall edge if it wants to become more competitive. For a team trying to grow out of its rebuild, that kind of flaw can be just as damaging as any scoring drought. [Read more 🡒]