The Chicago Blackhawks’ season hit another ugly low Saturday night, and the timing could hardly be worse. After a 9-2 beating from the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center, Chicago dropped to 4-13-1, has nine points through 18 games, sits 31st in the NHL and remains last in the Western Conference.
That kind of start has put the pressure squarely on the franchise, and it’s showing up in the trade chatter too. Elliotte Friedman reported on Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines that the Blackhawks have “suddenly become very active” in the market as GM Kyle Davidson looks for scoring help.
Friedman said Chicago’s first-round picks are in play, including Florida’s, Edmonton’s and its own, along with extra second-rounders. He also said the team has been asked about prospects and centers.
“[Another] team that has suddenly become very active is Chicago... The Blackhawks have Florida’s 1st round pick.
They have Edmonton’s 1st round pick. They have a couple of 2nd rounders in addition to their own 1st.
Those picks appear to be in play and they have traded high first rounders before. But the Blackhawks have a lot of things out there.
They’ve been asked about some of their prospects I’ve heard. They’ve been asked about some of their guys who can play center...
And you know, the other thing too is they’ve got Jordan Greenway out there. They’ve got Teravainen who has struggled out there.
The Blackhawks are definitely active in terms of trying to help their team,” said Friedman on Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines.
The frustration around the team has spilled beyond the ice. Online, the anger has landed on head coach Jeff Blashill and Davidson, with fans calling for both of their jobs as the losses keep piling up five years into the rebuild, even with Connor Bedard on the roster.
Against Carolina, the Blackhawks were overwhelmed. The Hurricanes, described in the source as the defending Stanley Cup champions and the NHL’s best team early in 2026-27, got goals from Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake, Jordan Martinook, Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Alexander Nikishin and Shayne Gostisbehere.
After the game, Chicago held a players-only meeting, and Wyatt Kaiser described the tone inside the room as the team tried to sort through the mess.
“... getting the frustration out, speaking their mind and trying to get to the reality of it: This is the spot we’re in. How do we get better? How do we get out of it?”
The Blackhawks now have four days off before their next game against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 12.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Pressure Is Rising Fast Around One Costly Gamble
Bowen Byram arrived in Chicago with the kind of pedigree that was supposed to help stabilize the blue line and give the Blackhawks a proven piece to build around. Instead, his early stretch with the club has been derailed by an upper-body injury, and the team has had to navigate his absence while trying to keep pace in a season already carrying plenty of pressure.
The timing has only sharpened the scrutiny around the move, because the Blackhawks have struggled without him and the conversation around the organization has started to widen beyond the roster. What was supposed to be a major addition is now part of a much bigger debate about where the team goes from here, and whether the fallout from this gamble reaches beyond the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Problem Months Too Early
The early-season frustration in Chicago has already pushed the Blackhawks into an uncomfortable spot, with the club reportedly active in trade discussions as it looks for help before the calendar has even settled into winter. A poor record and a string of heavy losses have put the team in a hole, and the response has included a players-only meeting as everyone inside the room tries to sort out a season that has gone sideways fast.
What makes this especially notable is that the Blackhawks are not waiting for the usual deadline scramble to explore ways to improve the roster. The organization appears to be working the phones now, trying to find answers while the standings are still taking shape, which says plenty about how urgent the situation feels. For a team that expected to be building momentum, the next move could say a lot about how aggressively management plans to chase a turnaround. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Face A Brutal Test As Road Trip Pressure Builds
A difficult stretch on the Southeast United States road trip gets even steeper Saturday night, when the Blackhawks head into Carolina to face a Hurricanes team that has spent most of the season looking every bit like a contender. Chicago is trying to steady itself amid a poor record and a lineup still missing key pieces, while the Hurricanes, the defending Stanley Cup champions, have remained near the top of the league and enter the matchup with far fewer concerns on the injury front.
For the Blackhawks, the challenge is not just the opponent but the timing, with the trip already putting pressure on a young roster that has had to keep piecing things together. The game also comes with the usual pregame details, including projected lineups and broadcast information, but the bigger question is whether Chicago can find enough structure and energy to make this one competitive against a team that has been so hard to chase down. [Read more 🡒]