Bowen Byram is getting the chance he’s been waiting for, and the Blackhawks are betting it can finally wake up their power play.
After years of standing in the shadow of Cale Makar in Colorado and Rasmus Dahlin in Buffalo, Byram now appears set to take over as Chicago’s top power-play quarterback. That’s a major shift for a player who has already spent his short NHL career learning from some of the league’s best, and it gives the Blackhawks a possible answer to a problem that has lingered for years.
Chicago’s power play has been stuck in neutral for a long time. The team hasn’t had a true No. 1 quarterback to steer the unit, but Byram looks like the man poised to change that.
He has been a credible power-play defenseman already, but this is the first time he’s getting the keys to run the show himself. For the Blackhawks, that could be a difference-maker.
What makes Byram such an intriguing fit is the mix he brings. He offers skating, passing, and a steady presence with the puck, along with the kind of smart, deceptive game that power-play quarterbacks need.
He can create plays, he can shoot, and he controls the puck with authority. That combination should help Chicago in a way it has missed for a while.
He’s also expected to have plenty of help around him. The likely setup has Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard on the wings, Tyler Bertuzzi in front of the net, and Roman Kantserov in the bumper.
That’s a strong group to work with, and Byram’s job is to tie it all together. He won’t just be holding the point; he’ll be creating space and setting up chances for the rest of the unit.
The numbers show how much room there is for improvement. Last season, the Blackhawks finished at 16.9% on the power play and ranked 29th in the league.
This year, Byram’s presence needs to push that unit into the top 20 at minimum. His point-to-point passing can make the wingers more dangerous on one-timers, while his shot gives the net-front area another threat to worry about.
Chicago brought him in to do more than stabilize the blue line. They want him to help drive the entire team forward, and special teams is where that can start.
Byram has already shown he can be an elite NHL defenseman. Now he gets the chance to prove he can run his own power play, too.
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Blackhawks Fans Got An Exciting First Look At Chicagos Next Core
The Blackhawks first home preseason game had the kind of energy that can make September hockey feel bigger than it should. Chicago outlasted the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime, and the crowd got an early glimpse of a group of young players that looks increasingly central to the teams future, with Nick Lardis and Roman Kantserov also finding the scoresheet in a lively, up-and-down night.
Bowen Byram was the headliner, and the overall impression went beyond the goals. Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov both played with a noticeable edge on the back end, adding to the sense that Chicagos next wave is starting to show up in real games rather than just in projections. For a fan base eager to see what the rebuild might look like when it starts to take shape, this was the kind of debut home crowd that leaves plenty to think about. [Read more 🡒]
Bowen Byram Just Gave Blackhawks Fans A Glimpse Of Whats Coming
The Blackhawks got a useful preseason look at the United Center, and Bowen Byram made the night feel a little bigger than most exhibition games. Chicago outlasted the Minnesota Wild in overtime, with the Wild sending a mostly AHL lineup while the Blackhawks dressed much of what should resemble their regular-season group. For a team trying to sort out its identity and evaluate new pieces, it was the kind of night that offered more than just a final score.
Byram was at the center of it, giving Chicago a glimpse of the kind of impact play it hoped to add when it brought him in. The offense came with pace, confidence and the sort of finishing touch that can change how a preseason game is remembered, even if the stakes were modest. For Blackhawks fans, the bigger takeaway was less about beating a depleted opponent and more about what Byrams first impression suggests about what might be coming once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins May Be Near A Tough Call On Matthew Poitras
Preseason roster math is starting to get tight around the league, and one of the names drawing attention is Ethan Del Mastro, the Blackhawks defenseman who could be caught in the same waiver conversation as a few other young players trying to force their way into NHL jobs. The discussion is part of a broader look at prospects and depth pieces who may have to clear a difficult path if they do not crack their clubs opening-night plans.
Matthew Poitras and Justin Robidas are also being flagged as likely waiver targets, which says plenty about how crowded these battles can get for younger players with upside. For Chicago, Del Mastros presence in that mix is a reminder that the Blackhawks will be watching not just their own camp decisions, but the possibility that talent from elsewhere could suddenly become available if another team has to make a tough call. [Read more 🡒]