Blackhawks' rebuild is test case for other NHL franchises considering taking the leap
A sizable portion of the Blackhawks' fan base has become seriously impatient with and disgruntled about the slow progress of the rebuild.
That was evident in the responses to the Sun-Times' story Wednesday about general manager Kyle Davidson’s next steps, particularly the part where he said youth development over the "next year or two" will tell him what other moves should be made to augment the roster.
"Trade some picks for guys that are ready or been playing for a few years," replied one fan. "Get in on some top end talent or you’ll end up like Buffalo."
"The easy part is over," replied another. "He has more prospects than can fit on an NHL roster. Most will flame [out]. It's past time to build with legit NHL players. Complaining about new cap space making it hard is a loser's lament. Make a move!"
"I'm scared we'll still be saying in three years, 'Rebuilds take time,'" replied another. "[Connor] Bedard's early years are being wasted so far."
Those are valid points, even if Davidson could also give valid answers in response. Frustration levels might be reaching an all-time high amid the Hawks' sans-Bedard swoon, since they've lost six consecutive games and 14 of their last 17.
There's no denying the fact the Hawks' fan base as a whole has endured — or at least been forced to witness — unprecedented levels of futility in recent years. They've gone 115-207-42 since fall 2021; that's just 115 wins in 364 games. Even the most long-term-focused mind would eventually get beaten down by that frequency of failure and disappointment.
Hockey fans playing "franchise mode" in NHL video games love enacting full-scale rebuilds because the satisfaction of eventually climbing back to the top of the mountain is immense. Meanwhile, the pain of the interim years can be ignored or even skipped through with a few clicks.
But there's a reason why most actual NHL franchises are so wary of enacting full-scale rebuilds, even knowing the tremendous potential payoff: there's no "simulate" button in real life, and those interim years are unavoidably long and excruciating.
Plus, most fans don't follow closely enough to know about the prospect pool or understand the philosophies of team-building in the NHL — which takes much longer than in the NFL or NBA due to the hard salary cap and the young age at which players are drafted. Humans crave instant gratification from their entertainment, and hockey is entertainment.
The Canucks, for example, stand at the precipice now, debating whether or not to fully rebuild and tank for top draft picks or to retool on the fly after trading away Quinn Hughes.
Considering their iffy roster composition and shallow prospect pool, they probably should rebuild. But their front office has rebuked that sentiment, instead purporting a "hybrid" approach between the two extremes.
Business objectives are almost certainly an underlying influence. The Canucks have some of the highest ticket prices in the league, and they're known for squeezing every possible dollar out of their fan base. Continuing to do so will require at least a semi-competitive product on the ice.
In the Hawks' case, ticket sales have remained relatively strong through the rebuild, although they've been boosted by marketing creativity and Bedard's allure. They rank eighth in attendance this season (just like last season), drawing 18,473 per game.
Chicago's large population and sports obsession offers unique advantages, though, compared to smaller markets.
Even beyond the Canucks, there are plenty of rebuild candidates. The Maple Leafs, Penguins, Bruins, Predators and Kraken all have low ceilings as currently constructed. So far, however, all have shied away from taking the leap.
How well things pan out for the Hawks (and Sharks) could influence their decisions. But the angst they see emanating out of the fan base likely gives them pause, with good reason.