2. Is Bowen Byram ready for top-line defenseman duties?
Chicago expects him to be, hence giving up the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, among other things, to acquire him in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 23.
There’s no doubt Byram has been waiting for this chance. The 25-year-old has played behind some great defensemen from Cale Makar with the Colorado Avalanche to Rasmus Dahlin with the Sabres. With the Blackhawks, he’ll get the big minutes and more responsibilities he has wanted. He’ll likely start the season paired with fellow No. 1 defenseman Alex Vlasic and probably be on the top power-play unit.
Chicago has heavily invested in Byram, who signed a six-year, $75 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value) on July 1. The opportunity is there. Byram has to grab it.
3. Can the Blackhawks make the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Bedard and others made it their mantra when they had their final 2025-26 season media session in April. They’re tired of losing, tired of watching other teams continue to play hockey through late April, May and June. The Blackhawks have missed the playoffs eight of the past nine seasons.
Still, it’s going to be a tough task. The Central Division will once again be strong, with the usual culprits (Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild) likely being among the top three teams again. The Utah Mammoth will challenge as well. Chicago was flirting with a playoff spot in mid-December last season before they lost Bedard and fellow center Frank Nazar to injuries within eight days of each other. Let’s see if the Blackhawks are ready to take the next step in the win column.
