👋 Good morning!

Another day, another bullpen implosion for the Cubs.

It’s tough to blame manager Craig Counsell when nobody is performing up to snuff.

Until cloning technology is perfected and Chicago can make eight copies of Porter Hodge, it’s going to continue to be a struggle.

It sure doesn’t help to lose one of your best innings eaters for the season.

– Patrick Norton

A Look Ahead

Tonight marks the end of the road for the 2024-25 Blackhawks. It’ll be the club’s third finish in the bottom three of the league in as many years.

But a recent stretch, including points in five of their last seven, powered by a youth movement, has many believing next season could be a major step in Chicago’s rebuild.

Here’s what to look forward to this offseason:

• Top 4 Pick: Regardless of how the lottery shakes out, the Blackhawks are guaranteed their third top-four pick in a row in the 2025 NHL Draft. The tank, while extremely frustrating at times, has done its job, already bringing Connor Bedard (No. 1 overall in ‘23) and Artyom Levshunov (No. 2 in ‘24) to Chicago.
   

• New Coach: After firing Luke Richardson 26 games into the season and promoting AHL head coach Anders Sorensen with an interim tag, it’s clear that Chicago needs more firepower behind the bench.
   
  Maybe a top-notch head coach like Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan becomes available, or maybe the Blackhawks explore bringing in the highly touted NCAA fast-riser David Carle from Denver.
   

• So. Much. Money: Chicago is projected to have around $29 million of open space this offseason for extensions and free agency. That doesn’t mean the Blackhawks need to go on a crazy spending spree, but they’ll be more than capable of luring a first-rate free agent like Toronto’s Mitch Marner.
   
  Important to note: Marner has to be willing to come to Chicago, too.

Why am I writing this now? Blackhawks fever is slowly but surely returning. Last night was a tremendous example.

Just about everything was trending against Chicago heading into Monday’s affair with the Montreal Canadiens: The Habs needed a win to clinch a playoff spot, and the No. 5 overall selection in last year’s draft, Ivan Demidov—who many thought the Blackhawks should’ve picked at No. 2—was slated to make his NHL debut.

Demidov did not disappoint, notching a primary assist on Montreal’s first goal and scoring their second, his first.

I had left the office by then, but I can only imagine the live reactions of Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi as they watched Demidov own his first period in the league.

But it was Frank Nazar’s efforts that not only outshined Demidov’s performance but also kept the Canadiens from clinching on home ice. Nazar, 21, tallied a goal and an assist before scoring the lone goal in the shootout win.

Demidov earned the No. 1 star, but anybody watching the game knows Nazar’s performance was far more deserving.

Nazar is just one of the several players to be excited about moving into the future, too. With Ryan Greene making his debut for the Blackhawks on Monday, Chicago dressed 11 skaters 23 years old or younger.

Last week against the Bruins, Chicago’s oldest defenseman was 23-year-old Louis Crevier.

It’s not just that the team is younger and faster, either; they’re the driving force behind the more competitive—and successful—play. And Bedard doesn’t turn 20 until July.

Imagine what a decent head coach will be able to make of this young group…

GO DEEPER: The CHGO Blackhawks crew might be more excited than me.

Quick Hits

HVL to CHI: The Sky brought in a haul in last night’s WNBA Draft, selecting four times, including twice in the first round:

• 1.10 » Ajša Sivka, F, Tarbes (France)

• 1.11 » Hailey Van Lith, G, TCU

• 2.16 » Maddy Westbeld, F, Notre Dame (not France)

• 2.22 » Aicha Coulibaly, G, Texas A&M

Bears Mailbag Friday: I’ll be posting one final pre-draft CHGO Bears mailbag this Friday! Have any questions for me? Reply to this email or hit me up on Twitter.

There is a catch. Anybody can ask a question, but this mailbag will only be accessible to CHGO Diehards when it’s published.

Lucky for you…

Mechanical arms…

Today!

📺 CHGO Bears
12:00 on YouTube

📺 CHGO Sky
3:00 on YouTube

📺 CHGO Bulls
5:30 on YouTube

📺 CHGO Blackhawks
5:30 on YouTube

🥅 Blackhawks @ Senators
6:00 on CHSN

⚾️ White Sox vs. Athletics
6:40 on CHSN+

📺 CHGO Blackhawks
POSTGAME on YouTube

⚾️ Cubs @ Padres
8:40 on Marquee

📺 CHGO Cubs
POSTGAME on CHGO Cubs YT

Talk to you tomorrow!