Blackhawks Bottom Line: Colin Blackwell Shows What Chicago Wants

Over the course of the next month, Chicago Hockey Now will be profiling every Chicago Blackhawks player from the 2023-24 season. Today, will be forward Colin Blackwell

Colin Blackwell
Forward
Games Played: 44
(Goals – Assists – Points): 5-11-16
Contract Status:  UFA

The Short View

Colin Blackwell sat out the early portion of the season, rehabbing from an injury that took a toll both physically and mentally. But when he returned, Blackwell provided a shot in the arm for a team with his tenacity, physicality, and give ’em hell attitude. For his efforts, Blackwell had his highest goal total in three seasons and put up 12 points (8-4) while being tasked with controlling the opponents best lines.

The Long View

Blackwell is one of many bubble players for the Blackhawks as to whether he’ll be back next season or not. With the roster due to be upgraded significantly, it not only shrinks opportunities for bottom six players but also creates intense competition with those vying for the final spots. Among some of the players that would include Reese Johnson, and MacKenzie Entwistle, Blackwell seems to have a leg up with what he not only brings to the ice, but how it influenced the bench.

Many stories were told about how Blackwell does things the right way and his attitude and drive is infectious. Whether that’s enough to hang on another season with Chicago is the next big question.

The Bottom Line for Colin Blackwell

The Chicago Blackhawks are long overdue for a jump in the standings. It’s been a long three seasons of losing and it simply cannot stand that they go through a fourth straight season of it. Regardless of how the draft lottery plays out, the culture only changes with more talent and the right players on the roster.

Blackwell is appealing because he’s going to go out there and do his job. Whether it’s 2-1 or 12-1, he’s going to be skating like his hair is on fire and doing whatever he can to put the Blackhawks in a better spot. He demonstrated that all season long, and it may have been enough to earn him another year with Chicago.

But the roster makeover may not include him, which would likely lead Blackwell to a team either in a similar spot (San Jose) or even a contender looking to fill out its bottom six. Colin Blackwell showed more than enough, in this humble writer’s opinion, to earn an additional year as the Hawks fortunes improve.

The decision is ulitimately up to general manager Kyle Davidson on whether that fit still exists on whatever comes next.