Last night, the hockey world was treated to something special: A seminal moment for the league with a record-tying performance. When Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal marker of 894 career NHL goals, hockey fans worldwide witnessed a passing of the torch they believed they would never see. Gretzky’s record, thought by some to withstand time and never be broken, will fall perhaps as early as Sunday afternoon when the Washington Capitals face the New York Islanders. In the span of a few days, the Alex Ovechkin/Sidney Crosby era continues to deliver and exceed expectations, as “Sid the Kid” himself registered his 20th straight point-per-game season. It is another feat that will have hockey historians scratching their heads.
If you are a Chicago Blackhawks fan and tuned into last night’s game, you are probably okay if not pleased to see Ovechkin get this done against your side. Perhaps like me, you are somewhat frustrated with yet another loss in a rebuilding season when your team entered the third period holding a 3–2 lead. Yet, as Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno encouraged his team to stick around after the horn sounded for all to shake the hand of Alex the Great and congratulate him on his momentous achievement, when looking at the nameplates, numbers and considering the ages of those embracing Ovi, you may have witnessed another torch being passed. For the young Hawks to be a part of this game, to feel that moment and electricity, to compete all night while maybe not fully realizing the gravity and magnitude of that game, it will only serve them well as they continue to grow and mature as young hockey players.
Though it was Ovi’s night, if you were watching the contest on NHL Network as I was, many times during the game, and particularly in the second period, Capitals play-by-play announcers Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin often complimented Chicago’s youth movement. Whether it was the speed of Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar’s determination or the reads and angles of 19-year-old Artyom Levshunov, it was clear to those covering the home side that these kids can play. Nazar was perhaps the best forward on the ice, as he has significantly raised his game over the last two weeks. Moore tallied the first two points of his young career with two assists on the night. Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski were in the lineup again and Alex Vlasic was solid, as was Landon Slaggert. Young goaltender Spencer Knight remained poised as the clock wound down, stopping shot after shot from Ovechkin as he tried to break the record before time expired. And though Connor Bedard looks wiped out and downright exhausted, maybe that can happen in April of your second year as a pro when you have played 140 games, tallied 120 points in that span, are shy of your 20th birthday and are a marked man league-wide. It is fine to be critical of his play and I certainly have been at times, too, but keep it in perspective. Bedard is going to be just fine — elite and a force. An offseason reset will help him, and the shot in the arm of the youth movement will be just the injection he and the organization needs heading into the 2025–26 season.
Oliver Moore tallied his first two points in his third NHL game with assists on goals by Frank Nazar and Philipp Kurashev. (Photo courtesy of Nick Wass / Associated Press)
There is work to be done, of course, as this team continues to climb the mountain. There is an abundance of young defensemen in the organization. Ethan Del Mastro was out of the lineup last night, but he will still be in the Blackhawks’ plans. Though Wyatt Kaiser has played well of late, will he stick? When will Nolan Allan get another shot? These are not bad problems to have.
Chicago does need to prioritize the hiring of a new coach — and early — this offseason, preferably before free agency opens on July 1. At this point, interim head coach Anders Sorensen seems more like a placeholder until a more seasoned NHL coach takes the reins of this young and budding club. You will hear names like University of Denver head coach Dave Carle and current Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, who may or may not be available as possible hires. Time will tell what the Hawks do about this, but with plenty of cap space at General Manager Kyle Davidson’s disposal this summer, in order to attract marquee free agents of the likes of Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, Brock Boeser and many others who will be in high demand, nailing down a solid coaching hire is critical.
They will also have another lottery pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, quite possibly in the top three. A world-class prospect such as Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa or James Hagens may soon be joining the arsenal of young talent within the Blackhawks’ system.
There will be many hiccups for the kids as well. None are the finished product; they are all still prospects and some of them will hit and some will miss. But in today’s NHL, if you have speed, you have a chance, and you are starting to see the return of Davidson’s philosophy of investing in high-end skaters. And if you are not excited about where the Hawks are in this stage of their rebuild and what you see when you watch multiple young 20-somethings and two teenagers blazing around to close out a grueling 2024–25 season, I am not sure there is much more to tell you. Hawks fans have been asked to be patient; it is not easy, but it is happening, so jump on the train.
For the youngsters, two of which Moore and Rinzel, who were wearing a white Blackhawks sweater for the first time while congratulating one of the game’s greatest players, gaining the experience of that hockey moment is invaluable, something they will all look back on with fondness and one that can and will motivate each of them to be the best they can possibly for their hockey team both now and in the future, hopefully to the tune of another era of multiple Stanley Cups in Chicago.