It’s been a slow-moving and painstaking process over the years, but the Chicago Blackhawks’ rebuild is finally showing signs of major progress.
Since being named the permanent General Manager in March of 2022, Kyle Davidson has mapped out a precise plan to turn around the franchise and develop the Blackhawks into consistent Stanley Cup contenders once again.
For the first few years of his tenure, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was laborious at times. Off the ice, icons like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews saw their time with the organization come to underwhelming ends, and other stalwarts like Alex DeBrincat and Brandon Hagel were shipped away for draft picks. On the ice, the losses were piling up for the Blackhawks, leading to several forgettable seasons spent at the bottom of the NHL standings.
Through his first three full seasons as GM, the Blackhawks failed to eclipse 61 points and didn’t appear to be gaining much ground in the rebuild. Fans were growing increasingly impatient and left wondering whether Davidson’s plan would ever come to fruition.
But the opening 26 games of the 2025-26 campaign have been a stern reminder of the remarkable work that Davidson put in during all of those losing seasons. The immense talent he stockpiled through the NHL Draft has at last arrived on the big-league scene, making the team much more competitive than in recent years. Want to know what’s even more inspiring? This is only the first wave of quality prospects to hit the professional level. More and more help will be on the way for the Blackhawks in the not-so-distant future.
With the Blackhawks among the biggest surprises in the league so far, Davidson was invited on “Frankly Hockey” with Frank Seravalli and Brien Rea on Tuesday to share his thoughts on various topics, including several of his high-end draft selections.
Of course, Davidson was first asked about Connor Bedard, the player he chose with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Bedard has flipped a switch in his junior season in Chicago, as he currently sits third in the NHL with 38 points and tied for fourth with 17 goals. He’s been the driving force behind the Blackhawks’ 11-9-6 record, which has them just one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Davidson was specifically asked if anything behind the scenes had led to Bedard’s breakout in the opening 26 contests.
“Connor’s been fantastic. He’s been great. The one thing that’s just a little bit different… I think he’s just more comfortable in the league. He’s just more settled in the situation. He understands what the grind is all about [since] he’s been through it twice now… Parlaying that into an offseason where he wanted to improve things in his game, and he’s obviously taken some big steps in that… It’s been an incredible start, really excited for him and what he’s brought to our group.”
Much has been made of Bedard’s increase in skating speed compared to his first two seasons, which he reportedly honed in on during offseason training this past summer. Bedard has yet to divulge the training regimen that suddenly has him among the NHL’s swiftest skaters. Not even to his own GM. Regardless, Davidson seems rather pleased about Bedard being faster than ever.
“He’s objectively faster. You see it every day in practice and obviously in the games. There’s just an extra jump to his game, and I think it’s made him that much more dangerous and lethal, especially off the rush. He’s just a threat every time he touches the ice… Honestly, I haven’t gotten into the weeds with what he’s done [with his skating]. I think it’s something he’s kept pretty close to the vest. I’ll leave him to that and let him keep his secrets to himself for now. But his skating has definitely taken a step. You see it in the data, you see it just watching him every day. It’s a big difference, and I think it’s changed his game.”
Later in the interview, Seravalli asked Davidson about two young defensemen who have been staples of the NHL lineup, in Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel. Both Levshunov and Rinzel have gone through ups and downs during their rookie seasons, but Davidson has been impressed with their growing confidence as they gain additional experience.
“I think you’re seeing the inevitable ups and downs of young defensemen in this league. It’s natural. It’s something that is expected. But we’re also seeing that constant upward projection and progression that you want to see… You’re seeing the confidence with the puck that they both have. They both are really mobile defenders, and you’re seeing them use that to their advantage… Arty got his first goal not too long ago, which was really exciting. You’re starting to see Sam grow in confidence with the puck and using his great skating ability. We’re really excited about the future of those two players in particular.”
Seravalli didn’t leave out Jeff Blashill, who’s stepped in and done a tremendous job of commanding a young roster in his first season as Blackhawks head coach. The NHL insider sang Blashill’s praises, and Davidson did the same.
“I honestly can’t say enough about Blashill and the whole coaching staff. They came in on day one, set a standard, set expectations, and have held the players to those expectations. I believe the group has really responded… The demeanor that [the staff] all have with such a young group is so important, and it’s been great to see on that end. Everyone’s really cohesive in their messaging… I couldn’t be happier and more positive about the impact that Blashill has had on our players so far.”
One player who isn’t currently with the Blackhawks in the NHL is Anton Frondell, the third overall pick in the 2025 Draft. Frondell is still playing over in Sweden with Djurgarden, who was promoted to the Swedish Hockey League, the country’s top professional league, for 2025-26. Through 23 games, Frondell has recorded nine goals and five assists for 14 points. He’s impressively second on the team in goals and fourth in points as an 18-year-old, despite being bounced around in the lineup.
Davidson lit up when asked about Frondell, sharing a rave review about his sturdy start to his first SHL season. He believes the Swedish forward will be a crucial piece to the puzzle once he comes over to North America.
“The goal scoring has been very exciting. I think the way he scores goals is something that’s very transferable to the NHL game, but also just the way he plays as a 200-foot player… His game, size, and where he’s going to go will be a great compliment to what we have already in the system. When he comes over, he will be an impact player quite early on, and we’ll be able to do that in a few different positions. Whether it’s on the wing, down the middle, playing down in the lineup, or up the lineup. We think he can play anyway we need and [allows us] to use him in any different situation… That versatility is really exciting to us.”
Here’s the full episode of “Frankly Hockey”, where Davidson joined for a guest interview. He’s brought on at 23:53 of the video.
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