You can argue that the Blackhawks may not be as bad as their record and points total makes them out to be if you look at it from a certain perspective. That’s an encouraging thought and it shows us that, if a few of their players just step up their respective games a little more, maybe they’ll improve to where their record is at least somewhat respectable.

And a few of those players are forwards who we all thought would put on a better show this season but haven’t. Three of those listed below are players who, back in October, I’d have projected to have built upon moderately successful campaigns from last season, but that just hasn’t happened.

Connor Bedard

I don’t want to be the guy comparing Connor Bedard to Macklin Celebrini since it’s still way too early in their respective careers to make a consensus, but let’s be honest: Celebrini has, so far, been as-advertised, and Bedard is toiling through a sophomore slump.

Maybe the same thing will happen to Celebrini next season, but No. 71 has eight goals and 16 points in just 19 games this year going into Thursday night, good for a 13.1 shooting percentage. Last season, Bedard’s percentage wasn’t great, and it’s been the case this year, too.

Through 28 games, he’s got 21 points and five goals, nowhere close to what we were looking for at this time in Year 2. At this rate, he’ll end the season, finding the net between 14 and 15 times, with between 61 and 62 points on the season. Celebrini, even with all the time he’s missed, is on track for between 58 and 59 points.

Philipp Kurashev

Jaw-dropping. That’s about all I can say about Philipp Kurashev’s play so far this season, and not in a good way. I was beyond optimistic that a player like Kurashev would grow alongside Bedard and perhaps forge a one-two combo at times.

That’s been far from the case, and Kurashev looks like a player who’s had some good luck last season that has long since fizzled. He’s got three goals, five points, and an eye-popping minus-22 so far this season. And he’s only been remotely relevant in the faceoff circle.

At this point, it’s fair to wonder whether it’s better to just give up on Kurashev and let another team deal with him. Yeah, it could be risky, especially if he becomes one of those players who flames out in one city and excels in another. Still, if he’s not looking like a good fit for the Blackhawks, would there be any regret here?

Jason Dickinson

Jason Dickinson is another one who’s dropped off this season and he’s currently got 10 points and five goals crossing the one-third of the way mark. Last season, Hawks fans thought they had a (somewhat) late bloomer in the veteran forward, but his success has looked more like fools gold than anything else.

If there’s an upside here, at least in my mind, I didn’t see Dickinson as a long-term fixture in Chicago. Still, I also thought he’d have given us more than roughly one-third of a point per game.