The turn of the new year is often the time to feel hope and optimism for the future. It doesn’t exactly work that way during an NHL season; your team probably is what it is at this point of the year. Chicago Blackhawks fans know where their team stands, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

But let’s pull the lens out from the Winter Classic, the current state of the Blackhawks and the season as a whole and focus on the calendar year of 2025. As more time passes, things should get better for the Blackhawks — that’s how the rebuild is supposed to work. But there are no guarantees the Blackhawks will improve over the next 365 days; that was the expectation for this season and that hasn’t exactly happened. The Blackhawks were 11-25-2 after 38 games last season and are 12-24-2 after 38 this time. That one extra win isn’t what general manager Kyle Davidson meant by taking a step.

So, what could 2025 bring for the Blackhawks? Let’s predict.

A star linemate for Connor Bedard

This could finally be the offseason Davidson makes a splash in free agency. It will all likely depend on who is available, but if someone like Mitch Marner or Mikko Rantanen hits the open market, you would think Davidson will be all in on trying to sign a premier free agent.

It’s been apparent for two seasons now that Connor Bedard doesn’t have an ideal linemate to play with. Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi make more sense than the other combinations, but that line hasn’t exactly been clicking. When you look at the success Macklin Celebrini is having as a rookie with the San Jose Sharks, you can’t help but notice the role Tyler Toffoli is playing in that. With Celebrini and Toffoli on the ice together, the Sharks are outscoring teams 7-5 in five-on-five play this season. As a team, the Sharks are being outscored 96-69. In all situations, Celebrini has scored eight of his 12 goals and recorded 16 of his 27 points while on the ice with Toffoli. Bedard could use someone like that.

A top-three draft pick

If the season ended today, the Blackhawks would have the highest odds at winning the draft lottery, as they’re last in the NHL in points percentage. If they remain last, they can’t pick any worse than No. 3. Whether it’s first, second or third, the Blackhawks would be drafting in the top three for the third consecutive year.

Considering the Blackhawks went with a defenseman at No. 2 last year, Artyom Levshunov, and already have an abundance of young and promising defensemen in their pipeline, including recent first-rounders Kevin Korchinski and Sam Rinzel, the assumption is the Blackhawks would draft the best forward available this year. A more definitive idea of who is expected to be taken near the top of the draft will develop after the World Junior Championship, but James Hagens, Porter Martone and Michael Misa have been the early forward favorites. We’ll dive into the draft much more in the coming months.

Another influx of prospects

The Blackhawks welcomed several prospects to pro hockey in 2024 — in the AHL and NHL — and that will be the case again in 2025. Here are eight prospects expected to turn pro this year:

Sam Rinzel, defenseman: Rinzel, who was drafted No. 25 in 2022, has arguably made the biggest jump among Blackhawks prospects this season. He’s been one of college hockey’s top defensemen and might have the highest offensive upside of any defenseman in the pipeline. The Blackhawks took a chance on him with a first-round pick and could pay off big. He could make his NHL debut once his season ends.

Oliver Moore, forward: Moore, drafted No. 19 in 2023, is one of the fastest players in college hockey. He hasn’t had the jump in production expected in his sophomore season, but the Blackhawks have been pleased with his development and see him as a possible future linemate for Bedard. He could make his NHL debut once his college season ends.

Nick Lardis, forward: Lardis, who was drafted in the third round (No. 67) in 2023, is possibly the organization’s purest goal scorer outside of Bedard. Lardis leads the OHL with 32 goals this season. There are some questions about whether his game will translate to the NHL, but he has been getting inside and scoring around the net this season. He’s already signed for the 2025-26 season.

Ryan Greene, forward: Greene, a 2022 second-round (No. 57) pick, had the chance to turn pro after last season but wanted to return to Boston University for his junior season. The Blackhawks think he has a chance to be a reliable two-way center. Maybe he can replace Jason Dickinson down the line. He could make his NHL debut once his college season ends.

Others expected to turn pro: Taige Harding (defenseman, third round in 2021), Dominic James (forward, sixth round in 2022), Martin Misiak (forward, second round in 2o23), Aidan Thompson (forward, third round in 2022).

More prospects in the NHL

The Blackhawks might keep Korchinski, Levshunov and a few others with the Rockford IceHogs for most of this season, but you would expect to see some of them in the NHL late this season or early next season.

The Blackhawks will have to at least give Korchinski and Levshunov chances to make the team out of camp next season. Colton Dach and Landon Slaggert are probably the forwards in Rockford closest to the NHL. Samuel Savoie has helped his stock this season and could be pushing for an NHL roster spot next season, too. Greene, Lardis, Moore and Rinzel might need time in Rockford, but they’ll also be players to watch in camp later this year. If the Blackhawks’ lineup to begin the 2025-26 season includes Bedard, Korchinski, Levshunov, Frank Nazar and a few other young players, the future will seem brighter.

The next Blackhawks coach

One of Davidson’s main objectives for the 2024-25 season was figuring out whether Luke Richardson was his coach of the future. Richardson was what the Blackhawks needed in the first phase of their rebuild, but it was unknown whether he’d fit what they needed next. It was always expected Richardson would get the full season to prove himself, as the Blackhawks had an option on Richardson’s contract after the season, but Davidson saw enough after 26 games.

With 52 games remaining, Davidson decided to give Anders Sorensen, who had been coaching with the IceHogs, a chance to prove whether he could fare better and potentially be promoted from the interim title. Through 12 games under Sorensen, the Blackhawks have had their share of ups and downs. Sorensen is 4-8-0 as interim coach.

Whether it’s Sorenen or someone else, Davidson will hire a full-time coach for the 2025-26 season. The Blackhawks will face higher expectations in the coming seasons, and Davidson will want a coach who can help the Blackhawks live up to them.

Better TV access?

I’m pretty sure about every item on this list before this one. I’m guessing on this. It has to improve, though, right?

No one is distributing actual numbers, but CHSN’s launch was a disaster. To compare, the radio broadcast numbers have greatly improved this season. It’d be something if the radio broadcasts had better numbers than CHSN, but nothing would be surprising considering how many people seem to have access to CHSN in the Chicago area. The TV people who advised the team owners let them down. CHSN should have been a must-carry station. Whatever the teams would have lost in their rights deals, they could have made up in advertising and future sales created by maintaining and building their fans.