The Blackhawks have plenty of youngsters who either need to garner some consistency, get back on track, or take the next step in their development. Today, I’m talking about three youngsters who could become part of Chicago’s core for the back half of the decade. And the faster they complete their respective games, the quicker you’ll see the Hawks start winning more.

While everyone in that locker room must bring their ‘A-Game’ if they want to increase their odds of becoming focal points on the Hawks, the following three youngsters must go above and beyond as the 2024-25 season steamrolls into its second half.

Connor Bedard

Oh yes, we’re starting things off with someone who must become the Blackhawks new myth and legend. I get that not all ‘generational talents’ live up to their billing, but Connor Bedard has shown way too many flashes of brilliance to disappoint fans of this historic franchise.

Yeah, he’s light years ahead of his Blackhawks teammates with 35 points and 10 goals in 40 games. But, overall, there’s still been little improvement since his rookie season ended. The last thing we need is to openly wonder what the Hawks would look like today if the roles between themselves and the San Jose Sharks were reversed and they ended up with Macklin Celebrini.

Spoiler Alert: Bedard can finally put any potential narrative to sleep if he can give fans about a half-goal per game and embark on a point-per-game pace over the next three months.

Lukas Reichel

We’ve been waiting, waiting, and waiting for Lukas Reichel to make significant improvements, and it still hasn’t materialized. Still, if he remains in a Blackhawks uniform, there’s always a chance the former 17th-overall pick will make something more out of his career than just as a lower-liner.

The upside here is that he’s likely ending the year with a career-high in points, but the downside is that career-high won’t be much better than the 16 points and five goals he gave us last season. We’ve seen borderline draft busts break out and enjoy a good half-season in the past, so maybe Reichel will surprise us over the next 90-plus days.

Alex Vlasic

Alright, finally, there’s not as much doom and gloom here. Overall, Alex Vlasic’s improved upon his first full season in the league, snagging 17 points and two goals in 40 games, plus 82 blocks. Not a bad follow-up campaign from what was a successful 2023-24 season.

Now, let’s see him take the next step between January and April 2025, reach over the half-point per game threshold, and become a consistent player in all three zones. Should Vlasic get there, Hawks fans know they’ll have someone who can put in top-pairing minutes for the next decade.