Blackhawks Players Reflect on Season, Look Ahead to Playoffs Expectations

Chicago's young core discusses personal growth, team chemistry, and a renewed playoff push for next season

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:36pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a hockey game, with overlapping planes of navy, green, and red representing the players and the intensity of the sport.The Blackhawks' young core embraces a collaborative, team-first mentality as they look to shatter expectations and make the playoffs next season.Chicago Today

The Chicago Blackhawks held their end-of-season exit interviews, with players reflecting on their individual performances, appreciating their teammates, and expressing high expectations for making the playoffs next season. Key topics included Frank Nazar's goal-scoring struggles and improvements, Nick Lardis' transition to the NHL, Wyatt Kaiser and Louis Crevier's breakout campaigns, and Connor Bedard's emerging leadership role. The players also discussed their plans to train together in the offseason and their collective mindset of taking the necessary steps to become a 'legitimate team' in the league.

Why it matters

The Blackhawks have missed the playoffs for several consecutive seasons, so the players' renewed commitment to success and desire to make the postseason next year is an important sign of the team's growth and development. Their strong team chemistry and plans to train together in the offseason suggest the young core is poised to take a big leap forward, which could translate to on-ice results and a return to relevance in the NHL.

The details

Several Blackhawks players highlighted specific areas of improvement in their individual games, including Frank Nazar's focus on winning more puck battles, Nick Lardis' desire to become a more well-rounded two-way player, and Wyatt Kaiser and Louis Crevier's increased confidence and ice time. The players also praised each other's contributions, with Tyler Bertuzzi and Alex Vlasic highlighting the strong play of rookies Anton Frondell and Crevier, respectively. Coach Jeff Blashill and the players expressed optimism about the team's potential, despite their 31st-place finish, suggesting the Blackhawks have taken significant steps forward that may not be fully reflected in their record.

  • The Blackhawks held their end-of-season exit interviews on April 16, 2026.
  • The 2025-26 NHL regular season concluded on April 15, 2026.

The players

Frank Nazar

A 22-year-old center who endured ups and downs this season, including a 21-game goal drought, but finished strongly and is focused on improving his puck battle skills and execution in the offensive zone.

Nick Lardis

A rookie forward who contributed 18 goals with the Rockford IceHogs and 10 goals with the Blackhawks, and is looking to become a more responsible, two-way player while also adding strength in the offseason.

Wyatt Kaiser

A defenseman who had a breakout campaign, playing in 77 games and averaging over 19 minutes of ice time per night, crediting his growth to the accumulation of experience and confidence.

Louis Crevier

A defenseman who played in 78 games, contributing 7 goals and 25 points, and earned praise from his defensive partner Alex Vlasic for his strong play and growing confidence.

Connor Bedard

The Blackhawks' young star, who is expected to be named captain next season, and is described by his teammates as a consistent, hard-working leader both on and off the ice.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes it's just the puck going in the back of the net, and getting that feeling and that boost of what it feels like to score. Or make a nice play and score off that. Honestly, I thought that there were times throughout the season where I wasn't scoring or maybe wasn't producing, but I was getting tons of chances and loads of opportunities. It was just the execution part of it, of the puck not going in, or something like that. But I do think winning more stick and puck battles was a key towards the end of the year, doing better in those opportunities.”

— Frank Nazar, Center

“I thought I learned a lot playing in different roles, whether it's being more responsible, being more of a two-way player. I think that helped my game a lot, just be more consistent at that…If it's a different role, I think the important thing for me is to understand my role and make sure I'm doing everything I can to help the team win.”

— Nick Lardis, Rookie Forward

“I'd just say, like over time experiences. I think it's kind of a lot of little things that build on each other. There's not one thing I can necessarily point to, but the experiences over the last couple years just, away from the rink, at the rink, kind of slowly building up to where I find that with the ups and downs of the season, you can kind of manage them a little bit better.”

— Wyatt Kaiser, Defenseman

“Yeah, I really enjoyed it, honestly. He's a really good kid too, off the ice. That's very important. And on the ice he worked so hard. He's skilled, and I thought our line with Mickey (Ilya Mikheyev) did a pretty good job at the end of competing and being on the forecheck and creating turnovers.”

— Tyler Bertuzzi, Veteran Forward

“He's such a good guy and really happy for how he's played this year. Everybody was fired up last night (season finale on Apr. 15) with his two goals. He's such a good player, when he's playing with confidence, when he's playing with some swagger. He's such a big guy out there, great skater, and he brings so much to our team when he's playing at his best. So I was really happy for him this year, and he made it easy for me to play alongside him.”

— Alex Vlasic, Defenseman

What’s next

The Blackhawks players plan to train together in Chicago during the offseason, with some also scheduling joint trips to locations like Vancouver and Florida to continue building team chemistry.

The takeaway

The Blackhawks' young core has expressed a renewed commitment to making the playoffs next season, with a focus on the process of becoming a 'legitimate team' rather than just chasing the outcome. Their strong team chemistry, plans to train together in the offseason, and individual growth in key areas suggest the Blackhawks could be poised for a significant leap forward, despite their recent struggles.