When I was a kid, the Chicago Blackhawks were the envy of the league.
They were the best team in the NHL, a modern-day dynasty led by some of the sport’s most dynamic young talents, supplemented by veteran stars, and led by a smart and ruthless front office in one of the world’s great sports markets.
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The Edmonton Oilers, meanwhile, were the joke of the league. They were a confounding stack of failed rebuilds that just couldn’t seem to get out of their own way, and it seemed nothing would ever go right in Edmonton.
Two draft lotteries, a massive scandal, and about a decade later, and the roles have been completely reversed.
Stan Bowman, ousted from Chicago for his mismanagement of the Kyle Beach affair, has landed in Edmonton at the head of a Stanley Cup favourite, led by the best player in the world. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks sit near the bottom of the standings as they try to rebuild around their own superstar first-overall pick.
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For the Oilers, a visit to Chicago is a time to reflect on how far they’ve come, and how far they still have to go. They were once this team, but they’re not yet at the same level as the Blackhawks of old. It’s up to Stan Bowman to get them there.
For the Blackhawks, a matchup with the Oilers can hopefully provide a blueprint. They’ve done the easy part: losing a bunch of games and drafting their new face of the franchise. Now comes the hard part: turning that into wins. It took the Oilers a long time, but they got there. How can Chicago get there?
One thing’s for sure: whatever they’re doing now isn’t working. The Blackhawks sit 31st in the league standings with a 16-31-5 record after adding a boatload of veterans in the offseason, and they’ve already traded away Taylor Hall. Even their lone bright spot, Connor Bedard, has struggled mightily with consistency and defence in his young career.
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The most important thing for Edmonton is to not take their opponents lightly on the second night of a back-to-back. They barely escaped with a win last night in St. Louis, and even a tanking team like the Blackhawks will pick up a win every once in a while.
Still fighting to keep their spot atop the Pacific Division, the Oilers can’t afford to lose a trap game like this. This should be a learning opportunity for the young Blackhawks, as they see what a fully operational contender can do.
The puck drops between Chicago and Edmonton at 7:30 tonight, on Sportsnet.
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