Closing the Book on 2021 While Looking Ahead to Next Season (And Other Blackhawks Bullets)

They looked good enough at moments, they were mostly outplayed, and in the end they fell short. Is this my way of describing the 2021 Chicago Blackhawks season or their final game of the season last night against the Dallas Stars? The answer is yes, both.

Chicago had no business winning their regular season finale last night, being out-shot 50-23 and looking the inferior team for most stretches of play. But they capitalized on what few chances they had and Collin Delia kept them alive for most of the 60+minute effort. Much like the regular season, the Blackhawks had no business being in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as long as they did this season, but it was intriguing to watch when they capitalized on their chances to keep alive in the playoff chase in the Central Division. But ultimately in the end, they just weren’t good enough.

We knew this season was way more likely to end in the draft lottery than it was in the postseason, but the path to that fate took way more twists and turns than anyone could have predicted. It was fun at times, mostly frustrating, and the future of the organization was put into the spotlight for the entire season.

•   Collin Delia made 45 saves on 50 shots faced last night, the most shots the Blackhawks had given up all season. They finish the year allowing an average of 33.7 shots per game, tied for the league-worst mark with the Buffalo Sabres. Not company you want to have in the NHL.

•   The last three seasons, the Blackhawks have allowed the most shots on goal per game twice, last season and this season, and the second-most shots per game in 2018-19. In 454 regular season games from the beginning of the 2015-16 season to the end of this season, the Blackhawks have allowed 33.0 shots per game, the most per game in the NHL over that span of time.

•   Goaltending has been Chicago’s saving grace when it comes to staying above water in most games over that time. Goaltending and high-powered offensive production helped in 2015-16, 2016-17, and in 2018-19. On the flip-side, over that same span of time, the Blackhawks are ninth in the NHL with 31.6 shots on goal per game. Over the past three seasons, the Blackhawks have finished 12th (2018-19), 13th (2019-20), and 19th (2021) in the NHL in shots on goal.

•   Bottom line, they need to figure out their defensive system. Either scrap this man-to-man hybrid system, or bank on five-six inexperienced players to figure it out next season. Which sounds like an easier solution to bank on?

•   Unfortunately, as long as Jeremy Colliton is at then helm, this is the system they are going to play, so you have to hope the players figure it out.

•   Last night’s game got off to another hot start, much like Sunday night’s contest. Alex DeBrincat took just about four second of ice-time to close the season with a seven-game goal streak and an eight-game point streak, netting his 32nd goal of the season in the first two minutes of the game.

•   DeBrincat finishes the season with the team-lead in goals and second on the team in points with 56 in 52 games. His 32 goals this season in 52 games is an 82-game pace of 50 goals in a normal season and his 56 points in 52 games would be an 82-game pace of 88 points. Both would be career-highs for DeBrincat in an 82-game season. Quite the bounce-back from his 2019-20 campaign.

•   Pius Suter added the 2-0 goal just seconds after DeBrincat gave the Blackhawks the 1-0 lead. His 14th goal of the season finishes the year with the team-lead among rookies skaters.

•   In his first NHL season, Suter notched 14 goals and 27 points in 55 games. That translates to 82-game pace of 21 goals and 40 points in a normal season. To do that as a rookie is impressive and will likely warrant a new deal with Chicago this offseason as Suter is set to be a restricted free agent this summer.

•   Following the game last night, Suter shared some details about what the offseason will look like for him, including how he’ll get some of his workouts in.

•   I took a military training and exercise class in college. It helped keep me in shape…on the days I could make it to the 5:30 a.m. class…

•   Suter was the leading rookie in points, but you could make the case that Brandon Hagel or Kevin Lankinen could be the Blackhawks’ team Rookie of the Year. We’ll give out team awards later this week, but the abundance of rookies to not only make their NHL debuts with the Blackhawks this season, but to excel in their first seasons was wildly encouraging to watch all season.

•   Chicago dressed 12 rookies this season for a total of 310 games of experience amongst them. Chicago rookies tallied 42 goals and 97 points this season, both finishing in the top-two of the NHL this year.

•   The final two goals of the game for the Blackhawks came from Dylan Strome and Vinnie Hinostroza. Two players whose futures with the Blackhawks for next season are a bit murky. For Strome, the 2021 season was a disappointment with 9 goals and 17 points in 40 games played. He was likely going to get top-line center minutes coming into the season with Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach missing at the start of the year, but with the emergence of Suter and Philipp Kurashev this season, Strome’s ice-time started to get cut as the year progressed. With Dach coming back healthy next season and with the potential for Jonathan Toews to return to health as well, and paired with reportedly signing Henrik Borgström, it seems that Strome will be or already has been edged out of the roster for the Blackhawks.

•   Hinostroza is another story with more optimism. After being acquired by the Blackhawks in late-March from the Panthers, he burst onto the ice with Chicago in his second-stint with the club. After having no points in nine games in Florida, Hinostroza finished with four goals and 12 points in 17 games with the Blackhawks. His 0.71 points per game pace was third on the team this season among skaters with more than 15 appearances with Chicago in 2021, only behind Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.

•   An unrestricted free agent this offseason, it would seem silly to not bring Hinostroza back to Chicago next season as long as the contract offer is reasonable. It seems like the 27-year-old wants to remain with the Blackhawks and continue to play close to home. His speed and energy on the forecheck fit nicely with the Blackhawks forward system and he showed a knack for finishing plays in his short sample size this season.

•   We’ll talk more this offseason about what the Blackhawks should do with the players that will need new contract this season, but a spoiler is that I believe Hinostroza should get a new deal with Chicago, short-term and around $1.5M per year.

•   Chicago’s offseason will be interesting as far as their cap space situation goes. We are usually preparing for cap casualties with the Blackhawks, but for the first time in a long time, Chicago could be able to add a significant piece to their roster this summer via a trade or free agency. If they do want to make a splash in either of those avenues, I would hope they focus on an impactful,  minutes-eating, defense-first defenseman or a legitimate starting goaltender.

•   Heading into next season with Kevin Lankinen, Malcolm Subban, and Collin Delia under contract in net next season could be fine, but if the Blackhawks want to get over the hump, they’ll need one of those three to build upon their 2021 season (likely Lankinen) or they will have to acquire a proven No. 1 goalie. Unfortunately the market for acquiring a goalie is never a sure thing and Chicago may be content with the money they are saving on their in-house trio and that Lankinen will continue to be league-average or better in net.

•   We’ll call it there for Blackhawks talk in today’s bullets. We have a whole summer to hash things over.

•   Following last night’s action, the Stanley Cup Playoff field is set for the summer.

•   Depending on how things play out in the divisional round and the final four, there is a possible scenario where the Boston Bruins could face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Final. Or the Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens could meet in the Final. No matter what, this new playoff format with the Divisional round and re-seeding in the final four should be interesting and I would like to keep it around. Although the all-Canada Division won’t stick around, which was also a treat for fans this season.

•   Speaking of the Canadian teams, check out this awesome moment for Ottawa Senators rookie Tim Stützle after he scored his first career hat-trick.

•   With no fans allowed at games in Canada yet, these young Sons fans showed up to show their appreciation for the young forward. This is the content you love to see.

•   It’s also a good point to end on today. Have yourselves a good Tuesday and enjoy the first day of the offseason!

written by

Mario Tirabassi is a writer for Bleacher Nation. You can follow him on Twitter @Mario_Tirabassi.

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