What The Blackhawks Can Learn From The Devils’ Rebuild

The Chicago Blackhawks are in the middle of a long rebuild, but there’s a belief that the franchise is moving in the right direction. With Connor Bedard the jewel in the crown in Chicago, supporters are beginning to believe that the next generation will have a brighter future than what’s gone before.

One team the Blackhawks could learn from in this period is the New Jersey Devils. It wasn’t so long ago that they were also rebuilding while near the bottom of the standings. However, by making some smart draft decisions and being patient, New Jersey have developed into a competitive young playoff team. The latest betting at Betinia New Jersey suggests there’s growing confidence around their long-term future, and Chicago will hope to follow the same blueprint.

Building Around A Young Star

The Devils focused their rebuild around Jack Hughes after picking him first overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. While Hughes needed that time to develop into a star, New Jersey remained patient and improved the team around him.

The Blackhawks are following a similar approach with Bedard. Since he arrived in Chicago, Bedard has shown signs that he can become one of the NHL’s top players. After recording an impressive points return in the 2025/26 season, he remains the player the franchise continues to build around.

As Hughes did in New Jersey, Bedard gives Chicago a player who can be key for them for years to come.

Patience Is Crucial

One of the key takeaways for Chicago following the rebuild in New Jersey is that you need patience during a rebuild. The Devils had to endure several difficult seasons before they eventually established themselves as playoff contenders once again.

Rather than attempting to rush the process, the Devils focused on several important areas during their rebuild, including:

• Developing young players gradually
• Remaining patient during difficult seasons
• Adding support pieces through trades and free agency
• Building better balance and depth across the roster

That patience helped them to create a roster that has greater balance and depth.

The Blackhawks still have some weaknesses, particularly defensively, but there appears to be a commitment from the organisation to building for the long term rather than searching for quick fixes. Under the guidance of head coach Jeff Blashill, Chicago will hope to see the team improve over the coming months and years.

The Weight Of Expectation

Another challenge the Blackhawks must manage is handling the weight of expectation surrounding Bedard and the rebuild that’s taking place. Once a franchise has a player in their ranks who is viewed as a future superstar, there will be a demand for immediate progress. The Devils experienced a similar situation with Hughes as they plotted their way back.

Chicago can’t put too much responsibility on Bedard at this early stage of his career. Instead, the organisation should focus on:

• Improving the overall quality of the roster
• Giving Bedard the right support around him
• Allowing young players time to develop naturally
• Building a stronger long-term foundation

If all goes to plan, the Blackhawks could establish a sustainable foundation that leads to long-term success.

Conclusion

The Blackhawks are still some way off Stanley Cup contention, but there are some promising signs that things are finally moving in the right direction. They can look to the Devils for inspiration as they’re a franchise who have been there and done it in terms of rebuilding around a young star. They can also learn from their mistakes, which should lead Chicago to where they want to be without too many missteps.

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