The Chicago Blackhawks remain near the bottom of the NHL standings despite years of high draft picks, raising fresh questions about the pace of their rebuild.

In a Nov. 8 analysis for Sportsnet, Michael Amato reported that Chicago sat 31st in the league with a league-worst minus-37 goal differential. The Blackhawks have missed the playoffs in six consecutive seasons and have not finished higher than 31st since Connor Bedard entered the NHL.

Bedard is now in his fourth season. Amato’s assessment is that Chicago has yet to assemble enough support around its young captain, despite making 11 first-round selections between 2022 and 2025.

Those selections included Bedard at first overall, Artyom Levshunov at second, Anton Frondell at third and Kevin Korchinski at seventh. Amato cautioned that the prospects still have time to develop, while noting that Korchinski has yet to secure a regular lineup spot.

The analysis also questioned Chicago’s work beyond the draft. Defenceman TJ Brodie played 54 games for the Blackhawks before being bought out after signing a two-year contract worth $3.75 million per season.

Chicago also traded Seth Jones to Florida for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round pick, retaining part of Jones’s salary. According to Sportsnet, that retained salary and Brodie’s buyout together account for almost $3 million against Chicago’s salary cap this season.

The standings remain an early-season snapshot, not a final verdict on Chicago’s prospects. But Amato argued that the combination of poor results, uncertain player development and costly roster decisions leaves the franchise without a clear sign that its rebuild is turning a corner.

Sources