Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson stands by Jeff Blashill, says he’s actively seeking trades

The Chicago Blackhawks own the NHL's worst offense at 2.17 goals per game and the second-worst defense at 4.22 goals allowed, leaving them with nine points through 18 games, ahead of only the Vancouver Canucks' seven. The start matches the futility of the 1928-29 season, a historical low point the organization hoped to leave behind after a summer built around a playoff push.

General manager Kyle Davidson took responsibility Wednesday, telling reporters, "This isn’t what we told our fans to expect, and I take responsibility for this. We’re not defending well enough." He said he has made it clear around the league that the team is intent on improving the playing roster, but cautioned, "This is a precarious time where you don’t want to do something to do something and make a mistake you’ll regret later." Davidson refused to set a timeline for a turnaround, saying the team will enter "a little new phase of how we’re focusing on some different things and refocusing on some elements."

Davidson stood by head coach Jeff Blashill, expressing confidence in the group of young players he views as foundational. "I think I can confidently say that we’ve, as a group, not just myself, but as a group, we’ve acquired through the draft and other means some very, very meaningful foundational pieces that are going to be great to elite players in this league," he said. Captain Connor Bedard echoed that support, saying the locker room has "100 percent belief" in Blashill.

The offseason additions of Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram were supposed to accelerate the rebuild, but the results have not materialized. Assistant coach Mark Eaton is also changing roles, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, while one column from the same outlet argued the problems start with Davidson himself. The Blackhawks host the Buffalo Sabres Thursday as the losing streak reaches six games.