Slaggert put the Blackhawks ahead 2-1 at 18:14 with a snap shot from the top of the left circle off a drop pass from Lukas Reichel. Slaggert was playing his first NHL game of the season, having been recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

Connor Bedard put the Chicago Blackhawks on the board, but it was Landon Slaggert who gave them the only lead they’d need.

Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson voiced a very powerful message during his NHL mid-season press conference, sending a stern reminder to the locker room, including star Connor Bedard.

Chicago Blackhawks fourth-liner Ryan Donato issued a very clear statement to Connor Bedard, Anders Sorensen, Kyle Davidson, and everybody on the team about his mindset heading into the trade deadline.

At the time of Davidson's speech, the Blackhawks sit dead-last in the NHL standings with a 15-29-5 record and 35 total points, albeit with four games in hand over the 31st-ranked San Jose Sharks.

Bedard has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in his past 17 games, and he's on a three-game, three-point run (one goal, two assists). Bedard is essentially doing things on his own in Chicago, and even more so now that they're dismantling the team for yet another high draft pick.

Hall was acquired from the Bruins, along with current captain Nick Foligno, on June 26, 2023, to help Bedard, then an 18-year-old rookie, transition to the NHL from the Western Hockey League. Hall had four points (two goals, two assists) in 10 games before having season-ending ACL surgery on his right knee in November 2023.

Earlier in the week, the Blackhawks traded Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes, and Connor Bedard is now reacting to the move.

Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson voiced an honest message about the franchise's rebuilding process around cornerstone Connor Bedard.

The Blackhawks, in return for Hagel, got two first-round picks (2023 and 2024), and two players (Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh). The 2023 first-round pick ended up turning into Oliver Moore. As for 2024, they used that first to move up two spots with the New York Islanders and they selected Sacha Boisvert.

Last Friday, the Blackhawks failed to protect a one-goal third-period lead, getting outshot, 17-1. They played this third period on their toes, however, and added a key insurance tally at 8:02. A Seth Jones shot from the point went wide, but the puck came off the end boards to the other side of the net. Ryan Donato finished into an open cage.