The Detroit Red Wings will be better than the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021

The Blackhawks’ struggles, explained.

There’s little doubt that, on paper, the Blackhawks have a fairly decent roster. With perennial scoring leader Patrick Kane on the wing, multi-threat Alex DeBrincat, and a slew of other players, they should not be taken lightly.

Having said that, the loss of up-and-comer Kirby Dach and long-term captain Jonathan Toews defangs the depth on the Blackhawks’ offense. Apart from Kane, DeBrincat, and Dominik Kubalik, the team’s offensive depth falls off a cliff almost immediately. With Lucas Wallmark serving as the Blackhawks’ second-line center, the team’s woes become apparent quite quickly.

In terms of defense, Brent Seabrook is 35 years old and still has four years on his contract. Duncan Keith, while still a solid defenseman, is a shell of his former self. Adam Boqvist will be an excellent NHL player, but he’ll need time to grow into his role.

If any of this sounds familiar to Red Wings fans, it should. Aging stars, long contracts, and a lack of depth have plagued Detroit for years. Luckily, most of the problems seem to be on the outs for the Red Wings. The problems in Chicago, on the other hand, have only just begun.