As expected,
The Blackhawks opened the season winning four of their first six games. Since then, they have endured through five different losing streaks of more than four games with two of them being separate eight-game skids.
Domi still emerged to lead the team in scoring with 18 goals and 49 points while averaging 18:17 in ice time. He’s projected to score 67 points, which would be the second-most points in his career.
What might have been his strongest performance of the season might have also been an audition for the Stars. On Feb. 22, Domi scored two goals — including the winning goal — and finished with three points in a 4-3 win against the Stars.
Acquiring Domi means the Stars now have another top-six forward to bolster a team that is averaging 3.24 goals per game, which ranks 14th in the NHL. Most of those goals — 67% to be exact — have come from six players. Domi now gives the Stars another option while also being another power-play threat. Eighteen of his points this season have come on the extra-skater advantage, which could prove vital for a team that already has the No. 9 power play in the NHL with a 23.3% success rate.
Domi’s departure comes in what has been a hectic week for the Blackhawks. They have already traded Kane to the New York Rangers, forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe to the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Jack Johnson to the Colorado Avalanche.
The draft capital received in return for those trades has set the Blackhawks up to have 11 picks for the 2023 draft, nine picks for the 2024 draft and another nine picks for the 2025 draft.
But it’s not just about the total number of picks the Blackhawks own. They have two first-round picks in each of those drafts. They are also one of the strongest contenders to win this year’s draft lottery, as they have the second-fewest points in the NHL, and if they win the lottery, they would be in a position to take the presumed No. 1 pick in Connor Bedard.
