The 2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 92nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The Blackhawks finished the season with 76 points (19 points out of the final playoff spot) to finish in last place in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The season marked the first time since the 2007–08 season where the Blackhawks failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs and the team's worst regular season performance since 2006–07.

Prior to the season, the Blackhawks made several moves in an attempt to make up for the prior season's playoff disappointment. As a result, the team traded their second-leading goal and point scorer from the prior season, Artemi Panarin, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for reacquiring Brandon Saad. In addition, the team traded arguably their most reliable defenseman, Niklas Hjalmarsson, to the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Connor Murphy. Numerous other moves were made in an attempt to change the team. Also, forward Marian Hossa announced he would not play for the Blackhawks during the season due to a skin condition that was aggravated by wearing hockey equipment. As a result, Hossa was placed on long-term injured reserve.

Patrick Kane led the team in scoring with 76 points while rookie forward Alex DeBrincat led the team in goals with 28. The Blackhawks had five players score 20 or more goals: DeBrincat, Kane (27), Nick Schmaltz (21), Artem Anisimov (20) and Jonathan Toews (20). Goalie Corey Crawford only played 28 games, missing the final 47 games of the season with an undisclosed injury.

Despite the disappointing season, team president John McDonough announced that general manager Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville would return for the 2018–19 season.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season The Blackhawks published their preseason schedule on June 8, 2017. 2017 preseason game log: 4–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Recap 1 September 19 @ Columbus 5–2 Forsberg Nationwide Arena 10,548 1–0–0 W1 2 September 21 Detroit 6–1 Crawford United Center 20,342 2–0–0 W2 3 September 23 Columbus 2–3 Berube United Center 20,395 2–1–0 L1 4 September 25 @ Boston 2–4 Crawford TD Garden 16,374 2–2–0 L2 5 September 28 @ Detroit 4–2 Forsberg Little Caesars Arena 17,089 3–2–0 W1 6 September 30 Boston 1–0 Crawford United Center 20,703 4–2–0 W2

Regular season The Blackhawks released their regular season schedule on June 22, 2017. 2017–18 game log October: 5–5–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 5 Pittsburgh 10–1 Crawford United Center 21,705 1–0–0 2 W1 2 October 7 Columbus 5–1 Crawford United Center 21,264 2–0–0 4 W2 3 October 9 @ Toronto 3–4 OT Forsberg Air Canada Centre 19,456 2–0–1 5 O1 4 October 10 @ Montreal 3–1 Crawford Bell Centre 21,302 3–0–1 7 W1 5 October 12 Minnesota 2–5 Crawford United Center 21,386 3–1–1 7 L1 6 October 14 Nashville 2–1 OT Crawford United Center 21,564 4–1–1 9 W1 7 October 18 @ St. Louis 2–5 Crawford Scottrade Center 18,752 4–2–1 9 L1 8 October 19 Edmonton 1–2 OT Forsberg United Center 21,444 4–2–2 10 O1 9 October 21 @ Arizona 4–2 Crawford Gila River Arena 13,777 5–2–2 12 W1 10 October 24 @ Vegas 2–4 Crawford T-Mobile Arena 18,108 5–3–2 12 L1 11 October 27 Nashville 1–2 Crawford United Center 21,524 5–4–2 12 L2 12 October 28 @ Colorado 3–6 Forsberg Pepsi Center 17,360 5–5–2 12 L3 November: 7–4–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 1 Philadelphia 3–0 Crawford United Center 21,524 6–5–2 14 W1 14 November 4 @ Minnesota 2–0 Crawford Xcel Energy Center 19,218 7–5–2 16 W2 15 November 5 Montreal 0–2 Crawford United Center 21,871 7–6–2 16 L1 16 November 9 @ Philadelphia 1–3 Crawford Wells Fargo Center 19,738 7–7–2 16 L2 17 November 11 @ Carolina 4–3 OT Forsberg PNC Arena 16,778 8–7–2 18 W1 18 November 12 New Jersey 5–7 Crawford United Center 21,487 8–8–2 18 L1 19 November 15 NY Rangers 6–3 Crawford United Center 21,528 9–8–2 20 W1 20 November 18 @ Pittsburgh 2–1 Crawford PPG Paints Arena 18,638 10–8–2 22 W2 21 November 22 @ Tampa Bay 2–3 OT Crawford Amalie Arena 19,092 10–8–3 23 O1 22 November 25 @ Florida 4–1 Crawford BB&T Center 14,302 11–8–3 25 W1 23 November 27 Anaheim 7–3 Crawford United Center 21,619 12–8–3 27 W2 24 November 28 @ Nashville 2–3 Forsberg Bridgestone Arena 17,187 12–9–3 27 L1 25 November 30 Dallas 3–4 OT Crawford United Center 21,589 12–9–4 28 O1 December: 6–5–2 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 2–4–2) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 2 @ Dallas 2–3 SO Forsberg American Airlines Center 18,532 12–9–5 29 O2 27 December 3 Los Angeles 1–3 Forsberg United Center 21,622 12–10–5 29 L1 28 December 6 @ Washington 2–6 Forsberg Capital One Arena 18,506 12–11–5 29 L2 29 December 8 Buffalo 3–2 OT Crawford United Center 21,542 13–11–5 31 W1 30 December 10 Arizona 3–1 Crawford United Center 21,654 14–11–5 33 W2 31 December 12 Florida 3–2 OT Crawford United Center 21,795 15–11–5 35 W3 32 December 14 @ Winnipeg 5–1 Crawford Bell MTS Place 15,321 16–11–5 37 W4 33 December 17 Minnesota 4–1 Crawford United Center 21,813 17–11–5 39 W5 34 December 21 @ Dallas 0–4 Crawford American Airlines Center 18,532 17–12–5 39 L1 35 December 23 @ New Jersey 1–4 Crawford Prudential Center 16,514 17–13–5 39 L2 36 December 28 @ Vancouver 2–5 Forsberg Rogers Arena 18,865 17–14–5 39 L3 37 December 29 @ Edmonton 4–3 OT Glass Rogers Place 18,347 18–14–5 41 W1 38 December 31 @ Calgary 3–4 OT Glass Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 18–14–6 42 O1 January: 6–5–1 (Home: 2–5–1; Road: 4–0–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 3 @ NY Rangers 5–2 Glass Madison Square Garden 18,006 19–14–6 44 W1 40 January 5 Vegas 4–5 Glass United Center 21,933 19–15–6 44 L1 41 January 7 Edmonton 4–1 Forsberg United Center 21,901 20–15–6 46 W1 42 January 9 @ Ottawa 8–2 Forsberg Canadian Tire Centre 14,007 21–15–6 48 W2 43 January 10 Minnesota 1–2 Forsberg United Center 21,721 21–16–6 48 L1 44 January 12 Winnipeg 2–1 Glass United Center 21,588 22–16–6 50 W1 45 January 14 Detroit 0–4 Glass United Center 21,830 22–17–6 50 L1 46 January 20 NY Islanders 3–7 Forsberg United Center 21,882 22–18–6 50 L2 47 January 22 Tampa Bay 0–2 Glass United Center 21,662 22–19–6 50 L3 48 January 24 Toronto 2–3 OT Glass United Center 21,563 22–19–7 51 O1 49 January 25 @ Detroit 5–1 Forsberg Little Caesars Arena 19,515 23–19–7 53 W1 50 January 30 @ Nashville 2–1 Forsberg Bridgestone Arena 17,172 24–19–7 55 W2 February: 3–9–1 (Home: 3–4–0; Road: 0–5–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 @ Vancouver 2–4 Forsberg Rogers Arena 18,144 24–20–7 55 L1 52 February 3 @ Calgary 3–4 OT Glass Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 24–20–8 56 O1 53 February 6 Calgary 2–3 Glass United Center 21,480 24–21–8 56 L1 54 February 8 Dallas 2–4 Forsberg United Center 21,422 24–22–8 56 L2 55 February 10 @ Minnesota 0–3 Glass Xcel Energy Center 19,227 24–23–8 56 L3 56 February 12 @ Arizona 1–6 Forsberg Gila River Arena 14,357 24–24–8 56 L4 57 February 13 @ Vegas 2–5 Glass T-Mobile Arena 18,085 24–25–8 56 L5 58 February 15 Anaheim 2–3 Forsberg United Center 21,415 24–26–8 56 L6 59 February 17 Washington 7–1 Forsberg United Center 22,066 25–26–8 58 W1 60 February 19 Los Angeles 1–3 Forsberg United Center 21,339 25–27–8 58 L1 61 February 21 Ottawa 3–2 SO Forsberg United Center 21,532 26–27–8 60 W1 62 February 23 San Jose 3–1 Berube United Center 21,906 27–27–8 62 W2 63 February 24 @ Columbus 2–3 Forsberg Nationwide Arena 18,792 27–28–8 62 L1 March: 5–9–2 (Home: 3–3–2; Road: 2–6–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 @ San Jose 2–7 Berube SAP Center 17,086 27–29–8 62 L2 65 March 3 @ Los Angeles 5–3 Forsberg Staples Center 18,230 28–29–8 64 W1 66 March 4 @ Anaheim 3–6 Forsberg Honda Center 16,989 28–30–8 64 L1 67 March 6 Colorado 2–1 OT Berube United Center 21,508 29–30–8 66 W1 68 March 8 Carolina 2–3 Berube United Center 21,681 29–31–8 66 L1 69 March 10 @ Boston 4–7 Berube TD Garden 17,565 29–32–8 66 L2 70 March 11 Boston 3–1 Forsberg United Center 21,819 30–32–8 68 W1 71 March 15 @ Winnipeg 2–6 Forsberg Bell MTS Place 15,321 30–33–8 68 L1 72 March 17 @ Buffalo 3–5 Berube KeyBank Center 19,070 30–34–8 68 L2 73 March 18 St. Louis 4–5 OT Berube United Center 21,687 30–34–9 69 O1 74 March 20 Colorado 1–5 Forsberg United Center 21,633 30–35–9 69 L1 75 March 22 Vancouver 2–5 Berube United Center 21,526 30–36–9 69 L2 76 March 24 @ NY Islanders 3–1 Forsberg Barclays Center 13,091 31–36–9 71 W1 77 March 26 San Jose 3–4 SO Forsberg United Center 21,712 31–36–10 72 O1 78 March 29 Winnipeg 6–2 Delia United Center 21,839 32–36–10 74 W1 79 March 30 @ Colorado 0–5 Delia Pepsi Center 17,985 32–37–10 74 L1 April: 1–2–0 (Home: 0–1–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 4 @ St. Louis 4–3 Berube Scottrade Center 18,935 33–37–10 76 W1 81 April 6 St. Louis 1–4 Berube United Center 22,218 33–38–10 76 L1 82 April 7 @ Winnipeg 1–4 Glass Bell MTS Place 15,321 33–39–10 76 L2Legend:

Detailed records

Western Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pts Goals scored Goals allowed Central Division Chicago Blackhawks — — — — — — Colorado Avalanche 1–1–0 0–2–0 1–3–0 2 6 17 Dallas Stars 0–1–1 0–1–1 0–2–2 2 7 15 Minnesota Wild 1–2–0 1–1–0 2–3–0 4 9 11 Nashville Predators 1–1–0 1–1–0 2–2–0 4 7 7 St. Louis Blues 0–1–1 1–1–0 1–2–1 3 10 17 Winnipeg Jets 2–0–0 1–2–0 3–2–0 6 16 14 Total 5–6–2 4–8–1 9–14–3 21 58 81 Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–2–0 2 12 12 Arizona Coyotes 1–0–0 1–1–0 2–1–0 4 8 9 Calgary Flames 0–1–0 0–0–2 0–1–2 2 8 11 Edmonton Oilers 1–0–1 1–0–0 2–0–1 5 9 6 Los Angeles Kings 0–2–0 1–0–0 1–2–0 2 7 9 San Jose Sharks 1–0–1 0–1–0 1–1–1 3 8 12 Vancouver Canucks 0–1–0 0–2–0 0–3–0 0 6 14 Vegas Golden Knights 0–1–0 0–2–0 0–3–0 0 8 14 Total 4–6–2 3–7–2 7–13–4 18 66 87

Eastern Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pts Goals scored Goals allowed Atlantic Division Boston Bruins 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 7 8 Buffalo Sabres 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 6 7 Detroit Red Wings 0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0 2 5 5 Florida Panthers 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 7 3 Montreal Canadiens 0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0 2 3 3 Ottawa Senators 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 11 4 Tampa Bay Lightning 0–1–0 0–0–1 0–1–1 1 2 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–0–1 0–0–1 0–0–2 2 5 7 Total 4–3–1 4–2–2 8–5–3 19 48 42 Metropolitan Division Carolina Hurricanes 0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0 2 6 6 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 7 4 New Jersey Devils 0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 6 11 New York Islanders 0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0 2 6 8 New York Rangers 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 8 5 Philadelphia Flyers 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 4 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 12 2 Washington Capitals 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 9 7 Total 5–3–0 4–4–0 9–7–0 18 58 46

Player statistics Final Stats

Skaters Regular season Player 82 27 49 76 −20 30 82 28 24 52 6 6 78 21 31 52 1 18 74 20 32 52 −1 47 82 18 17 35 −10 14 82 2 30 32 −29 28 72 20 11 31 −17 22 81 7 19 26 −3 38 ‡ 57 8 17 25 5 58 50 7 18 25 5 10 70 10 11 21 −16 14 57 6 14 20 −1 22 ‡ 37 6 10 16 3 26 35 5 11 16 1 6 55 5 10 15 −11 8 76 2 12 14 −3 34 47 4 9 13 −4 54 41 3 10 13 −2 8 ‡ 57 7 5 12 −10 43 46 4 7 11 −9 12 29 6 4 10 1 12 53 3 6 9 1 36 † 23 2 6 8 0 6 ‡ 31 1 6 7 13 12 23 1 6 7 −1 8 8 1 2 3 1 0 11 0 3 3 −2 0 5 0 3 3 2 0 13 2 0 2 −4 0 9 1 0 1 −1 17 4 1 0 1 −1 0 6 0 1 1 −1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 28 27 1584 16 9 2 60 2.27 842 .929 2 0 0 0 35 30 1715 10 16 4 85 2.97 921 .908 0 0 1 0 15 13 821 3 7 3 46 3.36 452 .898 0 0 0 2 13 10 667 3 6 1 42 3.78 398 .894 0 0 0 0 2 2 106 1 1 0 7 4.04 63 .889 0 0 0 2 1 0 14 0 0 0 0 0.00 7 1.000 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Blackhawks. Stats reflect time with Blackhawks only. ‡Left team mid-season. Stats reflect time with Blackhawks only.

Awards and honours

Awards