Chicago Blackhawks: 5 things to know about 2023-24 schedule

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chicago Blackhawks fans who already might be salivating over the possibility of seeing Connor Bedard make his NHL debut will have to wait — unless they’re ready to book a flight.

The Hawks will be on the road for their first five games of the 2023-24 season, starting with the opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 10.

They will swing through Boston, Montreal, Toronto and Colorado the next nine days.

The first chance to see Bedard at the United Center comes on Oct. 21 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. The Hawks will host the Boston Bruins on Oct. 24 to close a two-game homestand.

But first things first: The Hawks have to draft Bedard with the No. 1 pick Wednesday, though that’s likely a foregone conclusion.

Asked on Tuesday if it has sunk in yet that he not only is about to be drafted, but also might play with newly acquired Hawks forward — and former league MVP — Taylor Hall, Bedard deked that question.

“Nothing’s happened yet,” he said. “I’ve said that 100 times. I take it day by day. If they take me, that would be unbelievable.”

Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson was asked about the NHL’s tradition of not naming the top pick ahead of time, “unless you’d like to announce who that guy is right now.”

“It’s a good try,” Davidson said to laughs. “I respect the function and ceremony of the draft and what that means for the families. ... There’s a place to announce those things and that’s on stage at the draft. So that’s what we’ll do.”

But he did allow himself to comment that Bedard, 17, is a “great player, great person.”

“Everyone’s seen how he’s handled himself in the lead-up to this draft,” Davidson said. “Obviously a lot of attention but he’s shown a maturity beyond his years.”

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Here are five things we learned about the 2023-24 schedule.

1. Can’t quite quit you, Colorado.

For the third straight season, the opening road trip includes a visit to the Avalanche. The previous two years, the Avs hosted the Hawks in the season opener.

2. Road weary?

Seven of the Hawks’ 10 games in October are on the road. Their only other five-game road swing — which runs through late December and early January — starts in Dallas and ends in New Jersey.

3. Home bodies?

The Hawks have only one away game in February: at Carolina. The other nine are at the UC.

4. Working for the weekend.

The United Center will host 25 games on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — their most weekend home games since 2008-09. Seven of those games will be matinees, which is two more afternoon games than they had last season. Those will start between 1 and 3:30 p.m.

5. That’s a wrap.

After finishing their home slate against the Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes, the Hawks will close out the season on the road against the Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings.

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