Let's Talk About the Current States of the Blackhawks and Sharks Rebuilds - Bleacher Nation

"The parallels between the Blackhawks and Sharks run deep. Both Mike Grier and Kyle Davidson were named the permanent general managers of their respective clubs in 2022. And, as Pope writes, both teams went with the burn-it-down approach to their respective rebuilds. At this point, the Sharks are closer to the playoffs at this immediate moment - and appear to be pushing their chips in to go for it."

"So what's the biggest difference between the two teams in the NHL standings at this immediate moment? As Pope notes, " the Sharks and Hawks entered the day with the same number of regulation victories: 16. The difference between them stems entirely from overtime/shootout success ... The Sharks are 11-4 in games that go beyond regulation; the Hawks are 5-9. ""

"Hawks GM Kyle Davidson, on the other hand, is not about to begin parting with any future assets for short-term additions. He will be a seller, as usual, before the trade deadline, especially because he needs to move out a couple of veterans to clear late-season roster spots for prospects such as Anton Frondell and Nick Lardis."

Both franchises embraced burn-it-down rebuilds under general managers appointed in 2022. The Sharks are closer to immediate playoff contention and have shifted to pursue high-end help, including entering the sweepstakes for Artemi Panarin. The Blackhawks remain focused on developing a wave of prospects and preserving future assets, expecting players like Anton Frondell and Nick Lardis to earn NHL roles. The teams have identical regulation win totals, but the Sharks' superior overtime/shootout record (11-4) versus the Hawks' (5-9) produces a current standings gap. The clubs' differing trade philosophies shape short-term and long-term outlooks.

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