The 2024-25 Blackhawks have to thank the 2017-18 Sabres.
Only because of those atrocious Sabres are these Hawks not the worst team to play in a Winter Classic, which they will do Tuesday at Wrigley Field against the Blues.
At 12-23-2 and having lost four consecutive games to fall back into last place in the NHL standings, the Hawks hardly fit the vibe of the NHL’s biggest regular-season event. The league will put on a fantastic show, Wrigley will provide a romantic setting and Chicago hockey fans will create a good atmosphere, but the Hawks will not put a high-quality product on the ice.
Nor will the Hawks’ players and coaches wake up in a particularly festive mood Tuesday. It probably would have worked better had the Winter Classic taken place Dec. 20, when the Hawks had won three games in a row and felt optimistic about interim coach Anders Sorensen’s positive effects.
But now, coming off 6-2 and 5-1 losses in the last four days, they’re feeling discouraged and defeated — the opposite of the emotions the NHL wants the Winter Classic, a celebration of hockey’s outdoor roots, to evoke.
‘‘I was in the Uber over here, and I’m like, ‘[Bleep], I wish last night would’ve went a lot better than it did,’ ’’ forward Taylor Hall said Monday. ‘‘It does take a little bit of the shine away from the event with how we’ve played the last two games, but that’s sports.’’
The Hawks will have to make a concerted effort to lift themselves up before the game.
‘‘[This is a] very disappointing point in the season, but this a cool event you’ve got to soak in,’’ forward Jason Dickinson said. ‘‘It’s not something you get to experience every day. It’s something you’ve got to cherish and enjoy with the people around you.’’
It’s a similar situation to that of the 2017-18 Sabres, who entered the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at Citi Field in New York with an abysmal 10-20-8 record. They rallied from two goals down but fell 3-2 in overtime to the Rangers, who also ended up missing the playoffs that season.
The other worst teams in the Classic’s 17-year history were the 2018-19 Hawks (who entered the game 15-20-6 and lost to the Bruins) and the 2023-24 Kraken (who entered the game 14-14-9 and beat the Golden Knights).
Poor TV ratings for that Knights-Kraken matchup at T-Mobile Park in Seattle prompted the NHL to return to two historic franchises — and a more famous venue — for the Classic this season. But considering the 17-17-4 Blues are a middling team in their own right, excitement for this matchup seems relatively low again — with good reason.
The NHL’s decision to avoid going up against College Football Playoff games by moving the Classic to New Year’s Eve should help the TV ratings, but a lofty figure seems unlikely.
Meanwhile, fans, players and league officials collectively are rooting for the rain forecast for Tuesday morning to stop hours before the 4 p.m. game, as it is supposed to. After the sun went down Monday, the ice was in good shape, despite mild 40-degree temperatures.
‘‘The ice was amazing for how much rain we’ve had in Chicago,’’ Hall said. ‘‘I was really impressed. The lighting is going to be better the darker it gets and the more the spotlight is on the ice surface.’’
Petr Mrazek will start in goal for the Hawks, and forward Craig Smith will return from a back injury, Sorensen said.