Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson Q&A: The tank, the surprising start, Toews’ and Kane’s futures

The Blackhawks are 6-5-3 through 14 games this season. They are not expected to be in contention for a top-three pick after this year. General manager Kyle Davidson is unsure about the team's start. He has mixed emotions about it. He believes the pro scouting has been a success. The players want to win. It's hard to do that. There's more parity in the league than people want it to. When it comes to picking players, Davidson has to find talent wherever he ends up. His team is trying to establish an identity. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are injured. Their futures are uncertain. Davidson talks to The Athletic in Anaheim.

The players don't tank, they just want to win every night. The team is trying to build an identity of a way they think they can win down the road. It's their job to find the talent wherever they pick.

Kyle Davidson was not interested in signing players. He would have moved a bunch of players out.

This summer, Blackhawks brought in players that played a certain way and brought up the speed quotient. They also brought Jarred Tinordi, Colin Blackwell, Max Domi and Andreas Antonthanou. Jason Dickinson was a happy circumstance. They want to keep building through the draft. Bedard, Adam Fantilli and Matvei Michkov are unusually good players. Few teams become championship contenders without superstars. The Blackhawks are currently .500. Kyle Davidson is the general manager.

The Blackhawks are tanking this year. The team has a 25% chance of getting the top three picks in the draft. Players are enjoying the situation. The players are proud and they are not willing to play for a team that tank. Kyle Davidson is the team's general manager. He is not afraid to use the word "tank" but he is careful about saying it. His team is winning. It's good for everyone. They are trying to build a culture. There are reasons to want to win and to do things the right way.

Kyle Davidson is happy with the start of the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks are 13 games into the season. They are playing well despite some big losses. GM Kyle Davidson believes the team is playing the long game. He believes they need more assets to play the game long term. He didn't have many first-round picks this year. The team needs to keep winning. It's good for the culture of the club.

The Blackhawks had a very thin prospect pool. The early returns are good on some of the players. Ryan Greene got another goal on Saturday night. Paul Ludwinski, Sam Savoie and Kevin Korchinski are doing well.

The team is probably not playing for the playoffs this season. The team has a lot of flippable assets. If the team keeps climbing and getting points, it might be able to play for 2022-23 season, but it's unlikely.

The Blackhawks have to be realistic about their current situation. There will be no fire sale. There is value in culture-building and style of play. It's up to the players and the coaching staff to determine where they are at later in the season.

Kane and Toews have check-ins with Kyle Davidson. Patrick had a couple of bounce-arounds with his linemates early on. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson is surprised by the team's start.

Toews is healthy and feeling great. He's a leader who can help usher in the next era. Kyle Davidson doesn't think it changes anything for the Blackhawks. Other teams might change their plans if they want to sign him.

Kyle Davidson is the Chicago Blackhawks GM. He doesn't comment on the rumors surrounding Toews and Kane's futures. Davidson thinks Kane has been a key part of the team's success early on.

The team is taking it day by day. They will check in with Kane and the team to see how they're feeling. They are not thinking of scenarios. The team will keep an eye on them. It's a unique situation with their history and with the situation of the club.

Kyle Davidson is enjoying this season. He has a lot of players who are playing well.

Kyle Davidson is a first-year general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. He's excited about the team's start and the positive attention they're getting. He believes the success of his team is due to the fact that everyone is on the same page. The team will be up and down.

Kyle Davidson is not going to take a tire iron to Jason Dickinson's knee to preserve the tank.