The Chicago Blackhawks were still smarting a bit Saturday from a couple of letdowns the night before. Not only did they lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime — after leading 3-1 — but they also felt the absence of forward Taylor Hall, whose trade to the Carolina Hurricanes was completed as the game was underway. “He was there at the rink, playing sewer (ball), and then the next thing you know, obviously what happens,” Connor Bedard said after practice Saturday at Fifth Third Arena. “But that’s the business of it, I guess. “Obviously it sucks. You’re hanging out with a guy one minute and then he’s gone and he’s not at the rink anymore. It’s a weird thing. But it’s just how it is.” Added Jason Dickinson: “It does suck on a personal level. But the business side of it is we put ourselves in this situation, so it’s kind of inevitable.” The Hawks secured a 2025 third-round pick in the three-team deal with the Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche, headlined by Mikko Rantanen heading to Carolina. For the Hawks, it’s the same one they would’ve had anyway had they not traded it to the Hurricanes to get an extra third-rounder last summer to pick Jack Pridham. It’s currently projected to be 17 to 20 spots higher than the Canes’ other pick in the third round. For the Hawks, it has become an annual thing around trade season: Brandon Hagel, Max Domi — even Patrick Kane. And now Hall. “We can’t expect to be buyers if we’re not in a position to win or move things forward,” Dickinson said. “So it’s kind of the way it has to go in order to push the bigger picture forward, and in the later years that these small moves that you make now might have a big impact down the line.” Here are five things we learned. 1. The Hawks will see Hall again soon enough. Blackhawks left wing Taylor Hall (71) and teammates practice at Wrigley Field on Dec. 30, 2024, a day before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) The Hawks visit the Hurricanes on Thursday for the second of a three-game trip. “It’s kind of nice we get to see him in a few days,” Bedard said. “It’ll be weird obviously playing with him and then, (several) days later, he’s going up against you. It’ll be fun, though. I’m excited to play against him and see him. It’s an exciting opportunity for him to go there and compete for a Cup. The Hawks had hoped that matching Bedard with a fellow former No. 1 pick would help guide Bedard on and off the ice, but that plan was thwarted by injuries to Hall last season. Hall and Bedard got some ice time this season, but line combinations with them were as much a defensive liability as they were a modest offensive success. Still, Bedard soaked up what he could from Hall. “He was really good for me, obviously being in a similar situation to him coming into our careers,” he said. “He was always giving me advice or there for questions or whatever. “I ended up becoming pretty close to him. It sucks he’s gone, but obviously it’s pretty exciting for him — new opportunity and everything. But we’re going to miss him.” 2. Defensive reinforcements are on the way. Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones skates down the ice against the Golden Knights on Jan. 18, 2025, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Seth Jones missed Friday’s game with an illness, and he and Alec Martinez took sick days for Saturday’s practice. But both are expected to be back for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. Connor Murphy (groin) has been ruled out for the game, but he returned to practice and has a shot at joining the trip, depending on his progress. “It’s a good sign,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. Murphy (93) trails only Alex Vlasic (96) in blocks despite playing in just 38 games, 10 fewer than Vlasic. It’s one of the things the Hawks miss about Murphy. “There’s a presence there, a predictability in his game,” Sorensen said. “Obviously (he was) defending well, big body as well.” 3. The Hawks are no closer to closing out games. Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorenson, top left, directs his team during the third period against the Lightning on Jan. 24, 2025, at the United Center. (Matt Marton/AP) The Hawks have blown some leads in the last minute this season, but they took it to new levels against the Lightning. Up 3-1 in the second period, the Bolts’ Nick Paul scored with eight seconds left before intermission. The Hawks were outshot 17-1 in the third but had held on for the most part until Martinez’s trip of former Hawk Brandon Hagel set up Jake Guentzel’s tying goal with 41 seconds left in regulation. Teuvo Teräväinen tripped Paul with four seconds left, and it set the stage for Nikita Kucherov’s game-winning power-play goal in overtime. Dickinson was at a loss to explain how the Hawks could do a better job closing out those late-period situations. Perhaps “a little desperation, a little more fight back,” he said. “When teams start pushing you’ve got to push back at some point,” Dickinson said. “And it’s a hard thing to do against good teams. They know how to take the momentum and kind of pour it on.” 4. Young skaters showing up on the score sheet. Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Lightning during the second period on Jan. 24, 2025, at the United Center. (Matt Marton/AP) It has been a banner two-week stretch for the Hawks’ pipeline. Defenseman Louis Crevier had two goals and two assists over the last five games, including his first career multipoint game Friday. Forward Frank Nazar also had a goal and an assist against the Bolts, and he’s on a three-game point streak. Bedard has two goals and two assists in the last five games. Forward Colton Dach followed up an assist against the Vegas Golden Knights three games ago with his first career NHL goal Friday. Defenseman Ethan Del Mastro also had a good showing in his season debut, according to Sorensen. “Yeah, it was awesome to see all of us on the score sheet,” Dach said. “But other guys were doing their part as well. So it’s just good to see that we’re kind of clicking, and some guys got some confidence off of that.” Related Articles Chicago Blackhawks | Chicago Blackhawks trade forward Taylor Hall and receive a 2025 third-round draft pick in a 3-team deal Chicago Blackhawks | Ethan Del Mastro makes ‘encouraging’ season debut in Chicago Blackhawks’ OT loss to Tampa Bay Lightning Chicago Blackhawks | Utah Hockey Club’s bid to trademark ‘Yeti’ for its team name hits a snag Chicago Blackhawks | Chicago Blackhawks call up defenseman Ethan Del Mastro and sign forward prospect AJ Spellacy Chicago Blackhawks | 3 things we learned from the Chicago Blackhawks, including Petr Mrázek getting less aggressive and Frank Nazar is due Sorensen said Crevier has improved his shot selection. “He’s been pretty efficient in terms of just getting the puck through,” he said. “He gets it and gets it off his stick and even if it’s not a goal, a lot of times it ends up being a scrum around the net.” Added Bedard, who assisted on Nazar’s goal Friday: “He’s been getting better every game. It’s fun to see him progress. He’s got so much skill. He’s so fast.” After the game, Nazar was happy for Dach, though he advised, “Maybe work on the celly.” Dach slammed himself into the glass after his goal. On Saturday, Dach’s eyes widened when told what his former Rockford IceHogs linemate said. “Frank said I can work on it?” he said, laughing. “I don’t know if he should be talking about celebrations. But, I mean, definitely emotions took over and (I was) just super excited. “But I guess I’ll have to work on something and figure out a new celebration.” 5. The last laugh: Bedard had the quote of the day. With a win, two overtime losses and a shootout loss, the Hawks have emerged from each of the last four games with at least one standings point. It may be a low bar, but does that constitute signs of turning things around for the franchise? Bedard looked incredulous: “When we won three games, you guys thought we won the Cup. Then we lose six straight.” Still, he was reminded that three-game winning streaks have been in scarce supply over the last five seasons. “I know, I get it. It was just funny. That’s just how media is,” he said. “If you have a big game or you win a game, you’re best ever. If you lose, you shouldn’t be in the league. “It’s funny seeing reactions like that. But for us, you don’t want to get too high, you don’t want to get too low.”