The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made the playoffs in a while, especially if you don’t count the COVID bubble of 2020. Still, that doesn’t mean that fans can’t watch some of their old favorites make runs with different teams here in 2025.
Six players who used to suit up for the Blackhawks are still participating in the postseason. It is about to be the Conference Finals. In the West, the Dallas Stars will take on the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row. In the East, the Florida Panthers will play against the Carolina Hurricanes.
One of these six will hoist the Stanley Cup next month.
Seth Jones
Seth Jones was traded to the Florida Panthers earlier this season. The major return for Chicago in the deal was goaltender Spencer Knight. Jones made it clear that he didn’t want to be in Chicago anymore so Kyle Davidson found a deal that worked. He was Florida’s best player in Game 7 of their second round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs so they are going to be happy with the move going forward. Now that he’s in Florida, he is “one of the guys” instead of “the guy” which has helped his game.
Gustav Forsling
Like Jones, Forsling is a defenseman on the Florida Panthers who previously played in Chicago. The difference is that the Blackhawks never would have guessed the superstar that Forsling would become. In between his tenure in Chicago and Florida, the Carolina Hurricanes put him on waivers. Now, along with Seth Jones and a few other studs, Forsling dominates on the Florida blue line.
Taylor Hall
Taylor Hall never made it public that he wanted to be traded. In fact, it felt like he wanted to be a part of the solution for a little bit. Something clearly changed after the Winter Classic though and he was moved to the Carolina Hurricanes. Since going there, the former Hart Trophy winner has elevated his game to a level that he hasn’t been at in a long time. He isn’t an MVP candidate anymore, but he fits in well with that Carolina system as they roll four lines consistently with great pace.
Colin Blackwell
Colin Blackwell doesn’t play every game but he does find ways to make an impact when he does draw in. As a fourth line player at this point, he can be relied on for energy throughout a hard fought game. Blackwell, unlike most players in NHL history, has an overtime game winner already this postseason. With a speedy Oilers team coming up for the Dallas Stars, we may see a tad bit more of Blackwell.
Mattias Janmark
Mattias Janmark was only a member of the Blackhawks for parts of one season. It was the 2020-21 season where he played 41 games for Chicago before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. He was a useful bottom-six forward back then and he is doing the same thing to this day for the Edmonton Oilers. Janmark is playing for a trip to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row.
Corey Perry
Corey Perry is a borderline Hall of Fame player. He only spent a few months with the Blackhawks in 2023-24 before an off-ice incident forced him off the team. He has since been with the Edmonton Oilers. If Perry and the Oilers make it to the Final, it will be his fifth trip to the final in the last six years. That includes four different teams but 0 Cups to show for it. He did win it with the Anaheim Ducks, his primary NHL team in his career, in 2007. For being 40 years old, he’s an impactful player looking to make a difference in the Conference Final once again. His ability to play anywhere in the lineup at his age makes him extra valuable.
The matchups this year are extra exciting. There is going to be some great hockey played on the biggest stage, and a handful of former Blackhawks are worth keeping an eye on throughout.
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