(CHICAGO) – Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman believes his team has "a ways to go" before it can sustainably win again, and he's not afraid to use the word "rebuild." In an interview Monday with ESPN, Bowman said they are not trying to tear the team apart and bring in new players over the next 18 months. He says they do need to rebuild the depth of the team. Bowman says they don't have enough players, top to bottom, to compete with the top teams. The Blackhawks have a lot of good players, and Bowman says they have a good start on the makings of a good team, but they still have a ways to go. The commitment to transparency comes after a transformative offseason in which the Blackhawks parted with forward Brandon Saad and goalie Corey Crawford. Chicago made the moves despite upsetting the fifth-seeded Oilers this summer in the NHL's extended postseason tournament to qualify for the playoffs. The Blackhawks were knocked out of the first round by the Golden Knights. In an interview with The Athletic last week, captain Jonathan Toews said he was surprised by the offseason moves.