The month of October is within the books for the Chicago Blackhawks. Out of 11 video games performed, the crew has a relatively dismal document of 3-7-1, which is at present tied with the Nashville Predators for final within the league. However all shouldn’t be misplaced. The Blackhawks are a crew in the midst of a rebuild, and rebuilds take time and persistence. Whereas this document is even worse than it was this time final season, the Blackhawks do appear to be making some strides in the proper course. Listed here are 4 observations from the Blackhawks’ first month of the 2024-25 season.
Blackhawks Aggressive in Most Contests
One factor I’ve seen that’s a lot completely different than final season is the Blackhawks have been aggressive and had an opportunity to win in nearly each sport thus far. Aside from the 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Hawks have been solely down by one aim within the third interval (for those who don’t rely empty web objectives) in all of their losses this month.
For probably the most half, the Blackhawks didn’t appear to be an inferior squad in these losses both, except for the 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Hawks are clearly a extra proficient crew than final season, they usually’re engaged on gelling as a gaggle. Gradual begins have been an issue, or simply being sleepy for stints the place a number of errors value them. However that’s going to occur with any crew, particularly one with new personnel the place gamers try to get to know one another’s tendencies. Some gamers are additionally studying new programs.
At this level, I feel all these losses are stepping into the gamers’ heads. They’re going to want to dig deep to get out of this droop.
On a optimistic notice, for those who take a look at the Blackhawks’ three wins, they dominated these video games, profitable by a 5-2 margin in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche, and 4-2 to the San Jose Sharks (Oct. 17).
All in all, the Blackhawks elevated competitiveness is a promising development. If they’ll preserve this up, it’s finally going to result in extra wins.
Line Combos Nonetheless a Work in Progress
The Blackhawks are nonetheless attempting to determine their optimum ahead line mixtures, as they’ll all season lengthy. However fairly frankly, I’m having a tough time making sense of a number of the adjustments head coach Luke Richardson and his employees have carried out. However let’s attempt to make some sense of all of it.
Connor Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen have been connected on the hip since coaching camp. Their chemistry was fast; they’ve mixed for 5 objectives already. However they’ve each been comparatively quiet the final handful of video games (Bedard with two objectives within the final six video games and Teravainen with zero factors within the final six video games).
Even so, they’ve been working onerous and creating probabilities. However Richardson promoted Ryan Donato, who’s main the crew with six objectives, to the highest line in observe on Friday (Nov. 1), and demoted Teravainen to the third line. I’m all about rewarding Donato, however I’m unsure about separating Bedard and Teravainen. Though, Bedard and Donato did discover some success collectively final season, so perhaps there’s one thing to this.
In the meantime, Bedard and Teravainen (now Donato) have had quite a few teammates on their left wing, together with Ilya Mikheyev, Nick Foligno, Lukas Reichel and now Philipp Kurashev.
The second line of Taylor Corridor, Kurashev and Tyler Bertuzzi was the one trio Richardson didn’t mess with for eight full video games. He had Andreas Athanasiou centering that line when Kurashev was a wholesome scratch within the loss to the Vancouver Canucks (that didn’t work out too properly). Now that Kurashev has been moved to the highest line, Foligno is centering the second line.
Whereas some could argue, why Foligno?, he’s profitable faceoffs at over a 61% clip, and he’s a veteran participant that is aware of learn how to acclimate to his linemates. It won’t be a long-term answer to second line heart, nevertheless it looks as if a very good cease hole for now. Though, Corridor and Bertuzzi are each off to sluggish begins this season. Hopefully that may change.
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Shifting on to the third line, that is the Blackhawks’ checking line, centered by Jason Dickinson. He’s been joined by Foligno, Joey Anderson, Mikheyev, and most just lately Donato (now Teravainen). In truth, all of the gamers which have performed on this line have finished properly. The Blackhawks have a plethora of gritty depth forwards (unsure how Teravainen suits in right here!). With Dickinson main the way in which, there will be some variation on this line with related quantities of success.
Lastly, the fourth line has largely been comprised of veterans Pat Maroon and Craig Smith on the wings, and Reichel at heart. Donato and Athanasiou have taken some turns there, however largely it’s been Reichel.
A bottom-six place looks as if a wierd place for the finesse participant that Reichel is, however he’s gotten a lot better at forechecking and being aggressive on this function. One reader talked about that maybe Richardson is grooming the German native for a top-six heart function down the highway. Could possibly be. Or maybe it’s simply the place there’s room within the lineup proper now. Both approach, Reichel and Smith have mixed for 4 objectives, so one thing seems to be working!
We are able to’t overlook that Athanasiou has been out of the lineup for the final 4 video games and solely suited up for 5 contests altogether. Anderson has been out for the final six video games and has additionally solely performed in 5 contests. Do these two should be out of the lineup? Effectively, that is what occurs when there’s a plethora of forwards out there, and everyone seems to be wholesome at the start of a season. However it is driving the extent of competitiveness, so it’s a very good downside for the crew to have. Not a lot for AA and Anderson, although.
Blackhawks Protection is Higher
The defensive corps simply seems to be a lot extra structured this season. For probably the most half, the Blackhawks have purchased into the system and are working collectively as a gaggle. Seth Jones continues to be a workhorse, main the crew by contributing in all conditions whereas averaging 25:41 minutes of ice time per sport. To supply some additional steadiness, Jones and Alex Vlasic have been cut up up, with Alec Martinez up with Jones, and Vlasic on the second pairing with Connor Murphy. Even after Martinez suffered a groin harm, a much-improved and extra regular Wyatt Kaiser has admirably stepped into his place on the highest pairing with Jones.
Vlasic is selecting up proper the place he left off from a stellar 2023-24 marketing campaign, and including some offense as well! His contributions earned him my 2nd star for October. Murphy is wholesome, and doling out the onerous hits! Oh, and by the way in which. Murphs additionally has six assists already. Murphy and Vlasic mix for a stable pairing.
Making up the third D-pairing, 21-year outdated Nolan Allan made his NHL debut this season and has performed in eight video games. He even has two assists below his belt. Per Coach Richardson, “he’s offering stable play” and “We like the whole lot about him proper now”.
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T.J. Brodie…properly, Brodie has admitted it’s been powerful getting used to a brand new system. The Blackhawks make the most of a zone-based defensive scheme versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brodie’s former crew, who use a man-on-man scheme. Brodie shouldn’t be precisely identified for his pace, so puck retrieval has largely been left to his accomplice, Allan (one other optimistic reflection on the rookie).
Some would argue Brodie must be benched in favor of Isaak Phillips, who has been the additional man in reserve with Martinez is out. It’s true it might be a lot better for the 23-year-old’s growth to both be enjoying with the Blackhawks or the IceHogs. However it’s additionally fairly onerous to bench a 34-year-old veteran on $3.75 million two-year contract. Brodie does have loads of expertise on his aspect, so hopefully he’ll acclimate quickly.
Energy Play Wants Enchancment
The Blackhawks energy play is simply okay, at present proper in the midst of the pack at 16th within the league. They’ve transformed seven occasions out of 36 tries for a 19.4% success price. Teravainen and Bertuzzi are credited with two objectives apiece, whereas Foligno, Jones and Kurashev every have a aim on the facility play. Bedard is accountable for 4 major assists.
For some motive, the Blackhawks all the time appear to wrestle on the facility play. That is powerful to know this season although, based mostly on their improved personnel. They’ve been leaning on a high unit of Bedard, Teravainen, Bertuzzi, Foligno and Jones, with Reichel changing Foligno for the previous few contests. As you possibly can think about, the whole lot right here goes via Bedard. However this unit tends to be slightly too fairly. The concept is quick passes to open up taking pictures house. However these days, the group simply appears to be passing an excessive amount of and on the lookout for the proper play; not taking pictures sufficient.
The second unit has largely been comprised of Kurashev, Corridor, Smith, Maroon and Vlasic on the level. This group tends to be slightly dirtier and extra aggressive of their strategy. However additionally they don’t normally have loads of time on the market. Additionally, most groups wouldn’t have gamers like Smith and Maroon (two fourth liners) on their energy play.
However the concept this season is to give gamers extra particular roles as a substitute of asking them to leap round to completely different assignments. For instance, Dickinson isn’t on the facility play as a result of Coach Richardson needs him to deal with defending the opponents’ high strains, in addition to contributing on the penalty kill.
However it is perhaps time to alter issues up slightly to present the facility play extra of a spark. Per Ben Pope of the Chicago Solar-Occasions, Donato (main the crew with six objectives) is perhaps moved as much as the highest unit.
I’m positive the Blackhawks are on the lookout for extra manufacturing from the facility play in November. In spite of everything, an influence play aim could make the distinction between profitable and shedding a sport.
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The Blackhawks need to put a disappointing October behind them and begin with a contemporary slate for the month of November. However regardless of a disappointing document, there have been positives to construct on. They’ve been aggressive in so many contests. Now they should discover a solution to win extra of these video games. The gamers are extra snug of their roles and with one another. Some tweaking of the strains and pairings may very well be so as. The defensive construction is sound, and one thing to proceed constructing on. And maybe the facility play can break via with extra success.
12 difficult video games are on faucet in November, beginning with a matinee in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, Nov. 2. Hopefully the Blackhawks can pull off some extra wins this month!
