Through 12 games, the Chicago Blackhawks have shown enough to know where the cracks are. The biggest one is plain to see: they’re not nearly physical enough.
That matters more now than it ever has. Around the league, and especially in the playoffs, heavy play is back in style. For the Blackhawks to take the next step, they’re going to need either more grit from the players already in the room or new pieces who bring that edge naturally.
The numbers tell the story. Chicago sits second-to-last in hits with 193 and second-to-last in blocked shots with 136.
Those are two areas where they badly need to climb, because the teams that can skate, hit and take away space have made life miserable for opponents. The Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights have shown how effective that formula can be.
There are encouraging signs in Chicago’s young core. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are giving the Blackhawks the kind of scoring presence they want to build around.
But skill alone won’t change how teams view them. They still need role players who make the group tougher to handle shift after shift.
One bright spot has been the fourth line of Cole Smith, Ryan Greene and Jordan Greenway. That unit has scored one goal and allowed one goal this season, which is a useful start. Even so, the lineup still looks like it could use more changes in other spots.
The San Jose Sharks offer a clear example of how a team can reshape its identity. They added Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba this offseason, along with Kiefer Sherwood earlier, and that push has helped make San Jose more difficult to play against. This season, the Sharks rank in the top five in hits and top 12 in blocked shots.
Chicago, meanwhile, still gives opponents the sense they can lean on it physically. That has to change if the Blackhawks want to turn the corner.
There are a few names that fit the type of move they could explore. Vancouver Canucks forward Paul Cotter stands out as a pending free agent who could bring value without requiring a major price tag. He has seven points in 13 games and ranks in the top 16 with 43 hits this season.
On the back end, the Blackhawks don’t have a defenseman ranked in the top 60 in blocked shots. One possible answer would be Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler, a 32-year-old veteran who is not shy about sacrificing his body. He has the sixth-most blocked shots with 32, tied with teammate Travis Sanheim.
Both players match the kind of addition Chicago should be considering if it wants help in both areas. Neither would demand a huge investment, and both would address real needs. Until the Blackhawks prove they can push back, opponents are going to keep leaning on them.
Whether Kyle Davidson finds that help outside the organization or gets more out of the current roster, Chicago has to become harder to play against. The sooner that happens, the sooner the Blackhawks can start moving in the same direction as the teams that have made physicality such a big part of winning.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Could Get Pulled Into A Pricey Young Winger Chase
A young winger with some upside is suddenly on the trade radar, and the Blackhawks have been mentioned among the teams in the mix. Washington is exploring options on Ivan Miroshnichenko, and his agent has been contacting multiple clubs, with interest said to be coming mostly from the Western Conference. For Chicago, it is the kind of conversation that fits a rebuilding timeline in theory, even if it immediately raises the question of how aggressive the front office wants to be for another player still early in his NHL path.
The wrinkle is the price. The Capitals are believed to want to move Miroshnichenko out of the Eastern Conference, and the early asking range being discussed is steep enough to make any interested team pause. If the Blackhawks stay involved, it would likely come down to how much they are willing to pay for potential versus patience, especially with other clubs circling and the bidding not sounding modest. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Blue Line Suddenly Faces A Problem Ahead Of Road Trip
A road trip can expose a thin blue line in a hurry, and the Blackhawks are suddenly staring at that possibility with two of their left-shot defensemen in question. Head coach Jeff Blashill said Alex Vlasic is ill and questionable for Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, a development that comes after he missed the morning skate and leaves Chicago juggling its back end before the trip really gets rolling.
Bowen Byrams situation only adds to the uncertainty. He remains sidelined with an upper-body injury and is also uncertain for the next game against the Boston Bruins, leaving the Blackhawks without much clarity on how their defense will look in the near term. For a team trying to get through a stretch on the road, the timing is far from ideal. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Trade Rumors Suddenly Put Young Core In The Spotlight
The Blackhawks have found themselves back in the middle of the rumor mill, with multiple NHL teams reportedly scouting their games as trade season chatter picks up. Chicago is said to be exploring ways to add more scoring punch up front, a sign that the front office is at least weighing options as it looks to keep building around a young roster that has already drawn plenty of attention around the league.
What makes the speculation so interesting is the caliber of the names being floated in discussions. Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Teuvo Teravainen and Kevin Korchinski have all been mentioned in the mix, which tells you the Blackhawks are not being viewed as a team with only fringe pieces to move. For now, though, it remains all talk, with no official trades on the books and plenty still unresolved about how aggressive Chicago plans to be. [Read more 🡒]