The Chicago Blackhawks took a direct swing at one of their biggest strengths from last season, and the move came with a clear message: the penalty kill still matters.
Chicago finished second in the NHL last year at 83.6 percent, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche’s 84.6 percent. For much of the season, the Blackhawks actually sat on top of that category before things dipped a bit after the trade deadline, when Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Colton Dach were all gone.
That slide is part of why Wednesday’s veteran additions matter so much. Kyle Davidson and his staff brought in forward Cole Smith and defenseman Ian Cole, two players who should see most of their work at even strength but are expected to take on heavy penalty-killing duties as well.
Davidson pointed to that role during a media session at Development Camp, making it clear the PK was part of the pitch for both players. The Blackhawks are banking on grit and physical play from each of them, but the real value will come when they’re asked to keep the puck out of their own net against opposing power plays.
There’s also no way around the loss of Ilya Mikheyev. He signed a four-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, and the Blackhawks are losing one of the NHL’s best penalty-kill forwards. That’s a major hit to absorb.
Still, Chicago does have internal options who can help keep the unit on track. Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Alex Vlasic are among the players who could contribute there, and if the young group grows into those responsibilities while Smith and Cole set the tone, the Blackhawks should remain tough to score on with the man advantage.
Spencer Knight will matter in that equation too. If he stays locked in, Chicago’s penalty kill can hold up better than some might expect.
And if the power play takes a step forward with Bowen Byram in the mix, the Blackhawks could end up winning a lot more games because of special teams.
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