Patrick Kane’s return to Chicago was always about more than just the box score.
The Blackhawks signed him to a two-year deal this past offseason to help steer a young, promising forward group, and the early signs point to that plan working. Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, Alex Vlasic, and the rest of the young Blackhawks have been picking up plenty from Kane, who was mic’d up while coaching Roman Kantserov to keep his eyes on the ice as a pass arrived on his stick.
That kind of detail matters for a group still learning how to turn talent into production. Nazar has shown plenty of speed and skill, but he still needs to be more decisive when it’s time to shoot or pass, and his finishing could use work.
Nick Lardis, meanwhile, hasn’t looked confident lately, and his hesitation with the puck led to a goal against in the game against the St. Louis Blues.
Too often, the forwards seem to be skating with the same uncertainty when their abilities should be showing up everywhere else.
Kane is the obvious voice to help change that. He knows what success in this league looks like, and the Blackhawks are banking on these two seasons to rub off on the younger players. Nazar can use the guidance on timing and finishing chances for himself and his teammates, while Lardis can benefit from learning positioning that sets up his shot better.
Kantserov is already getting that kind of instruction. Kane has started teaching him positioning and how to open up his view on offense to make a better play, and it would not be surprising if the other young forwards have picked up similar details along the way.
The Blackhawks also know what happens when a team is missing its top difference-maker. The San Jose Sharks were hammered by the Dallas Stars not long ago without Macklin Celebrini, and Chicago figures to be much better once Connor Bedard returns as the offense’s dynamo and captain. Even then, Bedard should have the chance to learn from Kane, too, and sharpen his own offensive game.
So far, Kane’s addition has been a success for Chicago, even if that hasn’t shown up in the standings or on the scoreboard. His biggest value has come in the development of the young players around him. They’re learning mental toughness, how to recover faster from rough games, and how to bring consistency every night.
That’s the real hope here: a team that plays hard and plays to win, not one that’s just trying not to lose.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Need Their Young Core To Deliver Again On Long Island
Chicago heads to Long Island with a little bit of momentum after picking up its first win of the season, but there is still plenty to prove on this early road trip. The matchup with the Islanders comes at a time when both clubs are trying to settle in, with New York looking to steady itself after losing two of its first three and the Blackhawks trying to turn one good result into something more lasting.
For Chicago, the focus is on its young core again, especially Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell, two players who have already shown they can fit into this kind of game. The Blackhawks need those younger pieces to keep driving the attack and to make the most of chances on the road, because the next step for this group is not just flashes of skill but the kind of consistency that starts to change how these games feel late. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Young Core Faces An Early Test After That First Win
The Blackhawks head to Long Island on the heels of their first win of the season, carrying a little more confidence after their young players helped set the tone in the home opener against the St. Louis Blues. It was the kind of night Chicago has been waiting for, a sign that the rebuilds next wave can already make itself felt in games that matter.
The Islanders provide a different kind of test, with a 1-2-0 start that has been uneven but still includes plenty of established talent. Bo Horvat is expected to be in the lineup, and Ilya Sorokin gives New York a stabilizing presence in goal, while the Blackhawks will again be trying to see how their emerging core handles a tougher road assignment without letting one good result soften the larger challenge ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Greenway Is Giving The Blackhawks An Early Bright Spot
Jordan Greenway has given the Blackhawks something they were hoping to find early, a sturdy fourth-line presence who looks comfortable in the role they have carved out for him. Acquired from Buffalo, he has fit neatly alongside Cole Smith and Ryan Greene, stayed healthy, and given Chicago a useful mix of size, puck pressure and reliability in the kind of minutes that often get overlooked until they start making a difference.
The early returns have been even better than that, with Greenway quickly becoming one of the more noticeable players on the roster. He has already provided the teams first goal of the season and, just as importantly, has been driving play in a way that shows up in the details, from shots to hits. Jeff Blashill has taken notice of the impact on and off the ice, which only adds to the sense that Greenway may be becoming more than a temporary bright spot for a team still looking for traction. [Read more 🡒]