There are times when this year's Blackhawks look like a junior varsity team in more ways than one. The scoreboard beatdown that Carolina put on them last night was an obvious way and so was how the Canes simply toyed with the Hawks all game in all zones.
The Canes had their way with the Hawks offensively as they could sustain pressure on nearly every shift. Defensively the Canes clogged the lanes and batted pucks away on developing plays by the Hawks that were otherwise executed fundamentally well.
Another way the Hawks look like a JV squad is in the roster composition. Half of the forwards could just as easily be in the AHL while the blueline had a rookie making his debut paired with a veteran who has never been good at defense.
If it weren't for the Coyotes, the Hawks would be dead last in the Central Division, Western Conference, and entire NHL. These cellar dwellers are the only teams with a negative goal differential greater than 10 (Chicago at -19, Arizona at -25).
So it's no surprise the Hawks are mired in an 8-game losing streak to kick off the new season. Yet, on paper, the team looked like they could at least have a fighting chance to make games competitive. Alas, the on-ice product doesn't mirror those expectations.
Something significant needs to change to turn this season around. Sadly, getting Patrick Kane back into the lineup doesn't seem like it would move the needle very much. Neither does putting the line blender on puree or swapping rookies from Rockford.
As this past week has demonstrably pointed out, a cultural shift is needed for the franchise. Not only is that necessary to address how the organization failed one of its own a decade ago but it's also necessary to power up the team from JV level to varsity.
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Game Summary
Final pic.twitter.com/PuDwFCbbJs
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 30, 2021
T Johnson - Dach - Kubalik DeBrincat - Kurashev - Hardman Hagel - Toews - Carpenter Gaudette - Entwistle - R Johnson
de Haan - S Jones McCabe - Murphy Gustafsson - Phillips
Lankinen Fleury
Scratches: Strome
Scoring Recap
1st Goal (1-0): Hagel (Toews, Gustafsson) 2nd Goal (1-1): DeAngelo (Trocheck) 3rd Goal (2-1): Gaudette (Kurashev, Gustafsson) PP 4th Goal (2-2): Staal (Bear, Slavin) 5th Goal (2-3): Stepan (Fast) 6th Goal (2-4): Kotkaniemi (Aho, Cole) 7th Goal (2-5): Aho (DeAngelo, Teravainen) PP 8th Goal (2-6): Svechnikov (DeAngelo, Trocheck) 9th Goal (3-6): DeBrincat (S Jones, Kubalik) PP
SOG For/Against: 26/35 PP: 2-for-8 PK: 2-for-3 Faceoffs Won: 43%
FINAL: Hurricanes 6, #Blackhawks 3
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 30, 2021
Shot attempts: 53-52 CHI
Shots on goal: 35-26 CAR
5-on-5 scoring chances: 15-13 CAR
5-on-5 high danger chances: 7-5 CAR pic.twitter.com/qDxEIig7dY
* Even though the Blackhawks had 8 power plays, their zone entries were horrendous; it's still mind boggling what advantage is created with the "push 'em back" entry.
* Isaak Phillips had a steady NHL debut as he made simple, safe plays including just dumping the puck deep for his forwards to dig out or to at least give his team a chance to live to fight another day.
* The best forward on the Hawks was Philipp Kurashev who seems to be ramping up his play over the past few games displaying great energy, creativity, and compete level; it was unfortunate he wasn't rewarded with a goal late in regulation that was eventually waved off.
* Using his big wing span, long reach, and underrated speed, MacKenzie Entwistle hounded the opponent up and down the rink including as they were trying to start the rush from their own end.
* Head coach Jeremy Colliton has already stated that Tyler Johnson will not play this evening against the Blues after leaving the Hurricanes game with what looks like a head injury.
* Could this allow Dylan Strome to crack the lineup again or will he stay in the dog house which would open the door for a forward prospect to be recalled from Rockford?
* Despite getting pummeled on the scoreboard, big ups to Reese Johnson and Connor Murphy for stepping up for the team with a fight and a huge hit to provide a spark.
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Next Game @ Blues
Back at it tonight in St. Louis pic.twitter.com/ugR2o0WzV6
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 30, 2021
IceHogs Updates
Our season-opening, six-game road trip closes TONIGHT in Texas!
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 30, 2021
📠Cedar Park, TX
📺: AHLTV, 23.2 Circle TV
📻 https://t.co/FHLGZDbsrA, https://t.co/2iRG2MpL6Q
📝: https://t.co/pj4ef7MVEB pic.twitter.com/Y0OFVYozYa
If a forward is recalled to replace Tyler Johnson on the big club, Alex Nylander could get the nod given his much more inspired play on both sides of the puck. If his effort can match his skill level, he could become a fixture in the Hawks starting lineup.
Lukas Reichel would be the more attractive choice, though, but why mess with his development curve by calling him up too early when he should marinate as long as possible in the AHL. Josiah Slavin is likely in the mix. Evan Barratt, too, but he's currently injured.
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See you on the boards!