What a first round of the playoffs. Wow! It's been the year of the underdog and that has to make the non-playoff teams think "if we can just get in… anything can happen". Wait! That's what the Hawks thought from the start of the season.
So, Stan Bowman and Co. can still use that mantra as they head into training camp this September. You can bank on players and coaches pointing to this playoffs as the "anything is possible" scenario.
If this team really wants to put their words into reality and actually make the playoffs for the 2019-20 season, then they are going to need several smart moves to elevate the team overall.
We've covered a few so far since the Blackhawks season has concluded but the one I want to focus on today is the Penalty Kill.
This blog was inspired by -DOH- who PM'd the following message:
Everyone talks about the need to improve the PK. But how? I believe there are two basic systems that most teams use. One is aggressive and one passive (keep your shape and force them to the outside). Both are pretty basic. Which one do you prefer? Which would you say Colliton prefers?
If the Hawks are going to improve on the PK they need to do what?
- Make the zone entry tougher?
- Get in the shooting lanes?
- Have players (forwards and dmen) that are willing to sacrifice the body to block shots
- Decide how to handle the player below the goal line
- Maintain your shape (not run around)
- Better goaltending?
Excellent questions, DOH. Let's break those down in a second. First, here is a breakdown of the team ranking in the regular season and playoffs for context.
Here's how the NHL looked in terms of PK% ranking in the 2017-18 season:
Why am I showing you this? Well, I'm going back 2 years to specifically hone in on the New York Islanders. A big part of their defensive turnaround was on the penalty kill. They were in the exact same position (LAST!) as the Hawks were this year:
You can see above that the Islanders went from giving up 63 PPGA in 2017-18 – exact same as CHI last year – to 44 PPGA. That's a 19 goal differentiator. It launched them to 17th overall, which doesn't seem super impressive, but it is.
Other than Barry Trotz and his coaching staff, what was the change year-over-year short-handed? From what I can tell and what I've read, it was personnel and commitment. It wasn't as much systematic. There were small tweaks but the biggest difference was goaltending (Lehner and Greiss were phenomenal) and additions like Leo Komarov and Valtteri Filppula.
It's possible the Hawks can do the same by having better consistency in net but that position is a bit of a question mark. Here's where the ‘tenders netted out last year with SV% on the penalty kill:
Corey Crawford - .880 SV% (22nd)
Colin Delia - .853 (43rd)
Cam Ward - .793 (65th)
To give you hope/perspective, in 2017-18, Corey Crawford was 4th in 2017-18 with a .908 SV% on the PK.
Anton Forsberg had a .865 (42nd) and Cam Ward with Carolina ended right under him .864 (44th).
(Courtesy of NaturalStatTrick – min. 50 minutes played)
So, if Crawford is healthy all season (big IF), then the Hawks have a chance to improve if he can get back to that 2017-18 number.
Also, with Delia improving and/or another goalie in the mix as Crawford's backup, there's a reason to believe that they can bail the Hawks out a little more with the man down.
However, I wouldn't count just on that and I would look to add. Here are the top PKer (by overall TOI) for the regular season and playoffs this year:
2018-19 Regular Season (forwards)
2018-19 Regular Season (defence)
2018-19 Playoffs - 1st Round (forwards)
2018-19 Playoffs - 1st Round (defence)
I'm using overall ice-time as it's usually an indicator by the coach that this guy knows how to play in this situation. Sure, it could be out of necessity, but I'll take that chance.
As you can see above, there's that Brandon Tanev guy sneaking in there again. Still liking him as an addition up front. Adam Lowry and Scott Laughton (a guy I've liked for a while) would be great additions as 3rd line C's / PK specialists.
On D, guys that jump out that might be available are McNabb (hey, we know him too), Manson, Nameth and Jordie Benn. Also, I will take Brett Pesce any day.
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I've added a lot of context there in terms of teams and players but let's go back to DOH's questions for a second:
Which system do you prefer? Which would you say Colliton prefers?
JL: I prefer an aggressive unit. I think we'll see what Colliton really prefers when he and Brookbank get a full training camp to tweak. They really seemed like they were trying everything in-season in terms of personnel and style.
If the Hawks are going to improve on the PK they need to do what:
- Make the zone entry tougher?
JL: Always make it tough in all situations.
- Get in the shooting lanes?
JL: YES! A lot more of this. Acquiring a shot blocking D and creating more compete throughout the lineup.
- Have players (forwards and dmen) that are willing to sacrifice the body to block shots?
JL: YES again. Same thing as above.
- Decide how to handle the player below the goal line? Maintain your shape (not run around)?
JL: YES. The biggest thing to success on the PK is compete and working in a synchronized fashion as a 4-man unit. Once you know your system well and know where everyone is going at what time, you can help support better at the right times.
- Better goaltending?
JL: YES. This will be key as I outlined above.
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Finally, Don Granto and the Chicago Blackhawks decided to mutually part ways. To me, that's read to me as a "Don… you gotta move on" conversation.
Colliton will have a chance to pick his guy. I have heard that Stan will be somewhat involved as his preference is to get a more veteran voice in the room, however, I think if Colliton goes a different route, he may be able to convince Bowman and Co.
Derek King will not be in the running as he was named as the official Head Coach of the Rockford IceHogs.
I'll have more on the coaching situation in a future blog.
See ya out there.
JL
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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