Chicago Blackhawks – Coach Quenneville Renaissance Man

photo by Maggie Avila

Chicago, IL – A Renaissance man is one that is defined as “An individual talented in all spheres of human endeavour” 1.  I would define a Renaissance man also as being able to be flexible and possessing a wide range of talents. A man if you will that can wear many hats comfortably. A man wise enough to exercise patience.

Coach Q as he is lovingly called or sometimes “the Stache”, in homage to his glorious mustache definitely qualifies as a true Renaissance man. No more so apparent than in this past 2012-13 season were his many skills.  The many hats he wears as the coach of one of the most successful NHL teams is broad in scope.

He is a head coach which means he has to be a technician and statistician and student of the game of hockey but he is also much more than that.  He is a philosopher, physiatrist, alchemist, surrogate father figure, PR man, former hockey player, talent developer & motivational speaker.

What makes Joel Quenneville a very good coach is that he has to keep a very talented and successful team focused and on the same page which maybe harder than coaching a bad team or an average team.  When a team is bad or average everyone knows there needs to be improvement and everyone is on board with working to improve but good or great teams the focus is much more difficult.

It is harder to sustain success consistently than achieve it due to the human ego. Everyone wants to win and it is only natural that upon achieving all the success that the Chicago Blackhawks have recently that they would become satisfied and maybe kick back a bit. Coach Q however, has his team lock scoped on another Stanley Cup. His task keeping everyone grounded and keeping the hunger alive in his talented core.

photo by Maggie Avila

Last year the Chicago Blackhawks were one of the worst teams overall defensively speaking. In fact they were ranked 22^nd in the league in GAG during the regular season. Their penalty kill was 27^th in the league and they were not very good in these areas in the playoffs either, which probably explains their first round exit against Phoenix.

This year the Blackhawks were first in the league in GAG and their penalty kill was third overall in the NHL. This commitment to defense first signals a couple of things. The ability to correct ones mistakes of the past so they do not get repeated and a commitment from the team to shift their focus from offense first to defense first and it has paid off.

There also is probably no better coach that understands his players  both their weaknesses and their strengths than coach Q. Everyone in Chicago all season long has questioned some of his decisions, isn’t that what we fans do?  Saad on the first line with Toews and Hossa what? Splitting the time in nets between Corey Crawford and Ray Emery what? Switching up the defensive pairings what? Putting who on the penalty kill that needs so much improvement Frolik and Kruger what? Maybe though the biggest of these putting out four lines and sometimes the 4^th line up against other teams first lines what?

Were all these adjustments gambles or a complete understanding of your team? Since they were all not only successful but, maybe pivotal moves during the Blackhawks regular season and contributed so much to their success you’d have to say these moves were more than just rolling the dice.

Knowing your players psyche is also a key element and having the fortitude to be a disciplinarian is crucial. In season coach Q benched Brent Seabrook who was not having his best game. Dangerous move or could be, yet it paid off.  Seabrook came back in that game and had a goal and assist I do believe.

Coach Q  today in practice had Viktor Stalberg and Brandon Saad pretty much relegated to fourth and fifth lines sending a message to the boys to step up their games. Harsh? Maybe but he has his team in round two of the playoffs and must do what is best for this team’s success at all times. You also have to trust he knows what will motivate Stalberg and Saad as we all know they are very talented and capable of great heights and the Stache is just trying to bring out the best in the boys.

He also gave Brandon Saad a shot to develop with two of the best two way forwards in the game today when he put him on the first line.  That was a huge opportunity for a rookie.  Saad proved all year long he should be on that line with Toews and Hossa, now it is the playoffs and the Manchild must be more the Man than the child. As stated Q’s a phyciatrist and surrogate father figure.

He is also the boss behind the bench. One that he along with the players have state he frequently says “Nobody loves winning more than me” or put another way don’t blow this boys I don’t want to have to yell after the game but I will if you make me. Who wouldn’t be motivated to doing their best.

Photo by Maggie Avila

Coach Joel Quenneville, this year more so than any in the past has this team playing as a team and not just as a group of skilled, talented individuals. The Blackhawks are all focused and committed to playing good solid two way hockey. He is up for the Jack Adams award for the coach who has contributed the most to his team’s success and rightfully so.  Coach Q won this award back in 1999 – 2000 when he was with the St. Louis Blues but surprisingly has never won while behind the Blackhawks’ bench. This however is not the trophy he is looking to secure and has been pushing his team all year to get. No it’s much bigger than any personal achievement award. One that not only he and his team can share but an entire city and fan base can feel apart of.

The biggest difference this year over the past two years for the Chicago Blackhawks – patience both from the players and maybe from their head coach as well.  This year he has switched up the lines less, stuck with struggling players longer and given opportunities to the unproven players. He has refused to let a highly talented team rest on their laurels. The results speak for themselves so far but they are not done yet.  Chicago Blackhawks’ fans need to remember when we think coach Q is doing something crazy or questionable, he’s more than earned our patience and by in as well.

1. Taken from the urban dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=renaissance%20man

Chicago Blackhawks’ Special Forces

Chicago, IL – The game of hockey is usually looked at by fans for all the goals and pretty assists that are achieved in a game but maybe more importantly it’s the goals that are not scored that determine a team’s success in a hockey game.

A team is never more vulnerable to that then when they are shorthanded and are on their penalty kill. It takes a special player with specialized skills to effectively compete and succeed when being a man down. It is not called special teams for nothing.

The Chicago Blackhawks have the good fortune to have several players on their teams that have these specialized skills. We all know Jonathan Toews & Marian Hossa are superstars that can do just about anything in any situation but this year two maybe not so household names have stepped up for this team and have helped the Blackhawks have one of the best penalty kills in the regular season.

Who are these specialists? Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger all year-long contributed to this team’s success. Part of winning the Jennings trophy which goes to the fewest goals allowed can also be attributed to their tireless work on the penalty kill. This track has continued so far into the playoffs as well.

The Blackhawks ended the season with the 3^rd best overall penalty kill in the league and through two playoff games they are tied for first on the PK. The have been perfect so far 0-6.

They also lead the league in +/- differential and that too has carried into the playoffs. What does this mean? Well the Chicago Blackhawks understand that it is defense and defensive responsibilities that are key to winning games, many, many games in fact. The most difficult situation to maintain good defense however is the penalty kill for obvious reasons.

To be proficient on a penalty kill only your best, most responsible defensive players should be utilized. You have to flat-out out work your opponents and hustle being short a player. How this is achieved is through many specialized skills like very active sticks, blocking shots and proper positioning to clog or block passing lanes in your zone.  Forechecking plays a huge role once the puck is dumped out of your end so only the best forecheckers should be used.

All year-long even not on the penalty kill both Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger have showcased their defensive responsibilities. Rarely do ever see them turnover pucks and if they do they immediately get on the forecheck/backcheck to get the puck back.

Can you think of two players on the Hawks that consistently hustle to the corners or boards and more often than not come away with the puck? I can’t. While this tireless work doesn’t show on the stat sheets all the time it is one of the reasons the Blackhawks have had so much success this year.

Photo by Maggie Avila

Neither Frolik or Kruger are very big physically but apparently they have humongous hearts and will. Michael Frolik was a #1 draft pick of the Florida Panthers in 2006 draft where he went tenth overall. The Blackhawks got him in the Jack Skille, Alexander Salak trade. So Frolik has skills both offensively and defensively but on a team like the Blackhawks that has so much offensive fire power it has been the defensive side to Frolik’s game that has taken center stage and rightfully so. Frolik’s skills were apparent in the last Blackhawks playoff game against the Wild where shorthanded he scored a goal that came from pure determination.

Photo by Maggie Avila

Marcus Kruger was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2009 in the 5^th round and has impressed the coaching staff with his play in the defensive zone. A natural center, Kruger has played on the 2^nd line through the 4^th line and has looked comfortable no matter what line he is on. From the moment Marcus Kruger came to the Blackhawks he has impressed with his work ethics. Even though he is not big he takes big hits and bounces back like they were nothing and even ends up with the puck sometimes.

Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger are special talents with special skills to be sure. Special forces are units of highly trained personnel to perform unconventional or most times high risk missions when the odds are against them using skill sets most mortals do not possess.  Think Liam Neeson in Taken – “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you “. 1

Now Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger will not kill you literally like Liam Nieeson’s character in Taken but they can most certainly kill an opposing team’s momentum and will with their skills, which does make them a nightmare for the opposing teams they are facing. I think that qualifies them on a hockey risk as being lethal.

1 2008 film Taken 20^th Century Fox. Screenplay by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen, Directed by Pierre Morel.

Chicago Blackhawks – Dynamizing the Power play

Photo by Maggie Avila

Chicago, IL – In 2012-13 season there has been very few things that the Chicago Blackhawks have not done exceptionally well.  In most areas of hockey if they have not been leading the way they have been very near the top. The exception of course is a familiar problem – The power play.

Last season this was a problem as well and even though we are in a new season this same problem persists. The Hawks for whatever reason cannot seem to solve this enigma. The Hawks ended the regular season with the 19^th ranking in the league for the power play.

I know what you’re thinking, well if this is the only area they are suspect at the other elements of hockey should be enough. That will probably be true in the first round since the Minnesota Wild are not much better than the Hawks on the power play. Going forward however the lack of a potent power play could swing a series.

If the Hawks have to face the Kings, Ducks or the Penguins they will need their power play firing on all cylinders. I’ll even venture to say if the Hawks make it to the Stanley Cup Finals and have to face the Pittsburgh Penguins the power play could determine who skates away with the cup. Hint – the Penguins were not very good in the regular season on the penalty kill.

Now I offer up some observations in an attempt to assist only. Sometimes if you are in something you cannot see the trees for the forest or if you dwell on the same problem too long it becomes a daunting task.  Here are some observations.

Power plays are supposed to give the team with the man advantage momentum and energy. The Blackhawks power play has at times not only not given the team momentum it has drained energy from the team and open up the door for the opposition which they will not be able to afford in the playoffs.

The Hawks have had problems with zone entry in the past. They have had better zone entries but I would offer this up. The Hawks are a fast team. Team speed is one of their assets yet when they dump the puck in their chase is a little flat. Here is the opportunity to amp up that speed and get in the zone as fast as possible with at least two of the forwards preferably three to out muscle the opposing pk.

When dumping in try something different. Try a hard shot right on the goalie you may get a loose rebound or at the very least a face off in the offensive zone if the goalie covers either way mission accomplished puck is in the zone.

Photo by Maggie Avila

One of the reasons the Hawks maybe having so many problems with the power play is let’s face it you have less ice and space to work with. They are working with half a canvass so open ice is harder to achieve and find. It’s hard to fly when you are standing still right?

The key to this is movement either of the puck or of personnel on ice. The passing in the zone needs to be crisper and harder than what the Blackhawks are currently doing. Too many times shooters do not get the puck directly on their sticks and have to reload or pass off since they are not in the right position.  Optimally you want the passes going so fast that the defense thinks they are standing in the middle of a pinball game. Remember the hands are quicker than the eyes.

The other thing the Hawks are guilty of is over passing sometimes and miss opportunities with one to many passes. The ultimate goal is to get the puck on net. Quick precision passes of three or four at the most with the 5^th touch being a shot on the goalie. You should be getting at least two – three quality shots on the goalie per power play. If there are open lanes to the goalie keep firing on him anticipate where rebounds are going and get there first.

Opening up the ice and shooting lanes with personnel movement takes a lot of work by everyone. Ideally you want every one moving like a fine Swiss time piece each element moving and interdependent on one another. Movement and chaos will confuse most defenses. The Blackhawks are skilled enough to do this but must work as a five man machine.

Net front presence is essential when facing a good goalie so you may need two people in the crease if nothing else it will distract him and tie up the defensemen. Preferably a heavy shot is coming from the point to get juicy rebounds.

Use the slot more, in fact why not use almost an I formation. One player should be in front of the goalie, one player in the mid slot and one in the high slot which is where the shot will come from while the mid slot player &/or the player in the crease can  either redirect or mid slot player crashes the net.

Remember to use all of the ice including behind the goalie. Gretzky made a career there and if it was good enough for the great one why not the Blackhawks? At the very least it will force the defense to play down low which will open up the points or slot.

There has been improvement on zone entries and face off percentage which is good. Sustained pressure could still use some work and more shots need to get to the goalie. These are just suggestions to ponder and try from an outside point of view. At this point why not try anything.

The key is energy and remaining positive even when the power play does not score. Even the best power plays only score 20-25% of the time.

The dynamic duo – The Crow & The Razor

photo by Maggie Avila

Chicago, IL – When a sports team is playing almost flawlessly, there has to be something that sports fans can worry and debate about. So far this season it has been the goalie position.  Coming into the season there is no question in Chicago the biggest concern was the netminding justified or not. 

Like every other question this year the Blackhawks have answered this question as well yet the Chicago media is concerned who is the number one netminder for the team and who will be in goal come playoff time.

Some fans likewise seem to either be in the Ray Emery camp or the Corey Crawford camp as to which one should be in goal come playoff time. Some fans think it doesn’t matter as both wear the same jersey and bring different skills to the table for the team.

Statistically the two goalies are just about even and as a tandem are dominating the NHL. No other team has both of their goalkeepers in the top ten in both GAA and Sv%. Only the Boston Bruins have two goalie in the top ten in Sv% with Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin.  If that is a problem having two goalies top ten in league stats I’m sure the Blackhawks will take it.

Both netminders bring different things in net and different personality to the net but both are equally capable to man the nets for Chicago. In alphabetical order here are observations on the two goalies

Corey Crawford  

Photo by Maggie Avila

Corey brings a big presence and athletic flexibility to the nets. Corey has very good lateral movement in the net and is in the true butterfly goalie style. This year Corey has had to overcome maybe the mental obstacles that being a netminder presents. In the past he maybe dwelled on mistakes in game and now he has jumped that hurdle and seems to move past in game mistakes which is huge as he can refocus and remain in the moment.

Below are Corey’s stats so far this season.  To date Corey has manned the nets for the majority of games this season and his record of 18-4-5 is well let’s say pretty darn good. His Shut outs would have been five if it were not for an injury in one game that Ray Emery had to relieve him in and a goal against Detroit in the last 30 secs of the game. To say that these stats are not worthy of a #1 goalie status is absurd.

	GP	W	L	OT	GA	SA	SV	SV%	GAA	SO	PIM
REGULAR SEASON	27	18	4	5	53	697	644	.924	1.99	3	2
LEAGUE RANK	22ND	9TH	46TH	7TH	28TH	22ND	22ND	9TH	4TH	7TH	5TH

Photo by Maggie Avila

Ray Emery

Ray brings a steadiness and calmness to the Chicago net. It never seems like Emery gets rattled and when the opposition does try and rattle Emery you get the sense the opposition skate away for the blue paint black and blue as he will not stand for any nonsense in his net. Ray Emery is so positionally sound he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Ray has had to overcome physical obstacles and maybe changed his way of playing goalie to adjust to physical limitations and he has beautifully.

Below are Ray’s stats so far this season.  To date Ray has probably had the goalie game of the year when he literally defeated the Calgary Flames singlehandedly when the Hawks did not have their best game in front of him due to travel fatigue. Ray also has three shutouts this year. Like Crawford to say that these stats are not worthy of a #1 goalie status is absurd.

	GP	W	L	OT	GA	SA	SV	SV%	GAA	SO	PIM
REGULAR SEASON	20	16	1	0	35	452	417	.923	1.91	3	0
LEAGUE RANK	30TH	15TH	65TH	58TH	44TH	38TH	38TH	10TH	3RD	7TH	20TH

 

Who the Blackhawks play in goal for the playoffs or if they even split duties ,doen’t matter and should not matter to anyone. All year long, both goalies have proved that they are in fact one of the strengths of this team and allowed the team to secure the best winning record in the regular season.  Why would this change in the playoffs?

The Blackhawks are fourth overall on the Penalty Kill, lead the league in goals against per game and plus minus. These stats are a tribute to both goaltenders along with the team defense in front of them. Their team mates play well in front of both, the coaches have done a good job of balancing both of their work loads and do not have any qualms about putting in either goalie.

Photo by Maggie Avila

While it seems to be a human tendency to want to quantify things as who is the #1 and who is the backup in this situation and on this team I’m not sure it really applies.

For fans both goalies are good, very good and are equally capable of bailing out a team if it gets in trouble which should let fans rest more easily going into the playoffs. To say that the Blackhawks have problem in net or a controversy well the only problem is how does a coach decide who he will put in net and how to keep both goalies rested yet sharp.

As far as the controversy thing, well that is just some fodder for fans to debate and scribes and bloggers to discuss and write about. Thanks Corey and Ray, Ray and Corey for not only manning our nets but for providing us with great story lines as well.

Chicago Blackhawks – Dealing with Quacks (solving the Anaheim riddle)

photo by Maggie Avila

Chicago, IL – 

Chicago Blackhawks – Record setters, Cover boys and Controversy

Chicago, IL – This past week twitter and social media almost exploded because of the Chicago Blackhawks donning the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine’s current issue. Whether you root for the Blackhawks or are against them you definitely can’t ignore them. It seems whether you were a Chicago Blackhawks fan or not there was controversy over the SI cover.

Fans from other NHL franchises were complaining that the Blackhawks were receiving too much attention and were offended by the perhaps inaccurate phraseology of “the franchise that brought hockey back”. Their feeling was that their own franchises were being diminished or disrespected somehow and that their fan bases came back regardless of the Blackhawks and the streak.

That may all be true but when was the last time any hockey team was on the cover of SI? When was the last time Lebron James talked hockey if ever? When was the last time hockey was being shown on ESPN sports center? ESPN probably reaches close to 15-20 million people in the United States.

While hockey fans may loathe ESPN and it’s lack of coverage of hockey you have to admit exposure from them doesn’t hurt. It just so happened it was the Chicago Blackhawks and their streak that got ESPN to notice hockey. Commissioner Bettman could not have planned this better himself. In fact the Chicago Blackhawks as a side benefit accomplished something the NHL has been unable to do – make peace with ESPN.

Surprisingly some of the Chicago Blackhawks fan basis were equally offended but by different terminology. Specifically it was the sub paragraph that they felt fostered the notion that hockey now matters because of the Hawks. Their objection was the implication that hockey did not matter prior to the Blackhawks streak.

Then there was the choice of covers that had some Hawks fan in an uproar because there were no “Franchise” players on said cover. Some fans found to be a blatant indicator that SI knew nothing of the team. Others found it a good choice either because the photo itself was great photography of a team or because that was exactly the point. The Blackhawks steak was not about one or two franchise players but an entire team effort.

To all fans I would suggest, Sports Illustrated is in the business of selling magazines and their headlines are supposed to insight some sort of feeling or interest hopefully enough so you pick up the magazine. Maybe their words were not chosen correctly but for the first time in a long time hockey and the NHL are being given some major media attention in a good way. That’s a good thing people for all NHL teams and fans. If the NHL players of other teams don’t have problems with the Blackhawks SI cover then why do their fans?

I also loved how fans dismissed SI as not a “hockey magazine” and will not pick the issue up and will not take it seriously. What is ironic is the “hockey magazine” The Hockey News has a cover of Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews on it looking more like GQ and cashing in on their streak along with their good looks. I mean honestly why not show them playing hockey instead of their Armani or Hugo Boss suits? Although I enjoyed this cover as well, but surprised there was no uproar over this but I guess because it is a hockey magazine it’s alright.

After the horrendous publicity that the NHL received because of the lockout, whether NHL fans want to believe this or not their beloved sport was viewed as a joke and an amateur league. There yes I said that. Most people view the NHL on par with the KHL even though these leagues are vastly different and the NHL is a far superior league. In fact hasn’t ESPN given more coverage to the KHL then the NHL during the lockout. If the Blackhawks change that it is good folks. Anything positive to wipe out those images and beliefs is a good thing.

NHL fans complain that their sport is never taken seriously but then when it is you complain or when new fans come on board they are condescended to by being called bandwagoners. Stop it. Everyone finds hockey and the NHL in different ways the point is as long as they eventually find it and see what a wonderful game it is that is what is important.

Somehow you have to wonder why do some hockey fans have such a snobbish attitude. Do you think NFL and MLB fans care if you just started following a team or you’ve been following them all your life?

But it wasn’t just the fans that got their hockey sticks stuck up their behinds over this whole cover it was also the professional media as well. This past week TSN Toronto was so incensed with the same suggestion that the Blackhawks made hockey matter. They said maybe in the US but not in Canada where hockey always matters.

They actually had a poll who was more important to hockey – Sidney Crosby, Canadian teams or the Chicago Blackhawks. Now I wonder how many hits this poll generated considering this is in Canada. Is it not possible that in Canada, Canadian teams are important; in Pittsburgh Sidney Crosby is important and in Chicago the Blackhawks are important?

Whether it is Canadian teams, Sidney Crosby or the Chicago Blackhawks that generate fan interest the important thing is they are generating interest but I guess that is a concept that is too simple for major media to understand.

Even the NHL’s own network somehow seemed to think that the Anaheim Ducks and their unbelievable record right behind the Blackhawks were being slighted. If Anaheim is being slighted what were the Blackhawks supposed to do not try and win?

All of these objections and notions when you step back are well, silly and short sighted. If the Chicago Blackhawks or any NHL franchise brings increased media awareness of the NHL or interest in the sport that is a good thing and they should be commended for it. If they cause hockey discussions and debates that is great for the sport.

The Blackhawks streak pushed other franchises particularly in the Western Conference to keep up which, is a good thing for the league. Look Columbus now has a streak of their own which is good for the Blue Jackets and their fan base. The Blackhawks are forcing other teams to chase them not only on the ice but in their standard of play which improves the NHL product and brand overall. In the East the same could be said of Pittsburgh.

If stadiums in Phoenix, Nashville, Dallas or even Detroit are filled with Blackhawks fans new or old , this is good for the sustainability of the league. If NHL fans want the NHL to continue then they need to make money period. If that comes from the Blackhawks fan base until these teams get a large enough fan base of their own so be it.

Sports Illustrated may have been wrong touting the Chicago Blackhawks as the Franchise that brought hockey back but they were right about them being must see. Whether you like it or not the Chicago Blackhawks are sexy in the style of hockey they play and are fun to watch. Sports are entertainment, watching the Hawks are you not entertained?

Chicago Blackhawks – Building Blocks

Chicago, IL – We are a fifth of the way through this abbreviated season and the Blackhawks have already shored up their weakness from last year namely their defensive play.

If there was one thing that really hurt the Hawks last year it was an overall neglect of the defensive play which resulted in too many turnovers and the inability to clear pucks that got the Hawks in trouble. That is not the case this year.

As a team the Blackhawks are ranked 3^rd overall in +/- in the league. They are 7^th overall in Blockshots and 3^rd in blockshots on the road where the majority of their games have been played.

And perhaps the biggest turnaround is their penalty kill which last year was a dreadful 27^th and is now 1^st among all teams with an incredible 94.9% kill percentage.

Credit the coaches and players for rectifying this. We are not really sure if it was more time off in the summer or just a greater recognition of the importance of defensive play but the results are showing in a big way. The Hawks are still the only team with no regulation losses in the entire league and their defensive play is a big part of this.

While this takes a team effort the defenseman must be singled out here for leading the charge.

Brent Seabrook is leading the charge with 27 blocked shots which is 3^rd best in the NHL. While Seabrook has not gotten off to a great start for him and some rust is showing, he is making big plays when it counts.  As the season wears on he will be a greater force which is bad news for scorers around the league.

Duncan Keith while his stats don’t indicate it and he and Seabrook have a pedestrian +/-  he is starting to look like the Duncan Keith of old. His stick work is top-notch and has saved many a goals. His awareness of when to join the rush is well, unparalleled on this team.

Niklas Hjalmarsson has really found his game and is coming into his own as a very good all around defenseman.  He probably is the most improved Dman on the team. He is 11^th in league in blocked shots with 24. He also is tied for 4^th in the league in takeaways and is a +6 which is 9^th best among defenseman and 11^th among all skaters. Right now it can be argued he is this teams best defenseman.

Johnny Oduya what a pick up this guy has been. Oduya compliments this team very well. He also is 17^th in the NHL in block shots with 22. He is currently third of all NHL skaters with +9 rating. Like Keith, Oduya just seems to have a knack for knowing when to join the rush and when not.

All of the Hawks defenseman are very good passers and know how to outlet their zones quickly, which is a key to getting out of your end and transitioning to offense.

With the Hawks being so skilled with blocking shots this indicates a fearlessness and a team first attitude which I’m sure their goalies appreciate.

The high takeaway ranking  Hjalmarsson has is indicative of his ability to win battles in the corners of his own zone and his stick work. Working out in Europe has really developed Hjalmarsson into a very well-rounded dman.

One can also see the maturation of Nick Leddy. He is much more confident with the puck and does not turnover the puck in his own zone which is key. Leddy has always been a very good offensive defenseman and this is continuing this year as well. He currently leads all the Hawks defenseman in points with five.

Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank have been solid as well. Both were good pick ups to solidify the back end.

Defense however is not just the defenseman’s responsibility and with the Hawks off to a 8-0-2 the forwards have taken up the defensive tasks as well.  As mentioned previously the Blackhawks are 3^rd in the league overall in +/- with five players in the top 10 of +/- on the road which is where the majority of the Hawks games have been played.

Oduya – 1^st

Toews – 2^nd

Hammer – 5^th

Kane – 7^th

Hossa – 8^th

Goals will come and go but if you have a solid team defense that will keep you in games you increase your chances of winning very tight games. The Hawks are building a defensive wall and so far it is solid. Defense is the foundation of which championships are laid.  If the Hawks continue on this path, this team will be very tough to beat.

Are they perfect no. I still think they give away too many pucks either in their zone or the neutral zone but you must have something to improve on right?

The Penalty kill turnaround has been huge and a shout out to the killers Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik for doing yeomen’s work. It isn’t sexy but  it can win games and is an important component to a hockey game. 

Overall everyone from the front office to coaches to players to fans have to be pleasantly pleased with the defensive play of this team so far. They are not only building blocks to a solid foundation, they are building what could be an impenetrable fortress.