Expectations for Blackhawks Now Include Execution, Not Just Hard Work
A New Approach
Typically patient and friendly Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson seemed to be fighting to contain annoyance Tuesday when the subject of Lukas Reichel came up.
“He’s got to show and play a certain way,” Davidson said. “[He needs to] have the habit that, if it’s in practice, he shows he deserves to be in the lineup, and if he’s in the lineup, he plays a certain way that we expect [so] that he’ll hold a spot. It’s in his hands.”
A Shift in Mindset
Inside his head, Davidson has surely been frustrated for a while now by the former first-round pick and his struggles to reach his lofty ceiling. Davidson committed a new two-year contract to Reichel even after his massively disappointing 2023-24 season, hoping he could get his career back on track after a summer of mental rejuvenation and physical training, but Reichel’s 2024-25 season is already off to an equally rough start. He struggled during the preseason and failed to make the opening-night lineup, instead sitting out Tuesday against Utah as a healthy scratch.
“The Hawks’ insistence that Reichel must prove he deserves a roster spot in order to receive one represents a different approach than last year, when he was handed the second-line center role right away and then gradually slipped down the depth chart due to his poor performance,” said Davidson.
A Focus on Execution
The Hawks’ new approach is partly because the team doesn’t want to use the NHL as a developmental tool as much as they have in the past. They’ve concentrated their developmental efforts almost entirely in Rockford, whose lineup this year will be loaded with notable prospects (including Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar and eventually Artyom Levshunov).
But it’s also partly because the Hawks intend to demand not just hard work and a high compete level from this year’s NHL roster — the main emphases during the past two years, when they were trotting out one of the worst lineups in the league — but also some semblance of proper execution.
“It’s not just trying,” coach Luke Richardson said. “Everybody’s trying, hopefully. It’s the best league in the world, [so] you have to have execution, or someone else is going to…have that chance to do it.”
Execution Over Expectations
Said Davidson: “We talk a lot about [how] we want the team to compete, but that’s a baseline, right? That needs to happen. Then [I] would like to see further execution, and hopefully just more wins and more productivity with the puck.”
A Reality Check
In terms of talent, the Hawks still lag behind most teams. There’s a reason sportsbooks project them to have the fourth-lowest points total in the league, ahead of only the Sharks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets.
There’s a reason Davidson gave a non-answer Tuesday when asked if he expected the team to be in the playoff race, noting only that “hopefully we’re a team that over-performs…[what] the public discourse has been.”
Conclusion
The Blackhawks’ new focus on execution is a departure from their previous emphasis on hard work and compete level. As the team looks to make a push for the playoffs, they will need to see improvement in both areas. For younger players like Reichel, Korchinski, and Nazar, they will have to demonstrate they can match the level of execution before they usurp any veterans.
FAQs
Q: What is the new approach for the Blackhawks?
A: The team is focusing on execution, not just hard work and compete level.
Q: Why is the team shifting its approach?
A: The Hawks want to demand proper execution from their players, and they intend to use Rockford as a developmental hub rather than relying on the NHL as a developmental tool.
Q: What does this mean for younger players like Reichel, Korchinski, and Nazar?
A: They will have to demonstrate they can match the level of execution before they usurp any veterans.
Q: What are the expectations for the team this season?
A: The Hawks are projected to have the fourth-lowest points total in the league, ahead of only the Sharks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets.
