As Blackhawks Dial Up Youth Movement, Their Losses at Least Have Developmental Value
A New Era of Learning
Earlier this season, when the Blackhawks were losing most games and deploying one of the oldest rosters in the NHL, the losses were not only unsatisfying for fans but also meaningless to the team’s long-term plans.
Now that the Hawks have turned over their roster to youth — a process that is expected to continue through April — they’re still losing most games, but at least their kids are gaining experience riding the waves.
A Lesson in Resilience
That was the case yet again in the Hawks’ 4-2 loss Sunday to the Wild. It was an awful performance through two periods. The Hawks generated only five shots on goal before racking up 15 in the third and nearly rallying back from a 3-0 deficit.
A few months ago, a lifeless outing like that would’ve been nothing but depressing. At this point, however, one can look at it from a glass-half-full perspective: The more things the team does wrong, the more things their young players can learn from.
Coaching and Guidance
“[They] have to learn that this league is tough,” interim coach Anders Sorensen said. “It’s a hard league to play in, especially as a young player. You have to find your opportunities to create offense. But you also have to find your shifts where you have to realize: There’s not much going on; I just have to play [it safe].
“Especially as a D-man, you have to advance pucks, keep it efficient that way and obviously defend hard. Sometimes [for] young players, that can be a learning lesson. Today, it was for a lot of them.”
Mentorship and Guidance
Those lessons aren’t coming solely from Sorensen, either. For example, rookie forward Frank Nazar has been receiving advice about determining the right times to take risks — and the right times to avoid them — from veteran center Jason Dickinson for weeks.
“[We’ve talked about] little things, about situational awareness [based on] time of the game, period or shift,” Dickinson said. “[We’ve talked about] when to make a certain play or a certain read because you know certain guys on the ice are tired, and you’ve got to help them out.”
The Future is Now
The latest youthful addition to the Hawks’ roster is Landon Slaggert, who was called up Sunday to fill Taylor Hall’s spot. If Slaggert plays Tuesday at the Lightning, it’s possible nine of the Hawks’ 18 skaters will be 23 or younger: Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, Lukas Reichel, Nolan Allan, Del Mastro, Nazar, Colton Dach, Louis Crevier, and Slaggert.
In some games in October, that number was as low as three.
In the Hawks’ 4-3 overtime loss Friday against the Lightning, all three goals were scored by rookies — Dach, Nazar, and Crevier — and young goalie Arvid Soderblom had 36 saves.
A game like that, despite the result on the scoreboard, almost certainly benefits the organization’s long-term future more than, say, the 4-2 win in their home opener against the Sharks in October, when Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, Nick Foligno, and Dickinson were the scorers and Petr Mrazek tended goal.
Conclusion
The Blackhawks’ youth movement may not be yielding wins in the short term, but it’s providing valuable experience for their young players. As they continue to develop, the team’s future looks brighter than ever.
FAQs
* What is the current state of the Blackhawks’ roster?
The team has turned over its roster to youth, with a focus on developing their young players.
* How many of the Blackhawks’ skaters are 23 or younger?
It’s possible that nine of the team’s 18 skaters could be 23 or younger, including players like Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, Lukas Reichel, Nolan Allan, Del Mastro, Nazar, Colton Dach, Louis Crevier, and Landon Slaggert.
* What is the team’s outlook for the future?
The team’s long-term future looks brighter than ever, as their young players continue to develop and gain experience.
