The Blackhawks can rest easy during their week off. They aren’t in first place in the Central Division, but they are right where they should be — comfortably in position to make the playoffs.
For the Hawks, the goal of the regular season is to secure a playoff spot early enough that they don’t have to go all out in the final weeks. Here are five things the Hawks need to do to reach peak hockey in April as they make another run at the Stanley Cup:
1. Improve puck possession
This area got better on the recent road trip but has been inconsistent for much of the season. Entering Monday, the Hawks were 17th in five-on-five Corsi For percentage, which measures a team’s shot attempts compared with its opponents. That ranking is off the Hawks’ pace during each of their Stanley Cup runs: first in 2009-10, fourth in 2013 and second in 2014-15. Sustained pressure and prolonged shifts in the offensive zone have been a Hawks hallmark in the last decade. They have gotten away from that the last two seasons but can improve as their young forwards mature.
2. Make a move for forward depth
But it isn’t necessary to break the bank. General manager Stan Bowman is never shy about trading high draft picks to get a splashy name at the deadline, but while the Hawks could use another forward, they don’t need to land the biggest fish on the trade market. A smaller move, or moves, in which the Hawks acquire players who might fit their style of play (such as the trades for Richard Panik a year ago and for Andrew Desjardins two seasons ago) might be of more value than landing a big-name rental.
3. Give Jonathan Toews time to develop chemistry with linemates
Toews has played great of late alongside Nick Schmaltz and Panik, but even if that combination doesn’t last, coach Joel Quenneville should give Toews and whomever he’s playing with a legitimate chance to jell and not change it up if they struggle right away. This is where the Hawks’ position in the standings can help. Quenneville can afford to give Toews the time he needs even if his line has an off game or two. So far the line with Schmaltz and Panik has had plenty of positive returns and has allowed Marian Hossa to drop down with Marcus Kruger and Dennis Rasmussen to create a formidable defensive line.
4. Limit high-danger scoring opportunities
This is tied into puck possession, considering opponents can’t have scoring chances if the Hawks have the puck, but the Hawks are among the worst teams in the league — 25th, according to naturalstattrick.com — at allowing high-danger chances. It’s a sign they have been relying on their goaltenders too much at times.
5. Keep letting the kids play
Bowman has said a lot of the Hawks’ success is tied into the growth of their young players. Schmaltz, Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman have improved from opening night, while Tanner Kero has muscled his way onto the roster and proved he belongs. Again, the Hawks’ position in the standings is big here because Quenneville can manage his veterans’ ice time while giving more minutes to his younger players, which helps everyone.
chine@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @ChristopherHine
From goals to assists to wins to games played, Blackhawks players have achieved a multitude of career milestones during the 2016-17 season.
(Chris Sosa)
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