Chicago Blackhawks: 3 Things They Must Improve
The Chicago Blackhawks are a team with a lot of potential. However, they need to start playing to their strengths if they want a better season.
It’s been a given for a few teams over the past seasons that they would make the playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks are one of those teams.
However, this season started out slow for them. They seemed de-energized. They were sloppy in places they should be strong in. And in general, they didn’t look like the Blackhawks their fan base was used to.
After a disappointing playoff outing last season, it was expected that they would come out flying. That’s why this came as a shock to many.
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Recently, though, they seem to have turned things around in their favor. There are some things they’ll have to continue doing and some they’ll have to start. Here are three.
1. Stronger Net Presence
In their 10-1 defeat of the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the season, there’s no doubt they figured out the true meaning of crashing the net. However, one game does not a season make.
They need to remember that the strongest part of their roster is their offense. Players such as Patrick Kane, Alex Debrincat, Jonathan Toews, and Artem Anisimov are all stellar examples of players the team can rely on.
There’s no need for them to be afraid of driving hard to the net. The problem for them, it seems, is that they tend to take shots from further out. This might be due to the fact that their dump and chase needs work, but once they figure this out, they’ll be a true threat once again.
2. Keeping Seabrook’s Numbers Low
The 32-year-old Brent Seabrook has been a dominant force for Chicago for the past number of seasons. However, as is the case with every NHL player, time has a way of slowing them down. This isn’t to say that he’s become a bad player, but it does mean he needs his rest after all those playoff games his body has endured.
32 isn’t an old age in the NHL. But with the number of games he’s played in both the regular season and playoffs, having fewer minutes will not only help him improve but the team as a whole. It will help in possession statistics in this league of high Corsi percentages. In addition, it’ll allow him more time in every zone.
3. Consistency in Cody Franson’s New Role
Right-handed defenseman Franzoni has had, to this point, no trouble adapting to his new role on the left side. Only time will tell how consistent he can be in this position, though.
In his first game playing on the left, he scored a goal and played a well-rounded game overall. Since then, though, things have been up and down for him. He seems a bit uncomfortable moving the puck into the offensive zones at times.
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Despite some struggles, with each game, he appears to be simplifying things and getting back to his game. Hopefully, for the Blackhawks, he will continue to get better with time. And eventually, the team overall will start to look like their old selves.