The Chicago Blackhawks’ power play is 29th in the NHL. Last season, they were 19th. So isn’t it time to get a new assistant coach?
The Chicago Blackhawks‘ power play and their offense, in general, is the aspect of their game dragging them down most this season. As a result, the Blackhawks are out of a playoff spot for the first time in a long time. And a lot of that can be laid at the feet of assistant coach Kevin Dineen, whose responsibilities include coaching the power play.
If the Blackhawks had just a league-average power play, they would have several more wins. With Chicago’s days as a dynasty likely over, maybe it’s time for Dineen and Chicago to part ways.
What’s Wrong with the Power Play
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There’s a lot wrong with the Chicago Blackhawks’ power play. They pass too often along the perimeter and are unable to get the puck inside the penalty kill to high-danger areas.
The Blackhawks have lacked an excellent net-front presence since they traded Andrew Shaw. And the they take far too many blockable shots from the point, shots that don’t create rebounds.
Much of this is because of the system the Blackhawks play. It’s stagnant, slow, and doesn’t create natural zone entries. The lack of the power play killed them in the playoffs in each of the past two postseasons. Now it’s killing them in the regular season.
The Blackhawks are 17th in Corsi For percentage on the power play this season. They’re 16th in terms of shot-share, 17th in goals for percentage, 22nd in scoring chance percentage, last in high-danger percentage. They have the 25th most high-danger looks in the NHL and have allowed the most high-danger chances to opposing penalty kills. The point is, all possession metrics point to the Blackhawks power play being abysmal.
Lastly, goals themselves. The Chicago Blackhawks are 23rd in the league with 21. In the month of December, the Blackhawks got four goals in 53 opportunities. Without the game against the Edmonton Oilers, when the Blackhawks went 2-for-3, they were 2-for-50. A four percent success rate. I have no idea how Dineen is still employed.
Potential Replacements
Should Dineen be removed, and he should be, otherwise Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman’s own jobs should be in danger, there are a few viable candidates to take over the Blackhawks power play. All of them have experience and have run successful power plays in the past.
The first is Dan Bylsma. Yes, he couldn’t turn around Buffalo, but neither could his replacement. Bylsma wasn’t given the most successful roster in the league. When he was, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he continually made the playoffs.
His last season in Pittsburgh, in the 2013-14 season, the Penguins were second in power play goals. They were second in shot-share and seventh in high-danger chance percentage. A lot better than the Blackhawks. Plus, he’s been a head coach and should have learned some things from his experience. Having Quenneville looking over his shoulder isn’t a bad thing right now.
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Another candidate is former Philadelphia Flyers power play coach Joey Mullen. Yes, the Flyers were only 14th best in the league last season, but they haven’t improved with a new coach. The Blackhawks roster should be better than Philadelphia’s. Besides, the two previous years, the Flyers were third and 11th. Mullen has experience running a successful power play. He can turn the Hawks around.
The Minors
There’s also coaches in the minors who can run successful power plays that fit better with the new game that’s become faster and more mobile. They include Todd Gill of the Owen Sound Attack (who actually played for the Blackhawks) and John Gruden of the Hamilton Bulldogs. There’s Emanuel Viveiros of the Swift Current Broncos and Joel Bouchard of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
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The point is, there are multiple coaches available who can do Dineen’s job better than he can. Getting a decent power play will help turn around the Blackhawks’ season. Get some confidence back in the offense, and they can start getting more than two goals per game. Get scoring back, and it helps the defense as well. Everything the Chicago Blackhawks need to do starts with a better power play.