Chicago Blackhawks Begin Refining Jeff Blashill's Defense System as They Continue to Improve
The Chicago Blackhawks are on the cusp of a breakthrough in their defensive system, one that could propel them into the top-tier of NHL defenses. The team has made significant strides under coach Jeff Blashill, who has brought with him an aggressive and efficient defensive strategy.
One key aspect of this system is the encouragement of defensemen to follow their marks and pressure the puck toward the perimeter of the defensive zone, where it can be more easily killed off quickly. This approach puts a premium on effective boxing out by both forwards and defensemen, as there will be less team support available in the interior of the zone and around the net.
The Blackhawks have shown an ability to execute this system well, ranking 12th in goals allowed per minute during five-on-five play despite relying heavily on the excellent goaltending of Spencer Knight. In terms of expected goals allowed, they rank 21st, a significant improvement over their previous seasons. Their analytics are also trending upward.
Now that the basics have been established, Blashill has begun to drill in more advanced details of his system. The team is focusing on cutting off seams passes and rimming pucks around the boards before they reach the opposite corner of the zone. This requires defensemen to be proactive in blocking lanes for seam passes and wingers to pressure opposing defensemen at the point.
To achieve this, Hawks players have had to learn how to anticipate and react quickly to situations on the ice. As forward Colton Dach noted, "You have to find where the puck is and get your body or stick in the lane where it makes him uncomfortable to shoot." Similarly, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk explained that "you have to have a good angle" when trying to cut off pucks.
The ultimate goal of this system is to reduce the number of shots on net while still maintaining the flow of play. By doing so, the Blackhawks can create more space for their speedy forwards to operate and take advantage of the team's overall skillset. However, achieving complete mastery of Blashill's defense system will likely require continued refinement and practice.
For now, it seems that the Hawks are on a path toward growth and improvement behind Blashill's guidance. As Dach noted, "You can't teach every little detail in a system right away." The team's focus on repetition, practice, and gradual learning has been instrumental in their recent success.
The Chicago Blackhawks are on the cusp of a breakthrough in their defensive system, one that could propel them into the top-tier of NHL defenses. The team has made significant strides under coach Jeff Blashill, who has brought with him an aggressive and efficient defensive strategy.
One key aspect of this system is the encouragement of defensemen to follow their marks and pressure the puck toward the perimeter of the defensive zone, where it can be more easily killed off quickly. This approach puts a premium on effective boxing out by both forwards and defensemen, as there will be less team support available in the interior of the zone and around the net.
The Blackhawks have shown an ability to execute this system well, ranking 12th in goals allowed per minute during five-on-five play despite relying heavily on the excellent goaltending of Spencer Knight. In terms of expected goals allowed, they rank 21st, a significant improvement over their previous seasons. Their analytics are also trending upward.
Now that the basics have been established, Blashill has begun to drill in more advanced details of his system. The team is focusing on cutting off seams passes and rimming pucks around the boards before they reach the opposite corner of the zone. This requires defensemen to be proactive in blocking lanes for seam passes and wingers to pressure opposing defensemen at the point.
To achieve this, Hawks players have had to learn how to anticipate and react quickly to situations on the ice. As forward Colton Dach noted, "You have to find where the puck is and get your body or stick in the lane where it makes him uncomfortable to shoot." Similarly, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk explained that "you have to have a good angle" when trying to cut off pucks.
The ultimate goal of this system is to reduce the number of shots on net while still maintaining the flow of play. By doing so, the Blackhawks can create more space for their speedy forwards to operate and take advantage of the team's overall skillset. However, achieving complete mastery of Blashill's defense system will likely require continued refinement and practice.
For now, it seems that the Hawks are on a path toward growth and improvement behind Blashill's guidance. As Dach noted, "You can't teach every little detail in a system right away." The team's focus on repetition, practice, and gradual learning has been instrumental in their recent success.