The Blackhawks enter the NHL’s three-day holiday break last in the league standings, but they’re a respectable 4-5-0 since interim coach Anders Sorensen replaced Luke Richardson.
Sorensen’s system changes — increasing the aggressiveness of the Hawks’ forecheck, encouraging defensemen to jump into the offensive zone more and condensing the Hawks’ defensive-zone coverage while adding extra support in puck battles — immediately changed the appearance of the team.
His direct coaching and fresh perspective has helped a lot of guys, but a few have conversely struggled to adjust to the changes. Here’s an analysis of the Hawks’ most- and least-improved players under Sorensen.
Thriving: Tyler Bertuzzi
Bertuzzi was a uniquely awful fit in Richardson’s system. The Hawks were rarely able to sustain enough offensive-zone possession time to let him get set up in the crease, where he’s most effective.
The Hawks’ longest-term free-agent signing looks much more like himself now, scoring his characteristic ugly goals during five-on-five play in addition to on the power play. He has five goals and two assists in nine games since the coaching change.
Taylor Hall, Bertuzzi’s opposite winger for weeks now, has also produced nicely (two goals and six assists) since the change.
Improving: Connor Bedard
Sorensen arrived in Chicago preaching the importance of getting Bedard the puck in motion. Bedard doesn’t look quite like Jack Hughes yet, but he has improved.
He has four goals and seven assists (including five primary assists) since the coaching change. His playmaking is back to being elite, but he still needs to work on getting to more dangerous areas to unleash shots. He scored Monday against the Wild by doing exactly that.
Struggling: Philipp Kurashev
Sorensen’s preexisting familiarity with Kurashev and Lukas Reichel from their Rockford days seemed like it might benefit both of them, but it hasn’t so far.
Sorensen initially tried to reignite Kurashev’s chemistry with Bedard, but when that didn’t work, he booted Kurashev out of the lineup entirely — with good reason. The 25-year-old forward is stuck on just five points this season after racking up 54 last season. This looks like a full-fledged mid-career crisis.
Interim coach Anders Sorensen’s arrival hasn’t brought good news for Philipp Kurashev (background).
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Thriving: Jason Dickinson’s line
Dickinson’s growth from bottom-six journeyman to dark horse Selke Trophy contender was one of the greatest successes of Richardson’s tenure, and Dickinson has continued to effectively center the Hawks’ stellar checking line under Sorensen.
Sorensen’s decision to slot Ilya Mikheyev and Teuvo Teravainen on Dickinson’s wings has proved brilliant, though. The two Europeans have found instant chemistry and unlocked a ton of offense (combining for six goals and 10 assists over the last five games) in addition to their defensive duties.
Improving: Young defensemen
Alex Vlasic has continued his evolution into a No. 1 defenseman, Nolan Allan has leveled up from steady third-pairing defenseman to impactful second-pairing defenseman and Kevin Korchinski has transitioned smoothly back into the NHL under Sorensen’s watch.
Allan has been a very bright spot in particular. In addition to burying his long-awaited first NHL goal, the 21-year-old also touts a 55.0% five-on-five scoring-chance ratio under Sorensen (compared to 36.2% under Richardson).
Hawks defensemen have collectively averaged 2.4 scoring chances per 60 minutes under Sorensen, up from 1.9 under Richardson, and that statistic actually understates how much more involved offensively they are now.
Struggling: T.J. Brodie
Brodie’s season has followed the opposite trajectory of the Hawks overall. He struggled mightily in October (while the team was fine), found his footing in November (while the team fell apart) and has struggled again in December.
He has been open about the fact that adjusting to new systems is challenging for him, and Sorensen’s arrival has done him no favors in that regard. It’s interesting, however, that Sorensen has kept Brodie in the lineup every game so far, scratching Wyatt Kaiser and/or Louis Crevier instead.
Latest on the Blackhawks
Blackhawks
Ilya Mikheyev's scoring explosion for Blackhawks powered by back-to-normal speed
Nearly two years after ACL surgery, Mikheyev’s signature skating abilities have gradually returned. That, combined with Anders Sorensen’s system changes and his chemistry with Teuvo Teravainen, has helped Mikheyev find his niche with the Hawks.
By Ben Pope
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
Blackhawks
Blackhawks leave Minnesota empty-handed again entering holiday break
The Hawks’ 4-3 loss to the Wild on Monday — on the eve of the NHL’s three-day break — marked their eighth straight defeat in St. Paul.
By Ben Pope
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
Blackhawks
The time has come for Blackhawks to move Lukas Reichel off the fourth line
Reichel enjoyed two relatively successful months as the fourth-line center, but that success has faded in recent weeks. The Hawks would be wise to give him a bigger opportunity after the holiday break.
By Ben Pope
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]