{"id":556001,"date":"2026-03-31T10:50:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/556001\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T10:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:50:11","slug":"jeff-blashill-is-right-to-use-blackhawks-final-games-for-experimentation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/556001\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Blashill is right to use Blackhawks’ final games for experimentation"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was strange to see some Blackhawks<\/a> fans criticizing coach Jeff Blashill on Sunday for experimenting with the team\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

In fact, that\u2019s exactly what Blashill should be doing.<\/p>\n

The final weeks of this season are essentially a trial run for the Hawks\u2019 young core, most of which has \u2014 at long last \u2014 reached the NHL and taken over the roster.<\/p>\n

Come next season, especially when one last crucial piece in Roman Kantserov arrives, expectations will begin to rise. It will be time for the Hawks\u2019 ascension to begin in earnest.<\/p>\n

The final weeks of this season, however, are the perfect time for experimentation. The kids are all present, but the Hawks are miles out of the playoff race. Losing isn\u2019t worth much heartache, considering it will help the organization harvest one more top-five draft pick for this rebuild.<\/p>\n

To make a pottery analogy, the clay is already on the wheel, but the kiln hasn\u2019t begun to heat yet. Blashill is free to try to mold any type of bowl he likes; there will be no consequences if it falls apart in his hands.<\/p>\n

Will Anton Frondell succeed as a center, rather than a wing, in the NHL? Nobody knows, including Blashill. The odds are perhaps against it. But why not find out?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hasn\u2019t played center all year, so it\u2019s probably not the easiest position to put him in \u2014 I recognize that,\u201d Blashill said Sunday. \u201cBut he\u2019s played center a lot in his life, and he\u2019s got traits to be a really good 200-foot winning center. And I would like to get a look at it this year rather than at the beginning of next year, so that if that\u2019s the way we go, we can hit the ground running.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to put a lot [of responsibilities] on his shoulders, and it might affect his game a little bit until he gets really comfortable. But I want to look at it anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will a five-forward power play quarterbacked by Connor Bedard<\/a> work? Nobody knows, including Blashill \u2014 but that\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easier to get the puck in [Bedard\u2019s] hands up top than it is on the flank,\u201d Blashill said. \u201cHe\u2019s talked about wanting that opportunity to do it. He\u2019s obviously a really smart player. He\u2019s got good deception. We thought, \u2018Let\u2019s give it a try and see it.\u2019 It\u2019s something we\u2019ve talked about through the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frondell and the power play turned out to be two of the Hawks\u2019 brighter spots in their dramatic loss Sunday<\/a> against the Devils.<\/p>\n

The Swedish rookie earned two assists and has four points in his first four NHL games. His ability to force turnovers and create havoc around opponents\u2019 net has stood out in particular.<\/p>\n

He did get caught in no man\u2019s land as the \u201cF3\u201d (third forward) on the failed forecheck that directly preceded Jack Hughes\u2019 game-winning goal. But those kinds of lessons are better learned now than in October.<\/p>\n

The power play, meanwhile, generated one goal \u2014 its first in a nine-game span \u2014 and a number of dangerous looks on three opportunities.<\/p>\n

Bedard looked comfortable up top, and his accurate passing was effective from there. Any improvement is welcome; the power play ranks last in the NHL since Jan. 11 with a 9.5% conversion rate.<\/p>\n

Safe to say, those two ideas deserve runways to accumulate larger samples of data, as do any other half-reasonable ideas the coaching staff can brainstorm.<\/p>\n

On a related note, it would be swell to see prospect goalie Drew Commesso make another NHL start or two down the stretch, if he is to compete with Arvid Soderblom for the full-time backup role in camp next fall.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Connor<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Bedard has taken a sizable step forward in his third NHL season, partly thanks to his increased speed but more so because he can \u201cout-think people.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Blackhawks<\/p>\n

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Spencer Knight\u2019s strong start Sunday wasn\u2019t enough to carry the Hawks, who lost 5-3 in the finale of a physically and emotionally tiring four-game road trip.<\/p>\n

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\"Artyom<\/p>\n

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Levshunov suffered the injury Tuesday against the Islanders and played through it for two games, but he\u2019s out of the lineup starting Sunday against the Devils.<\/p>\n

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