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Chicago Blackhawks: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

By Tony Gianares

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 27: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates with Brandon Saad #20 and Dylan Strome #17 after scoring a hat-trick against the Minnesota Wild in the third period at the United Center on December 27, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 27: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates with Brandon Saad #20 and Dylan Strome #17 after scoring a hat-trick against the Minnesota Wild in the third period at the United Center on December 27, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – OCTOBER 4: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks tends net against the Philadelphia Flyers during the Global Series Challenge game at O2 Arena on October 4, 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – OCTOBER 4: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks tends net against the Philadelphia Flyers during the Global Series Challenge game at O2 Arena on October 4, 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Corey Crawford

Chicago Blackhawks’ goalie, Corey Crawford, hasn’t exactly gotten off to the start he was hoping for. The Blackhawks have allowed 13 goals and Crawford is responsible for 10 of them. To go with 10 goals against, he also has a 1-2-0 record with a 3.40 GAA and a .900 Sv%.

It’s not all on Crawford though, as the defense continues to work out the kinks. It is still early in the season, but these are not the typical elite numbers we’ve grown to expect from him.

Corey Crawford is coming off of a bounce-back performance against the Edmonton Oilers where he only allowed one goal, so I’m not counting him out yet. Crawford is currently 35 years old and playing on an expiring contract. His future with the Chicago Blackhawks is in the air and this will be a storyline worth monitoring throughout the 2019-20 season.

chicago blackhawks
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 26: Brendan Perlini #11 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on March 26, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Brendan Perlini

Brendan Perlini has had a slow start to the 2019-20 season and that’s mainly because he has only played in one game. Jeremy Colliton has been scratching Perlini regularly to start the season. You would think a 23-year-old former first-round pick with the potential to score 20+ goals would be seeing more ice time, but that is not the case here.

This is such a confusing situation. Is Perlini not good enough? Does he not fit Colliton’s schemes? Is it a work ethic and focus issue?

These are all valid questions that many Chicago Blackhawks’ fans have when it comes to Brendan Perlini. He did have a brilliant stretch last March when he netted a hat trick against his former team, the Arizona Coyotes, and earned 2nd Star of the Week honors.

Maybe this issue gets solved with more ice time and a steady role. Even when Brendan Perlini was playing regularly last season, he was finding himself bouncing between lines.

This most likely harmed his psyche, as he was kind of set up to fail by Colliton. I would like to see what happens when he’s given the opportunity to succeed on a line where he can showcase his offensive abilities.

Final Thoughts

I’d like to extend an honorable mention to Alexander Nylander. Although he was scratched in one game, he didn’t let it get him down. In 3 games played, Nylander has 2 points (2G) with a -1 ± rating.

While I’m not the biggest fan, I do see him taking advantage of the ice time he has been given. On Monday against the Oilers, Alexander Nylander made a great, heads up defensive play where he forced a Connor McDavid turnover and found twine.

https://twitter.com/Certified_TonyG/status/1183936048809811969

The potential is there with Nylander, he just has to find the consistency to be an everyday player who can eat up a lot of ice time. Even with a 1-2-1 record, the Chicago Blackhawks are still in a great position to have a strong season.

Kirby Dach will be lacing up his skates with the Blackhawks soon and there are other promising prospects in the system like Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin, Philipp Kurashev, Evan Barratt, and more who will be pushing for ice time in the NHL in the very near future.

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