Blackhawks: Carl Soderberg could be the best option to center the top line

Going into the third period last night, Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton juggled the lines. I think that the team will have to shake things up in the next few weeks if they are going to get through the month of March. One move I would like to see is Soderberg on the top line.

I will write up something on the Blackhawks lines in the next few days, but before going in-depth on the entire lineup, I want to start with one player. Carl Soderberg might be the best center on this team currently playing. While Soderberg is not the youngest or fastest players on this team, he is defensively sound in his own end and can play up and down the ice.

Suter has been great with Kane, but things are not working with that top line right now. Suter has just two points in his last five games. Considering he is centering two of the NHL’s top players, that should be a little higher.

The Blackhawks could give Soderberg an option between DeBrincat and Kane for the time being. While the team is going to want to have Dach at center sometime in the future when he returns, in the meantime, Soderberg would be a safe bet.

The Chicago Blackhawks could recreate a past line with Soderberg center Kane and DeBrincat.

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The Panarin – Anisimov – Kane line was fun to watch in Chicago. With Kane and DeBrincat, there has been an electric chemistry this season. There is no reason for the team to break those two up. Putting Soderberg on the top line would give them that base that Anisimov provided.

Soderberg would be tasked with winning faceoffs and getting in front of the net in the offensive zone; both of these tasks are things he can do. While I like Suter, I do not think he is as strong as Soderberg is in his own end, plus then Suter can go on the second or third line and spread the wealth with offensive scoring there.

Whether or not Soderberg gets a crack on the top line, after last night’s loss, the Blackhawks are going to have to change some things up very quickly. Otherwise, this losing streak is only going to get longer.