This Blackhawks Team has to Get Stronger to Address Size Concerns

Looking at the stats, the Blackhawks are average in the league height-wise. What they need to do is add strength and girth to the lineup.

This isn’t as hard of a problem to solve by this point for the Blackhawks as they are actually quite average in the height department. What they need to do, namely, what Paul Goodman needs to do, is get this team stronger.

They were pushed around more often than not this season, starting a line-up that is the lightest in the league. Tampa Bay bullied them in their meetings, the Florida Panthers also took advantage of their lack of physicality and strength. The Blackhawks have displayed a relentless style that should work out for them next season, but they have to get stronger in order to make it work. On top of this, the defense was pushed around as well. The young guys were overpowered in board battles constantly. Simply put, the Blackhawks have to bulk up.

Adam Gaudette is 6’1″, 170 and is focused on bulking up in the offseason. 5’11” Brandon Hagel should do the same by adding a few pounds of muscle to his 174 lbs frame.  Same with Philipp Kurashev, Adam Boqvist, Wyatt Kalynuk… Pretty much the entire roster other than Patrick Kane and Alex Debrincat.

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Each one of these players are not short. Kurashev is about 6 foot tall, as is Adam Boqvist (approximately) while Kalynuk is 6’1″. The roster isn’t full of short players, their height is at the league average. As long as the rookies add bulk, their effectiveness will skyrocket.

The Blackhawks are, on average, 6’1″ and 191 lbs compared to the league average of ~197 lbs. It’s possible that 235 lbs Nikita Zadorov and 220 lbs Brent Seabrook are a couple outliers that increased their number. The starting lineup is likely much lighter than the listed 191 lbs. If the Blackhawks want to stand up to the bigger, stronger Central division next season, they have to bulk up. The cheapest option for the Blackhawks to address their size concerns is to get the players they already have stronger, and drafting with a bigger, stronger blueprint in mind.

As far as size goes, it is both height and weight. It is obvious, based on their roster, that they are actually quite a tall team. All they need to do in order to solve their problem is spend the offseason bulking up. Adding a free agent or two will definitely help, but this team has to focus on bulking up in order to succeed. The Hawks are already a fast, dangerous team offensively. If they add bulk and become physically difficult to play against on defense as well? Watch out.