How Jordan Greenway has been a good fit with the Blackhawks

If there has been one thing that has been a consistent bright spot on the Chicago Blackhawks, it's the fourth line of Jordan Greenway, Cole Smith and Ryan Greene.

Greenway might be new to the Blackhawks this season, after coming from the Buffalo Sabres with Bowen Byram, but he has been a good fit so far.

How Greenway is making a difference

When the Blackhawks acquired 29 year old Greenway, they envisioned him helping bring a new dynamic to the bottom six, as he is an experienced penalty killer, his forecheck ability, and can bring physicality.

He dealt with some injuries while on the Sabres, but he said before facing the Sabres on Oct. 3, "I feel great. I'm playing with no pain, and it's not something that I've been able to say for a long time. So I'm more than excited with just being able to play, go out there, and not have to deal with this and that. So, it's great."

He's healthy and making a difference.

He scored the Blackhawks' first goal of the season against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 29, and he has been a plus-1, with one point in four games. He also leads the team in shots (9) and hits (8) in 14:09 minutes of ice time.

Also, he has really found a home on that fourth line with Greene and Smith, which has been a successful grouping since training camp.

According to Natural Stat Trick, in 41:49 minutes of ice time together this season, they haven't given up a goal. And the Blackhawks have 17 goals-against in four games.

I spoke with Greenway at practice on Oct. 7 and asked what has been working so well for him: "I think... pretty simple, you know..." He continued about playing the last two years: "Being able to, like, find my legs and my game has been a process, and with Smitty and Greener on the forecheck, we're kind of all in sync right now. We didn't get a lot last game, truthfully. But I think we've been good overall. Yeah, just keeping it simple, playing my type of game."

Which plays into that fourth-line conversation. What goes into that line having clicked so well so fast? Greenway said, "(Being) predictable. We know what everyone's going to do when we're out there, which makes things a lot easier for everyone else. Sometimes, I think, as a team, as a line, whatever, when you get away from that, things can become a little bit more difficult and unexpected, and it just makes for more variables. So we try and keep it pretty simple. I keep using that word, but that's really what's given us success."

"Keeping it simple" is a popular hockey cliché, but it's true. He expounded on that point: "It's so easy to overcomplicate the game and make it harder on yourselves with turnovers and just going off-script a little bit. Smitty, obviously, has been around for a while. [He] plays kind of an older school type of game. As do I. And Greener fits in perfectly. He supports the puck really well. Obviously, has a lot of skill. Skates well, so it's been good."

Greenway's contribution to the Blackhawks' most consistent line has been positive. But he's also made an impact in the room, too.

Head coach Jeff Blashill said about Greenway on Oct. 3, "I love him. I had a chance to coach Jordan a long time ago at the World Championships when he was first coming out of college, I believe. Or he was early in his career, at least, and he's a great person to be around. He's got a great personality. He's fun, but he's also dialed in, and he wants to win, and I would say he's able to kind of hold each guy accountable with a gentle nature, and I think that's a great presence for a guy that has some veteran experience. But he's been a really good player for us, so I'm a big fan."

Greenway is right. He is playing a simple game, but the Blackhawks need it as they try to gain more ground after a 1-3 start. They'll look to build on their home opener win over the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 6.

And as long as Greenway and the fourth line are rolling, expect them to remain significant factors.

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