Chicago Blackhawks Players Preview: Joey Anderson will have to earn ice time

It was not until late November of 2023 that Joey Anderson ogt on the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks. Once he got the ice time, he did everything he could to earn his minutes.

Typically skating on the third line, Anderson posted a career-high in goals and assists last season. While scoring five goals is not something to write home about, he did reach double digits in assists with 12.

He developed strong chemistry with Jason Dickinson and that helped Jason set a career-high in goals with 22.

Ice time will be hard to come by for Anderson this season.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson's offseason moves were aimed at raising the standards for the team on the ice. It also hopefully helps the Hawks' offensive attack become more potent.

To show how poor the Hawks' offense was last season, Anderson got some time on the second line. While he skated hard to get a look at being a top-six forward, his game is more suited to the lower lines.

Playing hard and dishing out double-digit assists earned him a two-year contract extension. Davidson trading for Ilya Mikheyev and adding veterans Craig Smith and Pat Maroon means Anderson will have to battle to become a regular on the third or fourth line.

Mix in Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen signing up to join the Blackhawks and the return of Taylor Hall from IR and that pushes Nick Foligno and Dickinson into permanent third liners (unless there is an injury). Finally, Lukas Reichel is being given another shot to show he can go from stud prospect to at least a solid NHL player. He will likely be given that shot on the bottom two lines.

Anderson is not projected to be a regular on the bottom lines because of those factors. Plus, this crowded forward group also projects to cause Anderson to have a drop off from last season.

He will have to show his value on the defensive end and the penalty kill to force Smith or Maroon into the healthy scratch designation.

Anderson might have to fend off youngsters Landon Slaggert and Cole Guttman to make the opening night roster.

Anderson is 26 and has likely already reached his ceiling, whereas Slaggert and Guttman still have higher ceilings and barely scratching the surface of their talents.

That is why there is thinking those two can push Anderson off the roster if they have a more impressive preseason.

However, having higher projections to do more in the NHL will be why Davidson and head coach Luke Richardson will probably prefer to have Anderson sit in the press box on game night. That way Slaggert and Guttman can get regular ice time in Rockford to continue to refine their games.

If he does lose out on a regular spot on the fourth line, Anderson is the best option to be the extra forward.

Slaggert and Guttman should refine their games with the IceHogs. Guttman has goal-scoring capabilities that should not be wasted on the fourth line. Slaggert can be a second-liner player who can be a jack-of-all-trades forward that is needed on the top six. You need a guy like Slaggert who is willing to battle for the puck and start a rush.

The benefit of having Joey as the extra forward is Anderson can play a professional game if there is a short-term injury to anyone on the bottom two lines. You know he will give his best effort every night.

Anderson going from being a lineup regular to clawing his way onto the ice is actually a good thing. He is a grinder and a player you want to root for.

However, his game is severely limited and the Hawks had too many of those players last season. If Davidson wanted to raise the standards, then the talent had to be upgraded to where playing time is not guaranteed for a player like Anderson.