How the Blackhawks plan to improve their defense without changing their systems

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard After a teamwide reckoning this past weekend, the Blackhawks elected not to overhaul their systems — or even make any major tweaks — but to bear down on numerous points of emphasis within those systems. At practice Monday, they spent the first half working on defensive-zone coverage. They then stopped for a rare mid-practice meeting before returning to the ice to work on tracking in transition. Considering how inept the Hawks have looked at times, fans might be confused about why they wouldn’t burn everything and start from scratch. But coach Jeff Blashill, whose job security was confirmed by team sources Sunday, doesn’t think such a rash decision would pay off Thursday against the Sabres. ‘‘If you make full-scale changes to what you do, you could walk on the ice Thursday and guys [could] be super-hesitant and not know what they’re doing,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘And that’s the worst possible situation.’’ Blashill added players indicated ‘‘full belief in the systems’’ during team meetings Sunday. Everyone understands the Hawks must allow fewer scoring chances than they have so far, however. ‘‘Just [as] a big blanket statement, we’ve got to give up less chances,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘The early part of the year, we didn’t create much and we gave up a lot. As the year went along, we started creating more, but we still gave up too many.’’ Blashill later said the Hawks have allowed the most two-on-one rushes in the league ‘‘by a lot,’’ which certainly matches with the eye test. Many of those rushes are caused by players making mistakes within the Hawks’ aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck , which Blashill admitted he would love one day to resemble the Hurricanes’ renowned relentless approach. Within that system, defensemen are encouraged to step up along the walls in the neutral zone. But the Hawks emphasized Monday they need to pick and choose when to do that instead of doing it automatically every time. ‘‘On strong-side plays and on goalie-touch plays, [they need to] be way more cautious and aware of whether the ‘F3’ is there or not,’’ Blashill said. The F3s (high forwards) need to be more responsible, too. In particular, they need to stick to the middle of the ice instead of veering toward the wall. If they veer and the near defenseman steps up, that creates a situation primed for a two-on-one rush against. ‘‘We want to be a pressure team, but you can’t chase pressure,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘Sometimes you have to read those situations and live another day.’’ An example of how not to forecheck from Saturday: Blackhawks have no F3 yet D Ian Cole steps up in the neutral zone anyway, leading to a 2-on-1 goal against pic.twitter.com/q95ZZrD1ZF — Ben Pope’s Video Clips (@BenPopeCSTclips) November 9, 2026 Decision-making by defensemen in the defensive zone was another focus Monday, in addition to basic defensive fundamentals such as going ‘‘stick-on puck, body-on-body’’ and staying on the goal side of opponents. The Hawks encourage defensemen to jump out from the front of the net toward the boards if they can kill a play by doing so, but they need to rein in how often that happens. ‘‘[The message was], ‘Strike when you can in the ‘D’-zone, but get to your post,’ ’’ defenseman Wyatt Kaiser said. ‘‘We [need to] be a little more cerebral, not just hanging on guys. Get to them, get back. If you can’t get to them, let the center get to them. We don’t need to be spreading out.’’ Blashill said the defensemen must do ‘‘a better job of owning both posts,’’ which involves ‘‘not getting tied up’’ with box-outs or going to the wrong post altogether. ‘‘Are you going to see a drastic difference next game? It’s probably not going to look that different, to be honest,’’ Kaiser said. ‘‘Maybe we win a few more battles or get a few blocked shots or a few more shots come in and the ‘D’ are there and nothing happens. ‘‘We’re going to do what we do and do it a little bit better.’’ SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard Ben Pope Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Blackhawks reporter Next Up In Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks' problems start with GM Kyle Davidson Blackhawks' first change is at backup goalie: Drew Commesso replaces Arvid Soderblom Blackhawks will make adjustments but no coaching changes after terrible start After Blackhawks' atrocious 9-2 loss, pressure mounting on Kyle Davidson to make changes New Blackhawks enforcer Dillon Boucher followed improbable route to NHL: 'I thought about quitting' Roman Kantserov not letting Blackhawks' losing ways weigh him down