Blackhawks Coach Blashill Balances Defensemen's Workloads with Unconventional Lineups
Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill has been experimenting with a non-traditional defensive lineup, featuring seven defensemen and 11 forwards, in order to distribute ice time more evenly among his players. This approach is reminiscent of MLB managers who carefully balance player workloads to prevent fatigue.
Blashill's strategy is particularly beneficial for the Hawks' young defensemen, as he aims to avoid overworking their physicality and allowing them to conserve energy throughout the season. The coach has been successful in limiting ice time for key players like Alex Vlasic and Connor Murphy, who have dealt with fatigue issues in previous seasons.
The seven-defenseman lineup also allows Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov to focus on special teams without worrying about penalty killing, while Connor Murphy and Louis Crevier can concentrate on their respective roles. This setup is well-suited for the Hawks' roster, which features five defensemen aged 24 or younger.
Blashill's approach has also enabled him to double-shift forward Connor Bedard in different spots, making it harder for opponents to consistently match their best defensive players against Bedard. However, the coach must be mindful of Bedard's increased ice time this season and ensure that his workload remains reasonable.
In an interview with assistant coach Anders Sorensen, Blashill acknowledged that he has done a decent job managing the forwards' ice time, but noted that there were instances where it got away from him. He emphasized the importance of limiting top players to 20-21 minutes per game, rather than allowing them to play excessive amounts of time.
Overall, Blashill's innovative approach to defensive lineup management has yielded positive results for the Hawks, and his attention to player workload will be crucial in maintaining the team's competitiveness throughout the season.
Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill has been experimenting with a non-traditional defensive lineup, featuring seven defensemen and 11 forwards, in order to distribute ice time more evenly among his players. This approach is reminiscent of MLB managers who carefully balance player workloads to prevent fatigue.
Blashill's strategy is particularly beneficial for the Hawks' young defensemen, as he aims to avoid overworking their physicality and allowing them to conserve energy throughout the season. The coach has been successful in limiting ice time for key players like Alex Vlasic and Connor Murphy, who have dealt with fatigue issues in previous seasons.
The seven-defenseman lineup also allows Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov to focus on special teams without worrying about penalty killing, while Connor Murphy and Louis Crevier can concentrate on their respective roles. This setup is well-suited for the Hawks' roster, which features five defensemen aged 24 or younger.
Blashill's approach has also enabled him to double-shift forward Connor Bedard in different spots, making it harder for opponents to consistently match their best defensive players against Bedard. However, the coach must be mindful of Bedard's increased ice time this season and ensure that his workload remains reasonable.
In an interview with assistant coach Anders Sorensen, Blashill acknowledged that he has done a decent job managing the forwards' ice time, but noted that there were instances where it got away from him. He emphasized the importance of limiting top players to 20-21 minutes per game, rather than allowing them to play excessive amounts of time.
Overall, Blashill's innovative approach to defensive lineup management has yielded positive results for the Hawks, and his attention to player workload will be crucial in maintaining the team's competitiveness throughout the season.
ice time management can make or break a team, and this new lineup setup seems like a smart move... i mean its definitely working for the young guys 
but at the same time gotta keep an eye on players like bedard, dont wanna see him get burned out mid season 
what do u think about coach blashills strategy? 
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it's like he's actually trying to help his players not burn out or get hurt 
and it makes total sense because we all know how tired the nhl playoffs can be. I personally love how he's giving sam rinzel and artyom levshunov a chance to focus on special teams without penalty killing, i mean who doesn't love a good power play? 
anyway blashill says he's trying to limit his top players ice time but it sounds like it's working out for now...fingers crossed he doesn't overdo it and burns bedard out 
his unconventional lineup strategy is so smart, especially with all those young defensemen he's got to deal with fatigue issues, you know? and it's awesome that he's given special teams guys sam and artyom some extra ice time without worrying about penalty killing. i also love how he's been able to balance conor bedard's ice time - the guy can play, but he needs some rest too lol. 20-21 minutes max for top players is def a good rule of thumb, though...
, I mean, it makes sense that they can't keep up with 20+ min of ice time every night, especially when you're talking about guys who are still developing their skills. But at the same time, it's interesting to see him experiment with different lineups and try out unconventional approaches. Like, have you seen those power plays with Rinzel & Levshunov on the ice? It's like a whole new level of special teams magic 
️. I mean, its easy for us fans to get caught up in wanting our favorite players to play more, but it sounds like Blashill has done his research and knows what works best for each guy. And with Bedard doubling-shifting into different spots, I'm curious to see how that plays out against opposing teams 
. Overall, I think its a win-win for the Hawks if they can keep the players fresh and healthy throughout the season 
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. It takes a lot of credit management skills to ensure players aren't getting burned out, but it looks like Coach Blashill has the knack for it 
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️ got to love how coach Blashill is keeping those young D-men fresh 
. Also, that interview with Anders was low key illuminating, Blashill knows his game 
. And it's awesome that Connor Bedard is getting to see some different ice time - he's gonna be unstoppable with all that extra energy 
. The team is doing great so far and I think coach Blashill is really making the most of his players' skills 
. he's giving more ice time to the young defensemen so they don't get overworked, and it's also helping the forwards to focus on their roles 
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! It's all about balance, you know? Giving each player a fair share of ice time without overworking anyone. The stats are looking up for those young defensemen, and it's awesome to see Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov getting a boost on special teams. And can we talk about Connor Bedard's versatility? 
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this new lineup is like a big ol' hug for his players 
and connor bedard is getting some major ice time this season 
coach blashill needs to keep an eye on him tho 
20-21 minutes per game is like the golden ticket 
now lets see if the hawks can stay consistent all season long 
. Like, what's next? They're gonna start playing video games on the ice too 
. Seven defensemen? 11 forwards? That just sounds like a recipe for disaster. I mean, can you imagine how hard it must be to keep track of who's playing when and why? It's just begging for mistakes. And what about the young defensemen? They're only getting younger and more physical, but now they're gonna get overworked because some coach thinks he's being clever 
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Ugh, I'm all conflicted now! 
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besides its not like they're playing in the nhl anymore, its more of an experiment, dont overthink it 