Blackhawks Count on Ian Cole and Cole Smith to Maintain Strong Penalty Kill

The Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up for the new season with a keen focus on maintaining their impressive penalty kill unit, which ranked second in the NHL last season at 83.6 percent, just behind the Colorado Avalanche. Throughout the majority of the previous year, the Hawks excelled in this area, but a decline followed the trade deadline that saw key players like Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Colton Dach depart.

While the team has a promising roster filled with talent, including Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Alex Vlasic, the loss of Ilya Mikheyev is significant. Mikheyev, one of the league’s top penalty-killing forwards, signed a four-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, leaving a notable gap in the Blackhawks’ defensive strategy.

In response to this setback, General Manager Kyle Davidson and his team have brought in veteran forward Cole Smith and defenseman Ian Cole. Both players are expected to contribute on the ice at even strength but will be pivotal in bolstering the penalty kill. During a media session at Development Camp, Davidson highlighted the importance of their grit and physicality, which will be crucial in preventing goals during opponent power plays.

The competition for roster spots will be fierce, especially among the younger players eager to make their mark. However, having seasoned veterans like Smith and Cole to rely on will ease the burden on the newcomers as they navigate these specialty roles.

While it may be unrealistic to expect the Blackhawks to replicate their top-two penalty kill status, they likely won’t regress as much as some might anticipate. If the young players develop effectively under the guidance of Smith and Cole, and if goaltender Spencer Knight remains consistent, the Blackhawks could still prove to be a formidable opponent on the penalty kill.

Furthermore, with the potential improvement of their power play aided by the addition of Bowen Byram, the Blackhawks might find themselves winning more games thanks to enhanced special teams performance.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.