We’re now less than a month from the start of the NHL regular season, and excitement about the Blackhawks is already ramping up. The team spent a bunch of money this summer to turn its roster upside down. After being forced to put players into certain roles just to field a roster at times last season, Chicago now has the luxury of putting together a real, competitive lineup when they open the regular season at Utah. But how will the new-look Blackhawks fit together?
Over the past week, we took a closer look at each of my projected forward lines for the upcoming season. All four lines have practically limitless upside, especially the top two trios. But while Chicago’s offensive unit wasn’t great last year, the team’s real issues came on the defensive side. Last year’s problems didn’t apply to their top pairing, which is all but guaranteed to stay together next month.
One of the biggest items on the Blackhawks’ to-do list this summer was extending Vlasic, and they did so with a perfect team-friendly contract at six years and a $4.6 million AAV. That’s a steal for their new top defenseman, who jumped onto the scene last year as Chicago’s best blueliners and one of the best defensive defensemen in the entire league, representing a rare bright spot in an otherwise miserable season. Vlasic isn’t the most intimidating on the offensive end, but he became downright elite at using his 6-foot-6 frame and long reach to disrupt almost every play when he’s on the ice. According to advanced metrics, he’s one of the most effective players at his position in the NHL.
Vlasic’s best-case scenario on a line next to Seth Jones this year is to simply replicate last year’s performance. Jones is a bit better than him offensively, so Vlasic isn’t expected to do as much on that end. But between him and Jones, who stands at 6-foot-4, they can cover pretty much every inch of the defensive zone. There shouldn’t be many goals scored against this unit again this year.
When we talk about Seth Jones at this point in his career, it’s often in a negative light. It’s true that he’s on one of the worst contracts in the NHL at a $9.5 million AAV and will be for a while. It’s true that he’s griped about the Blackhawks teams of the past few years and made it clear he’s not too happy in Chicago. But it’s also true that he’s a vital part of the Blackhawks, who would be lost at this point without him. Jones averages well over 25 minutes of ice time per game and is a trustworthy defenseman, is an important part of the power play and penalty kill units, and plays a great physical game, regularly blocking shots and putting his body on the line. He may not be quite worth what he’s getting paid, but there’s no question he’s crucial to his team’s (limited) success.
Though he can feel like a more seasoned veteran at times, Jones is still 29 and has some great hockey left in him. His best-case scenario, like Vlasic, is to continue what he did last year. He’s an exceptional minutes eater and someone the Blackhawks can trust, and that will be crucial this season. Jones and Vlasic on a line together will give Chicago a chance to experiment with its forward lines, giving younger players a longer look and freeing them up to exercise their offensive skills while the top defensemen stay home and protect their end.
