Blackhawks Coach Jeff Blashill's Unconventional Lineup Strategy: A Masterclass in Managing Player Workloads.
In a bid to balance player workloads and prevent fatigue, Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill has opted for an unconventional lineup configuration featuring seven defensemen. This bold move is not unlike that of MLB managers who carefully distribute playing time among their players to avoid burnout.
By dressing seven defensemen in nine out of 11 games this season, the Hawks have adopted a strategy that sets them apart from most NHL teams. The team's young defensemen, including Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, are given the opportunity to focus on key areas such as power play without worrying about penalty killing duties.
The approach also allows veteran players like Connor Murphy and Louis Crevier to concentrate on their respective roles. By spreading out minutes in a smart manner, Coach Blashill aims to mitigate the physical toll on his defensemen, particularly those playing in their 20s and 30s.
For example, Rinzel's ice time was reduced from 25:18 to 19:23 per game after his workload spiraled out of control following an extended stretch where he played all six defensemen. Similarly, Alex Vlasic saw a decrease in ice time from 23:16 to 21:27 as the team adjusted his workload.
The Hawks' approach also enables Coach Blashill to manage the ice time of star forward Connor Bedard more effectively. By double-shifting him in different spots on the ice, it becomes harder for opponents to consistently match their best defensive players against Bedard, particularly when playing away from home.
However, this strategy requires careful monitoring by the coaching staff to prevent overexertion and maintain player health. Coach Blashill acknowledges that he must balance his defensemen's workload while also managing the ice time of his forwards, ensuring that top players like Bedard are not overworked.
In a bid to balance player workloads and prevent fatigue, Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill has opted for an unconventional lineup configuration featuring seven defensemen. This bold move is not unlike that of MLB managers who carefully distribute playing time among their players to avoid burnout.
By dressing seven defensemen in nine out of 11 games this season, the Hawks have adopted a strategy that sets them apart from most NHL teams. The team's young defensemen, including Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, are given the opportunity to focus on key areas such as power play without worrying about penalty killing duties.
The approach also allows veteran players like Connor Murphy and Louis Crevier to concentrate on their respective roles. By spreading out minutes in a smart manner, Coach Blashill aims to mitigate the physical toll on his defensemen, particularly those playing in their 20s and 30s.
For example, Rinzel's ice time was reduced from 25:18 to 19:23 per game after his workload spiraled out of control following an extended stretch where he played all six defensemen. Similarly, Alex Vlasic saw a decrease in ice time from 23:16 to 21:27 as the team adjusted his workload.
The Hawks' approach also enables Coach Blashill to manage the ice time of star forward Connor Bedard more effectively. By double-shifting him in different spots on the ice, it becomes harder for opponents to consistently match their best defensive players against Bedard, particularly when playing away from home.
However, this strategy requires careful monitoring by the coaching staff to prevent overexertion and maintain player health. Coach Blashill acknowledges that he must balance his defensemen's workload while also managing the ice time of his forwards, ensuring that top players like Bedard are not overworked.
. It's clear Jeff Blashill is a mastermind when it comes to player management... or should I say, player babysitting 
. Reducing Rinzel's ice time after he was burnt out was genius. And now Bedard's getting the benefit of being matched against their D all game. But seriously, this strategy can't be taken lightly, gotta keep an eye on those defensemen to avoid injuries...
but u gotta wonder how much coaching staff time goes into monitorin player workload 
still, its def an interesting strategy
. But if Coach Blashill can get away with balancing the workload of his top defensemen like Rinzel and Levshunov, that's a huge win 
. Its not always easy to see what's going on behind the scenes in hockey, but I think this strategy has some merit 
And yeah, it's crazy to see the team adjust Rinzel's ice time after he was playing like 25+ minutes a game. I'm loving how Coach Blashill is thinking ahead and taking care of his defensemen's bodies... gotta make sure they last all season long 
. Its like in sports psychology, you gotta know when to give your athletes a break to perform better later on 
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I'm low-key impressed with this move from Coach Blashill! It's crazy to see a team go 7 defenseman deep in a league where fatigue can ruin careers. I mean, some of these young D men are barely out of junior hockey and he's already throwing them into key situations. And it's not like they're getting hammered on the scoreboard or anything... 
The fact that Bedard is actually getting more ice time because of it is genius 
. I love how he's spread out the minutes to keep his vets happy too - Murphy and Crevier are gonna thrive with less penalty killing duties 
. also, how do u keep top players like Bedard fresh for big games? can't just rest them on a cold winter day lol 
! I mean, who needs 20+ minutes of ice time when you can have a balanced squad and keep guys fresh? This Blackhawks coach is like a surgeon, slicing up the minutes to get the most out of his team. And Connor Bedard getting double-shifted? Genius! The kid's got skills for days, but Coach Blashill is keeping him from burning out.
and its so cool! but anyway back to this hockey thing... i dont get why they need 7 defensemen on the ice at once lol what about the goalies? do they just sit out or something? 
. That sounds like they're trying to wear him down faster than he already is. I mean, can't they just give him a break and let him play with some of their other forwards for once? It's not like it'll kill them or anything.
️ I'm worried that this strategy is gonna lead to a bunch of tired players and a lackluster season. 
. However, I do worry about the coaching staff having to keep an eye on player health - if they don't monitor it closely, things could get nasty 
. And I'm loving how Coach Blashill's got his vets like Connor Murphy and Louis Crevier playing with a purpose, not burning out from too many minutes 
...it kinda reminds me of how some teams in MLB have been adjusting their rotations mid-season to avoid injuries...anyway, I'm curious to see if this strategy pays off for the Blackhawks, especially with Bedard and Rinzel getting more ice time. It's gonna be interesting to watch how they manage player fatigue 
...also, what do you guys think about the balance between defensemen and forwards in terms of workload?
I'm loving this new strategy by Jeff Blashill! It's so refreshing to see a coach prioritize player health and prevent fatigue. Seven defensemen in nine out of 11 games is definitely a bold move, but it's great to see the Hawks making progress with their young talent.