The Chicago Blackhawks are formally 11 video games into their 2024-25 marketing campaign, as we additionally attain the tip of October and head into November. The group is an unlucky 3-7-1 thus far on the season, which is tied with the Nashville Predators for final within the league. It looks as if such a nasty file contemplating how the Blackhawks have been taking part in. Sure, I do know it’s laborious to place issues into perspective after so many losses. However the group is working laborious on gelling and taking part in collectively as a bunch. There’s clearly nonetheless extra work to be completed. However just a few gamers deserve some additional kudos for his or her efforts. Who has stood out thus far firstly of this marketing campaign? Let’s choose the three prime stars from October.
No. 3 Star: Defenseman Seth Jones
Seth Jones will get a nasty wrap for his mega contract. And he’s out on the ice a lot he’s certain to finish up on the improper facet of numerous objectives. However I’d like to offer the 30-year-old some credit score for a wonderful begin to this 2024-25 marketing campaign.
He didn’t join a rebuild. However he actually has no alternative however to embrace the difficulty at hand. Jones has completed his half thus far this season, touting a aim and 6 assists within the first 11 video games. His six helpers kinds a three-way tie for the group excessive (together with Connor Bedard and Connor Murphy). Jones’s seven factors can also be a three-way tie for second place on the group (Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Donato).
It’s a on condition that Jones leads the best way in ice time, averaging 25:41 minutes an evening. That is over three minutes greater than second-place Alex Vlasic (22:18 ATOI). However what stands out to me is that Jones, as a defenseman thoughts you, is second on the group with 30 photographs on aim (Bedard has 37 and Taylor Corridor has 26).
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I may go on. However I’ll depart that as much as Hunter, who just lately did a function (linked above) on Jones’s sturdy begin to the season.
No. 2 Star: Defenseman Alex Vlasic
Sure, two of our stars this month are defensemen. In spite of everything, the Blackhawks’ offense (except for my No. 1 Star) may use some assist proper now. Alex Vlasic had a breakout marketing campaign final season, exhibiting he most actually belonged within the NHL as a prime shutdown defenseman. His rangy 6-foot-6 body and lengthy legs and arms give him a giant attain and prolonged strides. That permits him to cowl numerous floor on the ice, and win numerous puck battles. Vlasic presently leads the group with 11 takeaways and 27 blocked photographs. He’s second on the group in ice time, averaging 22:18 minutes per evening (Jones is at 25:41 minutes). He’s additionally second solely to Jones in penalty kill time, with 30:14 minutes (Jones has 30:32 minutes), in addition to being utilized because the quarterback on the second energy play unit.
The Wilmette, IL native is already defensively sound, so now he’s engaged on the offensive facet to his recreation. It’s coming alongside fairly properly. Vlasic targeted within the offseason on his slapshot, and capturing more durable and extra steadily. However one factor I’ve observed is Vlasic’s skill to search out his teammates to create scoring probabilities and objectives. He already has 5 assists in his first 11 video games, 4 of them being major. Right here’s my favourite:
Connor Bedard scores his second aim of the season after a lovely cross from Alex Vlasic. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/D0rwMhSbDQ
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 26, 2024
Vlasic doesn’t hesitate, and pulls off a lovely cross to Bedard proper in the midst of the ice. If Vlasic can keep his sturdy defensive recreation and proceed to progress in his offensive recreation, then the Blackhawks are actually going to have a stud on their blue line.
No. 1 Star: Ahead Ryan Donato
He may be thought-about a depth ahead, however that’s precisely why Ryan Donato must be credited for his season begin with the No. 1 Star. This can be a man who was thought-about a bubble participant headed into coaching camp, primarily based on the plethora of offseason additions on the ahead place. He was even a wholesome scratch two instances early within the season, on Oct. 15 and Oct. 17 (in opposition to the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks, respectively).
Regardless of all that, Donato is presently main the group with six objectives by his first 9 video games. Add a major help in there, and the 28-year-old ahead is tied for second on the group with seven factors. He’s additionally second on the group with 22 hits (Nick Foligno has 38). Contemplating Donato has performed in two much less video games than the opposite level and stat leaders, that is much more commendable. And, he’s completed all this whereas averaging simply 12:22 minutes of ice time. This can be a man that’s benefiting from his taking part in time.
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Donato began out the season on the fourth line. However since his two wholesome scratches, he’s primarily been deployed on the appropriate wing of the third line, alongside Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. That is the group’s checking line, typically tasked with taking over the opponent’s prime traces. Donato is a scrappy participant that doesn’t hesitate to go to the laborious areas of the ice, so this line suits his fashion of play completely! Additionally, there’s been no scarcity of effort from the gritty ahead evening in and evening out.
Within the latest 5-2 over the Colorado Avalanche, Donato had an particularly good recreation, racking up two objectives and an help. Head coach Luke Richardson expressed his appreciation for Donato’s sturdy play.
“I am glad to see him get rewarded with a pair objectives tonight as a result of he goes to these laborious areas. He is bleeding out of the nostril and the lip and he is coming to the bench smiling as a result of he is acquired a aim.”
—Luke Richardson on Ryan Donato pic.twitter.com/YUxf1Otd8S
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) October 29, 2024
It’s nice to see a depth participant contributing like Donato has by this primary stretch of the season. Hopefully he can sustain the nice work!
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The Blackhawks now flip the calendar to November, with 12 extra video games on faucet. The above gamers earned the three stars of October, however others will certainly step up because the season goes alongside. Who might be subsequent?
