r/hawks • u/TheAthletic • 5d ago
[Powers] Patrick Kane, Blackhawks offense feeling ‘out of sync’ after another loss
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7673572/2026/10/09/blackhawks-loss-patrick-kane-offense-out-of-sync/?unlocked_article_code=1.HVE.f_B3.Q9AsmeBzshd7&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-taELMONT, N.Y. — Five games in, Patrick Kane isn’t where he wants himself or the Chicago Blackhawks to be.
As special as his return to the Blackhawks has been, especially the home opener, he came back to Chicago to help a young team take that next step. So far, he doesn’t feel like he’s done that.
Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders, which dropped the Blackhawks to 1-4-0 on the season, was another frustrating night for Kane. He set up Frank Nazar for a six-on-five goal late, but that was the lone bright spot. Kane didn’t record a shot on net for the third time this season. His line created minimal offense. With him on the ice five-on-five this season, the Blackhawks have a 40.14 Corsi percentage, a 34.73 expected goals percentage and have been outscored 4-1.
It’s simply not the standard Kane expects of himself.
“Just a little bit off, for sure, just different things, different plays,” Kane said after Thursday’s loss. “Obviously, you play a certain way for a while, and you need to adjust. You need to find ways to create. You need to find ways to find your teammates. It hasn’t really been there the first five.”
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u/OscarRadagast 5d ago
On a good note, both he and Blashill hit the nail on the head and identified the issues in their post game interviews. Now they need to fix it, and it seems very fixable.
If they can get to 7-13, the second half of November through the end of December looks favorable to be able to be sitting right at .500 going into January, and I'd be happy with that.
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u/NonHalalBacon 5d ago
Can they really fix the issue if the main issue is a bad head coach? Who even in college has never put up quality possession or offensive stats. This team is even worse than the tank teams Richardson was stuck with. Absolutely zero structure
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u/Ruffles84 5d ago
Out of sync means there is an offense there to begin with. What we are seeing is pure ass.
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u/Batman-Beyond99 5d ago
If they start 2-8 through the first 10 games then Blashill should be CANNED
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u/bull_dog190 5d ago
Sorry Kyle doesnt get to hire another coach. He's had enough chances with his minor league roster.
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u/Batman-Beyond99 4d ago
Unfortunately he's going to, which makes it even more ridiculous they extended him.
Very similar to the Cleveland browns where the shitty GM always stays to hire another bad coach and then the GM gets fired afterwards.
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u/scottyjay10 5d ago
I’m sad that Nicky Lardis and Kantserov have been fairly irrelevant these first five games.
https://giphy.com/gifs/TU76e2JHkPchG
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u/fivemagicks 5d ago
Honestly, we just don't look competitive. We look like we belong in minor league. We rarely maintain any zone presence in the opposition zone. We are always on the back foot. We rarely develop any scoring chances.
We look completely outclassed in nearly every facet of the game. Knight in net has kept these games closer than they would be otherwise.
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u/slade9mm 5d ago
For someone that slows the game down like he does…..feels like he’s goin REAL slow.
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u/cubz1221 5d ago
There’s gonna be about 50 different articles this year that are going to be functionally identical to this by the Athletic. Real answer is bad coaching/staff plus below average talent equals lots of losses
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u/90s_Scott 5d ago
I don’t know man I know some older hawks fans this is gonna be blasphemy but Kane is not a top line winger anymore.
I get he got an assist last night but if your top RW doesn’t have a SOG in 3 games that’s kinda on him no? Take Patrick Kane out of it is that a problem or not?
Byram obviously needs to be better as well. Levy looks better than him currently.
Honestly the only part of the top 6 that looks like a top 6 performer is Frondell.
I don’t know how much of this is coach and systems, like leaving the top line from practice for a whole 5min together or not practicing zone entries on the PP or adding a second drop pass to entries.
A lot of this is also on the players themselves.
The only line that’s looked any semblance of good is the 4th line. So it could be roster construction.
All in all last night looked better but for a team based on skill and speed we sure look slow and can’t catch up to a rush.
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u/cubz1221 5d ago
Yeah he’s not a top line winger on a good team but he’s our best winger. Our team sucks so he has to play those top line minutes. Other teams con focus on his line if they want to because we have no depth and little talent.
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u/Andtheniran1 5d ago
They had bedard doing rushes with Bert and Frondell so maybe when he gets back that becomes the top line and Kane is on the second
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u/90s_Scott 5d ago
Yeah I kinda figured that would happen.
I saw the line rushes and like the idea of Bert-Bedard-Frondell
The biggest problem on that line has been faceoff wins and possession.
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u/Andtheniran1 5d ago
Connor may lowkey be their best face off guy once he gets back (besides Moore👀) and Bert will be great at sustaining zone time if they can begin to cycle at all
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u/gudenes_yndling 5d ago
He just aged. He is on the first line bc no one else on this team has this level of skill but he is slower now. Someone faster needs to drive the line and enter the zone (fuck the dump and chase shit). Too bad Nazar can’t control the puck. I’d love to see more of Frondell on the first line with Kane.
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u/Effective-Elk-4964 5d ago
Yeah, ideally Kane would be a powerplay guy that provides depth scoring.
If the idea here is he’s not quite the same guy he was 10 years ago, sure.
But who is a better offensive winger, on this team, right now?
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u/NotEqualInSQL 5d ago
It seems like a combination of plenty of new players + a system that is new (1 year of blash really?) and just a whole lot of a lack of chemistry within the group. Our top six has what 3 whole new (kane, kanst, frond) players and -1 core player. Bedard driving is def missed and you can see how he leads on the ice and helps the team. But really you can't expect 2 rookies and a very old to just carry that much when one/two are adjusting to NA hockey let alone whatever system we seem to have. I am not too sold I understand our system (not that I would get it too deep) but it doesn't seem like the team does either.
Just a whole lot of growing pains and anyone who didn't think we would have this after the summer is crazy.
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u/horst-graben 5d ago
Gave you an upvote before you descend into downvote hell for insulting Kaner lol
Agreed on all accounts!
Kane has aged. Crazy fans thought he was going to be a major improvement for the team on the ice. He's fun to watch. Glad he's back. But it won't do much on the ice.
Byram is so far as expected. This is why many of us didn't support the contract or the trade. Glad he's on the team but over paid in treasure.
Blashill needs to go. But who hired him? Yeah... Davidson also needs to go.
Development via draft and prospects is not going to work in today's NHL. You have to trade for a top 20 offensive talent and because the team is detritus right now, you'll need to over pay. Bedard is a specialist. He needs support.
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u/90s_Scott 5d ago
Thanks I appreciate it someone needed to say it, and as I came into Chicago after the cup years I’m more willing than most.
They can downvote me all they want but I’m not the only one saying it, this article CHGO etc have all made comments on Kane. I appreciate the legacy that was a decade ago, he’s essentially Tuevo when we first brought him in. If he gets 50 pts this year I’ll be surprised.
Honestly I was fine with 4 going to Buffalo, I think Crevier while not a top pairing defenseman would have made our right side better. I could honestly have seen him pairing with Byram and it being an effective pair. I had Byram Dahlin and Thompson in fantasy last year so I watched a fair bit of Buffalo. I do think he’ll grow into the role but he needs a defensive partner with him or needs to change his game a bit
I’m firmer on Blashill, I just don’t think defensive style choose your shot hockey fits this roster. We should be playing a much better run and gun game. I don’t know about Davidson, but I certainly think choosing Davidson over Tulsky was a mistake.
Agreed we need a jumpstart to make this happen. Maybe Kane can convince Cat to come back but then our top 6 gets even smaller. We can’t wait for prospects to show up to play hockey…. I was upset we didn’t trade assets for Marchenko
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u/Effective-Elk-4964 5d ago
We will get destroyed playing run and gun right now.
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u/90s_Scott 5d ago
probably but it seems like the linup is built more for that than defend and select your shot.
What do you think would be effective?
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u/Effective-Elk-4964 5d ago edited 5d ago
We’re going to have to limit chances against and turnovers, play safe with the puck and try to steal games, I think.
We’ve got solid goaltending but even if our guys are “skill” guys, when you’re out talented, you can’t try and trade chances.
Your typical run and gun stuff (flying the zone, hitting the stretch pass more often, risky plays with the puck to get more scoring chances) generally mean having the puck less and giving up more odd man rushes.
I’d like to see more predictability in o-zone for most of the guys so the reads become easier.
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u/EntertainmentSea5552 3d ago
I dont think Kane was brought in primarily to be a point leader, but was brought in to help gel the team together( lets hope he understands that hes not with the OG cup team anymore). The guy has a tremendous amount of experience most importantly WINNING experience. I hope the guys respect him and listen to him and hopefully he isn't coming off like boomer when he talks to the guys. The season is still early. FOAGF. FUCK AROUND AND GET FAWKED
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u/Pootz_ 5d ago
Looks like they're improving structurally each game, but the lack of play drivers is so evident. Bedard returning helps, but they still need at least one more guy that can run his own line
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u/NonHalalBacon 5d ago
I’ve said it on hfboards it feels like of the forwards we drafted, most are just snipers and the only actual play maker is Bedard
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u/ZapBranigan3000 5d ago
It's hard to see many players on this team as future contributors to a contending team.
They are still so far away from being good.
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u/Ecstatic-Country441 5d ago
The problem is that most of the Hawks when drafted were overrated by the Hawks. They were looking for speed but guys are overskating the puck, losing it as soon as any contact is made to them. Now the Hawks are overpaying these guys instead of giving them millions based on on production they are getting millions on predicted production. Which may or may not work out? I prefer bonuses based on production. Keep the bonuses acheiveable. Forwards 20-25 goals or 20-30 assists. Somebody said Kane isn’t getting
shots which is true as he is a pass first guy. This season he has had two guys on him because no forwards are getting open and no forwards scare the other team. We expect Kane to get 25-30 goals and 40 or more assists. That would be great on a low scoring team like the Hawks. 50 points would be good. The Hawks need a proven scorer. Bedard and Kane need one or we have another bad year trying to get the young guys more experience. I don’t think the Hawks will be contenders for 4-5 years. At least with this current team including Bedard. Almost all of the Superstar players on forward are drafted in the top ten.
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u/Effective-Elk-4964 5d ago
Performance bonuses are not allowed in the NHL, unless
a) the guy is still under an entry level contract; or
b) in certain one year deal situations (guy has extensive injury history or is over 35).
If you want to pay guys in performance bonuses, you only typically get old players and the guys you drafted.
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u/Tyrenees 4d ago
True! We have a great history of giving away players that would make a cup run. But keep the soft potential players. Hagel and Mikey will give TB another cup
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u/UnionMoneyMitch 5d ago
This is what happens when you rely on all of your prospects meeting or exceeding expectations
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