{"id":6862,"date":"2024-12-17T11:47:55","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T11:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=6862"},"modified":"2024-12-17T11:47:55","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T11:47:55","slug":"breaking-news-what-weve-learned-about-blackhawks-interim-coach-anders-sorensen-after-5-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=6862","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING NEWS : What we\u2019ve learned about Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen after 5 games"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"CHICAGO,<\/p>\n

Anders Sorensen\u2019s challenge when named Chicago Blackhawks interim coach was altering a struggling team while having little practice time.<\/p>\n

Sorensen had one practice before having to coach his first game. The Blackhawks went on a three-game trip. They played again at home Sunday. So far, Sorensen has had five games and four practices. This week won\u2019t be much easier with four games in seven days on the Blackhawks\u2019 schedule.<\/p>\n

All of that is not ideal for a first-time NHL coach who was promoted in-season to coach a last-place team. It\u2019d be unfair to completely judge what Sorensen has implemented so far and what changes have shown up on the ice. But after five games, we\u2019re starting to get a glimpse of what he\u2019s out to do.<\/p>\n

Through data, video and some context, here is what we\u2019ve learned about the Blackhawks under Sorensen so far.<\/p>\n

\n

The major system change Sorensen made after replacing Luke Richardson was on their forecheck. Richardson played a more passive and conventional 1-2-2. Richardson sought to make the Blackhawks less vulnerable to odd-man rushes and play to his veteran defensemen\u2019s strengths. While it accomplished that, it also diminished the team\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n

Sorensen changed that forecheck system on his first day. It\u2019s been described as a 2-1-2, but it\u2019s more of a 2-3 or a 1-1-3 depending on whether the F2 can join the F1 on the forecheck quick enough. With that, Sorensen is out to create more havoc in the first layer of the Blackhawks\u2019 forecheck, forcing turnovers and creating offense.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of what the Blackhawks are trying to do in the system. This sequence is coming off a change for the Blackhawks, so the F2 shows up later than usual. Ilya Mikheyev, the F1 here, and Jason Dickinson, the F2, have been two of the better forwards at executing Sorensen\u2019s forecheck. Dickinson leads the Blackhawks with 11 forecheck pressures over the five games, based on Corey Sznajder\u2019s tracking data.<\/p>\n

The Blackhawks\u2019 second line of Taylor Hall, Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi has shown promise too in the system. Bertuzzi has looked like a different player lately and has been more engaged. Sznajder has tracked Bertuzzi for 13 scoring chances with the next highest player having six. Hall and Nazar\u2019s speed can be assets. On this play, Nazar is in first on the forecheck. Bertuzzi is there for the loose puck and nearly connects with Hall at the net. Nazar is there for a rebound chance, too.<\/p>\n

This is an example of Dickinson\u2019s line from the New York Rangers game:<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

Hockey consultant and former AHL coach Jack Han provided some context to Sorensen\u2019s system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe obvious benefit to playing a more aggressive forecheck is that the forwards will be better able to force turnovers in the offensive zone,\u201d Han said. \u201cA secondary effect is that the D\u2019s will need to get farther up ice in order to close the space. This can be a double-edged sword but Chicago\u2019s younger D\u2019s will benefit from being tighter to the play and being able to kill counterattacks with their skating and stick work.\u201d<\/p>\n

With their new forecheck, the Blackhawks are forcing more failed exits than they were under Richardson. Over the five games, the Blackhawks have forced 22 percent failed exits compared with 19 percent when Richardson was coaching, according to Sznajder\u2019s data.<\/p>\n

\n

How the Blackhawks use their defensemen has also changed under Sorensen. It\u2019s no longer about thinking get back to defend. It\u2019s more about moving up, killing plays earlier and being engaged in the offense. Those principles seem to really benefit the Blackhawks\u2019 young defensemen who can skate and have experience with Sorensen in Rockford.<\/p>\n

Nolan Allan has played better since the coaching change. Alex Vlasic has elevated his game. Kevin Korchinski was called up and he\u2019s fit right in. Wyatt Kaiser was a healthy scratch last game, but Sorensen has worked with him through his struggles before.<\/p>\n

On this play, Allan (42) and Connor Murphy (5) are looking for opportunities to get involved in the offensive zone and aren\u2019t just prepping the entire time for a counterattack.<\/p>\n

Here is a play where Korchinski uses his skating to get up in the play to get a scoring chance and flies back to defend the counter. Korchinski has 10 shot contributions off the rush in four games, according to Sznajder\u2019s data. Seth Jones was the leader under Richardson this season and only had 31.<\/p>\n

Overall, the defense has been solid exiting the zone, too. TJ Brodie is the only defenseman with more than turnovers than exits with possession, per Sznajder\u2019s data. It\u2019s another area Allan has flourished in since the coaching change.<\/p>\n

\n

Sorensen is also asking more from his centers. He wants them to be more layered and to be ready to scoop pucks and then move it to the middle of the ice for exits. With Bedard, Nazar and Lukas Reichel as three of the Blackhawks\u2019 centers right now, there\u2019s a lot of youth down the middle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be growing pains for Bedard and Nazar playing low in the defensive zone, but it\u2019s a worthwhile investment for Chicago to make,\u201d Han said. \u201cIf all goes well the team will have two centers who can use their anticipation to force turnovers down low, then sprint the middle to create chances off the rush.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example of Bedard playing low:<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

Nazar seems to make some of the better defensive reads among the young centers. On this play, he\u2019s aware TJ Brodie (78) is being aggressive to the puck carrier and is in position to intercept the pass and exit the puck.<\/p>\n

Finally, here is one of Reichel. His defensive routes can be erratic, but he has improved on being more predictable. He\u2019s also become more aggressive in hunting pucks.<\/p>\n

Reichel and Nazar have been doing a better job of staying low than Bedard. He\u2019s often playing higher in the zone, almost like a winger. That is helping some of his recent offensive rush numbers.<\/p>\n

\n

Bedard is looking more and more like we expect him to.<\/p>\n

\"Blackhawks,<\/p>\n

He did this.<\/p>\n

\"Sorensen<\/p>\n

He scored this.<\/p>\n

\"Bertuzzi<\/p>\n

He passed this.<\/p>\n

\"Bedard<\/p>\n

How much of that is Sorensen? How much is that Bedard? As Bedard said Sunday, probably a bit of both.<\/p>\n

It is Bedard\u2019s ability, but it\u2019s also been Sorensen\u2019s use of him and pulling that skill out of him again. Bedard\u2019s offensive slump did a number on his confidence in a way he probably hasn\u2019t ever faced before. He stopped shooting. He stopped being aggressive. He stopped trying things. He stopped doing everything that makes him unique.<\/p>\n

Now Bedard is back doing all that, and it\u2019s easy to gauge based on his production. He has two goals and five assists in the last five games. His offensive entries are up again and he\u2019s creating for his teammates more; he\u2019s averaging 4-5 entries a game with an 80 percent carry rate and is tied with Hall with 12 primary shot assists, according to Sznajder\u2019s data.<\/p>\n

Sorensen has helped build that confidence again. Some of it has been their private one-on-one conversations, but it\u2019s also been Sorensen trying to empower Bedard. He hasn\u2019t shied away from allowing Bedard to play against other top lines. Against the New Jersey Devils, Bedard went right up against Jack Hughes for a lot of the game, and Bedard got the better of him. With Hughes and Bedard on the ice in five-on-five play, the Blackhawks had a 69.75 expected goals percentage. The Devils moved Hughes\u2019 line away from Bedard as the game went on.<\/p>\n

Sorensen has also tried to provide Bedard with stability in his linemates. Bedard worked well with Philipp Kurashev last season, and though that hasn\u2019t clicked this season, Sorensen sought to give that combination a long enough look under his own eyes. Five games in, Kurashev and Bedard haven\u2019t revitalized their chemistry. Come Tuesday\u2019s game, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if Bedard and Kurashev are split up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Blackhawks are starting to show signs of where Sorensen wants to go from a tactics perspective. Let’s break it down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-6862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blackhawks","tag-chicago-blackhawks"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING NEWS : What we\u2019ve learned about Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen after 5 games - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=6862\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING NEWS : What we\u2019ve learned about Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen after 5 games - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Blackhawks are starting to show signs of where Sorensen wants to go from a tactics perspective. 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