![\"Blackhawks'](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e46175a\/2147483647\/strip\/false\/crop\/5348x3008+0+0\/resize\/1200x675!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F43%2Fcdf34a864b8991fb025121e65b09%2Fjones-bedard.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Blackhawks spent the last two days doing some serious soul-searching.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018That\u2019s what it takes at this point,\u2019\u2019 defenseman Seth Jones said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
As they reach the midpoint of yet another terrible season, they\u2019re in their deepest rut yet. They\u2019ve lost six of their last seven games and have been blown out in four of their last five. At 13-25-2, they\u2019re in last place in the NHL. They\u2019re on pace for their third consecutive sub-60-point season and fifth consecutive sub-70-point season.<\/p>\n
Robust prospect pool and promising organizational future aside, the state of things is bleak.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I\u2019m sure it\u2019s frustrating for the fan base,\u2019\u2019 captain Nick Foligno said. \u2018\u2018Whatever they feel, it\u2019s a thousand times worse for us.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
So as the Hawks looked ahead to the second half of the season, which they will reach Wednesday against the Avalanche, their veteran leaders held some philosophical conversations about their team identity.<\/p>\n
What is it? Some might say it\u2019s losing, but the players can\u2019t allow themselves to think like that.<\/p>\n
![\"Anders](\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Blackhawks-news-Anders-Sorenson-rips-unacceptable-Chicago-effort-in-Rangers-loss.jpg\")
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\u2018\u2018Do we want to be a run-and-gun team that trades chances and scores four goals and gives up four goals a game?\u2019\u2019 Jones said. \u2018\u2018Or do we want to be a hard team, a forechecking team [that plays] 1-0, 2-1, 3-1 games? We have to make that decision. A lot of people understand where we are and where we need to probably be, but we have a mixed view of how we\u2019re playing.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n
In Jones\u2019 opinion, the low-scoring identity is more viable.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We understand that we\u2019re not the most skilled team,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u2018\u2018Everyone understands that, including the media, coaches and everyone. So we need to play a smart game and not open ourselves up. [We should] make plays when they\u2019re there, but if there\u2019s a chance that things are getting turned over, we can\u2019t afford it. We can\u2019t afford to put the pressure on the goalies time and time again.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
But interim coach Anders Sorensen has made system changes intended to open things up somewhat. By giving players more freedom to jump into rushes and be aggressive \u2014 and also more responsibility to cover for teammates doing those things \u2014 his tactics are inherently higher-risk, higher-reward than former coach Luke Richardson\u2019s were.<\/p>\n
Although Sorensen\u2019s changes were welcomed, they haven\u2019t been very effective lately. While admitting he has struggled as much as anyone, Jones described the Hawks\u2019 recent play as more like \u2018\u2018high-risk, low-reward.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
So how can the Hawks establish their desired identity within Sorensen\u2019s system? Perhaps the bridge to doing so is a strong forecheck. When Sorensen was asked Tuesday what he thinks the Hawks\u2019 identity should be, he mentioned the forecheck, and everyone is on board with that.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018For our forwards, it\u2019s frustrating when we\u2019re dumping it in, dumping it in and they\u2019re breaking it out,\u2019\u2019 Jones said. \u2018\u2018We need to have a better forecheck and get pucks back that way. It starts with dumping it with a purpose, not just dumping it to the goalie and being lackadaisical.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Said Sorensen: \u2018\u2018It\u2019s hard if it\u2019s a one-man forecheck. So [we\u2019ve emphasized] coming up connected more in those areas, then also trying to dictate a little bit more where the puck is going.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Foligno used the word \u2018\u2018tenacious\u2019\u2019 three times, suggesting that might be the key word produced by the identity conversations. He mentioned forechecking, too.<\/p>\n
But he also acknowledged he and his teammates have \u2018\u2018said a lot of things\u2019\u2019 all season without consistently following through on them. Now, he admitted, the \u2018\u2018biggest thing is walking the walk,\u2019\u2019 although fans will remain skeptical until they see that happen.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Every guy is trying in here, that\u2019s one thing I\u2019ll say,\u2019\u2019 Foligno said. \u2018\u2018But it\u2019s frustrating when you\u2019re not playing to the identity you need to play to collectively.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Hawks know they can’t match most opponents in terms of skill, but they want to be more “tenacious” \u2014 particularly through forechecking \u2014 during the second half of the season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9601,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicago-blackhawks","category-nfl","category-san-francisco-49ers"],"yoast_head":"\n