It's a New Day, Yes It Is!

Awwwwwwwwwww Chiiiiicccaaaaaggggoooo!!! Don't you dare be sour. Clap for your world famous 'soon-to-be champs', and feeeeeeeeeel the powwwwwwwwwaaaahhhhh!

It's a new day, yes it is.

The Chicago Blackhawks mark the halfway point of the 2018-19 EHE regular season after having walked over the crossroads that was the Cam Atkinson decision, sending the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent to the hated rival Dallas Stars along with Jake Muzzin.

It had been weighing on GM Thomas Gidlow for a long time.

"We wanted to keep him, obviously. But at the end of the day, going after the Stanley Cup for one season and letting him walk in free agency to another team wasn't a tenable option," stated Gidlow, who acquired Dmitry Orlov and Brendan Gallagher in the 10-asset deal struck on Tuesday. "The return we were able to get, all but one player signed long term, allows us to turn the page on this decision and continue to be competitive this season and far beyond.
 

As Jonathan Toews goes, so goes the Blackhawks. While streaky at times this season, the Chicago captain has equaled his goal-scoring pace from last season (20 goals in 41 games, versus 39 all last season) but has just 19 assists, putting him around 20 off the 2017-18 pace. He's been aces on the faceoff circle, winning 60% of his draws.

At 129 goals at mid-season, Chicago is projected to be about 40 goals off last year's EHE-leading mark of 298. That's still good for a tie of fourth in the EHE this season. The noticeable change is goals allowed, which sits at an even 100 (also tied for fourth in the league), which would put them 23 goals under the 223 they allowed last season. The Blackhawks' +29 goal differential is good for fifth (Hawks players are a collective +111 after 41 games).

Replacing Atkinson's offense will be a team effort, as Toews, Erik Haula (13 goals), Reilly Smith (13), Jordan Staal (11), and Gallagher (7) are expected to pick up the slack. Andrew Cogliano has been a bright spot with a 9-14-23 scoring line, while Alex Steen (7-18-25, 3-6-9 in 15 games with Chicago) and Patrick Maroon (5-17-22, 3-4-7 in 7 games with Chicago) have done well since being acquired.
 

It's fair to say that few thought Matt Niskanen could replicate his extraordinary Norris Trophy-finalist season. His 18-58-76 line was 27 points higher than his previous EHE high. But after earning a four-year, $35.5 million contract this past offseason, the 32-year old's production has dipped to just six goals and 16 assists through 40 games. However, things are looking up as new pairing mate Justin Braun figures to give Niskanen more stability to play to his strengths.

Braun, acquired from Montreal in early February, has four assists in his first seven games as a Blackhawk. He will be expected to continue at that rate of production to help offset the loss of Muzzin, who was 3-29-32 in 39 games in Chicago this season.

Derek Forbort's continued development has been good to see. The 26-year old rearguard has 13 points at mid-season with a +12 rating. Dan Girardi continues to bring stability with five points and a +1 rating in 21 games, while newcomer John Moore should continue his fine play (13 points and +6 in 41 games with Dallas).
 

It's "Tuukka Time" in the Windy City as Tuukka Rask has been getting the bulk of the stars in net as of late. This after 'backup' Curtis McElhinney essentially took the starting job from former Hawk Cory Schneider and proceeded to post video-game like numbers (1.85 GAA, .931 SP, 4 SO's in 13 games - all which lead the EHE among goalies playing at least 12 games).

Rask has been good if not spectacular with a 9-6-1 record, a 2.56 GAA, and .906 SP in 16 games since being acquired in the massive 17-player deal with the New York Rangers. With a re-tooled defense ahead of him now, though, those numbers are expected to improve.
 

While it took every bit of 41 games for the Blackhawks to right the ship, the penalty kill has been lights out over the past few weeks. Once in the bottom third of the EHE, Chicago is now fifth when down a man with an 86.7% PK rate. Still a sore spot? The power play, which still sits in the league doldrums at a paltry 13% (27th in the EHE).

A small part of the reason Atkinson was moved, says Gidlow, is the inability to get anything going from the power play units despite shuffling combinations. "Apparently we needed new personnel on the PP because there is no reason why we should be that low. It's a bit shocking to see 22% last year and to lead the league, and then drop to 13% and be at the bottom."

"We definitely need that number to come up significantly over the last half of the year."
 

It's been a season of some turnover for the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks AHL affiliate. In the midst of getting younger (veterans Mike Vecchione, Jacob Josefson, Ethan Werek, Clark Bishop, Nick Seeler, and Hudson Fasching have all been moved out), the IceHogs have managed to turn in a respectable 21-15-1 record and sit tied for third in the AHL's Central Division.

Teddy Blueger (12-22-34) has led the charge offensively, even earning a brief two-game recall before returning to Rockford. Carson Soucy, Jake Bischoff (who also earned a short stint in Chicago), and Luc Snuggerud have combined for 18 goals and 46 assists in 37 games. Collin Delia has emerged as the starter in net in his first pro season, sporting a 13-10-1 record, 3 shutouts, a 2.92 GAA and a .906 SP.

New contributors expected to help augment the second half charge towards the Calder Cup playoffs include Carter Verhaeghe (four points in six games with Rockford, currently injured), Calle Rosen (eight points in ten games), and Mason Marchment (just two points in 17 sporadic appearances with the AHL's Chicago Wolves).

Chip Whitley (@chip-whitley)
Blackhawks Beat Reporter