Chicago Blackhawks: An extended look at the new guys

Ryan Carpenter

Center is the most important forward position in the National Hockey League. As we stand right now, the Chicago Blackhawks have five guys who are natural centers and six guys who can play it if need be. Those five that are natural are Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome, Artem Anisimov, David Kampf, and Ryan Carpenter. Andrew Shaw can play it if need be as well. There is a possibility that they trade Anisimov before the season gets going so this is all subject to change in order to make room.

They added Carpenter on July 1st as a part of free agency. He is likely going to be the fourth line center and he can be a very good one. He is coming off a good year in a limited role for the Vegas Golden Knights. He is the definition of a fourth line center that can provide just a touch of offense each year. He likely won’t get all that much ice time but a good fourth line is very important.

The Blackhawks might be putting together a solid fourth line with Carpenter in the middle that can generate chances at a decent clip and keep the puck away from the opposition. If you watched the Stanley Cup Final at all between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues, you saw how important a fourth line is to success in today’s game. Boston’s fourth line wasn’t its second most skilled line but it was it’s second most important. The Blues lost both games that one of its fourth line regulars were out of the lineup due to suspension.

Hopefully, Carpenter can help the Blackhawks have one of those really good units at the bottom of the forward group. It sure looks like the Blackhawk’s bottom six is going to be much better than it was the last few seasons.