Chicago Blackhawks: Jeremy Colliton is the coach of the year so far

The Chicago Blackhawks are having a very impressive season so far.

It was tough at the start but they seem to have found their stride. To be honest, it looked like they were going to be the worst team in the league before this nice run that they’re on. There are a few things that have led to this team turning it around but the coach deserves a lot of credit. Jeremy Colliton, at this point of the season, has to be considered the coach of the year.

Jeremy Colliton has done things to get this Chicago Blackhawks team going.

Kevin Lankinen has provided a spark in the net when Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia couldn’t get it done. It couldn’t be easy to pull the plug on Subban and Delia so soon but it clearly was never going to work. Lankinen came in and was clearly their best option. He makes good saves by being quick and athletic from post to post. When he is there, you can assume that the Hawks have a chance to win every night.

The rookies are being given a lot of ice time and have rewarded their coach. They clearly enjoy playing for him and in his system. Guys like Pius Suter, Mattias Janmark, and Philipp Kurashev have all scored goals, made plays, and brought energy. The young players on the blue line have been doing what they need to do, and the young guys who were there last year are thriving again. As long as he continues to get these guys ice, it will take the pressure off the veterans.

Speaking of veterans, Patrick Kane is still as good as any offensive player in the National Hockey League. In 14 games so far this year, Kane has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points. He helps the young guys out both on and off the ice. It shows exactly why he now has an “A” on his sweater. He has come a long way from his younger immature days (both on and off the ice). It should surprise no one that he is now a leader on this team.

Speaking of leadership, the Hawks are playing this well without their captain, Jonathan Toews. We don’t know when he will be back but we wish him nothing but the best. On the ice, he would be thriving with this team as they look to surprise everyone in the hockey world. With him and Kirby Dach in the lineup, this team would be even better than they are. Winning, despite missing two of their five best players, is another positive reflection of the coach.

There is still a lot of hockey left to be played. As of right now, it looks like the Hawks have a chance to be a playoff team. They could spiral but as of right now, there is no reason to see that is happening. Coach Colliton has his team working hard and doing what they need to do to be competitive.

The coach of the year (Jack Adams Award) has a lot of great candidates but Colliton has to be at the front of the line right now. He and his team are back in Chicago to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets twice. There is one tonight (Thursday) and Saturday. Columbus has a lot going on with their organization right now so the Hawks can take advantage of that by playing their game the way they have been for the last few weeks.