Since the Blackhawks lost Nick Foligno to a broken hand on Saturday night, most of the talk has been about how they can replace his leadership and physical play on the ice.
But we’re sleeping on the important role Foligno has played as a center for the Blackhawks.
The faceoff circle has been an issue for the Blackhawks since Jonathan Toews departed. Jason Dickinson has been the team’s most reliable, consistent center — and has drawn the hardest defensive assignments most nights. But injuries last year and early this season have taken him out of the lineup, which has then forced other Blackhawks to step up and take important faceoffs.
The Blackhawks come into Tuesday night’s game against the Calgary Flames tied for 28th in the NHL in team faceoff win percentage (46.7). Not ideal.
And, on the Blackhawks’ roster, only five skaters have taken more than Ryan Donato‘s 71 faceoffs to
Frank Nazar — 225 draws — winning 45.8 percent Connor Bedard — 166 draws — 46.4 percent Nick Foligno — 164 draws — 51.8 percent Ryan Greene — 153 draws — 42.5 percent Jason Dickinson — 126 draws — 54.0 percentRemove Foligno and Dickinson from that list and the other three have something in common: they’re young, and they’re right-handed.
When I mentioned to Donato on Tuesday morning that he was the only left-handed center in the lineup right now, he chuckled and said he hadn’t thought about it before I brought it up (sorry!). Donato’s versatility has given the three head coaches for whom he’s played in Chicago the ability to use him in a pinch at the dot, but he’s primarily been a winger since joining the Blackhawks.
I asked Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill about his centers being predominantly right-handed after the morning skate on Tuesday. He said the injuries to Dickinson and Foligno — both left-handed — complicates an area that is already something they’re trying to improve.
“We have not been a great face-off team. Stats have shown that,” Blashill said Tuesday morning. “Certainly, when you take two guys out that both are capable of winning faceoffs — especially on the left side there — yeah, it does complicate things. Early in the season, I would put one of those two out in D-zone face-offs on the left side. You’d feel probably more confident given their track record of being able to win those.
“It makes it more difficult, puts more pressure on our other centers but guys just have to dig in. It was on the right side, but I loved the way that Frankie dug in at the end of the game the other night [against Toronto]. Important faceoffs, I thought he really, really dug in. So their competitiveness is going to have to take over and they’re going to have to find a way to win.”
Another area to keep an eye on until Dickinson is able to come back is faceoffs while the Blackhawks are killing penalties. The Hawks have taken 111 faceoffs short-handed entering Tuesday’s game. Foligno (40) and Dickinson (24) have taken the majority of those draws. Greene (21) and Nazar (17) are next on the list, and will undoubtedly be asked to see more action on the PK with Foligno out of the lineup.
The Blackhawks do have a couple left-handed skaters who could help at the dot. Teuvo Teräväinen and Colton Dach have played center before and could step in if need be.
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