The Blackhawks have a roster — and pipeline — that’s loaded with high draft picks. Their collection of former first-round picks is tasked with changing the trajectory of the franchise and bring the Blackhawks back to contending. But they may have found a defensive pair that is effectively playing shut-down hockey without that level of pedigree.
Connor Murphy‘s name continues to populate trade rumors as we get closer to the pre-Olympic trade freeze and following NHL Trade Deadline. The assumption is Sam Rinzel — a first-round pick — will eventually replace Murphy on the right side of Chicago’s blue line.
Many assumed before the season began that Rinzel would spend most of this season on Chicago’s top defensive pair. But players taking advantage of opportunities given can change the calculus of roster decisions.
Alex Vlasic was a second-round pick (No. 43) in the 2019 NHL Draft. Louis Crevier was a seventh-round pick (No. 188) in the 2020 NHL Draft. To the surprise of many, they have been the Blackhawks’ top defensive pair most of this season. They’ve been improving throughout the season, and have become pretty good together. And they’re both only 24 years old.
Blackhawks' D pairing of Alex Vlasic and Louis Crevier were excellent stifling the Jets' top line tonight.Hawks outshot the Jets 10-3 and outscored them 1-0 during Vlasic's 5v5 time vs. Kyle Connor.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 20, 2026According to Natural Stat Trick, ten Blackhawks defensive pairs have spent at least 100 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time together thru Monday night’s win. The combination of Vlasic and Crevier leads the team with 400:48 together — over 56 minutes more than any other pair the Blackhawks have employed this season.
Of the other nine pairs that have skated at least 100 minutes together to date, only one — Murphy with Wyatt Kaiser (52.15) — has a better Corsi For percentage than Vlasic-Crevier (50.93). The Murphy-Kaiser combo (50) is also the only pair that has a better shots for percentage than Vlasic-Crevier (48.83). Murphy-Kaiser is the only pair with a better expected Goals For percentage as well. And Murphy and Kaiser have spent less than half of the ice time together at 5-on-5 (199:32) as Vlasic with Crevier.
Vlasic-Crevier is the only Blackhawks defensive pair with a scoring chances for percentage over 50 (50.28). In fact, Vlasic and Crevier is one of only 27 defensive pairs in the NHL that has skated at least 400 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time together with a scoring chances for percentage over 50.
Of defensive pairs that have been together for at least 400 minutes this season, the Vlasic-Crevier combination ranks ninth in the NHL in expected goals against (17.5).
Bob DeChiara-Imagn ImagesAmong Blackhawks defensemen, only Murphy (21.7) has started a higher percentage of his shifts in the defensive zone than Vlasic (20.4) and Crevier (17.1) according to MoneyPuck.
Rinzel will eventually replace Murphy — whether that’s before the trade deadline or later is still to be seen. He’s been given time to continue developing in Rockford this season with the goal being him coming back to the NHL with the confidence we’ve seen from Vlasic, Kaiser and others who have been afforded the opportunity to work on their game in the AHL.
We now have enough of a sample size to see that Vlasic and Crevier are developing well together. And that might give the Blackhawks’ coaches some pause when thinking about breaking them up.
Veteran Matt Grzelcyk is on a one-year deal and is also a likely trade candidate, meaning the Hawks could have two open spots on their blue line after the trade deadline. When Rinzel returns to the NHL and someone — Kevin Korchinski or Ethan Del Mastro — replaces Grzelcyk, it will be interesting to see how the Blackhawks align their defensive pairs.
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