Winning is the priority for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL.
Developing is the priority for the Blackhawks in the AHL.
The Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, have had to sacrifice winning at times to focus on developing.
“It’s a very hard line to walk because you are mandated to develop players, especially with a team that is a cap team in the cap era we play in,” Blackhawks hockey administration director and minor league affiliations general manager Mark Bernard said. “One of the things we make sure here is our young players play. They don’t sit out. They’re not getting benched after mistakes. If they make a mistake, they’re told about the mistake and get back on the ice.”
Everyone within the Blackhawks and IceHogs understand that. It’s all the reason why IceHogs coach Ted Dent and his staff were especially excited to enter the team’s dressing room last week and deliver the news they had qualified for the playoffs. It was the first time since 2010 the IceHogs had clinched a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs.
“It’s always something you set out at the beginning of the season you want to win hockey games and have fun and get to the playoffs, but we understand the model here,” said Dent, who has been with the Blackhawks for nine seasons and has been the IceHogs head coach for four years. “We do our best to try to do both at the same time with the players that we have.
“To the team’s credit, it’s not something we ever talked about. We’re just one game at a time here and do the best we can. They focused on picking up points and winning. It’s definitely a different feeling for the whole staff. We’ve never been in this position. With seven games to go in the season, and we’ve qualified for the playoffs, so it’s new territory. We’re happy for the team, players and everyone involved.
The IceHogs have succeeded this season where they felt short in years past for a few handful of reasons. The biggest one is their goaltending has been stellar. Whether it’s been Scott Darling, Michael Leighton or Antti Raanta in net, the IceHogs have had a chance to win most games because of their goaltending. The trio has combined for a .922 save percentage and eight shutouts this season. Add in Mac Carruth’s one shutout, and IceHogs have recorded nine this season. When they missed the playoffs by four points last season, their goaltenders didn’t have a single shutout.
"That's huge," Dent said. "Goaltending is a major part of the equation. Our goalies have been great all year."
The IceHogs have also relied on the development of some of their prospects. Second-year players Garrett Ross, Philip Danault and Mark McNeill have especially progressed this season. The three players are roommates, linemates and have combined 53 goals and 119 points. Ross leads the team with 42 points, and he and McNeill are tied for a team-high 21 goals.
“That line was created following a conversation Ted and Stan Bowman had about them possibly playing together someday in Chicago,” Bernard said. “‘Let’s see how they do together.’ It’s been a very good line. I think they’ve all taken forward this season.”
Ryan Hartman, the Blackhawks’ 2013 first-round pick, has also improved in his first full professional season, and the IceHogs have gotten contributions from forwards Matt Carey, Brandon Mashinter, Peter Regin, Spencer Abbott, Dennis Rasmussen, among others.
Consistency has also been key to the IceHogs. They have had the usual ups and downs, but they have never dipped too far. Their longest losing streak was four games. They had some struggles in late December and early January, but bounced back with strong a February and March. They have gone 14-5-1-0 in the last 20 games and are currently on a four-game winning streak. They are in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 43-21-5-2 record and 93 points.
The IceHogs have subtracted a number of pieces throughout the season. They began the season with three skilled defensemen in TJ Brennan, Adam Clendening and Klas Dahlbeck, and all three have since been traded. Joakim Nordstrom, the IceHogs’ captain, and Teuvo Teravainen have been up with the Blackhawks the past few months. The IceHogs also withstood lengthy injuries to Stephen Johns, Alex Broadhurst, Viktor Svedberg and McNeill.
“Our coaches have done a really good job of managing this group,” Bernard said. “Ted Dent and [associate coach] Mark Osiecki are with the players day to day. Not many teams lose a Teravainen, Nordstrom, Brennan, Dahlbeck, Clendening and carry on with what they’re doing. They’ve kept the team very positive and kept them focused. No matter what 20 guys are in the lineup, not much has changed. They need to be commended for that.”
The IceHogs have benefited from some defenseman depth. Johns, who dealt with three injuries this season, is a plus-28. Kyle Cumiskey and Ville Pokka, who was recently named to the AHL all-rookie team, have also provided stability. Trevor van Riemsdyk, Kirill Gotovets, Keith Seabrook, Svedberg, Dillon Fournier and Zach Miskovic have also contributed as defensemen at various points this season.
Wanting to win and wanting to be called up to the NHL can be a difficult balance for prospects. Johns thought he and his teammates have dealt with that perfectly.
“I think the first day that we were here PC Labrie pulled us in a team,” Johns said recently. “He was like you can’t really worry about getting called up or anything. It’s all about the team wins. You’re going to do better as a player. I think that was our main focus from Day 1. We’ve just kind of reiterating that throughout the year. Going into this playoff push, I think everyone’s focused on being here, playing here and trying to win here.”
Asked about what he was proud of this season, McNeill didn't hesitate with his answer. It was the team's success.
“What I’m really proud of is just how well our team is doing this year,” McNeill recently said. “With team success comes individual success. I think that we’re seeing that with a lot of guys in this room.”
