There have been experimentations at the second line center role for the Chicago Blackhawks thus far in training camp. The team has a handful of options even though one may have stood out enough to get the ball rolling on the season.
Head coach Luke Richardson spoke at the start of training camp noting that “I think we can experiment with that (second line center role). (Philipp) Kurashev did a great job evolving (into an NHL center)…by default because we needed him there at center last year, and I think he got more comfortable as he went along.”
Kurashev was on the top line wing for the majority of the season alongside Connor Bedard, but the Blackhawks rookie sensation also missed 14 games. This took out a big piece at center and it was up to a few players to step in and be asked a lot of.
As Kurashev played center earlier in his career, it was only a matter of getting back in the swing of things. Doing so at the NHL level is a whole new beast to tame though. It is a lot to ask of him to step up to be the full-time number one center, but good thing that doesn’t need to happen with Bedard on the team. While less challenging, Kurashev could fit in nicely on the second line with formidable linemates that can make life easier.
While speaking on Kurashev’s possibility of playing the second line center this season, Richardson also stated, “That’s what usually happens. The players show you. You can put them where you want and hope, but it usually ends up being them showing you.”
This is what training camp and the season is for. Nothing is set in stone and lines are going to change over the course of the season with injuries and cold stretches.
Lukas Reichel is another option in the top-6. He was tried at center last season, but could see more time on the wing as it looks like he’s settling in there again. He had a rocky 2023-24 season that saw him play in both the NHL and AHL, but he has looked good and showed enough to get top-6 minutes. This is what the Blackhawks had hoped for last season, but one year later isn’t too late.
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Andreas Athanasiou was looking like an option to some to play down the middle on the second line, but it looks like he’s falling nicely into the fourth line center role between Maroon and Smith. He’s been described as a reliable veteran line Richardson can trust.
The final option is Jason Dickinson. While he took a major step offensively last season when it was desperately needed, he is the perfect third line center. The very underrated and solid two-way player can shut opponents down from the third line and now has the confidence in scoring to be a threat at both ends of the ice. He did get more than enough time as a top-6 center last season, but the Blackhawks would be much deeper with him on the third line.
I think it shakes out exactly as described. Kurashev starts the season as the second line center with Reichel on his wing. Dickinson fits nicely into the third line center role right behind them, and Athanasiou gets back into the swing of things from the fourth line.
When last season finished, not many would have predicted Kurashev would be split up from Bedard and centering his own line, but it is a great time to experiment for the Blackhawks as they try to find what works best.
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