Blackhawks Should Use 4 Nations Face-Off as a Rebuild Blueprint – The Hockey Writers – Chicago Blackhawks

The 4 Nations Face-Off united the hockey world for the last week. There was so much entertainment, fun, and pride that fans of the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland got to come together and cheer for.

For the players of NHL teams that didn’t make their respective teams, the tournament brought another element: knowledge. In the Chicago Blackhawks‘ case, they’re a team looking to build their way back to glory, and those four teams showed how that can be done.

Blackhawks Need Competitiveness to Shine

The Blackhawks have continuously emphasized their competitiveness and effort because it has been touch and go. In some games, they look unstoppable, and other times, not so much. But in many instances, competitiveness, not talent, has been the missing link that has separated them from two points. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen is no stranger to that, which stood out to him when asked how the team can shrink the gap from the physicality and competitiveness seen in the tournament.

“Yeah, I think it’s a great point. I mean, you see even guys talk about it, you know if it’s the guys that are playing in it right now, and they’re talking about how fast the game is, and the feel of it, and the coaches. Just listening to Coop [Jon Cooper] the other day talking about it’s the best hockey he’s been part of in terms of pace and competitiveness. Right? So, I think any time you start moving the ball up higher, it’s good for the sport, in general. And I think that showcased here. And for us as a group or individuals, that’s what you’re trying to get. So we have to find a way to create an environment as often as possible, if it’s practice, and to raise the bar so we can get to that level eventually.”

Since the day Sorensen took over in December, he stressed about upping the pace. However, it remains a sore spot. The season’s silver lining is that a good chunk of the Blackhawks’ 17 wins this season have come against contending teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals. When asked about that, Ryan Donato didn’t have a straight answer but said they come ready to play in those contests. If there is one thing the tournament showed, it’s that best-on-best hockey brings out the best in everyone because of the motivation to beat the top dogs. The Blackhawks are no exception.

But like Sorensen…