The headline is correct. The Chicago Blackhawks are in the midst of a stretch of ugly, nasty, suck-filled hockey. If the Hawks are playing in remembrance of Warren Zevon, who would have been 67 today, then try to not replicate “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.”
Why, you ask?
That means the team is sleeping and sleeping well.
After snagging four points against top teams last weekend, Chicago has slept-walked against a much-maligned Detroit Red Wings team and the free-falling division foe Minnesota Wild. Small mental lapses such as poor line changes and dumb, unnecessary passes are signs of fatigue and general stupidity. Johnny Oduya has been the poster child for the team’s inconsistencies. Twice in the past week he has left his defensive assignment in a poor attempt to get off the ice whilst the opponent is heading directly at him. Oduya has also been caught not skating and allowing skaters to move around him with ease.
Niklas Hjalmarsson has also been guilty of the lazy skating, as well.
Brent Seabrook has been a lost puppy on the ice, and his exclusion from Hockey Canada’s Olympic roster appears more justified by the minute. Duncan Keith missed the team’s loss against the Wild and Seabrook suffered without his security blanket. If you are looking for another reason to build Keith’s Norris Trophy case, look no further than Seabs sans Keith.
The third line of Bryan Bickell, Michal Handzus, and Kris Vertseeg is playing at the level of suck. Only Handzus played more than prototypical fourth-liner and punching bag Brandon Bollig. The trio is so deep in coach Joel Quenneville’s doghouse that one tiny mistake will cost them the chance of cracking 10 minutes of playing time in a game.
Q is also giving Bollig so much attention during games that it is making fans with any knowledge of hockey sick. When Bollig is on the ice, the fourth line getting outshot badly. Marcus Kruger is the driving force of positive play for the fourth line and Ben Smith is slowly becoming a dependable defensive option. As nice and entertaining as Bollig is, he is not a reliable player.
Who knows if this funk will last heading into the Olympic break, but having 10 Chicago Blackhawks playing during the two week tournament, more questions will be asked than answered regarding their staying power.
Follow Jeff on Twitter @skcih_ffej for more sports and entertainment ramblings. If you play fantasy sports, check out The Fantasy Fix, where Jeff covers your add/drop/watch needs during baseball and hockey season, and does weekly podcasts, as well.