CHGO Chicago Blackhawks Podcast Tony Granato On Blackhawks Power Play Struggles & Hot Start to the Season! | CHGO Blackhawks Podcast
Oct 27, 2025
Tony Granato, a former NHL player and analyst, shares expert insights on the Blackhawks' power play struggles and highlights standout players like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. He discusses lineup adjustments and the effectiveness of young defensemen, emphasizing the need for them to become scoring threats. Jeff Blashill, the head coach, weighs in on injuries affecting the roster and the importance of practice tweaks for building power-play confidence. Both guests provide a realistic take on the team's hot start and strategies for sustaining momentum.
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Prioritize Zone Starts And Entries
- Win or disrupt the first faceoff to increase offensive-zone starts and reduce chasing the penalty kill.
- Improve breakouts and purposeful entries so the power play gets more set time and shots on net.
Point Defensemen Need To Shoot
- Young defensemen must be scoring threats, not just distributors, to force PK attention.
- A shooting threat from the point creates space and time for playmakers like Bedard and Nazar.
Mix Size And Rotate Units
- Try bigger, complementary linemates rather than grouping only small playmakers together.
- Rotate players across units to develop chemistry and test combinations until the power play clicks.