From a statistical standpoint, Chicago Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson might be having an anomaly of a season. After all, he’s the first to admit that a 20-goal season blows past any other season he had in the NHL. But resting on that? That’s just not Dickinson.
“I don’t think anybody should ever be not looking at 20 goals and being very proud of themselves,” Dickinson said following the Blackhawks 3-1 win Tuesday night. “It’s a hell of an achievement. I’ve never cracked ten before in this league, so I did 20 this year so it’s fantastic. But there’s still 10 games to go and lots of hockey to play.”
Dickinson was all but dumped by the Vancouver Canucks a year and a half ago, sent to Chicago with a second-round pick as a sweetener. But it’s been the Blackhawks who got the sweet deal, and potentially another important role player who will get Chicago out of a rebuild faster.
Richardson on Jason Dickinson: ‘Being a Leader For Our Team in all Aspects’
Dickinson doesn’t mince words when he talks and he has been one of the vocal veterans on a Blackhawks team trying to do things the right way. But his honesty is backed up by a hard nosed effort that has resulted in a 20-goal season and kudos from many around the league.
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson notes how Dickinson is always playing the game the right way.
“He’s playing against [Jonathan] Huberdeau again tonight a lot and he had three goals against Toronto one night with [Auston]Matthews–one of the best goal scorers in the League, trying to shut him down,” Richardson said when asked about Dickinson hitting 20 goals. “So, when you do that all year long and you’re scoring–I think he may have had one against Edmonton–which more than likely he’s on the ice with [Leon] Draisaitl or [Connor]McDavid, that’s a big accomplishment. Playing the right way and being a leader for our team in all aspects.”
Dickinson is another in a handful of players general manager Kyle Davidson brought in to create a foundation that will set the organization up for long term success. But even he couldn’t have envisioned just how well this would work out. Dickinson’s two best statistical seasons have come with Chicago, with that pair producing just six points less than his previous four seasons combined.
But aside from the production, he’s being tasked with shutting down the opposition’s best players. Huberdeau last night? Held off the scoresheet with nearly 20 minutes of ice time. But doing all of what he did on the fourth line Tuesday night?
Imagine what he’ll do when the roster is beefed up with more goal scorers.
Doing the Right Things
Dickinson and the Blackhawks veterans, along with the growing young core, are working to do things the right way and their response from a hard practice reveals it.
“There’s an understanding that this league is very hard and in order to win in it, you have to play hard and practice hard, so I got no problem with the practice we did yesterday,” Dickinson said. “I believe it’s going to be great for us in the long run, and you know what? Maybe we need a few more of those every now and then to shake our heads.”
Whatever is working for them, needs to continue. The Hawks are 6-4 in their last ten, and while it may agitate those looking for better lottery odds, the lessons being learned now will certainly prove beneficial when the games hold greater importance down the road.
And with how he’s playing, don’t be surprised if the player sent over to rid Vancouver of a contract factors into those games that hold more importance.
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