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Kevin Korchinski has only played in two games for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, but he’ll be looking to add to that after the Olympic break. (Matt Marton-Imagn Images)

Blackhawks’ Notes Before Their Regular Season Resumes

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Brooke LoFurno | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 2:12 PM ET

Hey, remember the Chicago Blackhawks? The Original Six franchise based in Chicago, Illinois? They last played on Feb. 4 but are now returning to game action after the Olympic break.

Even though they haven’t played a game in three weeks, they have been back practicing in a six-practice mini training camp. Before they resume their season against the Nashville Predators on the road on Feb. 26, here is what you need to know to get reacquainted.

1. Power Play Adjustments

Let’s start with the power play, as that was one of the biggest talking points before the break. Their power play ranks 20th in the NHL, with a 19.1% success rate. But since Jan. 10, they have been operating last in the league, at 5.6%.

Head coach Jeff Blashill was asked about the different power-play tweaks at practice, including excluding the drop-pass entry and a two-drop pass entry:

“Yeah, I think that’s important. You know, we kind of went through the first part of the year with basically one look… You know, for a long time it did pretty good. But like, what happens, even in games, if you’re struggling with that, then there’s frustration that sets in. I think when that frustration sets in, it’s important to have a different look. Both for the ability to get in, and to kind of fight through the frustration.”

As my colleagueGail Kauchak pointed out, there haven’t been many personnel adjustments to the power play, with the top unit remaining unchanged from before in their last practice. But, they’ll see if different strategies and looks could make the difference, while maintaining chemistry.

2. The Defense Pairs

The Blackhawks recalled Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski from the Rockford IceHogs on Feb. 4 after they placed Wyatt Kaiser on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

Blashill discussed with Kaiser out, the recalls make it seven defensemen, making it easier to run practices, and he also wants the players to be “ingrained” and up to speed on everything they’re doing, in preparation for the final stretch of the regular season.

Korchinski is the wild card at the moment. Rinzel will likely still be quarterbacking the top power-play unit, as he did when he was initially recalled from Rockford on Jan. 30. But Blashill made it sound iffy about Korchinski’s playing status for now, and per Scott Powers of The Athletic, he will not be in the lineup against the Predators.

Blashill said about Korchinski on Feb. 18, “I thought he left the last time playing better that second night than the first night, and he had confidence. I’ve talked a lot with Nighty [Jared Nightengale], and I think he’s done a solid job, you know. So he’s just got to keep putting himself in a position that, if he gets an opportunity to play, that he plays well. And that’s just what this league is. You know, very few guys just get handed jobs over and over and over, and you got to keep earning it and proving it… I don’t know if he will or won’t, but if he gets a chance to go in, he’s got to go in and play well.”

For what it’s worth, Blashill made no commitment either way on possibly going back to a seven-defensemen lineup. However, the trade deadline also puts things into play.

3. Trade Deadline Looms

Speaking of the trade deadline, it’s on March 6, and the Blackhawks are on a four-game road trip, with their final game on March. 3, which makes the deadline loom larger.

Blashill said before departing for the road trip about possible asset management, “Asset management’s not something we’ll worry about right now. We’re going to play to win tomorrow, and those things are out of our control. And if, you know, something happens, something happens. That’s up to Kyle [Davidson] and his management group, and we’re going to play to win tomorrow, and we’ll play our guys that we can give us the best chance to win.”

There has been a lot of noise surrounding players like Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Ilya Mikheyev, and others. But the Blackhawks are going to stay in the moment and cross that bridge if or when they get there.

4. Blackhawks Looking to “Get Off on the Right Foot”

It’s no secret that the Blackhawks were struggling going into the break, and are 10 points out of the final Wild Card spot. But they are looking to resume their season with a statement.

Blashill talked about working with the team on their conditioning after the time off and getting their systems back in place so they could go into Nashville playing without thinking.

Landon Slaggert also noted to me that they’re implementing a new system in their d-zone, and that has been an area of focus for them.

Therefore, was Blashill happy with what he saw in the mini training camp?

“I hope we’ve done a good job of starting by easing them into it, getting harder progressively, getting them back to some five-on-five situations, feeling what that’s like that they’re going to feel like tomorrow [Feb. 26], and we’ll find out tomorrow if we did a good job or not. Ultimately, I think the guys did a really good job. They have good energy. I think we’re ready to play a game.”

I spoke with Captain Nick Foligno about what he was looking for on the road trip, “We got to take a step, right? That’s what I’m looking for. We have to take a step as a team and then get off on the right foot. I mean, it doesn’t mean we have to go on a four-game winning streak, but we have to start showing signs of our game really coming back to life. And you know, before the break, that wasn’t who we were, and we’ve moved past that now. I think we’ve had a great week and a half of practice where we’ve really honed in on what makes us special and what makes us a great team, and that’s what I want to see us put into these games. So, I’m excited to get on the road here and get into a place like Nashville that’s fighting for the playoffs. It’s going to be a great environment and a good opportunity for our team to really hit the ground running.”

There’s nothing like jumping back into things by facing a division rival. We’ll see if the tweaks and the refreshed mindset will give them the results they’re seeking.