The Blackhawks' third line is shocking the NHL.

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Ryan Hall
October 19, 2023 (9:54 PM)

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The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks have assembled an interesting lineup in their first year of this process. General manager Kyle Davidson believed that adding several veterans to his lineup, including Corey Perry, Nick Foligno, and Taylor Hall.

The idea is to help the team insulate and mentor up-and-coming superstar Connor Bedard, along with several other young players, in the ways of the NHL game and teach them how to win.

With the season only four games old, head coach Luke Richardson decided to unite Corey Perry, Jason Dickinson, and Foligno to create a formidable third line. It reminds me of the tactic that Pittsburgh used a few years ago when they had Phil Kessel, Hagelin, and Nick Bonino together, which became unstoppable in the playoffs.

To be fair, this edition of the Blackhawks will not make the playoffs, as it's designed to remain in the lottery conversation, with the team aiming to secure another top-five draft pick.

This summer, Davidson explained his rationale to The Athletic for bringing in these veterans:

"In my opinion, having good veterans on short-term contracts allows some of those players who might be here longer to step into leadership roles and use Nick and Corey as valuable resources. They will help solidify the team's culture in the locker room in the short term." (from �Once a villain to Blackhawks, Corey Perry ready for a veteran role in Chicago' � The Athletic � 07/07/2023)

It seems this move is paying off, as this line stifled the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight in a 4-1 victory at Scotiabank Arena. The Blackhawks now hold a 2-2 record and are on the road to face the Colorado Avalanche during their North American tour, where they will showcase Connor Bedard's talents."