The Chicago Blackhawks spent the last two weeks regrouping, practicing and watching teammate Teuvo Teräväinen skate to a potential bronze medal for Finland in the Winter Olympics. It was a much-needed rest for a team looking to make a next step toward playoff contention.
“I didn’t really touch the ice until a couple days before we were scheduled to practice here,” center Ryan Greene said Friday. “Just tried to take my mind off and honestly step away for a little bit. I feel like it’s good to get a refresher like that.”
Greene’s break began a day earlier than most of his teammates. He didn’t play in a 4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 4.
It came as a surprise to many, as Greene has been an energy anchor on Hawks lines despite still looking for his finishing touch. He said he didn’t think anything of the scratch and is just focusing on getting better.
“Coach (Jeff Blashill) made that decision, nothing I can really do about it,” Greene said. “Just got to keep my head up and make sure I’m doing what he wants me to do.”
The rookie from Boston University has skated on lines from top to bottom, including some time on the top line with Connor Bedard and André Burakovsky. He has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 56 games.
Greene is doing everything on the ice but putting the puck in the net. His last goal came on Jan. 23 at home versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he had a 19-game stretch without a goal from Dec. 2-Jan. 10.
It was interesting that Blashill decided to scratch the 22-year-old in the last game before the break. Blashill said he hoped the chance to sit back and “watch the game” would help Greene.
“He’s a first-year guy (who) grinds with the league (and) hadn’t really faced any adversity up until that point,” Blashill said. “Sometimes you have to face adversity. It was the right decision for our team on that game and him personally (to) give him a chance to take a breath.”
With three more practices before the Hawks’ next game Thursday in Nashville, Blashill is looking for Greene and his teammates to get things back in order after a busy January.
“The schedule is nothing that he’s seen in any level that he’s played, it’s just the reality,” Blashill said. “No junior league, no college league, no American Hockey League — none of those prepare you for what you’ve gone through.
“Seems like his confidence is in a good spot. Confidence matters a lot. So hopefully you can carry that forward from the next three practices into next Thursday.”
Friday’s practice was an intense one, with the Hawks going through multiple power-play and speed skating reps. It’s a good way for the whole team to get back into NHL life.
“Everyone spread out over break and you don’t see anybody, and now it’s like we’re kind of going through it a little bit here together,” Greene said. “It’s good for the group and also good for the bodies as well.”
Veteran forwards Jason Dickinson and Ryan Donato logged full practices after Dickinson left Thursday’s session early because of an illness and Donato was absent for the birth of his daughter with wife Bradley.
