Blackhawks complete major lineup adjustment going back to their old ways

The Blackhawks' unconventional 11-forwards, seven-defensemen approach dominated the first 26 of their 29 games.

Head coach Jeff Blashill initiated the seven-D setup early in the 2025-26 season, largely to protect an inexperienced blue line and spread ice time more evenly among players like Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel.

Both right-shot blueliners were 20 and 21 years old, respectively, and the idea was to manage their minutes while still keeping them in the lineup.

Blashill's experiment had its merits, but it also led to some awkward line juggling and irregular pairings, and it became a point fans passionately discussed online and in bars.

Some analytical supporters argued it gave the Blackhawks creative forward combinations, while critics said it blurred chemistry and didn't fit the traditional NHL model.

The broader hockey community weighed in too, with local beat writers and bloggers outlining the ice-time distribution headaches and the unusual nature of continually dressing seven defensemen. By midseason, even some current Blackhawks players acknowledged it wasn't the easiest rhythm to maintain night in and night out.

This shift back to a more conventional six-defensemen structure began in earnest once Sam Rinzel was reassigned to the AHL, a move intended to help him get more impactful minutes. With Rinzel and other roster factors in play, Chicago turned to six blueliners and welcomed journeyman forwards like Sam Lafferty back into the lineup.

Fans have mixed feelings. Some feel relief that the Hawks are settling into a clearer structure, while others still wonder if Blashill's creative deployments were misunderstood or worth another look. Regardless, today's adjustment feels like a nod to hockey fundamentals, something longtime supporters have loudly called for.

Looking ahead, what matters most is how this impacts Chicago's play on the ice, especially during close games and special teams situations. The team's identity continues to evolve, but this lineup tweak feels like a meaningful step toward consistency and clarity for the group.