Brown: Colin Blackwell Embodies The Attitude the Blackhawks Want–and Need

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson couldn’t help but crack a smile describing the energy Colin Blackwell brings to the team. He’s mentioned it before, but during Wednesday night’s 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, someone else couldn’t help but notice, either.

“He gives us a spark, and he was fired up in the bench in the third period too,” Richardson said.  “The referee had to come and tell me to settle him down. But everybody can respect his energy and his desire out there.”

Yes, even the men in stripes on the ice can’t help but note what Colin Blackwell brings in terms of energy.

Perhaps that energy could earn him another year in Chicago.

What a pass by Joey Anderson and finish by Colin Blackwell, who scores his fourth goal of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/1sfouoPi3s

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 22, 2024

Blackwell’s Energy is What the Hawks Want Up and Down Their Lineup

Teammate Joey Anderson, who fed Blackwell a heck of a pass that eventually evloved into a heck of a goal, noted what the veteran brings to the Blackhawks.

“He’s a bus out there,” Anderson said.  “His feet never stop moving–whether he’s hitting a guy, trying to make a play, stick in the lane, he’s kinda a little bug out there, in everybody’s face, makes good plays offensively. The energy just bleeds on the ice.”

That energy jumpstarted a Blackhawks team down 1-0 at that point, and while the momentum couldn’t be sustained, many took note of how that goal electrified the United Center crowd and Blackwell’s teammates.

Why? Because he brings a maximum effort on every shift.

“If you’re doing things 100%, more times than not good things are going to come out of it,” Anderson noted.

Where’s Colin Blackwell on the Ice? Pretty Much Everywhere

Playing out the final year of his two-year deal signed back in 2022, Blackwell missed several months due to a sports hernia surgery, and finally made it back on the ice in November. The impact was almost immediate. The high energy, physical Blackwell was not only hitting other players, but has been hitting his spots on the ice, too.

He’s nearly hit his point total from last season in half as many games, and while he’s unlikely to near his career high in goals and points that he had with New York in 2021, Blackwell has done everything asked of him, including being matched up against the Flyers’ best line.

He did it well Wednesday night. But as the Blackhawks begin to size their roster up, and make decisions as to who remains, Blackwell should be one of the names at the top of the list. Richardson’ pointed out that he was pitted up against Philadelphia’s top line and handed his business well.

Blackwell isn’t likely to be a 20-goal scorer, and he’ll likely have referees reminding Richardson to have him tone it down some. But there’s no denying the role Blackwell plays is precisely what the Blackhawks are hoping to build throughout their roster.

Besides, he’s making his presence known all over the ice.

“He’s earned the right to play as much as he is,” Richardson said.

Sure seems he’s earning the right to play another year in Chicago, too.

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