With aggressive forecheck, Blackhawks want opponents to loathe them

The Hawks want to be annoying this year.

They want other teams to see them on the schedule in January to think, "Really? We have to play these guys tonight?"

"They're relentless," said Luke Richardson after Tuesday's practice. "They never give up. That's the kind of the presence that we want to have and what we want to be known as an identity."

Two players on this team not only drive that identity but manifest it themselves on the fourth line.

"I think when you're playing that role," said fourth-line center Collin Blackwell, "you know your role, and that's kind of what it is. You buy into a certain style of chipping pucks in behind their D, using your speed to change the game that way and bring a little bit of energy, and I think you create some offense off a heavy forecheck as well."

Reese Johnson is another player fighting for time to showcase his ability to do so.

"I think I fit in great," Johnson said. "I think that's my game: getting on the forecheck, finishing checks, using my speed, just winning those battles. I think a big step for those lines is to be able to hold on to pucks down low and create chances and then let the top lines come out for our offensive zone shifts. I love getting in on the forecheck."

Johnson has only played in one of the team's first three games but has the highest hits per 60 minutes (23.15) on the team from that one game against the Golden Knights. For him, however, it's a battle to get back into that lineup every night, so each practice holds added importance in order to demonstrate who the most annoying fourth liner is.

Vlasic out, McCabe in:

The Blackhawks announced Tuesday morning that defenseman Alex Vlasic had been assigned to Rockford. According to Richardson, he had been dealing with a foot injury, and the timing couldn't have been worse for him.

"With people getting healthy," Richardson said, "it just made sense. It was unfortunate timing for Vlasy to get hurt."

Among the people getting healthy, Jake McCabe has been cleared to play, and Richardson says will be playing in the home opener as long as he feels good this week.

Richardson's first home opener:

Richardson tends to downplay his role within the organization, so when asked about how he's feeling about his first home opener, there was no change in response.

"We can't go out there and play," Richardson said of the coaching staff. "We just try and give them the best plan to win, and it's all them when we have success. It's about the players, so I want to see the players feel the passion of the city that I've seen as an opponent both coaching and playing."