Alec Martinez has been sidelined for the last nine games of the Blackhawks due to a right groin injury. Head coach Luke Richardson had hoped Martinez would be able to return during their recent five-game road trip, but that did not occur. Given that he was seen practicing individually before his teammates on Tuesday, it seems unlikely he will make his comeback for the game against Detroit on Wednesday.
Since Martinez’s departure from the lineup following the October 15 game in Calgary, the Blackhawks have recorded a 4-5-0 record. During these nine games, they’ve averaged 17.39 blocked shots per 60 minutes, placing them seventh in the NHL, and 5.83 takeaways per 60 minutes, putting them ninth. Their penalty kill rate is at 74.2 percent without Martinez, which is only slightly lower than the season average of 75 percent.
How have the Blackhawks managed without Martinez? Alex Vlasic has increased his average ice time to 23:35 per game, Connor Murphy is playing 19:39, and Wyatt Kaiser is getting 17:43 since October 16. Together, in these nine games, Vlasic (with a team-high 25), Murphy (15), and Kaiser (18) have averaged 6.4 blocked shots per game.
Seth Jones has also stepped up, increasing his blocked shots from 3.55 per 60 minutes with Martinez to 4.86 without him. Kaiser, in particular, has made the most of his increased role. After joining the team post-college last year and playing some NHL games followed by a season mostly in Rockford, he has returned looking more confident after developing through 37 AHL games.
Martinez was expected to bolster the Blackhawks’ defensive depth as he started the season paired with Jones, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. His absence, along with TJ Brodie’s struggles, has allowed young defensemen like Kaiser, Nolan Allan, and Isaak Phillips to gain more ice time than initially anticipated at this stage of the season.
Phillips shared that the team’s commitment to their systems and structure has enabled him to integrate smoothly into the lineup, even playing on his off-side. He remarked on the increased team buy-in, which aids their defensive play and allows for quicker puck transitions. This improved structure has elevated their confidence and instinctual playing style, facilitating better on-ice communication among teammates.
Murphy’s presence, playing a significant role on the right side during the season’s start, has also been a major asset. Allan noted that having experienced veterans like Murphy helps him feel more secure and allows him to focus on his game during his first NHL experiences.
As a result of these developments, the Blackhawks are seeing the benefits of Kaiser, Phillips, and Allan stepping up in Martinez’s absence. Once Martinez is healthy, this could lead to challenging roster decisions given the solid performance of their top four defensemen: Jones, Vlasic, Murphy, and Kaiser, over the past month.
