In my backyard we have a sports net with targets set up where the kids can hit a baseball, kick a soccer ball, or fire pucks (well, street hockey balls to be more precise) into to work on fundamentals, get in reps, and just have fun like when they make it a makeshift skeeball machine.
I've noticed this before when I play in rec league hockey games but have been noticing it more as I teach the kids in our backyard using this sports net is how awkward it can feel to receive a puck and shoot it if they're on their off side, i.e. they have to execute on their backhand.
Even though I'm a lefty, I use a right-handed hockey stick. So whenever I play forward, I have mixed preferences on whether to play LW or RW. As a shooter, I like coming down the left as it's more natural to shoot on that side and also helps to stay on the forehand if I have to cut to the middle.
For passing, though, it's the opposite since it feels more natural to be maneuvering around the right wing whether to receive a pass so the puck lands on my forehand or make a pass so there's less need to pivot in order to complete the feed with the forehand rather than the backhand.
Similarly, whenever I play on the blueline, I also have mixed preferences on whether to play LD or RD. It depends on the zone and task. In the offensive end, I like to shoot from the left point even though it's better to pass to teammates and keep pucks in the zone from the right point.
Then in the defensive end, making clearing attempts is a lot easier to do playing the right side in order to use the forehand instead of the weaker backhand. But if I need to block passing lanes, then I tend to cover more ground playing on the left side so I don't have to reach the stick across my body.
Why do my personal preference matter to the Blackhawks?
It doesn't matter to them in the literal sense. However, handedness and where a player is situated on the ice can make a substantial difference whether at even strength, on the power play, or on the penalty kill. Sure, the Hawks are pros so it shouldn't matter but their opponents are pros, too.
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Forwards
An example of where handedness can make a world of difference is on the power play. The most famous set play on the Blackhawks man advantage is the backdoor pass to right-hand shooters Patrick Sharp and Alex DeBrincat who set up on the left of the goalie to bang home feeds from the right.
The backdoor play with finishers on the left doesn't work if they're left-hand shots. It also helps that the best passer on the team in Patrick Kane likes to patrol the half wall along the right side which draws the opposition's defense to him leaving the left side unprotected for the backdoor play.
If this strategy works for right-hand shooters on the left flank, then logic would have it that a left-hand shooter on the right flank could capitalize on the same strategy. And who is the best left-hand shooter on the team other than Kane? Dominik Kubalik. The problem is he hasn't been deployed that way.
For whatever reason, Kubalik has been played in the bumper role or simply down low on the power play when that's not his forte. If play could overload to the left side, let him do what he does best by drifting to the soft areas on the right, getting behind defenders, and cranking passes home.
When looking at the pipeline, there isn't much in the way of prospects who can shoot the lights out like DeBrincat and Kubalik. The closest are Henrik Borgstrom (LH), Michal Teply (RH), and Colton Dach (LH). If brought along the right way, they could be leaned on as goal scorers and PP weapons.
Then when scanning the system for playmakers, there aren't as many hits in the search engine. Jake Wise (LH) is deemed one of the most skilled prospects as far as offense especially with his vision and hockey sense but he's been on an uphill climb to meet his potential ever since being drafted in 2018.
Another prospect who technically doesn't qualify yet due to being on an AHL deal is center Dylan McLaughlin (LH). As a sophomore with the Hogs this past season, he tripled his offensive output from the year before. He's silky smooth with the puck and loves to play the half wall like Kane but on the left side.
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Defensemen
A second illustration where handedness can create "make it or break it" moments is on clearing attempts. As fans have witnessed with the Hawks and their penchant for failed clearing attempts is that it leads to being hemmed in their end for entire shifts and getting hammered with shots and goals.
Consider one of the best defensive defenseman in Blackhawks history Niklas Hjalmarsson. He often played RD despite being a left-hand shot. This wasn't an issue most of the time except when he had to clear pucks. He often struggled with clears on his off side which led to turnovers and unnecessary icings.
Clearing the puck on the forehand takes time to get set. However, this extra second or two can be enough time for the other team to force a bad pass or turnover. Instead, learn to clear the zone with your feet or be creative by using the glass being careful to not commit a delay of game penalty.
One thing to consider with the rearguards in the organization is whether there's an equal amount of LHD and RHD. On the projected starting D pairs, Seth Jones and Connor Murphy are the natural RHD. In the pipeline, there's Ian Mitchell, Alec Regula, Michael Krutil, Louis Crevier, and Connor Kelley.
There's a slightly greater than a 2-to-1 ratio of LHD to RHD when counting blueliners on the Blackhawks, with the IceHogs, and in the system. Granted, there are some D-men who can play both sides but can they play both sides equally well? Naturally the dominant side tends to coincide with handedness.
Even if a blueliner can play both sides, they should stay on their dominant side as much as possible unless the roster dictates otherwise, i.e. not enough RHD to fill the 3 spots on the right so fill any openings with LHD. By a sheer numbers game, this may be the norm given that 2-to-1 ratio.
In the end, though, if a blueliner can play either side and do both reasonably well, then that ratio is just a statistic that doesn't mean much in reality. There are many factors such as game-processing speed, physical strength, hockey intelligence, and pure talent that can help outweigh handedness.
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See you on the boards!
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