Chicago Blackhawks Demote Promising Young Center to Fourth Line

Ryan Greene's demotion to the fourth line seen as a message from the coaching staff

Feb. 3, 2026 at 8:47pm

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The Chicago Blackhawks have made a notable lineup change, demoting 22-year-old center Ryan Greene to the fourth line while promoting 21-year-old Oliver Moore to the second line. This move is seen as a message from the coaching staff to Greene, who has 18 points in 50 games this season. The Blackhawks are hoping the demotion will light a fire under Greene and help him improve his game.

Why it matters

The Blackhawks are in the midst of a rebuild, and developing their young talent is crucial. Greene was a second-round pick in 2022 and is considered a promising prospect, so his demotion to the fourth line is a clear sign that the coaching staff wants to see more from him. This move could have significant implications for Greene's future with the team.

The details

In practice, Moore was moved up to the second line alongside Teuvo Teravainen and Andre Burakovsky, while Greene was slotted in on the fourth line with Colton Dach and Landon Slaggert. The Blackhawks are hoping that Moore's speed and skill can help create more offense, while Greene will need to focus on winning draws, being first on pucks, and making the fourth line hard to play against.

  • On February 3, 2026, the Blackhawks made the lineup changes during their practice session, just a day before their road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The players

Ryan Greene

A 22-year-old center who was a second-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2022. He has 18 points in 50 games this season.

Oliver Moore

A 21-year-old center who was a first-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2023. He is known for his speed and skill and has been promoted to the second line.

Teuvo Teravainen

A skilled winger who will be playing on the second line with Moore and Andre Burakovsky.

Andre Burakovsky

A veteran winger who will be playing on the second line with Moore and Teravainen, and is expected to benefit from Moore's speed and skill.

Nick Foligno

A veteran forward who is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Blue Jackets.

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What’s next

The Blackhawks will be closely watching Greene's performance on the fourth line in Wednesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, as he looks to prove he deserves more playing time.

The takeaway

This lineup change by the Blackhawks is a clear message to Ryan Greene that he needs to improve his game and earn his spot in the lineup. It's a critical moment in his development, and how he responds could have a significant impact on his future with the team.