Blackhawks Rookie Greene Eager to Return After Surprise Scratch

Young forward looks to regain confidence after being held out of last game before Olympic break.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:24pm

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Chicago Blackhawks rookie center Ryan Greene was a surprise healthy scratch in the team's final game before the Olympic break. Greene, who has 20 points in 56 games this season, says he's just focusing on getting better and doing what the coaching staff wants him to do after the unexpected benching. Head coach Jeff Blashill said the move was intended to give the 22-year-old a chance to 'take a breath' and address some of the challenges of adjusting to the rigors of the NHL schedule as a first-year player.

Why it matters

Greene has been an important energy player for the Blackhawks this season, but his scoring touch has been lacking at times. The healthy scratch could be a wake-up call to help the young forward rediscover his confidence and production as the team pushes for a playoff spot in the second half of the season.

The details

Greene said he didn't think much of the coaching decision to hold him out of the Feb. 4 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He used the time off to mentally reset before the team reconvened for practices ahead of their next game on Feb. 23 in Nashville. Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill explained that the scratch was intended to give Greene, a Boston University product, a chance to 'face adversity' and 'take a breath' after the demanding NHL schedule, which is a big jump from the college and minor league levels he's used to.

  • On Feb. 4, Greene was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' 4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
  • The Blackhawks had a two-week break for the Winter Olympics, with Greene saying he 'didn't really touch the ice until a couple days before we were scheduled to practice here.'

The players

Ryan Greene

A 22-year-old rookie center for the Chicago Blackhawks who has 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 56 games this season.

Jeff Blashill

The head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, who decided to make Greene a healthy scratch for the team's final game before the Olympic break.

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What they’re saying

“Coach (Jeff Blashill) made that decision, nothing I can really do about it. Just got to keep my head up and make sure I'm doing what he wants me to do.”

— Ryan Greene, Blackhawks Center (chicagotribune.com)

“He's a first-year guy (who) grinds with the league (and) hadn't really faced any adversity up until that point. Sometimes you have to face adversity. It was the right decision for our team on that game and him personally (to) give him a chance to take a breath.”

— Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks Head Coach (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

With three more practices before the Blackhawks' next game on Feb. 23 in Nashville, coach Blashill is looking for Greene and the rest of the team to get back in rhythm after the Olympic break.

The takeaway

The healthy scratch of rookie forward Ryan Greene is a sign that the Blackhawks coaching staff is challenging the young player to elevate his game as the team makes a push for the playoffs. Greene's response in the coming weeks will be crucial as he looks to regain his confidence and scoring touch at the NHL level.