Blackhawks' Colton Dach Looks to Earn More Ice Time After Olympic Break

Dach feels rejuvenated after the break and is focused on improving his consistency to get more playing time.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Blackhawks forward Colton Dach is hoping to earn more ice time after a rejuvenating Olympic break. Dach felt refreshed after the break and is excited to get back on the ice. However, his playing time has decreased in recent months due to inconsistency in his game. Coach Jeff Blashill has encouraged Dach to move his feet more and be more responsible defensively. Dach is one of several Blackhawks prospects who will need a new contract after the season, so a strong finish could help his case.

Why it matters

Dach is an important young player for the Blackhawks who has struggled with consistency this season. With the team facing decisions on several pending free agents, Dach needs to prove he deserves a larger role going forward. His performance down the stretch could influence his next contract negotiations.

The details

Dach felt refreshed after the Olympic break, sleeping in late and enjoying the lack of a strict schedule. He's excited to get back on the ice with a renewed energy. However, Dach's ice time has decreased from 14 minutes per game in October to just over 11 minutes since Christmas, as he's been a healthy scratch at times. Coach Blashill has encouraged Dach to move his feet more and be more responsible defensively, which could help him earn more playing time in the team's new system that requires wingers to pressure opponents more aggressively.

  • Dach's ice time has decreased from 14 minutes per game in October to 11:09 since Christmas.
  • Dach was a healthy scratch several times in January.

The players

Colton Dach

A Blackhawks forward who is looking to earn more ice time after the Olympic break.

Jeff Blashill

The Blackhawks' head coach, who has encouraged Dach to move his feet more and be more consistent defensively.

Landon Slaggert

A Blackhawks prospect who has been skating on the fourth line with Dach during the team's mini-camp.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I texted [Landon Slaggert] and was like, 'I'm so excited to come to the rink now.' It's good to get that feeling back. It kind of feels like training camp — even the weather was a little bit nicer. You're driving in with your windows down. You get that energy. Hopefully we can take that into the last [25] games here and really showcase ourselves and make a push.”

— Colton Dach, Blackhawks Forward (suntimes.com)

“When he skates, he's a lot to handle, and we just have to get him skating on a more consistent basis. If we can get him [in the] habit of moving onto the puck, making sure he's skating when he gets the puck and skating to disrupt when he doesn't get the puck, it'll make him that much better of a player.”

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

What’s next

Dach will need to continue impressing in practices and earn back more consistent playing time in the Blackhawks' lineup. His performance down the stretch could influence his contract negotiations as a pending restricted free agent.

The takeaway

Colton Dach's ability to regain his early-season form and become a more consistent two-way player will be crucial for the Blackhawks as they evaluate their roster heading into the offseason. A strong finish could solidify his role with the team going forward.