Blackhawks' Penalty Kill Faces Uncertain Future After Trade Deadline Struggles

The team's once-dominant penalty kill has plummeted since losing key players, raising questions about the effectiveness of Jeff Blashill's system.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a Blackhawks penalty kill, with fragmented shapes and overlapping planes of players, sticks, and the puck in muted tones of navy, forest green, and maroon.The Blackhawks' once-dominant penalty kill has fractured since key players were traded, exposing weaknesses in the team's system.Seattle Today

The Blackhawks' penalty kill unit, which ranked first in the NHL earlier this season, has struggled mightily since the trade deadline, dropping to 27th in the league over the past 15 games. The departure of key penalty killers like Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson has exposed weaknesses in the team's system, with new players like Ryan Greene and Ethan Del Mastro struggling to fill the void. Coach Jeff Blashill remains committed to his system, but the future of the Blackhawks' penalty kill is uncertain, especially with the impending free agency of star penalty killer Ilya Mikheyev.

Why it matters

The Blackhawks' penalty kill has been a team strength for much of the season, but its recent struggles raise questions about the sustainability of Blashill's system and the team's ability to maintain a strong special teams unit going forward. If the penalty kill continues to underperform, it will put even more pressure on the team's struggling power play to improve and carry more of the load.

The details

The Blackhawks' penalty kill ranked first in the NHL with an 83.6% success rate earlier this season, but since the March 6 trade deadline, it has plummeted to 27th in the league at 73.8%. During that 15-game span, the team has allowed a goal in nine games, including the last four straight. The departure of key penalty killers like Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson has forced younger players like Ryan Greene and Ethan Del Mastro into bigger roles, and their struggles have been evident in the team's defensive metrics on the penalty kill.

  • Through March 5, the Blackhawks' penalty kill had allowed the sixth-fewest shot attempts and ninth-fewest shots on goal per minute.
  • Since the March 6 trade deadline, the Blackhawks' penalty kill has allowed the 12th-most shot attempts and second-most shots on goal per minute.

The players

Jeff Blashill

The Blackhawks' head coach, who has implemented an effective penalty-killing system that previously worked well with the Lightning.

Ilya Mikheyev

One of the Blackhawks' best penalty killers, who has become one of the league's elite at that role. His future with the team is uncertain as he approaches free agency.

Connor Murphy

A key member of the Blackhawks' penalty-killing unit who was traded away, leaving a void on the team's special teams.

Jason Dickinson

Another important penalty killer for the Blackhawks who was traded, forcing younger players into bigger roles on the unit.

Ryan Greene

A Blackhawks forward who has struggled in a larger penalty-killing role since Dickinson's departure, allowing the most shots and goals per minute among regular killers.

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What they’re saying

“Penalty kill is one of those things where there's just so many different nuances. We certainly have our structure, but I don't know any way to learn it without going through it. And so they're getting those reps.”

— Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks Head Coach

“It comes down to execution and playing on our toes. When we force them to make plays under pressure, we have a lot of success. If we continue to do that, we'll get right back to where we were.”

— Landon Slaggert, Blackhawks Player

What’s next

The Blackhawks will need to determine if Ilya Mikheyev, their top penalty killer, will re-sign with the team this offseason. They will also need to find a new shutdown defensive center to replace Jason Dickinson, as that role is crucial to the success of their penalty-killing system.

The takeaway

The Blackhawks' once-dominant penalty kill has become a major concern, as the team has struggled to replace key players lost at the trade deadline. The effectiveness of Jeff Blashill's system is now in question, and the team's ability to maintain a strong special teams unit will be crucial to its success next season.