Blackhawks need more from Oliver Moore, but they also need to give him more

DALLAS — The NHL’s three-day Christmas break offered the Blackhawks a brief oasis within a grueling stretch of the season.

Some likely used the free time to reflect on the last few months. Rookie forward Oliver Moore, however, intentionally used the time not to reflect. While reunited with his family in Minnesota, he needed to give his brain a break from hockey.

‘‘Just being at home, being with my dog, going back to being a 20-year-old kid for a couple of days, it was great,’’ Moore said.

On the Hawks’ flight Saturday morning to Dallas, he switched his hockey lobe back on. And when that lobe is on, it’s very on.

Hawks head coach Jeff Blashill has seen that and has reminded Moore that mistakes are inevitable at his age in the NHL. It’s not healthy to stress about every one.

‘‘Part of what makes him great is that he’s hard on himself and he’s demanding of himself,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘Anybody’s strengths are usually a little bit of their weaknesses, and he’s hard on himself. He’s just got to continue to find that balance.

‘‘I’ve got full faith that he’s going to continue to improve and get better. He’s certainly going to have ups and downs, but I love the desire he has there. I wouldn’t trade the desire for anything.”

Moore doesn’t exactly agree with the opinion that his self-critical eye is a weakness, pointing out he would ‘‘rather care than not care.’’

‘‘It’s instinctive for me to be the best version [of myself] and the best hockey player I can be,’’ he said. ‘‘Part of that is I’m going to be hard on myself. That’s just part of getting a better process and learning. If I wasn’t, I don’t think I would be where I’m at today.’’

Moore is grateful to have established himself as a full-time NHL forward already, but now he’s focused on ‘‘taking that next step and really trying to be an impact player.’’

In the Hawks' shootout win Saturday, his speed down the wings was noticeable again and again, and then he sliced through the middle of the Stars' defense to set up a grade-A chance for Dominic Toninato early in the third period.

It was one of Moore's most active games in a while, even though he didn't end up on the score sheet. And given the severity of the team's offensive struggles since Connor Bedard’s injury, they really could use more depth scoring.

Moore has only one point (an assist against the Senators) in his last 10 games, putting a dent in a stat line that looked better when he had 12 points in his first 24 NHL games.

But his lack of production this month partly can be attributed to a drop in ice time. Blashill has relied more heavily on veteran forwards during Bedard’s absence. Moore has averaged barely over 11 minutes in his last eight games, down from 13:15 before that.

‘‘My role on the team — call it as it is — is not as [offensive] as it was in Rockford,’’ Moore said, pointing out he has at least some prior experience playing this role on Team USA during the last two world junior championships.

Put simply, the Hawks need more from Moore, but they also need to give him more.

He ultimately might end up being more of a bottom-six energy guy on a contending roster. On this roster, though, there’s no good reason not to give him ample opportunity to prove he can hang in the top six.

Blashill responded to that by saying players can earn more ice time with better play. With Moore in particular, Blashill would like to see him slow down enough to let his mental processing keep up with his skates.

‘‘He’s such a hard worker that he needs to use that tenacity when he doesn’t have the puck,’’ Blashill said. ‘‘But when he has the puck, he needs to either scan [the ice] early — to know what he’s doing before he gets it — or take that extra second to make sure he’s making a play that he sees, not a ‘hope’ play.’’

Foligno’s influence

Moore pointed out how Nick Foligno's injury absence hasn't been "as talked about" externally as Bedard and Frank Nazar's absences but has had a major impact on the team in its own right.

Foligno missed his 19th consecutive game Saturday but has a chance to return Sunday against the Penguins, Blashill said.

Even while sidelined, however, Foligno has continued to perform his captain duties off the ice, even making a cameo as a T-shirt tosser in the United Center stands during one home game.

And since he resumed skating a couple weeks ago, he has actually worked with Moore on the ice after official practices, coaching him on how to protect the puck along the boards and make smart plays with it from there.

"There's times where I feel like I maybe over-handle it a little bit, and he's been great [helping with that]," Moore said.