Blackhawks' Louis Crevier evolving into 'complete player' due to sudden offensive growth

During the Blackhawks' third period last week against the Blues, Jason Dickinson thought he had a chance to knock in a rebound goal after Alex Vlasic fired a shot from the point.

But one of Dickinson's own teammates — defenseman Louis Crevier — beat him to it.

"I was a little shocked to see him down there," Dickinson said afterward, smiling. "[I told him], 'Get back to the blue line. You’re a defensive defenseman.'"

Around the net certainly isn't where one would expect to find a 6-8, 240-pound man with seven career NHL goals. But if Dickinson had eavesdropped on Crevier's interview the day before, he would've heard him basically predict that situation ahead of time.

"When 'Vlas' starts winding up to shoot, I like to go down, because I know he likes to shoot far pad, so maybe I can get the rebound," Crevier said. "It's good to know what your partner is going to do."

That anecdote exemplifies Crevier's offensive growth this season, which has occurred in tandem with his overall evolution from seventh-round pick to AHL depth defenseman to NHL depth defenseman to top-four stalwart.

Every time it seems like the 24-year-old is surely about to plateau, he reaches a new level. His emergence has changed the Hawks' calculations about who they can pencil into their future defensive corps. He now looks like a long-term building block.

"Going into the year, I didn’t know what to expect [from him]," Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said in December. "Louis' confidence is really growing, and as his confidence grows, he’s becoming a better and better player.

"He’s 6-8, he skates well, he’s got good hands and he can shoot a puck. Those are all attributes that lead to a pretty good player. I think he’s developing into a good piece for us in front of our eyes."

Crevier's teammates have noticed, too.

"He's walking around with a little more swagger," Vlasic said. "He's coming into his own, and it's fun to watch him grow. I don't think he's near where he could be. He's got a super-high ceiling."

Said veteran Connor Murphy: "It's fun to see that momentum. He's got such a steady defensive game, for him to add that [offense], it makes him a really complete player."

Crevier missed both games this past weekend due to illness, but he returned to the lineup Monday against the Oilers.

His ability to make accurate passes and move the puck is improving. That's something he has worked on. He earned just one assist in 32 games last season; he has 10 in 42 games this season (entering Monday).

However, his offensive contributions mostly stem from his shot, which is excellent and which he never hesitates to unleash. The Hawks' 10 fastest shots this season all belong to Crevier, whose 25 shots over 90 mph are the fifth-most in the league.

"I tell him, 'Dude, every time you get the puck, just rip it,'" Vlasic said. "Because he's got one of the hardest shots in the league once he's able to wind up on it. Even if it gets blocked, they're not going to want to block it again. It's going to break something and go through."

Crevier has followed Vlasic's advice. Entering Monday, he led the Hawks with 32 five-on-five shot attempts since Christmas — more than any forward.

The Hawks believe they've developed a more consistent, defined identity in the offensive zone, and Crevier's predictability also helps with that. Everyone knows he's likely to shoot the puck every opportunity he gets.

"You pretty much know what’s coming, [and] it’s coming hard and fast," Blashill said. "If I had his shot, I would shoot it, too. He’s got a bomb. It’s a weapon, for sure. It’s a way for him — without a lot of offensive savviness — to be a very good offensive player."