Blackhawks will enjoy much-needed physical, mental rest during Olympic break
A few days ago, Blackhawks defenseman Matt Grzelcyk pushed daydreams of Caribbean beaches out of his mind and thought back to the end of his rookie year with the Bruins.
That 2017-18 season concluded with 18 games in 34 days in March and April, and he still remembers it vividly today because it was such a physically grueling stretch.
"I probably still didn't really know how to take care of my body yet," Grzelcyk said. "I thought I did, but the only way to learn is to go through that. And when you're going through it, it's really hard."
Now nine years into his NHL career, the 32-year-old Bostonian has learned the recovery techniques most effective for him: getting as much sleep as possible, and spending time in both the cold and hot tubs.
But many of his Hawks teammates haven't learned yet what works for them — it does differ slightly from one person to another — and understandably so. That's unavoidable when more than half the roster is age 24 or younger.
For those kids, the stretch the Hawks just endured — 21 games in 40 days, including two stretches of six games in nine days, between the Christmas break and the Olympic break — was a brutal trial-by-fire in terms of maintaining stamina.
That's a denser schedule than usual even by NHL standards, not to mention by AHL or NCAA standards. It's unlike anything many Hawks had ever experienced before.
Grzelcyk came away impressed by how his younger teammates handled it, but there's no denying the fact it eventually ground them down. The Hawks went 6-2-1 in their first nine games after Christmas and 3-7-2 in the next 12, culminating with a 4-0 loss Wednesday in which they looked lethargic and resigned to defeat.
They desperately need the two weeks of rest that began Thursday. Bumps and bruises will heal, more significant injuries will lessen in severity, sore muscles will relax, weight will be regained and sleep cycles will return to equilibrium.
Grzelcyk has seen NHL culture change over the last decade in that young players are allowed to take off optional skates, get on the massage table and take advantage of other comforts previously reserved only for veterans.
He lightheartedly teases them when they do so, but he realizes it’s “really beneficial for them” to be able to take care of themselves in the best way possible — even with youthful energy also on their side. During a 21-in-40 stretch, though, there’s only so much that can be done.
And just as valuable as the physical rest will be the mental rest. Climbing the mountain from the bottom is exhausting, and the rebuilding Hawks just began that journey.
Experienced teams such as the Lightning, who are 18-1-1 since Dec. 20, probably wish they could keep playing and keep their momentum going. The Hawks, on the other hand, need to reset and regroup.
Most Hawks planned to either head home to their families or go on vacation during the break. Grzelcyk is off to Anguilla, a small yet gorgeous island east of Puerto Rico.
Coach Jeff Blashill will reunite with his wife and children in Tampa. Wyatt Kaiser will go ice fishing in northern Minnesota.
The Hawks should also -benefit from the full week of practice scheduled for Feb. 18-25 before their season resumes Feb. 26 at the Predators.
Practices are especially important for this team — since it takes years to fully ingrain systems and habits — and they got precious few opportunities to practice in -January.
“We’re all going to enjoy the break, but when we come back, we also have a mini training camp,” Blashill said recently. “If we want to adjust or tweak anything — and we’ve talked about things — that’s when we would do it.”