So far in this series, we’ve highlighted each forward line of the Blackhawks by exploring their respective best-case scenarios. The potential top line of Taylor Hall, Connor Bedard, and Taylor Raddysh could be absolutely unstoppable, and a second line including Philipp Kurashev, Lukas Reichel, and Andreas Athanasiou has the potential to be lethal as well. If Ryan Donato, Jason Dickinson, and Tyler Johnson teamed up on the third line, they could gel together as a great defensive-minded unit, serving as a stabilizer for a team that will surely feel hectic throughout much of the season.
But what happens when those lines come off the ice? The Blackhawks’ fourth line will often seem unpredictable this year, with a cluster of bodies on the “roster bubble”. The potential fourth line we’ll be using consists of Nick Foligno, Cole Guttman, and Corey Perry. This group has the potential to be a true highlight on the new-look Blackhawks roster and could be a great set to help flesh out the roster.
Nick Foligno
Foligno has garnered perhaps the most attention of any Blackhawk so far in training camp due to his leadership, which is exactly why he was brought to Chicago. He wasted no time stepping into the role even though he’s skating in a brand-new system. Aside from his leadership traits, Foligno could offer the Blackhawks tremendous versatility on the ice with the ability to play all three positions on any line. At 35 years old, he’s not exactly the player he once was, but can still contribute in a number of different ways.
While he’s a capable scorer and playmaker, Foligno could be a great fit on this line primarily because of his leadership, experience, and levelheaded nature. He could certainly help Guttman blossom into a great scorer. Foligno is also a great counter to the hotheaded, pesky game of Perry, and could be a stabilizing force on this line.
Cole Guttman
As the youngster of this potential fourth line, Guttman could be set for his first full season at the NHL level. With the IceHogs last year, he was a scoring force with 30 points in 39 games. Guttman displayed impressive speed and effort, but his 5-foot-9 stature could pose some limitations to his game. Nevertheless, Guttman has the playmaking ability to put up plenty of points this season, especially if he’s playing against the opposition’s fourth line.
Guttman could be a great fit on the fourth line and learn from his linemates with a combined 35 years of NHL experience, as he’s still a pretty developmental player in the final year of his entry-level contract. If he can flesh out his game and become a reliable scorer thanks to steady feeds from Foligno and Perry, Guttman could explode in the scoring column and earn himself a second contract.
Corey Perry
Once the archnemesis of the Blackhawks, Perry now brings his nagging, infuriating game to the team’s fourth line in his age-38 season. He’s more than just an antagonist, though, as he proved last year he can still be valuable in the scoring column with 25 points, after posting 40 the year before. Once an elite scorer, Perry still boasts a nose for the net, even if his game is somewhat in decline.
While Foligno plays a measured, cool game, Perry can serve as a counterbalance on the other side as a player forcing his opponents to grind their teeth. Like Foligno, he can also serve as an on-ice mentor for Guttman as he continues to progress in his game. Foligno and Perry clearly aren’t a part of the long-term future of this team, as they’re both on one-year, 35+ deals, but they’ll make an impact both on the ice and in the locker room.
It’s hard to predict how the Blackhawks’ fourth line will play out, as there’s a large cluster of forwards fighting for ice time at the bottom of the roster. If this potential line becomes reality, though, the group could fit well together and make a major impact on a Blackhawks team that hopes to get back into championship contention.
