Kyle Davidson addresses Blackhawks' disastrous start: Mark Eaton changing roles, trades being explored

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo SHARE COPY LINK Share CLOSE Twitter Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit Flipboard It turns out switching backup goalies is not the only change the Blackhawks are making after their disastrous 4-13-1 start. It’s one of two changes, in fact. The other is bringing in former NHL defenseman Mark Eaton, who has been the Hawks’ assistant general manager overseeing prospect development for the past five years, to join the coaching staff and work directly with the team’s struggling young NHL defensemen. It’s a decent idea, to be fair. But for that to be the only change revealed throughout GM Kyle Davidson’s 45-minute news conference Wednesday is surely and justifiably disappointing to fans. “This is akin to something you see in the NFL with a position coach,” Davidson said. "[He will be] hyper-focused on improving individual defending skills, in this case, and not necessarily impacting the overall scheme. “A lot of what [Eaton] built his career on are things that our players need to get better at. So he’s uniquely qualified from that perspective, as well as the fact he’s worked with almost every one of our defensemen since they’ve been drafted. He knows how they learn, he knows their gaps, he knows how they communicate and he’s also got that personal relationship with them.” Davidson also said he’s actively seeking out trades, which — if they come to fruition — would obviously extend the list of changes. None have yet, though. It seems that’s mostly because other, less desperate teams are reluctant to make moves this early in the season unless blown away by an offer. “This is a little bit of a precarious time where you don’t want to do something for the sake of doing something and make a mistake that you’re going to regret later,” he said. “So that’s something top of mind. But that doesn’t change our intent.” Davidson made it clear experience is the No. 1 trait they’re prioritizing in trade targets, and defensive reliability is No. 2. He believes they need more players who are comfortable in the NHL and can be calming influences in chaotic situations. But it would be insane to use assets to acquire a rental — in other words, a pending 2027 free agent — given how far out of the playoff race the Hawks already are this season. So they need a player with contract term, and those are even scarcer in this market. It likely would’ve been easier to acquire another defense-oriented veteran or two during the offseason, and Davidson conceded he erred by not doing so. “We probably, I don’t want to say ‘took for granted,’ but perhaps miscalculated a little bit on [how] we would look if we had one of our relied-upon defensemen go down,” he said, alluding to Bowen Byram missing 12 of 18 games so far. “Could we have benefited from one more veteran? It’s very possible we may have. That’s part of the evaluation process and honest candor that we’re having internally.” Byram did finally rejoin the Hawks for practice Wednesday, as did injured star forward Patrick Kane, although both wore non-contact jerseys and declined to speak to reporters afterward. Davidson insisted Byram’s upper-body injury, which has lingered for a month now, isn’t considered a long-term concern. However, he was frank when evaluating the Hawks’ on-ice struggles and — in particular — their defensive ineptitude. “Simply put, we’ve not been good enough,” Davidson said. “This isn’t what we told our fans to expect. I take responsibility in this. “We’re not defending well enough. We give up odd-man rushes — specifically two-on-ones and breakaways — at a rate that’s one of the highest in the league. As well as the high-danger chances that we’re giving up at too high of a rate in our defensive zone, which obviously then leads to goals against.” More of the same Aside from those aforementioned subjects, most of Davidson’s messaging Wednesday sounded eerily similar to what he has been saying for years. Much of it isn’t incorrect by any means — for example, the development of young players does indeed require time and patience — but it has nonetheless grown old to fans who have maintained patience for a while already. “I can confidently say that we...have acquired through the draft — and other means — some very meaningful foundational pieces that are going to be great-to-elite players in this league,” Davidson said. "[They] will carry this team upwards as these younger players reach their prime.” “We’re seeing maybe some of the downside, at times, of having such a young center and young defensive corps,” he said later. “But they’re gaining this experience that is going to serve them well.” Davidson reasserted his support for oft-criticized coach Jeff Blashill, too. “The players believe in him. He’s made them better,” he said. “I’ve seen this perception out there that he’s stubborn and he doesn’t want to change. I contradict that based on my experience with ‘Blash.’ In our conversations, he’s someone that seeks out feedback, wants alternative opinions. “We’re very much on the same page with how we assess the team and how we think we can be better moving forward.” Davidson said Hawks chairman Danny Wirtz, who hasn’t spoken to reporters since giving Davidson a contract extension in April, is “disappointed like all of us” by the start. Davidson said he and Wirtz “talk almost daily,” having “productive but honest” conversations. Asked if he’s considered bringing any new voices into the front office — in the same vein as bringing Eaton into the coaching staff — Davidson mentioned hiring contract-negotiation specialist Chris O’Hearn in January 2025. “There’s value in having strong opinions and opinions that will challenge yourself, which we certainly do,” Davidson said. “This is not a ‘yes man’ scenario that we have within our group. “If I wasn’t getting the proper feedback or different opinions, or there wasn’t good constructive discussion in the room, then I would probably agree that some other look is good. 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