NHL

NHL 2026 Season: Chicago Blackhawks Defense Explained for Online Sports Betting

If you're sizing up NHL sports betting for Chicago Blackhawks games this season, you need to understand their defense is the most developmentally interesting aspect of the organization. The Blackhawks sit seventh in the Central Division with a 22-28-9 record for 53 points, and their 3.45 GAA (ranked 30th in NHL) confirms a team giving up goals at an unsustainable rate. A blue line stacked with first-round picks learning NHL defensive zone coverage simultaneously, combined with inconsistent goaltending, creates the developmental chaos expected from a rebuilding team.

Alex Baconbits

March 5, 2026

5 Minutes

How The Blackhawks Defend in 2025-26

Chicago has built their defensive system around developing elite young talent while absorbing inevitable learning-curve losses. A blue line featuring Artyom Levshunov (2024 second overall pick), Sam Rinzel, Wyatt Kaiser, and Alex Vlasic learning simultaneously creates compound mistakes. Connor Murphy provides veteran anchor play (82 blocked shots, 1.5 per game), but neither Spencer Knight nor Arvid Soderblom has established themselves as legitimate long-term NHL starter.

Spencer Knight appears in 37 games as primary starter (0 giveaways, clean puck-handling). Connor Murphy anchors with minus-4 rating (best among regular defensemen) and 82 blocked shots. Sam Rinzel posts 0 plus-minus (best among young defensemen). But Artyom Levshunov's minus-27 rating (worst on team) reflects developmental growing pains.

For NHL sports betting, this means:

Blackhawks games offer automatic value on overs (3.45 GAA ranked 30th)
Opponent team total overs are the sharpest play (young defense learning simultaneously)
No goaltender matchup creates under opportunities (neither established as starter)
Avoid Blackhawks puck line plays (can't hold leads with this defensive structure)

F*ck Spreadsheets. Let Shurzy's Content Lab do the heavy lifting on your NHL bets.

Three Defensive Players Bettors Must Track

The Blackhawks' defensive struggles depend on three critical elements: the goaltending rotation uncertainty (Knight 37 games, Soderblom 17 games, neither established), Connor Murphy's veteran anchor (minus-4 rating best among regulars, 82 blocked shots), and Artyom Levshunov's developmental growing pains (minus-27 rating worst on team, 0.17 takeaway-to-giveaway ratio).

The Goaltending Rotation: Knight and Soderblom

Chicago's goaltending situation is one of organizational transition. Neither Spencer Knight nor Arvid Soderblom has established themselves as legitimate long-term NHL starter, resulting in shared workload producing functional but not competitive goaltending.

Spencer Knight (37 games):

Primary starter with highest workload
0 defensive giveaways (clean puck-handling)
CBS Sports early season: 3.05 GAA and .919 save percentage (one tracked appearance)
Capable of above-average performance individual nights

Arvid Soderblom (17 games):

5 giveaways across appearances (modest puck-handling concern)
CBS Sports early season: 3.93 GAA and .879 save percentage (one start)
Platoon arrangement reflects absence of clear long-term starter

The organizational decision to use both goaltenders in platoon reflects organizational gap that will require significant decision before Blackhawks can seriously compete.

Betting impact: When either goaltender starts, overs become automatic (3.45 GAA team ranked 30th). Opponent team total overs are the sharpest play. No goaltender matchup creates under value. Avoid Blackhawks puck line plays (can't hold leads).

Connor Murphy: The Veteran Anchor

Connor Murphy is the veteran anchor of the blue line. In 55 tracked games, Murphy has posted minus-4 rating (best among regular defensemen) with 82 blocked shots (1.5 per game, highest among regular defensemen).

Murphy's veteran excellence:

Minus-4 rating (best among regular Blackhawks defensemen)
82 blocked shots (1.5 per game, highest among regular defensemen)
53 hits (1.0 per game)
0.26 takeaway-to-giveaway ratio
Sets shot-blocking standard young players expected to match

His 82 blocked shots confirm a veteran who sets the physical standard. His minus-4 differential is best among Chicago's veteran blue-liners, reflecting positional discipline and experience that provide structural stability young defensemen are still developing.

Betting impact: When Murphy plays heavy minutes, opponent scoring props become marginally less attractive. His minus-4 rating (best among regulars) shows he limits damage. His blocked shots props are reliable (82 in 55 games, 1.5 per game). But even Murphy's excellence can't overcome team-wide defensive chaos.

Beat the books with systematic analysis. Visit Shurzy's Content Lab for the edge you need.

Artyom Levshunov: The Developmental Project

Artyom Levshunov (2024 second overall pick) is making his full NHL debut, and statistical results confirm developmental growing pains expected from 20-year-old learning NHL defensive zone coverage.

Levshunov's learning curve:

Minus-27 rating (worst among all Blackhawks skaters)
0.17 takeaway-to-giveaway ratio (lowest among regular skaters)
51 blocked shots (1.0 per game, physical commitment)
62 hits (1.2 per game, engagement above pure offensive defensemen)
2024 second overall pick, high offensive upside

The minus-27 differential and 0.17 ratio are most alarming developmental numbers on team, reflecting highly-skilled offensive defenseman making positioning mistakes and puck management errors that every young first-pairing defenseman makes.

Betting impact: When Levshunov plays heavy minutes, opponent team total overs gain additional value (minus-27 rating). His puck management issues (0.17 ratio) create opponent transition goal props. Track his development but fade Blackhawks under plays when he's on ice. Organizational confidence in long-term potential requires patience with current struggles.

Where The Blackhawks Get Stops And Where They Leak

Chicago's defensive performance shows systematic developmental chaos that's expected when first-round picks learn simultaneously.

Shot-blocking commitment: Connor Murphy leads with 82 blocked shots (1.5 per game). Alex Vlasic adds 78 blocked shots (1.4 per game, highest on team). Louis Crevier contributes 56 blocked shots (1.1 per game). Physical sacrifice is genuine despite poor results.

Physical forward engagement: Colton Dach leads entire roster with 177 hits (3.5 per game, extraordinary). Nick Foligno adds 76 hits (2.4 per game) with plus-2 rating (best among forwards). Landon Slaggert contributes plus-3 rating (best among forwards in full sample). Bottom-six competes hard.

Bright spot developments: Sam Rinzel posts 0 plus-minus (best among young defensemen) with recent plus-3 in 7 games. Wyatt Kaiser contributes 0.39 takeaway-to-giveaway ratio (best among defensemen). Matt Grzelcyk adds 0.43 ratio (best overall). Puck management improving in spots.

Where they leak everywhere: 3.45 GAA ranked 30th in NHL (catastrophic). Artyom Levshunov minus-27 rating with 0.17 ratio. Oliver Moore minus-16 rating among forwards. Andre Burakovsky minus-20 rating (worst among skaters). Tyler Bertuzzi minus-15 rating. Young players making learning-curve mistakes simultaneously creates compound defensive breakdowns. Neither goaltender established as legitimate starter.

Betting clues:

Blackhawks overs automatic (3.45 GAA ranked 30th)
Opponent team total overs the sharpest play
Murphy blocked shots props (82 in 55 games, 1.5 per game)
Dach hits props (177 in 50 games, 3.5 per game extraordinary)

Stop overthinking it. Visit Shurzy's Content Lab and start winning smarter.

Best Betting Angles For Blackhawks Defense

The Blackhawks' defensive catastrophe proves that rebuilding teams with multiple first-round picks learning simultaneously create automatic betting value on overs, and smart bettors targeting opponent team total overs while recognizing that Murphy's minus-4 rating and 82 blocked shots can't overcome Levshunov's minus-27 rating and team-wide 3.45 GAA ranked 30th in NHL find the most consistent value in fading Chicago's defensive competence at every opportunity while respecting that these developmental investments will create playoff contenders within two to three years.

Share this post: