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  "path": "/blackhawks/2026/04/11/blackhawks-silly-sam-lafferty-defense-blues-ethan-del-mastro-jeff-blashill",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-12T00:58:36.487Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "tags": [
    "@BlackhawksFocus"
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  "textContent": "<p>Sam Lafferty received an interesting text Saturday morning, informing him he was about to play defense for the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks\" target=\"_blank\" >Blackhawks</a>.</p><p>The veteran forward wasn't shocked by that news. He had filled in as a defenseman before in college at Brown and during the 2022 world championships for Team USA, which had Jeff Blashill as an assistant coach.</p><p>He has also played defense in many drills during Hawks practices this season, simply because it's easier to run four lines and four pairings than to find a spot for a 13th forward — which has been Lafferty's job. Blashill had told him he might be called upon to play defense in an emergency situation.</p><p>But the Hawks' 5-3 loss Saturday against the Blues stretched the definition of emergency situation.</p><p>Third-pairing defenseman Ethan Del Mastro suffered a minor injury Thursday against the Hurricanes, and the Hawks had plenty of time to call up a replacement from Rockford. They just chose not to.</p><p>Granted, there are zero defensemen left in Rockford who have played NHL games this season. But one of the options, journeyman veteran Derrick Pouliot, does have a sizable 226 games of NHL experience over the last 12 years.</p><p>Instead, the Hawks threw Lafferty a bone.</p><p>After the game, Blashill praised how Lafferty, a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/03/28/blackhawks-sam-lafferty-beloved-friendship-connor-bedard\" target=\"_blank\" >beloved teammate</a> due to his cheerful personality and golf skills, has been wholeheartedly \"committed to this team all year\" despite getting healthy-scratched 52 times. He also mentioned how Lafferty is more familiar with their systems than anybody in Rockford would be.</p><p>\"[I'm] not saying there aren’t capable players [in Rockford], but we just felt like Lafferty was as capable as anybody,\" Blashill said.</p><p>\"We weren’t throwing someone in that never played defense. He’s played 'D.' Honestly, in practice at times, he looks good on 'D.' I thought he did a fine job. Maybe there’s one mistake there. It’s a hard thing. But other guys made mistakes, too.\"</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" > <div class=\"TweetUrl\"> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Toropchenko scores on a breakaway after Lafferty turned it over in the O-zone: <a href=\"https://t.co/60ZGxIQjiR\">pic.twitter.com/60ZGxIQjiR</a></p>— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BlackhawksFocus/status/2043090526686117942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script> </div> </div> </div></div><p>Were the Hawks wrong to do it? Perhaps not. It wasn't like this game mattered. The loss actually secured them a guaranteed top-five draft pick; it will likely end up as a guaranteed top-four pick.</p><p>And Lafferty's performance wasn't disastrous, even though the Blues scored twice during his 9:33 of ice time. Partner Kevin Korchinski was more responsible for one of those two goals, and the Hawks were credited with a 3-2 edge in scoring chances during those minutes. A casual fan at the United Center wouldn't have noticed anything strange.</p><p>But was it silly? Absolutely, yes. It's the kind of ridiculous thing that only happens in the third-to-last game of a lost season.</p><div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center> <div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related</div> <ul class=\"RelatedList-items\"> <li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2026/03/28/blackhawks-sam-lafferty-beloved-friendship-connor-bedard\" >Despite limited ice time, Sam Lafferty is beloved by the Blackhawks: ‘He’s just a joy to be around’</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>The Hawks took a brief 2-1 lead in the second period before allowing four consecutive goals. Blashill described it as a game decided by poor finishing and poor goaltending (by backup goalie Arvid Soderblom), not poor team-wide play. But again, it doesn't really matter.</p><p>What does matter: The Hawks have won only 10 of 37 games since Jan. 8 — including only three of 17 games at home.</p><p>They've already accumulated more points this season (70) than in each of the last four seasons, but that's largely because of their respectable first half — and their stellar first month in particular. Since then, celebrations have been just as scarce as usual.</p><p>The fact their roster is now laden with talented kids rather than placeholder veterans is a clear sign of progression toward the future and a clear reason for optimism. But that alone doesn't make the frequency of losing enjoyable.</p><p>In other news Saturday, Frank Nazar dodged a bullet in that a puck that hit his face and knocked him out of the game necessitated some dental work but didn't re-fracture his jaw, Blashill said. </p><p>Nazar, Del Mastro and Andrew Mangiapane (who also left injured) are all considered day-to-day. There are just four days left in the season.</p>",
  "title": "End of Blackhawks' season getting silly as Sam Lafferty plays defense in loss to Blues",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-12T01:33:46.106Z"
}