The Chicago Blackhawks’ veterans were eager to dot their “I” after Sunday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Forward Corey Perry revealed to the media that the players held a meeting without coaches present. He and defenseman Seth Jones spoke in front of their teammates.
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“We had a good duel,” Perry revealed at a press conference after the 4-2 loss to the Devils. We are a brotherhood and we don’t demean anyone. That’s not what we’re here for. This was not the aim of our intervention. We are brothers and can talk to each other like men to understand things.”
“The message was that we are a team. It’s not about putting anyone down, it’s about making everyone better.”
“We have to be responsible and play with the system that we put in place in training camp and in the first few games of the season,” Perry also said. We do it every now and then, but we have to do it for the duration of a game. We had a good personal conversation and will continue.”
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson sees this initiative by his veterans as an advantage.
“I didn’t take part in it and that’s a good thing,” he said. I think they heard me talk enough before and during the game. When they feel they have something to say, they tend to go further when leaders and those who feel the need to speak up do so.”
The Hawks, who have posted a 4-7-0 record so far in the 2023-24 season, will return to action on Thursday night. For this occasion they will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning.