On the Rise: Alex Vlasic
A defensive pillar for Chicago's rebuild
Chicago’s 32nd-ranked offense has received a face lift in the offseason, as Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ilya Mikheyev, Pat Maroon and Craig Smith joined the forward ranks.
Meanwhile, the back end’s outlook is murkier. Alec Martinez and TJ Brodie hopped on board in free agency, but how much will these fading veterans move the needle for the league’s fourth-worst defense? If the blue line is to shore up its weaknesses, you get the sense that the push will be internal. It’ll likely hinge on Alex Vlasic’s development into a shutdown defenseman.
Based on his new six-year, $27.6 million contract, the Blackhawks are sold on his upside. Here’s why.
On-Puck Defense
First things first: There’s no getting around the fact that the 23-year-old is, well, physically difficult to get around.
Standing 6’6”, 217 pounds and clocking a top speed in the 68th percentile, Vlasic’s raw tools are reminiscent of prime Victor Hedman’s. His mere presence looms large over proceedings, forcing opponents to hurry their designs for fear of surrendering the puck. From a distance where most defenders might settle for containment or a stray tap on the arms/legs, he can reach into the pile and dispossess you outright. It’s…kind of unfair.
Forwards may feel as though they’ve squeezed by him, yet in reality, he’s (CHI 72) already consumed their breathing room:
Vlasic’s wingspan and mobility ensure that he’s somehow always in the picture. However, these physical gifts are amplified by his defensive instincts. Much like a gifted boxer doesn’t crowd their punches, he gauges distance very well in order to avoid choking his reach. He seldom over-extends on the fringes, choosing to occupy the guts of the ice and angle you toward a dead end along the boards.
That inside-out stubbornness—mirrored by his stick placement and combined with his size—presents puck-carriers with a real head-scratcher. Opponents freezing in front of him is a regular sight. They simply don’t know how to navigate such a persistent and imposing roadblock.
When offenses manage to work tighter to the cage, Vlasic goes tall and slim rather than low and wide, shifting his focus from maximizing his reach to minimizing his triangle (a bugaboo for taller D-men). He also uses his skates well as a second layer of resistance, deftly kicking loose pucks back into his grasp. He refuses to let you play through him.
While he’s far from a bulldozer (160th among D-men in hits/60 minutes last season), he still leverages his frame to blanket opponents. Whether he’s neutralizing your transition game or thwarting your close-quarters offense from the other side of the crease, there’s seemingly no escape.
Here’s that Hedman-esque quality in action:
Beyond his long and powerful stride, Vlasic’s IQ is worth highlighting on this rush. He realizes that the puck-carrier (Nils Aman, VAN 88) is much likelier to decelerate than the potential pass recipient (Nils Hoglander, VAN 21) and sets his sights accordingly.
Moreover, watch his stick. Instead of hoping to meet Aman’s release point head on—which would require a more acute pursuit angle and full extension—he anticipates the pass’ trajectory and obstructs its path without compromising his inside line. Consequently, he’s able to deny the entry feed and guide the Canucks forward to the wall.
His range is no less disruptive in smaller-ice scenarios:
Matt Coronato (CGY 27) dishes the puck to Elias Lindholm (CGY 28) at the bottom of the circle before storming toward the far post. With a huge gap and a back-door menace to consider, Vlasic shuffles a few feet forward with that inside-out stick position and then crouches to dissuade a pass. Lindholm attempts a clever toe drag that would buy him space vs. 99% of blueliners, but this one is a mammoth equipped with an active stick. Hopes are dashed at the last second once more.
On the strength of his physical tools and nose for the puck, OZ possessions are never quite secure around Vlasic. The numbers reflect his talent for disruption:
Parayko’s inclusion on this chart is fitting because you can draw parallels to Vlasic in terms of on-ice appearance (rangy and fluid defenders) and results against stiff competition. Chicago’s hometown kid may actually hold the edge in hockey sense too. There is one minor difference: The former was on a conference finalist in St. Louis, whereas the latter was on a dumpster fire.
As the Blackhawks dust themselves off, we’ll gain a better view of Vlasic’s ceiling.
Don’t be shocked if it eclipses Parayko’s.
Off-Puck Defense
The same wingspan that torments puck-carriers acts as a nuisance in coverage as well. Especially when Vlasic is paired with Seth Jones (his main partner last season and a 6’4”, 213-pounder in his own right), Chicago’s top pair can cordon off virtually half of the DZ by itself.
The sophomore can therefore embrace an economical style whereby he doesn’t try to do too much. He rarely scrambles away from good ice, preferring to cast his net from the comfort of home.
In short, Vlasic understands what it means to be 6’6” and stations himself accordingly:
Thanks to his hulking frame and underrated anticipation, he demonstrates a knack for hedging. He’ll split the difference between multiple threats to bait passes and disguise his reach until the point of attack arrives, only stretching those last few inches once the dish is on its way. Lanes that would be available vs. a run-of-the-mill blueliner are locked down in a hurry.
Although Vlasic can swallow off-puck weapons for breakfast, he prefers to sag off, show opponents what they want and swat their ensuing attempts at the rim. Not only is he luring offenses into a trap, but he’s also placing Chicago’s finest defender (himself) in the crosshairs. Better him than any of his teammates.
The 2019 second-rounder attributed his feel for such setups to extra seasoning in the AHL:
“I kind of got a pretty big leash there, luckily, and I was able to do what I wanted and push things and kind of see what I can get away with (in situations).”
Watch his nerves of steel shine vs. Dallas:
On a sudden change of possession, Wyatt Johnston’s (DAL 53) nifty drop generates a 2-on-1 for the Stars. Pay attention to Vlasic’s reaction to Matt Duchene’s (DAL 95) initial pass. Nothing. Since he can put out fires from a mile away, he doesn’t need to lunge at Mason Marchment (DAL 27), sacrifice his depth or lay out in desperation, which might clear a corridor for a return feed. He stands his ground, and that discipline erases a glorious opportunity.
It’s not just size. His off-puck instincts are sharp as a tack.
Of course, this is a much riskier approach around the crease. He can’t afford any guesswork in a rapid-fire area, so he identifies the greatest danger in the vicinity and muzzles it via diligent stick tie-ups. If the target reveals themselves early, he’ll throw in a faceguarding stance to claim the ice his counterpart desires.
Vlasic displayed some of his technique vs. Chris Kreider (arguably the league’s top dog in net-front offense) in February:
Notice how he doesn’t merely exchange pushes and shoves with Kreider (NYR 20). He prioritizes his feet, battling for inside position on the first play and intercepting the forward’s route on the second. Kreider can neither get to his spot nor free up his stick. Vlasic’s total-body defense renders these attacks hopeless.
As you might expect, a defender who can handcuff offenses both on and off the puck surrendered very few Grade A chances (36th in xGA/60) or goals (31st in GA/60) last season. And he accomplished this while logging the 10th-toughest minutes in the NHL:
As a rookie. On a garbage Blackhawks club.
The scariest bit is that this giant still has plenty of room to grow. Physically, he’ll probably add another ~10 pounds of mass in the next couple of years to become even more imposing in the trenches. Skill-wise, he also offered the occasional glimpse of cagey puck management in 2023-24. Should he expand on that, he could progress into a valuable transition asset too.
We’ve barely scratched the surface.
Chicago won’t rediscover its 2010s glory overnight. It’ll be a long and challenging haul, and on those nights when the team’s revamped offense runs dry, it must learn to batten down the hatches.
A second-rounder emerging as a defensive keystone is a pretty good start.
Great breakdown. Vlasic was so fun to watch last season.