The Chicago Blackhawks have four games remaining in the season as they have been eliminated from playoff contention. But the goal for them is the same as it was at the start of the season: development.
No development has a bigger spotlight than the defense. With six of the seven defensemen on the Blackhawks being no older than 24 years old, there is a lot to observe.
One of them is 23-year-old Ethan Del Mastro. He was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2021 and has been getting an extended look for the end of the season. Here is how he is faring.
Del Mastro’s Season with Blackhawks
Del Mastro has seen a lot since getting drafted. He has seen significant development with the Rockford IceHogs, with whom he has spent the majority of the season. He was a top-pair defenseman there, recording 18 points and was a plus-1 in 45 games.
But he has also seen a lot with the Blackhawks. He has played in only 16 games this season (and 24 last year) and has been back and forth between the AHL and the NHL a couple of times. There was one point in December when he was a healthy scratch for 10 straight games, as head coach Jeff Blashill mentioned that other lefties were ahead of him at the time.
Prospect Sacha Boisvert was made a healthy scratch four games into his NHL career, and Blashill mentioned the benefit of watching as part of the learning process. You could say the same for Del Mastro. However, with Grzelyck and Artyom Levshunov out for the rest of the season due to injuries, defensemen are getting more looks, and Del Mastro got another recall on March 3.
I spoke with Del Mastro on March 31, and something that stood out right away was his affability. As with most of the young players on the Blackhawks, they come into the room with great attitudes. Even though Del Mastro’s season has been choppier in terms of getting NHL time, he has taken everything in stride and has adjusted well. I asked him about his experience,
“It’s been good. Yeah- a lot of ups and downs. I mean, that’s how most people’s seasons kind of go. It’s, you know, a little bit of a roller coaster. But, yeah, I think Rockford’s obviously great. You’re able to kind of work on skills and work on things that sometimes you’re not able to do here. But I think my time here [in Chicago]- it’s been great. You know, I think the last little down the stretch, getting into more games and playing a little more, I think that’s been good for me, and kind of feeling more comfortable.
“And I feel like, the more you play and the more you get in games consistently, it kind of becomes easier for me, and I think a lot of people because you just are able to kind of feel it out a little more. And be able to make more plays and feel more comfortable when you’re out there. So, it’s been a long year, but it’s been good.”
Mainly, Del Mastro has been paired with Kevin Korchinski or Crevier. He has been paired with Korchinski for the last five games. According to Natural Stat Trick, Del Mastro and Korchinski’s high-danger chances for and against are 6-7. Their scoring chances for and against are 18-24, and their goals-for and against are 1-1. Those numbers are respectable for a young pair, and you can see the growth in both players.
Del Mastro is a player that Blashill has always admired. During training camp, he talked about loving Del Mastro’s makeup (he’s 6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and moxie. He also described him as a “foxhole guy,” – the same description he gave Tyler Bertuzzi.
Del Mastro Can Build on Strong Blackhawks Impression
I asked Del Mastro what it has been like playing with Crevier and Korchinski (whom he also knows very well from Rockford),
“It’s been good… I think they’re both great players. You know, any one of our D is awesome to play with. I think we’re all young, and we’re all able to kind of talk to each other on the bench, which I think makes it easier… You’re talking through plays and whatnot, and talking about situations that are happening on the ice, and you’re kind of open to be able to talk to them and what they think and what they’re seeing. And then, I think it’s just fun to be around the whole d-core that’s so young and able to kind of joke around and have fun, you know. But then we’re still learning together and going through that process of maturing our games and maturing as players. So, it’s been fun.”
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Del Mastro might not be the biggest point producer on defense, as he has yet to record a point this season. But he can bring a defensive defenseman’s game and physicality to the blue line, complementing more offensive players like Korchinski. Also, being able to play his offside is valuable.
Blashill said about Del Mastro on March 31,
“I think Ethan’s done a good job coming in, and I think it’s a good chance for us to see him. And when he first got in, I think the first time, we played seven [defensemen], and it gets a little bit more difficult, you know… and then seeing him on the right compared to the left, all those are good kind of chances to see him. And it’s also a chance for him to gain reps. So, he’s done a good job. You know what he is? He is a gamer. Like, he doesn’t play afraid to make a mistake. So I like that piece of it, for sure. I think the guys you want on your team are gamers. They’re guys that are going to go out and play to win, and if you make a mistake, you make a mistake. And that’s kind of how he plays.”
Blashill said in October, in part, “Long term, I think he’s a real good player and a real good piece for us.”
The Blackhawks’ defense will remain competitive going into next season, and Del Mastro is part of the conversation. He is a restricted free agent this summer. So, as Blashill noted, it’s especially important for young defensemen to get reps, and Del Mastro can run with it.
