Greenway Gets a Positive Update. The Wing Depth Problem Doesn't.

Coach Jeff Blashill confirmed good news on Jordan Greenway Friday, offering the first encouraging injury update the Blackhawks have had in a while. Greenway had been penciled in as a fourth-line presence when healthy, so his return timeline clearing is worth noting — even if his role was never going to solve anything structural.

And the structure is still the problem. Left wing drops off sharply behind Tyler Bertuzzi, with Andrew Mangiapane and Marek Vanacker next in line and neither producing at a meaningful rate last season. Right wing is worse — Patrick Kane registered no production at the starter position last year, and Martin Misiak and Anthony Spellacy sit behind him. Greenway slotting back into a fourth-line role does not change either of those pictures.

Three days ago I wrote that the right side was a ghost position and that camp cuts hadn't moved the needle. Nothing since has changed that read. The Blackhawks have addressed center depth with the Moore extension and have Bowen Byram anchoring the blue line, but the wings — both sides — remain the unresolved part of the roster heading into the new season. A healthy Greenway is a fine thing. It just isn't the thing Chicago actually needs.