Chicago Sports

The Blackhawks’ current first line of Dylan Strome centering Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel is so scorching hot right now, Chicago’s snow piles are in jeopardy.

“It’s [about] good chemistry,” interim coach Derek King said Monday. “All three players bring different elements to the game and to their line, and they just seem to be clicking right now. Touch wood — hopefully they continue to click on.”

“Both those guys are playing great,” Kane said. “Hagel is an easy guy to play with, with how hard he works and how good he is as far as getting pucks back. And I’ve always had some chemistry with Strome, as well. [We’ll] try to keep it going here, but it has been fun the last few games.”

They entered Monday having out-shot opponents 46-28 and outscored them 5-1 (during five-on-five play) during their last five games together. But they hadn’t done anything too special until the second half of last week, when they completely took over against the Red Wings and Avalanche.

In just those two games combined, Strome tallied six points (three goals and three assists), Kane tallied five points (two goals and three assists) and Hagel tallied four points (two goals and two assists, with another goal taken away the day after).

Strome’s out-of-nowhere dominance last Wednesday in Detroit — three goals, one assist and 10 faceoff wins on seven individual scoring chances — was one of the Hawks’ best individual offensive performances of 2021-22.

Then Kane’s performance Friday topped it, with his two goals and one assist on eight individual scoring chances (and a ridiculous 10 shots on goal).

And Hagel’s combination of grit, speed, relentlessness and underrated offensive instincts glue it all together. When Strome’s suddenly terrific faceoff skills aren’t generating offensive zone possessions, the forechecking strategy of Hagel leading the charge and Strome and Kane finding open space behind him often does.

“They’ve been really effective on the forecheck, turning over pucks and getting pucks back,” Kane said. “Obviously we know Hagel’s good at that, but Strome’s been really good at stripping pucks and creating chances off that, [too].”

“We just feed off each other pretty well,” Hagel said postgame Friday. “Strome and Kane help me out on the forecheck. They’re coming in [and] the second guy’s in quick.”

Strome’s key role in the line’s success is particularly notable considering his tribulations earlier this season. He entered Monday with 15 points in his last 17 games (since Dec. 5) after recording just three in his first 14 games.

Typically soft-spoken Hagel talked passionately and lengthily Friday about his admiration for Strome’s persistence.

“Hats off to him being able to mentally stick together and be able to get out of that,” Hagel said. “He has been unbelievable. Even when things are going wrong, he never has his head held down. That’s why he’s a good NHL player: he’s able to keep his head up and keep moving forward and try to get better [despite] his circumstances. He may not be happy with it, but he keeps that out of the dressing room and [isn’t] negative to anyone on the team. It has been really, really good to see.”

King still doesn’t seem to appreciate what Strome brings on-ice as much as one would expect. The interim coach said Monday he “wouldn’t say [he] fully trusts him yet” before acknowledging Strome is recently “playing well without the puck, at times, for the most part.”

That came after King interjected praise last week of Strome’s hat trick by saying he doesn’t “know how long he’s going to be lasting with us,” not-so-deftly confirming suspicion the Hawks have been shopping Strome for nearly a year now.

And given the Hawks’ place in the standings, Kane, Strome and Hagel’s current hot streak might accomplish little of significance other than raising Strome’s trade value. But it has nonetheless been impressive to witness.

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Coby White has become well-versed in the idea that there’s only so much he can control.

A lesson definitely not easily learned, either.

The seventh-overall pick from the 2019 draft has been in and out of the starting lineup since his arrival, he’s played the off-guard, then the point guard, only to be pushed back off the ball, and he’s been in and out of the training room this season specifically, first trying to get over an offseason shoulder surgery and then testing positive for the coronavirus and grounded in the protocol.

Having his versatility challenged the entire way.

That was again on display during his Sunday postgame presser, with the AFC Championship Game playing on a television on a side wall of the media room.

“What happened?” White said in mid-sentence, pivoting from basketball player to NFL analyst after a game-changing Cincinnati interception. “Ohhh …”

White then quickly composed himself, laughed and said, “My bad,” finishing his answer as if he never broke stride.

Versatile alright.

“Whatever the team needs me to do,” White said of his mindset throughout all his ups and downs. “My role changes all the time. I’ve just got to adapt and continue to adjust. It’s nothing new for me. I’ve been doing it for awhile. Whatever the team needs I’m down to do whatever.”

That doesn’t mean there’s not lingering questions surrounding White. That also hasn’t changed.

Specifically, when the roster is healthy will White be able to be that consistent scorer the Bulls need him to be off the bench? And will he even be a Bull after the trade deadline?

The second question might be a bit easier to guess, considering a league source said the Bulls have remained fairly quiet with the Feb. 10 deadline approaching. That’s not a real surprise, considering vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has already earned the reputation as one of the hardest executives in the league to read, but also injuries have handcuffed the roster creativity the Bulls could have had.

The first question about White’s consistency, well, he’s been trying to answer it without saying a word.

He overcame slow starts in his return from the shoulder and COVID, he’s shown flashes of playing the point when asked to in small increments, he’s been better at attacking the rim, and he’s shown the ability to overcome shooting slumps.

Over a recent five-game stretch, White shot a dismal 4-for-29 (13.7%) from three-point range, but rather than shy away from long range, came back his last two games and went 7-for-13. He still has the mindset of taking what the defense gives him, but it’s a better understanding of what he’s actually being given.

“I feel like teams load up against Zach [LaVine] and DeMar [DeRozan], so if I can help by making some catch-and-shoot shots teams maybe won’t load up as much,” White said. “Trying to help those guys spacing wise. It’s trusting my shot, and if I’m open shooting it.”

All well and good, but not all that’s being asked of him.

As long as Alex Caruso (wrist surgery) and Lonzo Ball (knee surgery) are on the shelf, coach Billy Donovan still needs White to play defense and play-make on offense. He’s not out there to be a three-point specialist, and he knows that.

More importantly, his teammates appreciate White’s understanding of what he has to do for them.

“He’s more mature as player,” center Nikola Vucevic said of White. “His understanding of the game is easier now. In that second unit, his ability to shoot and create is huge for us.”

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Coby White has become well-versed in the idea that there’s only so much he can control.

A lesson definitely not easily learned, either.

The seventh-overall pick from the 2019 draft has been in and out of the starting lineup since his arrival, he’s played the off-guard, then the point guard, only to be pushed back off the ball, and he’s been in and out of the training room this season specifically, first trying to get over an offseason shoulder surgery and then testing positive for the coronavirus and grounded in the protocol.

Having his versatility challenged the entire way.

That was again on display during his Sunday post-game presser, with the AFC Championship game playing on a television on a side wall of the media room.

“What happened?” White said in mid-sentence, pivoting from basketball player to NFL analyst after a game-changing Cincinnati interception. “Ohhh …”

White then quickly composed himself, laughed and said, “My bad,” finishing his answer as if he never broke stride.

Versatile alright.

“Whatever the team needs me to do,” White said of his mindset throughout all his ups and downs. “My role changes all the time. I’ve just got to adapt and continue to adjust. It’s nothing new for me. I’ve been doing it for awhile. Whatever the team needs I’m down to do whatever.”

That doesn’t mean there’s not lingering questions surrounding White. That also hasn’t changed.

Specifically, when the roster is healthy will White be able to be that consistent scorer the Bulls need him to be off the bench? And will he even be a Bull after the trade deadline?

The second question might be a bit easier to guess, considering a league source said the Bulls have remained fairly quiet with the Feb.10 deadline approaching. That’s not a real surprise, considering vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has already earned the reputation as one of the hardest executives in the league to read, but also injuries have handcuffed the roster creativity the Bulls could have had.

The first question about White’s consistency, well, he’s been trying to answer it without saying a word.

He overcame slow starts in his return from the shoulder and Covid, he’s shown flashes of playing the point when asked to in small increments, he’s been better at attacking the rim, and he’s shown the ability to overcome shooting slumps.

Over a recent five-game stretch, White shot a dismal 4-for-29 (13.7%) from three-point range, but rather than shy away from long range, came back his last two games and went 7-for-13. He still has the mindset of taking what the defense gives him, but it’s a better understanding of what he’s actually being given.

“I feel like teams load up against Zach [LaVine] and DeMar [DeRozan], so if I can help by making some catch-and-shoot shots teams maybe won’t load up as much,” White said. “Trying to help those guys spacing wise. It’s trusting my shot, and if I’m open shooting it.”

All well and good, but not all that’s being asked of him.

As long as Alex Caruso (wrist surgery) and Lonzo Ball (knee surgery) are on the shelf, coach Billy Donovan still needs White to play defense and play-make on offense. He’s not out there to be a three-point specialist, and he knows that.

More importantly, his teammates appreciate White’s understanding of what he has to do for them.

“He’s more mature as player,” center Nikola Vucevic said of White. “His understanding of the game is easier now. In that second unit, his ability to shoot and create is huge for us.”

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One of the biggest decisions for Bears coach Matt Eberflus was picking a coordinator, and he believes he found an “innovative” strategist in new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

He hired Getsy from the Packers after serving as quarterbacks coach.

“I’m big into metrics, and where he comes from they’re big on that,” Eberflus said. “He’s been on my radar for a while.”

Fields started 10 games as a rookie and finished with 58.9% completions, 1,870 yards, seven touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a 73.2 passer rating. He also rushed for 420 yards (5.8 per carry) with two touchdowns. He fumbled 12 times.

The Bears hired Eberflus last week after four seasons as Colts defensive coordinator. Before that, he was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach from 2011 through ’17. He also spent 17 seasons coaching Toledo and Missouri.

The Bears job came open at the end of the season after going 6-11 under Matt Nagy. Nagy went 12-4 in his first season and led the Bears to the playoffs, but stumbled to 22-27 over the next three and was fired.

Eberflus’ first order of business was hiring Getsy. With Eberflus’ background being on defense, Getsy is likely to have autonomy running the offense.

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Auburn remained No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the second straight week, while Kentucky jumped into the top five for the first time in more than two years.

Bruce Pearl’s Tigers earned 49 of 61 first-place votes to extend the program’s first stay at the top and stay comfortably ahead of Gonzaga, which earned the other 12 first-place votes. Auburn (20-1) has won 17 straight games since losing a double-overtime game to Connecticut in November.

UCLA climbed to No. 3, followed by Purdue — which claimed its first No. 1 ranking earlier this season — and Kentucky. John Calipari’s Wildcats (17-4) had the week’s biggest jump, rising seven spots after winning by 18 at Kansas on Saturday.

This marks the highest ranking for Kentucky since the 2019-20 season, when the Wildcats spent one week at No. 1 in the first regular-season poll and sat at No. 6 in early March.

Houston and Arizona were next, followed by reigning national champion Baylor — which spent five weeks at No. 1 but has split its last six games after Saturday’s loss at Alabama. The Bears’ four-spot slide marked the first time the Big 12 hasn’t had at least one team in the top five since the final poll of the 2018-19 season.

Duke and Kansas rounded out the top 10, with the Jayhawks falling five spots after the Kentucky loss.

No. 25 LSU took the week’s biggest tumble, falling six spots after losing at TCU. Texas re-joined the poll at No. 23 as the lone new addition following a one-week absence in a season that saw the Longhorns open at No. 5.

Davidson fell out of the poll from No. 25 after earning the program’s first AP Top 25 ranking since March 2015.

The Top 25

1. Auburn 20-1

2. Gonzaga 17-2

3. UCLA 16-2

4. Purdue 18-3

5. Kentucky 17-4

6. Houston 18-2

7. Arizona 17-2

8. Baylor 18-3

9. Duke 17-3

10. Kansas 17-3

11. Wisconsin 17-3

12. Villanova 16-5

13. Michigan St. 16-4

14. Texas Tech 16-5

15. Providence 18-2

16. Ohio St. 13-5

17. UConn 15-4

18. Illinois 15-5

19. Southern Cal 18-3

20. Iowa St. 16-5

21. Xavier 15-5

22. Tennessee 14-6

23. Texas 16-5

24. Marquette 15-7

25. LSU 16-5

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Glenbard West’s Andrew Moody, U of I jersey, holds up three fingers after Bobby Durkin hits a three as the Hilltoppers play St. Charles North. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Four new teams join, including Yorkville Christian. The Mustangs upset Kenwood on Saturday.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the elite Public League teams. Glenbard West beat Young and Glenbrook South beat Simeon last week. Saturday it was Kenwood’s turn to lose to a suburban team.

Yorkville Christian beat the Broncos 75-68 at Orr’s Breast Cancer Shootout on Saturday. Duke recruit Jaden Schutt scored 30 and senior KJ Vasser had 24 points.

The Mustangs are just 13-12 this season but they’ve played a rugged schedule and are capable of beating any team in the state when Schutt and Vasser are hot.

Yorkville Christian has played nearly a dozen ranked teams this season and still has an upcoming game against St. Ignatius. They are the heavy favorites to win the Class 1A state title next month.

Kenwood’s focus now will be the city tournament, which starts on Wednesday. The Broncos are one of the most talented teams in the state, but this loss was a good reminder that Mike Irvin’s team is very young overall and still needs to find a player capable of rebounding consistently.

Super 25 changes

Lemont, St. Ignatius, Bloom, and Kankakee dropped out of the rankings this week after picking up losses.

The Wolfpack have hit their second low point of the season. They lost games to Benet, Providence, and Nazareth last week.

Thornton, which dominated Larkin on Saturday, is back in the Super 25. The Wildcats have won eight of their nine games since Illinois recruit Ty Rodgers returned from his hamstring injury.

Yorkville Christian returns after beating Kenwood. Clark, which has won seven consecutive games, is also back. St. Rita’s talented young team continues to improve. The Mustangs beat Mount Carmel by 21 points this week and played very well in a loss to Link Academy, Mo., one of the best teams in the country, on Jan. 22

IHSA Covid policy on playoffs

The Illinois High School Association has announced its procedure for COVID-19 withdrawals in the state basketball tournament

If a team is unable to play its playoff game the school can decide to play with its junior varsity team. Or it can withdraw from the tournament and the team they defeated will advance in their place. The school must notify the IHSA no later than six before the start time of the game.

Super 25 rankings for Jan. 30

With record and last week’s ranking

1. Glenbard West (24-0) 1

Two big wins this weekend

2. Simeon (20-2) 3

Favorites in city tournament

3. Glenbrook South (22-2) 2

Hosts Glenbrook North Tuesday

4. New Trier (22-2) 7

Season split with Glenbrook South

5. Hillcrest (22-2) 6

Impressive win vs. WW South

6. Kenwood (18-6) 4

Wake up call vs. Yorkville Christian

7. Curie (20-4) 5

Lost to Simeon

8. Young (15-8) 8

Lost to Bishop Gorman

9. Wheaton Warrenville South (23-2) 9

Lost to Hillcrest

10. Rolling Meadows (22-3) 12

Hosts Prospect Friday

11. Hyde Park (17-6) 11

Solid season in Red-South/Central

12. Brother Rice (20-2) 13

Beat Fenwick

13. Oswego East (24-1) 15

At Minooka Tuesday

14. Leo (15-3) 17

Beat Mount Carmel

15. Lyons (18-4) 16

Gave Glenbard West a game

16. Thornton (15-5) NR

Rapidly improving

17. Larkin (22-3) 14

Didn’t have it vs. Thornton

18. Bolingbrook (19-6) 18

Beat Lockport

19. Yorkville Christian (13-12) NR

Very dangerous

20. Homewood-Flossmoor (15-6) 20

Lost to Hillcrest

21. Benet (19-5) 21

Handled Marist

22. Burlington Central (22-3) 22

Three-win week

23. St. Rita (16-7) NR

On the upswing

24. Clark (16-3) NR

Quietly winning

25. Mount Carmel (20-3) 10

Hosts DePaul Prep Tuesday

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Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields throws against the Vikings on Dec. 20 at Soldier Field. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times, Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Now it’s Getsy that must try to come up with answers to a problem that has, without hyperbole, vexed the Bears for more than a century: how to turn a Bears quarterback into a star.

Earlier this month, Aaron Rodgers gave Luke Getsy his endorsement.

Appearing on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Jan. 11, the Packers star talked about his quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator being invited to interview for the Broncos’ head coaching job. Rodgers said he’s been impressed with Getsy, pointing out that he was only a month older than the coach.

“He’s been in our room for three years now, and he’s a fantastic coach, he’s a really good teacher of the game,” Rodgers said. “I’m excited for him as well. It’s great when our guys get opportunities.”

Sunday, the Bears gave Getsy his. New head coach Matt Eberflus named him the Bears’ offensive coordinator, answering the most important question that he faced in assembling his staff.

Now it’s Getsy that must try to come up with answers to a problem that has, without hyperbole, vexed the Bears for more than a century: how to turn a Bears quarterback into a star.

Justin Fields needs an offensive coordinator who will craft an offense around his specific set of skills — an uncanny deep ball and speed that is the second-fastest quarterback time clocked at the NFL Scouting Combine this century.

Matt Nagy never did. The Bears head coach had Andy Dalton spend all preseason with the first team, then struggled to put the rookie in a position to succeed after the veteran got hurt. Two days after the Bears’ debacle in Cleveland — Fields threw for 68 yards in his first career start — Nagy asked his players what they would do to improve the offense. Nick Foles offered suggestions; Fields, still adjusting to life as an NFL starter, did not.

When Nagy finally acquiesced and made Fields the full-time starter, consistency proved impossible to find. Fields lost his final seven starts. His 73.2 passer rating last season ranked No. 28 in the NFL.

It’s fair to have the same concerns about Getsy as one does with Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles. Getsy has never called plays in the NFL before. Eberflus has no head coaching experience at any level, and Poles has never been a general manager before.

Was Getsy a hot name in interview circles simply because he’s been Rodgers-adjacent? How much could the star quarterback have possibly learned from a position coach who came along in his 15th season? Few people on the planet can do what Rodgers can do; how will Getsy take what he learned in Green Bay and apply them to mere mortals?

Asked to describe Getsy, two sources separately described him as authentic and high-energy. One praised his relationship with Rodgers, especially during the quarterback’s melodramatic, controversial season.

Earlier this season, all-world receiver Davante Adams — who will be a free agent in March — told reporters that Getsy, a former Packers receivers coach, is “one of the unsung heroes” who is “trying to be a master at his craft.”

Similarly, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he was “absolutely” ready for a promotion.

“I think he’s a great communicator,” LaFleur told reporters earlier this month. “He’s got great command. I think people believe in him. He’s genuine. He’s a good person. He cares about people. He’s got all the qualities that you look for, I think, when you think about a leader.”

More important than the coach’s personality, though, will be what kind of offense Getsy runs with Fields under center. Getsy is a branch of the Mike Shanahan coaching tree; in 2013, his boss, LaFleur, coached in Washington under Shanahan and alongside the head coach’s son Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. The younger Shanahan and McVay faced each other Sunday for the NFC title. Mike Shanahan offenses are a branch of the West Coast scheme, but with a focus on the outside zone run.

Getsy, though, has been influenced by Joe Moorhead, his pass-game coordinator, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when he played quarterback at Akron. Under Moorhead, Getsy led the conference in passing yards in both 2005 and 2006.

In 2018, Getsy became Mississippi State’s offensive coordinator under Moorhead, who was the Bulldogs’ head coach. With Moorhead calling plays, Mississippi State relied on run-pass options, with quarterback Nick Fitzgerald finishing fifth in the SEC with 1,121 rushing yards. Mississippi State’s 5.7 yards per rush were the second-most in the conference. Moorhead’s pass scheme relies on an aggressive vertical element, too; he showed that the last two years as Oregon’s offensive coordinator.

The Bears’ offense, then, figures to be a mixture of the Packers’ pass concepts — Getsy was their pass-game coordinator — with a Moorhead influence. On the ground, the Bears figure to feature run-pass options — which would give Fields a chance to flash his athleticism — and outside zone plays.

The best offense, though, will be the one that allows Fields to develop into the quarterback the Bears hope he can be.

For the Bears, it’s been the challenge of a century.

For Getsy, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.

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Considering how easily the Bulls scored the basketball in Sunday’s 130-116 win over Portland, it was easy to cover up the defensive miscues for the Bulls. The players, however, remain focused on trying to work on that side of the floor.

The Bulls at least deserve some credit for their short-term ingenuity.

They may not have found a permanent solution for their on-going defensive woes, but at least on Sunday they were able to locate a few shovels, toss some snow in that direction, and cover it up for the day.

That’s what a good shooting afternoon for the home roster, combined with a horrific defensive team like Portland, resulted in, as the Bulls (31-18) got back to their winning ways, beating the Trail Blazers at the United Center 130-116.

“We’re just gonna have to be in situations where we’re going to have to provide more help for one another, and I think you want to rotate the least amount possible, and as much as is necessary,’’ coach Billy Donovan said of the strides that still need to be done on the defensive end moving forward. “We’ve gotta do a better job helping behind pick-and-roll, we’ve got to do a better job helping on the ball, we’ve gotta do a better job shifting to prevent penetration. There’s just a lot of things I think we’ve got to do better, and I think it starts with your physicality, where you are and how you’re playing from the three-point line and in.’’

There were moments where that physicality showed itself against Portland, but there was still a lot of the same old, same old, especially in the first quarter when closeouts were the issue.

After allowing a below average three-point shooting team like the Spurs to get comfortable from long range in Friday’s loss, the Trail Blazers (21-29) were offered that same luxury right from the tip. Portland built a 35-29 first quarter lead, shooting 66.7% from the field and hitting 7-for-11 (63.6%) from three.

Not exactly the response Donovan was looking for.

“I think in the first quarter we had the right intentions, but the thing we did a really poor job of was our closeouts,’’ Donovan said. “We’re stopping under the three-point line like we’re worried about getting driven, and then when they rise up to shoot and you’re going out there contesting it’s too late.

“We got better as the game went on. I get it, it’s hard to take away the three and contain the ball, but where you get caught is in no man’s land.’’

That started to change into the second quarter, and the second half.

Not only did the Bulls get back to that disruptive style of defense that was displayed on most nights when Alex Caruso (wrist surgery) and Lonzo Ball (knee surgery) were healthy and in the lineup, but there was actually some pride shown in getting back to a more physical brand of basketball.

The Bulls nabbed seven points off four turnovers in that second quarter, and more impressively held Portland to 47.8% shooting from the field.

Getting 18 points off the bench, as well as shooting 63% in that second helped, but either way, the Bulls went into the halftime locker room looking like a team that was grasping what was being asked of them on that defensive end.

And it’s not just being asked of them by the coaching staff.

“We just stay locked in,’’ guard Coby White said of the adjustment. “The coaches continue to be on us on that end of the floor, and as a team we want to get to another level on the defensive end, so we kind of stay locked in with the guys we have. Zach [LaVine], DeMar [DeRozan], Vooch [Nikola Vucevic], we know we can score, but those are the guys that are mainly preaching that we’ve got to get it done on the defensive end. Those guys are all in, so we never lose sight of it.’’

Vucevic finished with a team-high 24, while DeRozan added 23.

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Sam Lafferty has slid into a sizable initial role with the Blackhawks. | AP Photos

Reunited with longtime friend Riley Stillman in Chicago, Lafferty has kept opponents “on their toes” during his first eight games.

Long before either made it to the NHL, Sam Lafferty and Riley Stillman met and bonded while working with a Phoenix-based trainer.

This winter, with Lafferty looking for a change of scenery after a rough start this season with the Penguins, that friendship helped lead him to and integrate him into the Blackhawks.

“We hang out quite a bit,” Lafferty said recently. “We’re really good friends off the ice. It has definitely made my transition to Chicago that much easier.”

The Penguins and Lafferty first talked about the possibility of a trade back in November, once it became clear he didn’t fit well in their roster this year. The two parties ended up “just waiting for the right time” — which turned out to be his early January swap for Alex Nylander — but Lafferty’s agent, Pete Rutili, had told him from the start the Hawks were a “possible really good fit.”

That allowed Lafferty to reach out to Stillman — whom he still spends most summers training with back in Phoenix — for some inside intel.

“He just told me, ‘The guys are great, and they’re trying to build something here,’” Lafferty said. “It was something I was just excited to hopefully be a part of.”

Although Lafferty was a hometown product for the Penguins, having grown up less than two hours away in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, he wasn’t heartbroken to leave. It had been a “challenging” year there, and most of his family now lives in Montana, from which Chicago is a significantly easier flying destination.

And Lafferty has clicked quickly with the Hawks — even with Stillman currently sidelined for another two-to-three weeks with his left shoulder injury.

Despite recording only one point in his first eight games in a red sweater, Lafferty’s elite skating and strong work ethic has been noticeable, and interim coach Derek King has grown comfortable using him in a second-line role the past few weeks.

“It’s that speed and energy,” King said Saturday. “[He] bangs bodies, pushes the other team back. He keeps them on their toes, too. He’s like a bigger version of [Brandon] Hagel, [albeit] maybe not quite as skilled. … I like him. I could use a couple more players like him and Hagel.”

Added Ryan Carpenter on Sunday: “[He brings] a lot of speed. He’s really fast out there and creates a lot with his feet and works really hard. … He definitely pushed back ‘D’ and wins a lot of pucks, which is nice; it creates a lot of space.”

Since his debut Jan. 13, Lafferty leads the Hawks with a remarkable 65.0% high-danger scoring-chance ratio at even strength and ranks second among team forwards with a 52.8% overall scoring-chance ratio.

He has become a key part of the penalty kill, too, leading team forwards in PK ice time since Jan. 13 with an average of 2:18 per game. It has helped that the Hawks’ PK system is “pretty similar” to the Penguins’.

He’s a pending unrestricted free agent this summer. A consistently impressive second half of the season could convince the Hawks that Lafferty, who turns 27 in March, is worth re-signing.

“It has been awesome, just [being] given a lot of opportunity,” he said. “I’m just trying to make the most of it and play to my strengths as much as I can. It has been really fun for me.”

Note: Ex-Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton will now serve as Canada’s head coach at the Olympics after Claude Julien, for whom Colliton was to be an assistant, fractured his ribs during a training camp accident in Switzerland.

“That’s great for him,” said King, who added they’ve exchanged occasional texts since the coaching change. “That’ll be nice for him to get back into things, and he’ll do a good job.”

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Not only did Donovan point out everything Vucevic brings to the table, but also everything he’s had to leave at the table in sacrificing for the team. The way Donovan has seen it, no player on the roster works harder than the veteran center, especially when it comes to Vucevic responding after games he’s not happy with.

Billy Donovan doesn’t play the blame game.

What he’ll participate in even less?

Putting stock into what the Bulls coach perceives as criticism for any one of his players by the fan base or on social media.

So the idea of somehow making center Nikola Vucevic the scapegoat for when things don’t go as well as they should for this Bulls team, not only didn’t sit well with Donovan, but in his eyes was 100% inaccurate.

Especially when it came to the idea that Vucevic is somehow better suited for a smaller Orlando market than Chicago from a mental toughness standpoint.

“I think his biggest challenge to me is he just holds himself where he’s just got to let stuff go … on himself,’’ Donovan said Sunday. “When he misses a shot in the lane, he’s got to be able to move past that.

“But in terms of his heart, his mental toughness of being in a bigger market, I have no issues with that. He always responds, and I give him a lot of credit. Anytime he in his mind has not played to the level that he’s wanted to play, that guy is in the gym. You don’t have to ask him, you don’t have to beg him to come in there. I mean we’re coming out of San Antonio, and he was one of the first guys in the gym [Saturday]. He’s got a full lather on before we’re starting practice, he’s getting shots, he’s working, so his work ethic is really, really good.’’

That’s been on full display this season, even when the numbers weren’t.

Vucevic was shooting 44.2% from the field, which was his worst since he came into the NBA in 2011. He was hitting only 33% from three-point range, which was his worst since he really started using the long-range shot as a weapon in that 2017-18 season. And his 16.6 points per game was also his lowest since the 17-18 season.

Donovan didn’t make excuses for it as much as he gave his honest explanation.

“I think when you have guys that have been All-Stars for a period of time and you want to win, there’s sacrifices that you have to make,’’ Donovan said. “And Vooch is a guy, the way he plays, the ball needs to find him. It needs to find him at the three-point line, it needs to find him in the post, it needs to find him in the pocket in pick-and-rolls, so he’s relying on other guys. Where maybe a Zach [LaVine] and DeMar [DeRozan], when you get them in space or you play them in pick-and-roll, get them to the elbows, those guys can really have the ball and can create. I do think Vooch has sacrificed a lot for our team and he’s finding his way.

“You also have to realize that for nine years in his career, when then the ball is just being pumped to you all the time … OK, he misses a jump hook [when he played for] Orlando, OK, the next possession it’s going to come right back down there, and the next possession is coming, and everything is being played around him. I think the three of them, their mentality has really been to do whatever they can to win, and Vooch is trying to find his spots, find his areas.’’

Going Green

Javonte Green has had no setbacks with the groin that had him on the shelf for most of January, and according to Donovan, could have his minutes restrictions lifted sooner than later.

The Bulls play Orlando on Tuesday, and if the forward comes out of that contest feeling good then Donovan said he could be back to a more “normal situation.’’

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