Make sure to bookmark this page and come back as the moves happen for up-to-the-minute analysis and breakdowns from our friends at 

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/2/2026		Connor Murphy (50% salary retained)		2028 2nd round pick
3/4/2026		Jason Dickinson (50% salary retained) and Colton Dach		Andrew Mangiapane and 2027 1st round pick (top 12 protected)
3/6/2026		Nick Foligno		Future Consideration
3/6/2026		Aidan Thompson		Derrick Pouliot

Trade Analysis/Breakdown:

• • 
    • • • The Edmonton Oilers acquire Connor Murphy (50% retained) from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2028 2nd round pick.

    

    • • • The Edmonton Oilers acquire Jason Dickinson (50% retained) and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 1st round pick.

      

      • • The Chicago Blackhawks trade Nick Foligno to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations.

      

      • The Chicago Blackhawks acquire Derrick Pouliot from the New York Rangers for Aidan Thompson.

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, as well:

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The post Chicago Blackhawks 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

Join your fellow Rinkrats below to discuss what the Blackhawks accomplished (or did not accomplish) this year as the market opened.

Player	Pos	Prev Team	New Team	Age	Ht / Wt	Term	Notes
Dominic Toninato	F			31	6’2” / 202	2 x $850k	Two-way contract

These are Blackhawks trades relevant to this offseason.

Date	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
6/13/25	Victor Soderstrom		Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick
6/21/25	Joe Veleno		Andre Burakovsky
7/1/25	2026 sixth-round pick		Sam Lafferty

Trade Analysis

• The Boston Bruins acquired Victor Soderstrom from the Chicago Blackhawks for Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick

The Boston Bruins acquired Victor Soderstrom from the Chicago Blackhawks for Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick

• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for forward Joe Veleno

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joseph Veleno

• Chicago Blackhawks acquire Sam Lafferty from Buffalo for a 2026 sixth-round pick

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Sam Lafferty from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2026 6th round pick

The post Chicago Blackhawks 2025 Real-Time Free Agency Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

1. New York Islanders — Andy’s Pick
   Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters (OHL)

(Michael Miller / ISI Photos)

New Islander general manager Mathieu Darche won’t get cute here. Schaefer is at the top of this year’s draft class and the smooth-skating defenseman will go No. 1 to the Isles. The Islanders need defensemen in their prospect pool badly and will take full advantage of pole position in this year’s draft. After missing a decent chunk of the 2024-25 season due to injury, Schaefer, who is 17 years young until September, will most likely need at least one more full season of development in the OHL with Erie, or there is a real possibility he could be NCAA bound for the 2025-26 campaign.

2. San Jose Sharks — Eric’s Pick
   Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

(Natalie Shaver / OHL Images)

While it is possible Sharks GM Mike Grier could galaxy-brain this pick and look to diversify his prospect pool with someone like Anton Frondell, which has been widely speculated as being the case, enough to make me strongly consider making Frondell the pick here, he would be wise to not overthink this one and select the consensus best forward in the draft in Misa. Though, us Blackhawks fans would be quite pleased if Grier does pass on the nearly goal-per-game scorer. I’m very much not confident in this given the growing belief Frondell will be a Shark, but I will give a proverbial 51-49 edge to Misa here and hope for the Hawks’ sake that I am wrong.

3. Chicago Blackhawks — Andy’s Pick
   Anton Frondell, C, Djurgårdens IF (Sweden)

(Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN)

If Misa is here, it’s Misa, but if it’s Frondell, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson goes with the young Swede here and there is a lot to like. You need skill to win, but you also need players who win pucks and play a 200-foot game. That’s what you get with Frondell, and all signs indicate that his character and will to win are elements that any team would want in their locker room. It will be interesting as to when he would come overseas to make his NHL debut, likely the 2026-27 season, but regardless, the Hawks will be getting a hell of a prospect with Frondell.

4. Utah Mammoth — Eric’s Pick
   Brady Martin, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

The Sam Bennett effect is real, folks. Utah opts for the gritty center to create a diverse 1-2 punch down the middle with Logan Cooley. Bill Armstrong has shown before he is not afraid to reach for the player he believes is the best fit for his organization and again goes back to that well to continue building the Mammoth.

5. Nashville Predators — Andy’s Pick
   James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA) 

There are rumblings that Hagens may drop, but the Predators are truly at a crossroads after laying an egg in 2024-25, and the skill and talent of Hagens may be too much to pass up. Let’s not forget that it was not long ago that Hagens was predicted to go No. 1 overall. He was a point-per-game player for Boston College and tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in seven World Junior contests for the gold medal-winning United States. Barry Trotz has hinted that he thinks highly of Hagens’ game, and for that reason and more, he goes to Nashville.

6. Philadelphia Flyers — Eric’s Pick
   Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

O’Brien has been one of the players most commonly associated with a rising draft stock as Friday has approached, and there has been much speculation that he will not last past Philadelphia at 6. In O’Brien, the Flyers get a smart pivot capable of producing offensively. Philadelphia likes opting for cerebral players, so while O’Brien may not have the highest ceiling among the players still on the board, he certainly feels like a Flyers type of pick.

7. Boston Bruins — Andy’s Pick
   Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 

For a player who some have indicated has the ceiling of Patrice Bergeron, who better to take a flier on Desnoyers than Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. Some think Martone goes at 7, and possibly, but Fabian Lysell and Matthew Poitras are the lone skilled forwards in Boston’s prospect pool, neither of whom may work out for the long term. If David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and others are to be Bruins for life, then they need to get younger with puck distributors and high-end talent. Desnoyers could be the steal of the draft and Boston would be wise to take him at 7.

8. Seattle Kraken — Eric’s Pick
   Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

The Kraken have invested heavily in high-end forwards in the first round over the last few years, highlighted by Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Berkly Catton, so it’s time for them to turn their attention to the blue line. In Mrtka, the Kraken get a hulking yet smart defenseman. He uses his size well to close gaps and is good as a distributor in transition as well, giving Seattle a well-rounded two-way option for the future.

9. Buffalo Sabres — Andy’s Pick
   Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL) 

For whatever reason, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams felt compelled to move John-Jason Peterka, who finished second on the team with 68 points. The return on that trade is questionable, and if Martone, who some think is the best pure goal scorer in the draft, is available at 9, there is no chance Adams can pass up on him. Skating is something Martone will need to work on, but his willingness to get to the net, decent hands in tight and sharp shooting ability will see him being an NHL weapon. He has been rumored to head to the NCAA ranks next season, which will only support his development.

10. Anaheim Ducks — Eric’s Pick
    Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Anaheim is loaded with quality young players and prospects up front, even after dealing away Trevor Zegras this week, and while they also have some quality young pieces on the blue line already, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek makes a reasonable selection here in Smith, a creative, offensive-minded defenseman. Verbeek has also had a tendency to favor size, and at 6-foot-3, Smith also checks that box.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins — Andy’s Pick
    Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are nearing the end of their storybook careers, and the Penguins need to think about the center position for their future. Though McQueen should not be expected to carry that same torch, he is big, strong and highly skilled. Injuries shortened his 2024-25 campaign, but he is fully healthy and will be a force, should he decide to return to the WHL next season.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins (from New York Rangers) — Eric’s Pick
    Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

After snagging McQueen, who could be the steal of the draft, at 11, the Penguins turn their attention to the blue line with their second consecutive pick. Aitcheson plays an old-school brand of hockey on the blue line, making his presence felt in a big way with his physical style of play. He may not be the most thrilling player offensively at the next level, but did manage a very respectable 59 points in 64 games this season.

13. Detroit Red Wings — Andy’s Pick
    Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgårdens IF (Sweden)

Victor Eklund fits everything a Detroit Red Wing is and has been. For those reasons, I am tempted to deviate from this choice, as Steve Yzerman is finally feeling the heat after another season without making the postseason, but alas, he will stay the course and take the highly skilled running mate of Anton Frondell. Eklund will be at least two years away from making his NHL debut, but that time for him to physically develop will serve him well.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets — Eric’s Pick
    Carter Bear, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Simply put, Bear plays a playoff brand of hockey that would be a welcomed addition to a Blue Jackets squad on the verge of breaking through to the postseason. While not overly big, he plays bigger than his frame suggests, and being a 40-goal scorer this season, Bear clearly has the finishing touch to complement his nose for the net.

15. Vancouver Canucks — Andy’s Pick
    Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Some think this may be a tad early for Nesbitt, but Vancouver is lacking in identity and having a future face of the franchise. Nesbitt is certainly not NHL ready yet, but his ceiling for a 6-foot-4 center, who is good at the dot and taking on players one-on-one may be precisely what they are looking for. Without being in the top 10 in the draft, going will over skill could be the path the Canucks take, and Nesbitt possesses both intangibles.

16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames) — Eric’s Pick
    Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Yes, he’s from Quebec, but Carbonneau is a perfectly rational pick here for the Habs with their first of back-to-back picks. Carbonneau is an excellent puck handler and is not afraid to use his body to get where he needs to go. He plays a style that would complement the many skilled forwards Montreal already has, and again, being a Quebec native is never a negative for le bleu, blanc et rouge.

17. Montreal Canadiens — Andy’s Pick
    Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)  

Cootes is a hungry player and gets better and better every year. He is fast, tough and plays bigger than his size. He could end up being the next installment of Brendan Gallagher for the Habs. Cootes ultimately could be a third- or fourth-line center when Montreal starts competing for championships.

18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils) — Eric’s Pick
    Ben Kindel, C, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

I promise I’m not just going for the “hometown” picks. Kindel, despite playing in the same building as the Flames, brings a lot to the table. The top draft-eligible scorer in the WHL this season, Kindel is an elusive pivot who plays with pace, something the Flames could certainly use. His dual-threat offensive ability allows him to produce in a variety of ways, as is evidenced by his 99-point campaign.

19. St. Louis Blues — Andy’s Pick
    Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

The Blues will need some better puck-moving defensemen in their future, and the swift-skating, lefthanded Reid may be one of the better ones in this draft class. As with any puck-moving rearguard, size comes into question but at 18, he is 6 feet and already 190 pounds and is very strong on his feet. He has the ceiling of a power play quarterback and would be a solid mid-round pick for St. Louis.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild) — Eric’s Pick
    Cole Reschny, C, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Reschny is a cerebral player who reads off his linemates well, taking advantage of his high-end vision and passing abilities to generate scoring chances for his team. These traits should allow him to gel nicely with other skilled players with the Blue Jackets, with the possibility to turn into an effective second- or third-liner.

21. Ottawa Senators — Andy’s Pick
    Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo Hockey (Sweden)

With Gastrin, the Sens get a player that they can use in multiple situations. He projects as a center or winger, is a smooth skater and sees the ice very well. He is not the player who is overly strong in any one area, but very sound fundamentally and a responsible hockey player with a scoring touch. He would make a nice add in Ottawa.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado Avalanche) — Eric’s Pick
    Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

After scoring a talented forward at 6 in O’Brien, the Flyers add to the blue line with Fiddler, a rangy defenseman with some edge to his game. The son of longtime NHLer Vernon Fiddler, Blake already possesses an NHL frame at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, but moves well for a big man, often using his feet to position himself well to shut down the opposition. He is raw, especially on the offensive side of things, but with further development could become a top-four option.

23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning) — Andy’s Pick
    Logan Hensler, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

The Preds will go with a defenseman here and the right handed Hensler is one of the better young prospects in college hockey. After a decent first season at the University of Wisconsin, there is ample room for him to grow and improve his game. It may be two more years of Big Ten hockey before Hensler turns pro, but he has plenty of time to develop into a top-four defenseman in the NHL, which is a real possibility.  

24. Los Angeles Kings — Eric’s Pick
    Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

The Kings like size, and while Lakovic certainly offers that at 6-foot-4, he is also arguably the best player available on the board at this point, with some feeling he belongs in the middle of the first round. While his numbers don’t jump off the page like some, he was playing on a rebuilding Moose Jaw team and was relied upon as one of the team’s go-to options as a draft-eligible player. He certainly has notable upside, and the Kings place a bet on Lakovic reaching that potential as a chance-generating winger.

25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs) — Andy’s Pick
    Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL) 

(OHL Images)

Speed, tenacity, a scoring touch and character, this sounds like the perfect fit for what Kyle Davidson is trying to do in Chicago. And you know who has done well at churning out NHL talent? The University of Michigan. As a Wolverine come August, Spence will be in the ideal setting to work on his game. A two-year plan in Ann Arbor likely, let’s just hope that he makes it to pick 25. If so, it is a great day to be a Hawks fan.

26. Nashville Predators (from Vegas Golden Knights via San Jose Sharks) — Eric’s Pick
    Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

One of two teams with three picks in the first round, Nashville opts to round out the positional trifecta with Ravensbergen after picking Hagens and Hensler with their first two picks. The Predators could certainly use a quality goaltending prospect after questionably moving on from Yaroslav Askarov last summer, and Ravensbergen is a worthy candidate here. He reads plays very well and boasts great size at 6-foot-5. He plays a positionally sound style, which may not be the most exciting, but should set him up for a successful career in the cage. With Juuse Saros in town for the foreseeable future, the Preds can afford to be patient with Ravensbergen as well.

27. Washington Capitals — Andy’s Pick
    William Moore, C/LW, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL) 

The Caps get creative here and take a two-way center with a ton of upside. Moore could very well fall to day two of the draft, but there is a ton of value getting him at the 27th overall pick. He should slot into the lineup very nicely at Boston College in the fall and could be involved in their power play unit and on their top two lines immediately. He will get great exposure and development playing in the ever-talented Hockey East for the next two seasons.

28. Winnipeg Jets — Eric’s Pick
    Max Psenicka, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

The Jets have a decent crop of young forwards on the way, so looking to the blue line may be the play here. While maybe a little off the board, Psenicka has been a late riser among this year’s crop. At 6-foot-5, he boasts projectable size with the ability to play at a high pace, a great combination if you are hoping to find an impactful rearguard.

29. Carolina Hurricanes — Andy’s Pick
    Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)

As the Hurricanes’ age among defensemen continues to rise, they will use this late pick to get a blue-liner. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Brzustewicz would be a nice add based on his strong two-way game. He put up decent numbers in London and projects as a reliable NHL prospect, without flash but the simplicity of his game will make him incredibly valuable to any franchise.

30. San Jose Sharks (from Dallas Stars) — Eric’s Pick
    Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)

The Sharks are in need of quality young blue-liners, so going for Boumedienne makes a ton of sense here. An interesting player, Boumedienne was born in Finland but represents Sweden internationally. His U18 showing turned heads, registering 14 points in just seven games. He has projectable size and is an attentive defender. While he may not become a big-time point producer professionally, he has the tools needed to be a serviceable NHL blue-liner.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton Oilers) — Andy’s Pick
    Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak Moscow (Russia)

The Flyers are in need of goaltending depth in their prospect pool and the end of the first round is a great place to snag the quick-footed Frolov. Time will tell how long it may take him to come to the States, but it certainly worked out well for the Fly-boys and Matvei Michkov, and having a fellow countryman in goal for the youngster could be an added bonus.

32. Calgary Flames (from Florida Panthers) — Eric’s Pick
    Jack Murtagh, LW, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)

The Flames again add to their forward corps with the final pick of the night. In Murtagh, Calgary gets a player determined to beat the opposition with his feet however possible, whether that be around or through. Murtagh is not afraid to get his hands a little dirty to make things happen offensively, with a willingness to win puck battles along the boards. His style and pace would complement Kindel nicely down the road.

BONUS

34. Chicago Blackhawks — Andy’s Pick
    William Horcoff, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

(Daryl Marshke / Michigan Photography)

Perhaps it is too wishful to think that the Hawks will take two Wolverines back to back, but after the 6-foot-5 Horcoff posted 10 points in a mere 18 games at Michigan in 2024-25, he may be the next best prospect on the board. Great in tight areas and puck winner with a hard shot, Horcoff, son of longtime NHLer Shawn Horcoff, could be a nice complement to Chicago’s center depth in its prospect pool and has the flexibility to play on the wing as well.

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft begins at 6 p.m. CDT on ESPN. Be sure to tune in to The Rink’s live draft coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. CDT on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

The post The Rink’s 2025 NHL Mock Draft appeared first on The Rink.

Check out Rink prospect guru Jimmy O’Malley and Rink staffers for a LIVE reaction podcast:

The players that the organization selects will be listed below, with links to their prospect profiles and all their vital stats.

2025 Blackhawks NHL Entry Draft

Chicago Blackhawks Draft Picks

Trades made leading to and during the draft:

Date	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
6/13/25	Victor Soderstrom		Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick
6/21/25	Joe Veleno		Andre Burakovsky
7/1/25	2026 sixth-round pick		Sam Lafferty

Trade Analysis

• The Boston Bruins acquired Victor Soderstrom from the Chicago Blackhawks for Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick

The Boston Bruins acquired Victor Soderstrom from the Chicago Blackhawks for Ryan Mast and a 2025 7th round pick

• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for forward Joe Veleno

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for Joseph Veleno

• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired a 2025 1st round pick (#29) from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 2nd round pick (#34), a 2025 2nd round pick (#62), a 2027 5th round pick

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired a 2025 1st round pick (#29) from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 2nd round pick (#34), a 2025 2nd round pick (#62), a 2027 5th round pick

The post Chicago Blackhawks 2025 Upper Deck NHL Entry Draft Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

Make sure to bookmark this page and come back as the moves happen for up-to-the-minute analysis and breakdowns from our friends at 

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/1/2025		Seth Jones and a 2026 4th round pick		Spencer Knight and 2026 1st round draft pick
3/7/2025		Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith		Joe Veleno
3/7/2025		5th round draft pick in 2026		Shea Weber, Victor Soderstrom and Aku Raty

Trade Analysis/Breakdown:

• • The Florida Panthers acquired Seth Jones and a 2026 4th round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks for Spencer Knight and a 2026 1st round pick
  • The Detroit Red Wings acquired Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks for Joe Veleno
  • The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Shea Weber, Victor Soderstrom and Aku Raty from the Utah Hockey Club for a 2026 5th round pick

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, as well:

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trade alert

︎ https://t.co/gjN0lotc2c pic.twitter.com/c2Bkza5FTG

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 2, 2025

Jones, a polarizing figure among Blackhawks fans, had been vocal over the last week about his desire to play for a contender. Davidson clearly took this to heart and made quick work of pulling together a deal. Given the situation and Jones’ contract, most were not expecting for the Blackhawks to acquire a package the magnitude of Knight and a first-round pick.

Knight, a former first-round pick of the Panthers, comes to Chicago in search of a fresh start. Slotted behind future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky in Florida’s net, Knight will finally have the opportunity to establish himself as a No. 1 netminder in the NHL. The acquisition also takes significant pressure off of both Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan to become the long-term answer in net for the Blackhawks, something that cannot be overlooked in the trade.

The deal will likely create a chain reaction for the Blackhawks’ NHL goaltending situation, with Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom currently on the roster, giving the team three options. Laurent Brossoit also remains a member of the organization and is under contract through next season. As such, it is likely at least one, if not two, of Mrazek, Soderblom or Brossoit will not be Blackhawks come next season.

The first-round pick further deepens Davidson’s draft capital cupboards and will allow the Blackhawks to either add another quality prospect to the system when the time comes or to use the pick as a trade chip to improve the roster in the meantime.

Jones gets his wish to head to a playoff team, and joining the defending Stanley Cup champions achieves that wish in spades. Given Florida’s depth on the back end, Jones should be allowed to properly slot in to an appropriate role, which should allow him to flourish. Given Chicago’s relatively weak blue line during Jones’ tenure as a Blackhawk, he was often over-relied upon, which exposed his deficiencies.

Jones played 259 games for the Blackhawks, tallying 32 goals and 114 assists for 146 total points with a -108 rating. Jones was initially acquired in the summer of 2021 from the Columbus Blue Jackets along with a 2021 first-round pick (Nolan Allan) and a 2022 sixth-round pick (Dominic James) in exchange for Adam Boqvist, a 2021 first-round pick (Cole Sillinger), a 2021 second-round pick (Aleksi Heimosalmi) and a 2022 first-round pick (David Jiricek).

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks trade Seth Jones to Florida, acquire Spencer Knight, first-round pick from Panthers appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, and Jimmy O’Malley jump on to talk Blackhawks’ latest woes and Lukas Reichel:

Once again, Luke Richardson is not on the hot seat.

Does Lukas Reichel need more ice time?

Jimmy O brings the War Pigs report.

Frank Nazar

The never ending pathetic CHSN saga

Prospects

The ex-girlfriend report (ie. Dylan Strome and Brandon Hagel)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Sean Fitzgerald, Andrew Bard and Jimmy O’Malley take some time to discuss the Blackhawks and IceHogs with the voice of the Rockford, Dana Grey:

Getting to know the new play-by-play voice of the IceHogs.

The Lowly Hawks.

Luke Richardson and is his seat getting warm?

Young players like Alex Vlasic and Lukas Reichel emerging.

Is help on the way?

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald and Ray Napientek reconvene live from the Rinkcast Studio to talk about the upcoming season:

The bizarre circumstances behind the Jeremy Swayman contract negotiations.

The Patrick Laine incident and injury.

The status of the CHL and NCAA eligibility.

Michkov-mania in Philadelphia.

The current state of the Blackhawks.

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 8, Episode 2 – League Wide Pre-Season Mayhem appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, Jimmy O’Malley and Ray Napientek head back into the Rinkcast Studio to talk about the upcoming season:

Nick Foligno is your new Blackhawks Captain.

Off-season Additions, fits and expectations

Rookies in camp, Strong Rockford roster ahead, any surprises who can make it out of camp?

Predictions: How will the Hawks finish this season?

Around the league: CHL-College Hockey case study, MTL (Hawks doppelganger in the East?, Mo Seider, Jeremy Swayman, other RFA’s out there.

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ARTYOM LEVSHUNOV IS A CHICAGO BLACKHAWK pic.twitter.com/zg8Qr9jIJO

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 28, 2024

The selection puts an end to the seemingly endless debate among fans about who the Blackhawks should select with the pick, with the other popular option being Russian winger Ivan Demidov. In Levshunov, Chicago will be getting a smooth-skating offensively minded player with a good NHL-sized frame. That frame allows Levshunov to lean into a physical defending style, which will allow him to defend proficiently at the NHL level.

The charismatic Belarusian recorded 35 points in 38 games as a freshman with Michigan State, out-producing other former first-round picks to play in the Big Ten in their draft seasons such as Quinn Hughes and Owen Power. Levshunov was relied upon as the team’s go-to defenseman, playing big minutes in all situations. Of note, Levshunov was the Big Ten’s Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

While the Blackhawks have a decent defensive prospect pool as it is, it lacked a projectable top-pairing defender, particularly on the right side. Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan make the left side pretty easy to envision down the road, but Sam Rinzel was the only projectable righty in the prospect pool. Of course, Seth Jones will likely be around for a while, but will likely not be a premier defenseman when the Blackhawks are ready to contend.

Adding Levshunov gives the Hawks everything they lacked on the back end, and the timeline should fit like a glove, as the team has Jones to serve as the top righty option until Levshunov and Rinzel are prepared to overtake him on the depth chart.

Levshunov’s frame makes him a candidate to turn pro right away, whether that be in Chicago or spending the season with the Rockford IceHogs. Of course, it is entirely possible, if not likely, that Levshunov returns to Michigan State for his sophomore season before signing his entry-level contract. Should he return to Michigan State, he very well may sign at the end of Sparty’s season and join the Blackhawks at the end of the 2024–25 season.

WE GOT OUR GUY pic.twitter.com/ou7jP8wdVo

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 28, 2024

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks select Artyom Levshunov with second overall pick appeared first on The Rink.

CONNOR BEDARD IS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR pic.twitter.com/B6YUTWYMjt

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 27, 2024

The recognition was widely expected throughout the hockey world, as Bedard excelled as an 18-year-old for the Blackhawks, posting 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) in just 68 games. Bedard accumulated 1,808 voting points, topping fellow Calder finalists Brock Faber (1,464 voting points) and Luke Hughes (686 points). Bedard secured 152 of 194 first-place votes.

Bedard is the 10th Blackhawk to win the award, joining the likes of Patrick Kane, Steve Larmer, Ed Belfour, Tony Esposito and Artemi Panarin, who most recently won the award for the Hawks in 2015–16.

The NHL also announced on Thursday night that Bedard was named to the league’s all-rookie team.

The post BREAKING: Connor Bedard wins Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL’s top rookie appeared first on The Rink.

1. San Jose Sharks — Andy’s Pick 

Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)

When the Sharks won the lottery, this was a done deal. Winning the Hobey Baker Award as a 17- year-old when college hockey has never been better is a heck of a feat. There is still a real possibility that he returns to BU for an additional year of development, but nevertheless, this is the consensus No. 1 overall pick and for good reason. The kid has all the tools.

The Sharks are expected to take the slam-dunk top prospect in Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick. (Photo courtesy of Boston University)

2. Chicago Blackhawks — Eric’s Pick 

Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)

The Hawks have another opportunity to add a franchise cornerstone and turn to the blue line this time to land their top-pair right-handed defenseman of the future. Levshunov boasts an impressive tool kit of skating, playmaking and physicality in an NHL-sized frame. As a true freshman at Michigan State, Levshunov was the No. 1 defenseman for a strong Sparty squad, playing huge minutes in all roles. While already having Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic as top-four options for the future, Chicago lacks a projectable stud all-around defenseman in its rebuild and checks that box in a meaningful way with the Belarusian.

Side note: I had every intention of providing some draft analysis leading up to the draft about potential options for the Blackhawks, but frankly, with how thoroughly exhausting the endless vitriol among Blackhawks fans online has been regarding the pick, it ultimately was not worth my sanity to write pieces that would inevitably fall on deaf ears. The fact of the matter is, whether the Blackhawks select Levshunov or Ivan Demidov (or surprise and choose someone else), the draftee will be a foundational piece to the franchise moving forward, and that is undoubtedly something to celebrate, regardless of who it is. Be happy, Blackhawks fans. The front office knows far more than you do.

The Blackhawks opt for defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second overall pick of our mock draft. (Photo courtesy of Michigan State University)

3. Anaheim Ducks — Andy’s Pick 

Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL)

This could be Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom as well, but with the talent-rich offensive prospect pool the Ducks have, so much so that they may be shopping Trever Zegras, they will go with a defenseman here. Dickinson has tremendous versatility, offensive output and a lunch-pail style, put your hard hat on and go to work that would blend in well with Mason McTavish and what the Ducks are trying to build culturally. Anton Silayev is a strong possibility here, too, but Dickinson could be the best fit.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets — Eric’s Pick 

Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)

Columbus landed a huge building block in Adam Fantilli last summer and return to the well of big pivots again by selecting Lindstrom. Though Lindstrom battled injury concerns throughout the season, he boasts a tantalizing skill set and large frame. With Fantilli penciled in as the No. 1 center for the future, Lindstrom can slide in nicely as the No. 2 center to give the Blue Jackets a 1-2 punch down the middle sure to make many franchises jealous.

5. Montreal Canadiens — Andy’s Pick 

Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 (Russia)

The Habs would be thrilled if Demidov slides to 5 and this would be a no-brainer. After taking David Reinbacher with the fifth overall pick in 2023, they will turn to offense, and who better than perhaps the highest rated pure offensive talent in the draft after Celebrini. Though, to be fair, it would be entertaining to see Habs fans’ reactions should Montreal look elsewhere.

6. Utah Hockey Club — Eric’s Pick 

Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL)

One of this year’s biggest risers late in the season, Sennecke gives Utah a highly talented winger who can perform on the biggest stage. Though Utah could instead look to one of the high-end defensemen still available, the combination of size and skill Sennecke offers is too much to pass on, betting on his steep trajectory to continue.

7. Ottawa Senators — Andy’s Pick 

Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)

The Senators are at a crossroads, have so many needs and could pick a defenseman here, too, but Iginla’s stock continues to rise and it does not have to do with his last name. He is impactful in so many areas and plays a controlled game, something that Ottawa needs badly. 

8. Seattle Kraken — Eric’s Pick 

Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)

With the center position comfortably addressed with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, the Kraken can take advantage of a strong blue line class and opt for Buium, a talented offensive defenseman with plenty of moxy. Buium has been a winner at every level in his career, winning U18 and U20 world championships and the NCAA title with Denver this spring. Wherever he lands, Buium should become a fan favorite on and off the ice.

9. Calgary Flames — Andy’s Pick 

Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)

Perhaps the most offensively skilled defenseman in the draft, and if available, there is little chance Calgary can pass up on him at 9. They certainly need help on the blue line and this would be a great fit, especially if the “hometown kid” is already off the board.

10. New Jersey Devils — Eric’s Pick 

Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

The Devils opt for the massive Russian defenseman to firmly round out what should be an incredible top four for many years to come alongside Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey. Silayev can skate like the wind for a big guy and provides a strong shutdown game to go along with decent offensive upside. It is entirely possible Silayev is gone long before 10, but if he slips to this range, any team would be thrilled to land him.

11. Buffalo Sabres — Andy’s Pick 

Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)

Corey Pronman has Catton rated as the second-best forward in the draft, and why not? With 54 goals and 116 points with Spokane in 2023–24, there is no doubting his talent. He is not heavy and perhaps that is why he will drop this low, but regardless, Buffalo gets a real potential game breaker here.

12. Philadelphia Flyers — Eric’s Pick 

Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL)

The last of the top-end defensemen in the class, the Flyers add a high-end offensive defenseman in Yakemchuk, who hit the 30-goal plateau in the WHL. Add in a bit of bite in his game and he feels like a player Flyers fans will rally around for years to come.

13. Minnesota Wild — Andy’s Pick 

Konsta Helenius, C, Tappara (Finland)

A well-disciplined hockey player, this feels like a Minnesota pick. The Wild still have decent talent and will not need to rush Helenius. He will have time to develop and could turn out to be a solid pivot for their future, something they could certainly use.

14. San Jose Sharks (from PIT) — Eric’s Pick 

Stian Solberg, D, Oslo (Norway)

After choosing Celebrini to begin the night, the Sharks can turn their attention to the blue line, an area they desperately need help in. They opt for Solberg, one of the draft’s biggest late risers, who provides a menacing physical game on the blue line.

15. Detroit Red Wings — Andy’s Pick 

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Sweden)

All signs see Brendsegg-Nygard landing in Detroit if he is still available. He is gifted offensively and responsible in his own end of the ice; a vintage Red Wing trait that they would love to work with and develop. Playing in Sweden never hurts your cause as a Red Wings target, either.

16. St. Louis Blues — Eric’s Pick 

Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Czechia)

The Blues choose to add another blueliner to the organization after selecting Theo Lindstein with one of their first-round picks last year. Jiricek missed significant time with injury this season, but the Blues bet on the upside that had him considered as a lock for the top 10 entering the season.

17. Washington Capitals — Andy’s Pick 

Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

At this point last year, many people thought Eiserman was a top-two pick in this year’s draft. Questions have arisen as to whether or not he can play in all areas of the ice. Still, he is a gifted offensive talent with an incredible shot. He will be a critical part of Boston University’s success next year and is still a talented prospect who filled the net with the NTDP unlike anyone has before.

18. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) — Eric’s Pick 

Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)

After picking Levshunov at 2, the Blackhawks turn their attention to the forwards available at 18 and opt for Boisvert, a well-rounded center who offers goal-scoring ability and a physical edge the Hawks are lacking in their prospect pool. Boisvert’s size also allows him to comfortably project as a center at the NHL level, something the Blackhawks could use given the uncertainty of Oliver Moore and Frank Nazar being long-term center options.

Chicago selects gritty forward Sacha Boisvert with the 18th overall pick of our mock draft. (Photo courtesy of the Muskegon Lumberjacks)

19. Vegas Golden Knights — Andy’s Pick 

EJ Emery, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

The Golden Knights’ defensive core is aging and Emery fits the mold of what they can use moving forward. The North Dakota commit plays a hard-nosed defensive game that is not fun to play against. As the Knights get older, he would be coming in at the right time and provide the yin to Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin’s yang.

20. New York Islanders (from CHI via TBL) — Eric’s Pick 

Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)

The Islanders go with the talented Hage at 20, a player who can add offensive pop to an organization known for its defensive acumen. New York is probably thrilled to get Hage at 20 after trading down from 18, as he would have likely been in consideration for them had they stood pat.

21. Los Angeles Kings — Andy’s Pick 

Igor Chernyshov, LW, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

Chernyshov plays the length of the ice and is always around the puck. Big and strong and a decent skater, he found success in the KHL and ultimately could be a goal-scoring threat in the NHL in a power forward mold.

22. Nashville Predators — Eric’s Pick

Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL)

Barry Trotz looks past Connelly’s troubling off-ice past and bets on the offensive upside that would have comfortably put Connelly in the 10–15 range if not for the character concerns. Good luck, Nashville. Hopefully it works out, or not.

23. Toronto Maple Leafs — Andy’s Pick 

Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL)

A strong, physical center who plays a power game is everything that is lacking down the middle for the Leafs. Most of the Leaf core will still be intact by the time Beaudoin will be ready and he can simplify his development with a lot of talent around him. This would be a solid pick for Leaf nation. 

24. Colorado Avalanche — Eric’s Pick 

Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph (OHL)

The Avs are in the advantageous spot of being able to focus on taking the best player available, and Luchanko fits that bill at 24. A skilled pivot with good offensive instincts, Luchanko’s top-end speed game would mesh well with a Colorado team known for playing with pace.

The Avs take skilled forward Jett Luchanko with the 24th pick of our mock draft. (Photo courtesy of Luke Durga / OHL Images)

25. Boston Bruins (from OTT via DET via BOS) — Andy’s Pick 

Cole Hutson, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL) 

The Bruins love their in-town talent and another Boston University product could be the take here. Like a Torey Krug or Matt Grzelcyk, the Bruins have a good history of developing defensemen who are not blessed with size. Hutson being right down the road is a plus, and let’s be honest, it would certainly make for an interesting storyline with older brother Lane already in Montreal.

26. Montreal Canadiens (from WPG) — Eric’s Pick 

Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)

Montreal giddily takes the stage to take Greentree, a player who very well may be gone multiple picks ahead of this spot. Greentree gives the Habs a big-bodied winger to add to their forward group, something they could certainly use to complement Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and now Ivan Demidov.

27. Carolina Hurricanes — Andy’s Pick 

Leo Sahlin-Wallenius, D, Vaxjo U20 (Sweden) 

One of the better skaters in the draft, Sahlin-Wallenius plays a safe and responsible game. He has good stamina, and while not overwhelmingly dynamic in any one area, he is a consistent hockey player who could eventually be in the 4–6 range on a defensive depth chart.

28. Calgary Flames (from VAN) — Eric’s Pick 

Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George (WHL)

The Flames stay close to home for their second pick of the first round, taking Parascak out of the WHL. Parascak gives the Flames a scoring threat for their prospect pool, something Calgary could certainly use more of as it looks like the turning of the chapter in Cow Town.

29. Dallas Stars — Andy’s Pick 

Alfons Freij, D, Vaxjo Jr. (Sweden)

Freij comes with an offensive game and puck-moving ability. He is yet another smooth-skating defenseman from Sweden who will need to refine his defensive habits, but with his offensive form and blue-line depth in Dallas, he could be very intriguing for the Stars’ brass.

30. New York Rangers — Eric’s Pick 

Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s (PHC)

Letourneau just feels like the easy pick here. The Rangers love their massive forwards, and with a solid team already in place, New York can afford to be patient with Letourneau and hope he is able to develop into a valuable NHL piece.

31. Anaheim Ducks (from EDM) — Andy’s Pick 

Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Finland)

A large body with offensive upside who could be a good puck-winning player for the young Ducks core. He will need to work on his skating and creativity with the puck, but there is potential in his game. He will be a late first- or early second-round pick.

32. Philadelphia Flyers (from FLA) — Eric’s Pick 

Nikita Artamonov, LW, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Philly returns to the Russian well in selecting Artamonov, a player who some feel should be chosen much higher. By bringing over Matvei Michkov, the theoretical Russian factor should feel diminished for the Flyers, so they bet on Artamonov’s upside to close out the first round.

The first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft will begin at 7 p.m. EDT on Friday and will be broadcasted on ESPN and Sportsnet.

The post The Rink’s 2024 NHL Entry Draft first-round mock draft appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, Jimmy O’Malley and Andrew Bard jump into The-Rink Studio to talk about Friday’s NHL Entry Draft first round:

The debate over Ivan Demidov and Artyom Levshunov continues to be insufferable.

What choices do the Blackhawks have at the #18 spot?

Potential UFA targets for July 1.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 20 – Blackhawks Pre-Draft Takes https://t.co/LZgfR8yHx8

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) June 26, 2024

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, Jimmy O’Malley reconvene 24 hours after the NHL Draft Lottery to talk about possible Blackhawks picks at Number 2:

Suddenly the debate over Ivan Demidov and Artom Levshunov has become insufferable.

Ivan Demidov’s strengths and deficiencies.

Artom Levshunov’s strengths and deficiencies.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 19 – Demidov/Levshunov…with Pick #2 https://t.co/5H4z67NSPN

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) May 9, 2024

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews and Jimmy O’Malley jump on to watch the NHL Draft Lottery and discuss the results:

Eric tells us all about the top 5-7 prospects.

Each member takes a turn on the tankathon draft simulator.

The Blackhawks will pick second overall.

Follow-up, who we think they will pick.

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 8, Episode 18 – Draft Lottery Bonanza https://t.co/1H0BrjZIe3

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) May 7, 2024

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The deal runs through the 2029–30 season and carries a $4.6 million salary cap hit, for a total of $27.6 million. Years five and six of the deal include a 10-team no-trade list.

The pending restricted free agent played only 21 NHL contests prior to this season, but solidified himself as the team’s most reliable defender in a season where there were few bright spots. While it is still early in his career, the 22-year-old Wilmette, Illinois, native ended the season with top-10 defensive metrics in almost all categories. Such production would have had him in the running for the Calder Trophy with teammate Connor Bedard, if he had played just 10 less games during the 2021–22 season, eclipsing Minnesota Wild golden boy Brock Faber significantly in a number of analytical metrics.

THE HOMETOWN KID

Alex Vlasic is staying, read all about it https://t.co/4q2vuJq5OE pic.twitter.com/TN3JgWzCid

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 25, 2024

“Alex made enormous strides this year and proved he is a legitimate top-four defenseman in the NHL,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson in a press release. “In his first full season in the NHL, Alex established himself as an important piece of our young core, and we’re excited to have him with us for the next six years.”

Prior to this season, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound blueliner played 56 regular season and six playoff contests with the Rockford IceHogs during the 2022–23 season. During his time in Rockford, he posted 19 regular season points (two goals, 17 assists) and five playoff assists. Vlasic was originally drafted in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Blackhawks and won a bronze medal in 2019 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship.

Alex Vlasic was incredible defensively this year on a bad Hawks team — while playing some of the toughest minutes in the league.
While $4.6M is fair for what he is now, a deal that covers his entire prime under a rising cap could make this one of the league’s best contracts. pic.twitter.com/MR8GFZjP5d

— dom (@domluszczyszyn) April 25, 2024

Vlasic will be suiting up for the United States at the upcoming World Championships, where he will also be joined by fellow Blackhawks rearguard Seth Jones.

Analysis

Reporters and fans alike had been speculating what Vlasic’s contract might look like in recent weeks, but few, if any, would have foreseen the contract coming in with this combination of term and value. Many felt this AAV would have been realistic on a shorter-term bridge deal, with a longer-term deal holding a higher value. For the Blackhawks to lock up Vlasic for six years at an incredibly team-friendly cap hit of $4.6 million is excellent work by Davidson.

As Luszczyszyn noted in his tweet linked above, that dollar value is an accurate value for Vlasic at current, but will provide the team with an average value savings of $3 million per season through the duration of the contract. To lock in Vlasic for six years at that figure is the type of deal that will allow the Blackhawks to maximize their money once the team is back in the playoffs, similarly to how Duncan Keith’s bargain contract helped construct the Cup-era teams. While this contract looks good today, it could very well prove to be a pivotal part in a return to glory for the Blackhawks in the not-too-distant future.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks sign Alex Vlasic to six-year contract appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Sean Fitzgerald, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard and Jimmy O’Malley discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

Honest recaps of this miserable season.

Thoughts on Frank Nazar.

Ethan Del Mastro makes his NHL debut as well.

A special segment where we welcome Ford Hatchett from ABC15-Phoenix to discuss the sale of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 8, Episode 17 – Hawks in Review and The Sale of the Coyotes https://t.co/1WO6BJswFS

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) April 19, 2024

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 17 – The Blackhawks (and Coyotes) Bitter End appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews, and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

The Calder “race”. More Bedard/Faber chatter.

The end of the Blackhawks season is fast approaching.

Draft lottery implications of recent wins.

Landon Slaggert has arrived.

Jason Dickinson’s fine season.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 16 – No points for second place…from the bottom https://t.co/5DAoEPhPPN

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) March 28, 2024

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Andrew Bard, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald and site newcomer Jimmy O’Malley discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

Bedard is hot despite the feeble team around him.

Draft implications of finishing last. Groundhog day all over again.

Landon Slaggert signs with the Blackhawks but temper your expectations.

Trade deadline chatter; winners and losers.

The Matt Rempe travellng circus

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 15 – Race to the basement…Bedard is heating up https://t.co/oCb8Q9fluH

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) March 12, 2024

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 15 – Race to the basement…Bedard is heating up appeared first on The Rink.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/7/2024		Anthony Beauvillier		2024 5th Round Draft Pick

Trade Analysis/Break Down:

• • • The Nashville Predators acquired Anthony Beauvillier from the Chicago Blackhawks for 2024 5th Round Pick

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, as well:

The Rink Official

Chicago Divison
The Rinkcast
Jeff Osborn
Andy Campbell
Ray Napientek
Eric Andrews
Sean Fitzgerald
Andrew Bard
Matt Csakai

 

The post The Rink’s Chicago Blackhawks 2024 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews, and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

Connor Bedard is back and has not skipped a beat.

We all really like Brock Faber, we promise you, but Bedard is the Calder Trophy leader.

Lukas Reichel was finally sent to Rockford.

More Philipp Kurashev talk than you can shake a stick at.

Who might the Blackhawks take in the draft?

Chris Chelios jersey retirement talk.

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 13 – Hawks midterm grades https://t.co/sAmiKSqZiH

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) February 1, 2024

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 14 – Bedard is Back appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

Mid-season roster grades for all players

Hockey in Atlanta AGAIN???

Late breaking trade between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 13 – Hawks midterm grades https://t.co/sAmiKSqZiH

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) February 1, 2024

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ latest happenings:

Connor Bedard’s recovery?

Blackhawks sign Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson to extensions.

Is Petr Mrazek next?

What to do with all these picks?

MVP Candidates

More on the IIHF’s decision on Israel’s participation in the World Championships

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 12 – Inking vets, Bubble Bedard and off-season questions https://t.co/FC11z2qArC

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) January 18, 2024

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Nick is here to stay! pic.twitter.com/CHDTqpXq1R

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 12, 2024

Foligno has been a breath of fresh air for the Blackhawks this season. Foligno was acquired over the offseason as part of the Taylor Hall trade with the Boston Bruins to add leadership on and off the ice for a young Blackhawks team. Foligno has delivered those intangibles in spades, exceeding expectations most people had.

But, not only has Foligno been a great addition off the ice, but he has also performed well on it. The 36-year-old posted 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 39 games before suffering a broken finger against the New Jersey Devils last week. Those totals nearly match Foligno’s output from last season with the Bruins, when he played 60 games, and already surpass his totals from the 2021–22 season.

Foligno has been vocal about enjoying the opportunity to take on an expanded role both on and off the ice this season, saying it has rejuvenated his play on the ice and motivation off it. Foligno’s 17:31 average time on ice this season is his highest since the 2020–21 season, when he averaged 18:09 of ice time with the Columbus Blue Jackets before being dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline.

“The impact Nick has already had on our team in such a short time is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to helping the players around him succeed,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson in a press release. “Hard-working on the ice, the energy he brings every night and his versatility to play in any situation have been tremendous assets. His leadership skills both on and off the ice have been instrumental in what we are building, and we are excited for him continue to push our team forward.”

The Blackhawks return to the ice on Saturday, hosting the Dallas Stars for a 7 p.m. CST puck drop.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks sign Nick Foligno to two-year contract extension appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ struggles and latest news:

Timetable of Connor Bedard’s injury.

What it may mean for the Calder race.

Blackhawks World Junior Championships prospects

The Connor Gauthier trade,

Predict Stanley Cup finalists

The IIHF’s decision to restrict Israel’s participation in the World Championships

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 10 – Lions and Tigers and…a Calder Race. https://t.co/ENk7eS7pKn

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) January 12, 2024

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard and Brent Meske discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ struggles and latest news:

The Corey Perry saga

Blackhawks trade for Anthony Beauvillier

Patrick Kane finally signs…in Detroit

Kevin Korchinski struggles

The grind-line

Nick Foligno’s leadership

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 9 – So Long Corey and Showtime in Motown https://t.co/gfSEjNOh6Z

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) November 30, 2023

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ struggles and latest news:

Faceoff problems

Philipp Kurashev mania.

our, now, weekly look at Lukas Reichel analysis.

Is it too early to start talking about the 2024 Draft Lottery?

Blackhawks NCAA prospects.

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 7 – Getting #Bedarded https://t.co/1KWNFRytwi

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) November 16, 2023

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Jeff Osborn, Andrew Bard, Eric Andrews and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ struggles and latest news:

Connor Bedard is red hot!

Philipp Kurashev hitting his stride alongside Bedard.

Lukas Reichel struggle and analysis.

The Goalie situation (Petr Mrazek good, Arvid Soderblom bad)

Corey Crawford’s number to be retired in Rockford.

Possible OT rule change to limit extended possession times.

The Patrick Kane saga.

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#Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 7, Episode 7 – Getting #Bedarded https://t.co/1KWNFRytwi

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) November 16, 2023

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Andrew Bard, Eric Andrews and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Chicago Blackhawks’ struggles and latest news:

Second lawsuit from the 2010 sexual assault case

The poor play of Connor Murphy

Connor Bedard, Lucas Reichel, Kevin Korchinski

The poor play of Connor Murphy

Look around the NHL: neck guards, the Oilers dumpster , and Patrick Kane’s next landing spot

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Blackhawks Rinkcast: Season 7, Episode 6 – The Past Resurfacing as Poor Play Continues https://t.co/Gmit0NRzVq

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) November 9, 2023

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, and Sean Fitzgerald discuss the Blackhawks’ first four games of the season:

Blackhawks surprise players.

Blackhawks’ disappointments in the first four games.

Some Blackhawks predictions.

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Blackhawks Rinkcast: Season 7, Episode 4 – Four Games In: The good the bad and the early season. https://t.co/Q0zvbqWGlu

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) October 19, 2023

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, Sean Fitzgerald, and Brent Meske talk about the impending start to the Blackhawks regular season:

Who made the opening night roster?

The great Wyatt Kaiser hype train.

Kevin Korchinski makes the roster; for now.

Got any of those “Hot Takes”?

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Blackhawks Rinkcast: Season 7, Episode 3 – Chicago Blackhawks Opening Week! https://t.co/ntYYKVuMFv

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) October 10, 2023

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With a maximum active roster size of 23, the Hawks opted for a 14–7–2 format after assigning Joey Anderson and Isaak Phillips to the Rockford IceHogs earlier in the day.

The opening night roster breakdown is as follows:

Forwards

Andreas Athanasiou
Connor Bedard
Jason Dickinson
Ryan Donato
MacKenzie Entwistle
Nick Foligno
Cole Guttman
Taylor Hall
Reese Johnson
Tyler Johnson
Boris Katchouk
Corey Perry
Taylor Raddysh
Lukas Reichel

Defensemen

Seth Jones
Wyatt Kaiser
Kevin Korchinski
Connor Murphy
Jarred Tinordi
Alex Vlasic
Nikita Zaitsev

Goaltenders

Petr Mrazek
Arvid Soderblom

The Blackhawks also Philipp Kurashev has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Sept. 28, while Colin Blackwell, Colton Dach, Luke Philp and Samuel Savoie will begin the season on the injured/non-roster list.

pic.twitter.com/olHfIc0YMa

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 9, 2023

While the above 23 players constitute the team’s opening roster, changes very well may occur in the near future. One particular player to make note of is Korchinski, as there are questions about whether he is truly ready to handle NHL hockey on a full-time basis. The Blackhawks are expected to give Korchinski at least nine games before making a more permanent decision for the remainder of the decision. Unfortunately, with the CHL transfer agreement, Korchinski must either spend the season with the Blackhawks or return to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Seeing how Korchinski performs—particularly in the defensive zone—in his first nine games will be critical. Should the Blackhawks make what is likely the right decision to send Korchinski back to the WHL, look for someone like Phillips to return to the big club.

Chicago opens its 2023–24 regular season on Tuesday, traveling to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT on ESPN, with all eyes in the hockey world anticipating Bedard’s NHL debut.

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, Sean Fitzgerald, and Jeff Osborn talk about the first week of Blackhawks rookie camp and the latest team news:

Connor Bedard and Lukas Reichel looking good in camp.

Kevin Korchinski and what might happen with him.

Pre-season lines and thoughts.

What happens to some of these depth players?

Jeff Greenberg leaves the Blackhawks organization.  

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, Sean Fitzgerald, Brent Meske, and Jeff Osborn talk about the first week of Blackhawks rookie camp and the latest team news:

Connor Bedard makes his preseason debut

Prospect Tournament. Prospects of note.

The young blueline. Who stays and who goes?

Lukas Reichel will start the season at center.

The Blackhawks will go without a formal captain.

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Blackhawks Rinkcast: Season 7, Episode 1 – Chicago Blackhawks – New Beginnings https://t.co/aLRCDjkvL9

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) September 21, 2023

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1) Chicago Blackhawks 

Andy’s Pick: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL)

Nothing to overthink here, folks. He is the No. 1 prospect in the world, a potential generational talent and no amount of click bait you can read will make Kyle Davidson decide to move this pick. It just ain’t gonna happen. No. 98 will be flying off the shelves in a red, white and black jersey come Wednesday night.

2) Anaheim Ducks  

Eric’s Pick: Adam Fantilli, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Like the first pick, there is no need for Anaheim to overthink this one. Fantilli offers everything you could want in a prospect with his size, speed, skill, and compete level. While many in the industry are wondering if the Ducks look elsewhere, they stick to the script here and take the future star pivot.

3) Columbus Blue Jackets  

Andy’s Pick: Leo Carlsson, C, Örebro HK (SHL)

This is where things could begin to get interesting. No. 3 may be where people start to wonder when Matvei Michkov’s name will be called, but a year ago, the Blue Jackets signed Johnny Gaudreau, only to have a dismal 2022–23 campaign, finishing second last in the NHL. Waiting on Michkov for a few years may not be something Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen can see through. Carlsson has all the tools to be a legitimate No. 1 center in the NHL. At 6-foot-3 with speed and terrific skill set, though he may head back to Sweden for another year or two, by the fall of 2025 at the latest, he’ll be ready to be an impact player for the Jackets.

4) San Jose Sharks 

Eric’s Pick: William Smith, C, U.S. National Team Development Program

While the Sharks could certainly consider Michkov here, I think Mike Grier opts for a safer option in Smith, an uber-creative centerman. San Jose is starving for high-end talent, and landing a player like Smith will go a long way for their rebuild.

5) Montreal Canadiens  

Andy’s Pick: Ryan Leonard, RW, U.S. National Team Development Program 

Tough call for Director of Scouting Nick Bobrov and General Manager Kent Hughes with Michkov still here, but with Leonard they get a hard-nosed player who buzzes around, is unafraid to go in the gray areas and win pucks and plays with an edge. It is certainly a player of need up front for the Habs with all of their smaller skilled forwards. With Smith going at four, Leonard will be the second incoming Boston College Eagle in the top five.

6) Arizona Coyotes 

Eric’s Pick: David Reinbacher, D, EHC Kloten (NL)

Bill Armstrong and his army of matching suits take the stage at No. 6 and take the best defenseman in the draft class in Reinbacher, a do-it-all minute-munching blueliner. With Arizona needing a new long-term No. 1 defenseman following Jakob Chychrun’s departure, Reinbacher fills that need. The Coyotes could absolutely consider Michkov or another forward like Dalibor Dvorsky, but in the end, the high-end rearguard wins out.

7) Philadelphia Flyers 

Andy’s Pick: Matvei Michkov, RW, HK Sochi (KHL)

With the Washington Capitals’ interest in Michkov widely reported, Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere would be wise to pick up the phone and utilize as much leverage as he has here to find the right deal to swap picks with the Caps. In the end, given the Flyers’ full rebuild mode and another first-round pick at 22, Michkov makes perfect sense here and the return on a trade won’t be enough to pass up on this player. They can afford to wait for a talent that may ultimately be the best player taken in the draft.

8) Washington Capitals 

Eric’s Pick: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Sweden)

A player many scouts feel belongs in the conversation alongside “the big five,” Dvorsky gives Washington a highly skilled centerman to build their next core around while also being able to have him in the fold to support Alex Ovechkin at the end of his career as well. Given the Capitals’ lack of center depth, especially in their pipeline, Dvorsky makes a world of sense for Washington if they are unable to secure Michkov.

9) Detroit Red Wings 

Andy’s Pick: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL)

Some feel Oliver Moore would be the take here considering his playing likeness to Dylan Larkin. That may be true, but the versatility of the big-bodied Danielson, who can play a number of different roles, fills a massive need for Detroit, who could be two to three years away from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He has NHL size, decent speed and wins pucks, a great all-around player who Steve Yzerman will love.

10) St. Louis Blues

Eric’s Pick: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)

The Blues consider a number of different options here, and while I think they would ideally like more size, they choose to not overthink it and take the most skilled player remaining. In Benson, St. Louis adds a supreme offensive talent to complement their core. The Blues could certainly think about a defenseman or a bigger forward here, but skill wins out in the end.

11) Vancouver Canucks

Andy’s Pick: Oliver Moore, C, U.S. National Team Development Program 

The Canucks have a variety of needs, and with this pick, the best move is to take the best pure skater in the draft. That’s Moore. He is an exciting player that is a pure blazer. He could be brilliant in the Big Ten next year at the University of Minnesota, and it will be a year or two before the NHL awaits, but he’s incredibly talented with a ton of value at 11th overall.

12) Arizona Coyotes

Eric’s Pick: Matthew Wood, RW, University of Connecticut (NCAA)

After grabbing their future stud defenseman at No. 6, the Coyotes turn their attention to forwards at No. 12. In Wood, Arizona gets a big goal-scoring winger who could be a perfect match for Logan Cooley down the line. The Coyotes could opt for a center, but go with who many scouts would consider the consensus best player available at this spot.

13) Buffalo Sabres

Andy’s Pick: Tom Willander, D, Rögle BK J20 (Sweden)

Buffalo may wince after Arizona’s pick of Wood, as he would be an excellent complement to their young offensive core. Buffalo then shifts to the blueline. With Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power being the Sabres’ top two left-handed defensemen for years to come, addressing the other side could be critical. Willander’s stock is on the rise and the smooth Boston University commit could fit in nicely with Buffalo’s long-term plans. A future trio of Dahlin, Power and Willander looks mighty nice for the organization.

14) Pittsburgh Penguins 

Eric’s Pick: Gabriel Perreault, LW, U.S. National Team Development Program

New Penguins executive Kyle Dubas has a decision to make between swinging for the fences with a supreme offensive talent or opting for a safer type of pick. In the end, the Pens take a swing and scoop up Perreault, a crafty dual-threat winger with the hopes he pans out and is able to pair up with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin in the twilight of their careers.

15) Nashville Predators 

Andy’s Pick: Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)

Here’s the first big leap in the first round, but if you are going to “swing for the fences,” as General Manager Barry Trotz has asked his team to do, But, a 6-foot-5 power forward may be the guy. He’s a monster, protects the puck and the Preds have little in terms of prospects on the wing. There are other wingers on the card that may be as attractive, but few can ignore But’s upside.

16) Calgary Flames

Eric’s Pick: Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL)

The Flames are an interesting case, seemingly being in turmoil with a number of players looking to leave Cow Town, but also not really having any glaring holes in the organization, either. As such, Calgary scoops up a meat-and-potatoes goal-scoring winger in Barlow, who fits the traditional Flames mold.

17) Detroit Red Wings

Andy’s Pick: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)

By all accounts, Honzek is a faster skater than what was initially reported. He is big and can finish, but above all else, what scouts like about him is his work ethic and character. That’s something Steve Yzerman and company will not ignore. The Wings get a great prospect here at 17.

18) Winnipeg Jets

Eric’s Pick: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

Winnipeg adds a high-end offensive defenseman to their pipeline, something they were clearly lacking. Sandin Pellikka will take time to develop, but given the Jets are on the verge of tearing things down, they have the time needed to wait for the elite-skating puck-mover.

19) Chicago Blackhawks

Andy’s Pick: Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL)

If Brayden Yager is available and taken here, I will not be sad, but there are questions whether or not he will be a pivot in the NHL. So, if you are going for a winger, as Kyle Davidson should here, you need some sandpaper. Musty is everything you need here at 19. He needs to work on his skating, but he is a puck-winning player who can finish. With skill players like Bedard, Frank Nazar and Lukas Reichel in the system and on the smaller side, you need some muscle. Great pick here with Musty.

20) Seattle Kraken

Eric’s Pick: Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL)

Despite clearly being set for the future down the middle, the Kraken grab Ritchie, a well-rounded power forward, with the plans to either use him as an ideal third-line center or as a winger to complement Matty Beniers or Shane Wright down the road. Injuries held Ritchie back during his draft season, so Seattle is also banking on this being a “buy low” type of scenario.

21) Minnesota Wild

Andy’s Pick: Otto Stenberg, C, Frölunda HK J20 (Sweden)

He may be a few years away, but the Wild have a deep prospect pool and can afford to wait. Since that’s the case, you need to take a high ceiling into account, and Stenberg has that. He’s raw, plays with a ton of heart and has a cannon of a shot. A lot of value with this take for the Wild.

22) Philadelphia Flyers

Eric’s Pick: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Daniel Briere sprints to the podium to snag Yager, who many feel could even crack the top 10. Yager is a smooth-skating center with an excellent shot, and with a lacking prospect pool, Philadelphia suddenly looks significantly better for the future with the additions of Michkov and Yager as future goal scorers.

23) New York Rangers

Andy’s Pick: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL)

Some have Heidt in the top 20 and others in the second round, but the Rangers are another team that will be looking for center depth and one with playmaking ability. Heidt plays with great instincts and awareness. He still needs to mature physically and there will need to be a firm development plan for him, but he has a shot to be a nice pro some day.

24) Nashville Predators

Eric’s Pick: Eduard Sale, LW, HC Kometa Brno (Czechia)

The Predators continue with their mentality of swinging for the fences, taking a player who is clearly the most talented player remaining on the board. The skillset alone would have warranted potentially a top-10 pick, but Sale’s work ethic and consistency have drawn significant questioning this season, resulting in his stock falling. If Barry Trotz and his no-nonsense approach to the game can straighten out Sale, Nashville could have a gem here.

25) St. Louis Blues

Andy’s Pick: Dimitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

St. Louis needs a defenseman, and should Simashev be here at 25, it would be an absolute steal for them. He’s 6-foot-4, skates extremely well, can move the puck and plays stingy defense. The blue line for the Blues is aging, and having a top-four defenseman in the pipeline is a must. Great fit here for Simashev.

26) San Jose Sharks

Eric’s Pick: Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL) 

After securing a high-end center at No. 4, the Sharks take a swing on potentially landing another big-time producer here at No. 26. Cristall is one of the more debated players of the draft class, as his 5-foot-9 frame combined with subpar skating ability leaves legitimate and serious concerns about an NHL future. But, given the immense offensive talent he has been thus far in his career, Mike Grier hopes more development helps get Cristall up to speed enough to become an NHL producer.

27) Colorado Avalanche

Andy’s Pick: Gavin Brindley, RW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

With all the talent in Colorado, it’s hard not to envision Brindley buzzing around with the rest of them. Some worry about his size, but he plays bigger than he is and has a contagious intensity. He will get better being around quality talent in Denver, and the Avs seem like the team that will know exactly how to use his intangibles.

28) Toronto Maple Leafs

Eric’s Pick: Tanner Molendyk, D, Saskatoon (WHL)

The Maple Leafs only hold one pick in the first four rounds of the draft this year, so they need to make this pick count. They opt to take Molendyk, a highly efficient and well-rounded defenseman who can do a lot of things well. While Molendyk might not be the most exciting option on the board, he provides Toronto with a dependable modern-style blueliner for the future.

29) St. Louis Blues 

Andy’s Pick: Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

With their third pick in the first round, the Blues complement their skill picks with some toughness down the middle. Stramel may end up being a third-line center, or at worst somewhere in the bottom six, but he is big and a pain in the neck to play against. He needs to have a better year in Madison, but should his game grow, he has a good shot at being an NHL regular.

30) Carolina Hurricanes

Eric’s Pick: Bradley Nadeau, LW, Penticton (BCHL)

Carolina has been desperate to add goal scoring to its organization over the last few years, so with this pick they take a bit of a swing on a guy who might have the most offensive upside remaining in Nadeau. Nadeau is on the smaller side, but the Hurricanes have shown that if you are willing to work hard, a smaller frame does not bother them (see: Jarvis, Seth). Nadeau’s hockey smarts and offensive skills make him a worthy pick here for a team knocking on the door of hockey’s elite teams.

31) Montreal Canadiens 

Andy’s Pick: Michael Hrabal, G, Omaha (USHL)

We may not see a goalie being selected in the first round, but if so, it may be the Habs that do it. Montreal has a lot in their prospect cupboard exclusive of a goalie of the future. Hrabal may be the best of this class due to his size and athleticism. The UMass commit will take time to develop, but all the tools are there to be a regular NHL fixture in the pipes.

32) Vegas Golden Knights

Eric’s Pick: Ethan Gauthier, RW, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

Gauthier feels like a perfect fit for the Stanley Cup champions, as he plays a competitive and physical style while mixing in a nice offensive skillset. While there are a few players still on the board who most think will almost positively go in the first round, it is hard to argue against the fit here and that Gauthier is anything other than the best player available for Vegas to select.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft begins at 6 p.m. CDT in Nashville. Be sure to follow Eric on Twitter (@WALaxer19), as he will be live on site in Nashville and plans to tweet out his live reactions and analysis to the Blackhawks’ picks and trades throughout the draft.

The post The Rink’s 2023 NHL Entry Draft first-round mock draft appeared first on The Rink.

The trade accomplishes multiple things for both sides. For Chicago, the Blackhawks land a quality top-six winger in Hall, who should be able to slot in nicely with Connor Bedard assuming he can stay healthy. Hall, a former first overall pick himself and former Hart Trophy winner, should also provide valuable leadership for Bedard, showing the phenom the ropes of being a first overall pick and how to handle the hype and expectations. Hall’s $6 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons will also help the team reach the salary cap floor. In Foligno, the Hawks acquire another respected veteran winger. Although past his prime, Foligno can still contribute in a bottom-six role while providing physicality and leadership. Foligno is currently an unrestricted free agent, but all signs point toward the Blackhawks intending to sign Foligno ahead of free agency opening on July 1.

For Boston, the Bruins “acquire” much-needed cap space, as something clearly needed to give in order for Boston to comfortably assemble a roster for next season. The Bruins also acquire a pair of underachieving blueliners ready for a fresh start who can provide organizational depth moving forward.

On the surface, although being a win-win deal for both sides, the Hawks would seem to be the bigger winners, as neither Mitchell nor Regula likely factored into the team’s long-term plans, as both players were unable to crack the Blackhawks’ lineup last season, while also adding a quality forward option in Hall and veteran depth in Foligno.

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Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Eric Andrews, and Andrew Bard  break down just what will happen in the upcoming 2023 NHL Entry Draft as far as the Blackhawks are concerned:

Bedard will go #1 overwall, but what happens next?

Free Agent scenarios and trade talks.

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Blackhawks Rinkcast: Season 6, Episode 11 – Chicago Blackhawks 2023 Draft Preview https://t.co/HhPlGOUoTc

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) June 25, 2023

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 6, Episode 11 – Chicago Blackhawks 2023 Draft Preview appeared first on The Rink.

The 2023 draft class has been touted as one of both quality and quantity, giving the Blackhawks a prime chance to further build on what was a successful 2022 draft. However, given the quality and depth of the 2023 class, the draft is expected to be highly unpredictable, more so than normal, with many players being viewed as able to be selected anywhere from the late first round to into the late second or even third round. As such, we will avoid publishing a traditional mock draft, but will instead focus on some of the traits the Blackhawks should be looking to target with their picks and mention a few players who could be available at the team’s given draft picks…well, with the exception of No. 1.

First overall

Of course, starting with the first overall pick, there is essentially no question who that pick will be, with 17-year-old mega prospect Connor Bedard the consensus top player available. In Bedard, the Blackhawks will be getting a franchise-altering talent capable of becoming one of the best players in the world, often referred to as being a generational level of prospect. While the “generational” term is thrown around fairly often, it is genuinely warranted with Bedard, as many view him as the second-best prospect to come along in the post-lockout era, second to only Connor McDavid.

On the ice, Bedard is an electrifying offensive player. He already owns one of the best shots in the world, with a lightning-quick release on his full arsenal of shots. This aspect of his game is something regularly compared to Auston Matthews, one of the NHL’s premier shooters and goal scorers.

Bedard is also a capable playmaker, able to recognize the appropriate time to defer to his teammates to create the best scoring opportunity for his team. Though not a world-class skater like McDavid, Bedard is able to maneuver his body through traffic well to find open ice to attack. Though Bedard will never be confused for a giant, he possesses a sturdy frame, which allows him to handle the physical pressure he faces from opposing defenses. Bedard will likely not be a Selke Trophy Winner, but he is effective in his own end thanks to his high hockey IQ. Some have concerns about whether Bedard can be a long-term center, but his skillset should allow him to succeed in the position. After all, if someone like Jack Hughes can excel down the middle, Bedard likely can, too.

Connor Bedard of Team Canada skates during the second period against Team Sweden in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on Dec. 31, 2022, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

While it can be easy to have sky-high expectations for a prospect like Bedard, the expectations are warranted, and all signs indicate he can become a world-class player. He might not be the next Wayne Gretzky, but he should certainly become a future franchise icon. Buckle up and enjoy, Blackhawks fans! If you are looking for your next jersey to purchase, snagging a No. 98 sweater would be a very good option.

19th overall

Moving on to the 19th overall pick, which the Blackhawks received from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2022 trade deadline in the Brandon Hagel trade, the draft board will be wide open. While there are certainly a number of players who will presumably be available at that spot to consider, determining which of the higher-end players will still be available is anyone’s best guess. With how unpredictable the first half of the first round could be, it is entirely possible there is a player or two who falls down to the Hawks at 19. Given that probable context, that is likely to determine who the pick will be.

The organization already has Frank Nazar and Lukas Reichel as potential top-six forward options for the future, but both are certainly on the smaller side, so adding a bigger, skilled forward to them and Bedard is likely the play at 19. Though size is not the end all, be all, it is undeniably important, especially come playoff time. Thankfully for the Blackhawks, there should be at least one bigger forward option still on the board, with names like Daniil But, Nate Danielson, Samuel Honzek, Quentin Musty, Calum Ritchie, Eduard Sale and Matthew Wood all being potential fits if available, with Musty and Wood in particular piquing my interest. If the team decides that taking purely the most skilled player available regardless of size, then the likes of Gavin Brindley, Riley Heidt, Gabriel Perreault, Otto Stenberg and Brayden Yager could be options as well depending on who is available, but all things being equal, the team would likely prefer to add size to the future top six if at all possible given they will already have a trio of sub-6-foot players in that projected future top six.

Matthew Wood would fit the bill of a big-bodied skilled forward should he be available with the 19th overall pick. (Photo courtesy of Sportskeeda)

Do not expect the Hawks to select a defenseman (or goaltender, for that matter) at 19 outside of the incredibly unlikely chance of David Reinbacher somehow being on the board, though he is widely projected to be a top-10 selection, potentially even cracking the top five.

Of course, the Blackhawks do have the capital should they want to move up from 19 to target a specific player who they feel would not last until 19. Davidson showed the willingness to be aggressive on the draft floor last summer, so nothing is out of the picture, but banking on the team picking at 19 is the most likely outcome as things currently stand. On the flip side, the team also certainly has the assets needed to acquire a third first-round pick (likely a late first) should they want to scoop up another player (likely from the list above) who they do not project making it to the second round. This is likely a more probable scenario than moving up from 19.

35th overall

This pick is likely going to be the epitome of taking the best player remaining on the board, though still more likely to be a forward than a defenseman. Should a right-handed blueliner like Oliver Bonk still be available (many anticipate he will be selected late in the first round), then he could be a legitimate target. The Blackhawks are overflowing with young left-handed defensemen, so if the team was to use a relatively high pick on a rearguard, the smart bet would be on a right-handed option. However, with the majority of the more heralded right-handed defensemen in the draft being offensive defensemen (Hunter Brzustewicz, Lukas Dragicevic and Axel Sandin Pellikka, to name a few) and the best two-way righties (Reinbacher and Tom Willander) all but guaranteed to be gone come 35, a defender is probably not the best use of the pick.

With as unpredictable as the draft will be, it is entirely possible that one of the forwards mentioned above is still sitting there for the Blackhawks at 35, which they would likely be thrilled about. Additional bigger forwards who could garner consideration if available are David Edstrom, Charlie Stramel and Anton Wahlberg, though that trio likely does not have as high of offensive upside as the forwards listed previously do. Should the target be a smaller forward, names like Ethan Gauthier and Bradley Nadeau could be options if available.

Many Hawks fans on social media have been clamoring over the idea of the team drafting Andrew Cristall, a tiny, skilled forward who is long-time friends with Bedard. While it is a fun narrative, Cristall’s game does not project as transferring well to the pro game, as his small frame and below-average skating are serious concerns. As such, Cristall should not be a consideration at 35 (or even at 19 like some fans are hoping for).

44th, 51st and 55th overall

Again, at these spots, it will largely come down to who the Blackhawks feel are the best remaining players available. However, do not be surprised if two of these three picks—should the team keep all three picks—are used on a defenseman and goaltender. At 44, a rugged right-handed blueliner like Maxim Strbak could be a nice addition to complement the team’s existing defensive prospect pool. While Strbak could potentially be available at 51 or 55, relying on that happening is probably not a safe move. If waiting until one of those later second-round picks, Cameron Allen also provides a well-rounded yet physical style. If the Hawks would opt for a more “modern” style of defender, someone like Beau Akey could make sense with one of those picks as well, as he profiles as more of a smooth-skating puck mover though still having a physical element to his game. Aram Minnetian is another “modern” style defender with good puck-moving ability who could be a factor late in the second round.

The 2023 draft class appears to have four goaltenders who have established themselves as the cream of the crop. Michael Hrabal, a giant in the cage, is likely to be snatched up either late in the first round or early in the second round. While the Hawks could take him at 35 if available, that would likely not be the best use of the asset. But, once getting to the middle or end of the second round, grabbing one of the three remaining touted goalies very well may be on Davidson’s bingo card. Carson Bjarnason and Adam Gajan seem to be viewed interchangeably as the No. 2 and 3 options, followed by Trey Augustine to round out that group. Though the Blackhawks do have Drew Commesso and Arvid Soderblom in the system, they can certainly do worse with one of those second-round picks than adding another quality netminder to the fold.

If folks are dead set on having a fun Bedard-related narrative to hold on to for a fellow draft pick, the one to go for is Gajan, who was the goaltender Bedard scored his highlight-reel “Heartbreaker” goal against during the World Junior Championships. Perhaps that moment was a bit of foreshadowing in two ways, with Bedard using Patrick Kane’s iconic celebration after scoring on a goalie who may be a future teammate down the road. Time will tell.

Goaltender Adam Gajan of Team Slovakia makes a pad save against Team Canada during overtime in the quarterfinals of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on Jan. 2, 2023, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

Forwards available in this range will be tough to pinpoint, but some names that could be options include Kasper Halttunen, a big Finnish winger, Nico Myatovic, a power winger from the Seattle Thunderbirds, who the Hawks clearly have been keeping a close eye on all season, and Jayden Perron, a tiny, skilled forward from the Chicago Steel.

67th, 93rd and 99th overall

This is the range of the draft where teams start to defer more toward filling needs and taking swings on players. Should the Hawks have kept and made all of the above draft picks, they might have four forwards, a defenseman and a goaltender added to their prospect pool come pick 67. If they do pick one of the top four goalies during the second round, then the likelihood of grabbing a second goalie in the draft is probably pretty slim. But, if they pass on the higher-end options, someone like Scott Ratzlaff could certainly be a target with one of these picks, as they will undoubtedly be very familiar with his game being another Seattle Thunderbird.

But again, should the Blackhawks have taken a goalie already, then the focus the rest of the way will be skaters. At 67, a few potential forward options could be Carey Terrance, a speedy and versatile center, who would likely be a bit of a safer pick as a future bottom-six option, and Coulson Pitre, a high-end playmaker with top-end speed, and Noel Nordh, a physical power winger with a strong shot, as more of those “swing” type of players. On the blue line, should the team want to add an all-around righty, Andrew Gibson fits the bill nicely. On the left side, a pair of physical giants in Jakub Dvorak and Daniil Karpovich could add some nastiness to the back end.

Carey Terrance could provide the Blackhawks with a high motor and versatility. (Photo by Natalie Shaver / OHL Images)

At 93 and 99, a number of forwards could come into play, such as Rasmus Kumpulainen, Ethan Miedema, Martin Misiak, Jesse Nurmi, Alex Pharand, Jakub Stancl, Matthew Soto and Adar Suniev all providing intriguing elements. Defensively, options such as Quinton Burns, Brady Cleveland, Drew Fortescue and Gavin McCarthy could be fits.

131st and 195th overall

The latter stages of the draft are practically impossible to project, as every team’s board varies greatly the later things get.

Depending on how things fall, some names that may be considered with these later picks include forwards Jakub Bednarik, Beckett Hendrickson, Emil Jarventie, Cole Knuble, Jaden Lipinski, Connor Levis, Timur Mukhanov and Zach Nehring and defensemen Samuel Barcik, Matteo Mann, James Petrovski and Carter Sotheran, with the majority of these players providing size and a physical element in their game, with players like Jarventie and Mukhanov being “swing” type of skilled players.

Trading opportunities

As mentioned previously, the Blackhawks have ample ammunition should they want to make deals to move up or add additional draft capital. Of course, moving up from 19 is a hot-button topic among Hawks fans, though it very well might not be worth the cost to move up considering there will likely be a comparable level of player still available at 19. One option to keep an eye on is the Hawks using their array of second-round picks and/or future draft capital to acquire a third first-round pick to target a player of their liking. Davidson has alluded to the fact the team has an abundance of draft capital this year and that it is not likely the Hawks use all of the picks they currently hold. Davidson has recently stated he is willing to consider any and all possibilities that may present themselves at the draft, and needless to say that between his history of being aggressive on the draft floor and the ample draft capital he possesses, there could certainly be some fireworks in Nashville. Regardless of whatever may happen, this draft will be a transformational one for the franchise, and that is something for Blackhawks fans everywhere to earnestly enjoy and celebrate.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, hosted at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, begins on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CDT, with rounds 2–7 beginning Thursday at 10 a.m. CDT. I will be live on site for both days of the draft and intend to tweet out instant reactions to the picks and trades the Blackhawks make. Be sure to follow me (@WALaxer19) for these live reactions!

The post The Rink’s Chicago Blackhawks 2023 draft preview appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, and Sean (Goldstein) Fitzgerald discuss the exciting news:

Has anyone heard about this draft lottery thing? 

Connor Bedard in a Blackhawks uniform, coming soon. 

Should the Blackhawks dip into the UFA market?

Who else could step in and possibly contribute next season?

Other subjects around the league including Evander Kane and a coaching change in NY?

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Blackhawks Rinkcast: Season 6, Episode 10 – Hawks Win Draft Lottery! Connor Bedard is Windy City Bound https://t.co/1w0sZjs4xC

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) May 10, 2023

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 6, Episode 10 – Hawks Win Draft Lottery! Connor Bedard Chicago Bound appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Jeff Osborn, Eric Andrews, Andrew Bard, Ray Napientek and Sean (Goldstein) Fitzgerald discuss the end of the Patrick Kane era in Chicago:

Thoughts on the Patrick Kane saga and the deal to the New York Rangers

The Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty trade to Toronto

Is Patrick Kane the best Blackhawks player ever?

What are our greatest Patrick Kane memories?

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 6, Episode 9 – Goodbye, Patrick Kane https://t.co/EXPHTIzj9c

— Hockey Rinkcast Channel (@TheRinkcast) March 2, 2023

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 6, Episode 9 – Goodbye, Patrick Kane appeared first on The Rink.

Ever since June 22, 2007, Patrick Kane has been synonymous with Blackhawks hockey. That changed on Tuesday night, with the official announcement of Kane being dealt to the New York Rangers ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. Joining him en route to the Rangers was defenseman Cooper Zech, with the Blackhawks receiving a conditional 2023 second-round pick, a 2025 fourth-round pick and defensemen Andy Welinski and Vili Saarijarvi in return.

Despite the deal being widely anticipated since the weekend, the reality is still surreal in the aftermath. Gone is a franchise icon, arguably the best Blackhawk of all-time, who headlined the most successful era on the ice in team history, which is no small claim being an Original Six franchise with nearly 100 years of history in the books thus far.

When then-general manager Dale Tallon stepped to the podium on that fateful Friday night in Columbus nearly 16 years ago (and I remember it well, sitting in the 300 level of Nationwide Arena that night), the Blackhawks were a cellar-dwelling team with very little going for it. Chicago largely did not embrace the team or the sport after years of futility. The roar of the old Chicago Stadium a distant memory and the United Center serving as the home of the Chicago Bulls, and some other team that struggled to fill the lower bowl on the best of nights.

Cue a couple of baby-faced teenagers donning the red, white and black in the fall of 2007, and the franchise would change forever. Kane and his longtime running mate Jonathan Toews were starting the process of making Chicago a hockey town. Almost overnight, Chicago rediscovered its love for hockey and the Hawks. The United Center once again became the Madhouse on Madison, filled to the rafters with crazed fans ready to experience a new chapter on the ice. Cue Showtime.

While Kane and Toews showed flashes out of the gate—including Kane winning the Calder Memorial Trophy that season as the NHL’s rookie of the year—the team’s success took a little longer to catch up, as the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2008 before ultimately breaking through in 2009 en route to a surprising trip to the Western Conference Final against the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings. Despite falling to their vaunted rivals, the upstart Blackhawks were on the cusp of something special, and that 2009 playoff run provided invaluable experience to the team’s young core.

The summer of 2009 saw the signing of future Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa, and with it, the indisputable reality the Blackhawks would be ascending to the league’s elite in short order, with a well-rounded and deep roster filled with talented youth and complemented nicely with veteran leadership.

Once the 2009–10 season began, it would not take long for the team to show it was capable of anything. On Oct. 12, 2009, just five games into the campaign, the Blackhawks would pull off the comeback of a lifetime. Finding themselves with a 5–0 deficit midway through the first period of their game against the visiting Calgary Flames, the Hawks began chipping away, managing to pull even at 5–5 early in the third period before Brent Seabrook’s game-winner early in overtime. Kane would lead the way in the comeback with a goal and two helpers.

That newfound confidence clearly flipped the switch for the team, as they proved to themselves and the world they were never out of a game. Fast forward to April 24, 2010, and the Blackhawks played comeback kids again, this time when it really mattered. With the Hawks trailing by a goal late in the third and looking for the equalizer, Hossa committed a five-minute major penalty for boarding Nashville’s Dan Hamhuis with just 1:03 remaining in regulation. The veteran, who was coming off of back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Final, surely thought he had just doomed his team, with the Predators on the cusp of claiming a 3–2 series lead. Kane had other plans. Despite not being a stereotypical penalty killer, Kane found himself on the ice in dire circumstances, and cashed in big time, scoring the equalizer with 13 seconds left in the game—undoubtedly the biggest goal of Kane’s career, to that point. But Chicago still had four minutes’ worth of Hossa’s penalty to kill off to open overtime, and they found a way through. In magical fashion, Hossa turned the tables by going from scapegoat to overtime hero, coming out of the penalty box and heading straight for the net, where a redirected shot found his stick. Hossa made no mistake from there, and that again gave the Blackhawks the confidence that they were never out of a game.

The Hawks would never look back, defeating the Predators, Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks to find themselves in the Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers. After five games, the Blackhawks held a 3–2 series advantage, with a chance to break their historic 49-year Stanley Cup drought in the City of Brotherly Love on June 9, 2010. The Hawks seemed primed to win in regulation, but Scott Hartnell would level the score at 3–3 with four minutes left in the third, ultimately sending the game to overtime. Four minutes into the extra frame, Kane would create the most iconic moment in franchise history, scoring one of the most memorable goals in NHL history. After receiving a pass on the half board from Brian Campbell, Kane danced his way toward the corner around Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen and fired a quick shot at the feet of Philadelphia netminder Michael Leighton. Leighton could not get down in time, and Kane’s shot found the underside of the padding in the goal, clinching the Stanley Cup and breaking the longest championship drought in professional sports history at the time. But the goal was not celebrated like a Cup-clinching goal typically would be, as the puck was not visible in the net, which caused confusion throughout the arena. Kane knew (as did I, for the record, as I jumped off my couch once I saw the trajectory of the shot), and immediately began celebrating, but he was one of the very few who realized what had happened, with the majority of players, referees, announcers and fans left trying to figure out where the puck was. After a quick review, Kane’s goal stood and his legacy was officially established.

That legacy would be plenty for the average player. But not for Kane. He was just getting started.

The list of awards and achievements Kane has racked up is nothing short of remarkable: Nine-time NHL all-star, three-time Stanley Cup champion, 2008 Calder Memorial Trophy winner, 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner and of course his banner 2015–16 season that saw him win the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. In 1,161 games with the Blackhawks, Kane posted 446 goals, 779 assists and 1,225 points. In postseason action, Kane registered another 52 goals, 80 assists and 132 points in 136 games. That is an all-time resume, as was evidenced by Kane’s selection to the NHL’s top 100 players of all-time in 2017.

But not only did Kane have the quantity, he also produced countless moments of quality, too. Who can forget his mesmerizing shootout goal in Minnesota against Niklas Backstrom? Backstrom’s jock still dangles from the Xcel Energy Center rafters to this day. Of course there’s the spin-o-rama goals and assists, perhaps none more memorable than his no-look cross-ice helper to a wide-open Hossa against Anaheim in 2011. Or what about his Bobby Orr-esque goal against Montreal in 2016, dancing through the defense before firing the puck home midair? There’s the playoff “OT GWGs” (in the words of the one and only Pat Foley). There’s the iconic top shelf backhand snipes, such as the one against Minnesota in 2014. There’s the hat trick against Los Angeles in the 2013 playoffs, capped by his signature heartbreaker celebration after scoring the double overtime winner to send the Hawks back to the Stanley Cup Final. There’s even the overtime (almost) buzzer-beating slapper in his final home game at the United Center. And yes, then there’s the Cup winner in Philly. Truthfully, there’s too many to list, too many to even remember. The memories will last a lifetime.

Thank you for those countless memories, from your game-winning shootout goal against your boyhood idol Dominik Hasek in your first-ever regular season game in the United Center all the way to your scorching hot streak in your final games wearing the Indian head, making us all reminisce on these 16 marvelous years and feel like we were all back in the glory days.

Will it sting for a while to know Kane’s days in Chicago are over? Absolutely. Did Kane fully earn the ability to determine the next step of his illustrious career? Absolutely. Should Blackhawks fans excitedly watch the rest of Kane’s career unfold and cheer for more Showtime, regardless of the sweater he wears? Absolutely. And I, for one, look forward to it.

Thank you, Kaner.

The post Thank you, Kaner appeared first on The Rink.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
2/22/2023		Future Consideration		Nikita Zaitsev '23 2nd Round Pick '26 4th Round Pick
2/23/2023		Josiah Slavin		Hunter Drew
2/26/3023		Jack Johnson		Andreas Englund
2/27/3023		Jake McCabe (50% retained) Sam Lafferty Conditional '24 5th rd pick Conditional '25 5th rd pick		Joey Anderson Pavel Gogolev '25 1st-round pick (top 10 protected) '26 2nd-round pick
2/27/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Future Considerations	Manitoba Moose	Colin Bilek
2/28/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Adam Clendening	Hartford Wolfpack	Zach Jordan
2/28/3023		Patrick Kane (50% retained) Cooper Zech	via	23 2nd Rd Pick (conditional 1st) 4th Rd Pick Vili Saarijarvi Andy Welinski
3/2/3023		Future Considerations		Anders Bjork
3/2/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Carson Gicewicz	Rochester Americans	Future Considerations
3/2/3023		Max Domi Dylan Wells		25 2nd Rd Pick Anton Khudobin
3/2/3023		Dylan Sikura		Max Golod
3/2/3023	Rockford IceHogs	Future Considerations	San Diego Gulls	Rocco Grimaldi Logan Nijhoff
3/3/3023		Future Considerations		Austin Wagner

Trade Analysis/Break Down:

• • • Chicago Blackhawks acquired Nikita Zaitsev, 2023 2nd Round Pick and 2026 4th Round Pick from the Ottawa Senators for future considerations
    • Chicago Blackhawks acquired Hunter Drew from the Anaheim Ducks for Josiah Slavin.
    • Chicago Blackhawks acquired Andreas Englund from The Colorado Avalanche for Jack Johnson
    • Chicago Blackhawks trade Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, a conditional 2024 5th-round pick & a conditional 2025 5th-round pick to Toronto for a 2025 1st-round pick (top 10 protected), a 2026 2nd-round pick, Joey Anderson and Pavel Gogolev.
    • The Arizona Coyotes acquired Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks for Vili Saarijarvi
    • The New York Rangers Acquired Patrick Kane from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2025 conditional 3rd Round Pick
    • The Chicago Blackhawks acquired 2023 conditional 2nd Round Pick, 2025 4th Round Pick and Andy Welinski from the New York Rangers for Cooper Zech
    • The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Anders Bjork from the Buffalo Sabres for future considerations
    • The Dallas Stars acquired Max Domi and Dylan Wells from the Chicago Blackhawks for Anton Khudobin and 2025 2nd Round Pick
    • The Anaheim Ducks acquired Dylan Sikura from the Chicago Blackhawks for Max Golod

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, as well:

The Rink Official

Chicago Divison
The Rinkcast
Jeff Osborn
Andy Campbell
Ray Napientek
Eric Andrews
Sean Fitzgerald
Andrew Bard
Matt Csakai

 

The post The Rink’s Chicago Blackhawks 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

— Boris Katchouk made his presence felt in the first period, plastering Frederick Gaudreau with a monstrous hit in the Minnesota zone. The outing was Katchouk’s second of the season after missing the first seven games with an ankle injury.

— Jonathan Toews continued his hot start to the season with another goal, his fifth of the season. Defenseman Filip Roos picked up his first career point on the tally after reading the play well to step up and start the rush for the Hawks.

— Andreas Athanasiou continues to be a pleasant surprise for the Blackhawks. His offensive revelation saw a potential goal-of-the-year candidate during the game, turning Matt Dumba inside out before sending a slick backhander top shelf past Fleury.

— Max Domi further endeared himself to Patrick Kane, standing up to Tyson Jost after Jost hit Kane from behind. Head coach Luke Richardson also praised Domi’s willingness to answer following the game. Thankfully, Kane was not injured on the play.

— Alex Stalock enjoyed another quality start between the pipes for Chicago, making 32 stops, including a nice save on Joel Eriksson Ek on a partial breakaway in the final minute of overtime.

The Blackhawks will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting the New York Islanders for a 7:30 p.m. CDT puck drop.

The post Blackhawks Post-game One-timers — Oct. 30 vs. Minnesota Wild appeared first on The Rink.

Midweek moves pic.twitter.com/53vHqbWe5S

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 26, 2022

A 2017 third-round pick of the Blackhawks, Barratt established himself as a promising prospect after a strong career at Penn State University. However, like many other players drafted by former general manager Stan Bowman—including defenseman Nicolas Beaudin, also dealt by Davidson on Wednesday—Barratt’s development stalled once turning pro in 2020.

In three seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, Barratt accumulated totals of 19 goals and 23 assists in 92 regular season games played. Barratt did not appear in a single NHL contest for the Blackhawks.

Like Beaudin, the trade signifies a fresh start back home for Barratt, a Bristol, Pennsylvania, native.

Zech spent parts of three seasons in the Boston Bruins organization, playing in 78 regular season games with the Providence Bruins before joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021–22.

Zech will report to the Rockford IceHogs.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks deal Evan Barratt to Philadelphia appeared first on The Rink.

The Canadiens have acquired defenseman Nicolas Beaudin from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Cam Hillis.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/XHmSuolxKV

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 26, 2022

Beaudin failed to develop into what former general manager Stan Bowman hoped he would, as the 2018 27th overall pick has spent the vast majority of his professional career with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, logging 137 total regular season games. Beaudin played in just 22 regular season games with the Blackhawks between the 2019–20 and 2021–22 seasons.

The deal also adds to the lengthy list of former first-round picks the Blackhawks have shipped out of town early in their careers, with every Hawks first-round selectee from 2008 to 2019 having played no more than 162 games with the team.

Additionally, the transaction also highlights yet another colossal failure by the Bowman administration, as the Blackhawks elected to pass on drafting defenseman Bowen Byram with the third overall pick in 2019 since the team had invested both of their 2018 first-round picks in Beaudin and fellow blueliner Adam Boqvist, who was shipped out of town in the Seth Jones trade with Columbus last summer. Instead, the Hawks selected forward Kirby Dach, who has since also left town when he was also dealt to the Canadiens at the draft this summer.

In Hillis, the Blackhawks are receiving nothing more than an organizational depth forward. Hillis suited up for one game for the Canadiens in the 2021–22 season, but has spent the rest of his professional career between the AHL and ECHL. Hillis had spent the beginning of this season with the ECHL’s Trois-Rivières Lions before the trade.

In a separate but related transaction, the IceHogs sent forward Riley McKay to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, in exchange for future considerations.

Hogs on the Move: We have received future considerations from @RocketLaval in exchange for forward Riley McKay. https://t.co/6oTlTrfNog

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 26, 2022

Hillis, a 2018 third-rounder of Montreal, has been assigned to Rockford, where he will likely spend much of the rest of the season.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks trade Nicolas Beaudin to Montreal for Cameron Hillis appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by Rink staffers Eric Andrews,  Sean (Goldstein) Fitzgerald, and Andrew Bard to discuss several recent Chicago Blackhawks news items.

• Could the Blackhawks trade Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Kirby Dach and/or Alex Debrincat to kick the rebuild into overdrive?
• Some listener/watcher questions.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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Blackhawks/Rinkcast – S5Ep 21 – Is the “Cat” really on the trade block? https://t.co/Ywq69BIXEg

— The Rink Rinkcasts (@TheRinkcast) June 14, 2022

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 21 – Let the rumors fly and the offseason begin appeared first on The Rink.

OFFICIAL: Jeff Greenberg has been named Associate General Manager.

Greenberg joins the Blackhawks after 11 seasons in baseball operations with the Chicago Cubs, most recently serving as Assistant General Manager. pic.twitter.com/fioyDRVv2r

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 28, 2022

According to a press release from the team, Greenberg will oversee the strategic systems and processes behind the hockey operations department. Greenberg’s focus will be to establish and optimize a modern approach to hockey operations through the use of systems, technology, data and talent with an eye on long-term growth and gaining competitive advantage, according to the release.

“Our journey is just beginning as we build a next-generation foundation for this team, and that starts with a focus on modernizing and improving the Hockey Operations infrastructure in our front office,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson in the release. “We will only get back to being best-in-class on the ice if we are working with best-in-class information and ideas behind the scenes. Together, this executive leadership team is looking forward to developing great talent throughout all levels of our organization and adding the tools we need across scouting, analytics, player development, coaching and more to return to competitive hockey.”

“Jeff will be both an architect and connector of the hockey operations group, ensuring that we’re always at the forefront of professional sports,” added Davidson. “He reached out to congratulate me after I was named General Manager, and we connected instantly over our parallel paths, shared love for hockey and vision for this sport’s future. I’m excited for our fans to see what he, alongside Norm (Maciver), can bring as key voices at the table — a table that will continue to grow with other leaders we will add to the team.”

The news comes as a bit of a surprise to many, as Greenberg had been a finalist for the Blackhawks’ general manager position but was not selected, as the team instead opted for Davidson.

Greenberg has spent the last 11 years within the Cubs organization in the baseball operations department. Greenberg’s strength has always come in the scouting world, helping develop systems to better identify and develop talent, which is clearly an area the Blackhawks need help in.

Prior to joining the Cubs, Greenberg spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as working directly for the MLB. A 2008 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Greenberg played hockey in college, including captaining his team during his junior and senior seasons.

Greenberg is looking forward to bringing his expertise to the Blackhawks and the challenge that lies ahead with rebuilding the team.

“What I’ve learned about the Blackhawks is they’re serious about using this rebuilding period to not only set this franchise up to be the best in hockey, but the best in all of sports moving forward,” Greenberg said in the release. “There couldn’t be a more exciting time to get in on the ground floor of this journey and pursue every possible solution to put this team back on the path to winning hockey.”

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer, who the Blackhawks consulted with during their general manager search, praised the hiring of Greenberg, identifying that Greenberg is an ideal fit for what the Blackhawks need and are wanting to do moving forward.

Greenberg’s first day with the Blackhawks will be May 9.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks hire Greenberg as associate general manager appeared first on The Rink.

Signed on the dotted line pic.twitter.com/02e6LOcm7k

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 22, 2022

Del Mastro was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft (105th overall) by the Blackhawks and has been developing in the OHL with the Mississauga Steelheads, where he served as the team captain this season.

A 6-foot-4, 209-pound rearguard, Del Mastro turned in career bests this season with seven goals, 41 assists and 48 points, all of which were team highs among defensemen.

“Ethan has made tremendous strides in his game over the last few years,” Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson said in a press release. “He has really opened our eyes as he showcased a poise with the puck and ability to make plays on the rush this season. Combining those traits with an already strong defensive mentality gives us hope that there is still plenty of room for progression and growth in his game.”

More so known for his defensive prowess, Del Mastro was named as the OHL’s best defensive defenseman and best penalty killer this season.

The post Blackhawks sign Ethan Del Mastro to entry-level contract appeared first on The Rink.

OFFICIAL: Hossa will sign a one-day contract and officially retire as a Blackhawk this Thursday! pic.twitter.com/SDLB6wQr8m

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 5, 2022

Blackhawks fans will have the opportunity to see Hossa sign his ceremonial contract at 6:15 p.m. CDT inside the United Center’s atrium prior to the team’s 7:30 p.m. CDT puck drop against the Seattle Kraken.

“The Blackhawks and city of Chicago hold a special place in my heart,” Hossa said in a press release. “Making the commitment to this organization in 2009 was the best decision I ever made. For all the memories my teammates and I made together, including three Stanley Cup wins, my family created just as many off the ice. The fans embraced us as one of their own, treating us so kindly wherever we went. Retiring as a Blackhawk is a dream come true and I couldn’t imagine officially ending my career in any other way. I would like to thank the Wirtz family for making this a reality and for all they have done for me since I signed with the team.”

Hossa’s esteemed career was highlighted by his time in Chicago, helping the Blackhawks to Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Slovakian played 534 regular season games with the Hawks from 2009 to 2017, posting 186 goals and 229 assists for 415 points in those contests. Hossa also racked up 107 postseason games with Chicago, tallying 21 goals and 52 assists when it mattered most.

Among Hossa’s many individual accomplishments with the Blackhawks included his 1,000th game on March 12, 2013, his 1,000th point on Oct. 30, 2014 and his 500th goal on Oct. 18, 2016. Perhaps Hossa’s most iconic Blackhawks moment was his overtime game-winning goal against the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, which helped fuel the Hawks to a six-game series win en route to winning the organization’s first championship in 49 years.

“To me, the greatest free agent signing in Chicago sports history, Marian was the franchise’s missing piece,” said Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz in the press release. “Both on, and off the ice, he made an indelible mark on his teammates and our organization. My family is forever grateful for the contributions Marian made to the Blackhawks. His humble demeanor and vaunted work ethic was everything we could have asked for and more in a superstar when we signed him in 2009. We feel that it’s only fitting that Marian retire as a Blackhawk as he starts a new chapter in his life.”

Tickets for Thursday’s game against the Kraken, which will allow fans the opportunity to see Hossa’s signing ceremony, are still available through the Blackhawks’ website.

The post BREAKING: Hossa to sign one-day contract, retire with Blackhawks Thursday appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by The Rink co-founder Jeff Osborn from The Rink Seattle and Rink staffers Ray Napientek, Andrew Bard, Sean Fitzgerald, and Eric Andrews to talk about the Blackhawks and Kraken 2022 trade deadline deals.

• • (0:00) Blackhawks unload Brandon Hagel, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Ryan Carpenter.
  • (44:00)Kraken unload Calle Jarnkrok, Mark Giordano, Colin Blackwell, Jeremy Lauzon, Marcus Johansson, and Mason Appleton.
  • (1:03:00)And some listener/viewer questions.
  • Sean brushes his teeth and takes us for a drive.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Blackhawks/Kraken Rinkcast – S5 Ep18/S1 Ep10 – Trade Deadline Extravaganza Part II https://t.co/HdJXRrlyu0

— Chicago Blackhawks Rinkcast (@TheRinkcast) March 22, 2022

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Ryan Carpenter is going from #Blackhawks to #Flames in exchange for a 2024 5th round pick.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 21, 2022

Carpenter signed with the Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent in 2019. In two and a half seasons with the Hawks, Carpenter tallied 10 goals and 21 assists in 168 games.

With Carpenter being an unrestricted free agent, moving him ahead of the deadline was a no-brainer for the Blackhawks. Given the return for fourth-line players is typically not very high, getting a fifth-round pick for Carpenter is certainly respectable for the Hawks.

It appears as though the Carpenter trade was the final deal made by the Blackhawks ahead of the trade deadline, with Calvin de Haan and Dominik Kubalik, among others, not dealt.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/16/2022		Calle Jarnkrok		'22 2nd round pick (acquired from FLA), '23 3rd round pick, and a '24 7th round pick
3/18/2022		Brandon Hagel, '22 4th round pick, '24 4th round pick		Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, ‘23 1st round pick, ‘24 1st round pick
3/20/2022		Mark Giordano (50% salary retained), Colin Blackwell		'22 2nd round pick, '23 2nd round pick, and, '24 3rd round pick
3/20/2022		Jeremy Lauzon		'22 2nd round pick
3/20/2022		Mason Appleton		'23 4th round pick
3/21/2022		Marcus Johansson (50% salary retained)		Daniel Sprong, '22 4th round pick, and '23 6th round pick
3/21/2022		Marc-Andre Fleury (50% salary retained)		Conditional '22 2nd (potential 1st) round pick
3/21/2022		Ryan Carpenter		'24 5th round pick
3/21/2022		Future Considerations		Victor Rask

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks send Ryan Carpenter to Flames appeared first on The Rink.

BREAKING: Hearing #Blackhawks are trading Marc-Andre Fleury to #mnwild. Sounds like conditional 2nd round pick that can become a 1st for CHI.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 21, 2022

The conditional pick in Marc-Andre Fleury trade is in 2022, per source. #Blackhawks https://t.co/C5fNTSpCeK

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 21, 2022

The pick has the potential to be upgraded to a first-round pick should the Wild advance to the Western Conference Final and Fleury records at least four victories within the first two rounds of the playoffs. Additionally, the Blackhawks are retaining 50% of Fleury’s cap hit for the remainder of the season.

Fleury conditions: 2nd round pick becomes a 1st for #Blackhawks if MIN reaches Western Conference Final and Fleury accounts for 4 wins or more in first two rounds.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 21, 2022

#Blackhawks are retaining 50% on Fleury.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 21, 2022

Fleury performed admirably behind a poor Blackhawks team this season, posting a 19–21–5 record with a 2.95 goals against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts.

Obviously the move solidifies Minnesota’s goaltending situation, as the Wild will now trot out a tandem of Fleury and Cam Talbot, as Minnesota traded Kaapo Kahkonen to the San Jose Sharks in a corresponding deal. With a deep forward group and reliable veteran blue line, the Wild should have a fighting chance of getting to the Western Conference Final, especially now with Fleury between the pipes, which would trigger the upgrade to the first-round pick.

For the Blackhawks, they will now run with a tandem of Kevin Lankinen and Collin Delia for the rest of the season, while Arvid Soderblom will stay with the Rockford IceHogs to lead their playoff push.

The deal makes sense in a number of ways for both sides. For the Wild, they get the proven netminder General Manager Bill Guerin was hoping for. Fleury will have a chance at another Stanley Cup, and did not have to travel far for the opportunity. Guerin likely played a key role in convincing Fleury to accept a move to Minnesota, as the two won a Stanley Cup together in Pittsburgh in 2009. Of course, for the Blackhawks, they acquire a quality draft pick in return for Fleury, who they essentially acquired for free last summer.

Needless to say, Blackhawks fans should be hoping for a strong showing in the playoffs for the Wild, as having the pick upgrade to a first-round pick would certainly be a big plus for Chicago’s rebuild, especially without having their own first-round pick, which was dealt in the Seth Jones trade last summer.

With arguably Chicago’s two biggest trade chips in Fleury and Brandon Hagel having been dealt, the attention now turns to the likes of Ryan Carpenter, Calvin de Haan and Dominik Kubalik as the 2 p.m. CDT deadline approaches.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/16/2022		Calle Jarnkrok		'22 2nd round pick (acquired from FLA), '23 3rd round pick, and a '24 7th round pick
3/18/2022		Brandon Hagel, '22 4th round pick, '24 4th round pick		Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, ‘23 1st round pick, ‘24 1st round pick
3/20/2022		Mark Giordano (50% salary retained), Colin Blackwell		'22 2nd round pick, '23 2nd round pick, and, '24 3rd round pick
3/20/2022		Jeremy Lauzon		'22 2nd round pick
3/20/2022		Mason Appleton		'23 4th round pick
3/21/2022		Marcus Johansson (50% salary retained)		Daniel Sprong, '22 4th round pick, and '23 6th round pick
3/21/2022		Marc-Andre Fleury (50% salary retained)		Conditional '22 2nd (potential 1st) round pick
3/21/2022		Ryan Carpenter		'24 5th round pick
3/21/2022		Future Considerations		Victor Rask

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks trade Marc-Andre Fleury to Minnesota appeared first on The Rink.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/16/2022		Calle Jarnkrok		'22 2nd round pick (acquired from FLA), '23 3rd round pick, and a '24 7th round pick
3/18/2022		Brandon Hagel, '22 4th round pick, '24 4th round pick		Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, ‘23 1st round pick, ‘24 1st round pick
3/20/2022		Mark Giordano (50% salary retained), Colin Blackwell		'22 2nd round pick, '23 2nd round pick, and, '24 3rd round pick
3/20/2022		Jeremy Lauzon		'22 2nd round pick
3/20/2022		Mason Appleton		'23 4th round pick
3/21/2022		Marcus Johansson (50% salary retained)		Daniel Sprong, '22 4th round pick, and '23 6th round pick
3/21/2022		Marc-Andre Fleury (50% salary retained)		Conditional '22 2nd (potential 1st) round pick
3/21/2022		Ryan Carpenter		'24 5th round pick
3/21/2022		Future Considerations		Victor Rask

Trade Analysis/Break Down:

• The Calgary Flames acquired Calle Jarnkrok from the Seattle Kraken for 2022 2nd Round Pick, 2023 3rd Round Pick, 2024 7th Round Pick
• The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Brandon Hagel, 2022 4th Round Pick and 2024 4th Round Pick from the Chicago Blackhawks for 2023 1st Round Pick, 2024 1st Round Pick, Boris Katchouk, and Taylor Raddysh
• The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell from the Seattle Kraken for 2022 second round pick, 2023 second round pick, and 2024 third round pick
• The Nashville Predators acquired Jeremy Lauzon from the Seattle Kraken for 2022 second round pick
• The Winnipeg Jets acquired Mason Appleton from the Seattle Kraken for a 2023 fourth round pick
• The Minnesota Wild acquired Marc-Andre Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks for a conditional first or second round pick
• The Washington Capitals acquired Marcus Johansson from the Seattle Kraken for Daniel Sprong and draft picks
• The Calgary Flames acquired Ryan Carpenter from the Chicago Blackhawks for 2024 Fifth Round Pick
• The Seattle Kraken acquired Victor Rask from the Minnesota Wild for future considerations

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up to the minute updates, as well:

The Rink Official

Chicago Divison
The Rinkcast
Andy Campbell
Ray Napientek
Eric Andrews
Sean Fitzgerald
Andrew Bard
Matt Csakai
Tommy Gibbons

Seattle Divison
Kraken Hostile Seattle Rinkcast
Jeff Osborn

The post The Rink’s 2022 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

March Madness pic.twitter.com/IJKy9zBgQd

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 18, 2022

The first-round picks could slide to 2025 and 2026 should they fall within the top 10 of either draft, though that is unlikely given the Lightning are perennial Stanley Cup contenders, and adding Hagel furthers that window for the two-time defending champions.

Hagel was having a career year this season for the Blackhawks, having posted 21 goals and 16 assists through 55 games.

Originally a sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, the Blackhawks signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2019.

Katchouk, originally the 44th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning, has tallied two goals and four assists in 38 games with Tampa Bay this season.

Raddysh, a former linemate of Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome with the Erie Otters, was selected 58th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning. He has posted five goals and seven assists in 53 games for Tampa Bay this season.

Needless to say, it is tough to see Hagel, a fan favorite in Chicago, traded, but for the return General Manager Kyle Davidson received, the deal is an absolute no-brainer for a franchise starving for quality future assets. Hagel’s value would likely never have been higher than it was currently, and Davidson taking advantage of that is an extremely encouraging sign moving forward. Davidson has now shown he is not afraid to maximize his assets no matter how tough a decision it is or how the fan base might perceive the move.

Simply put, Davidson recognizing and capitalizing on maximizing his assets is critical to the success of the Blackhawks’ rebuild.

In case you missed last night’s episode of The Rinkcast, our panel broke down a potential Hagel trade and how capitalizing on his high trade value was a must for the Blackhawks. Needless to say, Davidson viewed things the same way in the end.

With many other pieces on the Blackhawks’ roster likely still up for grabs ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, Davidson’s work is just beginning. If the Hagel trade is any indication of things to come, Blackhawks fans have a lot to be excited about this weekend.

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/16/2022		Calle Jarnkrok		'22 2nd round pick (acquired from FLA), '23 3rd round pick, and a '24 7th round pick
3/18/2022		Brandon Hagel, '22 4th round pick, '24 4th round pick		Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, ‘23 1st round pick, ‘24 1st round pick
3/20/2022		Mark Giordano (50% salary retained), Colin Blackwell		'22 2nd round pick, '23 2nd round pick, and, '24 3rd round pick
3/20/2022		Jeremy Lauzon		'22 2nd round pick
3/20/2022		Mason Appleton		'23 4th round pick
3/21/2022		Marcus Johansson (50% salary retained)		Daniel Sprong, '22 4th round pick, and '23 6th round pick
3/21/2022		Marc-Andre Fleury (50% salary retained)		Conditional '22 2nd (potential 1st) round pick
3/21/2022		Ryan Carpenter		'24 5th round pick
3/21/2022		Future Considerations		Victor Rask

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks land massive haul for Brandon Hagel appeared first on The Rink.

The Rink co-founder Jeff Osborn from The Rink Seattle is joined by Rink staffers Andrew Bard, Sean Fitzgerald, and Eric Andrews to talk about the Blackhawks’ and Kraken’s plight for this 2022 trade deadline.

• Kraken get the deadline rolling by trading Calle Jarnkrok to the Calgary Flames.
• Blackhawks rumored to be trading Dominik Kubalik to the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, or Winnipeg Jets.
• Mark Giordano destinations and his effect on those teams.
• Marc-Andre Fleury trade talk heats up.
• What else might we see from the Kraken and Blackhawks by Monday afternoon?
• Brandon Hagel trade possibilities and why it makes sense.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

#Blackhawks/#SeaKraken Rinkcast – Trade Deadline Extravaganza https://t.co/YWl3K8oZEz

— Chicago Blackhawks Rinkcast (@TheRinkcast) March 17, 2022

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It is no secret the Blackhawks badly need to replenish their mostly barren cupboards, and the trade deadline will serve as newly minted General Manager Kyle Davidson’s first big opportunity to do so, and is one he needs to take full advantage of since he has a number of assets that should be moved in order to start building toward the future.

Before breaking down each player’s likelihood of being dealt and a potential return for each player, it is important to first analyze what the priority needs to be for the Blackhawks entering the deadline.

Simply put, there needs to be one goal—and one goal only—leading up to March 21: Asset maximization.

What exactly does asset maximization actually mean? That is a great question, and is one Davidson needs to be keenly aware of. Asset maximization means gaining any sort of net positive in a transaction. This can be accomplished in various ways depending on the franchise, so it is important to understand the Blackhawks’ true situation: Needing to build the franchise back up to being a Stanley Cup winner. That is the critical context Davidson needs to be working under moving forward, no matter what that requires in terms of personnel decisions. There are a number of different ways to view maximizing assets, and that largely depends on the asset itself combined with your goal for the asset.

One key component of this rebuild is Davidson cannot afford to be glued to any player for any specific reason. Every player—yes, EVERY player—can be had for the right return. Let’s not forget that the great Wayne Gretzky was traded TWICE in his illustrious career. So yes, even the “sacred cows” and the “rebuild cornerstones” can be moved—if the return is right. Now, that does NOT mean the Blackhawks should or will trade any given player in the organization, but Davidson at least needs to listen and assess any potential deal that comes across his desk, no matter how far-fetched it may seem. Doing his due diligence on transactions is a critical part of his job, and getting the Blackhawks back to Stanley Cup contention—something they are miles from currently—is his ultimate job responsibility.

With that in mind, Davidson needs to accurately determine how every asset in the organization fits into the grand scheme of getting the Blackhawks back to the promised land, and then act accordingly based on his judgements. Of course, there is so much more involved with this process than the average fan would like to admit, such as the fact the team still needs to sell tickets and merchandise, still needs NHL players playing NHL minutes, still needs to meet the salary cap floor and still needs veterans playing in key roles in order to help younger players properly develop. It is not as simple as trading away every established player for future assets and just playing a bunch of “kids” in order to bottom out. That can—and should—be done to an extent, but again, there still needs to be some degree of structure on an NHL team during a rebuild.

So, with the context established, let’s dig through the current NHL roster to realistically assess where each player stands in the short term and long term. While AHL players and prospects could be dealt, the return would likely be marginal at best, so it is not really worth breaking down those players in particular.

Forwards

Henrik Borgstrom — $1 million cap hit through 2022–23

Borgstrom is a player who likely would not have much value at the trade deadline since he would likely not even crack the lineup for a playoff team. Being under contract through the end of next season, expect Borgstrom to be back competing for a full-time spot in the Hawks’ lineup next season, with that likely determining his long-term future with the organization.

Ryan Carpenter — $1 million cap hit, pending unrestricted free agent

Carpenter is the first player on the list seemingly destined to have a new address next week. As a player who knows his role—a defensively responsible fourth-liner capable of winning face-offs—Carpenter is the type of player playoff teams enjoy cheaply adding at the deadline as they gear up for a Cup run. Though the return will not be much, perhaps a sixth-round draft pick at best, Carpenter’s value is highest to the Blackhawks by being dealt at the deadline and hoping that draft pick can turn into a future piece of the rebuild, as he would likely move to greener pastures this summer as a free agent anyway. As such, take what you can get and run.

Ryan Carpenter is likely a player heading out the door at the trade deadline. (Photo by USA Today Sports)

Kirby Dach — $925,000 cap hit, pending restricted free agent

Dach is the first player to fit into the “no sacred cows” category. Frankly, there is little to no chance of him being dealt at the deadline, but he needs to be one of those players who Davidson takes a long look at this summer in order to determine what Dach will truly provide for the franchise down the road. If Dach can become a legitimate top-six NHL player down the road, then he is very likely a piece the team will keep. If there is cause for concern about Dach’s future, it would be extremely wise for Davidson to cash out on the value Dach has in order to maximize the asset. Again, that is not an endorsement for moving him, just a recognition of what the ultimate focus needs to be. All that said, expect Dach back in the fall competing for a permanent top-six role, and hopefully being able to truly and properly fill it.

Alex DeBrincat — $6.4 million cap hit through 2022–23

Another of the “sacred cows,” DeBrincat will very likely not be leaving Chicago any time soon, which is perfectly fine. He is certainly young enough to envision him still being a high-end player by the time the Hawks are back in the playoffs and will likely be one of the main faces of the franchise through the rebuild. But again, the focus during the rebuild needs to be asset maximization. If another team presents a massive haul in return for DeBrincat, Davidson has to strongly consider it. The likelihood of that happening is probably slim, so get used to enjoying DeBrincat for the foreseeable future.

MacKenzie Entwistle — $800,000 cap hit through 2023–24

Entering an extension next season, Entwistle is a player similar to Borgstrom who would not really offer much value to a playoff team at the deadline. Entwistle likely has a bit more safe of a position with the organization moving forward given the two-year contract extension he received, but will likely never be more than a bottom-six role player, which is fine. Entwistle is young enough where he could still be a viable depth option when the team returns to prominence, or he could end up being similar to Carpenter and being flipped for a mid-late draft pick at a future deadline. Regardless, he likely will not be going anywhere soon.

Brandon Hagel — $1.5 million cap hit through 2023–24

Ah, now we are talking. Perhaps the most hotly contested and debated Blackhawks player in terms of the 2022 trade deadline, Hagel is the ultimate question mark in terms of asset maximization. Let me first say that I truly do love Hagel. Originally a sixth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres, the Hawks signed Hagel as an unsigned free agent in 2019 having given up nothing to acquire him. Talk about a return on investment. Hagel has blossomed into a fan favorite capable of doing literally everything for his team—all at a low cap hit—which is exceedingly desirable and valuable for a contending team.

There are certainly two sides of the coin here. One the one hand, Hagel is just 23 years old and has quickly risen through the lineup to be a go-to player, having already lit the lamp 21 times this season. With his youth, one could certainly envision Hagel being another face of the franchise during the rebuild and still being a contributor upon the Hawks rising back to prominence. However, players of his type oftentimes struggle with durability as their careers progress (see: Shaw, Andrew), so that is one thing to take into serious consideration here.

On the flip side, the return for Hagel right now rumored to have already been turned down by the Blackhawks is a first-round pick and a prospect. Based on the return for Tyler Toffoli, that return would seem to be accurate given the market. For a team starving for quality prospects and future assets, that is an extremely difficult return to say no to for a player who would ultimately be a third-liner on a Stanley Cup team. Can you actually turn down two quality future assets for a third-line winger? Can you actually turn down those assets when you realistically should be able to at worst replace Hagel’s value with that late first-round pick? Again, I truly do love Hagel, I really do, but that would be an awfully tough pill to swallow entering a rebuild. It is a tough decision, but that is why Davidson is paid the big bucks. While I do not think the Blackhawks would necessarily regret keeping Hagel, his value will likely never be higher than it is right now. He needs to be a player the team either keeps through his prime or moves now; anything outside of that is poor asset management. Moving Hagel for a quality return is the epitome of asset maximization, though it sounds like the Hawks do plan to keep him in the fold.

Fan favorite Brandon Hagel has drawn plenty of debate leading up to the trade deadline. (Photo by Melissa Tamez / Getty Images)

Tyler Johnson — $5 million cap hit through 2023–24

Back to much simpler answers, Johnson likely will not be going anywhere for the foreseeable future given his contract. Johnson seems destined to be one of those players who will be a veteran to lean on for legitimate NHL minutes through the rebuild, and that is fine. Not much to see here.

Patrick Kane — $10.5 million cap hit through 2022–23

Oh, there is so much to debate here, but the fact of the matter is, right or wrong, Kane will not be going anywhere unless he wants to. Short of something drastically changing in the coming days, Kane will not be dealt at the deadline, which would push his trade window to the draft at the earliest. Of course, moving Kane would be the largest possible pill to swallow for the organization financially, but he is by far the most valuable asset the team has, and again, with the focus on asset maximization, moving Kane within the next year would work wonders toward truly rebuilding the Blackhawks. Some would argue the team cannot truly rebuild without moving him, and it is difficult to disagree. Sure, Kane would likely still be a quality player in four or five years, but by not moving him, the team would be prolonging the rebuild and likely guaranteeing not winning another Cup during Kane’s playing career. It will be tough, but the bullet has to be bitten at some point.

Jujhar Khaira — $975,000 cap hit through 2022–23

Khaira has been injured for much of the season, but is similar to Carpenter in the sense he is a reliable veteran fourth-liner that teams know they can count on come playoff time. Expect Khaira to be next year’s Carpenter, being dealt at the 2023 trade deadline for a late pick. To give Hawks fans a comparable they can relate to, the team acquiring Khaira next year will be looking at their version of the Blackhawks acquiring Andrew Desjardins back in the day.

Dominik Kubalik — $3.7 million cap hit, pending restricted free agent

Kubalik is a prime example of poor asset management. Kubalik’s value was sky high after a wildly successful 30-goal rookie campaign, but has sharply dropped since he has returned back to Earth in the last couple of seasons. Still, Kubalik is a capable goal scorer who can slot into a playoff lineup in a depth role, and depth scoring is critically important for playoff success. As such, Kubalik would be a player fans should expect could be dealt ahead of the deadline. While the Hawks could opt to keep him around for some depth scoring of their own, it seems like Kubalik has fallen out of favor in Chicago, so just cashing out on the asset might make the most sense both in the short and long term. The return will not be nearly what it would have been in the offseason of 2020, but the Hawks should still manage a decent return and are apparently asking for a second-round pick, though I would say a third-round pick for Kubalik is more realistic.

Dominik Kubalik is another player who may be moved ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. (Photo courtesy of NBC Sports Chicago)

Philipp Kurashev — $842,500 cap hit, pending restricted free agent

Kurashev falls into a similar category as Entwistle, being a player with a fairly safe long-term future in Chicago. The Hawks likely hoped Kurashev would take a step forward this season, but it did not come. Still, Kurashev will likely be around for the foreseeable future, likely fitting in the lineup as a reliable two-way third-liner with the ability to slot up higher if needed.

Sam Lafferty — $750,000 cap hit, pending unrestricted free agent

Lafferty is actually an intriguing case. He is a depth forward likely in the prime of his career, but it seems like the Hawks like him and he has actually started heating up a bit of late. While he likely would not bring much of a return, capitalizing on the hot streak might make the most sense from the asset maximization standpoint, especially since Lafferty likely would not be playing a notable role by the time the Blackhawks are through their rebuild. If the team does move on from Lafferty at the deadline, something in the range of a fifth- or sixth-round pick is probably reasonable to expect. Still though, with the team seemingly liking what he offers, do not be surprised if he sticks around past the deadline and re-signs in the offseason.

Dylan Strome — $3 million cap hit, pending restricted free agent

Love him or hate him, Strome has quickly turned around his season with an impressive hot streak entering the deadline, and what perfect timing. The team has reportedly been trying to find a suitor for a year now without luck, but his surge might just change that. However, as time has worn on, it has become evident Strome would hold a different role with the Hawks than he would with a contending team, and the potential problem with that is most teams likely know Strome is not really suited for being a third-line player, which is where he would likely slot in on a contender. He is the type of player who needs to be playing big minutes with quality players in order to produce, and that is probably not something a contending team could provide him. The Blackhawks are reportedly asking for a second-round pick in return for Strome, though a third-round pick is probably more realistic. But given that, is it even worth it to move him for that type of return? If Strome can be an affordable top-six guy during the rebuild, that might not be the worst thing to just keep him, especially with his obvious chemistry with DeBrincat and Kane. Again, the Hawks need NHL players playing NHL minutes during the rebuild, and that is something Strome could provide. But, if they do find a suitor and move him, you will not find anyone complaining here.

Dylan Strome’s time in Chicago may be coming to an end, or, it could just be beginning. (Photo by Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

Jonathan Toews — $10.5 million cap hit through 2022–23

Toews’ situation is similar to Kane’s in the sense he will not be going anywhere unless he wants to, plain and simple. Also similar to Kane, a deal would likely not happen until the draft at the earliest. But, unlike Kane, there would not be nearly as big of a market for Toews should he want to move on. His health concerns are very legitimate, and that does not even begin to factor in the monstrous cap hit. Even at half retained, there likely would not be a huge return coming Chicago’s way given he would probably be a third-line center on a contending team. While it is possible Toews could move on one day, it is probably more realistic for Toews to finish his esteemed career as a Blackhawk, whenever that might be, and it could very well be sooner rather than later.

Defensemen

Calvin de Haan — $4.55 million cap hit, pending unrestricted free agent

This might be among the easier decisions Davidson has at the deadline. Similar to Carpenter, de Haan is the type of player contending teams crave at the deadline. De Haan is a reliable, defense-first defenseman who is willing to put his body on the line to get the job done, something every Cup team needs. It is highly likely de Haan would not re-sign with the team, so cashing out on him now is the only rational choice here. While it may require the Hawks to retain some of his cap hit in order to receive a quality return, that is something they should eagerly welcome. The reported ask is a second-round pick, and that could feasibly happen if the Blackhawks did retain half of his cap hit, but expecting a third-round pick is probably more realistic for the veteran blueliner.

Calvin de Haan is one player most people expect to be dealt ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. (Photo courtesy of The Fourth Period)

Erik Gustafsson — $800,000 cap hit, pending unrestricted free agent

The Blackhawks managed to deal Gustafsson at the trade deadline once before. If another team is willing to give the Hawks literally anything for him this time around, Davidson needs to accept and hang up the phone before the other team changes their mind. It is either sayonara now or in the offseason, so if an asset can be had, great. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, again.

Caleb Jones — $850,000 cap hit, pending restricted free agent

The younger Jones is likely a player the Blackhawks plan to have around for a while, which is fine. He is a young, serviceable bottom-pairing guy at a cheap cap hit. Nothing wrong with that, but not much to see here, either.

Seth Jones — $9.5 million cap hit through 2029–30

The elder Jones has been solid for the Hawks this season, but will always be judged in light of the gargantuan package then-general manager Stan Bowman gave up to acquire him at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Yes, the Blackhawks badly needed a No. 1 defenseman, but mortgaging the future entering a rebuild to acquire one was not the way to do it. Jones will be a valuable piece for the Hawks for many years to come, but they had better hope they will be back to contending while Jones is still playing at a high level.

Jake McCabe — $4 million cap hit through 2024–25

McCabe is one of those players where you kind of just throw your hands up and ask “Why?” because you just are not sure what to make of him. As has been said earlier, the Blackhawks will need NHL players playing NHL minutes during the rebuild, and that is precisely what he will do.

Connor Murphy — $4.4 million cap hit through 2025–26

Murphy has developed into a quality blueliner for the Hawks, though like Jones, he will always be tied to the trade made to acquire him. Despite that, Murphy will be another quality piece moving forward. It seems likely he will be in Chicago for a while, though entertaining the idea of cashing out on him sometime in the next couple of years might not be the worst thing, either. He would certainly be on the decline by the time the Hawks are regular playoff contenders, so in the name of asset maximization, it would make sense to move him eventually.

Riley Stillman — $1.35 million cap hit through 2023–24

Stillman is similar to Caleb Jones in the sense he is also a cheap 24-year-old bottom-pairing defender. The Blackhawks seem to like Stillman, so do not expect him to be leaving the organization any time soon. Not much to see here.

Alex Vlasic — $824,167 cap hit through 2023–24

The newest member of the Hawks is just getting his professional career started, so there is no reason to think he will be heading out the door in the near future. A physically imposing blueliner, it will be enjoyable to see if Vlasic can reach his potential and develop into a top-four defenseman capable of doing a bit of everything. If you want to read a bit more about Vlasic, check out my piece about his signing.

Goaltenders

Marc-Andre Fleury — $7 million cap hit, pending unrestricted free agent

Another hot-button topic leading up to the deadline is what will happen with the legendary netminder. You might be disappointed, but I am not going to waste much time here. A promise was made to Fleury that it would be his decision regarding a potential move at the deadline and the team intends to keep that promise. Right or wrong, that is the reality of the situation. Yell at clouds all you want, like our own Jeff Osborn has been doing. Obviously yes, from a rebuilding standpoint, moving Fleury and getting a solid return—such as, say, a first-round pick—would be hugely beneficial for the Blackhawks. If Fleury wants to stay for the rest of the season, that’s fine, too. The team got a year out of a legendary player and person, and there is value in that. Even though this is The Rink, not everything needs to be negative. If Fleury wants to move to a contender and the Hawks get some assets in return, wonderful. If he wants to stay for the homestretch, enjoy it. Simple as that.

Marc-Andre Fleury holds the cards in any potential deal involving him leading up to the trade deadline. Fleury’s decision will have a defining impact on the outcome of the Chicago Blackhawks’ deadline dealings. (Photo courtesy of The Athletic)

Kevin Lankinen — $800,000 cap hit, pending unrestricted free agent

Like Lafferty, Lankinen might be an underrated name heading into the deadline, especially if Fleury wants to stay in Chicago. With teams looking for goaltending help, a dirt-cheap option like Lankinen might actually prove to be quite appealing at the deadline. Lankinen can provide NHL minutes both now and in the future for whichever team he finds himself on come March 22. If it is with the Hawks, he can likely be a tandem goalie through the rebuild, which is perfectly fine and good. If he is dealt, he might fetch the Hawks a mid-round pick, which, hey, that is more than what they gave up to get him (hint: nothing). Lankinen is very replaceable, so if the Hawks do have an offer of note for him at the deadline, they might as well pull the trigger and ensure they get something for him since he could theoretically walk this summer.

Recap

That was a lot of information, so let’s summarize. The players to really keep an eye on ahead of Monday’s trade deadline are the following: Carpenter, de Haan, Fleury and Kubalik. Maybe add in the likes of Hagel and Strome, too. And for those sneaky trade chips, maybe Lafferty and Lankinen. And Gustafsson, if anyone actually wants him. Outside of those names, everyone else is likely safe, at least for now. And that is not to say all of those players will be dealt; quite the contrary. If even half of those players are moved, it will have been an eventful deadline for Davidson and the Blackhawks.

Of course, being able to move some of those bigger chips and acquire some quality pieces for the future has to be the goal, and if a first-round pick for this year’s draft can be recouped, even better. Realistically, let’s hope for maybe a second-round pick and some mid-round picks. But regardless of the outcome, how Davidson handles this weekend will likely start to paint a picture of the future of the franchise, both for the short and long term, and that is certainly something Blackhawks fans can look forward to.

The post Setting realistic expectations for the Chicago Blackhawks’ trade deadline appeared first on The Rink.

signed Vlasic, it’s fantastic! pic.twitter.com/HN6gWf2v9R

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 15, 2022

The Wilmette, Illinois, native spent the last three seasons playing for Boston University after being selected in the second round (43rd overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Vlasic’s 6-foot-6 frame allows him to be an imposing defender to play against, and the team looks forward to seeing Vlasic’s development continue at the pro ranks.

“It’s rare to find a player of Alex’s skill level and size and we look forward to continuing his development path with our club,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson in a release. “His steady development at Boston University was noticeable and encouraging as we chart his future with our team. I know Alex shares our excitement in bringing him back home to Chicago to begin his professional hockey career.”

If Vlasic’s surname sounds familiar, many fans are likely familiar with his cousin, Marc-Edouard Vlasic of the San Jose Sharks.

With the contract taking effect immediately, it is likely Vlasic will be suiting up for the Hawks to some degree during the homestretch. With Connor Murphy being sidelined and Calvin de Haan being a suspected trade chip ahead of the March 21 trade deadline, it is certainly feasible Vlasic could remain in the Blackhawks’ defensive rotation for the remainder of the season.

Vlasic is expected to join the team in Chicago on Thursday ahead of the Blackhawks’ game on Saturday in Minnesota, which will be his first opportunity to join the lineup for game action. Puck drop for Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT.

The post Hawks ink Alex Vlasic to entry-level contract appeared first on The Rink.

Welcome back Norm! pic.twitter.com/GmIt0vwuVW

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 9, 2022

Maciver served as Chicago’s assistant general manager for eight seasons in addition to holding roles including Director of Player Personnel and Director of Player Development during his 14-year tenure with the Hawks from 2006 to 2020.

Maciver departed from the Blackhawks to accept the Director of Player Personnel role with the expansion Seattle Kraken, which he began on Jan. 5, 2021.

Maciver will report directly to Davidson, and Davidson is excited to have Maciver back in the fold in Chicago.

“I think it is important in this new hockey operations department to balance really strong knowledge in hockey with new and innovative thinking,” Davidson said in a press release. “Norm brings that institutional knowledge and is one of the best talent evaluators in the business—pushing the boundaries on new methods and techniques that we need here at the Blackhawks. Norm has been a big help to me throughout my career personally, but he also isn’t afraid to share his opinion and that is something that I respect most about him. He’s a great first step in building this out.”

According to Davidson, Maciver will oversee the entire Blackhawks scouting operation, which includes having scouts in six countries, 12 states and six Canadian provinces for a total of 10 professional scouts and 13 amateur scouts.

“Kyle and I have a great relationship and I believe in his vision for the team and the future of our hockey operations department,” Maciver said in the release. “I’m thankful to the Blackhawks for this opportunity and I’m anxious to get back to work in a place that has become home. In addition, I would like to thank Ron Francis and the Seattle organization for allowing me to be a part of the Kraken inaugural season.”

Prior to his front office experience, Maciver enjoyed a successful 12-year NHL playing career that saw him play in a total of 501 games before spending five years as a coach, starting as an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL for three years and then two seasons as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins.

The post Blackhawks hire Norm Maciver as Associate General Manager appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks have named Kyle Davidson the 10th General Manager in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/40p8uRTrsS

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 1, 2022

Davidson had been serving as the team’s interim general manager since October in light of Stan Bowman’s departure from the organization following the findings of the Kyle Beach allegations independent investigation.

Davidson has held various roles with the Blackhawks since joining the franchise in 2010 as a video analyst intern. From 2011 to 2018, Davidson served in hockey operations before being appointed as the organization’s assistant general manager in 2018.

“We have a vision here for the future of Blackhawks hockey and today we are a step closer to that coming together,” said Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz in a press release. “As an organization, we know we have a lot of work to do on and off the ice and Kyle is the leader we trust to oversee our hockey operations. The thorough process we undertook affirmed much of what we believed we had in Kyle and he stepped up to lead and make tough decisions during his time in the interim role. He without a doubt met every qualification we were looking for, is passionate about the game and represents the high character across everything we do.”

The decision to remove Davidson’s interim tag hardly comes as a surprise to most, as Davidson appeared to have the inside track on the job from day one. While many fans assume Davidson is just a “mini” Bowman, Davidson’s brief workload does provide optimism for a changing of the guard for how the franchise will operate moving forward. Perhaps the two biggest accomplishments during Davidson’s time as the interim general manager were the much-needed firing of former head coach Jeremy Colliton and the deliberate focus on patiently developing top prospect Lukas Reichel with the Rockford IceHogs, whereas the Bowman trend would have been to rush Reichel into a full-time NHL role sooner rather than later.

Davidson’s selection also makes sense in relation to the team’s outlook approaching the NHL’s trade deadline on March 21. With the franchise in desperate need of a rebuild, asking an external hire to come in and accurately assess the organization’s situation and assets and then turn around and move the organization forward via trades in a span of less than three weeks would have been an exceptionally tall task. With Davidson, the decisions will come easier, as he has extensive knowledge of the organization’s assets and needs.

On the flip side, one could certainly view Davidson’s selection as a missed opportunity to bring desperately needed fresh eyes into the organization, as it had been established Davidson would be staying with the Blackhawks if he was not named as the general manager. With the likes of Mathieu Darche and Eric Tulsky—both qualified executives from elite NHL franchises—available to the Blackhawks in the interview process, adding their expertise alongside Davidson in the front office would have maximized the organization’s front office capabilities and likely would have provided a better opportunity for the long-term growth of the franchise, taking advantage of the opportunity to add to the front office instead of simply promoting from within.

With the decision made, Davidson and the Blackhawks are now officially on the clock for the trade deadline, and Davidson will have plenty of work to do. The team has a number of potential trade chips to offload, and Davidson will be tasked with maximizing those assets in order to replenish Chicago’s pipeline of both draft picks and prospects. With the likes of Ryan Carpenter, Calvin de Haan, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brandon Hagel and Dominik Kubalik all viewed as players potentially being on the move ahead of the deadline—to varying degrees, of course—Davidson’s focus needs to be on asset maximization more than anything else.

Of course, it would be hugely beneficial to recoup a first-round pick in this year’s draft, as Bowman infamously dealt a mountain of valuable assets to acquire Seth Jones last summer. However, regardless of if he can accomplish that, Davidson needs to maintain an outlook on the future—and a successful one, at that. Again, to Davidson’s advantage, he has had the opportunity to thoroughly assess the state of the franchise, so no one should be more qualified to make the correct long-term decisions than him, whatever those may be—popular or unpopular. The next 20 days will be very telling about Davidson’s outlook on the franchise’s future.

Unsurprisingly, Davidson is certainly up for the task of building the Blackhawks back up to being an elite franchise yet again and is excited for what lies ahead.

“Today is another step not just for me, but for my Blackhawks teammates within the organization and Blackhawks fans across the world,” Davidson said in the release. “I’m committed to building a winning team on and off the ice the right way — improving our internal framework and processes and working closely with a strong team of people to make decisions. I share the vision of the leadership team to create a positive culture throughout the organization and the game of hockey and promise to uphold our values in everything we do.”

Time will tell if Davidson can accomplish these motives, and, if you listen closely—or not so closely—the clock is already ticking.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks name Kyle Davidson general manager appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by Rink staffers Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald and special guest Christian Deme (aka StacheESQ) to discuss trade rumors surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks.

• Why is Brandon Hagel deemed untouchable?
• Is Marc-Andre Fleury the first chip to fall?
• Is the idea of Patrick Kane being dealt too bold to consider?

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 15 – @StacheESQ has entered the chat https://t.co/rO5CRXrQHj

— Chicago Blackhawks Rinkcast (@TheRinkcast) February 24, 2022

Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

Also, please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

Are you a RinkRat who also owns a business? Our data shows RinkCast listeners are (like you) affluent, discerning, and want to patronize like-minded brands. As part of our growth, we’re looking for an exclusive advertiser, at a VERY low cost.  Email podcast@the-rink.com for more details

The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 15 – Stache has entered the chat appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by Rink staffers Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andrew Bard to discuss Blackhawks’ chairman Rocky Wirtz’s outbursts at Wednesday night’s town hall, as well as the random emergence of Peter Chiarelli as a candidate.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 13 – A Rocky Wednesday Night https://t.co/B25sDaSpOQ

— Chicago Blackhawks Rinkcast (@TheRinkcast) February 4, 2022

Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

Also, please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

Are you a RinkRat who also owns a business? Our data shows RinkCast listeners are (like you) affluent, discerning, and want to patronize like-minded brands. As part of our growth, we’re looking for an exclusive advertiser, at a VERY low cost.  Email podcast@the-rink.com for more details

The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 13 – A Rocky Wednesday Night appeared first on The Rink.

Introducing the 25 men headed to Beijing! #WinterOlympics | @TeamUSA

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 13, 2022

Of course, the honor will be Commesso’s first Olympic appearance being just 19 years old. However, Commesso is no stranger to representing his country on the international stage. Commesso, selected 46th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, came up through the U.S. National Team Development Program and wore the red, white and blue in the 2019 Under-17 World Junior Championships, 2021 World Championships and 2022 Under-20 World Junior Championships prior to their cancelation.

With the NHL pulling out from the Olympics, the rosters will look far different than originally anticipated, being comprised of college players, minor leaguers and European league players. The U.S. team features a solid mix of the categories, though many will be excited to see the youth on display, highlighted by four additional players who represented the U.S. at the 2022 Under-20 World Championships. Also of note for Chicago hockey fans are three former members of the Chicago Steel.

The U.S. roster is as follows:

Forwards
Nick Abruzzese — Harvard University (NCAA)
Kenny Agostino — Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Matty Beniers — University of Michigan (NCAA)
Brendan Brisson — University of Michigan (NCAA)
Noah Cates — University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
Sean Farrell — Harvard University (NCAA)
Sam Hentges — St. Cloud State University (NCAA)
Matthew Knies — University of Minnesota (NCAA)
Marc McLaughlin — Boston College (NCAA)
Ben Meyers — University of Minnesota (NCAA)
Andy Miele — Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Brian O’Neill — Jokerit (KHL)
Nick Shore — Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)
Nathan Smith — Minnesota State University (NCAA)

Defensemen
Brian Cooper — IK Oskarshamn (SHL)
Brock Faber — University of Minnesota (NCAA)
Drew Helleson — Boston College (NCAA)
Steven Kampfer — Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)
Aaron Ness — Providence Bruins (AHL)
Nick Perbix — St. Cloud State University (NCAA)
Jake Sanderson — University of North Dakota (NCAA)
David Warsofsky — ERC Ingolstadt (DEL)

Goaltenders
Drew Commesso — Boston University (NCAA)
Strauss Mann — Skelleftea AIK (SHL)
Pat Nagle — Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

The Olympics begin on Feb. 3 in Beijing, China.

The post Drew Commesso selected for U.S. Olympic team appeared first on The Rink.

HEY NOW, HE’S AN ALL STAR pic.twitter.com/4uP5tjt4TO

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2022

DeBrincat joins a talented Central Division squad featuring forwards Kyle Connor, Kirill Kaprizov, Clayton Keller, Jordan Kyrou, Nathan MacKinnon and Joe Pavelski, defenseman Cale Makar and goaltenders Juuse Saros and Cam Talbot. Seven of the Central Division’s selections will be making their all-star debuts, as only Keller, MacKinnon and Pavelski have participated in All-Star Weekend prior to this year.

DeBrincat learned of the news in a team meeting held on Thursday, as Blackhawks Interim Head Coach Derek King announced DeBrincat’s selection.

Casual. Cool. Calm. Cat. #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/u3M98xhSY0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2022

However, DeBrincat may not be the only Blackhawk headed to this year’s All-Star Weekend, as the NHL is holding its Last Men In fan voting contest, where fans will select the final player named to each division’s all star team. Representing the Blackhawks on the Last Men In ballot is defenseman Seth Jones.

Jones is no stranger to all-star weekend, having represented the Columbus Blue Jackets in three all-star games (2017, 2019, 2020) in addition to being selected for the 2018 contest but being unable to participate due to an injury.

Ultimately the Last Men In contest is a popularity contest, but it would behoove Central Division fans to vote for either Jones or Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, as Makar is the lone blueliner currently on the Central Division roster.

Voting for the Last Men In contest concludes on Monday, Jan. 17 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

All-Star Weekend is being hosted by the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas. The 2022 NHL All-Star Skills will take place on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. EST, while the 2022 NHL All-Star Game tournament will be held on Feb. 5 beginning at 3 p.m. EST.

The post Alex DeBrincat named as Blackhawks’ all-star representative appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks have recalled forward Lukas Reichel from the @goicehogs and assigned him to the taxi squad pic.twitter.com/woN7tyD8r5

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 12, 2022

The Blackhawks selected Reichel 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Reichel spent the 2020–21 season in his native Germany playing for Eisbären Berlin of the DEL, posting 10 goals and 17 assists in 38 games. The nephew of long-time NHLer Robert Reichel, Lukas crossed the pond to play in North America this season, registering 11 goals and nine assists in 20 contests with the IceHogs before Wednesday’s recall, the first of his career.

Reichel’s recall has been hotly debated among the Blackhawks’ fanbase, as many have hoped to see him inserted into the NHL lineup, while others have expressed taking the slower route to fully develop him would be the wiser long-term route. The Blackhawks’ recent trend of “rushing” top prospects to the NHL would seemingly indicate the former, though it is possible Reichel just gets a quick cup of coffee with the Hawks before being returned to Rockford to continue his development. Time will tell, though ultimately, Reichel’s long-term future ought to be prioritized.

The Blackhawks return to action on Thursday, hosting the struggling Montreal Canadiens for a 7:30 p.m. CST puck drop at the United Center.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks assign top prospect Lukas Reichel to taxi squad appeared first on The Rink.

The selections needed to be in the spirit of players Madden would have liked and respected for their combination of skill and toughness. Each panelist assembled their team of three forwards, two defensemen, one goaltender and one coach via a snake draft during the podcast. To make things interesting, panelists were allowed to select no more than two retired players for their teams.

Below are each panelist’s team, organized by position with their draft position listed in parenthesis. Additionally, each panelist chose one honorable mention player to add to their squad. Please listen to the draft on the Rinkcast to hear each panelist’s rationale for their selections.

Team Andrews

Forward: Gordie Howe (1)
Forward: Brad Marchand (9)
Forward: Jonathan Toews (16)
Defense: Duncan Keith (17)
Defense: Kris Letang (24)
Goaltender: Ron Hextall (8)
Coach: Rod Brind’Amour (25)
Honorable Mention: Bobby Orr

Team Bard

Forward: Mark Messier (4)
Forward: Patrick Kane (12)
Forward: Anze Kopitar (21)
Defense: Alex Pietrangelo (13)
Defense: Zdeno Chara (20)
Goaltender: Billy Smith (5)
Coach: Al Arbour (28)
Honorable Mention: Chris Chelios

Team Campbell

Forward: Patrice Bergeron (7)
Forward: Mario Lemieux (10)
Forward: Joe Thornton (18)
Defense: Denis Potvin (2)
Defense: Victor Hedman (15)
Goaltender: Carey Price (26)
Coach: Mike Keenan (23)
Honorable Mention: Jean Beliveau

Team Fitzgerald

Forward: Mark Stone (11)
Forward: Alex Ovechkin (14)
Forward: Ryan Getzlaf (27)
Defense: Ray Bourque (6)
Defense: Drew Doughty (22)
Goaltender: Ken Dryden (3)
Coach: Barry Trotz (19)
Honorable Mention: Kyle Beach

The panel wants to know how you think the draft went. Who picked the best team and why? Comment below and be sure to vote in our Twitter poll with the same questions!

Following up from last night’s @TheRinkcast, who had the best “All-Madden” Team. Please comment on your vote below as well.#Blackhawks #NHL @AndyCampbell16 @WALaxer19 @Diesal3426 @ASB1216

— The Rink — Chicago Blackhawks (@TheRinkChi) January 7, 2022

The post The Rink’s All-Madden teams appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell is joined by Rink staffers Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andrew Bard to discuss the lowly state of the Blackhawks, a quick tour through team performances in the NHL, the Olympics, and (in honor of the late, great John Madden) an All-Madden team made up of current NHL players.

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 10 – Hawks at a Dead End, The NHLs All-Madden Team https://t.co/yrBuZo3Q3F

— Chicago Blackhawks Rinkcast (@TheRinkcast) January 7, 2022

Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 10 – Hawks at a Dead End, The NHL’s All-Madden Team appeared first on The Rink.

Trade Alert pic.twitter.com/qlNoGaUfrp

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 5, 2022

Nylander, a former eighth-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Sabres on July 9, 2019, in exchange for defenseman Henri Jokiharju. The deal received much backlash at the time, and Nylander did nothing to justify the move in the time since, spending much of that time either injured or in the press box or minors.

Upon being acquired by the Hawks, Nylander did post 10 goals and 16 assists in 65 games during the 2019–20 season, but has not suited up for NHL action since. The younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander has spent the beginning of this season with the Rockford IceHogs, tallying eight goals and four assists in 23 contests. In all, Nylander has accumulated a disappointing 13 goals and 19 assists in 84 career NHL games.

Lafferty is in his third NHL season, registering six goals and 15 assists in 94 NHL games with the Penguins after being selected 113th by Pittsburgh in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Lafferty carries a cap hit of $750,000 through the end of this season. Lafferty has been assigned to the active roster and is expected to join the team in Arizona. He will wear No. 24.

In an unrelated transaction, the Hawks also announced they had recalled defenseman Nicolas Beaudin from the IceHogs on Wednesday morning and assigned him to the taxi squad.

The Blackhawks will return to action on Thursday, traveling to face the Arizona Coyotes for an 8 p.m. CST puck drop.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks deal Nylander to Penguins for Lafferty appeared first on The Rink.

Previously this week, the NHL announced that cross-border games will be postponed through the holiday break.

According to the NHL release, the players will return to their teams on Dec. 26, which will be used for practice, travel and COVID-19 testing. Anyone that cannot produce a negative COVID-19 test will not be allowed back in team facilities.

According to Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland, the February break, originally intended for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, will now be used for make-up games that were previously postponed.

Sources confirm the February break in the #NHL schedule, originally for the Olympics, will now be used to play make up games for all games taken off the board.

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) December 21, 2021

Of course, with the news affecting every team in the league, The Rink’s two primary teams are directly impacted. The announcement means Thursday’s game for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Dallas Stars is postponed, while the Seattle Kraken had their Thursday night contest against the Calgary Flames postponed as well.

The postponements come on the heels of both teams having previously had their Tuesday night contests postponed as well, as the Blackhawks were scheduled to face the Florida Panthers, while the Kraken were to host the Arizona Coyotes.

Clearly, this is a fluid situation and can change at a moment’s notice. Stay tuned for more information.

EDIT: The NHL and NHLPA formally announced that they will withdraw from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, late Tuesday.

BREAKING: The NHL will withdraw from the Winter Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told the @AP. https://t.co/FyBMF5swfc

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 21, 2021

The post BREAKING: NHL, NHLPA agree to pause activities until Sunday appeared first on The Rink.

Chicago’s Brett Connolly has been suspended for four games for Interference on Dallas’ Tanner Kero. https://t.co/6g23ix1zDh

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 20, 2021

Connolly was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit.

Connolly, a veteran of 529 NHL games, had never been fined or suspended prior to the incident. The former sixth overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft has appeared in two games with the Hawks this season after starting the campaign with the Rockford IceHogs, where he played in 16 games prior to his recall to the Blackhawks.

The Campbell River, British Columbia, native was acquired by Chicago on April 8 along with Henrik Borgstrom, Riley Stillman and a 2021 seventh-round pick from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Lucas Carlsson and Lucas Wallmark. Connolly played in 10 games for the Hawks last season after the trade.

As the Blackhawks’ schedule currently stands, Connolly will be eligible to return to the lineup on Jan. 2 when the Hawks host the Calgary Flames.

Chicago will next be in action on Thursday, hosting the Stars in a rematch contest. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.

The post Brett Connolly suspended four games for hit on Tanner Kero appeared first on The Rink.

The evening began on a positive note, as the Blackhawks celebrated goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury after having earned the 500th win of his career last Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. During pregame warmups, every Blackhawks player donned a Fleury jersey with No. 500 on the back. Then, prior to puck drop, Fleury was honored with a video tribute highlighting the various milestones and memories from his illustrious NHL career and received video messages from the other two members of the 500 win club, Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy.

The road to 5⃣0⃣0⃣ for pic.twitter.com/fHC3wLMFxA

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 16, 2021

Finally, Fleury was presented with a custom mask signifying his 500 victories, which was unveiled by fellow Chicago netminder Kevin Lankinen.

First period

Once the game got underway, the excitement died down, as not much happened in the opening frame. The Blackhawks did have two power play opportunities, but were unable to convert. Shots favored Washington 13–6 in the first period.

Second period

Things opened up in the second, as longtime great sniper Alex Ovechkin started the scoring with a power play tally 3:36 into the period, clanking a quick wrister off the post and in past Fleury, giving the Capitals a 1–0 lead. The strike was Ovechkin’s 274th career power play goal, tying him for the most in NHL history with Dave Andreychuk.

Washington kept pushing, but Fleury kept the game close, including robbing Ovechkin of a second goal moments later.

Chicago gained another opportunity on the man advantage, as Martin Fehervary and Nic Dowd took penalties in close proximity, giving the Hawks a brief 5-on-3 chance. The Blackhawks wasted no time capitalizing, as quick puck movement off the ensuing face-off resulted in Patrick Kane finding Alex DeBrincat with a slick cross-crease pass for a backdoor slam dunk, knotting up the score at 1–1 with 6:05 remaining in the stanza.

With DeBrincat’s marker coming on the two-man advantage, the Hawks maintained a one-man power play in the aftermath, and again made lightning-quick work of the opportunity, as Kirby Dach steamed into the Washington zone off the face-off. Dach’s bid was stopped, but Philipp Kurashev was able to chip home the rebound for his first goal of the season and a 2–1 Chicago lead just 18 seconds after DeBrincat’s tally.

The Blackhawks’ scoring frenzy continued, as just 16 ticks later, as MacKenzie Entwistle tapped in a Brandon Hagel rebound for his third of the season. Before you could have blinked, Chicago had stormed to a 3–1 lead.

However, the Caps were able to stop the bleeding and answered with a strike of their own in the final minute of the frame, as Daniel Sprong snapped a perfectly placed shot over Fleury’s shoulder to cut the gap to 3–2 with 41.3 seconds left.

Third period

Washington carried the momentum into the third, where Lars Eller would level the score at 3–3 with 8:03 remaining on a goal Fleury would have liked to have back.

But, the Blackhawks fought back, earning another man advantage two minutes later. The Hawks’ power play would stay red hot on the evening, cashing in for the third time on DeBrincat’s second of the night off a nifty cross-slot feed from Brandon Hagel, putting the home team back on top at 4–3 with 5:00 left on the clock.

Time ticked down to the final seconds of regulation with Washington pushing for an equalizer. It appeared as though the Hawks might escape the onslaught, but the Capitals finally did tally their tying marker, as Conor Sheary fired home a pass from Ovechkin to send the game to overtime at 4–4.

Overtime

Washington largely controlled the first minute of the extra frame before Kane bodied Sheary off the puck to cause a 2-on-1 break for Dach and Caleb Jones. Dach ultimately elected to shoot, but was stopped by Ilya Samsonov. However, the puck sat free in the crease and Jones was able to get his stick on it and send it to the back of the net. Needless to say, Jones picked the right time to pick up his first goal as a Blackhawk, giving his squad a 5–4 overtime victory.

Analysis

There were good things and bad things during the game, but perhaps the brightest spot for the Hawks was their power play, converting on three of their opportunities. After missing on a golden chance in the first period, DeBrincat was able to put away two of those man-advantage strikes to push his season goal total to 16. Jones had a quality return to the lineup, with a power play assist to go along with the game-winning tally. Dach, Hagel and Kane each registered a pair of helpers to round out the multi-point efforts for the victors.

Of course, allowing the Caps to tie the game on two occasions in the third period was a lowlight for the evening, but the Blackhawks did still manage to find a way to pick up two points against a quality opponent.

Chicago returns to action on Friday, hosting the Nashville Predators in a Central Division clash. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.

The post Blackhawks survive Caps’ comeback, win 5–4 in overtime appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks have acquired forward Kurtis Gabriel from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Chad Krys. pic.twitter.com/B0Ls9BnLYd

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 9, 2021

Gabriel is a veteran of 49 NHL games, making stops with the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks, posting two goals and three assists to go along with 153 penalty minutes. Gabriel has also racked up 332 games in the AHL since 2014, recording 36 goals, 32 assists and a whopping 555 penalty minutes.

Gabriel has spent the entirety of his game action this season with the Toronto Marlies, accumulating one goal, one assist and 36 penalty minutes in 13 games played.

The acquisition comes at the relatively minor cost of Rockford IceHogs blueliner Chad Krys, once a heralded prospect in the Blackhawks’ system.

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Krys has largely stalled in his development, with much of his pro career thus far being derailed by injuries. Because of these setbacks, Krys had been passed by a number of other defensemen on the organizational depth chart.

Since turning pro in 2019, Krys has played in just 64 contests for the IceHogs, tallying two goals and 13 assists.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks acquire Kurtis Gabriel from Maple Leafs in exchange for Chad Krys appeared first on The Rink.

The #Blackhawks have announced that they have traded goaltender Malcolm Subban to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for future considerations. pic.twitter.com/ADIlGedLRB

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 2, 2021

The deal gives Subban a new lease on life, opening an opportunity to play NHL games with a Buffalo squad desperate for sound goaltending. Subban had spent the entirety of this season with the Rockford IceHogs in a three-goalie system, historically a poor situation for each receiving the ice time in practice and games they need.

Subban, a first-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, was acquired by the Blackhawks at the 2020 trade deadline as part of the Robin Lehner trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Subban appeared in a total of 17 games with the Blackhawks between the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, accumulating a 6–8–1 record, a 3.20 goals against average and a .900 save percentage in those outings. The younger brother of P.K. Subban, Malcolm played in five games for the IceHogs this season prior to the trade, posting a 2–2–1 record with a lackluster 3.38 goals against average and .893 save percentage.

With Rockford’s goalie situation now addressed, there are two big winners from the deal: Subban obviously, and also Collin Delia, who had frequently been benched with the IceHogs in favor of both Subban and Arvid Soderblom. With Subban gone, Delia should start seeing more regular opportunities to show his abilities.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks trade Malcolm Subban to Buffalo appeared first on The Rink.

Cookson comes with lengthy coaching experience at the professional level, both in the NHL and abroad. He has 11 seasons of being an assistant coach in the NHL under his belt, with the majority of those years coming with the Calgary Flames (eight) before spending three seasons with the Ottawa Senators.

The 60-year-old began his NHL coaching career as a video coach for the Philadelphia Flyers for three seasons before heading to the Flames in 2001. He also spent time with Hockey Canada on the video side as the organization’s manager of video production and would go on to be Canada’s video technician at the 1994 Olympics, helping the Canadians to a silver medal. Cookson has also spent time as an assistant coach fo Hockey Canada at a number of international tournaments.

“Rob’s extensive NHL experience will complement our staff immediately,” said Blackhawks Interim General Manager Kyle Davidson in a press release. “It’s his fresh perspective, however, that will really benefit the team as we work on this transition. We look forward to Rob meeting us on this road trip and I know he is eager to get going with this group.”

Cookson will not be a new face to everyone on the Blackhawks, though, as he is already familiar with Crawford and Philipp Kurashev.

Cookson’s most recent coaching stop came with HC Lugano of the National League in Switzerland, serving as an assistant coach from December of 2019 through April of this year. Kurashev played under Cookson during the 2019–20 season before joining the Blackhawks for his rookie season in 2020–21.

Between his stops in Calgary and Ottawa, Cookson spent four years alongside Crawford as an assistant for the ZSC Lions of the National League A from 2012 to 2016. The final year Cookson and Crawford coached the Lions saw young phenom Auston Matthews playing under their guidance. Cookson then joined Crawford with the Senators in 2016.

Crawford had previously been serving in an assistant coach role with the team prior to Wednesday’s moves.

The post Blackhawks hire Rob Cookson as assistant coach appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks have relieved Jeremy Colliton, Tomas Mitell and Sheldon Brookbank of their coaching duties and have named Derek King Interim Head Coach, effective immediately. https://t.co/2PggeNtIY4

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 6, 2021

The move comes as Interim General Manager Kyle Davidson’s first significant decision, and Blackhawks ownership shared their support of Davidson’s choice.

“On the ice, Interim General Manager Kyle Davidson has our full confidence and autonomy to make hockey decisions, and we support him on this coaching change,” said Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz in a press release. “We appreciate all that Jeremy has brought to the Blackhawks, and we look forward to working with Derek as our interim head coach while we work to rebuild our permanent hockey operations leadership.”

Davidson noted his confidence in King, as King’s NHL playing experience, professional hockey coaching experience and familiarity with many of the young players in the organization will help him lead the team during the search for a permanent replacement.

King was hired to take Colliton’s spot as the head coach of the IceHogs on an interim basis on Nov. 6, 2018, and the interim tag was removed on April 25, 2019.

While the trio of Colliton, Brookbank and Mitell head out the door, Dylan Crawford, Marc Crawford, Matt Meacham and Jimmy Waite will remain on the team’s coaching staff. With King’s promotion to Chicago, Rockford Assistant Coach Anders Sorensen will step into the head coaching role with the IceHogs on an interim basis beginning tonight.

Colliton’s tenure with the Blackhawks was nothing short of rocky, posting an 87–92–26 record in just under three years of calendar time. Colliton was brought on as the team’s head coach in the firing of then-bench boss Joel Quenneville. Expected to serve as an innovative new voice for the franchise, Colliton largely failed to earn the trust and respect of his team, and the results clearly showed on the ice. Colliton’s poor showing behind the bench was capped by a miserable 1–9–2 start to this season.

“Our on-ice goal remains the same: To build an elite system of hockey—and we have not delivered on that,” Davidson said in the press release. “The fact is our play and competitiveness must improve. Every game, every shift. Today’s coaching changes are difficult, especially given the incredible personal connections Jeremy and others have made with our players in their development. We appreciate Jeremy’s contributions to the organization over the last three seasons, and we wish him and his family the best.”

The new-look Blackhawks will have their first chance to prove themselves under their new leader on Sunday, hosting the Nashville Predators for a 6 p.m. CST puck drop.

The post BREAKING: Blackhawks fire Jeremy Colliton appeared first on The Rink.

Reports leading up to the press conference indicated big organizational changes were expected, and those expectations were confirmed with the firing of Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac, the resignation of General Manager Stan Bowman and all remaining executives involved in the incident also leaving the team. The Blackhawks announced that Kyle Davidson will serve as the interim general manager of the team moving forward until a new general manager is found.

Following the press conference, the NHL announced the Blackhawks have been fined $2 million for inadequate procedures and mishandling of the incident.

The press conference began with Chairman Rocky Wirtz stating both he and Danny Wirtz—who was not with the organization at the time—were unaware of the allegations until the lawsuits were filed. Dany Wirtz later stated the Blackhawks’ legal team has been instructed to fairly compensate “John Doe,” the player who filed the lawsuit, and that “Doe” deserved far better from the team.

Reid Schar of Jenner and Block, who led the investigation, stated that “Doe” was a 20-year-old member of the Rockford IceHogs who had been called up as a Black Ace during the Blackhawks’ 2010 playoff run.

Schar shared that on May 8 or 9, 2010, “Doe” and Aldrich had a sexual encounter. During the investigation, “Doe” stated the encounter was non-consensual, while Aldrich stated it was consensual. MacIsaac was informed of the situation on May 23, 2010, and MacIsaac then dispatched Mental Skills Coach James Gary to discuss the incident with the player.

Bowman, MacIsaac, then-Executive Vice President Jay Blunk, then-Assistant General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, then-President John McDonough and then-Head Coach Joel Quenneville met that same day to discuss the incident. One witness involved in the investigation stated the decision was left in McDonough’s hands, and McDonough did not report the incident to the Blackhawks’ Director of Human Resources until June 14, 2010. It was also revealed that during the meeting Quenneville shook his head and shared the focus needed to remain on hockey and it was hard for the team to get where they were and that they could not deal with the incident at that time.

A second incident occurred after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup on June 9, 2010, as Aldrich made an unwanted sexual advance on a 22-year-old intern at a team party on June 10, 2010.

Upon McDonough informing the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Human Resources gave Aldrich the option to undergo an investigation or resign on June 16, 2010, and Aldrich opted for the latter.

The full report from the investigation has been made publicly available.

The attention now swings to USA Hockey and if they will make a move regarding Bowman, as he is currently serving as the general manager for the 2022 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team. The futures of Cheveldayoff, who is the current general manager of the Winnipeg Jets, and Quenneville, the current head coach of the Florida Panthers, also remain to be seen.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman shared in a statement that should Blunk, Bowman, MacIsaac or McDonough wish to re-enter the league, it will require a meeting with the commissioner in advance of them accepting a job offer.

The post BREAKING: Bowman resigns, Blackhawks fire MacIsaac, announce results of independent investigation appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell and co-host Eric Andrews are joined by Rink staffers Sean Fitzgerald, and  Andrew Bard to talk about the Blackhawks’ awful results and embarrassing home opener.

• • Panic time yes or no?
  • What can they do fix results on the ice?
  • Who replaces Jeremy Colliton if he is fired?
  • Dylan Strome return on trade?
  • Final thoughts

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube right here:

Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5 – Episode 4 – Time to Panic? https://t.co/oXIr7jMEHo

— The-Rink.com Hockey Rinkcasts (@TheRinkcast) October 21, 2021

Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

Also, please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 4 – Time to Panic? appeared first on The Rink.

Hardman sustained the injury on a hit from the Islanders’ Matt Martin during the third period. Hardman had leaned forward along the boards, and Martin made contact, driving Hardman’s head and neck into the glass. Hardman was visibly shaken following the hit, struggling to get off the ice before missing the remainder of the contest.

Matt Martin Mike Hardman #HFhits

Martin hits him Hard, man. Jujhar Khaira steps up for his new teammate.

Link to the fight in the QT https://t.co/LE3sunHChr pic.twitter.com/tryZ5GN5Bv

— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) October 20, 2021

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton announced on Wednesday that Hardman will miss the Blackhawks’ Thursday night matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, though the extent of the injury is still being determined.

Mike Hardman (head laceration) won’t play tomorrow. Jeremy Colliton said they’re still deciding whether Dylan Strome or someone else will draw into the lineup.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 20, 2021

Hardman was recalled from the Rockford IceHogs on Monday and drew into the lineup against the Islanders for his first Blackhawks action of the season, registering 9:54 of ice time.

The Blackhawks’ duel with the Canucks on Thursday features a 7:30 p.m. CDT puck drop at the United Center.

The post Hardman sidelined with head laceration appeared first on The Rink.

Rinkcast host Andy Campbell and co-host Eric Andrews are joined by Rink staffers Sean Fitzgerald, and  Andrew Bard to preview the regular season for the Blackhawks.

• • The signing of Erik Gustafsson
  • The current state of the Blackhawks Blueline
  • The feel-good stories and surprises of camp (Entwistle, Borgstrom…can they stick)
  • Forward depth for the season, deeper, stronger, more productive?
  • Is Dylan Strome on the block?
  • Stanley Cup Final predictions

Watch the entire replay of the Facebook live right here:

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Watch the entire replay of the Twitter right here:

Chicago Blackhawks: The Right Tools for the Toolbox https://t.co/ydlPd5EqP9

— The-Rink.com Hockey Rinkcasts (@TheRinkcast) October 13, 2021

Subscribe, rate this episode, share with your friends, and even write us a review. The best reviews will be read on the air.

Also, please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

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The post Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 5, Episode 3 – The Right Tools for the Toolbox? appeared first on The Rink.

With the moves, the Blackhawks cemented their true roster, as the initial 23-man roster submitted for the NHL’s opening day deadline was done to maximize cap space and flexibility, as many teams opt to do.

As such, the Hawks’ roster heading into the team’s first game is as follows:

Forwards
Henrik Borgstrom
Ryan Carpenter
Kirby Dach
Alex DeBrincat
MacKenzie Entwistle
Adam Gaudette
Brandon Hagel
Tyler Johnson
Patrick Kane
Jujhar Khaira
Dominik Kubalik
Philipp Kurashev
Dylan Strome
Jonathan Toews

Defensemen
Calvin de Haan
Erik Gustafsson
Seth Jones
Jake McCabe
Ian Mitchell
Connor Murphy
Riley Stillman

Goaltenders
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kevin Lankinen

Injured reserve
Alec Regula

Long-term injured reserve
Caleb Jones
Wyatt Kalynuk

Additionally, the Blackhawks announced their leadership group on Tuesday. Toews of course remains as captain of the team, while Kane, DeBrincat and Murphy join him as alternate captains for the season. Kane will be a permanent alternate captain throughout the season, while DeBrincat will serve as an alternate and home and Murphy on the road.

Our alternate captains. pic.twitter.com/MBRl1kwbd1

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 12, 2021

The team also placed minor-league forward Matej Chalupa on unconditional waivers on Tuesday for purposes of a buyout. Chalupa, who had been in training camp with the IceHogs, is expected to return to Europe.

The Blackhawks will open their regular season on Wednesday, traveling to face the Colorado Avalanche in a Central Division battle. Puck drop for the contest is scheduled for 9 p.m. CDT.

The post Blackhawks finalize roster, announce alternate captains appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks announced on Monday the team had signed Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $800,000 contract to rejoin the squad after spending last season between the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

Welcome back @ErkanGustafsson pic.twitter.com/OtCv2mwBm0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 11, 2021

Gustafsson had been competing in the New York Islanders’ training camp on a professional tryout, but was released from the team and subsequently signed with the Blackhawks. According to NBC Sports Chicago Blackhawks Insider Charlie Roumeliotis, the team contacted Gustafsson expressing interest on Friday, and the deal came together fairly quickly from there.

The move came in light of two Hawks defenders, Caleb Jones and Wyatt Kalynuk, sustaining injuries last week. The two were expected to land spots on Chicago’s opening night roster, but their injuries have now temporarily opened a pair of openings on the blue line. While many assumed those spots would be taken by players like Nicolas Beaudin, Jakub Galvas or Ian Mitchell, General Manager Stan Bowman opted to return to the former player well instead and came up with Gustafsson, who will likely slot in on the opening night roster in one of the open spots.

Chicago fans are quite familiar with the much-maligned Gustafsson, as the Swede spent parts of four seasons with the Blackhawks, accumulating 116 points (28 goals, 88 assists) in 214 games during that stretch.

Gustafsson, originally a 2012 fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers who signed as a free agent with the Blackhawks in 2015, was dealt to the Calgary Flames at the 2020 trade deadline in exchange for a third-round pick in 2020, which the Hawks used to select defenseman Wyatt Kaiser.

Gustafsson will wear the same number, 56, that he wore during the majority of his first stint with the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks announced three other roster moves on Sunday, assigning Alexander Nylander to the Rockford IceHogs and placing goaltenders Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban on waivers. Delia and Subban both cleared waivers on Monday, but Nylander’s assignment came as a sudden surprise to many, as it had been assumed the Swede required waivers to be sent to the IceHogs. However, the NHL ruled Nylander’s waivers exemption status was allowed to slide to this season after missing all of last season due to injury.

While keeping both Delia and Subban in the organization obviously provides solid depth in net, it also creates a potentially ugly logjam in the crease for the IceHogs, as Rockford already has Cale Morris and Arvid Soderblom in the cage. Even if Morris is sent to the Indy Fuel, a three-headed monster in Rockford featuring both Delia and Subban is likely not an ideal situation, as it would be taking playing time away from the younger netminders.

The Blackhawks finalized their opening night roster on Monday afternoon, announcing their final training camp transactions. In addition to sending Delia and Subban to Rockford, the team also assigned MacKenzie Entwistle and Philipp Kurashev to the IceHogs. The Hawks also placed Jones on long-term injured reserve and Kalynuk and Alec Regula on season-opening injured reserve.

The season-opening injured reserve designation is important, as it alters both players’ cap hits for the season. The calculations vary based on a player’s experience, but for both Kalynuk and Regula, being players with two-way contracts with less than 50 games of NHL experience, their 2021–22 cap hit is multiplied by the total NHL accrued days in the previous season and then divided by the total number of days in the previous season. So, essentially, their cap hits are pro-rated based on their time spent on the Blackhawks’ roster last season. According to CapFriendly, Kalynuk will now carry a cap hit of $422,629, while Regula will carry a cap hit of just $37,356.

With the transactions, Chicago’s opening night roster is set. However, it is important to note the roster can (and likely will) change prior to the team’s first game of the season. But, in the meantime, here are the 23 players on the Blackhawks’ opening night roster.

Forwards (12)
Henrik Borgstrom
Ryan Carpenter
Kirby Dach
Alex DeBrincat
Adam Gaudette
Brandon Hagel
Tyler Johnson
Patrick Kane
Jujhar Khaira
Dominik Kubalik
Dylan Strome
Jonathan Toews

Defensemen (7)
Calvin de Haan
Erik Gustafsson
Seth Jones
Jake McCabe
Ian Mitchell
Connor Murphy
Riley Stillman

Goaltenders (2)
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kevin Lankinen

Season-opening injured reserve (2)
Wyatt Kalynuk
Alec Regula

The Hawks will open their regular season on Wednesday, traveling to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche. Puck drop is slated for 9 p.m. CDT.

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MEDICAL UPDATES: Defenseman Caleb Jones is expected to miss approximately six weeks (left wrist strain).

Forwards Jonathan Toews and Jujhar Khaira and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will not practice today (maintenance).

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 8, 2021

Jones joins Wyatt Kalynuk in the press box to start the season, as it was announced on Wednesday the second-year blueliner will miss 2–4 weeks with a right ankle sprain.

Jones was expected to make the 23-man roster to start the season as a depth defenseman. The 24-year-old Texas native and brother of fellow Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones is entering his fourth NHL season, having spent the first three years of his career with the Edmonton Oilers.

Jones was acquired in the offseason from the Oilers in the Duncan Keith trade.

The Blackhawks also announced the re-assignment of four players on Friday, as 2021 draft picks Nolan Allan and Colton Dach were returned to their respective junior teams, while Evan Barratt and Dmitri Osipov were assigned to the Rockford IceHogs.

With the four assignments, the Blackhawks’ training camp roster now stands at 32 players with 17 forwards, 11 defensemen and four goaltenders.

The Blackhawks will conclude preseason play on Saturday, hosting the Minnesota Wild at the United Center.

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THE FIRST THREE @88PKane@AM34@seth_jones3#TeamUSA | #WinterOlympics

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) October 7, 2021

The Olympic stage is nothing new for Kane, as it will be his third time representing the United States on the world’s biggest sports stage, donning the red, white and blue in both 2010 and 2014. Additionally, Kane has represented his country in nearly every major international setting, including the Under-17 World Junior Championships, Under-18 World Junior Championships, the World Junior Championships, the World Championships and the World Cup. Kane served as his team’s captain at both the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. Kane has tallied 82 points (29 goals, 53 assists) in 58 games played at the international events listed above throughout his career.

Conversely, 2022 will be the first Olympic experience for Jones, who was a rookie the last time NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. However, like Kane, Jones is in no way a stranger to the international stage, including competing at the Under-17 World Junior Championships, Under-18 World Junior Championships, the World Junior Championships and the World Championships. In 43 contests in the events listed, Jones has amassed 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists). Jones also competed in the 2016 World Cup, but was representing the North American Under-23 team.

Toronto’s Auston Matthews rounded out the trio of provisional players named to the squad. The rest of the 25-man roster will be announced in January, and fellow Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat is expected to join Kane and Jones on the final roster.

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