Staff writer Craig Jones joins the podcast to discuss Philipp Grubauer’s career season, the success of the defensive group and what could happen before next week’s NHL trade deadline.

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Staff writer Owyn Cooper chats with Juliana Nikac, social media manager for the NWHL’s Connecticut Whale, about her love for the game of hockey, having a career in sports and much more.

• What is your background in hockey and how did you end up in the industry? (2:00)
• What was it like going to school at two colleges with prestigious hockey programs? (7:05)
• What did you know about the NWHL and what about it drew your interest in working for them? (9:40)
• What is the voice of the Connecticut Whale on social media and how did you find your brand? (12:00)
• What was the most difficult part of running social for a sports team during COVID-19? (15:57)
• What the impact been like when the NHL puts a spotlight on the NWHL? (22:23)
• Thoughts on a NWHL team in Colorado? (25:45)
• If you had advice for aspiring young women in the sports industry, what would you tell them? (28:04)
• What is your take on fans with multiple team allegiances? (31:12)
• What are your thoughts on the NHL’s division alignment? (36:48)
• Who is your Stanley Cup pick? (43:15)

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Host Aaron Goldschmidt chats with College Hockey News senior writer Avash Kalra about the Denver Pioneers and the NCHC conference.

• Is North Dakota the team to beat this year? (5:55)
• What’s going on with Magnus Chrona? (8:43)
• Do the Pioneers not have enough scoring? (13:59)
• Is Carter Savoie one of Denver’s top playmakers of the last decade? (16:15)
• Why haven’t the Pioneers been able to fight back into games this season? (19:15)
• Frozen Faceoff updates (22:00)
• How does the NCHC compete for national championships every year? (28:25)
• Will the NCAA pull off the Frozen Four tournament? (33:12)

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The Rink staff members John Jaeckel, Jeff Osborn, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andy Campbell try to figure out if the Blackhawks are good/lucky or both with Chris Deme aka @StacheESQ.

• Are these players worth building around?
  • Alex Debrincat
  • Connor Murphy
  • Kevin Lankinen
  • Mattias Janmark
• This team is fun
• Jeremy Colliton praise?
• The power play

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The-Rink.com host Jeff Osborn is joined by Rink staffer Sean Fitgerald as well as The Athletic’s Ryan Clark to talk about covering the Kraken.

• How does Ryan feel about coming “home”?
• What do we think about the progressive direction of the Kraken?
• How we feel about the branding of the team
• How Seattle was well ahead of the inclusion practices.
• Several good questions including:
  • Who we want or expect as head coach
  • What direction they go in the expansion draft
  • What Avs players might get exposed and picked.
• What do we think about the recent covid mess with the NHL season?
• And much more…

Listen to the entire replay on Youtube right here:

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Host Aaron Goldschmidt chats with Locked on Avalanche podcast host Chris Micieli to discuss the Colorado Avalanche season thus far.

• Why can’t the Avalanche stay healthy? (11:35)
• Can the Avs get by without Nathan MacKinnon? (16:00)
• Which player are you excited to see step up with all the injuries? (24:45)
• Is Bowen Byram ready? (30:09)
• Will Cale Makar avoid a sophomore slump? (33:00)
• Is Jared Bednar a long-term solution for the Avalanche? (38:24)
• Can Grubauer finally stay healthy and be the Avs #1? (49:05)
• The Lake Tahoe outdoor game is right around the corner. Boom or bust? (52:42)

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The Rink staff members John Jaeckel, Ray Napientek, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andy Campbell take a look at the Blackhawks after the 1/4 mile mark of a strange season.

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The Rink staff members John Jaeckel, Eric Andrews, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andy Campbell take a hard, discerning look at the state of the Blackhawks after the first two weeks of the 20-21 NHL season

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• Are there any roster surprises?
• What kind of lines would we like, or do we expect to see?
• General musings about the season and what we would like to see.
• We wrap up singing the praises of our (now) retired hero, Corey Crawford.

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The-Rink.com host Jeff Osborn is joined by Rink staffer Ray Napientek as well as Hart from Puckpedia to talk about the start of the season, expansion and, salary cap implications.

• *What are some new features at Puckpedia?
• What can we expect to start this season that we didn’t account for?
• Give us the unique cap implications, and how do you see the taxi squads figuring in?
• How will the expansion draft affect the trade deadline?
• Are there any developing situation you’re following that could be front and center at the expansion draft.
• Do you see the Kraken taking on a lot of other team’s big contracts?
• Do we think the Kraken will go heavy on defense like VGK?
• Could Marc-Andre Fleury end up an expansion draft casualty once again?
• And much more…

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In this first podcast of season 4, the Rink staff members John Jaeckel, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andy Campbell to talk about the latest Blackhawks news considering the absence of Jonathan Toews to open the new year.

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In this final podcast of season 3, the Rink staff members John Jaeckel, Ray Napientek, Sean Fitzgerald, and Andy Campbell to talk about the Blackhawks moves.

• Kirby Dach fractures his wrist at World Championships.
• Dylan Strome is still not signed with camp starting in a week
• Carl Soderberg signed to fill a spot at center

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The Rink staff members John Jaeckel, Jeff Osborn, Sean Fitzgerald, and Aaron (Goldschmidt) Goldstein to talk about the Blackhawks announcement today that Stan Bowman has been promoted, while Jaime Faulkner takes President of Business Ops, and Danny Witz becomes CEO.

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• A little history behind our fandoms
• What is the Kraken Crew?
• What to expect from The-Rink Kraken coverage.
• What to expect from the Kraken
• Our thoughts on what the expansion draft might hold.
• And much more…

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The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn , and John Jaeckel are joined by The Rink writers Andy Campbell and Sean Fitzgerald to talk about the big trade of the day.

• • • Brandon Saad and Dennis Gilbert to Colorado for Nikita Zadorov and Anton Lindholm

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The-Rink.com co-host Jeff Osborn , Rink prospect writer Ray Napientek and The Rink Colorado‘s Aaron Goldschmidt wrap up the Blackhawks first day of the NHL draft.

• • The Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks took a “safe” pick selected Lukas Reichel
  • What we might expect from tomorrow’s rounds 2-7
  • A couple of surprise moves from other teams.

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-hockey-rinkcast/id1531527924

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The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn , John Jaeckel and surprise guest Aaron Goldschmidt of The Rink Colorado wrap up the Blackhawks season and start to contemplate the draft and free agency.

• • After making the Oilers look silly, the Vegas Golden Knights return the favor to the Blackhawks
  • Kirby Dach and Dominik Kubalik continued to play well
  • Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome and Alex Nylander did not
  • The irrational hate for Olli Maatta
  • Corey Crawford and goalie talk
  • Discussion about the lack of player development

Watch the entire replay of the YouTube live right here:

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The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn, John Jaeckel, are joined by Rink writer Ray Napientek to wrap up the Blackhawks exhibition win and preview the play-in series vs the Edmonton Oilers

• • Corey Crawford emerged from the shadows post-COVID and played with only three days of practice.
  • Dominik Kubalik is ready for the postseason.
  • Kirby Dach also looked energized.
  • The Blues laid a huge turd in the wrap of the exhibition game.
  • We talk about Calvin de Haan and Connor Murphy.
  • The Oilers aren’t going to look like the Blues did Wednesday.
  • We discuss the Blackhawks banning Native American headdresses at all future games and team events.

Watch the entire replay of the ZOOM call on Facebook live right here:

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The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn, John Jaeckel, are joined by Don from the Game On Sports Podcast for Everyone to talk about the first few days of Blackhawks and Rangers raining camp

• • We’re all still skeptical that the NHL plan will continue to completion
  • Corey Crawford is a no show to training camp and deemed “Unfit to Play”
  • Dominik Kubalik named Calder finalist
  • Ian Mitchell signing made official
  • Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith also not in camp.
  • The Blackhawks’ chances for the first overall pick are still much stronger than their chances of advancing past the Oilers. #AllForOne and #DoneInOne
  • We have some discussion of the New York Rangers and our old friend Artemi Panarin.

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The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff Osborn, John Jaeckel, are joined by good friend’s Uncle Forklift and CT from HockeeNight.com to talk about the latest developments in the NHL.

• • New COVID-19 cases in Florida, Texas and Arizona should put plans into disarray, but the NHL just keeps trucking along.
  • Draft lottery is coming.
  • Who the Blackhawks won’t be picking up in free agency.
  • More specifics on the Blackhawks chances or lack thereof.

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At the practice rink.

As the NHL creeps closer to the return to action, what is being called “Phase 2” of the return to play plan is underway for some teams. Players are beginning to return to there respective practice facilities for voluntary workouts as they prepare for the 24-team playoff return to play format.

On Wednesday, several Blackhawks players returned to their practice facility at the Fifth Third Arena in Chicago including Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Malcolm Subban, and Alexander Nylander.

Several Blackhawks returned to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, June 10, for voluntary workouts as the NHL opens Phase 2 of its Return to Play plan
(Photo Credit: Taylor Wilder/Chicago Blackhawks)

The Blackhawks were last in action on March 11 at the United Center, downing the San Jose Sharks 6-2 before the NHL suspended play on March 12. The league has been out of action since then, having unveiled their 24-team return to play format recently as the NHL looks to properly finish the 2019-20 season and postseason.

IT'S HAPPENING

We've got ice back at @FifthThirdArena, the #Blackhawks Community Ice Rink! pic.twitter.com/zENsFVGdjq

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 10, 2020

The Blackhawks are set to face the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-five play-in series when the league does return to action. As the fifth-seed in the Western Conference, the Oilers are led by two of the top players in the NHL in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This season, the Blackhawks held a 2-1-0 record over the Oilers with 3-1 and 4-3 wins in October and March, with both happening at the United Center. The loss was a 5-3 decision on the road in Edmonton in February.

Heading into their best-of-five play-in series against the Oilers, the Blackhawks have the second-lowest odds to win the Stanley Cup at +7500, according to William Hill. Only the Montreal Canadiens have worse odds at +10000, with the Boston Bruins at +500 and Vegas Golden Knights at +600 leading the Eastern and Western Conferences.

UPDATE: Following Wednesday’s return to the ice, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a July 10 start date for “Phase 3”  of the league’s plan to return to on ice action. “Phase 3” sets all team training camps to begin on July 10, and if all goes to plan, the NHL could be looking at a return to action some time in early August.

The @NHL and NHLPA have agreed on a July 10 opening date for formal training camps: https://t.co/AjHX2Q1zuu pic.twitter.com/2QbJfzKyKr

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 11, 2020

The NHL has yet to announce dates for the Stanley Cup play-in round and the Stanley Cup Playoffs to begin.

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While the play-in round may or may not be referred to as “the playoffs,” the customary ‘Black Aces’ recalls which normally precede teams making the postseason will still be in play. The group of players called up from the AHL or prospect system, as well as injured players working to get back into the NHL, is known as the ‘Black Aces.’

For the Blackhawks, the roster already had a few players coming up from the Rockford IceHogs late in the season to get some NHL ice-time. With injury recovery to consider, the ‘Black Aces’ may just be along for the ride with the Blackhawks as they take on the Oilers.

For a refresher, here is what the Blackhawks roster looked like for their final regular season game back on March 11:

Starting Lineup vs San Jose Sharks on March 11

• Forwards
  • Dominik Kubalik
  • Alex DeBrincat
  • Dylan Strome
  • Jonathan Toews
  • Brandon Saad
  • Ryan Carpenter
  • Matthew Highmore
  • Brandon Hagel
  • David Kampf
  • Kirby Dach
  • Patrick Kane
  • Alexander Nylander
• Defense
  • Duncan Keith
  • Connor Murphy
  • Olli Maata
  • Lucas Carlsson
  • Slater Koekkoek
  • Nicolas Beaudin
• Goaltenders
  • Corey Crawford
  • Malcolm Subban
• Scratches (* Injured Reserve)
  • Zack Smith
  • Adam Boqvist
  • Nick Seeler
  • Drake Caggiula
  • Brent Seabrook *
  • Calvin de Haan *
  • Andrew Shaw *

Players such as Brandon Hagel, Lucas Carlsson, and Nicolas Beaudin found their way to the NHL this season with Chicago after making considerable strides in the AHL with the IceHogs. But, their time with the club likely will not translate into much, if any, ice-time during the play-in round or beyond barring any injury.

Considering Drake Caggiula is recovered from his hand injury from March 9 against the St. Louis Blues and Adam Boqvist is cleared from being placed in concussion protocol after the same game against the Blues on March 9, those two players will likely rejoin the Blackhawks’ regular lineup.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 13: Calvin de Haan #44 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on November 13, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images)

One of the major comebacks for the Blackhawks lineup would be the return of defenseman Calvin de Haan. After undergoing shoulder surgery in late December, de Haan was given a four-to-five month timetable for a full recovery. While the NHL doesn’t have a firm timetable for when the league will get back into action, they announced that they do not believe that team training camps prior to the play-in round will begin before mid-July.

A mid-July training camp start gives de Haan ample time to be fully ready to return to the Blackhawks, a team that will need all the help they can get heading into a best-of-five series against the Oilers led by Leon Draisaitl, the league-leader in points for the 2019-20 season, and arguably the league’s most talented player in Connor McDavid.

Photo courtesy of NBC Sports

As for the other two players on the Blackhawks injured-reserve list, Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw, the outlook for their return to the lineup isn’t as clear. For Shaw, he was placed in concussion protocol in late-November and wasn’t given a timetable for return in the 2019-20 season. In February, it was announced that he would for sure not be returning before the end of the year and was hopeful to be ready to play in the 2020-21 season.

The case for Seabrook to be ready by the time the Blackhawks and Oilers drop the puck is tricky. In December, he was shut down for the rest of the 2019-20 season and underwent shoulder surgery. It was also revealed that he would need surgery on both hips, having the procedures done in February. After getting the surgeries, Seabrook was given a five-to-six month timetable for recovery, which would land him right about late-July/early-August to likely be cleared for action.

Post-injury recovery is always tricky and given that Seabrook isn’t under the constant supervision and care of the Blackhawks medical staff during his recovery, it’s hard to gauge exactly where he may be in his process for returning to the ice. One also has to ask the question: How much does a post-double hip surgery Brent Seabrook bring to Chicago? For the time being, we’ll consider Seabrook still sidelined.

With all that said, the Blackhawks lineup with most players back to full health is pretty much cut and dry heading into their play-in round against the Oilers. With maybe one or two spots up for grabs, it’s hard to imagine any of the prospects or IceHogs call-ups to push for real ice-time with a spot in the REAL Stanley Cup Playoffs on the line. That doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it though.

‘Black Ace’ Considerations

The Rockford IceHogs saw their 2019-20 season cut short as well due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AHL canceled the rest of the 2019-20 regular season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs on May 11, ending the IceHogs’ postseason hopes, as they were tied for the final Central Division playoff spot with the Chicago Wolves when the season ended.

Although the ending was not what anyone could have expected, the IceHogs saw a number of young players take important strides through the 2019-20 campaign. In his end of season conference call, IceHogs head coach Derek King gave praise to a number of rookies from the IceHogs this season, “You’ll get a chance to see guys who were up there when the season was put on hold like Brandon Hagel (and) Lucas Carlsson,” King said. “You have Dylan Sikura that could still go up and MacKenzie Entwistle, too, that played big roles for us this year. Defensively, you can look at a guy like Dennis Gilbert. There’s plenty of bodies available for (Chicago), but who they might take, I’m not sure.”

With the assumed returns of Adam Boqvist, Calvin de Haan, and Drake Caggiula, the Blackhawks are already looking at a 25-man roster heading into the play-in round. With rosters opened up to a maximum of 30 players, there’s not a ton of room for all of the budding young players from the prospect system to fit. Here’s who should be in top consideration for Chicago’s ‘Black Aces.’

Brandon Hagel

Hagel made the jump from juniors to the professional game late in the 2018-19 season with the IceHogs, playing in a handful of games before making his full season debut this year. In his first year with the IceHogs, Hagel led the team with 19 goals and ranked third in scoring with 31 points. He also led all IceHogs rookies in points and ranked in the top-15 in the AHL for points and goals for all rookies.

Brandon Hagel of the Rockford IceHogs. (Photo Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Griffins)

Hagel earned a couple of call-ups to the Blackhawks this season but only played in one game in the NHL this year, playing 11:48 minutes against the Sharks in what ended up being the final game of the 2019-20 regular season. He recorded four shots on goal in his only game with the Blackhawks. Hagel has a combination of speed and bite to his game that the Blackhawks like in him. Adding his scoring touch he showcased with the IceHogs as a rookie, Hagel could benefit from being around a playoff-type atmosphere as he tries to factor into Chicago’s near-future plans.

Philipp Kurashev

When healthy for the IceHogs this season, Philipp Kurashev finished third in scoring for rookies with 19 points in 36 games and was one of eight players to finish the year with Rockford scoring above a half-point per game pace (0.53). His highlight of the season came in a 12-game span from November 29 to December 27, where he tallied 11 points, including a three-point night against the Toronto Marlies on December 15.

Philipp Kurashev of the Rockford IceHogs. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Kurashev didn’t get a chance to play with the Blackhawks this season, but he figures to be pushing for NHL ice-time soon. Kurashev received high-praise from IceHogs head coach Derek King on his year-end conference call, and rightfully so. King noted that he feels like a healthy Kurashev can be an NHL player in one or two years. “He acts like a pro, he plays like a pro, handles himself like one,” King said. “He has a chance to be a special player.”

Dylan Sikura

One of the more “veteran” of the ‘Black Ace’ options for the Blackhawks, Sikura has skated in 47 career NHL games with Chicago, tallying 14 points. This season with the IceHogs, Sikura skated in 45 games and recorded 33 points, ranking second in points and finishing the season with the team’s highest point per game pace (0.73).

Dylan Sikura #95 of the Chicago Blackhawks reacts after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period at the United Center on January 5, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sikura skated in nine games this season with the Blackhawks from early-December to mid-January, notching three points and scoring his first NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings on January 5. He averaged 9:54 minutes of ice-time per game this season.

John Quenneville

Another option for the Blackhawks with some previous NHL experience, John Quenneville was a leader for the IceHogs this season, when healthy. In 36 AHL games this season, Quenneville scored 13 goals and 22 points, ranking third on the team in goals and finishing second on the team with a 0.61 points per game pace.

John Quenneville of the Rockford IceHogs. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs) : Christian Bonin/TSGphoto.com)

Quenneville has 42 NHL games under his belt, playing in nine games with the Blackhawks in his first year with the organization after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils. He averaged 11:03 minutes of ice-time with Chicago this season but didn’t record any points.

MacKenzie Entwistle

Another IceHogs rookie to make a significant impact in his first professional season, MacKenzie Entwistle doesn’t hold as much flash in his game as Hagel or Kurashev but is just as effective offensively as he is defensively. Entwistle finished the season with 11 goals and 26 points, good for fourth on the team in scoring and second in goals and points for all Rockford rookies behind Hagel.

MacKenzie Entwistle of the Rockford IceHogs (Photo Courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Possessing a two-way style of play that translates well to the NHL level, Entwistle has time to grow from his productive rookie year into a fully well-rounded player. Consistently utilized in key moments and on special teams for the IceHogs, Entwistle could be another rookie who is on the cusp of making his way to the NHL with the Blackhawks and could benefit from being around players like Jonathan Toews, Ryan Carpenter, and Brandon Saad in a playoff-like setting.

Ian Mitchell

Will he or won’t he…be eligible to play this season? The question that still has no definitive answer for the Blackhawks yet is whether or not newly signed Ian Mitchell will be available to play in the play-in series against Edmonton. Mitchell signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on April 13, while the league was already on hold. The deal wouldn’t kick-in until either the 2019-20 season resumed or until the beginning of the 2020-21 season. But with the league resuming with the 24-team playoff format, players like Mitchell who signed contracts while the league has been paused are still unsure if they’ll be available to play.

Highly touted defensive prospect Ian Mitchell has reportedly agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. (Photograph courtesy of Denver University)

If Mitchell is allowed to play, he’ll surely be brought to Chicago to get on the ice, even if just to practice. He figures to be in the mix defensively for the Blackhawks as soon as next season and being around the team in a playoff atmosphere can serve as a jumping-off point for his professional career. Mitchell played in 116 games at the University of Denver, tallying 89 points in his NCAA career. He was named to the NCHC All-Rookie team as a freshman, second team NCHC All-Star as a sophomore, and a first team NCHC All-Star this season as a junior. Mitchell also played with Team Canada at this past December’s Spengler Cup, winning the tournament.

Lucas Carlsson

Carlsson led the IceHogs in points as a defenseman for the second-straight year this season with 26 points in 48 AHL games. He led IceHogs defensemen last season with 33 points in 69 games as a rookie. Carlsson was rewarded at the end of the regular season with the Blackhawks, skating in six games for Chicago and tallying his first NHL assist against the Anaheim Ducks on March 3.

Lucas Carlsson of the Rockford IceHogs (Photo Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs.)

An offensive threat from the blue-line, Carlsson averaged 14:08 minutes of ice-time with the Blackhawks in his six games. With players like Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, and Nicolas Beaudin all in the fold defensively for the Blackhawks, Carlsson may find it difficult to carve his way into the regular NHL-fold with Chicago. For now, he’d figure to hold his roster spot into the play-in round.

Nicolas Beaudin

Speaking of Beaudin, he was another rookie to make his NHL debut with the Blackhawks this season. Playing in the final regular season game of the 2019-20 season, Beaudin skated for 17:01 minutes for Chicago in a 6-2 win over the Sharks. Beaudin registered two shots on net in his only NHL start.

Nicolas Beaudin of the Rockford IceHogs. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

After a slow start out of the gate as a rookie for the IceHogs, Beaudin found his stride later in the year and became the second-leading point producer from the blue-line for Rockford. He skated in 59 AHL games and tallied 15 points. Although selected 19 picks after Adam Boqvist in the 2018 NHL Draft, Beaudin’s trajectory after just one full season looks a bit different than Boqvist’s as he will more than likely play next season back with the IceHogs full-time. He might end up being an odd-man-out when the cuts for ‘Black Aces’ are made, depending on the status of Ian Mitchell.

Dennis Gilbert

Looking for something different than a puck-moving defenseman who is under six-foot tall? Enter Dennis Gilbert. Not an analytics darling, Gilbert has made incremental impacts for the Blackhawks physically from the blue-line over the past two seasons. He has skated in 22 NHL games for Chicago, averaging 15:42 minutes per game with a goal and two assists all coming this past season. Since making the jump to the professional level last season, Gilbert has appeared in 93 AHL games with the IceHogs, recording 21 points and amassing a reputation of physical play.

Dennis Gilbert of the Chicago Blackhawks (Photo Courtesy: Chicago Blackhawks.)

Gilbert made vast improvements to his skating and offensive confidence late last season with Rockford and it translated to getting more opportunities with Chicago this year. With the Blackhawks investing time in defensemen like Mitchell, Boqvist, and Carlsson, the six-foot-two, 220-pound Gilbert would be a contrast in style and could provide Chicago with a much-need physical edge in a playoff setting.

Collin Delia

The Blackhawks already have Corey Crawford and Malcolm Subban in net at the NHL level, but carrying a third goaltender in these playoff-type settings isn’t a bad idea. Collin Delia is the clear choice. With Kevin Lankinen recovering from shoulder surgery, Delia and Matt Tomkins are the remaining goaltenders from the IceHogs, and Delia is the one with NHL experience and realistic aspirations. He made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in the 2017-18 season and has appeared in 18 games with a 7-5-2 record, 3.65 GAA and a .906 save percentage for Chicago.

Collin Delia makes a save for the Rockford IceHogs against the Chicago Wolves. (Photo courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Delia has 76 games under his belt with the IceHogs in his career, leading Rockford in net for the past three seasons. With Crawford and Subban set to be free agents in the upcoming offseason, Delia, along with Tomkins and Lankinen are the only goaltenders with NHL contracts with the Blackhawks currently. With Chicago trading Robin Lehner, more than likely not re-signing Subban, and more than likely planning to re-sign Crawford, Delia’s path to the NHL next season is in his reach. Playing alongside a two-time Stanley Cup winner like Crawford during the play-in round, and potentially beyond, could do wonders for Delia’s development.

To reiterate, it seems unlikely that any of the players brought in by the Blackhawks as their ‘Black Aces’ would get into any games during the play-in series against the Oilers or beyond if Chicago were to advance, barring injury of course. But having those players around a postseason environment and playing alongside their NHL cohorts, helping prepare for meaningful games, can go far when attempting to set up a positive culture for a Blackhawks organization that needs some direction, something to point to as a success.

Stay Smart. Stay Safe. Stay Well.

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According to @ByScottPowers, the #Blackhawks have agreed to an entry-level contract with Czech right winger Matej Chalupa. Had 24 points in 50 games last season for HK Hradec Kralove in the Czech league #NHL pic.twitter.com/8FULjgMI1C

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) May 29, 2020

Great last name aside, the 21 year old Chalupa played for HK Hradec Kralove of the Czech League this past season, scoring 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists) in 50 games. He is left-handed and listed at 6’2″ 194 lbs. The two year entry level deal will start for the ’20-21 season and is worth $925,000 AAV.

The newest Blackhawks prospect was teammates with another name familiar to Chicago fans, Dominik Kubalik, as they played with the 2018-19 HC Škoda Plzeň team in the Czech League. Previous Stan Bowman free agent signings center David Kampf and defenseman Jan Rutta were also plucked out of the Czech League. The Blackhawks are familiar with playing in the Czech Republic, opening this season in Prague against the Philadelphia Flyers as part of the 2019 NHL Global Series, as well.

Where Chalupa fits in the pecking order is yet to be determined, but it’s likely he begins the season in Rockford. Potentially unhappy with their opportunities in the Blackhawks organization, Anton Wedin and Jacob Nilsson made their way back to Europe recently, so there will be positions to fill in with the IceHogs for the 2020-21 season.

We reached out to scout and writer Samuel Tirpak from Dobber Prospects and OhMyHockey.com, who is very familiar with Matej Chalupa. This is what he had to say about Chalupa’s play:

He is very fast and strong winger who likes to play in dirty areas and likes to create chances off the rush with his playmaking abilities. Has a pretty good skillset offensively and is pretty good defensively as well. He is a good bottom-6 talent. Likely starts in Rockford.

— Samuel Tirpak (@SammyT_51) May 29, 2020

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The NHLPA voted last week to approve the 24-team format proposed by the Return to Play committee. The top four teams in each conference would play each other in a mini-tournament to decide seeding, while seeds five through 12 in each conference would play a best-of-five “play-in” round.

In his news conference, Bettman said the Return To Play committee was still deciding whether the format would be a bracket or use reseeding, as well as if the playoff round where the field would be down to 16 teams, would remain a best-of-seven games or use a best-of-five games format like in the play-in round.

Also, the play-in round will not be considered “playoffs,” as pointed out by The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun:

NHL says the round-robin/play-in are considered Qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. And while this could still change, the NHL as of now considers that round a special set of games and not actual playoffs. So for record-keeping purposes, the playoffs weren't expanded from 16

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 26, 2020

The league released a memo Monday announcing it targeted early June as the start date for Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol. Phase 2 includes the opening of practice rinks and allowing small, voluntary group workouts on and off the ice.

According to the 29-page memo, “It has not yet been determined when precisely Phase 2 will start or how long it may last. We are continuing to monitor developments in each of the club’s markets, and may adjust the overall timing if appropriate, following discussion with all relevant parties.”

In his news conference, Bettman deemed the 2019–20 season officially closed. Regular season awards can be voted on and regular season records and stats will be final as of March 12.

Bettman said that he did not believe that NHL training camps, which are part of Phase 3 of the return to play process, would be open before the first half of July.

On the topic of the NHL Draft Lottery, Bettman made clear that there would be 15 teams eligible for the lottery for the top three picks of the draft: The seven teams already eliminated from any postseason play, and the eight teams that will be eliminated during the play-in round.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie broke down the draft process:

NHL Draft Lottery will be on Friday June 26. The Nos. 1, 2 and 3 picks will be up for grabs. Fifteen teams — the seven who are no longer playing plus 8 more currently identified as Teams A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H — will be in the lottery. Same lottery odds as prior years.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 26, 2020

If the winner of the No. 1 pick draw comes from the bottom 7 seven teams (DET, OTT, SJ (belongs to OTT), LA, ANA, NJ, BUF), that team is awarded No. 1. If the winner of the No. 1 pick draw comes from the other 8 teams, the No. 1 pick will be awarded in the Phase 2 lottery.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 26, 2020

If the winner of the No. 3 pick draw comes from the bottom 7 seven teams (DET, OTT, SJ (belongs to OTT), LA, ANA, NJ, BUF), that team is awarded No. 3. If the winner of the No. 3 pick draw comes from the other 8 teams, the No. 3 pick will be awarded in the Phase 2 lottery.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 26, 2020

Everyone clear? Good.

There are still massive amounts of details for the NHL to iron out before the 24-team playoff format can actually begin, including testing procedures, hub cities for games to be played and safety of the teams and personnel involved in making these games happen.

On the subject of hub cities to host the play-in rounds and the playoffs, TSN’s Frank Seravalli and The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline and Thomas Drance gave insight prior to Bettman’s Tuesday news conference:

Don't believe decision coming today on hub cities. But hearing 10 teams still in running to be a hub. List includes: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 26, 2020

Columbus is still under consideration to be a hub city for the #NHL’s re-start.

But told hub cities won’t be part of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s announcement at 4:30 p.m. ET today.#CBJ

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 26, 2020

Told that on the NHL general manager's call Vancouver was among the markets listed as still being under consideration as a hub city.

No decision as of yet, but aside from Columbus – as @Aportzline reported – most of the hub cities are in the West.

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) May 26, 2020

Bettman confirmed in his news conference that there are 10 cities being considered, including Chicago, Columbus, Las Vegas, Edmonton, Dallas, St. Paul (Minnesota), Vancouver, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Hub city considerations were based around testing capacity, local government quarantine policies and the caseloads in the cities considered. Bettman estimated the two conference hub cities will be selected within the next three or four weeks.

The league taking these first steps are a hopeful sign toward completing the 2019–20 season and naming a 2020 Stanley Cup champion.

The Stanley Cup has been awarded every year since 1893, with two exceptions: 1919 because of the Spanish flu outbreak and 2005 when the league’s lockout led to the cancellation of the entire 2004–05 season.

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The news for letting Peeters’ rights expire comes with far less surprise than letting Gravel go. Peeters was a third-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2016, but fizzled out of the USHL after little more than one season, returning to Europe and playing last season with Guildford in the EIHL in the U.K.

Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Alexis Gravel stands in the net. (Photograph courtesy of the Halifax Mooseheads)

As for Gravel, the former 2018 sixth-round pick by Chicago had a successful career in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads over the past four years. He appeared in 178 games for the Mooseheads, with a career 3.29 GAA and a .898 save percentage. His best season came two years ago during the 2018-19 campaign, leading the Mooseheads to the QMJHL President’s Cup Final and the CHL Memorial Cup Final, being named to the Memorial Cup tournament’s All-Star team and being named the Memorial Cup tournament’s Most Outstanding Goaltender.

Coming off injury this season, Gravel had a down year from his 2018-19 season, but his body of work still felt promising for the 20-year old to get a shot within the Blackhawks organization. Less than two weeks ago, Gravel posted on a photo on his social media wearing a Blackhawks hat.

First fish of the summer pic.twitter.com/LemOs8NH2g

— Alexis Gravel (@alexis_grave1) May 10, 2020

Now, according to the report, both Gravel and Peeters will see their draft rights expire with Chicago on June 1, making them free agents.

The Blackhawks are left with goaltenders Corey Crawford and Malcolm Subban at the NHL level, with both having contracts expiring this summer. At the AHL level, Collin Delia, Matt Tomkins, and Kevin Lankinen all played with the Rockford IceHogs this past season and all are on the books for 2020-21, with Delia and Lankinen having contracts through the 2021-22 season.

Chicago still holds the rights to Russian goaltender Ivan Nalimov, who signed a PTO with the IceHogs late this past season, but never played in a game, and to 2019 sixth-round draft pick Dominic Basse, who played last season in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms and is expected to play in the USHL again next season before heading to Colorado College.

It is probable that the Blackhawks will draft another goaltender in this year’s Entry Draft, potentially with their first-round pick as Russian goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is projected to be available when Chicago is on the clock. Granted, draft position is still not locked in yet, but as it currently stands Askarov will likely be available around picks eight, nine, and ten in the first round.

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On Tuesday, IceHogs head coach Derek King and team captain Tyler Sikura addressed the cancellation of the season and the outlook for the league and the team ahead in dual conference calls.

For King, the finish to his first full season as a head coach was a disappointment.

“I liked where we were at coming down the stretch,” King said. “We had our heads above water and I felt like a playoff spot was in our reach. Overall, I’m upset the way things ended, but I’m really happy with the way we played this year and really proud of our guys.”

After taking over the reigns of the IceHogs last season after the firing of Joel Quenneville and promotion of Jeremy Colliton, King was able to have a full offseason at the helm this past summer and came into the year with high hopes for the IceHogs.

As the year progressed, injuries to key players like Philipp Kurahsev and the departure of veterans Philip Holm and Kris Versteeg gave the IceHogs some roster adversities to overcome.

“We dealt with a lot of injuries this season, I don’t know why,” King said. “But, I liked the way our guys battled through those all year. I said this year that our team was too dumb to quit. We just kept battling. I’m proud of our guys and when we get to doing these exit interviews, everything is going very positive from me to them.”

Derek King gives instruction during a Rockford IceHogs game. (Photograph courtesy of the Texas Stars)

With the NHL season still potentially resuming, King spoke about which players surprised him this season, and who he believed might make a rumored expanded 30-man NHL roster for the Chicago Blackhawks if or when the season begins again.

“You’ll get a chance to see guys who were up there when the season was put on hold like Brandon Hagel (and) Lucas Carlsson,” King said. “You have Dylan Sikura that could still go up and MacKenzie Entwistle, too, that played big roles for us this year. Defensively, you can look at a guy like Dennis Gilbert. There’s plenty of bodies available for (Chicago), but who they might take, I’m not sure.”

The Rockford IceHogs celebrate Philip Kurashev’s (center, 25) goal. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

King went on to mention a number of rookies who stood out to him this season, including Entwistle, Hagel and Kurashev.

King noted that he feels like a healthy Kurashev can be an NHL player in one or two years.

“He acts like a pro, he plays like a pro, handles himself like one,” King said. “He has a chance to be a special player.”

One of the more interesting storylines for the IceHogs this season was carrying three healthy goalies on the active roster for most of the season.

Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins split ice time three-ways this year for the IceHogs in net up until a season-ending injury to Lankinen late in the year.

“We were skeptical early on whether we could pull off a three-goalie rotation,” King said of the trio of netminders. “We felt it was the right thing to do for our team, though. We felt all three guys deserved to be playing in the AHL and be getting that level of competition.”

As far as the rotation of the goalies, King said he left that fully up to goaltending coach Peter Aubry.

“Pete did a great job with them all season,” King said. “We would talk about who’s ready to go and hash it out; I don’t think once this season we had a time where I said, ‘Let’s go back to another guy,’ that we weren’t planning on going back with. For the most part, Pete had his hands on the whole thing and he did a great job with them.”

Collin Delia (left) celebrates with Kevin Lankinen (right) after a win over the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

The IceHogs were able to benefit early on in the season from the trio of goalies. When Delia was off to a slow start, Lankinen and Tomkins were able to hold their own. When Delia re-emerged at the top of the depth chart, and Lankinen went down with injury, Tomkins stepped in again and found success behind Delia.

The IceHogs went through a number of roster changes this season, but none may have been a bigger blow than the early retirement of Versteeg. Coming back to the Blackhawks organization after reviving his career in Europe, Versteeg joined the IceHogs on an AHL contract and looked like he was back to his prior NHL form as he played through Chicago’s training camp.

Versteeg was named Rockford’s team captain prior to the beginning of the season and was poised to be a veteran mentor and possibly lead the IceHogs’ offensive attack. Six games into the season, Versteeg aggravated a lower-body injury, missed games and eventually came to the decision that he could no longer perform to the level that was expected of him, choosing to leave the team in November.

Stepping up in the role of team captain was veteran winger Tyler Sikura. On and off the ice, Sikura led the young IceHogs roster and enjoyed a bounce-back year on the ice.

“The situation with Kris wasn’t easy and making the move on from him being part of the team was unexpected,” King said. “It was a little unfair to Tyler, too. Here we were saying, ‘No, you’re not going to be the captain,’ to, ‘You’re the guy now.’ It wasn’t easy for him at first. But, wearing a letter or not, (Tyler) was always a leader for us and a mentor to the younger guys. It was a no-brainer at that point to make Tyler the captain.”

Sikura ended the 2019–20 season as the IceHogs’ team leader in points, tallying 14 goals and 20 assists while playing in all 63 games.

Though proving to be a bounce-back year for Sikura, it ended without the full realization of a season and team that could have had something special.

“As a player, you still held out hope that something could have been done to finish the season,” Sakura said. “You want to see a finish to what you put so much hard work into, but there are bigger things than hockey right now. We felt like we had a team that could go on a nice run late in the year—we were getting healthy and getting guys back at the right time—just unfortunate to not have a chance to see what we could have done.”

After dealing with injuries in the 2018–19 season, Sikura put together a solid season with the IceHogs in 2019–20, making the end to the year easier to handle for him personally.

“It’s a bit easier to swallow knowing that I was able to have the kind of year that I did,” Sikura said. “Last year, I wasn’t able to find a groove and wasn’t able to be the player that I know I could be. I have confidence in myself and this year proved to me that I know what I am capable of. It was encouraging for myself.”

Tyler Sikura and Ian McCoshen talk during a stoppage of play. (Photograph courtesy of the Laval Rocket)

Speaking from a player’s perspective, Sikura is in the boat of wanting to get back to the ice as soon as possible and would have been in favor of finishing the season over the summer if the AHL had come to that decision.

But, now officially in offseason mode, Sikura is like many players, displaced from their team facilities and trying to piece together a summer workout routine at home.

“I haven’t been able to skate since the season was put on hold,” Sikura said. “This time has to be up there with the longest I’ve gone without being on the ice. Luckily, most everyone is in the same boat, so you just have to navigate how your workouts are going to look.”

Sikura added the biggest thing for him is being creative with workouts and being able to do a little bit every day just to keep his sanity while waiting to get back on the ice.

Off the ice, Sikura has been a leader for the team and for the local Rockford community. He led a team-orchestrated GoFundMe campaign for Rockford-area healthcare workers to help them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It wasn’t surprising to see the response from the community to the GoFundMe,” Sikura said. “The fans are very loyal to their community and we are very happy and grateful to those who have donated. It helps with the sense of helplessness that I’ve felt at times during this, and, even if it’s just online, it’s important to help people who need it the most.”

This season, Sikura has been a standout in the Rockford community and a leader in the IceHogs’ locker room. But, with an AHL contract expiring this summer, the future is not as clear of a picture for Sikura as in past years.

“This time away from the game has given me some perspective on my career and my life as a hockey player,” Sikura said. “I know the 2020–21 season will happen at some point, so knowing that I will get to play hockey for a living again is something I am grateful for. I don’t know where that will be at this time, (but) that is something I’ve been dealing with year-to-year being on one-year contracts. But, you just have to tune those things out and control what you can control.”

Sikura has been a key player in the IceHogs’ successes over the last three seasons, and was rewarded heading into the 2018–19 season with an NHL contract.

Sikura has yet to make his NHL debut in his career and says his goal is still to make the NHL with whichever team can give him that opportunity.

“Rockford has been great to me over these last three years,” Sikura said. “It’s a first-class organization and you get treated like you are an NHL team. I’m still looking to make the NHL and I want to play where I have the opportunity to do that. I would love for it to be with Chicago, but that is a decision I’ll have to make when it is time. Right now, I’m just hanging tight and focusing on what I can control.”

The Rockford IceHogs celebrate a win over the Milwaukee Admirals on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Even with his future up in the air, Sikura is staying vocal with teammates and staying in contact while they have been away during the season stoppage.

Sikura talked about players staying in touch through social media and through team group chats over text messaging, saying that team massage therapist Mike Harling continues to send the team riddles over the group chats, much like he does during the season on his whiteboard in his therapy room.

“It’s hard when everyone is spread out,” Sikura said. “You don’t feel like you got the chance to maybe say goodbye to guys who you might not get a chance to play with again.”

The AHL faces an unclear future ahead. The COVID-19 virus continues to halt all major professional sports for the time being, with leagues like the MLB, NBA and NHL trying to piece together options and plans to start or finish their seasons in some capacity.

For the AHL, dropping the hammer on the remaining 2019–20 season and 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs was a tough, but necessary, decision, given the logistics of the league. The possibility of returning in October is still on the table for the AHL, but seems unlikely that fans will be allowed to attend sporting events by that time.

“If that’s what we have to do, it’s what we have to do to get back,” King said of playing in an empty BMO Harris Bank Center if play resumes without fans. “Hopefully it’s not long before fans could make their way back into the arenas, but it will be weird, very weird.”

The Rockford IceHogs stand for the National Anthem before a game against the Chicago Wolves. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

In a league where ticket sales and fans in the building means so much to each organization’s bottom line, it seems unlikely the AHL will be able to come back to action, at full capacity, until fans are able to attend games again. The league is working toward options to begin as early as October, but is also preparing for a start to the 2020–21 season as late as December according to league President and CEO Dave Andrews, who is retiring this summer.

However and whenever the AHL, and sports in general, are able to come back, there needs to be a semblance of safety for the health of the players, coaches, team officials and event staff alike before anyone can envision returning to “normal.” While that return seems to be getting closer, it is still anyone’s guess.

Until then, stay home, stay safe, stay well.

The post IceHogs head coach Derek King, captain Tyler Sikura recap 2019–20 season appeared first on The Rink.

In a statement released Monday morning, the league announced its decision to end the season and not move on with the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs. Following a Board of Governors meeting held on Friday, the league gave teams time over the weekend to handle business with team sponsors and staff prior to the official announcement being made.

From the AHL:

After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.

The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.

We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.

The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.

The cancellation of the remainder of the season and the 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs marks the first time in the league’s history that a Calder Cup winner will not be decided and the Calder Cup will not be handed out. Every season since the 1937 postseason. the Calder Cup has been handed to the league champion, an 83-season run that today comes to an end.

Additionally, the AHL standings will be sorted by points percentage and statistics as of March 12, 2020, are considered final and official, and will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season.

The Rockford IceHogs celebrate a win over the Milwaukee Admirals on December 10, 2019. (Photo Courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

For the Rockford IceHogs, a team on the cusp of a postseason berth, the cancellation of the season is a bitter end to 2019-20. With a 29-30-4 record through 63 games, the IceHogs sat in a tie for fourth place with the Chicago Wolves with 62 points. The Wolves having the advantage based on points percentage means Rockford finishes its season in fifth place in the AHL Central Division.

Tyler Sikura ends the year as the team’s leading scorer (34 points). Brandon Hagel led all rookies in scoring (31 points). Lucas Carlsson led all defensemen in scoring (26 points) for the second-straight season. Collin Delia was the team-leading goaltender in games (32), wins (16), save percentage (.912), and goals against average (2.66).

With the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of the 2019-20 NHL season still being figured out, the AHL could not hold out any longer to make their announcement to end the season. Every day that passed was more money lost for the league and the teams, which already is not a league built to generate the type of revenue seen by the major North American professional leagues.

League President and CEO Dave Andrews spoke on SIRIUSXM Radio two weeks ago and gave a soft-layout for what the future could hold for the AHL, citing that the league does not generate a lot of money from TV contract, but instead is a gate-driven league. Teams make the majority of their money off ticket sales and with the future of sports, at least in the next year or two, looking like they will have to operate behind closed doors with no fans, the league wouldn’t be able operate successfully.

Following the cancellation of the 2019-20 season and 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs, Andrews wrote a letter addressing the league’s decision:

Letter from AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews folling the cancellation of the 2019-20 AHL Season and 2020 postseason.

Beyond the 2019-20 season and 2020 Calder Cup playoffs is still a mystery. Andrews said that the league is trying to plan for every scenario, “Let’s all hope there is some opportunity to do that [return] in October, but we also have to look at operating models beginning in November, December, and January.” Andrews continued with optimism, “I’m pretty confident that we are going to play with some critical mass of teams and with everybody as we head toward December. But again, we’ll be ready to play in October, if we can.”

Stay Home. Stay Safe. Stay well, and we will see you next AHL season.

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Sikura announced the fund on his Twitter account on Tuesday evening.

(2/2) with childcare, groceries, etc. I have collected $1000 in donations from the players and we are asking you, the best fans in the AHL, to match it to support the frontline workers who are putting themselves and their families at risk to save lives https://t.co/NADogRHdU6

— Tyler Sikura (@Sikkypedia) May 5, 2020

The fund, named “IceHogs Players’ Fund for Health Care Workers,” has a goal of $2,000 and was given a head start by the IceHogs players pooling together the first $1,000. Their hope is to have fans match their donation, and then some. As of writing this, the fund is less than $300 shy of reaching the $2,000 goal in less than 24 hours.

If you would like to donate to the fund, you can do so through the GoFundMe page here.

Stay Safe. Stay Home. Stay Well.

The post Sikura, IceHogs start fund for healthcare workers during COVID-19 appeared first on The Rink.