Rocky’s Legacy, Cooley Implications, Tarasenko Signs, Roster Projections, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

It’s Friday and it’s going to be hot in Chicago. We’re talking Wayno hot — it’s supposed to hit 99 on the thermometer today. A good day to be in the pool or somewhere with air conditioning. And a good day to recognize July has almost come to an end, which gets us one month closer to hockey returning.

  • Last night I joined Larry Hawley on WGN News Now for their “9 Good Minutes” segment to discuss the passing of Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz. As I mention in the clip below, so many fans have reached out to me this week to share pictures and personal stories about Rocky. I can’t think of many/any other owners of professional sports teams — especially in Chicago — who connected with fans the way Rocky did.
  • In yesterday’s bullets I mentioned the initial report, then the Arizona Coyotes made it official later in the day. Logan Cooley changed his mind and decided to turn pro after a tremendous freshman season at the University of Minnesota. He was the runner-up for the Hobey Baker Award and would have been the overwhelming favorite to win it this coming season had he returned.
  • There are implications on the Blackhawks in two areas with this decision. At the NHL level, Cooley is an immediate spark in the lineup for the Coyotes. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft joins a roster that is young and showed some really good skill last year. Clayton Keller, Matias Maccelli, Barrett Hayton, Lawson Crouse and Nick Schmaltz all drove offense in the desert last year. Cooley joining that group is going to make them even more dynamic offensively.
  • Less directly in the NHL for now, this opens up a 1C spot in the Gophers’ lineup for the coming season. Their coaches had previously talked about potentially using Oliver Moore on the wing at times, which may have seen him skating with Cooley. Which would have been a lot of fun to watch and great for Moore’s development to skate with a high profile “veteran” college player like Cooley. Now, Moore may be in line to be the top-line center in Minnesota. Which is also great. A big opportunity for Moore just opened up.
  • The biggest name left on the free agent market is no longer available. Vladimir Tarasenko signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. I guess they think he can replace the offense that left when they traded Alex DeBrincat? Some had hoped the Blackhawks would make a play for Tarasenko and, at this number, that might have been tempting. Good luck in Ottawa! Thankfully he’s staying in the Eastern Conference.
  • Phil Thompson at the took his run at projecting an opening night lineup for the Blackhawks. The last time I looked at possible forward combinations (three weeks ago), my lineup was pretty similar to Thompsons with the biggest difference being he has Tyler Johnson getting run on the second line; I have Philipp Kurashev getting a look with Lukas Reichel and Andreas Athanasiou. There’s no question the Blackhawks have plenty if pieces now that will give Luke Richardson some options on all four lines. Which is nice.
  • Max looks happy, which is awesome. I wish him the best in Toronto. He was a blast to cover while he was with the Blackhawks.
  • Finally, it only took 12 pitches for last night’s Cubs-Cardinals game to go off the rails. And the Cardinals’ broadcast was embarrassing. Feel free to join Cardinals fans in my mentions…
  • written by

    Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the and is the author of three books about the Blackhawks: (Triumph Books),"100 ♑Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Tw༺itter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab

    more blackhawks news

    Day Two, Lineup Thoughts, Ticket Prices, Players Poll, McKenna Hype, and Other Blackhawꦕks Bullets

    Yesterday the Blackhawk♛s started their 2024-25 season with a fun day -- to watch. I'm sure the players were feeling the burn after skating a scrimmage right out 🌱of the gate on the morning. There were a few line combinations...

    Blackhawks Introduce Captain Nick Foligno

    After practice on Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks formally introduced Nick Foligno as the 35th captain in the history of the franchise in a press event at Fifth Third Arena. //twitter.com/Thꦛe1Tab/status/1836849752438436160 Foligno's free agent rights were acquired last summer (with...

    Blackhawks Training Camp Notes: Dayꦇ One Scrimmage Lines, Young Guys Show Well, More

    Day One of Blackhawks Training Camp happened on Thursday. There was a nice, albeit somewhat late-arriving crowd (thanks, traffic) to watch a spirited scrimmage. Most of the fans left before the se🎐cond half of the practice when the rest of...

    Blackhawks ๊🔥Position Battles to Watch in Training Camp

    As the Chicago Blackhawks get to work this week to kickstart their 2024-25 season, there are some players battling for positions on the NHL roster. The influx of young players who have been drafted and signed by genera🌱l manager Kyle...

    ♈Training Day! Roster Questions, NHL25 Ratings, New Rules, New Captains, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    It's finally here! Training camp opens at 10 AM today at Fifth Third Arena. It's going to be a busy day, with practice followed by general man𝐆ager Kyle Davidson kicking off the new Blackhawks season and then a media event...

    EVERYTHING Blackhawks Fans Need to Know About 2024 Training Camp (Updaꦜted)

    Get excited, Blackhawks fans! We're♏ two sleeps away from training camp opening with the first practice at 10 AM on Thursday at Fifth Third Arena. An overhauled roster surrounding the reigning NHL rookie of the year makes this a fascinating...

    Around the NHL: Deferred Comp(lications), R🌳ogers Buys More MLSE, Canucks Cancer Scare, Michkov, Gaudreau, Morꦅe

    It's officially Day One of the 2024-25 NHL season, hockey fans! Camps are opening all over the league. The Blackhawks open camp tomorrow, officially, with their first p🥂ractice and general manager Kyle Davidson speaking with the media. Maybe we'll also...

    Chiꦜcago Sports Network Announce Multiyear Deal with DirecTV

    The first box is checked for cable subscribing Blackhawks ⛄and Bulls fans. On Wednesday morning, Chicago Sports Netwoဣrk announced a "multiyear distribution agreement to provide the network and its live local game telecasts for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White...

    Captain Nick, Bedard Book, Broadcast Reset, Lineup Projections, Rinzel’s Celly, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    One more sleep until training camp, Blackhawks fans. Only one! And we'll all hit the pillow tonight knowing the 35th captain in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks is Nick Foligno. Fans 🎀and media alike have called Foligno the de...

    The Chicago Blackhawks Have a New Captain!

    The Blackhawks have a new captain! For the first time since Jonathan Toews stepped away from the game, Chicago's hockey team will have someone wearinꦗg the "C" on their chest. That someone will be Nick Foligno! While some might have...

    Latest News

    Chengdu Open Schedule Sunday, September 22: Matchups & TV/Live Stream Info

    There are two matches at the Chengdu Open on September 22, highlighted by No. 95-ranked Yannick Hanfmann versus No. 42 Pedro Marti💧nez. The Tennis Channel provides live coverage and highlights of all the major moments across tournaments during Center Court...

    Hangzhou Open Schedule Sunday, September 22: Matchups & TV/Live Stream Info

    There are two matches at the Hangzhou Open on September 22, the best being No. 39-ranked Brandon Nakashima versus No. 81 Rinky Hijikata. Looking to🎀 keep up with the action? The Tennis Channel provides live coverage and highl🥂ights of all...

    Dodgers vs. Rockies Probable Starting Pitchers – Sept. 20

    The Colorado Rockies (59-94) start a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (91-62) on Friday at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is at 10:10 p.m. ET.The Dꦕodgers will give the nod to Walker Buehle♑r (1-5) versus the Rockies and Kyle...

    Padres vs. White Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – Sept. 20

    The Chicago White S▨ox (36-117) kick off a three-game series on Friday against the San Diego Padres (87-66). The contest begins at 9:40 p.m. ET at PETCO Park.The probable pitchers are Joe Musgrove (6-5) for the Padres and Gar🌠rett Crochet...

    Yankees vs. Athletics Probable Starting Pitchers – Sept. 20

    The New York Yankees (89-64) visit the Oakland Athlet⛎ics (67-86) on Friday to kick off a three-game series at Oak🌸land-Alameda County Coliseum. The matchup begins at 9:40 p.m. ET.The probable pitchers are Gerrit Cole (6-5) for the Yankees and J.T....

    CF Pachuca vs. Puebla FC Prediction, Picks, Live Odds – September 20

    CF Pachuca will be on the road versus Puebla FC on Friday, after mixed results in their most recent games in Liga MX -- a draw versus Deportivo Toluca FC and a loss to Pumas UNAM, respectively. ♏We🍌 provide our...

    Atlas FC vs. Queretaro FC Prediction, Picks, Live Odds – September 20

    Coming off a loss to CF America, Atlas FC will play against Queretaro FC, who just beat Tigres UANL, on Friday. For our prediction on thi🅠s matchup, continue reading.Atlas FC vs. Queretaro FC Prediction & OddsAtlas FC Moneyline: -152Queretaro FC...

    Mack Hollins Fantasy Week 3: Projections vs. Jaguars, Points and 𓃲Stats, Start or Sit

    In Week 3 (Monday at 7:30 PM ET), wide receiver Mack Ho𝔉llins and the Buffalo Bills will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the 30th-ranked pass defense in the leagꦿue (245.5 yards conceded per game).When setting your fantasy football lineup...

    Jeff Wilson Jr. Fantasy Week 3: Projections vs. Seahawks, Points and Stats, Start ♚or Sit

    In Week 3 (Sunday at 4:05 PM ET), RB Jeff Wilson Jr. and the Miami Dolphinsღ will playܫ the Seattle Seahawks, who have the 22nd-ranked rushing defense in the NFL (142 yards conceded per game).Should Wilson be someone that you...

    Jordan Akin🃏s Fantasy Week 3: Projections vs. Giants, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    In Week 3 (Sunday at 1:00 PM ET), tight end Jordan Akins and the Cleveland Browns will play the New York Giants, who have the 18th-ranked pass defense in the NFL (205.5 yards conceded per game).Is Akins a worthwhile startinꦡg...

    more blackhawks news