One sure sign hockey season is coming is when the ice is put down at the United Center. Yesterday, I was among the folks who had the honor of on the Blackhawks’ logo at center ice. It’s always an incredibly cool experience to paint the logo that the team will skate on for the coming season. I was struck yesterday at the significance of this year’s paint job, however. This season will be a historic transition for the Blackhawks franchise in every way. The dynasty era is fully in the past and Connor Bedard begins the future. This is the new paint f𒆙oꦗr the new Blackhawks.
Bedard spoke with some media folks from the BioSteel Camp yesterday about his experience working with some of the game’s elite players. Talk about an opportunity! He mentioned Connor McDavid has shared some advice with him coming in as a “generational prospect” and new teammate Nick Foligno has been in regular contact throughout the offseason. But beyond the highlights of Bedard in the gym and skating with the best players on the planet, the fact that Bedard is taking in the entire process and making it an educational moment for himself as he starts a highly-touted career shows his awareness.
Dom Luszczyszyn at posted his Front Office Confidence Rankings on Wednesday. The Blackhawks moved up from 30th a year ago to 15th this year. What a difference a Bedard makes! Chicago received a B- grade. Dom’s comments make it clear he isn’t nearly as high on the Hawks’ front office as the public or Blackhawks fans, however.
It’s hard to give a 4.0 for roster building with this roster. Cap management means how a team spends money, not just that it has money — and spending $8 million combined on Nick Foligno and Corey Perry is not savvy spending. As for trades,ﷺ the public has it right, as it’s been a consensus opinion over the last year that Chicaꦫgo wasn’t getting a large enough return in almost any of its trades.
I will again take issue with the opinion that the Blackhawks aren’t spending money wisely under the current regime. Are the $4 million salaries for Foligno and Perry massive overpayments? From an accounting perspective, sure. But I will continue to make the argument that the Blackhawks identified a couple veterans who could play an important role in the development of their roster and used their enormous cap space to make sure they got them. And let’s keep in mind they’re one-year deals. Davidson continues to maintain his cap flexibility into the future. The Blackhawks had to get to the floor, remember. They could have done that with bad contracts on players who won’t necessarily help the team (see Nikita Zaitsev) but instead opted to overpay a couple guys who serve a specific purpose.
The new announced its Original Six franchises on Tuesday. One of their first hires is Annie Camins, who worked in fan engagement with the Blackhawks for 14 years. She will serve as the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the league. Congrats to her! And I’m looking forward to the future of the league and how it helps grow women’s hockey.
Old Friend Alert! Austin Wagner landed a PTO with the Penguins on Wednesday morning.
Finally, Justin Steele is a STAR. Last night was the biggest start of his young career and he shoved like an absolute ace.
