It’s the Blackhawks’ moms trip and I’m absolutely here for all of the content. The moms/invited guests were at practice on Wednesday before everyone headed to the airport, many of them in sweatshirts that read “Blackhawks Mom” or “Hockey Mom.” I can only imaging them joking about watching their sons practice in an arena as nice as Fifth Third in the middle of the day and getting paid to do it after years of them skating whenever/wherever they could get ice time as kids while their parents kept the caffeine industry in business, all while they chased their dream of being in the NHL.
Tyler Johnson told me this is the first time he’s been on a mom’s trip with any team he’s ever been on, so his mom’s super excited to finally be able to do something like this after watching dad get treated for years. It’s also pretty cool for Johnson that the first game is back in Tampa where his career began.
Kicking off Mom’s weekend in style 😎
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks)
The Minnesota Wild made two trades yesterday that impact their blue line — and the Blackhawks’ game tonight. Their sent defenseman Calen Addison to San Jose for forward Adam Raska and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Two hours later, the wild announced they had moved a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to Tampa for defenseman Zach Bogosian, meaning the veteran won’t be available for the Bolts when they host the Blackhawks tonight. As Frank Seravalli , the deal saves Minnesota around $25,000 in cap space and moves them up the draft board (albeit in different drafts). Bogosian is more physical; Addison is a power play guy. Minnesota needs help everywhere right now, so maybe a minor shake-up like this will help?
🚨 TRADE NEWS 🚨
We have received D Zach Bogosian for a 7th round pick in the 2025 NHL dra💧ft.
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild)
When the Blackhawks hired Luke Richardson as their head coach, both he and general manager Kyle Davidson noted the path forward for the Hawks was modeling the team in the likeness of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche: fast and skilled. As the Hawks head to Tampa for the first of two meetings on consecutive Thursdays, here’s part of what Richardson said about this being a good barometer of where the rebuild is at next to one of the “model” franchises they’re following:
“They’re winners and they have the killer instinct at the right times and that’s something we have to learn,” Richardson said Wednesday. “You can’t take the foot off the pedal if we have a goal lead or a two-goal lead or four-goal lead on them. They sometimes can play loose, too, but they have the ability to kind fo turn that back on. I don’t think we’re there yet, so we have to make sure we’re on from the start of the game to the finish and play aggressive against them. You have to respect them going into the game but once you’re playing against them, you don’t give them respect by giving them time, space and room, because they’re very dangerous that way.”
Yesterday I shared some thoughts from Scott Wheeler of that he included in his first run at 2024 NHL Draft prospect rankings this week. A couple weeks back I tabbed a few prospects in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings that I was intrigued by, so I doubled back and shared Wheeler’s comments on those players. I’ll continue to update my thoughts on the 2024 NHL Draft as we roll through this season because the Blackhawks have two picks in the first round (theirs, Tampa’s) and three in the second round.
One of the players I didn’t specifically discuss in the piece yesterday was the prohibitive favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick next summer, Boston University center Macklin Celebrini. Here’s some of what Wheeler said about him (even if the odds the Blackhawks land the top spot again are even more infinitely unlikely than they were to land Connor Bedard last summer):
He’s a natural center. He plays with confidence and presence that is rare in a player his age, consistently looking to attack and dictate with the puck. He’s also an intelligent off-puck player who understands timing, routes and how to get open and make himself available without the puck in his hands. He’s a plus-level skater. He’s a hardworking player defensively and into battles and races for pucks. He’s got dynamic puck skill that allows him to break down opponents and coverage at speed. He’s a tactile shooter and finisher who can get pucks off in a variety of ways, from a variety of stances, and without needing to tunnel vision for it (plus he♈ has a hard one-timer). He’s consistent in approach. He sees and executes through seams with a lot of crispness. He is sturdy and thick for his age, and absorbs and plays through bumps extremely effect💙ively, staying over pucks and extending sequences through a strong lower half.
Alex Vlasic talked to the media for a moment before running for the airport. I share this because, as someone who’s had a few concussions (playing football in high school and college) recovering fully from one is never the same. There isn’t a “normal” recovery timeframe. And Vlasic is still working his way back to being a full-go version of himself since the hit. That isn’t to say he’s still dealing with the concussion, but there are some physical aspects that still need to come back together. A good reminder as we watch him play that this young man is playing like a 4-year veteran every night on one of the Blackhawks’ top two pairs even while he’s in his first full NHL season and dealing with learning some about his off-ice physical needs as a player.
Alex Vlasic said he’s still working towards getting to 100% since coming off concussion protocol, but he’s fine with that. — Joe Brand (@Joe_Brand1)
Elliotte Friedman dropped a written version of “” today and it’s loaded with great stuff, beginning with an emotional story about the Travelling Jagrs (the guys who wear all of Jaromir Jagr’s NHL jerseys and travel around to watch him play). That alone is worth reading today’s column. But here are a few more notable nuggets:
I do believe some teams considering coaching changes would want to ask the NHL about Joel Quenneville’s availability, but the new lawsuit regarding the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks (reported by The Chicago Tribune’s Phillip Thompson) puts things on pause.
The Senators “will bring back Shane Pinto when his suspension ends, and are not trying to trade him.”
Sam Cosentino asked Auston Matthews if he changed anything with his stick. The NHL’s leading goal scorer dropped a slight clue. “Pretty much the same, maybe a little bit of a construction change.” Jennifer Botterill queried what are the factors contributing to the 13 goals. “Moving my feet, playing give and go with my teammates…Honestly, simplifying more than anything.”
Written 32, featuring a speci𓃲al trip for the Travelling Jagrs:
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC)
Charlie McAvoy’s suspension is staying at four games because he was a mean person who did something stupid and dangerous. Good.
Commissioner Bettman upholds four-game suspension assessed🧸 to Bruins’ McAvoy.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL)
Finally, MLB’s GM Meetings got off to a crappy start — literally. So the league cancelled the remainder of the meetings because of the health issue.
Remainder of GM Meetings Reportedly Cancelled After Outbreak of💫 Illness
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),"10𓄧0 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/♉X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab
After practice on Thursday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks formally introduced Nick Fo𝔍ligno as the 35th captain in the history of the franchise in a press event at Fifth Third Arena. //twitter.com/The1Tab/status/1836849752438436160 Foligno's free agent rights ⛄were acquired last summer (with...
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 secon🌳d half of the practice when the rest of...
As the Chicago Blackhawks get to work this week to kickstart their 2024-25 season, there are some players ba🌼ttling for positions on the NHL roster. The influx of young players who have been drafted and signed by general manager Kyle...
It's finally here! Training camp opens at 10 AM today at Fifth Third Aren💜a. It's going to be a ღbusy day, with practice followed by general manager Kyle Davidson kicking off the new Blackhawks season and then a media event...
Get excited, Blackhawks fans! We're two sleeps away from training camp openin♚g with the first practice at 10 AM on Thursday at Fifth Third Arena. An overhaul𝐆ed roster surrounding the reigning NHL rookie of the year makes this a fascinating...
It's officially Day One of ♉the 2024-25 NHL season, hockey fans! Camps are opening all over the league. T♏he Blackhawks open camp tomorrow, officially, with their first practice and general manager Kyle Davidson speaking with the media. Maybe we'll also...
The first box is checked for cable subscribing Blackhawks and Bulls fans. On Wednesday morning, Chicago Sports Network announced a "multiyear distributionꦬ agreement to provide the network and its live local game telecasts for the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls and White...
One more sleep until training camp, Blackhawks fans. Only one! ⭕And we'll all hit the pillow tonight knꦰowing the 35th captain in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks is Nick Foligno. Fans and media alike have called Foligno the de...
The Blackhawks have a new captain! For the first time since Jonathan Toews stepped away from the game, Chicago's hockey team will have someon🐎e weaওring the "C" on their chest. That someone will be Nick Foligno! While some might have...
On Tuesday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announcꦰed their broadcast schedule. There were/are questions about how they would handle the preseason, and the release appears to answer those -- at least for now. Here's the preseason broadcast schedule the Blackhawks sent...
The Syracuse Orange (2-0) square off against a conference opponent 🔯when they host the Stanford Cardinal (1-1) on F♉riday, September 20, 2024 at the JMA Wireless Dome in an ACC clash.Interested in watching this matchup? You can do so on...
Big Ten opponents meet when the No. 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0) and the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) play on Friday, Se෴ptember 20, 2024 at Memoꦓrial Stadium (Lincoln, NE).You should check out FOX in order to watch this matchup.Watch...
Nick Martinez will take the ball for the Cincinnati Reds (74𒁃-80) when they host starting pitcher Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-81) on Friday, with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET.The article below will🦄 give you everything you need...
The New York Mets (84-68), led by Francisco Lindor, host Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies (91-61) at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday.Find out how to watch🦩 the New York-Philadelphia matchup below.When is Mets vs. 🐟Phillies and when does it...
Ian Happ and the Chicago Cubs (77-7🌄5) host C.J. Abrams and the Washington Nationals (68-84) on Frid꧒ay in a series opener, with first pitch at 2:20 p.m. ET.Find out how to watch the Chicago-Washington matchup below.When is Cubs vs. Nationals...
On Friday, Corbin Burnes w✃ill start for the Baltimore Orioles (85-68) against Keider Montero and the Detroit Tigers (80-73), with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.See how to watch the Baltimore-Detroit matchup below.When...
Jacob deGrom takes 🍸the ball for the Texas Rangers (73-80) when they host starter George Kirby and the Seattle Mariners (78-75) at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday.Keep scrollജing to find out all the details on how to watch Texas play...
On Friday, ༺in a series opener at Busch Stadium, Kyle Gibson starts for the St. Louis Cardinals (77-75) versus Ben Lively and the Cleveland Guardians (89-65), with first pitch scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.Keep reading to see how to watch...
You will see 12 games featuring a Big Ten team on the Week 4 college foot⭕ball slate.[lasso rel="routy" id="898311"]Week 4 Big Ten GamesIllinois Fighting Illini at Nebraska CornhuskersTime: 8:00 PM ETDate: Friday, Sept. 20Spread: Nebraska (-8)Total: 43Moneyline: Cornhuskers -325, Fighting...
ACC teams will take the field across 12 games on the Week 4 college football schedule. That includ𝐆es the James Madison Dukes versus the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium.[lasso rel="routy" id="898311"]Week 4 ACC GamesStanford Cardinal at Syracuse...
