We’re almost there, folks. I promise. The Blackhawks will practice again on Monday and host a game on Tuesday… assuming the concessions workers at the United Center aren’t on strike. And when the Blackhawks get back on the ice we’ll be less than four weeks from the NHL’s trade deadline. Get ready for a busy February, Blackhawks fans.
Spending two seasons with the USHL’s Chicago Steel prior to joining Michigan this season, nothing would seem more logical than the Blackhawks selecting Fantilli and centering him as the answer to the end of the Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane era. He’s a big, skilled centerman, who could become the face of Chicago’s rebuild and future success.
At No. 27 he has the Blackhawks drafting forward Kasper Halttunen, though he admits in his comments the Blackhawks could go in any number of directions at that point with their second pick in the first round.
Picking again in the first round, Chicago could go in any direction with this one. Knowing their rebuild is only beginning, taking Halttunen, who is still adding elements to his game in limited minutes in Liiga, could pan out well for the Blackhawks. Halttunen is 6-foot-3 and looks like a dominant player among his peers, but his ceiling is concealed at the moment in Liiga. In fact, this pick could just as easily become another Finnish prospect like Lenni Hameenaho or Jesse Kiiskinen. Chicago’s second pick will be a dealer’s choice for an organization facing a long rebuild.
NHL mock draft 1.0: Where teams, prospects sit heading into NHL All-Star break ⤵️https://t.co/La2TP3VGOZ
If you’re looking to waste a few hours (daily, if you’re like me) on mock drafts for the Blackhawks (or any other team… or all of them), the fine folks at FCHockey have finally updated their interactive mock draft simulator. The Blackhawks fall second in the draft order now, which is where they should be based on their record at this point. You can roll out all seven rounds if you want. I ran a four-round mock this morning for the heck of it.
Yesterday I grabbed a cigar and chatted with the guys on the Bardown Podcast. We talked about the first half of the Blackhawks’ season and what they might be able to get done at the trade deadline. We talked for roughly the first 45 minutes of this episode of the show. Enjoy!
Kane’s trade buzz is only going to increase in the coming days and weeks. In the past couple days a number of NHL insiders have spoken and written about the market for Kane if/when he decides to accept a trade out of Chicago. Two common teams in most conversations about Kane’s trade market: the Rangers and Stars. But a few other teams have been mentioned this week as well.
Reports about the future of the Blackhawks’ two superstars are only going to increase until we have some idea of their preference between staying and going between now and the trade deadline. Scott Powers reported this week that he believes the Blackhawks are working under the premise that this will be the final season for the two in Chicago. But should it be the finale for two icons? Or is there value in having them around the next generation of Blackhawks’ stars?
The NHLPA is looking for their next exceutive director, and Darren Dreger broke the news on Wednesday that it might come from… the United States Federal Government? Donald Fehr has been in the role since 2010, but the players have become increasingly unhappy with his performance over the past six or seven years. It was announced that this would be Fehr’s final season in the role last April.
Interesting development in the NHLPA exec director search. Sources say Marty Walsh, current US Secretary of Labor is believed to be the top candidate. The NHLPA Board will meet tomorrow to further discuss. A vote is required by the board to complete the process.— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 1, 2023
The NHL is making a lot more money from Disney/ESPN and Turner now than they did with NBC in their previous contract. And the response from fans to the various folks who handle the game calls and pre-/post-game shows have been mixed. So when we read that TV viewership is down 22 percent, it’s a little disheartening.
With that being said, traditional television ratings are kind of like plus-minus in hockey and an ERA in baseball. Nice to know, but I’m not necessarily putting all of my eggs in that statistical basket. Disney/ESPN have pushed their ESPN+ platform so hard this season, I would be interested to see what their membership numbers and viewership are on that platform. I’m personally not a huge fan but I know there are a lot of folks (especially my friends with financial interests in multiple games) who love being able to watch out-of-market games more frequently.
NHL U.S. TV national viewership is down 22% this season, per findings from @AustinKarp.
NHL regular games to date have averaged 373,000 viewers on ESPN/TNT, 2nd season of the league's 7-year pact with Disney & Turner.
NHL averaged 478,000 viewers at this point last season.— Mark J. Burns (@markjburns88) February 1, 2023
Finally, the NFL has finally shared its salary cap numbers and the Bears, like the Blackhawks this summer and next, have a LOT of money to spend. The difference, of course, is the Bears already have Justin Fields while we have to wait until the lottery balls dance in April to know how high the Hawks will pick in this year’s critical draft for our hockey team.
We've been talking about the Blackhawks' desire to improve ever since Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson put it out there that next year was Year One of Go Time. Obviously the Blackhawks have a truckload of cap space to play...
It's still mock draft season, Blackhawks fans. And we're still wandering around the interwebs on your behalf to find reputable mocks that give us something to think about with the Blackhawks' picks in the 2024 NHL Draft. Mock Draft Roundup...
Oh hey! Blackhawks' star Connor Bedard scored his fifth goal of the World Championships for Canada on Tuesday afternoon. https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1790468565675483262 Bedard helped Canada sprint to a 6-1 lead... which evaporated as Austria scored five unanswered goals in the third period...
Bad news for the Boston Bruins this morning. Trailing 3-1 in their second-round series with the Florida Panthers, it was revealed that captain Brad Marchand will again not be available for tonight's win-or-go-home matchup in South Florida. https://twitter.com/FlutoShinzawa/status/1790401949998706932 Brad Marchand...
Heading into the Oilers and Canucks second-round series, Vancouver was thought to be the team with the bigger concern in between the pipes. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was ruled out for at least the first four games of the...
Some incredibly sad and undoubtedly frustrating news broke just before the Colorado Avalanche took the ice for an important playoff game on Monday evening. Forward Valeri Nichushkin, who is tied with Edmonton's Zach Hyman for the NHL's postseason lead with...
There are so many reasons that having the right coach in place is important in any sport at any level. But I've been thinking more about that in recent days with the NHL's coaching carousel in heavy rotation this offseason...
How many times over the years have you yelled "Hey! You can't do that!" at the television or, in person, at the ice when you watch someone take liberties with a star player? Well, Sunday night's game in Edmonton was...
Over the weekend, news broke that the IIHF was taking some steps regarding Russia, players and the whole are-they-allowed-to-leave issue that may have an impact on the Blackhawks consideration of top prospect Ivan Demidov, should he be deemed the best...
Another day, another load of Connor Bedard highlights from the World Championships in Czechia. Remember when the Blackhawks' star rookie scored twice in his first appearance of the tournament and we were all like "whoa that's cool!" Well, he did...
The Chicago Cubs' bats finally came alive last night in Atlanta, albeit with a little bit of help from Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton. On the other side, Javier Assad was brilliant once again. Good win. Needed win. Enjoy the...
The New York Yankees versus the Minnesota Twins is a game to see on a Thursday MLB slate that has six exciting contests.If you're interested in MLB prop bets for today's games, we're here to assist you. Below you'll find...
The NBA playoff lineup today, which includes the Minnesota Timberwolves squaring off against the Denver Nuggets as one of two games, is sure to please.There are usually plenty of NBA player prop bets available for each and every matchup. Keep...
Today's MLB schedule includes top teams in play. Among those 16 contests is the New York Yankees playing the Minnesota Twins.Below you'll find MLB player prop bets for each and every game on today's slate -- MLB prop bets are...
Trevor Williams will take the ball for the Washington Nationals (19-20) when they visit starter Chris Flexen and the Chicago White Sox (12-29) in a series opener on Tuesday, with first pitch at 4:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find out...
Led by Eddie Rosario (two-game homer streak), the Washington Nationals (19-20) are favorites versus the Chicago White Sox (12-29) Tuesday at 4:40 PM ET. Sportsbooks have named the Nationals as -120 favorites for the game, which airs on MASN2.Trevor Williams...
The Chicago White Sox (12-29) kick off a three-game series on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals (19-20). The contest begins at 4:40 PM ET at Guaranteed Rate Field.The Nationals will look to Trevor Williams (4-0) versus the White Sox and...
You can wager on player prop bet odds for Jalen Brunson, Pascal Siakam and other players on the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers ahead of their matchup at 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.How to Watch...
The Atlanta Braves will take the field against the Chicago Cubs (24-18) on Tuesday. The game begins at 7:20 PM ET on BSSO, with the Braves listed as -198 favorites on the moneyline.Atlanta's Chris Sale gets the start, and he'll...
The Boston Red Sox (21-20) and Tampa Bay Rays (21-21) meet Tuesday at Fenway Park, with first pitch at 7:10 PM ET on NESN. The Red Sox are -118 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Rays are favored against...
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