NEWSLETTER
Welcome to Super Bowl Sunday, the final day with football until August. Tampa Bay Bucaneers against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tom Brady against Patrick Mahomes, me against heartburn. It’s going to be great. Oh, and the Chicago Blackhawks get to be your appetizer before the big game taking on the Dallas Stars at 2 p.m.
Nice. Perfect reason to stay home all day and forget that it’s -10 degrees outside.
• In the spirit of the Super Bowl, which Blackhawks would you invite to your watch-party?
Today is the #SuperBowl
If you could invite 3 #Blackhawks, past or present, to your Super Bowl party who would they be?
Here’s my invite list:
Dustin Byfuglien
Jonathan Toews
Kris Versteeg pic.twitter.com/x2OU2xeTqW— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 7, 2021
• For me, I think Byfuglien, Toews, and Versteeg would be awesome party-goers. Versteeg would bring his couch commentary skills, Toews just seems like a cool dude to hang out with (but he’d probably bring some kind of vegan veggie dish so, it’s a trade-off), and Big Buff would bring the party to another level.
• In case you missed it, the Rockford IceHogs started the AHL season yesterday afternoon. The IceHogs took on the Chicago Wolves, dropping a 5-4 decision. In the game, Cody Franson had three assists in his return to Rockford, and rookies Wyatt Kalynuk, Chad Yetman, and Matej Chalupa all scored their first career AHL goals.
#IceHogs coach Derek King on Wyatt Kalynuk's #AHL debut: "He was excellent. Looking at him playing this game you wouldn't think [it] was his first time playing at this level. He stood out for me. He looked very comfortable, really poised with the puck." #Blackhawks
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) February 7, 2021
• The IceHogs have a plethora of rookies this season that are intriguing for the future of the Blackhawks and Kalynuk is probably at the top of the list. The former Wisconsin Badgers Captain (On Wisconsin) signed with the Blackhawks this offseason and was a member of the Taxi Squad through the first ten games of the season before being sent to Rockford. His skating ability has been revered and his two-way game makes him another young, enticing prospect on the blue-line.
Wyatt Kalynuk on #AHL debut: "Most importantly it was fun to play a game. It's been quite a while since start of March of last year. It was fast out there. … Making reads out there wasn't easy. The speed of the game was pretty fast, especially coming from college." #Blackhawks
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) February 7, 2021
• Adding to that young blue-line group is Alec Regula. Another defenseman that the Blackhawks did not draft, but acquired via trade, Regula is a big-bodied defenseman who can create chances in the offensive zone.
#IceHogs coach Derek King on Alec Regula's #AHL debut: "[Regula] has no panic in his game. He's nice and poised. A couple rushes at the end there where you think he's going to get checked, but he's big kid and strong and did a real good job protecting that puck." #Blackhawks
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) February 7, 2021
• Regula turning into an NHL-regular for the Blackhawks down the road would be awesome for two reasons: 1) They would have turned Brendan Perlini into another NHL-regular with possibly a higher-ceiling and 2) Regula would add much needed size to the future defensive core for the Blackhawks alongside Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin, and Ian Mitchell, who all hover around six-foot and less than 200-pounds.
• Speaking of rookies, the Blackhawks may have not one, not two, but three rookie of the year candidates on their hands.
• A Happy Birthday to former Blackhawk (for one season) Peter Bondra!
A Happy 53rd Birthday to former one-season #Blackhawks forward Peter Bondra! pic.twitter.com/eYLMqmCafT
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 7, 2021
• Former Blackhawk Dave Bolland was recently tearing it up on an outdoor rink wearing his own Blackhawks #36 Bolland sweater. Love it.
Things you love to see: @DaveBolland playing on an ODR in a #Blackhawks Dave Bolland #36 sweater
(🎥 IG: derek_w86) pic.twitter.com/qLNuKtWCch— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) February 7, 2021
• Bolland has continually expressed how much he loved his time in Chicago with the Blackhawks, loved the fans and the city. He has mentioned in the past that he wants to have a role with the organization in the future. I would love to see Bolland back with the team in some capacity.
• That’s all for today. Enjoy the afternoon hockey and enjoy the Super Bowl!
How to Get FanDuel Sportsbook 55-1 Super Bowl Odds Bonushttps://t.co/FdWI59GRFh
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 7, 2021
