NEWSLETTER
The regular season ended on Monday for the Chicago Blackhawks and they will not be playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third time in the last four years. Safe to say, I get it, Tommy…
Ugh… I HATE the off-season. pic.twitter.com/4B4udExQuj
— Tommy Hawk (@BhawkTommyHawk) May 11, 2021
Chicago wrapped up its exit interview process yesterday with Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Stan Bowman talking to the media. In case you missed their highlights yesterday, here’s some of what was said:
• Both Bowman and Colliton spoke about the possible return of Jonathan Toews, but they were non-updates. The situation remains up in the air, with the team expressing their desire for Toews to return to health and hopefully come back to the Blackhawks next season.
• While in the national hockey media, after the initial report came from TSN’s Darren Dreger that Toews’ health is improving and is expected to return to the team if he continues to improve, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston has now thrown his name behind the same sentiment, repeating the same points of Dreger on Wednesday night’s “Headlines.”
• Bowman and Colliton also spoke about the upcoming offseason and the players that will need new contracts. The most polarizing player in that group may end up being Nikita Zadorov. Bowman said that Zadorov and the club have begun the negotiating process on his new deal, and shared praise for the Russian defenseman.
Stan Bowman acknowledges that Nikita Zadorov had his ups and downs, but says it was mostly good.
"Murph was our most consistent defenseman. But Nikita was in that top two or three, playing against top players."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) May 12, 2021
• Also coming out of the exit interview process is finding out which players will be playing in the IIHF World Championships coming up. After Tuesday, we learned at least five players would be heading to Riga, Latvia for the tournament. On Wednesday, three more Blackhawks were confirmed to be heading to the tournament set to begin on May 21st.
• On Thursday morning, USA Hockey announced their 2021 IIHF World Championships roster and it did not include any current Blackhawks players.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1392827111451152387?s=20
• No Connor Murphy. No Alex DeBrincat. But former Blackhawks and IceHogs defenseman Adam Clendening will be headed to the tournament, as is former draft pick Ryan Shea. Good for them.
• Now to the not fun stuff.
• Speaking of USA, Katie Strang of The Athletic is reporting that multiple men are suing USA Hockey, the University of Minnesota and Illinois amateur hockey’s state governing body (AHAI) over sexual abuse they say they suffered while playing for prominent Chicago-area youth hockey coach Thomas “Chico” Adrahtas.
• Among the claims in the federal lawsuit is that people in positions of authority and multiple governing bodies failed to protect the players from sexual abuse despite concerns, warnings, and complaints about Adrahtas’ conduct.
• This new lawsuit comes the day after a report surfaced from WBEZ that a member of the 2010 Blackhawks team is suing the organization over sexual abuse from a former assistant coach.
Former Blackhawks Player Suing Team Over 2010 Allegations of Harassment and Sexual Assault by Former Assistant Coach https://t.co/pigMJbpRog
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) May 13, 2021
• The lawsuit alleges that after sexual assault incidents in May of 2010, the unidentified player reported the actions of former video coach Brad Aldrich to the team and the NHL Player’s Association, but that no actions were taken at the time.
• It’s a sensitive topic, but more cases coming to light from the brave individuals who experienced the traumatic incidents will only help expose the problems of sexual abuse within hockey, at all levels.
• The lack of action and accountability by the Blackhawks and the NHLPA in the case stemming from the 2010 incident is absolutely inexcusable and disgusting. We’ll keep up with the developments of the case, both cases, as they impact the local and national hockey world alike.
• From around the hockey world last night, in the AHL the Chicago Wolves have secured the Central Division crown for the ninth time in club history.
With their 7-0 win over Grand Rapids tonight, the @Chicago_Wolves have clinched the AHL's Sam Pollock Trophy as the Central Division champions for 2020-21.
It is their ninth division title in 20 AHL seasons. pic.twitter.com/u230BDBJwP
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) May 13, 2021
• So congrats, I guess? The Rockford IceHogs close their 2021 season on Friday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford against the Wolves.
• Speaking of the IceHogs, former Rockford standout Dylan Sikura doubled his career NHL goal total last night with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Dylan Sikura NHL goals in his life before tonight: 1
Dylan Sikura NHL goals tonight: 2
and it's 6-0 Golden Knights
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 13, 2021
• Sikura helped Vegas top the San Jose Sharks 6-0, helping Marc-Andre Fleury and former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner secure the William Jennings Award as the goaltender(s) on the team that allowed the fewest goals during the season.
Marc-Andre Fleury just recorded career shutout No. 67 to pass his childhood hero, Patrick Roy, for 15th all-time.
He also finished the season with 71 goals allowed in 36 games (1.98 GAA) & will win the Jennings Trophy along with Robin Lehner for the NHL's fewest goals allowed.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 13, 2021
• This is the second time that Lehner will have won the Jennings Award as he also won in 2018-19 with the New York Islanders. I miss the Panda.
• Speaking of former Jennings Award winners, former two-time Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is selling his West Side condo.
Retired Chicago Blackhawk Corey Crawford lists Near West Side penthouse condo for $5.3M https://t.co/SyApt5B0Mh
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) May 13, 2021
• A cool $5.3M gets you the four-bedroom penthouse condo which has a private elevator entrance, home gym, two kitchens, and a private terrace that has more square-footage than my first apartment in Chicago.
• And finally, Kris Versteeg, another two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Blackhawks, is celebrating his 35th birthday today!
Happy 35th Birthday to two-time Stanley Cup Champion Kris Versteeg! #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/OZPKQQz42B
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) May 13, 2021
• That’s all for today. Have yourselves a good Thursday!
