NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Blackhawks training camp start THIS WEEK. On Thursday, the Blackhawks will hit the ice at the Fifth Third Arena in Chicago as the opening on the 2021-22 season begins. Following this weekend’s Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, where the Blackhawks prospects fell twice to the Minnesota Wild Prospects in exhibition games, the anticipation for REAL hockey continues to grow.
• With that in mind, let Marc-André Fleury remind you how many days away the Blackhawks’ home opener is on October 19th.
Just saying…
2️⃣9️⃣ days ‘til the home opener 🌸 pic.twitter.com/LdCBNK2rNs
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 20, 2021
• We’re also 23 days away from the regular season opener on October 13th.
• Fleury seems like such a nice guy and seeing him try to have an intimidating glare on his face just looks out of place.
• Speaking of the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, following Friday night’s 3-2 loss, the Blackhawks prospects fell again on Sunday afternoon in a 4-3 shootout loss. Former third-round draft pick by the Blackhawks Andrei Altybarmakyan got the Blackhawks on the board with an incredible individual effort.
Andrei Altybarmakyan has played well in the two games. Here, he steals the puck and scores to put the Blackhawks ahead 1-0. pic.twitter.com/AJlz2MJGdl
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 19, 2021
• The Blackhawks got their second goal of the game thanks to a pair of Jakub’s as defenseman Jakub Galvas stole the puck and fed it in transition to Jakub Pour, where he put the puck on net with Evan Barratt in front for the tip-in goal.
Evan Barratt (#26) with the goal, Jakub Pour (#59) and Jakub Galvas (#76) with the assists. Just excellent defense by Galvas started that whole play. #Blackhawks #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/3jnhkU7ZjG
— Chicago Prospects (@Chi_Prospects) September 19, 2021
• Tied 2-2, Blackhawks 2020 first-round pick and Showcase standout Lukas Reichel found Michal Teply for his second goal of the showcase and the go-ahead goal.
Lukas Reichel sets up Michal Teplý for a goal to put the Blackhawks ahead 3-2. pic.twitter.com/1NAj52n5Fn
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 19, 2021
• Unfortunately, the Blackhawks gave up the game-tying goal with four seconds left in regulation and ended up losing in the shootout. Without coming away with a win, the showcase might be looked at as a negative for Chicago. But in a setting like that, where you only get a few practices and play the same team twice in a no-stakes exhibition series, the only thing you want to see from the young players is improvement day-over-day.
• The Athletic’s Scott Powers wrapped-up the prospects that stood out at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, including Reichel, Altybarmakyan, Colton Dach, Alec Regula and others.
10 thoughts from the Blackhawks rookie games https://t.co/oNZOzfNxtA
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 19, 2021
• A number of the prospects at the Showcase will also be heading to training camp this week and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a player like Reichel having the best shot at making the NHL roster over the next month of hockey.
• The NHL Network is doing their annual “let’s all get you arguing about rankings” ranking of the Top 50 players in the NHL right now. As they reach their Top Ten, the Blackhawks have had four players land on the list.
We know you have thoughts. Let’s hear them. #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/PQqZRlGcoj
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 19, 2021
• Patrick Kane is the best player on the Blackhawks, so that’s where Chicago’s representation will end, but it’s kind of fun, I guess, to see four players landing in the Top 50.
• A Happy Blackhawks Birthday to former 2013 first-round pick Ryan Hartman, who turns 27-years-old today!
Happy 27th Birthday to former #Blackhawks first-round pick Ryan Hartman! pic.twitter.com/1bGLXBlGek
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 20, 2021
• Hey Nashville, thanks for Nicolas Beaudin and Philipp Kurashev.
• Speaking of former Blackhawks, Artemi Panarin, now of the New York Rangers, spoke about the open captaincy for the club and reasons why he would not want it.
Artemi Panarin does not want to be named captain of the Rangers, the 29-year-old forward told "Hockey in the Know" on Instagram. https://t.co/xBLjNcFzsq
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) September 19, 2021
• Makes sense to me. Panarin, who can speak English from all accounts of former teammates, isn’t the most vocal guy in the locker room and he feels the language barrier and the responsibilities around wearing the “C” would detract from his ability to just focus on being the best player on the team and one of the best wingers in the league. If he wants to just lead the team in goals and assists and points and leave it to that on the ice, hard to fault him for his honesty. There’s no rule that says your best player has to be your team’s captain.
• Panarin was the 2016 Calder Trophy winner with the Blackhawks in his rookie season. Looking ahead to the 2021-22 rookie class, the Blackhawks might have a long-shot candidate with Lukas Reichel to win this season’s rookie of the year award. While that’s unlikely, he lands on The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler’s list of top Calder Trophy candidates for this season.
Ranking the top 20 Calder Trophy candidates for the 2021-22 NHL season.
My annual look at the rookie class is live with evaluations, fantasy insight, honourable mentions, and more at @TheAthleticNHL: https://t.co/9I1E2h9lHy
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 20, 2021
• My money is on Cole Caufield. Because of course it would be.
• Your reminder that the Arizona Coyotes are coming to the Central Division this season and today, they announced that the team will be going FULL KACHINA this season!
https://twitter.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1439967648033304582?s=20
• The nostalgia is strong here, and that might be the biggest reason I love the look of these sweaters, but so be it. They’re going to be on of the best looking team’s in the league, even if they don’t play like it. Also, bonus points to find former Blackhawks Jeremy Roenick in the reveal video.
• One last call for questions for the final Monday Mailbag post before the Blackhawks open training camp this week. You can send them to me on Twitter using the hashtag #BNHawksMailbag or email them to me using Mario.Tirabassi at bleacher nation dot com!
Last chance for #Blackhawks questions for today’s Monday Mailbag post! #BNHawksMailbag https://t.co/wz7tioJKuy
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 20, 2021
• Oh, you just hate to see it.
SchadenViking: Minnesota Vikings Lose on a Missed Field Goal As Time Expires – https://t.co/6NU70qQ7Uz pic.twitter.com/UXuP7bpekQ
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 19, 2021
• Could we see more Justin Fields on Sunday? Give the fans what they want, amiright?
Report: Andy Dalton Might Be Dealing With a Bone Bruisehttps://t.co/92NbN8GjPm
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 20, 2021
• That will do it for today. Hope you all have a great Monday!
