NEWSLETTER
Yesterday was a good day.
The Chicago Blackhawks opened their training camp with a bang: the return of Jonathan Toews.
• Toews was back on the ice for the Blackhawks for the first time since the conclusion of the 2020 postseason for Chicago. After missing all of the 2020-21 season, Toews was back in a sight for sore eyes, and looked as ready to come back as Blackhawks fans likely could have hoped for.
"It feels really good to be back." pic.twitter.com/0UY1yKbOHK
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 24, 2021
• Toews touched on a number of topics following practice, including his energy levels post practice and what his goals are fore the season.
Jonathan Toews Speaks: Returning To The Blackhawks, Goals For This Season, and More https://t.co/eFG9TMD8PJ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021
• We also heard from Patrick Kane following the first day of training camp. Following a 2020-21 season where Kane led the team in points, he talked about his “nagging” injury that has become all the rage, as well as his outlook for the club this season.
Patrick Kane Speaks: “Nagging” Injury, Offseason Additions, the Return of Toews, Morehttps://t.co/3SKGzYUyk8
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021
• One of the biggest pieces of news we got regarding the Blackhawks yesterday was from President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Stan Bowman revealing that the team is 100% vaccinated against COVID-19 heading into the season. That, amongst other things like how to manage Jonathan Toews’ workload this season.
Stan Bowman Speaks: Blackhawks Are 100% Vaccinated, Toews’ Workload, Kane’s Injury, Morehttps://t.co/8i2QYVrNXK
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021
• You can take it all in again from day one here:
Sights and Sounds: Blackhawks Open Training Camphttps://t.co/lbtsqfl9vK
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021
• Gosh, it was just so good to have hockey back yesterday and now we can officially get the 2021-22 season underway.
• Also good news coming from the NHL yesterday was that 30 of 32 arenas around the league, including the United Center, will be able to operate with full fan capacity this season.
Report: All But Two NHL Arenas Will Operate At Full Capacity For 2021-22 Seasonhttps://t.co/QiI5JzRDiL
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021
• The UC has COVID protocols in place this season for fans coming to games as well, but following all of those will allow for the safest way to fill the Madhouse this season.
• And speaking of COVID protocols, the Blackhawks placed Mike Hardman and Kevin Lankinen into protocol ahead of Friday’s practice.
Blackhawks Place Kevin Lankinen and Mike Hardman in COVID Protocolhttps://t.co/av1qNlK3aK
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 24, 2021
• In case you missed it, in the latest from Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Marc-André Fleury is living in Chicago this season in Brent Seabrook’s old house!
Marc-André Fleury is apparently living in Brent Seabrook's old house.
(via @frank_seravalli)#Blackhawks https://t.co/mss709vp0F— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) September 23, 2021
• I wonder if he’s still going to let Kirby Dach live in the basement?
• In other hockey news around the city, the Chicago Wolves unveiled new sweaters ahead of the 2021-22 AHL season.
The storm has hit Chicago.
Get your jerseys ⛈: https://t.co/IhcxcDTNRq pic.twitter.com/NdkPYJm2QV
— Chicago Wolves (@Chicago_Wolves) September 23, 2021
• Now affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes, maybe this will be the end of the Mountain Dew Motocross sweaters?
• The saga in Buffalo between the Sabres and Jack Eichel became more of a clown-show yesterday. The Athletic’s John Vogl lays it out plain and simple: this is wrong.
The Buffalo Sabres are flat-out wrong in their treatment of Jack Eichel. https://t.co/Acz4mDIysx
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) September 23, 2021
• From one former second-overall pick to another, Patrik Laine knows he had a bad year last year, but he’s not letting it hinder what he does this year.
More from #CBJ Patrik Laine, who is as blunt as any athlete I’ve every covered: pic.twitter.com/8dw3l5Vqk3
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 24, 2021
• Got to appreciate the honesty.
• The caption says it all:
I'm going to throw up pic.twitter.com/fiv3Yy6aIs
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 23, 2021
• I hate it.
• Speaking of new sweaters, the Washington Capitals are the first NHL team to have a sweater sponsor lined up for the 2022-23 season, the first in which the NHL will allow teams to have ads on sweaters.
Ads on NHL jerseys are officially here. The Washington Capitals have sold ad space to Caesars Sportsbook on their home jersey starting with the 22-23 season. What the deal means for the league, sports gambling, and hockey fans. https://t.co/jLEUKRPaiQ pic.twitter.com/NowEeQjZSi
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) September 24, 2021
• Oh the absolute horror! Much like the ads on the helmets, no one will notice or care two weeks after the 2022-23 season starts. The league and the players will make more money, allowing for a better NHL product in the end.
• Finally, today is a big day in the hockey world. A Happy Third Birthday to Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty!
Thx, I made it myself pic.twitter.com/OjFaqjPrq2
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) September 24, 2021
• A legend in their own right.
• The NFL is making some bold changes to Wild Card weekend.
NFL Super Wild Card Weekend Will Now Feature a Monday Night Football Finalehttps://t.co/Bs1K7R3SWn
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 24, 2021
• WIN WIN WIN.
Why Zach LaVine Thinks Winning This Season is Particularly “Crucial”https://t.co/KyWR1qXdGp
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) September 24, 2021
• Okay, I’m listening.
This Post is About How the Cubs Should Trade for Tyler Glasnow – https://t.co/GOywzXw61G pic.twitter.com/GwdQv7yPLq
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 24, 2021
• That will do it for today. Hope you all have a great TGIF Friday!
