NEWSLETTER
It’s finally here: A Blackhawks game with at least some stakes to it. The Blackhawks take on the Detroit Red Wings tonight in their first preseason game as the 2021-22 season inches closer. Chicago will face the Red Wings twice this preseason, along with two games against the Minnesota Wild and two against the St. Louis Blues. Hitting all the rivals this preseason, are we?
• I’m so happy.
WAKE UP! IT'S (preseason) GAMEDAY!#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NwFPOH8itP
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 29, 2021
• It feels like the summer offseason flew by, but at the same time, was a struggle to get through to this point where the Blackhawks will be back on the ice against actual opponents, and not just against themselves.
• Yesterday, the team played a split-squad scrimmage as training camp continued prior to the start of preseason games.
Blackhawks Scrimmage Notes: Team Black Beats Team Red, Kirby Dach Scores OT Winnerhttps://t.co/LmufzZ4Bb8
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 28, 2021
• One of the standout players from yesterday’s scrimmage was Kirby Dach, who had a primary assist and the scrimmage-winning goal in overtime.
Kirby Dach said his wrist is back to 100 percent and has been since August. Said it's nice to be able to play without having to think about the wrist.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 28, 2021
• After missing his rookie season training camp due to injury and then two-thirds of last season due to a broken/surgically repaired wrist, this is the first time since Dach was drafted by Chicago that he has had a proper training camp with the Blackhawks. So far, it’s showing.
Kirby Dach is participating in his first NHL training camp, and it's making a difference.
"Just getting the details down in the D zone, forechecks, things like that. Obviously special teams still need some work — we'll get there."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 28, 2021
• The Blackhawks are expecting a lot from Dach as he enters his third NHL season fully healthy. As it stands so far through the first week of the preseason, Dach looks like he’ll be slotted in the third-line center spot with a spot also on the second powerplay unit. Again, this is still after just the first week of training camp.
• Kirby’s younger brother Colton, who is also in Blackhawks training camp currently, asked for a trade from his WHL club earlier this week. On Tuesday, he was traded to the Kelowna Rockets.
Blackhawks Prospect Colton Dach Traded from Saskatoon to Kelowna in the WHL https://t.co/Yr6Jdh2Vqt
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 28, 2021
• This has no bearing on his status with the Blackhawks, he’s still a Chicago prospect but will just be playing his WHL season with a new team. So fret not.
• For more on the scrimmage yesterday, Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus of The Athletic touched on all the players involved:
The Blackhawks had their first full scrimmage today. @MarkLazerus and I wrote about all 40 players who participated in it. https://t.co/FpdFTmQ1ow
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 28, 2021
• One of the other highlights from the scrimmage was rookie Lukas Reichel’s performance being paired with Brandon Hagel and Jonathan Toews. Quite the introduction to the team for the 2020 first-round pick.
• Being a teenager in the NHL is hard, but Reichel is putting in the work to match the strength needed to excel at the next level. If his speed and his mind can move at the rate they’ll need to in the NHL, Reichel could make some noise with the Blackhawks in his first North American season.
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1442979278996398089?s=20
• So far in camp, Reichel has skated nearly every day with the “main” group of players, all of which are likely in the mix for an NHL roster spot this season.
Colliton on Reichel: "We’re just trying to expose him to different things. He’s a smart kid. Very, very good hockey sense and his speed is a big factor."
Mentions Reichel beating his man inside for an OT chance today as something he was "excited to see."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 28, 2021
• Another new guy to get excited about for the Blackhawks is defenseman Seth Jones. He’s already getting time as one of the new faces of the team:
Snipe it high, low, three in a row ❌⭕️❌⭕️ @NHLBlackhawks pic.twitter.com/cLM8dlbsbW
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 29, 2021
• You also got to see Jake McCabe alongside Toews, Kane, and DeBrincat as the team started to film what I’m assuming is either their pregame hype videos or their descent into the Dark Side of the force.
https://twitter.com/Mario_Tirabassi/status/1443024867796918274?s=20
• Speaking of new guys, new guy headshots are here!
The newbies (part 2) pic.twitter.com/BtmBlLz01P
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 28, 2021
• Good looking group.
• You know what is not a good look? The entire scenario playing-out in the Ukraine after the racist incident involving Andriy Deniskin and Jalen Smereck. Yesterday, Smereck said he would be taking a leave of absence until Deniskin was “suspended and removed” from the UHL.
After Being the Target of a Racist Gesture in Ukraine, Jalen Smereck is Taking a Leave of Absence Until Andrey Denyskin Faces Disciplinehttps://t.co/pbZMsZ6I4b
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 28, 2021
• On Wednesday morning, we got our answer to what discipline Deniskin would face and it was an absolute joke.
This is a staggeringly weak decision from a league that claims to stand against racism: Andrei Deniskin suspended three games and given an option to pay a small fine rather than sit out 10 more.
Jalen Smereck deserves better. His team, @hcdonbass, is appealing the ruling. https://t.co/rHWb1RhYl1
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 29, 2021
• Deniskin faces a “13-game” suspension, which will actually end up being a three-game suspension and a fine equivalent to $1,880. Needless to say, the entire hockey community called out the UHL for their soft as baby sh- punishment for Deniskin. Smereck’s club, HC Donbass, expressed their disgust at the decision on social media following the announcement.
$1870 for racism?! For racist actions towards Donbass player @jalen_smereck, Kremenchuk player Andrey Deniskin was disqualified for three matches. Deniskin was also given 10 matches of an additional disqualification or fine $1870. We demand a reconsideration of the decision! pic.twitter.com/8Elj4og6Dn
— HC Donbass (@hcdonbass) September 29, 2021
• The hockey world continues to show its ass with these kinds of decisions. The IIHF still has the opportunity to levied further discipline against Deniskin and even the UHL for the incident. I hope we see more handed down because Smereck is being hung-out to dry by the league he plays for and the sport for this absolutely awful and not isolated incident.
• Something to celebrate last night in Chicago, the Chicago Sky got a double-overtime win over the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Playoff semi-finals behind the second-ever triple-double in WNBA postseason history as Courtney Vandersloot dropped 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 18 assists!
“Oh my god, I had no idea I had a triple-double.”
Courtney Vandersloot spoke with @sportsiren after dropping the second playoff triple-double ever in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/f40w0lP6Lv
— ESPN (@espn) September 29, 2021
• Also going on late last night, the Chicago Bears signed the purchase agreement for the Arlington Park land.
Report: The Bears Have Signed a Purchase Agreement for Arlington Parkhttps://t.co/ulfaPn1ZgR pic.twitter.com/TJtv8fDV5g
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 29, 2021
• I’m no realty expert, but signing something called a “purchase agreement” when it comes to property sounds pretty official. We’ll see how this plays out in the short and long-term, but it seems like the Bears are going to be leaving Soldier Field.
• So that would mean that Solider Field would need some more events to put on their yearly schedule. I think I could come up with some good ones.
So I hear Soldier Field might need some events to fill the calendar in the future. I have some ideas… pic.twitter.com/ByOh5lgrFB
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 29, 2021
• I mean, really, who says no to a once-a-year Blackhawks outdoor game at Soldier Field? That would be awesome.
• Did I mention the Blackhawks have a game tonight?
We play hockey tonight 🤩
⏰ 7:30
📺 @NBCSChicago +
📻 @WGNRadio
🎟️ https://t.co/vuzSnJL2PD pic.twitter.com/14u20H5yLL— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 29, 2021
• Preseason hockey at its finest! I’m excited.
• That will do it for today. Hope you all have a great Wednesday and we’ll see you tonight!
