NEWSLETTER
Last night didn’t end with a Blackhawks victory. In fact, it ended in an all too familiar fashion from last season. Chicago held a 3-1 lead in the second period at one point, only to fall 4-3 in the shootout against the Detroit Red Wings. But last night wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about seeing what the Blackhawks are working with as the preseason continues and the regular season looms. Mainly, it was about where Jonathan Toews is at in his health and his ability to play in an NHL setting.
•  In his first game with the Blackhawks in over 13 months, Toews definitely passed his first test with flying colors.
The result didn’t matter last night. Jonathan Toews being back on the ice was all we needed to see. https://t.co/Z5bAhtKzpq
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 30, 2021
•  Logging over 22 minutes of ice time, Toews picked up an assist and scored in the shootout, as well as going 15-for-21 at the face-off dot. His conditioning looked good for his first time out and if you didn’t know what he has been dealing with since the end of the 2020 postseason, you likely wouldn’t have known anything was wrong. All good things for the returning Blackhawks Captain.
•  Luis was in the building last night, providing a first-hand account of the Toews shootout goal.
This Jonathan Toews shootout goal was worth the price of admission. @BN_Blackhawks @Mario_Tirabassi pic.twitter.com/mdpNKhpZhM
— Funky Cold Luda (@lcm1986) September 30, 2021
•  Welcome back.
•  Had the game not gone into overtime, or the Blackhawks didn’t receive five powerplay opportunities (converting none of them), Toews likely wouldn’t have logged the ice-time that he did. But his response to it was encouraging to the team, fans, and coaching staff.
Jeremy Colliton wasn't planning on playing Toews so much, but he had a couple long shifts, some key faceoffs, lots of PP time.
"He looked good. He responded better than *I* had hoped. … It was good to have him back."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 30, 2021
•  Last night wasn’t all about Jonathan Toews, though. This preseason provides an important opportunity for players on the bubble of the NHL roster to push ahead for those final few roster spots. Following the game, Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton had praise for a few of those players.
Colliton named Kubalik, Caleb Jones, Gaudette and particularly Kurashev as the guys who stood out most to him tonight.
On Kurashev: "Really good — very strong on the puck, controlled it, excellent puck decisions."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 30, 2021
•  One of the biggest standouts last night was forward Adam Gaudette. Logging 15:31 minutes of ice-time and nearly three minutes of powerplay time, Gaudette nearly got the Blackhawks on the board in the first period with an inspired effort.
Gaudette crossbar. How does that stay out?#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/bJzCQkipei
— Austin Pedue (@BlackhawksDzone) September 30, 2021
•  Gaudette’s motor in the game was noticeable and it’s going to be one of the facets of his game that might make him stand above some other players on the fence of making the NHL roster out of training camp. Last season, Gaudette went through a change in his diet and training habits after learning of a dietary medical condition. It seems the changes are paying off already.
Adam Gaudette on his diet change: "I'm healthy now. It feels great. I haven't felt this good ever."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 30, 2021
•  His play was noticeable last night, and he was rewarded for it.
Gaudette on moving up to the Dach/Hagel line tonight:
"It feels good. We played well on that line, too. Those two are really skilled players, and I tried to get my nose dirty and get the pucks to them… Can’t stop here, though. Just got to keep going."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 30, 2021
•  Gaudette has an opportunity, along with nearly a dozen other players, to make their mark with this “new look” Blackhawks team that has gone through significant changes in recent years and especially after this offseason. As Jonathan Toews talked about during the first intermission of last night’s game, this is like a fresh start of the franchise.
More Toews:
“It is crazy to see how much our room has changed. The notables are Duncs & Seabs, they’ve been there since day one for me. You could say it’s almost a fresh start for the franchise. Kaner & I get to be a part of it. There’s so much possibility with this group.”— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) September 30, 2021
•  At least it can be a fresh start on the ice.
•  Part of these “new look” Blackhawks are the Jones brothers, Seth and Caleb. Playing together for the first time on the same team in their lives, Seth and Caleb are going through the ups and downs of sharing a team and locker room with your brother. More from Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times:
Seth Jones will go into a corner during battle drills, or turn the corner in the locker room, and see something weird: His brother, Caleb.
"I see him too much now," he joked.
It's all part of acclimating to the brotherly reunion. New story: https://t.co/u9ryuoZYte
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 29, 2021
•  Seth is going to make the Blackhawks. Duh. But for Caleb, after coming from the Edmonton Oilers, this is an opportunity for him to make the most of a change of scenery and have a fresh start to carve his way into the NHL lineup on a regular basis in Chicago.
•  In case you missed it yesterday, the Blackhawks announced a number of new and returning faces to their broadcast and content teams for the 2021-22 season.
Blackhawks Announce Changes and Additions to TV and Radio Broadcast Teams for 2021-22 https://t.co/TXQ9rJhaij
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) September 29, 2021
•  With this being the final year of Pat Foley as the voice of the Blackhawks on TV, the team is “auditioning” four potential new voices of the Blackhawks this season and they will fill-in for Foley at various times throughout the year. Kind of takes away from the final year of Foley on play-by-play, no?
•  News around the league yesterday, apparently there are discussions about the necessity of bringing back the Taxi Squad system from last season. Hopefully we don’t need the Taxi Squad system to come back, because that would only mean things have not been going well amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that we and the league are still navigating.
The NHL/NHLPA transition rules for 2021-22 contemplate the possibility conditions arise that require the formation of Taxi Squads. In the event that happens, the negotiations for how they'd work would start with last season's rules.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 29, 2021
•  Also potentially happening around the league is a possible change to the dress code for players. As ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports, the NHLPA is pushing for the league and teams to relax their gameday dress codes, much like we saw during the 2020 postseason and like we are seeing this season from the Arizona Coyotes.
Eventually, the NHL may ease up on its suit & ties game day dress code. Behind the scenes, the NHLPA is pushing for it.
But it takes time to change longstanding norms. As of now, there’s only one trailblazing team: the Arizona Coyotes.https://t.co/5ILsfl0Idj
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) September 30, 2021
•  Hey, you know me, I’m on board with the NHL being able to market more personalty from their players and if allowing them to dress more casually and express themselves more through their style, I’m all for it.
•  Speaking of showing personality, it’s cool to see the Bulls and Zach LaVine being in the spotlight of the NBA as the team looks to swing back into the upper echelon of the league.
Zach LaVine is in a New Commercial With Zion Williamson Because They’re Obviously Both a Big Dealhttps://t.co/32a2suy62y
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) September 29, 2021
•  That will do it for today. Hope you al have a great Thursday!
