NEWSLETTER
The Winter Olympics are coming up quick. As are the number of NHL players getting placed in COVID protocol. As are the number of cases around North America. I don’t know about ya’ll, but it really, really feels like just a matter of time before NHL and NBA games are once again without fans in the stands if things don’t turn back the other direction.
• NHL players heading to the Olympics? That ship has sailed in my mind already. Yesterday, Blackhawks goaltender and potential Canadian selection Marc-André Fleury expressed his concerns over the potential protocols players will have to face in Beijing.
Marc-André Fleury Expresses Concerns Over Olympic COVID Protocolshttps://t.co/DmUd7cg7Nb
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 13, 2021
• He’s not alone. Fellow Canadian John Tavares and many others are now publicly expressing their concerns and hesitations surrounding the upcoming Olympic Games.
"I think we all hope to go but clearly I think things are a little bit more uneasy than they were."
As COVID-19 continues to impact the NHL, John Tavares and other star players say they are undecided about going to the Olympics. (@jbenny15)https://t.co/pznsStFDfs
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 14, 2021
• But it’s not unanimous around the league. According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, a number of locker rooms are divided around the potential of going to the Olympics or not.
NHLPA having calls w/ players this week to gauge Olympic interest. It’s going to be hard to get a consensus..
A player explains his locker room dynamic: “I want to go no matter what. The Russians are going no matter what. But two guys already told their federations they’re iffy”
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 13, 2021
• There is still about a month’s worth of time for things to play-out. The NHL has an opt-out date of January 10 to pull from the Olympics without facing a financial penalty. To me, it feels like players deciding not to go will happen before then.
• Yesterday’s Blackhawks-Flames game was postponed due to a COVID outbreak with Calgary. Today, it got worse.
Three more #Flames players now in COVID-19 protocol, bringing the total to nine (plus a member of training staff) … https://t.co/UvAjuV8TK3
— Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) December 14, 2021
• Add in Mat Barzal, Brad Marchand, and Devon Toews to the COVID list today, too. It’s not going well.
This is getting ridiculous. Forget the Olympics, the NHL might have to pause the season
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 14, 2021
• But in other Olympic news, Team USA has officially named Bill Guerin as the new U.S. Men’s Olympic Team General Manager, replacing Stan Bowman.
USA Hockey officially names @mnwild GM Bill Guerin is the GM of the men's Olympic team and @NYRangers GM Chris Drury is the assistant GM.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 14, 2021
• The U.S. currently has a “long-list” of 55 NHL players under consideration for their Olympic roster. Jack Eichel would normally be considered for Team USA in normal conditions. But he hasn’t played all season and underwent neck surgery a few months ago. His timetable to return would see him back on the ice just before the Olympics, so is he under consideration for Team USA now?
US AHockey GM Bill Guerin, asked if he can rule out Jack Eichel for the Olympics: “I won’t rule out anybody.”
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 14, 2021
• If (when) NHL players decide not to go to the Olympics, we will again see players not on NHL contracts playing instead.
John Vanbiesbrouck on Plan B: Would be picking from a pool of European pro and college players, most likely. Has used WJC scouting to keep an eye on others. Also collaborating with contacts around hockey world. USAH, however, remains fully focused on NHL participation.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 14, 2021
• Off the top of my head, that would potentially include former Blackhawks like Dominik Kahun (Germany), Artem Anisimov (Russia), Tomas Jurco (Slovakia), and Marcus Kruger (Sweden).
• As for non-NHL Team Canada, they have their rosters for the Spengler Cup and Channel One Cup set, along with their coaching staffs for those tournaments. Included is a familiar Blackhawks name…
Hockey Canada has announced their roster for the Cannel One Cup.
Among the coaches, Jeremy Colliton will be an assistant coach on the staff for Team Canada.
— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) December 13, 2021
• Good for Jeremy.
• Also good news for the Blackhawks organization today as the Rockford IceHogs have announced that Lukas Reichel, along with Arvid Söderblom and Dylan McLaughlin, will all be rejoining the team soon as they have been removed from concussion and COVID protocols.
Rockford IceHogs Announce Reichel, Söderblom Are Out of Concussion Protocolhttps://t.co/r6To0ksfT3
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 14, 2021
• Reichel has been the best IceHogs player this season prior to his concussion two and a half weeks ago. He leads the team in goals and points, still, even after missing a handful of games. Due to his concussion, he was left off of Team Germany’s World Junior Championships roster, again, after missing last year due to COVID. He’ll hopefully be rejoining the IceHogs on the ice soon.
• One of the other players from the IceHogs that has led the team in point-production this season is Brett Connolly. Recently recalled to the Blackhawks, Connolly is getting a major opportunity to prove that he can live up to his contract and stick in the NHL with Chicago.
Newly recalled Brett Connolly, cap hit aside, might be able to help the Blackhawks' scoring issues.
His career 14.0% shooting percentage ranks 12th among all active NHLers with 500+ GP.
Story: https://t.co/Y2o3guLlwD
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 14, 2021
• In today’s morning skate, Connolly was playing along with Brandon Hagel and Jonathan Toews on the second line and was getting time on the second powerplay unit. So yeah, big opportunity.
• Also getting a major bump in responsibility is Dylan Strome. For the second morning skate in-a-row, Strome was on the Blackhawks’ top line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on his wings.
Now Dylan Strome Finds Himself on the Blackhawks’ Top Linehttps://t.co/BgrgsDN9I7
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 13, 2021
• Strome was also on the top powerplay unit for the Blackhawks today, so a lot of opportunities being given out by interim head coach Derek King for players to prove themselves worthy of major minutes in Chicago.
• Some important information from The Athletic’s Scott Powers in his latest post regarding the beginning of the mediation process, starting tomorrow, in the lawsuit involving the Blackhawks and Kyle Beach.
Kyle Beach’s mediation to be held this week, Lukas Reichel’s World Juniors’ status determined and much more in my latest Powers Points https://t.co/dasAmjFPSO
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 14, 2021
• Also mentioned in here is news of a potential Sportsbook addition coming to the United Center. Something to keep an eye on.
• Oh, hey, forgot about that baseball lockout going on. Well, here’s the latest:
MLB Lockout Day 12: Pessimism Grows, The 1995 Season as Instructive, Anti-Tanking Plan, More – https://t.co/MRI9kJ81wq pic.twitter.com/INxvds1IsH
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 14, 2021
• When do pitchers and catchers report?
• That will do it for today. Hope you all enjoy your Tuesday!
