NEWSLETTER
When do you think things will be “better” for the Blackhawks? They always say it’s darkest before the dawn, but my question is: is there such a thing as the darker than darkest period before the dawn? Because if so, that’s where we are right now. This is supposed to be the NHL All-Star break. A time for fun and for the league’s best players to shine. Instead, it will begin with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman having to answer questions about the behavior of Rocky Wirtz and another round of pending lawsuits against the Blackhawks.
• Who’s having fun?
Report: Three Potential Plaintiffs Weighing Lawsuits Against Blackhawkshttps://t.co/nXgXunpmvl
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 3, 2022
• There are three new pending lawsuits that potentially will be filed against the Blackhawks yet again stemming from the Kyle Beach and Brad Aldrich sexual assault investigation and findings. A then-Miami (Ohio) University Student in 2012, known now as “John Doe 3,” another player from the 2010 team known as “Black Ace 1,” and former skills coach Paul Vincent all will likely be filing new lawsuits against the organization if the issues at-hand are not resolved out of court prior.
• Rocky Wirtz isn’t as far beyond speaking about “Old Business” as he thought he was.
• Speaking of the Wirtz boys, both Rocky and Danny released new statements on Thursday evening regarding the events of Wednesday evening’s Town Hall event at the United Center. When you have to release a statement about your first statement, you’ve done messed up.
Rocky and Danny Wirtz Release New Statements Following Wednesday Night’s Outburst at the Town Hallhttps://t.co/EQ5nwlBwc7 pic.twitter.com/buwNzHiupQ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 4, 2022
• I may have been a little harsh yesterday in saying online that the entire Wirtz family should be removed from ownership of the Blackhawks, because I do feel like Danny Wirtz is trying to do everything right for the Blackhawks to get to a better place in the community. Rocky needs to step aside and let “junior” run the show from now on.
• Unless, of course, Danny Wirtz thinks that interviewing former Bruins and Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli for the open position with the Blackhawks is a good idea. Then in that case, get rid of all the Wirtz’.
Peter Chiarelli is Reportedly a Candidate for the Blackhawks GM Positionhttps://t.co/8h5CJsJls6 pic.twitter.com/h0Qhcy3AV4
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 4, 2022
• This would be, and I don’t say this lightly, a CLOWN SHOW of a hire. I cannot express enough how universally hated this move would be for Chicago. No. Absolutely not.
• Like I said before, the NHL All-Star weekend starts tonight and will be kicked-off by Gary Bettman and Bill Daly having to yet again address massive issues with the Chicago Blackhawks.
A media availability with Gary Bettman and Bill Daly has been added to the schedule for Friday afternoon at the NHL All-Star Game.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 3, 2022
• Speaking of clown shows, this will likely be another edition of the NHL brass saying nothing and doing nothing because Gary Bettman doesn’t have hockey’s best interest in mind. He only cares about lining the pockets of the owners so that they in-turn keep him in charge of the league forever. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
• Tonight, Alex DeBrincat competes in the Breakaway Challenge as part of the All-Star skills competition. That should be fun.
Alex DeBrincat Will Participate in Breakaway Challenge at NHL All-Star Weekendhttps://t.co/FSbWBMjQzA
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 3, 2022
• DeBrincat is making his first of hopefully many All-Star appearances for the Blackhawks.
• Hey look, the league is supporting some individuality by having the All-Star players pick their own songs for the skills competitions.
NHL players have selected their own songs for the skills competition today pic.twitter.com/70YcW5NkgJ
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) February 4, 2022
• Update: Jake Guentzel is my new favorite player.
• Also this…
Wait…
Is Alex DeBrincat bringing the DeBrindogs on the ice…#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/TeZx2COvhE— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) February 4, 2022
• I swear, if DeBrincat brings his dogs on the ice for the breakaway competition, I’ll lose it. (In a good way, of course.)
• Speaking of fun, it appears the NHL might be bringing back the World Cup of Hockey in 2024. But instead of playing it in the summer before the start of the season, it would be played in February.
There is a "strong possibility" that the the 2024 World Cup of Hockey will be held in February instead of the usual September window, sources tell @PierreVLeBrun.
The NHL and NHLPA met last week to begin planning the event.https://t.co/VaHRyq6730
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) February 4, 2022
• That’s great, but if they are also committed to sending players back to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, is this another one-off iteration of the World Cup of Hockey? Again I say, bring it back full-time (every two years) and use it to replace participating in the Olympics, leaving that tournament for amateurs and non-NHL players.
• Collin Delia has not missed when it comes to his Blackhawks and IceHogs goalie masks. His newest creation from FigSig Arts is another win…
https://twitter.com/Mario_Tirabassi/status/1489434605518311425?s=20&t=Vylvyk-nrKmkfEDVKK4M6g
• Love the detail.
• A Happy Birthday to Denis Savard!
Happy 61st Birthday to #Blackhawks legend and Hall of Famer Denis Savard! pic.twitter.com/YS6Iut6beW
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 4, 2022
• Look at that glorious mustache.
• Speaking of the Olympics, checking in on Team USA’s Men’s and Women’s teams at the opening ceremonies in Beijing!
Opening Ceremony✅#WinterOlympics | #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/Xde1oPp4Q2
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 4, 2022
• Drew Commesso checking in (on the far right):
https://twitter.com/TerrierHockey/status/1489619434985644032?s=20&t=Vylvyk-nrKmkfEDVKK4M6g
• And a view from Kendall Coyne-Schofield of the opening ceremonies…
An honor to represent the Red, White and Blue! #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/Dvf3csYMt8
— Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) February 4, 2022
• Pretty cool stuff.
• Now for the definition of cool: Here is noted handsome man Henrik Lundqvist, playing Foo Fighters’ ‘Everlong’ and Pearl Jam’s ‘Alive’ on a custom guitar.
i'll be watching this on repeat for the foreseeable future
(hlundqvistofficial/IG) pic.twitter.com/cB1jco62T2
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) February 4, 2022
• This man knows the way to my heart…
• On this day in 2007, the Bears won the Super Bowl*
On this date in 2007, Devin Hester took the opening kickoff of #SuperBowl XLI to the house.
No one had done that before. And no one has done it since.
It is just one bullet point on a @ProFootballHOF résumé. pic.twitter.com/daEc6mp8OT
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) February 4, 2022
• *until the remaining 59:46 minutes of the game was played.
• Hester was the man.
• Ending today with the Indy Fuel showing support for the Hockey Diversity Alliance.
Racism has no place in hockey.
We stand with @TheOfficialHDA in their mission to #TapeOutHate.
We stand with our players, fans and the community and pledge to do the work needed to help ensure that hockey is a welcoming sport for everyone. pic.twitter.com/BdlTIII35v
— Indy Fuel (@IndyFuel) February 3, 2022
• You love to see it. Good stuff.
• That will do it for today. Hope you all enjoy your Friday!
