NEWSLETTER
We get actual Blackhawks hockey to talk about tonight, when the team travels to take on the Edmonton Oilers. It’s the first game following the NHL All-Star break with the Blackhawks having a 16-23-7 record, sitting in seventh-place in the Central Division and 14th in the Western Conference based on point-percentage. They’re 13 points behind the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference and have played 46 games, only Vancouver (47) has played more than Chicago among the teams in the Western Conference wildcard race. They’re also 1-5-2 in their last eight games.
• Oh, sorry, you probably want to hear some good news. Well it appears as if Tyler Johnson is very close to returning to the lineup after participating in practice yesterday without restrictions.
Tyler Johnson Fully Rejoins Blackhawks Practicehttps://t.co/OBhqWSTMas
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 8, 2022
• Johnson has been away from the team since October 29, pre-dating the Derek King era in Chicago. He had neck surgery in early December and looks to be ready to come back to the lineup soon. He’s been missed. Chicago’s depth at the center position without Johnson has been spotty at best and with Jonathan Toews out of the lineup due to being in concussion protocol, the need for someone like Johnson to come back into the lineup is huge for Chicago. Although it’s clearly too little, too late.
• Speaking of Toews, he will not be with the team on their road trip that sees them head to Edmonton tonight, St. Louis on Saturday, and Winnipeg on Monday.
Derek King said Jonathan Toews (concussion protocol) and Kevin Lankinen (hand) will not be going on the three-game road trip. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 8, 2022
• Toews has been involved in off-ice workouts since being in concussion protocol, so that’s at least a small good sign.
• We are beyond the NHL All-Star break, so NHL Taxi Squads are no more. But yesterday, the Blackhawks shifted around four players with Collin Delia headed back to the AHL and three players coming up from the Rockford IceHogs.
Blackhawks Roster Moves: Galvas, Slavin, and Söderblom Recalled to Chicago, Delia Reassigned to Rockford https://t.co/Imy7e4WYEF
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 8, 2022
• It appears that Galvas and Slavin will be jumping right into the lineup based on yesterday’s lines and pairings in practice. It’s that time of the season when the young players start getting more ice-time since the season is out of reach and trades will soon be upon us. That is, once a GM is in position to make trades.
• I you have admire the professionalism at least. The team isn’t “actively” throwing in the towel on the season yet, especially since some of them are probably playing to get onto a contending team by March 21.
"Believe and have some hope. Let's be good pros and see where this goes.”#Blackhawks barely clinging on to hope as second half of season begins: https://t.co/PDbAost5xD
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 8, 2022
• We’ve reached the point of the season where the team-success stops becoming the focus, and the progress of individual efforts has the light shone upon them.
• Derek King has been with the Blackhawks organization since the 2016-17 season when he became an assistant coach with the Rockford IceHogs. King spoke yesterday regarding the news of the firing of long-time head athletic trainer D.J. Jones:
“I never heard a thing until what happened, when they released him. … Like anything, you’re shocked.”—Blackhawks and former Rockford IceHogs coach Derek King on the firing of former IceHogs trainer D.J. Jones for alleged sexual harassment
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) February 8, 2022
• King also expanded on what the organization has been doing to improve the culture in his time here.
….the new HR people, 'what to look for'. It's okay to come out and say things. It's not 'sit back just hold it in'. They're here for us and we feel that."
— Joe Brand (@Joe_Brand1) February 8, 2022
• It’s good to hear and acknowledge those types of things from the head coach, whether he’s going to be in that role beyond the rest of this season or not.
• Speaking of Rockford, the team announced a multi-year partnership with the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford yesterday that includes a new VIP Suite at the BMO Harris Bank Center.
We are thrilled to unveil our multi-year partnership with @HRRockford & debut the new VIP suite, "The Stage," inside the BMO! Join us for Hard Rock Casino RFD Night this Friday! The first 2,500 fans grab HRCR "Opening Act" t-shirts!
Grab your tickets: https://t.co/mXAeGVCYcY pic.twitter.com/bLnbfKXSRn
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) February 8, 2022
• Exciting stuff.
• Tough news for the comeback efforts of Tuukka Rask:
Tuukka Rask is not expected to continue his comeback attempt with the Boston Bruins, sources tell @FlutoShinzawa.
Rask may reportedly "finalize his retirement decision in the next few days."https://t.co/t1hykRvN8O
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 9, 2022
• And it went from bad to worse for the Bruins yesterday following the news of Rask’s potential re-retirement. Brad Marchand and Tristan Jarry had some beef on the ice last night, starting with Marchand being a jerk (what’s new) and denying a Penguins fan in Boston a puck tossed to them from NHL All-Star Tristan Jarry…
https://twitter.com/BradyTrett/status/1491232274339483649?s=20&t=aVQ9VmFQ83-Qz5Oehz1t4A
• Ok, fine, have your yucks. But it got more serious when Marchand sucker-punched Jarry late in the third period, following it up with a stick swing towards Jarry’s face on his way off the ice.
This isn't good from Marchand in the final minute of the game. Punch + stick swing on Jarry pic.twitter.com/yrq9Ek8o4i
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 9, 2022
• If you’re new here, this is par for the course from Marchand. He’s the worst. The NHL Department of Player Safety will have an in-person hearing with Marchand, who is a long-time repeat offender, with the potential for at least a five-game suspension on the table.
Boston’s Brad Marchand has been offered an in-person hearing via Zoom for Roughing/High-sticking Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry. Date and time TBD.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 9, 2022
• Good.
• Also looking at a suspension is Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno after his fight with Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry ended with a knee to the upper-body of Lowry.
Don't remember the last time Marcus Foligno was this mad. He gets the extra 2 pic.twitter.com/iRxUI96G7I
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) February 9, 2022
• Last I checked, that was only allowed in Pride FC, which the NHL is not. Foligno is also going to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Minnesota’s Marcus Foligno will have a hearing for Kneeing Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry. Date and time TBD.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 9, 2022
• Is fighting in hockey stupid? To a large degree, yes. Is it going to be taken out of the game? Not anytime soon. But garbage like what Marchand and Foligno pulled last night needs to be punished by the league, otherwise cheap-shots will continue. Rabble rabble rabble, we have these same conversations every few weeks and nothing changes.
• On this day in 1966, the NHL announces the first-ever expansion from the Original Six teams.
On this day in 1966, the NHL announced expansion beyond the Original Six. pic.twitter.com/tjuw9Gg2zF
— NHL (@NHL) February 9, 2022
• Wonder if in 1966, the league ever thought they would have 32 teams?
• Some more milestones for you, last night was Blackhawks 2021 draft pick Ethan Del Mastro’s 100th game with the Mississauga Steelheads!
https://twitter.com/OHLSteelheads/status/1491426683366551556?s=20&t=aVQ9VmFQ83-Qz5Oehz1t4A
• Congratulations to Ethan, who has five goals and 33 points in 43 games with the Steelheads this season.
• Also congratulations are in order for the Denmark Men’s hockey team, playing in and winning their first Olympic game earlier this morning with a 2-1 win over Czechia! (Czech Republic? I’m not sure what they are going by now)
DENMARK GETS IT DONE!#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/ohYqYt6e3z
— Olympic Hockey on NBC (@NBCSportsHockey) February 9, 2022
• Denmark is Captained by former Blackhawks and IceHogs forward Peter Regin. How about that!
• The U.S. Men’s team plays tomorrow morning in their first game of the tournament against China. While the Women’s U.S. team plays Czechia/Cezch Republic in the quarterfinals of their tournament late tomorrow night.
• Early we mentioned trade season coming for the Blackhawks, soon. In the NBA, it’s already whacky season!
A Simmons-Harden Swap is “Trending” Toward Actually Happeninghttps://t.co/3J2qu94z4v pic.twitter.com/j0QmWTd5ZJ
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) February 9, 2022
• It’s funny because it’s true…
NBA: We are trading 3/5 of our starting lineup to another team for 3/5 of their starting lineup.
NHL: Sorry, a second round pick for a forward entering his prime is just too much.
— Stache (@StacheEsq) February 8, 2022
• That will do it for today. Hope you all enjoy your Wednesday.
• We will see you later tonight for Blackhawks-Oilers at 7:00 p.m. CT!
