On this beautiful, final day of August, we prepare ourselves for the calendar to turn to the month in which we can finally begin watching hockey again. We were blessed with a terrific World Juniors tournament earlier this month, but it’s time for the big boys to get back on the ice and give us some NHL hockey to talk about. It’s coming, folks. We promise.
The Blackhawks announced the details for the upcoming Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase on Wednesday morning. We’ve got the when, where and how to watch the next generation of Blackhawks for you.
The United Center ice needed a fresh coat of paint for the new season, so your trusty Blackhawks crew here at Bleacher Nation helped make it look good. Tuesday was a fun day for Tab and Patrick at the UC.
With Blackhawks’ player development coach Kendall Coyne Schofield wearing the C, Team USA earned the top spot in their group at the Women’s World Championship. They’ll face Hungary at 9 AM CT on Thursday in the quarterfinals (on NHL Network in the US).
Ben Pope at the Chicago Sun-Times talked to Derek King about his role on the new Blackhawks’ coaching staff. Kings scored 261 goals in 830 career NHL regular-season games and could help the team as they integrate younger players in the coming season, likely beginning with Lukas Reichel this year.
Buffalo spent a little money on Tuesday. And by “a little” we means $50 million over seven years for Tage Thompson, who will turn 25 on Oct. 30. Originally a Blues draft pick, he was traded to the Sabres in the deal that brought Ryan O’Reilly to St. Louis. After scoring 18 goals in parts of four seasons in the NHL, Thompson scored 38 last year. Smoke ’em of you got ’em I guess.
Finally, hooray for prospect highlights — on the diamond, too!