NEWSLETTER
You thought the Blackhawks were done trading? Ha ha! They shocked everyone when, a couple hours before the game, they found a team that wanted… Dylan Sikura. That trade was official before the game; for salary cap purposes, the trade sending Max Domi to the Stars couldn’t be finalized until after the game. It would have been fun to see him switch rooms this afternoon and dress tonight anyway.
Star 1: Cole Guttman
He scored his third goal in the NHL in the first period and, frankly, continues to impress the hell out of me. He also had another good night at the dot (won 9 of 16). I chatted with Guttman after the morning skate and he was so well spoken about being a young player that’s been through a lot of roster upheaval in the past couple weeks, integrating Rockford players onto the NHL roster and developing chemistry at the NHL level. If we can find a few more like him…
Star 2: Petr Mrazek
This roster has so few options to generate offense that it has to feel like the goaltender is going to have to pitch a shutout to get a win (and even that might not be enough. Mrazek’s team was out-shot 11-3 in the second period but the game was tied after 40 minutes. The Blackhawks were desperately trying to hang on and keep the game close and Mrazek did what he could to keep it within one.
Star 3: Max Domi
Everyone wants the day off on their birthday, right? Domi was supposed to center the Blackhawks’ top line on his 28th birth anniversary, but instead stayed home to pack a bag for a couple months on the road with the Dallas Stars. The Blackhawks didn’t bake him a cake, but they gave him the gift of the playoffs instead. Thanks for everything, Max! (Please keep us in mind in free agency this summer.)
