Win Complicates Bedard Race, Tinordi Wants To Stay, Rolston Joins Rockford, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

The Blackhawks won a game last night. It’s their first win in their last nine starts, which is good for morale in the room but complicates the NHL draft lottery race in the closing five games for the three teams at the bottom. By virtue of having the most regulation wins (17), the Blackhawks are now third in the draft lottery despite having the same 56 points as Anaheim and Columbus through 77 games.

  • Just a reminder that this is why we’re open to the Blackhawks not winning another game this year:
  • Jonathan Toews played his second game back last night after missing two months to take care of his body. He wasn’t dominant at the dot (won seven of 17), but won a huge faceoff clean in the final 30 seconds to help kill clock and preserve the win. He also won a big board battle that led to a goal. It’s obvious that his teammates are still ready to roll with their Captain, even as he gets his legs back under him after a long time away.
  • Jarred Tinordi is an unrestricted free agent this summer and told Charlie Roumeliotis at NBCSN that he would love to come back to Chicago next season. The Blackhawks claimed Tinordi off waivers from the Rangers just before the season began and he’s been a terrific addition to the blue line. The concern is pretty obvious: he can’t stay healthy. From taking a skate blade to the face to a broken jaw to his current hip issue, Tinordi has only appeared in 42 games this season. But he’s been everything the Hawks asked when he’s been available. And he came off IR to join the team on Tuesday night.
  • As I wrote when I tried to look ahead to the Blackhawks’ blue line next season previously, he’s the kind of physical presence the team could use as they integrate more youngsters on the back end next year. But, considering his injury history, banking on him being more than a seventh defenseman is setting yourself up for a frequent charter to/from Rockford. I say hand the man an extension and some certainty. Richardson loves him and the fans do, too.
  • Forward Ryder Rolston made his first appearance on the ice with the IceHogs on Tuesday. He signed his ELC with the Blackhawks on March 13 and is finishing the season in Rockford but has been out because of a broken collarbone. It’s great to see him on the ice!
  • Denver head coach David Carle has been named the head coach for the United States at the 2024 World Junior Championship. Unfortunately, Blackhawks prospect and DU forward Aidan Thompson will be too old to skate for him. But other prospects like Frank Nazar should be in the mix to make an impact for the squad.
  • A fun little conversation here between ESPN’s John Buccigross and Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo, who will have Blackhawks prospect Drew Commesso in net and Chicago prospect Ryan Greene centering his second line when they take on Minnesota in the Frozen Four tomorrow evening.
  • News on Tuesday was absolutely awful for one of the top prospects in the 2023 NHL Draft. Matvei Michkov’s father, Andrey, was found dead in a pond near the home they were renting in Sochi. And they haven’t ruled out foul play.
  • Finally, the Blackhawks aren’t backing into anything other than a high draft pick this season. But their roommates at the United Center clinched a spot in the NBA’s play-in games last night despite losing a game in ugly fashion. Now we just wait to see which Bulls team actually shows up for the postseason.
  • [bet-bonus id=”360657″ ]

    written by

    Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is the author of two books about the Blackhawks: "100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab

    more blackhawks news

    Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Picks & Predictions

    It's time for the best postseason in all of professional sports - the Stanley Cup Playoffs! With first-round matchups set to get started this weekend, our esteemed panel (Tab and Matt) decided to take a stab at a few predictions...

    NHL Notes: Utah Gets Their Team, Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule, Kucherov Makes History, More

    The NHL regular season is in the books! That means it's time for the best postseason in all of professional sports - the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Before those get underway this weekend, let's go around the NHL one more time...

    Bold Accountability: How Did I Do with My Preseason Blackhawks Predictions?

    The Chicago Blackhawks season is over. Finished. We can walk away, wash our hands, take a long nap and come back to it in a few days. But there's one thing I always like to do once the season comes...

    Lukas Reichel Will Play for Rockford, Not Germany

    Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson was asked before the regular season finale if forward Lukas Reichel would play for Germany at the upcoming IIHF World Championship, or if he was headed to Rockford to join the IceHogs for their playoffs....

    Bedard for ROY, M(razek)VP, Anderson’s Emergence, Unhappy Seth, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    Welcome to the offseason, Blackhawks fans! The worst regular-season Blackhawks team in nearly 70 years -- based on point percentage, the worst that played more than 70 games in franchise history -- gifted us with overtime to finish a game...

    Final NHL Draft Lottery Odds: What are the Blackhawks’ Chances of Picking First Again?

    Now that the NHL's 2023-24 regular season is in the books, we have the final standings in official form. Which means we also know the odds of the non-playoff teams in the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery. So what are the...

    Blackhawks at Kings – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    Okay, so here's the set up for tonight's final game of the 2023-24 NHL regular season -- and, with the latest start time on the slate, this is indeed the actual, final game of the entire regular season. And the...

    Nick Foligno Calls Out Blackhawks Teammates, Says Changes Are Needed

    The Blackhawks put the worst regular season of more than 70 games in the history of the franchise to bed on Thursday night in a manner that sums up the season fairly well. Connor Murphy was banged up and Nikita...

    Blackhawks 4, Kings 5 (OT) — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

    If we paid attention to my pregame notes, you'll know that fans and members of the Kings' organization were going to be keeping an eye on the Ducks-Golden Knights score as their own game progressed. LA dominated the first period,...

    OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Former “Coyotes” Franchise Moving to Utah

    On Thursday afternoon, the NHL made it official: the Arizona Coyotes are no more. The league's Board of Governors voted to approve the franchise relocating to Salt Lake City, effective immediately. The franchise will be owned and controlled by Smith...

    Latest News

    Now We Know Why Ian Happ Was Removed Mid-game

    In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...

    Scottie Pippen’s Youngest Son Will Play at Michigan

    A familiar last name will be in the Big Ten next season. Scottie Pippen's kid, Justin, has committed to the University of Michigan, according to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. The youngest son of the Chicago Bulls legend, Pippen started...

    Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson with Back-to-Back Slick Defensive Plays

    With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 8, Marlins 3 – April 19, 2024

    And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...

    Blue Jays vs. Padres Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) will look to Daulton Varsho, who is coming off a two-homer game, to lead them in a matchup with the San Diego Padres (11-10) Friday at 9:40 PM ET on SDPA. The Blue Jays are...

    Diamondbacks vs. Giants Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Jung Hoo Lee (10 games) will look to add to his hitting streak when the San Francisco Giants (9-11) and Arizona Diamondbacks (9-11) meet Friday at 10:15 PM ET, live on Apple TV+ from Oracle Park. Jung Hoo Lee and...

    Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The New York Mets (10-8) will put their four-game win streak to the test when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9) Friday at 10:10 PM ET on MLB Network. Bookmakers consider the Dodgers to be -203 favorites, while the...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    At 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, it'll be the New Orleans Pelicans against the Sacramento Kings -- with Jonas Valančiūnas needing to score just once from beyond the arc to beat his 3-pointer over/under.Jonas Valančiūnas'...

    Brandon Ingram Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    Brandon Ingram's New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and to beat his 3-point prop, he must make two from beyond the arc.Brandon Ingram's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the...

    CJ McCollum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Kings – Friday, April 19, 2024

    CJ McCollum needs to make four 3-pointers to beat his prop when the New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.CJ McCollum's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsCJ McCollum's over/under...

    more blackhawks news