World Championships Begin, Demidov vs Levshunov, Unbeatable Rangers, Wild Selling, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Connor Bedard Philipp Kurashev Chicago Blackhawks

The IIHF World Championship begins this morning with Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev and Switzerland facing Norway in Game 1 of the tournament. That game begins at 9:20 AM CT. On Friday morning the lines for the game posted and Kurashev will skate on the top line for the Swiss. Keep an eye on Norway’s Stian Stolberg if you’re watching. He’s a 2024 draft-eligible defenseman who might be in play in the late-second or third round.

  • As an FYI, you will apparently NOT get to see Lukas Reichel play for Germany this morning.
  • On Thursday, USA Hockey announced their leadership group for the tournament and defenseman Seth Jones will wear an A for the USA. The USA’s first game begins at 1:20 CT, and you can watch Connor Bedard and Canada at 5:20 AM CT on Saturday if you’re into waking up early on the weekend.
  • Did y’all see the overtime game-winner from Artemi Panarin last night? There’s a really good chance the Rangers never lose another game. (That’s not real. I’m saying it dramatically.) But in all seriousness, these Rangers look like they’re the team of destiny this spring.
  • My guy Charlie Roumeliotis at NBC Sports Chicago weighed in on the latest Blackhawks debate: Demidov or Levshunov? Either way, the last name will end with the letter V and the player will likely help the Blackhawks add more Ws in the future. Good thoughts here from Charlie reminding us that the Blackhawks are drafting best player available still.
  • Since the Blackhawks’ local rightsholder was just mentioned, I’ll throw out an ICYMI here from last night. A report from Jeff Agrest at the Chicago Sun-Times indicates Stadium will be involved in the new network that will broadcast the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox.
  • Well… this is interesting. We know the Minnesota Wild are disappointed they missed the playoffs. They’ll probably be more disappointed with a runner-up finish for the Calder, too. But they also have enormous cap issues thanks to the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise (both of whom are currently still playing in the playoffs LOL). The Wild will carry $14.743 million in dead cap space for one more year because of those buyouts. On Thursday, Anthony Di Marco reported for The Fourth Period that Minnesota might be willing to listen to trade offers for center Marco Rossi. Yes, the same Marco Rossi who scored 21 goals this season as a rookie and is still only 22 years old.
  • Finally, let’s stay hyped about Chicago prospects.
  • 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

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