NEWSLETTER
I’m going to open our Saturday morning bullets with the statement from former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson that we received on Friday afternoon:
“I am grateful to The Wirtz family and Kyle Davidson for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Being a part of an Original Six team and all the history it carries with it is a true privilege. I am proud to have worked alongside some truly great men and women in this organization. I would like to express my thanks to all of the players for their effort, their commitment, and their passion for the game. I am also grateful to the Blackhawk fans for how they welcomed my family and I to the city and the support they have for the team. I wish the team and their fans the best for the rest of the season.”
The players universally praised Luke as a person and a coach. It’s now on them to change the trajectory of their season. Blackhawks fans want to see more wins, not just better play in the defensive end. This afternoon they’ll get their first chance with the Winnipeg Jets in town.
On a personal note, and you’ve probably seen similar comments from most of the rest of us who cover the Blackhawks on a daily basis and had the opportunity to interact with Richardson, he was a great coach to speak with about the game. He would dig into the Xs and Os with us and break down individual plays in details after games and practices. And it never seemed like he was feeding us a company line or some BS. He had to coach thru the final seasons of Toews and Kane and the full burn down and then the circus that was last season. I have no doubt he’ll be back in a job somewhere in the NHL at some point. And he’s an incredibly good man.
- Speaking of the Jets, one of their former defensemen got traded in a stunning move on Friday afternoon. The New York Rangers traded their captain, Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks. This is a pure salary dump for the Rangers and a culture changing move in their room. Since their memo identifying Trouba and Chris Kreider as potential trade pieces to the rest of the league, things have been ugly for the Rangers (who host the Blackhawks on Monday night).
- When he spoke with the media about the trade, Trouba confirmed that the Rangers threatened to put him on waivers if he refused to waive his no-trade clause for a deal yesterday. And he wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the divorce ultimately happened. We’ll see how that impacts the rest of the room, because the rumors didn’t end with this deal being consummated.
- And then the New York Rangers went ahead and immediately spent that cap room they added with Trouba’s $8M AAV out the door. We have a new highest paid goaltender in the history of the NHL. Igor Shesterkin signed an eight-year deal worth $92M ($11.5M AAV) yesterday.
- Oh by the way, the Blackhawks are at the Rangers on Monday night…
How about some Blackhawks prospect highlights?
- We’ll start the highlights with a guy who is really stepping up his offensive game this season while not losing much on the defensive end. Minnesota-Duluth captain Dominic James scored twice, blocked one shot and put four shots on net. He’s been one of the best faceoffs guys in the country but won only 7 of 23 last night in a 5-3 loss at Arizona State.
A Friday night 🚨 from #Blackhawks prospect Dominic James for @UMDMensHockey
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/tySnmeXDiN
ANOTHER Friday night 🚨 from #Blackhawks prospect Dominic James for @UMDMensHockey
pic.twitter.com/TBdBW7al5A— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) December 7, 2024
- One of the most exciting games in the country last night was North Dakota at Miami (OH). The Fighting Hawks were down 4-2 with six minutes left in regulation but scored three times in the final 5:23 to steal a huge win. And the game-winning goal came from Sacha Boisvert! Boisvert also had a pretty assist in the games. Here’s the game-winner.
Stunning late GWG 🚨 from #Blackhawks prospect Sacha Boisvert for @UNDmhockey
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/95hGtZxPSu
- Minnesota hammered Michigan 6-0 last night, and there were two more multi-point nights for Blackhawks prospects. Sam Rinzel had two assists and Oliver Moore had three! What also stood out was the defensive effort from both of them. Rinzel was credited with four blocked shots and Moore blocked two while winning 7 of 19 faceoffs. They were both credited with three shots on goal. Here’s a goal on which Moore and Rinzel had the two assists:
BOTH assists on this goal to #Blackhawks prospects. Oliver Moore & Sam Rinzel pick up the 🍎s for @GopherHockey
pic.twitter.com/h6v6CpTIdw— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 7, 2024
- Providence beat Colorado College 4-3. John Mustard was credited with one assist and put two shots on net in the win.
- Denver lost 3-2 at Western Michigan last night. Aidan Thompson was held without a point — something that’s been rare this season — but was credited with a team-high five shots on net.
- In the OHL, Sudbury beat Erie 5-2 and the Blackhawks had prospects on both sides. Martin Misiak had an assist for Erie and Alex Pharand had an assist for Sudbury.
- Brantford beat Peterborough 4-3. Marek Vanacker scored one goal and added an assist. The goal was the 100th point of his OHL career. Nick Lardis didn’t register a point but put six shots on net. Here’s Vanacker after the game:
Tonight's post game availability with Marek Vanacker brought to you by @TheDawgcastpod #BFD | #OHL | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/mkvjbOuziq
— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) December 7, 2024
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- Bears corner Kyler Gordon had a mic on him on Thanksgiving and it was fabulous!
- The Cubs have a new first base coach.
- Love me some Ayo Dosunmu and the Bulls might have a core building block in him. His first career triple-double opened more eyes.
