NEWSLETTER
The important updates from Blackhawks practice on Sunday before the team flew to New York: Petr Mrázek is expected to miss 1-2 weeks and Alec Martinez is still listed as day-to-day. In the next seven days (including next Sunday), the Blackhawks play four games (three in New York/New Jersey and then the Islanders are here on Sunday). With a back-to-back next weekend (at New Jersey Saturday and home Sunday) Arvid Söderblom will get at least three games, which turns on his waiver requirement. Thus is life, Blackhawks fans.
With the Blackhawks calling up both Drew Commesso and Kevin Korchinski on Sunday, one would think Commesso would be in line for one of the games next weekend. Which would be his NHL debut. We’ll see if/how/when/where Korchinski slides into the NHL lineup. With the rest of the defensemen available, he would figure to be an upgrade at least on the second power play unit. He’s also immediately the best skater on the blue line, so if interim head coach Anders Sorensen wants to push the pace he would figure to become a guy they’d like to have in the lineup.
- Take this for whatever you wish: Alex Vlasic and Craig Smith didn’t practice on Sunday for maintenance. Seth Jones skated before the rest of the team, which is a good sign he’s trending in the right direction.
- The Blackhawks placed Joey Anderson on waivers on Sunday. If he clears, he doesn’t have to be assigned to Rockford but… I wonder if Frank Nazar is on his way to New York to join the team today. We’ll find out if Anderson clears waivers this afternoon. And if Nazar is available for the Blackhawks tonight.
- Because Blackhawks fans adore the line blender that’s been employed by the team this year, Connor Bedard was on a line with Philipp Kurashev and Ilya Mikheyev on Sunday at practice. Sorensen did offer some praise for Mikheyev after practice. I can see his speed and forecheck opening up some ice for Bedard but… Ben Pope is right here. He hasn’t been an impactful offensive player at all this season.
- We’ll see if the Blackhawks have to face newly paid Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin tonight. He was not available on Sunday because he celebrated his new $92M contract with an addition to the family.
- It’s going to be interesting to see how the Rangers look tonight. Things have been ugly at MSG since “The Memo” was leaked and players were effectively put on notice that the front office was open for business. Over the weekend they basically gave away their captain, Jacob Trouba, for nothing and he then bashed the front office in his media availability with Anaheim. Last night the Rangers hosted the Seattle Kraken and took a 3-1 lead in the second period… only to give up five unanswered goals and lose 7-5. And their coach was not happy.
- Windsor beat Saginaw 7-4 on Sunday. AJ Spellacy scored twice — the power play goal below and into an empty net — and added an assist for a three-point night.
Speed for days on this 🚨 from #Blackhawks prospect AJ Spellacy for @SpitsHockey
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/X4dhk3rKqN
- Niagara beat Brantford 4-3 last night, but the Blackhawks’ prospects made an impact. Nick Lardis scored the final goal of the night and picked up an assist earlier in the game; he was credited with ten (10) shots on goal. Marek Vanacker had an assist on Lardis’ goal and put eight shots on net.
- How about a Sunday afternoon goal from Martin Misiak?
Sunday afternoon 🚨 for #Blackhawks prospect Martin Misiak for @ErieOtters
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 8, 2024
pic.twitter.com/m2NZpZrgKF
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- The Bears suck and yesterday’s game might be one of the biggest dull thuds in recent memory (which says a lot because they’re the Bears and thud professionally). However, Rome Odunze had himself a game in the midst of the poo small. He scored two touchdowns.
- Hey, at least the Bulls got a fun buzzer-beater to end the third quarter last night! (They still lost.)
- Juan Soto got the bag y’all. Well… I guess you could say he got the suitcases. And a set of em. Soto got a historic 15-year, $765 MILLION deal from the Mets and signed it on Sunday night. Oh, and there’s no deferred money, meaning Soto’s legit, actual AAV is $51M per.
