NEWSLETTER
The Blackhawks took yesterday off after beating the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. They’ll get back on the ice today at UBS Arena before visiting the Islanders tomorrow night in what figures to be a solid night to hammer the under. The Islanders rank 28th in the NHL, averaging 2.53 goals per game. The Blackhawks rank 31st, averaging 2.39 goals per game. Can you feel the excitement?
- We’ll see who’s healthy and who gets a courtesy day off after a non-skate day yesterday. Craig Smith wasn’t able to play on Monday night but he still got one of the glamour shots getting off the bus from the team’s social folks (awkward). Alec Martinez is banged up and didn’t play but still isn’t on IR, which is why the Blackhawks are (technically) carrying eight defensemen right now. But we’ve already been told Kevin Korchinski is going to run it back after a terrific return to the NHL on Monday night. And we’re all still waiting for another recall to happen…
- While on the subject of Korchinski, a solid column from Mark Lazerus after the win at MSG. He’s right: how can the Blackhawks send him back to Rockford if he continues to play like he did Monday night? But here’s the problem: when Martinez is ready to go and Seth Jones returns, the Blackhawks will have way too many bodies to dress every night. And I wouldn’t pull Wyatt Kaiser or Nolan Allan out of the lineup the way they’re playing. So are we going to have Jones, Martinez and Connor Murphy with Alex Vlasic, Korchinski, Kaiser, Allan and TJ Brodie fighting for ice time / in the press box every night? I know the point was to have adequate depth but the kids are making this harder earlier than expected. At least Louis Crevier has options to go back to Rockford…
Kevin Korchinski is supposed to be in the NHL for a cup of coffee, a nice little reward for his work in Rockford this year. If he plays like he did Monday night, though, how could you send him back? My column from New York: www.nytimes.com/athletic/598…
[image or embed]— Mark Lazerus (@marklazerus.bsky.social) December 9, 2024 at 10:23 PM
- This is a really good, fun article from Ben Pope about the budding relationship between one of the Blackhawks’ top forward prospects and one of the key pieces of their future blue line. Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov are roommates and are bonding in unlikely ways. Good read before the IceHogs are on the ice tonight.
- Speaking of the IceHogs, they’re are hosting their Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday night. Which is awesome every year.
- Some fascinating news percolating this morning… there’s a report that Chicago Sports Network and Marquee could link up in an effort to help all of the involved parties save their a**es. The launch of CHSN has been an unmitigated disaster that, unfortunately, has appeared to reflect most poorly on the Blackhawks because they have the most marketable asset (Connor Bedard) and the most missed action to start this season. Brett does a good job of breaking down the how and why here. It sounds like everybody’s trying to scratch out a few dollars while trying to figure out how to get their product to fans. I just don’t understand how brand new NHL franchises in Seattle and Vegas can figure this stuff out affordably overnight and “great” franchises in a market like Chicago have it running down their leg for months… smh.
- If you’ve got tickets to the Blackhawks’ game against Seattle on Dec. 19, make sure to arrive early. If you don’t have tickets to that game and love Jeremy Roenick, get online and buy some! JR’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame will be celebrated next Thursday night!
#Blackhawks to Honor Jeremy Roenick www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2…
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@bn-blackhawks.bsky.social) December 10, 2024 at 10:16 AM
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- Hey, we’ve got Alaska!
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