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- Feb 4, 2025
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- 23
Hockey’s Awesome, 4 Nations Wrap, Sprint to the Trade Deadline, Lardis’ 60th, and Other Blackhawks Bullets
Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...ine-lardis-60th-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/
The 4 Nations Face-Off was a made-up event by the NHL that lots of people wondered about really getting buy-in from the players as recently as… moments before the puck dropped to start the first game. Once the rubber hit the ice, those questions were answered. All the way to the final horn last night, the drama was fabulous and the play on the ice was elite. The tournament was a massive success for hockey. I know some will point to a few significant injuries and ask if it was worth it… the players will likely tell you hell yeah it was. And now the game has been elevated to a whole other level on the sports landscape.
- I’m not running to get in line to join the PK Subban Fan Club, but he obliterated the NBA on multiple shows on ESPN yesterday talking about playing for the love of the game, big salary or not. With all of the talk about how the NFL and NBA all-star events have effectively died in recent years because the best players don’t care, this changed the entire script. Shout out to all four teams that played in the tournament for putting it out there. Here’s part of what Subban had to say on ESPN on Thursday.
- As an aside, ESPN talking about hockey for almost a full day was beautiful. Do they need to be better with how/who talks about hockey? Sure. But they’re still the elephant in the sports talk room and them leading with hockey is huge. It’s what I’ve been begging for since they became a rightsholder again. Throw in a new layer of intrigue: last night we learned ESPN and Major League Baseball are breaking up. The door is open for more hockey. Hopefully the NHL crushes this opportunity.
- Some guys had strong tournaments that could use this as a springboard to the end of the regular season. Fans and media crap on Jordan Binnington a lot and he was the pre-authorized scapegoat for Canada going into the tournament. He was incredible in overtime last night.
- The other guy for Canada that I thought really stood out last night was Mitch Marner. He had two assists, played good defensively and looked the part of a tier one superstar. He made a few extra dollars last night on the new contract he’ll sign somewhere this summer.
- For the United States, three guys jumped off the screen who weren’t Big Walt’s offspring in the tournament. I thought Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski — both Michigan men — were terrific. This might have been a huge step in Larkin’s career.
- Jaccob Slavin entered the Norris Trophy chat with authority last night. On a big stage, he was the best defensive player in the game — I would argue the entire tournament. He’s fabulous. And I’m absolutely here for a defensive defenseman winning the Norris.
Jaccob Slavin is an ELITE defensemanpic.twitter.com/y3JX1hSZfo
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025
- Because it’s what. I. do. Here’s the NHL’s graphic for the championship clinching goals in international play. You might notice Blackhawks legend Steve Larmer in 1991 on there. Another reminder of how damn good he was — not just for the Blackhawks, but for the Rangers and Canada as well.
- The brutal reality this morning for NHL players in every market: the trade deadline is two weeks from today. It’s about to turn into a rumor mill and movement sprint for 14 crazy days. The Blackhawks will practice and fly this morning with a game in Columbus tomorrow before hosting Marner, Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs on Sunday. With the news that Seth Jones and the Hawks are discussing his future earlier this week, he might now be the biggest focus of those trade rumors in the coming days. Buckle up, Blackhawks fans! I offered four potential fits before the March 7 deadline earlier this morning.
- As the sports world turned its collective attention to the game in Boston last night, Nick Lardis was at it once again for Brantford. He extended his personal streak to 18 straight games with a goal, and his hat trick gave him 60 goals for the season!
- Brantford has 12 games left. If Lardis can get to 70 goals, he would become the first player in the OHL to reach that benchmark since John Tavares in 2006-07. Before Tavares: Hall of Famer Eric Lindros in 1990-91. This is rare company, folks!
- In the same game — and not to be ignored — Marek Vanacker scored this goal in the second period. He’s up to 18 goals and 31 points in 33 games this season and has six goals and four assists during his current six-game point streak.
How about afrom #Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker for @BulldogsOHL !!
pic.twitter.com/9OqrhnYCHo
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 21, 2025
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- The Cubs played their first Spring Training game yesterday and it included a frightening moment.
- The Bulls face a difficult road to the end of the regular season.
- The Bears finalized their 2025 coaching staff.
Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...ine-lardis-60th-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/
Petr Mrázek
IR