News Blackhawks Team Notes

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Bedard vs. McDavid, Faceoff Wins, Getting Healthy, Rebuilding Canucks, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

The Blackhawks got a well-earned day off on Sunday. Well earned both because they won a game in Nashville on Saturday night and, frankly, they need to get away from each other and get this flu bug out of their collective systems. They’re rolling right now; the Blackhawks’ only loss this calendar year was on Friday night with a bunch of guys missing and others playing at less than 100 percent.

But the calendar doesn’t slow down in the NHL, and it sure doesn’t for the Blackhawks in January of an Olympic year. And tonight, the Hawks will have the opportunity to take their fun, young lineup up against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers.

• Connor Bedard‘s age-specific record chasing/breaking for the Blackhawks organ-I-zation continues. On Saturday night he joined some more big names in the history books. He recorded his 109th and 110th career assists. No. 109 passed Patrick Kane for the second-most by a Blackhawks player before age 21 behind only Eddie Olczyk (115).

• With two assists on Saturday night, Bedard recorded his 41st career multi-point game. That ties Edzo and Jeremy Roenick for the second-most by a Blackhawks player before age 21, trailing only Denis Savard (44).

Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images

• After Jason Dickinson won 17 of 24 faceoffs against the Predators on Saturday, I decided to do a little digging. And what I found surprised me. Since January 1, both Dickinson and Ryan Greene rank among the top 20 centers in the entire NHL in faceoffs taken; Greene ranks 13th (96) and Dickinson 18th (92). Greene is winning 54.2 percent of his faceoffs. Dickinson is winning 53.3 percent of his draws.

• Thanks to those two gentlemen, the Blackhawks rank 13th in the NHL in faceoff percentage as a team (50.8) since the start of the calendar year. Their opponent tonight from Edmonton is winning 50.9 percent.

• On Sunday night, Artyom Levshunov (61 GP) recorded his 25th career assist in his 61st game, making him the second-fastest rookie defenseman in Blackhawks history to reach that mark, (Doug Crossman did it in 53 games).

• A good sign on Sunday: the Hawks sent three guys back to Rockford. Hopefully that means they’re full healthy. And, again, I love that Drew Commesso took the L on Friday night, dusted himself off and played a magnificent game on Saturday night. That showed me a lot, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

Good news on the illness situation in Chicago

The #Blackhawks have sent Commesso, Korchinski and Berezhnoy back to Rockford pic.twitter.com/VEKavac6FQ

— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) January 11, 2026

• Hey, remember when there were fans who were talking about how much better off the Anaheim Ducks were than the Blackhawks? Because they went out and got some veterans like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba? That was a thing in November and December. It shouldn’t be a thing right now. The Ducks have lost five straight and are 1-8-1 in their last 10 games. And, waking up on Monday morning, the Blackhawks are slightly ahead of the Ducks in the standings (by virtue of 15 regulation wins). The Hawks also have the better goal differential. Oh, and this is with Bedard missing almost a full month and still no Frank Nazar.

• I throw this into our bullets this morning for a few reasons. First: we need a reminder every once in a while that young teams do struggle, no matter who’s behind the bench. When they struggle and when the slide happens might be timed differently for different teams, but it happens.

• It’s also worth us appreciating that we’re all waking up on Monday seeing the Blackhawks three points out of a Wild Card spot. The second half of the season should now have meaning — and that was our hope in September.

• Finally, the Vancouver Canucks said the word. The sentence has been uttered. “We (are) transitioning into a rebuild.” So go ahead and start your mock trade lists, folks. Because the Canucks

"The draft is really important for us in the long term plan and the direction we're going here."

General Manager Patrik Allvin speaks in an exclusive interview with Chris Faber about the future of the team and importance of the draft at the #Canucks annual Scouting Meetings. pic.twitter.com/SDO1VjI6lt

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 11, 2026

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• It’s Bears vs. Rams in the NFC Divisional Round

• What could the Cubs’ lineup look like with Alex Bregman?

• We got somewhat of an update on the status of Bulls big man Zach Collins (not great)

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...uilding-canucks-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/

 

[JJ]

OH MAN what a weekend for Chicago sports fans!!! Between the Bears pulling off that miracle against the Packers and the Hawks shutting out Nashville with a sick roster, I don't know what to do with myself!!!

Gotta give it up for Drew Commesso though - kid gets absolutely ROASTED on Friday night giving up 3 goals on 6 shots in the first period, and then comes back the VERY NEXT NIGHT on zero rest and throws up a 36-save shutout?? That's some serious mental toughness right there. Fourth goalie in franchise history to get a shutout in his first NHL win. Put some respect on that name!!!

And can we talk about Bertuzzi giving Greene that empty netter?? THAT'S the kind of veteran leadership you want in a locker room during a rebuild. Greene had been snakebitten for 19 games and Bertuzzi just handed him that goal on a silver platter. Love to see it.

The young core is really starting to cook - Bedard back and looking dangerous, Moore heating up, Lardis showing some grit and finishing ability, Levshunov racking up assists on the backend. Three points out of a wild card spot and we're only halfway through January!

Now we get Bedard vs McDavid tonight??? LET'S GO!!!

Also LOL at Anaheim and all those people who said bringing in Kreider and Trouba made them so much better positioned than us. How's that 1-8-1 stretch treating you, Ducks fans??

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

BREAKING: Connor Bedard OUT vs Connor McDavid, Oilers

We thought the Blackhawks were done with the whole being sick thing when everyone showed up looking good at the morning skate on Monday.

We are in fact not clear. And this one hurts.

Connor Bedard, who returned from his shoulder injury just two games ago and had two beautiful assists on Saturday night in Nashville, will not play against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night because he’s sick.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...g-connor-bedard-out-vs-connor-mcdavid-oilers/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

2026 NHL Draft: NHL Central Scouting Releases Midterm Prospect Rankings

On Monday evening, NHL Central Scouting released their midterm rankings of prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft.

In October, NHL Central Scouting released its preliminary watch lists. In that process, they assign preliminary letter grades assigning estimated draft value on each player (example: an A grade means the NHL draft prospect has a first round grade). I wrote about those lists when they were released.

As always, NHL Central Scouting breaks up their NHL draft prospect rankings into four categories: North American skaters and goalies, and International skaters and goalies.

Keep in mind these rankings are all separated; NHL Central Scouting has not declared who of Gavin McKenna Ivar Stenberg is their No. 1 overall prospect. They did, however provide a couple comments on the top prospects on the respective skater lists. Before we get to those comments, here are their top ten skaters in North America and International.

Top 10 North American Skaters​

1. Gavin McKenna, LW
2. Keaton Verhoeff, RHD
3. Carson Carels, LHD
4. Chase Reid, RHD
5. Caleb Malhotra, C
6. Daxon Rudolph, RHD
7. Tynan Lawrence, C
8. Ilya Morozov, C
9. Ethan Belchetz, LW
10. JP Hurlbert, LW

• Full list of North American Skaters

Top 10 International Skaters​

1. Ivar Stenberg, LW
2. Alberts Šmits, LHD
3. Oliver Suvanto, C
4. Elton Hermansson, RW
5. Viggo Björck, C
6. Juho Piiparinen, RHD
7. Marcus Nordmark, LW
8. Malte Gustafsson, LHD
9. William Håkansson, LHD
10. Simas Ignatavicius, RW

• Full list of International Skaters

The two No. 1 prospects​

• On Gavin McKenna:

“Gavin McKenna is an elite talent with exceptional hockey sense, quickness and maturity which has allowed him to dictate the play and influence games at every level he’s played,” said Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting. “He possesses a combination of unteachable skills and attributes which have been on record-setting display the last couple seasons and place him in a category of his own as the top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft.

“He was the consensus number one for mid-season and belongs in that special player category. The projection is not based on when he plays in the NHL; rather, once he gets established in the NHL.”

• On Ivar Stenberg:

“He has established himself as a top prospect, already playing regular minutes with powerhouse Frolunda in the SHL,” NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “His blend of speed, first-step quickness, and balance makes him a dangerous, dynamic skater who can both create and finish plays.

“Offensively, he displays elite hockey IQ and patience with the puck, often distributing with precision on the power play and in tight spaces. His vision and timing enable him to open up lanes and create high-quality scoring chances.”

• Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler at The Athletic shared some thoughts on these new lists.

Some quick thoughts on NHL Central Scouting’s midseason rankings:https://t.co/y7R3wlGz6R

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 13, 2026

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...l-scouting-releases-midterm-prospect-rakings/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Blackhawks Skaters Load Up New Under-23 Rankings

Okay, Blackhawks fans. I’ll start this with my usual caveat: these are the rankings of one writer. And we’ve talked about the perceptions of different writers and analysts at different publications (sometimes the same outlet) and how they differ; that’s why I present the perspectives of a wide range of those folks here for your consideration.

But the the new, midseason update of Corey Pronman’s under-23 skater rankings at The Athletic are intriguing to me for a number of reasons.

In his latest update, Pronman ranks 137 players and prospects across the NHL. As far as inclusion criteria: “A player must be 22 years old or younger as of Jan. 1, 2026, to qualify.” As always, he puts the players into tiers based on where he views their skillset at the NHL level. Let’s dig into the new rankings with some thoughts before I put a little more context onto why the rankings have a little more interest to me.

New @TheAthleticNHL; Mid season update of my u23 NHL ranking of best young players and prospects in the league https://t.co/3ehDxKaWN5

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) January 13, 2026

New Blackhawks Player/Prospect Rankings​

The Blackhawks placed 11 skaters on Pronman’s new list. Here is where they rank with their overall number and the tier in which he placed them (Note: I am including the position Pronman assigned each player on his list):

2. Connor Bedard, C — Tier 1: Elite NHL player
22. Frank Nazar, C — Tier 5: Top of the lineup player
23. Roman Kantserov, RW — Tier 5: Top of the lineup player
35. Artyom Levshunov, RHD — Tier 6: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
44. Anton Frondell, C — Tier 6: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
71. Colton Dach, C — Tier 7: Middle of the lineup player
72. Sam Rinzel, RHD — Tier 7: Middle of the lineup player
82. Oliver Moore, C — Tier 7: Middle of the lineup player
95. Sacha Boisvert, C — Tier 7: Middle of the lineup player
104. Václav Nestrašil, RW — Tier 7: Middle of the lineup player
107. Mason West, C — Tier 7: Middle of the lineup player

That’s 11 of the top 107, which is a nice clip for the Blackhawks’ rebuild. And six of the 11 are not in the NHL at the moment, though Rinzel has appeared in NHL games. That’s another reminder that we’re just seeing the first wave of Blackhawks prospects hitting the NHL at this point.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Intriguing Blackhawks Rank Changes​

The first big rank of note to me is where Nazar came in with Pronman on this updated list. As we’ve discussed over the past few years, Pronman has historically not been a big Nazar fan. When he published his preseason rankings in September, Pronman had Nazar at No. 45. That’s a big jump! Here’s part of what Pronman wrote about Nazar in this update:

He wins way more battles than you would expect for a player his size, and projects as a reliable two-way center in the mold of a Brayden Point. His offense has surprised me as time has gone on. He’s smarter and more creative than I thought when he was a teenager, and he could be an excellent second-line center who plays all situations.

Love read that!

While we’re on the subject of huge jumps from Pronman’s previous rankings to this update, Kantserov moved up from No. 162 to No. 23! For those who are still learning about Kantserov’s game, here are the skill grades that Pronman gave Kantserov:

Levshunov dropped from 22 to 35 in part because “His defensive play doesn’t stand out as much, as he can cheat for offense and he’s not overly physical. As a pro, the offense hasn’t been so spectacular to make up for those issues as well.” I will remind everyone at this point that Levshunov is 20 years old playing top pair minutes in the NHL. We’re seeing a lot of growth this season. I think he’ll climb this list over the next two years that he’s eligible.

Frondell dropped a bit (from 26 to 44). I’m not sure what his performance at the World Juniors did to inform the dip, but his play has been up and down in the SHL based on how is team has used him. With that being said, it isn’t rare for a young player competing in a top league to see a bit of a dip in rankings like this because their numbers can be lower than you might hope.

Dach was the biggest surprise for me on Pronman’s list. He moved up from 151 to 71! Pronman did not write notes on Dach in his update, but ranked his compete as high-end. Pronman actually downgraded his hockey sense from average to below average. Apparently when you’re a big body power forward, compete means a lot to Pronman.

Nestrašil was not ranked before the season, but moved into the list at 104 this time. Based on what I saw at the World Juniors, his arrow will only continue to point up. He’s been very impressive at UMass and for Czechia since being drafted.

There was one omission from Pronman’s list both times that still has me scratching my head, though.

Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Where’s Nick Lardis?​

After putting up 71 goals and 117 points in 65 regular-season games in the OHL last year, there were understandable questions about whether Lardis’ scoring would translate to the professional levels. Which is okay; not every player who put up big numbers in junior has turned into an automatic offensive threat in the AHL or NHL.

But Lardis started his professional career with 13 goals and 26 points in 24 games with Rockford, which was at/near the top of the rookie ranks in that league. Since being recalled by the Blackhawks, Lardis has scored four goals in his first 15 games. His shot is legit; he’s still learning where he needs to be to make that shot more lethal at the highest level, however.

At this point, not having Lardis on a list of players as deep as Pronman’s is feels like a miss, if not a snub. But, again, these rankings are the perspective of one analyst. We’ll see if Lardis can improve and earn respect from the doubters the way Nazar has early in his NHL career.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...khawks-skaters-load-up-new-under-23-rankings/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Bear Down, Bedard’s Olympic Door Open? Rinzel’s First, Vanacker, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

On Monday night in Philadelphia, Tampa Bay center Brayden Point suffered a right knee injury and needed help getting off the ice. The scene wasn’t great for Jon Cooper because… Point it not only one of the more important players on his Lightning roster, but he’s also supposed to play for Cooper with Canada’s Olympic team. Reports on Tuesday are that the injury is “not good.”

Jon Cooper on Brayden Point. “We avoided the worst case scenario. His season is not over. But he is week to week”. @TBLightning

— Dave Randorf (@DaveRandorf) January 13, 2026

Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun at The Athletic already wrote a piece looking at who might be in line to replace Point — who happens to be a versatile right-handed center/wing who may have been slotted to skate on one of Canada’s top two lines. Bedard, also a right-handed center/wing who could be impactful in a top-six role, is available. And was mentioned — with Wyatt Johnston — as a good fit if Point can’t go.

New, for @TheAthletic with @PierreVLeBrun: What we’re hearing about Brayden Point’s injury, the Olympics and who Team Canada turns to if he’s out https://t.co/YeGafDfr7Fhttps://t.co/YeGafDfr7F

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 13, 2026

• Mark Lazerus wrote about a very real vibe shift at the United Center in the past couple weeks. There was more excitement in the stands as this year’s Blackhawks performed better and were more more entertaining. But, since the Bears started their roll, there’s been a noticeable elevation of the noise in the United Center. Starting with the anthem. Many of the Blackhawks watched the end of the Bears-Packers game on Sunday on their way to the airport. Fun comments in here. Nice read.

Caleb Williams reached out to Connor Bedard last summer "just to say what's up." Now Bedard and his Blackhawks teammates want what Williams and the Bears have: The undivided attention and affection of a sports-crazed city that's madly in love.

My column:https://t.co/5XeAZ6Xueo

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 13, 2026

• Speaking of vibes during the anthem before a Blackhawks game… Jim Cornelison, the best in the business, confirmed on Tuesday that he will be on the mic at Soldier Field on Sunday. Let’s go!

Bears fans, As loud as you were for opening day this year, as much energy as there was in the stadium, do you think Sunday you will be even louder when we rock the anthem for the @ChicagoBears vs @RamsNFL game? I bet so and I can’t wait!! #gobears #beardown pic.twitter.com/v7Fp95N0Kj

— Jim Cornelison (@Anthem_Singer) January 13, 2026

• The Rockford IceHogs won a game last night — without their usual starting goaltender. Scott Powers reported Drew Commesso may have taken his first career NHL shutout and the Blackhawks’ team illness back to Rockford with him.

• The IceHogs beat Manitoba 6-2 last night with goals from six different skaters. That list includes the first AHL goal from Sam Rinzel. Here it is:

SAM RINZEL’S FIRST AS A HOG!! https://t.co/jRnJCJbGWb pic.twitter.com/876pVp6baN

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) January 14, 2026

• Keeping on the prospect train, nice read here from Ben Pope on Marek Vanacker putting together a really nice season in Brantford.

Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker put too much pressure on himself last season.

Now, he feels more "level-headed." And he's thriving, leading the OHL in goals.

"He's in a far better place this year psychologically."

New story: https://t.co/K2nb7iYvz0

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 13, 2026

• I’m old enough to remember when there was talk that the only prospect in the 2023 NHL Draft class who might rival Bedard on the ice is Matvei Michkov. Fast forward to January of 2026 and things are not going exceedingly well for Michkov in Philadelphia. As Kevin Kurz wrote for The Athletic:

Michkov’s sophomore season has been a dud, and that may be understating it. After settling in late last season and showcasing his immense skill level on the way to leading all NHL rookies in goals with 26, his regression this season has been stunning.

• I was fascinated to see how this would work when the Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their head coach. So far: not so good. Are the Flyers going to remain patient with the talented — and still young — winger, or are they going to potentially look to move the player? This could be an interesting situation to watch.

On Matvei Michkov, who hasn't scored a goal in a manned net in a month and a half, and who is simply not improving more than halfway through his sophomore season:https://t.co/MG7uOXk3cn

— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) January 13, 2026

• The Blues announced they signed defenseman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, one-way contract extension worth $850,000. So Colton Dach will have a dance partner when the Hawks and Blues play next year.

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• How about a fresh 2026 NFL Mock Draft?

• It sounds like Kyle Tucker could make a decision on his next employer soon.

• Tre Jones had a career night last night… but the Bulls still lost.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...-first-vanacker-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Let’s Talk About Elias Pettersson, Big Ticket Trade Rumors and the Chicago Blackhawks

Earlier this week, Darren Dreger reported the now rebuilding Vancouver Canucks are now actually potentially listening to calls on center Elias Pettersson. The 27-year-old “star” is signed to a massive contract that carries an $11.6 million cap hit through the 2031-32 season.

He put up a career high 102 points during the 2022-23 season, but has seen his production go down in the subsequent seasons. He appeared in only 64 games and scored only 15 goals last year.

Whenever there’s a big name who potentially becomes available, there’s a segment of the Blackhawks’ fan base that grabs its bullhorn and shouts for Chicago’s front office to make a deal.

Here’s a Cliff Notes version of my Chicago Blackhawks — Elias Pettersson FAQ:

• Could the Blackhawks be interested? Maybe.
• Can the Blackhawks afford Pettersson’s cap hit? Yup.
• Do the Blackhawks have assets to make an interesting offer to the Canucks? Absolutely.
• Does Pettersson fit what the Blackhawks are building? I’m not sold.

I’ve admittedly never been a Pettersson fan and I’m not thrilled at the prospect of a) committing cap space to him for term, b) giving up premium assets to acquire him, and c) committing a top-six spot to him.

There’s one more issue — an elephant in the Blackhawks’ room — that we should jump into at this point.

Do the Blackhawks “need” a “star”?​

Some areas of Blackhawks social media and fans continue to subscribe to the belief that Chicago is going to “need” to look outside the organization for a “star” player to take the rebuild to the next level/over the top.

If you’ve been reading about the Blackhawks here for more than the first portion of this article, you should know by now that I’m not there yet.

What we’re seeing on the NHL ice at this point has been exciting and improving. Which continues to lead impatient fans and some writers to beg for a quick fix to accelerate the path to contention.

But what we’re seeing on the NHL ice at this point is also just the first wave of talent coming to the NHL.

The Blackhawks already have two centerpieces of their top-six in place in Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. Nick Lardis has been at least intriguing during his first run in the NHL; he’s still learning and developing and, frankly, physically maturing. Oliver Moore is getting more impressive with each game. Ryan Greene has played up and down the lineup with everyone on the roster it seems and hasn’t missed a beat.

There is good reason for excitement that Anton Frondell can be an impact player at the NHL level. He has already signed his entry-level contract and some insiders, including Frank Seravalli, believe there’s an outside chance he could make his NHL debut as soon as the end of this regular season (after his SHL campaign ends).

If you buy into comps, there are folks out there who will point to statistical similarities and tell you there’s a possibility that Roman Kantserov could provide the kind of offense that we’ve seen from Artemi Panarin and Kirill Kaprizov. His KHL contract expires in June, at which point there’s hope he signs with the Blackhawks. Scott Powers, the resident all-things-Russian-prospects guy, has been on that for some time.

I’m willing to be patient to see how Frondell and, hopefully, Kantserov look against NHL competition to begin making proclamations about the organization “needing” to make a bold move.

And then we can start talking about guys like Marek Vanacker, who leads the OHL in goals this season. He’s already signed his entry-level contract and will fully turn pro next season.

Then there are guys like Václav Nestrašil, Nathan Behm and Jack Pridham — each of whom has been very impressive this year. They might be a little further down the road and some might wonder about them being “top-six” fixtures at the NHL level, but there are future waves of prospects coming beyond the guys who might be in Chicago in November as well.

And, don’t forget, the Blackhawks have two picks in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Those two picks could be used to add more talent to the pipeline.

So… Blackhawks not buying at all?​

Well, not exactly.

Even considering everything I just wrote about the Blackhawks’ pipeline being enviable and my willingness to be patient — and every indication telling us GMKD is going to stay on plan — I’m not completely excluding the possibility of a trade of some significance.

GMKD told us he was purposefully, intentionally stacking future assets three years ago when he traded Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty to Toronto for a first-round pick in 2025 (that eventually became Nestrašil). That’s been part of his plan because if/when the time arrives and the right trade opportunity presents itself, the Blackhawks will need assets. And, more importantly, the Blackhawks want to not only build a winner, but be able to sustain the winning once they get back there.

There are teams making decisions to take a step back right now. Vancouver has officially used the word “rebuild.” It sounds like St. Louis is ready to do some retooling as well. And the New York Rangers might be close to implosion. Other teams will probably join that list in the coming weeks.

And, as was the case with the Blackhawks when they embarked on this rebuild, the two things rebuilding teams will likely want are picks and prospects. And the Blackhawks have plenty of both — including five picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft.

My biggest point is this:

If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to make a big swing, they need to do it on the right player at the right time. ​

I’m not sold that Pettersson is the right player, and that now is the right time to bring him into this room.

For those will inevitably ask because I mentioned the Rangers: I’m not a big fan of the idea of bringing Artemi Panarin back, either. Not unless he helps get Kantserov off to a good start and that’s a significant part of the rationale. And even then, I would wait for free agency this summer and not give up assets when he’s absolutely leaving the Rangers.

And I’m certainly not entertaining “trade rumors” for guys like Brady Tkachuk on social media that would require consuming bong water to even conceive, much less take seriously.

Using the Blackhawks’ dynasty teams — that we’ll celebrate this weekend — as the “mold” for a rebuild is dangerous, because the confluence of perfect circumstances that aligned for that roster to be in place would be impossible to replicate. Two teams passed on Jonathan Toews in the draft, Patrick Kane was the last piece drafted. Toews and Kane joined a young-but-veteran roster that was talented and ready to go. And Marian Hossa became available at the perfect moment to elevate the entire thing to history.

This is going to be different. There likely won’t be “another Hossa” situation because, well, Hossa was a special player. And the escalating cap is going to make big ticket UFAs less likely to hit the open market for the next few years.

Things are going well right now. Some would argue they’re still better than expected. So let’s enjoy the ride a bit and see where things go.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...cket-trade-rumors-and-the-chicago-blackhawks/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Blackhawks 1, Flames 3 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

If you bet the over tonight, the first 3:14 of the game probably had you feeling pretty good. The Blackhawks grabbed an early lead, only to see Calgary answer with a power play goal 36 seconds later. Unfortunately, less than three minutes later the Flames scored another special teams goal — this time, a short-handed goal from their captain, Mikael Backlund. Calgary took a 2-1 lead to the room after 20 minutes.

The parade to the penalty boxes continued in the second period. After 40 minutes, the Blackhawks were 0-for-4 with the advantage and Calgary scored on one of their two opportunities. Special teams slowed the game down. All hell broke loose in the final three minutes with one fight and another scrum that saw Ryan Donato get hit with a double-minor for defending Oliver Moore and then Connor Zary head off for running over Spencer Knight.

The only goal of the third period came into an empty Blackhawks net. There were only two penalties called in the third period, and they were off-setting.

Star 1: Nick Foligno​

Foligno scored the Blackhawks’ only goal of the night, and it was a beauty.

GOAL: What a shot from Nick Foligno, who rips his 2nd of the year from the slot pic.twitter.com/Vh7QRCMhAB

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 16, 2026

Star 2: the Penalty Box Attendants​

They got almost as much action tonight as the beer vendors tonight.

Star 3: Landon Slaggert​

Slaggert was very noticeable — when he got on the ice. At the end of the first period, Slaggert led the Blackhawks with two shot attempts, two individual scoring chances and two individual high danger chances at 5-on-5. He had the second assist on the first goal of the night. He drew a penalty in the second period. At the end of 40 minutes, Slaggert had three of the Blackhawks’ six individual high danger chances at 5-on-5. His line with Foligno and Colton Dach was the Blackhawks’ best. Slaggert also had the Blackhawks’ best individual expected goals for in the game (0.52). And he only skated 11:27 in the game.

Key Takeaways​

• Calgary’s power play goal in the first period was the first PP goal the Blackhawks have allowed since Dec. 30. They were perfect on their previous 16 penalty kills.

• The reason I mentioned special teams in my pregame was because Calgary’s penalty kill ranked second in the league since Jan. 1 behind only the Hawks. Chicago’s power play didn’t look good at all in the first period.

• Another good night in the faceoff circle for the Blackhawks, who won 31 of 57 as a team. Jason Dickinson led the way again, winning 10 of 14. Moore won 7 of 13 and Ryan Greene won 7 of 15 in the loss.

• How about a takeaway followed by a little shake n bake from Connor Bedard in the second period?

Bedard with a takeaway in the D-zone then a spinning pass in the O-zone pic.twitter.com/sXaYblcW4s

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 16, 2026

• Here’s where things went off the rails late in the second period. A big hit by Connor Murphy, who appeared to knock the wind out of himself. But he still got up and dropped the gloves. Including the two fighting majors here, there were seven penalties called in the final 2:09 of the second period.

Murphy looked stunned after a huge open-ice hit but he still dropped the gloves with Farabee — and he landed some massive lefts pic.twitter.com/jJEBIUEC7N

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 16, 2026

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...hawks-1-flames-3-three-stars-key-takeaways-2/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Who Were Your Favorite Blackhawks Role Players During the Dynasty Years?

On Saturday night, the Chicago Blackhawks will put an exclamation point on the third “chapter” of their year-long Centennial celebration. The events focusing on “The Banner Years” before and during the game should stir up enough nostalgia for the most recent generation of Blackhawks fans to have their “I remember when” moments come flying out.

There were so many incredible moments during the Blackhawks’ dynasty run. But so many of them were authored — or co-authored — by guys who weren’t the faces of the franchise.

Yes, Marian Hossa scored the ear-shattering overtime game-winner against Nashville in 2010. But it was Brent Sopel who found him on the back door.

The iconic goals scored 17 seconds apart came off the sticks of Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland.

In 2015, Scott Darling came out of the bullpen to win three games and post a .936 save percentage in five appearances to help the Blackhawks survive and advance.

Acquiring Johnny Oduya might not have been popular when it happened, but holy cow was he ever the perfect fit on the blue line!

Young guys like Kris Versteeg, Marcus Kruger, Andrew Shaw, Brandon Saad and Nick Leddy played beyond their ages. Old guys like Brad Richards, Michal Rozsival, Michal Handzus and Antoine Vermette contributed big ways in big moments, too.

There were characters on those teams, too. Shaw and Dustin Byfiglien might be the most memorable for many Blackhawks fans. But guys like Adam Burish and, yes, Dan Carcillo came along and made you laugh along the way as well.

There were so many guys who weren’t in the core seven who won all three championships who made an impact.

Let’s dust off the memories. Fill up the comments with the guy who stands out from those golden years of Blackhawks hockey. What moment (maybe other than Buff knocking Chris Pronger into the next week) will you remember forever?

Who were your favorite role players on the dynasty teams? What huge moment was impacted by a guy who didn’t… drive a Chevy like Kane and Toews?

As a reminder, Shaw is having a meet and greet autograph event on Sunday at Sports N More in Lombard to raise money to help his brother, who’s battling ALS. You can order tickets for that at www.amsmg.com.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2026/01/16/blackhawks-role-players-dynasty/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Greene’s Value, 100 for Crevier, 900 for Toews, Rockford Throwbacks, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

The reason I keep talking up Ryan Greene as a super Swiss Army knife for the Blackhawks in the coming years is because of a few factors. The biggest of those is the number of smart, older vets on other teams who have told me he’s “a really smart player” and “plays a smart game.” You don’t wear a C at Boston University if that isn’t true, but he made the jump to the NHL full-time as a first-year pro because he plays the game the right way and covers 200 feet well. So it made sense when I heard Connor Bedard talk about him this way before the game started last night.

Connor Bedard pregame on playing with Ryan Greene:

"I don't think people understand how good of a hockey player Ryan is… he's gonna be a special player for us." pic.twitter.com/oHvhTxdgxm

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 16, 2026

I don’t want you to get too wrapped up in what the finished product was in the NHL and what he’s meant to the Blackhawks historically, but I see a lot of Patrick Sharp in Greene’s game. Sharp came to Chicago as a center and worked on every unit of the team. If you’ve watched the most recent upside of “Always an Original,” Sharp talks about struggling when he got here. But he worked and covered 200 feet and kept generating opportunities until the puck found the net. The rest is, as the kids say, history.

• How about this shot attempt from Greene while short-handed last night?

Greene with a between-the-legs shot on a shorthanded rush pic.twitter.com/BCdS724GBl

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 16, 2026

• Louis Crevier appeared in his 100th career NHL game last night. He was the 188th overall pick (seventh round) of the 2020 NHL Draft. Only two players drafted after Wyatt Kaiser (pick No. 81) in that draft class have appeared in 100 games. Much respect.

• Good read from Scott Powers this morning on last night’s loss being another step in the Blackhawks’ learning process. Yes, the Blackhawks are in a spot where the postseason is actually not out of the question. But how many teams over the years have had fans point to “that one game in January when they crapped the bed” as one that got away when they were 3-5 points out at the close of the regular season? Calgary is a better team than their record would indicate. They have veterans who have played in some big games/series. Last night, the Blackhawks played a flat, disconnected game. And those one-off performances are what can ultimately cost you a spot in the postseason.

The final Western Conference playoff spots are very much still up for grabs. The Blackhawks have done well enough so far to put themselves in that mix. It's why they can't have games like last night.

My story from a winnable game the Blackhawks lost https://t.co/L3LjnbSHT7

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 16, 2026

• Lots of great vibes in Rockford right now, folks. On Thursday we learned that Nick Lardis and Kevin Korchinski are AHL All-Stars. The IceHogs also dropped these excellent theoretical throwbacks that they’ll wear coming out of the AHL All-Star break.

Introducing, the Retro Jersey 🎞

In collaboration with the AHL's 90th Anniversary, these jerseys were designed to imagine what a Rockford IceHogs jersey would have looked like in the 1920's. They will be worn on February 14th & 15th.

: https://t.co/MF5CJzObtX pic.twitter.com/OYCnLwu9xp

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) January 14, 2026

• On the pregame show last night, Frank Seravalli said the Blackhawks still expect this to be Sacha Boisvert‘s final collegiate season and still see him as a potential top-six forward, even with lower offensive output this year (we’ve talked about injuries impacting that, though).

• One of the guys on the other bench at the United Center last night appears to be on his way out of Calgary. Rasmus Andersson has been arguably the hottest trade name this season since… the middle of last year, when the market started looking for a good right-handed defenseman with an expiring contract in 2026. Pierre LeBrun makes it sound like last night could have been his last game with the Flames.

As others have noted, things have heated up on the Rasmus Andersson trade front. He wasn’t held out of the lineup last night, but sense is talks have intensified.
Let’s see where it goes over the next 24-48 hours as to whether it gets done or not.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 16, 2026

• The St. Louis Blues announced center Robert Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

• Thursday’s “Sure, why not?” news came directly from the National Hockey League.

The United States Postal Service is now the Official Shipping Sponsor of the National Hockey League. https://t.co/alZTFs3xf6 pic.twitter.com/Zo6Bb3f5TM

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 15, 2026

• I know the Blackhawks are focusing a lot of time and energy on Saturday’s events and game celebrating the dynasty teams, but I already find myself emotionally preparing for Monday night when Jonathan Toews makes his United Center return. The Captain hit a milestone last night. He’s scored in four straight games.

The Winnipeg boy hits 900 @Wawanesa | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/GBFMLXLvo2

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 16, 2026

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• The Bulls are “aggressively shopping” Patrick Williams, but … yeah …

• Who’s going to replace Ozzy Trapilo at left tackle?

• Two things stood out most from the Alex Bregman press conference

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...ford-throwbacks-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/

 

[Zedster]

Really enjoying all the coverage on the prospects and the rebuild trajectory. The point about being patient with the pipeline is spot on - between Frondell, Kantserov potentially coming over, and guys like Vanacker tearing it up in juniors, there's legitimate reason to let this play out before making a big splash for someone like Pettersson.

That said, the Calgary game was frustrating to watch. Special teams completely derailed any momentum, and you could tell the team just wasn't connected. Powers is right that those are the games that come back to haunt you in April when you're looking at the standings.

The Ryan Greene stuff is interesting. Bedard's comments about him being underrated feel accurate from what I've seen. The Sharp comparison makes sense - versatile, smart, covers the ice well. If he can develop that offensive touch consistently, that's a valuable piece.

Also have to say those Rockford throwback jerseys are fantastic. Love the 1920s concept for the AHL anniversary.

Monday night is going to be emotional. Toews hitting 900 points and then coming back to the UC... that's going to be something special. Four straight games with a goal too - nice to see him still producing in Winnipeg.

Who's everyone most looking forward to seeing at Saturday's dynasty celebration? Curious which role players from those teams get the biggest reactions from the crowd.

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Reunion Weekend, Another Pridham Hat Trick, Rangers Retooling, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

A lot of nostalgia is flowing around Chicago this weekend. The Cubs Convention kicked off on Friday night with a reunion of their 2016 World Series championship team. And, tonight at the United Center, the Blackhawks will honor their three championship teams as part of their season-long Centennial celebration series. A couple fun stories looking back at those teams from Friday. Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers caught us up with what those guys are doing now.

The Blackhawks are celebrating the 2010, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup teams this weekend, so @ByScottPowers and I put together a "Where are they now?" list of what all those players are up to these days: https://t.co/svw26odZII

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 16, 2026

And Ben Pope reminded us that the 2013 Blackhawks had arguably the most dominant season in modern NHL history — marks that this year’s Avalanche might chase.

Will we ever see a more dominant team in modern NHL history than the 2013 Blackhawks?

The 2019 Lightning and 2023 Bruins had a shot — but they couldn't do it in the playoffs.

Now, another challenger appears: the 2026 Avalanche.

New story: https://t.co/bd2XEUdqns

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 16, 2026

• A random quick statistical note: between Jan. 1 and 15 (Thursday night’s games), there are 21 skaters in the NHL who have taken at least 110 faceoffs and won at least 52 percent of them. Two are Blackhawks: Jason Dickinson (120 faceoffs, 55 percent) and Ryan Greene (125 faceoffs, 52.8 percent). That’s a great look for Greene, who is in his first full professional season.

• You know who’s No. 1 in the NHL in that criteria? Jonathan Toews, who has won 62.5 percent of 112 faceoffs this calendar year. See ya Monday, Captain!

• Another random stat: can you guess who has the highest 5-on-5 Fenwick (not the high school, unblocked shot attempts) percentage on the Blackhawks this calendar year when the Hawks are trailing? Landon Slaggert, who has a 61.2 USAT percentage. Slaggert also ranks third on the Blackhawks in shot attempt percentage when trailing (57.5) behind Teuvo Teräväinen and Dickinson.

• In the eight games in January, Artyom Levshunov leads the Blackhawks in average ice time (22:27). He also ranks third on the team in hits (16), behind Colton Dach (18) and Nick Foligno (17).

• In the OHL last night, Marek Vanacker had an assist as Brantford beat Peterborough 4-3.

• Jack Pridham had a hat trick and added an assist for a four-point night for Kitchener. Here are Pridham’s two power play goals; his third came into an empty net.

Friday night power play from #Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham

pic.twitter.com/ZlbN4cJERe

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 17, 2026

Make that two PPGs for #Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham on Friday night for @OHLRangers

pic.twitter.com/2Pit1KDgvY

— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 17, 2026

• In seven games since Christmas, Pridham has now scored 11 goals — including four multi-goal games and two hat tricks! You can add five assists to those 11 goals for 16 points in seven games.

• With his three goals on Friday night, Pridham (27) is now only two behind Vanacker (29) for the OHL lead. With two power play goals on Friday night, Pridham is now tied for third in the OHL in power play goals (9). And he remains tied for the OHL lead with four short-handed goals. Have a year, Jack!

Around the NHL​

• The Minnesota Wild placed Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek on injured reserve

• The Anaheim Ducks announced forward Leo Carlsson underwent a procedure to treat a Morel-Lavallée lesion in his left thigh and will be out for approximately 3-5 weeks.

• The Bruins traded forward Jeffrey Viel to Anaheim for a fourth-round pick in 2026. Sure, why not?

• The San Jose Sharks made a minor — but necessary — deal on Friday. They traded defenseman Kyle Masters and their own fourth-round pick in 2026 to Carolina for the Blackhawks’ fifth-round pick in 2027. Once Michael Misa plays his tenth game for the Sharks, he counts to their 50-salary limit, so the Sharks needed to dump a body. Mission accomplished.

• The Rangers are… not going to rebuild. They’re… going to retool. Okay… After the team tweeted this stirring statement, Molly Walker of the New York Post tweeted that GM Chris Drury told Artemi Panarin the Rangers do not plan on offering him a contract extension after this season. Panarin is, officially, on the market.

A Message from Chris Drury to Our Fans pic.twitter.com/JVimBJ59B7

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 16, 2026

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• The Cubs’ International Free Agency Class started officially signing

• Is Arturas Karnisovas finally being ‘more realistic’ in Bulls trade talks this year?

• WATCH: Chance The Rapper sets an epic stage for the Bears vs. Rams

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...ngers-retooling-and-other-blackhawks-bullets/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Blackhawks 2, Bruins 5 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

I’m guessing the Blackhawks’ practice on Sunday is going to maybe reinforce playing a structured game because this was 60 minutes of trying fancy stuff and getting burned.

It took the Blackhawks exactly 8:30 into the first period to have their first shot on net. Not exactly the start you’d want after a wonderful ceremony celebrating three Stanley Cup championship teams. But the Blackhawks were the first team to get on the board — on a goal from a young man who played his (college) hockey in Boston last season. Exactly two minutes later, the Blackhawks doubled their lead and took a 2-0 advantage to the room.

The Bruins had significantly better numbers than the Blackhawks in the first period, so the score didn’t necessarily reflect the flow of the opening 20 minutes. They continued to put pressure on the Hawks and cut Chicago’s lead in half less than two minutes into the second period. Boston tied the game 13 minutes later and took the lead inside the final minute of the period. All three Bruins goals were well executed passing sequences before terrific shots — stuff teams in the playoff race do consistently.

Artyom Levshunov got called for a rare charging penalty in the middle of the third period and Boston was able to extend their lead to two. Defenseman Mason Lohrei, who has been frequently mentioned in trade rumors lately, scored his second of the game. The young Blackhawks continued to try to make pretty plays, and it continued to cost them.

Star 1: Ryan Greene​

Greene’s goal got the Blackhawks on the board in the first. By the end of the second period, Greene had won six of a team-leading 15 faceoffs and was also credited with one blocked shot and one takeaway. In a game that was fairly sloppy, he had his act together. I’m getting used to expecting a solid performance from Greene.

GOAL: Ryan Greene rips a shot from the slot to open the scoring pic.twitter.com/FUeEUfW3ch

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 18, 2026

Star 2: Wyatt Kaiser​

Kaiser’s goal in the first period gave Chicago a 2-0 lead. That was super — at the time. Kaiser led Blackhawks defensemen with three shot attempts thru two periods. Like Greene, he was steady and reliable. There was a lot of freelancing and guys trying to do fancy stuff that didn’t work, so the two boring guys who just did their jobs well land in our top two star spots tonight.

Silky smooth walking the line and the rip from the slot it doesn't get much better than this https://t.co/aznR1zUwAy pic.twitter.com/jDNWXooCVN

— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) January 18, 2026

Star 3: This Guy​

The Blackhawks have planned for some really good pregame ceremonies during their Centennial season. Unfortunately, the drapes coming down around the center of the ice have failed two of the three times they’ve been used thus far. Tonight, it got caught on the scoreboard. And this guy had to fix it while they introduced the Stanley Cup and a bunch of former Blackhawks who won it.

The hero of the Blackhawks’ pregame ceremony pic.twitter.com/g1cuwsOGA4

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 18, 2026

Key Takeaways​

• Arvid Söderblom had a 1.43 goals saved above expected in the first period. He made some really nice saves while the skaters in front of him slowly woke up. The skaters in front of him threw their structure out the window in the second period and hung him out to dry more than three times. H

• The Blackhawks’ power play was technically 0-1 in the first period, but it was better than Thursday night — and Greene’s goal came just three seconds after it expired.

• Nick Lardis had a touch stretch in the second period. He tried a drop pass that turned into a giveaway — something he really can’t afford to do with Frank Nazar close to coming back — and then had a potential tap-in goal opportunity taken away by the stick of a diving Alex Steeves. Lardis had another golden look at the net just inside the final seven minutes of regulation. He’ll want this tape burned.

• The Blackhawks pulled Söderblom for an extra attacker with 5:22 left in the third period.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...ckhawks-2-bruins-5-three-stars-key-takeaways/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Jonathan Toews Coming ‘Home’ is Going to Be Emotional

The Blackhawks held a fantastic celebration of the three Stanley Cup champions on Saturday night. The game was disappointing, but the pregame was exceptional. The collection of former players who were part of the 2010, 2013 and 2015 championship Blackhawks rosters who were able to attend was impressive. And the moment Pat Foley invited them to raise the Cup on home ice one more time was stirring.

Appropriately, it was Brent Seabrook who raised it above his head. Seabrook was the quiet leader of those Blackhawks teams, who probably would have had a C on his chest in most other NHL cities. He was joined by his longtime partner on the blue line, Duncan Keith, as well as Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa as four of the seven players to win three rings were able to attend.

One of the three core members who wasn’t there was the gentleman to whom Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup three times. Jonathan Toews, the longest tenured captain in the history of the franchise, wasn’t there because he’s still playing.

On Monday night, Toews will be back at the United Center. And will enter the visiting dressing room and get ready for a game as a visitor for the first time.

Return of the Greats​

I remember the emotions in the United Center on the night Patrick Kane made his return. That night was awkward; the Blackhawks retired Chris Chelios’ number earlier in the night. Chelios even made a joke about Kane’s return because the entire Detroit roster, like the Blackhawks, was on their bench for the ceremony.

The tribute video was on point. There were tears. And then the roar came.

And Kane had to take three laps to acknowledge the praise raining down from the Blackhawks fans who adored him.

Of course, Kane ended that game with the overtime game-winner. It was an appropriately stunning climax to a series of events at the United Center that were… awkwardly not appropriate.

During the Blackhawks’ dynasty run, the spotlight was always on Kane. Even future Hall of Famers Toews, Hossa and Keith took a backseat in the headlines, newspaper cover photos and marketing efforts to 88. Yet, on this night, he shared the spotlight with Chelios — another Blackhawks legend who played in both Chicago and Detroit.

[IMG width="728px" alt="Jonathan Toews
Chicago Blackhawks"]https://www.bleachernation.com/wp-c...o-blackhawks-sportsbook-promo-codes.jpg[/IMG]
Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Leaving Chicago on Different Terms​

The Blackhawks granted Kane’s wish and traded him to the New York Rangers, where he played the remainder of the 2022-23 season before signing with the Red Wings as a free agent. His return to Chicago was almost a full year after he was traded.

Toews wasn’t traded out of Chicago. His body betrayed him in the final years of his time with the Blackhawks, and he did his best to finish the 2022-23 season on the ice. The Blackhawks did not offer him another contract.

We didn’t know at the time if Toews would play hockey again. There were some who thought he might be a nice low-end rental for a team that was close to winning. But Toews opted to walk away from the game and work to get his body right.

This past summer, Toews surprised many when he announced he planned to come back. The less surprising part was where he would return: he came back to the NHL with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.

Fast forward to the middle of January, and here we are.

It’s finally here.

It will be 1,012 days between games at the United Center for Toews on Monday. But this will be a first for him, and the rest of us who watched him jump into the NHL and lead the Blackhawks franchise to one of the great resurrection stories in the history of professional sports.

It’s going to be an emotional night at the United Center on Monday.

There is no jersey retirement ceremony before this game. There is no Centennial chapter to close with a big pregame production. It’s a Monday night with two teams battling in the Central Division.

Unlike Kane’s return — ironically — Monday night is going to be all about Jonathan Bryan Toews, the greatest captain in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Captain who never wanted it to be about him is going to have a night all to himself.

He deserves that. And I can’t wait to see, hear and feel the welcome home from Blackhawks fans.

Also Read​

Thank You, Jonathan Toews

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...n-toews-coming-home-is-going-to-be-emotional/

 

[Chicago Blackhawks]

Blackhawks Prospect Sacha Boisvert Suspended for Fighting

On Friday night, Blackhawks prospect Sacha Boisvert and UMass Lowells’ Connor Eddy dropped the gloves. You don’t see many fights in college hockey, so the tilt got plenty of attention on social media.

Both skaters received their automatic one-game suspensions for Saturday night’s game after getting tossed from the game on Friday. On Sunday afternoon, Hockey East announced additional discipline for their fight.

Boisvert and Eddy received additional two-game suspensions.

The two-game suspension for Boisvert means he’ll miss a chance to skate against fellow Blackhawks prospect John Mustard and Julius Sumpf this coming weekend. Boisvert is ineligible to play January 23-24 against Providence and is able to return to the Terriers’ lineup on Friday, January 30 against Boston College.

As I wrote after the fight here and on social media, the idea of a “season-ending” suspension wasn’t realistic, even if some people on Twitter were commenting about that being possible. The previous “season-ending” suspensions were automatic three-game deals and the teams of the two involved skaters at that time received one additional game from their teams because there were only four games left in their regular seasons at the time.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/blac...ospect-sacha-boisvert-suspended-for-fighting/