“It’s something that we’re trying to change here, the culture and everything, and it’s been fun for me, playing every night and being healthy, feeling good about yourself, and having good games. It definitely helps,” Mrazek said about his time in Chicago. “But the No. 1 thing for me is to turn things around here as a team and start winning games soon.”

While the Blackhawks have been rebuilding over the past few seasons, the current campaign has been difficult for them. Going 14-32-2, the Blackhawks find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference Central Division. Mrazek was 12-17-1 with a .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average ahead of Wednesday night’s 6-2 defeat to the Seattle Krakens.

The post Blackhawks Reach Two-Year Deal With Goalie Petr Mrazek appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Bedard scored two goals in the first period, including the first goal of the game to give the Blackhawks the lead. He also assisted Tyler Johnson and Corey Perry.

Only two other players in NHL history, Bep Guidolin, and Ted Kennedy, were younger when they scored four points in a single game.

“(For) all the points, I feel like other guys did great things, and I got the benefit,” Bedard said after the game. “It’s obviously nice getting on the scoresheet, but there’s a lot that goes into it.”

The Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in 2023. He was considered the consensus best player in the class after contributing 271 points in 132 games in WHL.

Bedard recorded a point in his NHL debut, dishing an assist in a 4–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and scored his first goal the following game against the Boston Bruins. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native has seven goals and four assists in 12 NHL games he played in 2023-24.

The post Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, Youngest Since 1944 to Score 4 Points appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 17-year-old Bedard was widely considered the best player in the 2023 class. He had a stellar campaign in Canadian Hockey League this past season, scoring 71 goals and adding 72 assists for a total of 143 points in 52 games.

Bedard is already expected to have a similar impact as winger Patrick Kane, whom the Blackhawks selected with the No. 1 pick in 2007. Kane became a franchise legend, leading the Chicago team to three Stanley Cup wins.

However, the Blackhawks’ general manager Kyle Davidson is making sure that Bedard isn’t met with too high of expectations.

“We’ll see. We’ll let him figure that out,” Davidson told the reporters. “He’s a pretty special player, a very special person. We’ll let him determine how special that first season is.”

While the Blackhawks’ pick wasn’t a surprise, the one that the Anaheim Ducks made with the second overall selection was. It was believed that the Ducks would take the University of Michigan’s Adam Fantilli, but they instead went with Orebro HK’s Leo Carlsson.

Fantilli instead went third to the Columbus Blue Jackets, while the San Jose Sharks took Boston College’s center Will Smith. The Montreal Canadiens rounded out the Top 5 by selecting Austrian defenseman David Reinbacher.

The post Blackhawks Take Center Connor Bedard With No. 1 Pick in 2023 NHL Entry Draft appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to Daily Herald’s John Dietz, Toews is “seriously considering” retirement in the wake of battling multiple illnesses. The Blackhawks are aware that this is an option and have been bracing for it for some time now.

Toews missed the entire 2021-22 campaign due to health problems. He made 46 appearances this season, scoring 14 goals and dishing 14 assists, but he hasn’t played since January.

Despite the reports, the Blackhawks are still insisting that Toews will be back.

“I know he’s chomping at the bit to take the next step,” Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson told the media earlier this week. “Just hopefully he gets there.”

Jonathan Toews is an absolute Blackhawks legend, having helped the franchise win three Stanley Cups. He also gained numerous recognitions on the individual level, being the second-youngest Conn Smythe Trophy winner in the history of the league and earning six All-Star nods. Toews’ played 1,060 games in 15 NHL seasons and has 371 goals and 509 assists for a total of 880 career points.

The post Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews “Seriously Considering” Retirement appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While the Blackhawks didn’t make the official announcement about the acquisition of Tinordi, the Rangers confirmed the news on their own social media.  

According to The Athletic’s Scott Powers, the Blackhawks got Tinordi in order to have “NHL depth” at the defenseman position. Apparently, the team doesn’t want to rush its younger players in case of injuries and prefers to have them remain in AHL for 2022-23.

Jarred Tinordi was a first-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry draft but never quite managed to live up to the expectations people had for him in the pros. After making his debut with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2012-13 season, Tinordi became a journeyman who rarely spent more than one year with a single franchise.

 Tinordi spent most of the 2021-22 campaign in AHL and only managed to play seven games for the Rangers. He has a total of 109 games played in the NHL on his resume, having contributed two goals and 11 assists.

The post Blackhawks Claim Veteran Defenseman Jarred Tinordi Off Waivers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to the official announcement, Gustafsson will earn $800,000 in the 2021-22 NHL season. The 29-year-old player was previously on a professional tryout contract with the New York Islanders.

Chicago’s decision to sign Gustafsson is an interesting one, as it seemed that their team was already deep on the defensive end. The Blackhawks might view him as an insurance policy, because both Wyatt Kalynuk and Caleb Jones recently struggled with injuries.

The deal sees Gustafsson return to the place where he started his NHL career. The Swede made his debut in the league in 2015-16 as a member of the Blackhawks and ended up spending four seasons with the franchise. He played 214 games and contributed with 116 points (28 goals and 88 assists) before being traded to the Calgary Flames midway through 2019-20.

Gustafsson’s stint with the Flames was only seven games long as the organization decided not to offer him a new deal after becoming a free agent. He ended up splitting 2020-21 with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens.

Gustafsson has 250 NHL games to his name, scoring 29 goals and adding 102 assists for a total of 131 points.

The post Blackhawks Reunite With D Erik Gustafsson On 1-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Murphy has been the leader for the Blackhawks on the blue line last season and a standout on what has been a questionable defense. He averaged 22:09 minutes on ice while contributing with three goals and 12 assists in 50 games.

“He has transformed into a defenseman capable of matching up with the opponent’s best players and someone we trust to help us preserve a lead in the final minutes,” said the team’s general manager Stan Bowman in a statement. “Connor’s voice carries weight in our locker room as a veteran presence, and we’re thrilled that his development and leadership will continue as a Blackhawk.”

Locking Murphy to a long-term contract is part of the Blackhawks’ efforts to build a formidable defense for the future. The franchise previously picked up four-time All-Star Seth Jones in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets while also adding veteran Jake McCabe in free agency.

Connor Murphy spent his early NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes, who drafted him 20th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Chicago in 2017 as part of the deal that helped the Coyotes land Niklas Hjalmarsson. Murphy played 494 NHL games so far in his career and has 28 goals and 82 assists for a total of 110 points.

The post Blackhawks Lock Defenseman Connor Murphy to a 4-Year, $17.6 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to Seabrook, he made this decision because of the injuries that have prevented him from playing hockey.

The 35-year-old veteran underwent three surgeries in December 2019, fixing his right shoulder and both hips. He was supposed to be ready for the 2020-21 NHL season, but a back injury ended up delaying his return to the ice.

“After several surgeries, countless hours of rehab, and training to get back on the ice at the level of my expectations, it will not be possible for me to continue playing hockey,” said Seabrook in a statement. “This is what is best for me and my family.”

Brent Seabrook spent all of his 15 years in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. During that time, he played a total of 1,114 games in a Blackhawks jersey, scoring 103 goals and adding 361 assists for a total of 464 points.

Seabrook was a key component on Chicago’s teams that won Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. He also has a number of individual achievements, including an All-Star nod from 2015.

“Without Brent Seabrook, the Chicago Blackhawks would not have three Stanley Cups,” said Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman. “He concludes his career as not only one of the best defensemen in franchise history, but one [of] the greatest Chicago Blackhawks of all time.”

The post Blackhawks D Brent Seabrook Ends NHL Career After 15 Years appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The team confirmed on social media that Strome inked a two-year deal that will keep him with the Blackhawks through the 2021-22 NHL season at least. The 23-year-old player is set to earn $3 million annually.

After the news was made official, Chicago’s general manager Stan Bowman said that he is excited by the deal and hopes Strome will build on a promising past two seasons in a Blackhawks jersey.

“He has great offensive instincts and brings creativity and skill to our team,” said Bowman. “We are thrilled he is now signed and able to join us tomorrow for the start of training camp.”

The Blackhawks acquired Dylan Strome in 2018 in a trade that saw them send Nick Schmaltz to the Arizona Coyotes. Despite largely struggling with the Coyotes, Strome immediately impacted Chicago and contributed with 51 points (17 goals and 34 assists) in his first season with the Blackhawks.

Strome wasn’t as prolific in 2019-20 but still managed to deliver a solid campaign. In 58 games, he scored 12 goals and dished 26 assists for a total of 38 points.

The Blackhawks now expect Strome to take an even more prominent role on the roster, especially as the team is dealing with the absence of several key players. This includes Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander, who will both miss a significant part of the season with long-term injuries.

The post Blackhawks Keep Center Dylan Strome on a 2-Year, $6 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with ESPN on Tuesday, Blackhawks’ general manager Stan Bowman said that the team is far from being a finished product and will undergo many changes in the future.

“But what I don’t want it to mean is we’re trying to tear this team apart and trying to bring in a whole new group of players in the next year and a half,” explained Bowman. “But we do need to rebuild the depth of our team.”

According to Bowman, the Blackhawks are not a contender as currently constructed and can’t compete with the top teams in NHL.

“We don’t have enough players, top to bottom, to compete with the top teams,” he added. “We’ve got a lot of good players, we’ve got a pretty good start on the makings of a good team, but we still have a ways to go yet, and I accept that.”

Chicago previously made their new direction public by sending a letter to season ticket holders in which they said the organization is now “committed to developing young players and rebuilding our roster”.

Blackhawks already kicked off the process by parting ways with veterans forward Brandon Saad and goalie Corey Crawford earlier in the offseason. Both Saad and Crawford were important pieces in the Stanley Cup-winning squads in 2013 and 2015.

The post Blackhawks “Can’t Compete with Top Teams” Says GM Stan Bowman appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“It’s something that we’re trying to change here, the culture and everything, and it’s been fun for me, playing every night and being healthy, feeling good about yourself, and having good games. It definitely helps,” Mrazek said about his time in Chicago. “But the No. 1 thing for me is to turn things around here as a team and start winning games soon.”

While the Blackhawks have been rebuilding over the past few seasons, the current campaign has been difficult for them. Going 14-32-2, the Blackhawks find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference Central Division. Mrazek was 12-17-1 with a .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average ahead of Wednesday night’s 6-2 defeat to the Seattle Krakens.

The post Blackhawks Reach Two-Year Deal With Goalie Petr Mrazek appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Bedard scored two goals in the first period, including the first goal of the game to give the Blackhawks the lead. He also assisted Tyler Johnson and Corey Perry.

Only two other players in NHL history, Bep Guidolin, and Ted Kennedy, were younger when they scored four points in a single game.

“(For) all the points, I feel like other guys did great things, and I got the benefit,” Bedard said after the game. “It’s obviously nice getting on the scoresheet, but there’s a lot that goes into it.”

The Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick in 2023. He was considered the consensus best player in the class after contributing 271 points in 132 games in WHL.

Bedard recorded a point in his NHL debut, dishing an assist in a 4–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and scored his first goal the following game against the Boston Bruins. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native has seven goals and four assists in 12 NHL games he played in 2023-24.

The post Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, Youngest Since 1944 to Score 4 Points appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 17-year-old Bedard was widely considered the best player in the 2023 class. He had a stellar campaign in Canadian Hockey League this past season, scoring 71 goals and adding 72 assists for a total of 143 points in 52 games.

Bedard is already expected to have a similar impact as winger Patrick Kane, whom the Blackhawks selected with the No. 1 pick in 2007. Kane became a franchise legend, leading the Chicago team to three Stanley Cup wins.

However, the Blackhawks’ general manager Kyle Davidson is making sure that Bedard isn’t met with too high of expectations.

“We’ll see. We’ll let him figure that out,” Davidson told the reporters. “He’s a pretty special player, a very special person. We’ll let him determine how special that first season is.”

While the Blackhawks’ pick wasn’t a surprise, the one that the Anaheim Ducks made with the second overall selection was. It was believed that the Ducks would take the University of Michigan’s Adam Fantilli, but they instead went with Orebro HK’s Leo Carlsson.

Fantilli instead went third to the Columbus Blue Jackets, while the San Jose Sharks took Boston College’s center Will Smith. The Montreal Canadiens rounded out the Top 5 by selecting Austrian defenseman David Reinbacher.

The post Blackhawks Take Center Connor Bedard With No. 1 Pick in 2023 NHL Entry Draft appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to Daily Herald’s John Dietz, Toews is “seriously considering” retirement in the wake of battling multiple illnesses. The Blackhawks are aware that this is an option and have been bracing for it for some time now.

Toews missed the entire 2021-22 campaign due to health problems. He made 46 appearances this season, scoring 14 goals and dishing 14 assists, but he hasn’t played since January.

Despite the reports, the Blackhawks are still insisting that Toews will be back.

“I know he’s chomping at the bit to take the next step,” Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson told the media earlier this week. “Just hopefully he gets there.”

Jonathan Toews is an absolute Blackhawks legend, having helped the franchise win three Stanley Cups. He also gained numerous recognitions on the individual level, being the second-youngest Conn Smythe Trophy winner in the history of the league and earning six All-Star nods. Toews’ played 1,060 games in 15 NHL seasons and has 371 goals and 509 assists for a total of 880 career points.

The post Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews “Seriously Considering” Retirement appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While the Blackhawks didn’t make the official announcement about the acquisition of Tinordi, the Rangers confirmed the news on their own social media.  

According to The Athletic’s Scott Powers, the Blackhawks got Tinordi in order to have “NHL depth” at the defenseman position. Apparently, the team doesn’t want to rush its younger players in case of injuries and prefers to have them remain in AHL for 2022-23.

Jarred Tinordi was a first-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry draft but never quite managed to live up to the expectations people had for him in the pros. After making his debut with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2012-13 season, Tinordi became a journeyman who rarely spent more than one year with a single franchise.

 Tinordi spent most of the 2021-22 campaign in AHL and only managed to play seven games for the Rangers. He has a total of 109 games played in the NHL on his resume, having contributed two goals and 11 assists.

The post Blackhawks Claim Veteran Defenseman Jarred Tinordi Off Waivers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to the official announcement, Gustafsson will earn $800,000 in the 2021-22 NHL season. The 29-year-old player was previously on a professional tryout contract with the New York Islanders.

Chicago’s decision to sign Gustafsson is an interesting one, as it seemed that their team was already deep on the defensive end. The Blackhawks might view him as an insurance policy, because both Wyatt Kalynuk and Caleb Jones recently struggled with injuries.

The deal sees Gustafsson return to the place where he started his NHL career. The Swede made his debut in the league in 2015-16 as a member of the Blackhawks and ended up spending four seasons with the franchise. He played 214 games and contributed with 116 points (28 goals and 88 assists) before being traded to the Calgary Flames midway through 2019-20.

Gustafsson’s stint with the Flames was only seven games long as the organization decided not to offer him a new deal after becoming a free agent. He ended up splitting 2020-21 with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens.

Gustafsson has 250 NHL games to his name, scoring 29 goals and adding 102 assists for a total of 131 points.

The post Blackhawks Reunite With D Erik Gustafsson On 1-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Murphy has been the leader for the Blackhawks on the blue line last season and a standout on what has been a questionable defense. He averaged 22:09 minutes on ice while contributing with three goals and 12 assists in 50 games.

“He has transformed into a defenseman capable of matching up with the opponent’s best players and someone we trust to help us preserve a lead in the final minutes,” said the team’s general manager Stan Bowman in a statement. “Connor’s voice carries weight in our locker room as a veteran presence, and we’re thrilled that his development and leadership will continue as a Blackhawk.”

Locking Murphy to a long-term contract is part of the Blackhawks’ efforts to build a formidable defense for the future. The franchise previously picked up four-time All-Star Seth Jones in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets while also adding veteran Jake McCabe in free agency.

Connor Murphy spent his early NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes, who drafted him 20th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Chicago in 2017 as part of the deal that helped the Coyotes land Niklas Hjalmarsson. Murphy played 494 NHL games so far in his career and has 28 goals and 82 assists for a total of 110 points.

The post Blackhawks Lock Defenseman Connor Murphy to a 4-Year, $17.6 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to Seabrook, he made this decision because of the injuries that have prevented him from playing hockey.

The 35-year-old veteran underwent three surgeries in December 2019, fixing his right shoulder and both hips. He was supposed to be ready for the 2020-21 NHL season, but a back injury ended up delaying his return to the ice.

“After several surgeries, countless hours of rehab, and training to get back on the ice at the level of my expectations, it will not be possible for me to continue playing hockey,” said Seabrook in a statement. “This is what is best for me and my family.”

Brent Seabrook spent all of his 15 years in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. During that time, he played a total of 1,114 games in a Blackhawks jersey, scoring 103 goals and adding 361 assists for a total of 464 points.

Seabrook was a key component on Chicago’s teams that won Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. He also has a number of individual achievements, including an All-Star nod from 2015.

“Without Brent Seabrook, the Chicago Blackhawks would not have three Stanley Cups,” said Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman. “He concludes his career as not only one of the best defensemen in franchise history, but one [of] the greatest Chicago Blackhawks of all time.”

The post Blackhawks D Brent Seabrook Ends NHL Career After 15 Years appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The team confirmed on social media that Strome inked a two-year deal that will keep him with the Blackhawks through the 2021-22 NHL season at least. The 23-year-old player is set to earn $3 million annually.

After the news was made official, Chicago’s general manager Stan Bowman said that he is excited by the deal and hopes Strome will build on a promising past two seasons in a Blackhawks jersey.

“He has great offensive instincts and brings creativity and skill to our team,” said Bowman. “We are thrilled he is now signed and able to join us tomorrow for the start of training camp.”

The Blackhawks acquired Dylan Strome in 2018 in a trade that saw them send Nick Schmaltz to the Arizona Coyotes. Despite largely struggling with the Coyotes, Strome immediately impacted Chicago and contributed with 51 points (17 goals and 34 assists) in his first season with the Blackhawks.

Strome wasn’t as prolific in 2019-20 but still managed to deliver a solid campaign. In 58 games, he scored 12 goals and dished 26 assists for a total of 38 points.

The Blackhawks now expect Strome to take an even more prominent role on the roster, especially as the team is dealing with the absence of several key players. This includes Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander, who will both miss a significant part of the season with long-term injuries.

The post Blackhawks Keep Center Dylan Strome on a 2-Year, $6 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with ESPN on Tuesday, Blackhawks’ general manager Stan Bowman said that the team is far from being a finished product and will undergo many changes in the future.

“But what I don’t want it to mean is we’re trying to tear this team apart and trying to bring in a whole new group of players in the next year and a half,” explained Bowman. “But we do need to rebuild the depth of our team.”

According to Bowman, the Blackhawks are not a contender as currently constructed and can’t compete with the top teams in NHL.

“We don’t have enough players, top to bottom, to compete with the top teams,” he added. “We’ve got a lot of good players, we’ve got a pretty good start on the makings of a good team, but we still have a ways to go yet, and I accept that.”

Chicago previously made their new direction public by sending a letter to season ticket holders in which they said the organization is now “committed to developing young players and rebuilding our roster”.

Blackhawks already kicked off the process by parting ways with veterans forward Brandon Saad and goalie Corey Crawford earlier in the offseason. Both Saad and Crawford were important pieces in the Stanley Cup-winning squads in 2013 and 2015.

The post Blackhawks “Can’t Compete with Top Teams” Says GM Stan Bowman appeared first on yoursportspot.com.