NEWSLETTER
There were not one, but TWO games between the Blackhawks and Wild organizations last night. In the NHL, the Blackhawks fell to the Wild, 3-2 in overtime, while over in the AHL, the IceHogs shut out the Iowa Wild in their first action of the preseason. Training camp continues today for the Blackhawks, who turn around and play the Wild again on Saturday in their preseason finale. While in the AHL, the IceHogs and Iowa Wild turn around and play each other again to close the AHL preseason. Regular season hockey that matters is just days away.
• With that in mind, the Blackhawks still need to make significant cuts and roster moves to get closer to the 23-player limit. Final rosters for opening night of the 2021-22 NHL season are due to the league on Monday. Chicago has some difficult decisions to make.
Jeremy Colliton said roster decisions are going to be harder than he thought: "The younger players who we weren't sure how close they were going to be, it turns out they're really close, arguably playing well enough to make the team." #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 7, 2021
• One of those players who was not in last night’s lineup and looks to be headed to a waiver move is forward Alex Nylander. With just one more preseason game to play for the Blackhawks, Nylander looks like he is on the wrong side of the NHL/AHL fence to begin the season. But that’s to be somewhat expected for a player coming off of missing a full season and having knee surgery.
Jeremy Colliton on Alex Nylander: "We've got some decisions to make over the next few days. From his perspective, he's coming off a long injury … it's tough to get up to speed in that short a time. He's got a chance to be a great player. We'll see." #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 7, 2021
• Also, good to see that Nylander is still a polarizing figure with Chicago. My comments yesterday sure did garner a split response.
If Alex Nylander hits waivers, which appears the route the #Blackhawks will go with him, I suspect he will clear. Maybe a team takes a flyer on him, but having missed a full season with a knee injury and not being up to NHL speed yet, doesn't make him a waiver-claim target to me
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) October 7, 2021
• Another topic I thought we could all agree on, but apparently not, would be wearing white sweaters at home for NHL teams.
A movement we can all get behind https://t.co/s3L0KGGw7H
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) October 7, 2021
• Hey, it’s good enough for the Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls Are Switching Back to Wearing White Jerseys at Homehttps://t.co/OlIpd1s1WJ
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 8, 2021
• I love the look of both the home and road sweaters for the Blackhawks, but something about wearing a crisp, clean white sweater on your home ice just feels right. But to each their own.
• On the ice last night, wearing their road whites, the Blackhawks had to play catch-up to the Wild after allowing the game’s opening goal in the first period. While on the powerplay in the second period, the Blackhawks found the equalizer thanks to the connection of Kirby Dach and Dylan Strome.
Let's see it again! Kirby Dach finds Dylan Strome to put the Hawks on the scoreboard pic.twitter.com/aEC6wfLaW1
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) October 8, 2021
• We’ve talked a lot recently about players on the NHL-bubble. Strome has been one of them, but he likely has been on the NHL side of the fence all preseason. This was a goal he needed to score.
Strome: "I hadn't scored in a while, so it felt good to help the team out and felt good to play a little bit on the power play. I've been there the last couple years, so to get a chance there is good."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 8, 2021
• Didn’t hurt to see Kirby Dach making a great play to find Strome at the net-front, too. A lot of people, myself included, figure this season will be a breakout year for the former third-overall pick by Chicago.
Kirby Dach at intermission: "I know how good of a player I can be. Just trying to find that level every game, every practice. As a young guy, you're always trying to find what it's going to take to be successful"#Blackhawks #CHIvsMIN
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) October 8, 2021
• He’s looked healthy and ready to go through the preseason and my hopes continue to be high for the elder Dach.
• The Blackhawks ultimately had no business getting to overtime against the Wild last night. The game could have easily been a route in favor of the Wild, if not for the play of Kevin Lankinen in goal.
One of many high-danger saves by Kevin Lankinen tonight. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NDQoqvbuFf
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 8, 2021
• After his first appearance of the preseason saw him fighting the puck and not looking smooth in net, last night’s performance was the opposite. If only he could have been rewarded with a win.
Kevin Lankinen: "Tonight, I felt like myself. I felt confident, I felt big in there. I was able to make some good stops."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 8, 2021
• Making 28 saves on 31 shots, Lankinen likely secured his spot behind Marc-André Fleury with his performance last night. Although it probably wasn’t in that much jeopardy.
• Along with Lankinen’s work in goal, Brandon Hagel converted on a penalty shot that tied the game in the third period, helping the Blackhawks force overtime.
Sexy 🥯 pic.twitter.com/q73Zf2pCZL
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 8, 2021
• A move like that should increase Hagel’s puck handling skills on NHL 22. Also, a clean-shaven Brandon Hagel didn’t look right to me. He needs to keep the beard to match his game. Take it from me, someone with a beard, beards are cool.
• Another player looking to stick with the Blackhawks through the next round of cuts is defenseman Jakub Galvas. Tallying an assist on the Strome goal, Galvas has been an under-the-radar standout on Chicago’s blue-line this preseason.
Colliton on Galvas: "It looks like he's ready, at some point, to play some games for us."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) October 8, 2021
• Hard to argue that Galvas doesn’t belong on the NHL ice right now. Feels like it will come down to the final preseason game tomorrow to decide the final final roster spots.
• The Brothers Dach have both looked good in the preseason for the Blackhawks. While Kirby is attempting to have a breakout NHL year, Colton is looking to stay with the Blackhawks for a least another day or two before he will likely be returning to Juniors. Only with a new WHL club, the Kelowna Rockets.
family road trips look a little different these days ✈️ pic.twitter.com/jdZI0JLilc
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 7, 2021
• Sharp dressed kids. Much like the Jones brothers with Seth and Caleb, the Dach brothers are playing on the same team for the first time in their careers. A pretty cool setting to do it in at such as young age, while both are establishing their careers.
Kirby at intermission on playing with his brother Colton: "Pretty special. It's great for our family, now they don't have to worry about us fighting each other on the ice. Maybe with living together, they'll have to worry about us putting holes in the wall."#Blackhawks #CHIvsMIN
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) October 8, 2021
• Every now and then I’m reminded at just how young these players are. What was I doing when I was 19 and 20? You know what, don’t try to answer that.
• While the Blackhawks fell in overtime, their AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs had no problems with the Minnesota affiliate Iowa Wild. Behind a 23-save performance, Arvid Söderblom picked up the shutout win with Michal Teply, Andrei Altybarmakian, and Kale Howarth tallying the goals.
Recap: Soderblom earns 3-0 shutout win in 3-0 @goicehogs triump over @IAWild in preseason action. Rematch tomorrow at 7 PMhttps://t.co/KCKsedly0t
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 8, 2021
• Notable in the lineup for the IceHogs was rookie Lukas Reichel playing in the top-line center position. Reichel looked impressive in his time with the Blackhawks in training camp, but ultimately the team decided to start him this season in the AHL.
Looking 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 for the preseason opener in Coralville! Puck drops in 20 minutes!
📻 https://t.co/FHLGZCTR30
📱 IceHogs app pic.twitter.com/OfrpyW1t92— x – Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 7, 2021
• That is not a bad move. With the numbers game going on in Chicago with their forwards group, there would be no reason to rush Reichel or force him into the lineup if he wasn’t 100% undoubtedly ready. He tallied an assist on the Teply goal in the third period.
• A Happy 31st Birthday to former Blackhawks defenseman and 2015 Stanley Cup Champion David Rundblad!
Happy 31st Birthday to former #Blackhawks 2015 Stanley Cup Champion David Rundblad! pic.twitter.com/EbeBabomB9
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 8, 2021
• Also, a Happy Birthday to my lovely wife!
• Around the league last night, a power outage in New Jersey cut the Devils’ preseason one game short, forcing the cancellation of last night’s game between the Devils and Islanders.
The Devils’ pre-season game against the Islanders was canceled Thursday night due to a power outage in part of Prudential Center.https://t.co/8wAdkXNWcj
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 8, 2021
• Someone who knows something about power, looks like the Seattle Kraken have Shaq on their bandwagon now!
can confirm @SHAQ looks great in the #seakraken sweater 😏 pic.twitter.com/2Ag58vGXZ7
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 8, 2021
• We came this close to having a goalie goal last night, but Edmonton’s Mike Smith was just off the mark.
He went for the goalie goal. 😂#NHLonSN | @EdmontonOilers pic.twitter.com/bAqxU2kQID
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 8, 2021
• It’s the preseason for everyone, players, coaches, writers, and the social media staff. But this is some mid-season form content coming from the Dallas Stars. I love this kind of stuff!
Bad news: Our camera froze when we were shooting Robo's goal.
Good news: You get this version of instant replay of it instead! pic.twitter.com/7JAgtnKJ32
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 8, 2021
• And I’ll leave you with this from the Lightning and Panthers game last night, presented without comment or context…
THERE ARE KITTENS IN THE PENALTY BOX pic.twitter.com/DzgpRIAX0M
— Lauren Kelly (@laurkelly24) October 8, 2021
• That will do it for today. Hope you all enjoy your TGIF Friday!
