The Blackhawks were just about as bad as it gets during their three-game road trip, and so naturally, people have begun to question how much longer Jeremy Colliton will be behind the Chicago bench. It’s a fair question. The Blackhawks have underperformed throughout Colliton’s tenure with the team. The disastrous start to this weekend comes in the wake of pretty high expectations after Stan Bowman made an apparent win-now effort this summer. However, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic writes that while Colliton has lost the fanbase, he has not yet lost the locker room.
“You get results when you play Jeremy’s way.”
Jonathan Toews believes in Jeremy Colliton, and he’s not the only player. @MarkLazerus with the story on how the Blackhawks have bought into Colliton even if the results haven’t exactly come yet. https://t.co/8EXDqugPn4
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) October 18, 2021
• He might have the public respect of veterans like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews for now, but this week will be crucial for Colliton and the Blackhawks. Still searching for their first win of the season, they’ll welcome the Islanders to the United Center on Tuesday night, another formidable opponent for the Hawks. So I’m sure that Colliton’s introduction on Tuesday will be rough.
• The Blackhawks made a roster move this morning. Mike Hardman was recalled from Rockford, and Ian Mitchell is heading to the IceHogs. Hardman had a two-assist game on Saturday against the Chicago Wolves and has recorded three points (1G, 2A) in eight games with the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks Roster Moves: Mike Hardman Recalled, Ian Mitchell Assigned to Rockfordhttps://t.co/0Ur9fEELoJ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 18, 2021
• The Blackhawks have been brutal in 5-on-5 play, which is, you know, the majority of the game. As you can see in the expected goals for vs. expected goals against chart below, the Blackhawks are “down bad.”
5v5 Expected Goals For vs. Against (October 17) pic.twitter.com/H2PJpv08fE
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 17, 2021
• If you’re looking for some optimism surrounding the Blackhawks, Lukas Reichel scored his first career AHL goal for the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday night. Reichel also had an assist in Saturday’s game against the Wolves, and Alexander Nylander tallied a pair of goals.
#Blackhawks prospect Lukas Reichel scored his first career #AHL goal for the #IceHogs on Saturday. #HawksProspects pic.twitter.com/uCgtCUaLyJ
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) October 17, 2021
• Patrick Kane’s goal on Saturday night was his 405th, which moves him just one goal shy of Steve Larmer for third all-time in franchise history.
Career goal 405 for Patrick Kane. He’s one away from tying Steve Larmer for third in #Blackhawks history.
1. B. Hull – 604
2. Mikita – 541
3. Larmer – 406
4. Kane – 405— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) October 17, 2021
• Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe on the family of former Blackhawk Jimmy Hayes as they try to turn their experience into a cautionary tale for others.
Fentanyl contributed to Jimmy Hayes’s death. His family hopes telling his story can help prevent another https://t.co/M6eEPMOQ9x via @BostonGlobe
— Dan Shaughnessy (@Dan_Shaughnessy) October 17, 2021
• Shifting gears here; That’s my QB1!
QB1. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/VTZO7O9yKG
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 17, 2021
• The NLCS has been WILD so far!
Braves Walk It Off Again in the NLCS, Optionable Depth, Housing for “Certain” Minor League Players, and Other Cubs Bullets – https://t.co/YTtoiX1lfb pic.twitter.com/kJlNMX6Z4Z
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) October 18, 2021
• A big congrats to Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky! On Sunday, the Sky took home their first WNBA Championship, and the feel-good Candace Parker homecoming story is complete.
THE CHICAGO SKY ARE WNBA CHAMPIONS!!https://t.co/eJmdlrNlQC
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 17, 2021
• Pain.
Football is Pain: Packers 24, Bears 14 https://t.co/J0yyEivHOQ
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) October 17, 2021
That’s it for today!