The Blackhawks host the Wild at the United Center on Hockey Fights Cancer night tonight. Chicago was obviously involved in a big trade to start this weekend and likely aren’t done dealing before the March 7 trade deadline. We’ll hear from general manager Kyle Davidson early on Monday morning when he gives a mid-season state of the organ-I-zation update.
Seth Jones and Alec Martinez both missed practice on Saturday because of illness. A good sign from practice: Connor Murphy, who is still on IR but has been working on his own, was with the team skating with Nolan Allan. We’ll see what shakes out before the game this afternoon. With Taylor Hall gone, the Blackhawks have an available roster spot to activate him off IR if needed. While we’re talking about the blue line, let’s enjoy some scorched earth courtesy Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, who notes that TJ Brodie is most likely a one-and-done in Chicago.The Blackhawks have nothing left to gain from playing TJ Brodie, who probably should be bought out this summer — even though the buyout would bring little financial relief.That's how bad he has been.New story: t.co/RpbKJq7BK4
The Blackhawks aren’t taking on outside prospects at this point. They already have probably too many of their prospects coming in over the next few years and might have to make some tough decisions soon not to sign or re-sign prospects. An abundance of prospects was always the motivation for how Davidson went about his rebuild. They’re flush with them. Seeking a prospect sweetener wouldn’t make sense in the big picture. It’s also unlikely the Hurricanes or Avalanche were going to give up someone who could make a dent in the Blackhawks’ prospects.
On his Saturday Headlines segment on Sportsnet last night between periods, Elliotte Friedman shared a new nugget. He reported that, in retaining half of Mikko Rantanen’s contract instead of Taylor Hall’s, the Blackhawks will actually save around $500,000 in real cash outlay. So the Blackhawks wound up with a better pick and saved actual money going out the door… Finishing today’s loop on the Hall trade aftermath, I’ll add these interesting notes from Pierre LeBrun in his breakdown of the deal for The Athletic as well:As for the Chicago Blackhawks’ end of things, I know they have taken some criticism for getting only a third-round pick for their part in the deal. This is how I would interpret that: There was a very limited market for Taylor Hall. There just wasn’t much interest.
The idea all along for Chicago was that it would try to move Hall before the deadline and that they’d be willing to retain salary and would likely get a third-round pick out of it. But the Hawks were getting very little traction on Hall. So when Carolina called with interest on Hall but with the caveat that it might be up to something bigger and asked if Chicago would be willing to retain on another player instead, the Hawks viewed it as getting the asset they wanted for Hall anyway and taking up only one of their salary-retention spots. …
One other thing that was interesting from the Hawks’ perspective is that for a while Friday, all they knew was that Hall was ending up in Carolina as part of a three-team deal and that they were retaining on a pending UFA from a third team. They didn’t know it was Rantanen until the last moment.
Take this however you wish: the Blackhawks have two sick defensemen and just traded a forward. They’re at 12 healthy forwards on the NHL roster. Meanwhile, the IceHogs sent a forward and defenseman to Indy on Friday only to bring them back on Saturday (according to the AHL’s transaction log)…Hey how about some Blackhawks prospect highlights?
Minnesota skated to a 3-3 tie with Michigan State in East Lansing. Sam Rinzel had an assist in the game. Another strong night for Blackhawks prospects in the OHL. Jack Pridham the game-winning goal on the power play with 1:23 left in regulation for Kitchener.Saturday night ? for #Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham for @OHLRangers pic.twitter.com/WhSgGOmFTa
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 26, 2025 Blackhawks prospects had a big night for Brantford. Nick Lardis scored his 40th and 41st goals of the season. Here they are:Saturday night ? for #Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis for @BulldogsOHL That’s 40 goals on the season for Lardis! pic.twitter.com/EbivMZy2Xy
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 26, 2025TWO ?? goals tonight for #Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis for @BulldogsOHL He has 41 now this season pic.twitter.com/ZI064l8Kzl
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 26, 2025 Mark Vanacker also scored for Brantford. The Bulldogs lost 6-3 and all three goals came from Blackhawks prospects.Saturday night ? for #Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker for @BulldogsOHL pic.twitter.com/QqvPNQNXg1
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 26, 2025MORE FROM BLEACHER NATION: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter
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