Blackhawks News

Blackhawks continue mastery of Flames
Comment
November 20
Calgary Herald
 
"The Calgary Flames act like victims of post-traumatic stress disorder every time they see the Chicago Blackhawks. Maybe they can't exorcise the mental picture of four losses last season to Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and the gang of young stars from the Windy City. Or maybe they have yet to emotionally recover from the first-round National Hockey League playoff ouster inflicted last spring by bruising Dustin Byfuglien and friends. Or perhaps their memories are short, and the distress simply dates back to last month when the Flames coughed up a 5-0 lead at the United Center and fell 6-5 to mark the greatest comeback in Blackhawks history. No matter. The Hawks have the Flames number. Big ..."
One Sad Dome blowout
Comment
November 20
Calgary Sun
 
"Waiting for the locker-room doors to open after the game, time stood still. It must have seemed even longer for the Calgary Flames players as they were addressed by their coaching staff after a brutal 7-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks last night at the Saddledome. "We've just got to play better. Compete harder. That's all it is," winger Eric Nystrom said of the lengthy gap between the final buzzer and the painful media interviews during which they tried to explain an effort that was inexplicable. "It's nothing to do with Xs and Os. That was just a bad effort." Embarrassing was the word thrown out by the Flames captain, and every one of his teammates would have to agree on that one. ..."
Five-goal second period fuels Hawks' rout of Flames
Comment
November 20
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks got their six-game road trip off to a rousing start Thursday, crushing the Calgary Flames 7-1 in a game that was all but decided after the second period. The Hawks snapped a 1-1 tie with five unanswered goals in the second in romping to their sixth straight win over Calgary. Kris Versteeg, who sat out the previous game with an upper body injury, scored twice for the Hawks in the second period barrage with Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Patrick Kane also scoring. The Blackhawks got their six-game road trip off to a rousing start Thursday, crushing the Calgary Flames 7-1 in a game that was all but decided after the second period. The Hawks snapped a 1-1 tie with five ..."
Chicago Blackhawks beat Calgary Flames 7-1
Comment
November 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"On a Thursday night when they scored a season-high seven goals, it was a Cristobal Huet save that got the Blackhawks rolling. The Hawks hammered the Flames 7-1 at the Pengrowth Saddledome to kick off their six-game trip in style. The victory was the Hawks' fifth straight and continued their dominance over Calgary, which they knocked out of the Western Conference quarterfinals last season after sweeping the four-game regular season series. It was also the against the Flames whom the Hawks staged a miracle comeback from a five-goal deficit to win 6-5 in overtime Oct. 12 at the United Center. They didn't return the favor here. Kris Versteeg had two goals and Patrick Kane added a goal and an ..."
Blackhawks eagerly anticipating return of Marian Hossa
Comment
November 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"With Marian Hossa's debut with the Blackhawks looming, coach Joel Quenneville is formulating plans on how to utilize the high-scoring winger. Hossa participated in the Hawks' morning skate before Thursday night's game against the Flames and is on track to play during the Hawks' six-game trip, most likely Wednesday against the Sharks in San Jose. "There are going to be a lot of options for a coach to have," Quenneville said. "He's going to get a lot of ice time. We're looking forward to him being useful in a lot of ways.""
And away they go: Trip presents stiff test
Comment
November 19
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The big contract extensions apparently coming soon to Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith could be a distraction to the Blackhawks as they begin a six-game trip tonight against the Calgary Flames. None of the players want that. ''The sooner the better [for the extensions to be signed],'' Kane said, ''but right now I'm just worried about playing hockey and the road trip coming up. We're on a bit of a roll and want to keep that going.'' The three stars don't know when their contracts will be finalized, and the club has yet to even comment on the matter, but there's no question about the Hawks being on a roll -- at least on home ice. They've won seven straight games at the United ..."
Patrick Kane growing up quickly on and off ice
Comment
November 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"It should be an interesting trip for Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks winger will celebrate his 21st birthday Thursday and then take the ice for the first of six games in some hostile environments, beginning in Calgary. "I don't even know if I'm going to be able to celebrate," Kane said. "We play (Thursday night) and we play again Saturday (in Edmonton). It might just be a low-key 21st birthday, but that's fine with me." While the celebration might be low-key, Kane expects the western Canada crowds to be anything but. It will be Kane's first games in the hockey-crazed area since his Aug. 9 arrest following an altercation with a taxi driver in his hometown of Buffalo. Kane pleaded guilty to ..."
10 steps along the way in transforming Chicago Blackhawks
Comment
November 19
Chicago Tribune
 columnist david Haugh
"Since John McDonough took over as team president on Nov. 20, 2007, here are the 10 most significant moments of his tenure, in chronological order. Dec. 19, 2007: The Hawks announce Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita will rejoin the team as ambassadors. April 2008: No April Fools' joke. On the 1st, the Hawks announce they will televise all 82 games. Four weeks later, the reach extends when the Hawks sign a three-year deal with WGN-AM to broadcast games. June 16, 2008: Healing another wound, Pat Foley is hired after a two-year hiatus to do play-by-play on TV. July 18, 2008: The team opens the door wider by holding a fan convention -- the only one of its kind in the NHL."
John McDonough's path success
Comment
November 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"John McDonough keeps the Blackhawks front office on message by reinforcing his personal tenets of good leadership that are familiar to anybody who has worked for him. Here they are: We're in the people business. A key executive skill is hiring great people. Be interesting and interested. Relationships and personality are essential keys to success. Dress like you mean business. Address sensitive issues immediately."
After two years at Chicago Blackhawks helm, John McDonough looking ahead
Comment
November 19
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"On the Jumbotron inside the United Center, Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook was being interviewed Sunday night moments after scoring the winning goal in overtime to beat the Sharks. From his suite, President John McDonough stopped applauding only long enough to shake hands with other excited members of the front office. Winning their fourth straight game against one of the NHL's best teams provided the perfect way for the Hawks to begin preparations for a six-game, 11-day trip that begins Thursday night in Calgary. Well, almost perfect. As Seabrook spoke on the giant scoreboard, McDonough noticed something. "See," McDonough said, nodding to the image of Seabrook's side profile. "He ..."
Hawks using the same sign language
Comment
November 18
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It's no secret that Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman wants to sign Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith to long-term contracts before they become restricted free agents after this season. The Hawks still would have the right to match offers any of the three might receive from other clubs if that happened, but all three strongly stated after practice Tuesday that they want to remain with the Hawks for the long term. Recent published reports even suggested their signings are imminent, but that might be wishful thinking on the part of both the players and the team. There was no sign of signings after the workout Tuesday. ''I guess there's a little bit of a rumor out there,'' ..."
Just few loose ends remain on 3 Chicago Blackhawks extensions
Comment
November 18
Chicago Tribune
 
"From their first Prospects Camp in the summer of 2007, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have experienced just about everything in their Blackhawks careers together. Now that the young forwards are poised to sign contract extensions, fittingly they likely will do so at the same time. With just some loose ends to tie up, Toews and Kane are expected to sign five-year deals worth $6 million annually, according to TSN in Canada. Defenseman Duncan Keith will sign a 13-year deal, also according to TSN, for less money annually. Thus the club will keep the potential restricted free agents long term. "It's nicer to get it done all at the same time rather than one guy and then another and then maybe ..."
Hawks hope for high mark on West test
Comment
November 17
Daily Southtown
 
"About all the Blackhawks did Monday was send Bryan Bickell back to Rockford again and savor their seven-game winning streak at the United Center. After a day off the ice they return to practice today at Johnny's Ice House. Bickell had another solid game in his third one-game call-up from from the minors, going plus-2 in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win over the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks. Whether he'll be needed on the upcoming two-week road trip remains to be seen, but the Hawks will need all the help they can get when the challenging journey begins Thursday at Calgary. Last season the Hawks were 7-4-5 before the traditional long road trip when a circus takes over the United ..."
Hawks set to sign Kane, Toews, Keith to new contracts
Comment
November 17
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks are set to sign young stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to contract extensions, a source close to the organization confirmed Monday. The announcement of the signing of the forwards, both restricted free agents after the season, is expected in the next day or two before the team leaves for a 10-day, six-game trip beginning Thursday night in Calgary. In addition, the Hawks are said to be near an agreement with defenseman Duncan Keith, and the team could announce all three signings as early as Tuesday. There has been much speculation that the Hawks would not be able to sign the players because of salary-cap concerns for the 2010-11 season, but general manager Stan Bowman ..."
Chicago Blackhawks say 'thank you' to ex-Shark Jeremy Roenick
Comment
November 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Pregame event honors Roenick's time in Chicago CHICAGO — It was Jeremy Roenick Heritage Night at the United Center, and it's no accident that the team that gave Roenick his first chance in the NHL was playing the team that gave him his final chance. "They asked me what game," Roenick said before the pregame event, "and this is kind of a good way for me to give thanks to both teams." The Blackhawks began their Heritage Night series last season to better connect the present with the past, and those honored so far include Tony Amonte, Glenn Hall, Steve Larmer and Bob Probert. Roenick was Chicago's first-round draft pick in 1988 and immediately made the team. He scored 267 goals and 329 ..."
San Jose Sharks lose in overtime to Chicago Blackhawks
Comment
November 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The pattern was starting to look familiar. For the second consecutive night, the Sharks gave up the first goal and came back to score the next three — including two less than a minute part. But the Chicago Blackhawks are playing much better hockey these days than the St. Louis Blues. And the Sharks left the United Center on the wrong end of a 4-3 overtime loss rather than another 3-1 victory. "We could have been better. We could have had the two points," Sharks forward Ryane Clowe said. "We had the opportunities." Not that there weren't positive things for players to focus on. Playing the second of back-to-back games on the road, San Jose extended its stretch of contests without a ..."
Salute the United greats
Comment
November 16
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks have had some big wins in the first six weeks, but the 4-3 overtime victory Sunday over the San Jose Sharks was a real eye-opener. The Hawks overcame a two-goal deficit against the best team in the Western Conference in the last game of a four-game homestand. Brent Seabrook's second overtime game-winner of the season got the job done as the Hawks won their seventh consecutive game at the United Center. The last time they had a streak that long on home ice was in 2002. As for the Sharks, their point streak is now at 12 games (9-0-3), but the overtime loss should get them thinking as the Hawks pay them a visit in the fourth game of their upcoming six-game road trip on Nov. 25. ..."
For you viewers at home ...
Comment
November 16
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Anyone who follows sports -- and hockey in particular -- knows by now the iconic Blackhawks are a team that has been transformed in the last couple of years -- thanks in large part to an aggressive management team with a smart game plan AND a group of hockey players that just happens to know how to play the game pretty well. So it is not altogether surprising that the Blackhawks also would want to be on the cutting edge, so to speak, as far as how the organization caters to advertisers looking to have a presence on game telecasts on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Those telecasts, by the way, are rapidly gaining in viewership -- the rating for Blackhawks games on CSNC in October this year ..."
Ex-Chicago Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick not happy about disarray NHLPA is in
Comment
November 16
Chicago Tribune
 
"Even though he has retired after playing 20 years in the NHL, former Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick is still taking shots. Roenick, who dropped the ceremonial first puck as part of the Hawks' Heritage Night series before Sunday night's game, didn't hold back when discussing the disarray in which the NHL Players' Association finds itself. The NHLPA fired executive director Paul Kelly on Aug. 31 and he was succeeded on an interim basis by Ian Penny, who resigned on Oct. 30. "It's been a mess for years and years and years," said Roenick, who played the first 524 games of his career with the Hawks. "I don't think people we've had in there before Paul Kelly were helping it at all. There are a lot of ..."
Chicago Blackhawks rally to beat San Jose Sharks 4-3 in overtime
Comment
November 16
Chicago Tribune
 
"Brent Seabrook screamed at the top of his lungs. Jonathan Toews heard him. The rest is history as the Blackhawks rallied to defeat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in overtime Sunday night at the United Center. Toews found Seabrook with a pass and the defenseman fired it in from the edge of the right circle to give the Hawks a sweep of their four-game homestand, their fourth consecutive win overall and seventh in a row at home. The win, in front of a season-high crowd of 21,130, gives the Hawks momentum heading into a six-game, 11-day trip through western Canada and California that begins Thursday night in Calgary. "I didn't see (Seabrook) but I just heard him screaming like a girl almost, so I ..."
Penalty-killers doing the job Allowing fewer power plays key to Blackhawks ranking No. 1 in NHL
Comment
November 15
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Forgive Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville for being a bit superstitious considering his team has killed 17 consecutive power plays and hasn't surrendered a power-play goal in six games. ''Knock on wood,'' Quenneville said after a short workout Saturday in preparation for the game tonight against the San Jose Sharks at the United Center. ''The guys are working well together.'' So well, in fact, that the Hawks have been the NHL's top-ranked penalty-killing team for nearly a week. They've been short-handed 64 times and have allowed only eight power-play goals, a kill percentage of 87.5. Last season, the Hawks killed off 80.6 percent of opposing power plays and aimed to improve on that. ''Last ..."
Chicago Blackhawks to honor Jeremy Roenick
Comment
November 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"After a career spanning 20 years and more than 1,500 NHL games, it seems only natural for the now-retired Jeremy Roenick to miss playing. "I actually don't miss it," Roenick said. "I spent 20 years of my life giving every ounce of energy and drop of blood in my body devoted to my career. You play for so long and play so hard your body gets tired, your mind gets tired. "My love and passion for the game is still alive and well, and probably always will be, but you realize it's such a tough and physically demanding sport you can do it for only so long." Roenick, a nine-time All-Star and two-time Olympian, will find out Sunday night how much the city where he began his NHL odyssey misses him. ..."
Ex-Leaf Saganiuk giving back to game
Comment
November 14
Toronto Sun
 
"Rocky Saganiuk is still leaving his mark on hockey. One of the most popular Maple Leafs of the late 1970s and early '80s, Saganiuk is now a youth hockey development director in the Chicago area. Through his Rocky Hockey school and the Chicago Hawks double-A team, he has helped about 4,000 kids in the area get into the sport. "Chicago and the surrounding area has the second biggest minor hockey enrollment after Detroit," Saganiuk said yesterday, as he watched his old team practice at the United Center. "When I was finishing up (a nine year playing and coaching career) in Scotland, (sports agent) Mike Barnett asked me about running three rinks they had going here. I'd had about 13 ..."
Two little, too late
Comment
November 14
Toronto Sun
 
"Just like the old days, it takes a special kind of team to survive the first few minutes of hockey here after the Star Spangled Banner rocks the house. The Maple Leafs aren't yet at that level of confidence, though they can still give their old Norris Division rivals a scare. They were outshot 20-12 in the first period and down 2-0 with a disallowed goal thrown in, en route to a 3-2 loss, their 14th in 17 games. But two Phil Kessel goals and a good effort from Vesa Toskala made the Central Division leaders sweat out the result before a season-high 21,036 at the United Center, a 62nd consecutive sellout. "Not good enough," defenceman Tomas Kaberle said. "(Poor first periods), that's been ..."
Leafs subdued by impressive Blackhawks
Comment
November 14
Toronto Star
 
"Two superb individual efforts almost helped the Maple Leafs catch one of the NHL's top teams napping. But what Vesa Toskala and Phil Kessel were able to achieve - Toskala played his finest game of the season, Kessel scored two more goals to continue to impress - wasn't enough to help the Leafs successfully come back from three goals down to beat the powerful Chicago Blackhawks on home ice Friday night. The 3-2 final was probably indicative of the overall measure of the game, but there are few teams in the NHL that can consistently spot opponents three-goal leads and turn defeat into victory. Maybe none."
Leafs take another step back
Comment
November 14
Toronto Star
 
"Two superb individual efforts almost helped the Maple Leafs catch one of the NHL's top teams napping. But what Vesa Toskala and Phil Kessel were able to achieve – Toskala played his finest game of the season, Kessel scored two more goals to continue to impress – wasn't enough to help the Leafs successfully come back from three goals down to beat the powerful Chicago Blackhawks on home ice Friday night. The 3-2 final was probably indicative of the overall measure of the game, but there are few teams in the NHL that can consistently spot opponents three-goal leads and turn defeat into victory. Maybe none."
Home free at the UC
Comment
November 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Home-ice advantage won't belong to the Blackhawks much longer, but they're certainly enjoying it for the time being. The Toronto Maple Leafs became the Hawks' sixth straight victim at the United Center on Friday night, falling 3-2 before 21,036 -- the largest crowd of the season. Only the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks remain on the current homestand, however. They visit on Sunday, and then the Hawks go on a six-game road trip. ''Winning these games is huge,'' said center John Madden, who was dazzling on faceoffs with 13 wins in 16 tries. ''We need to put up some points before going on the road trip. We need to put some room between us and the other teams. We know how tight our ..."
Blackhawks stop Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2
Comment
November 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"With the circus slowly making its way toward the United Center, the Blackhawks are on a mission to pile up as many points as they can at home before heading to Western Canada next week. The Hawks extended their home winning streak to six games Friday night with a 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs before a season-high 21,036 at the United Center. Duncan Keith had a goal and an assist, Patrick Kane and Troy Brouwer scored and Cristobal Huet earned the victory in net in the matchup between Original Six teams. The victory was the Hawks' third consecutive overall and their fifth in a row over the Leafs as they improved to 11-5-2 and 9-2-1 at home. It's the Hawks' longest home winning streak ..."
Campbell believes points will come
Comment
November 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"After a scorching start to the season, points have been few and far between for Brian Campbell. The Blackhawks' veteran defenseman had a goal and six assists in the first seven games but just two assists in the last 11 contests, including Friday night's 3-2 victory over the Maple Leafs at the United Center. Despite those numbers, Campbell remains upbeat. "I feel like I'm playing my best hockey," he said. "The chances are there every night. I need to turn a few goalposts into goals. There are stretches you go through. I'm not too worried about it." Campbell is logging big time on the back end, playing 20 minutes, 36 seconds of plus-1 time Friday. He's a plus-3 overall and has been ..."
Blackhawks are franchise on the rise
Comment
November 13
Toronto Sun
 
"The last point of pride for Cup-starved Maple Leafs fans -- that the Blackhawks have gone longer without a title -- is no longer a sure thing. The teams put their duelling curses of 40-plus years on the table tonight in a rare meeting, but that's where the similarities end. A quick look at the pre-game notes shows the Hawks 11 points ahead of the Leafs and sitting atop the Central Division. As many predicted, it hasn't taken long since the end of the Bill Wirtz era for Chicago to restore its native American chief logo to an NHL force. After a strong 2008-09 season, the Hawks now own the league's best home record, have sold out the United Center 61 consecutive times and haven't even used ..."
Resurgent Blackhawks ride winds of change
Comment
November 13
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"It's a two-hour flight into anonymity. See, while the Maple Leafs, even in a losing season, are at the centre of many or most sporting debates in the GTA these days that don't involve the court-worthiness of Quincy Douby, they can come to the City of Broad Shoulders and in a heartbeat be quite unimportant and invisible."
Blackhawks, NHL on solid ice
Comment
November 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Sure, these are tough economic times. Just don't tell the NHL or, more specifically, the Blackhawks. According to a Forbes magazine report released this week, the NHL had its most profitable year in 2008-09 and team values rose $3million to an average of $223 million. The Hawks, however, increased in value the most. They had ranked 14th in 2007-08, with a value of $205 million. Last year, their value climbed to $258 million -- a whopping 26 percent increase. So, the Hawks now rank seventh in financial value among the 30 NHL teams. While that represents a big climb, the Hawks are still last among the circuit's Original Six franchises, those that date back to the first faceoffs in 1926. The ..."
Kane, Byfuglien going for some rings tonight
Comment
November 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien insist that the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the United Center is just another regular-season game. For them, though, it might be a bit more than that. They're on the preliminary Team USA roster for February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Team USA general manager Brian Burke is also the Leafs' GM, and the Team USA coach is Ron Wilson, in his first season directing the Leafs. Tonight's game is the only meeting between the Hawks and Leafs before the final Team USA roster is announced Jan. 1, so it may be the best opportunity for Kane and Byfuglien to impress the Team USA leadership. Neither player wants to think of it that way, but Hawks ..."
Chicago Blackhawks penalty killers tops in NHL
Comment
November 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks' penalty killers have really come to the fore this season as the top unit in the NHL. "We're working really hard and we're blocking a lot of shots," said defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. "You have to outwork the other team even if you're just four guys." The unit ranks No. 1 in the NHL entering Thursday's action with an 87.1 percent success rate (8 of 62) while down a man and that has helped the Hawks to a 10-5-2 record. "The biggest thing we're doing is sacrificing our bodies," Brent Seabrook said. "It's not just one or two guys, it's all of us." After being tied for 17th in the NHL at 80.6 percent last season, the turnaround has been dramatic. The Hawks haven't allowed a ..."
Extra time just fine by Hawks
Comment
November 12
Daily Southtown
 
"It would have been understandable for the Blackhawks to expect a long night Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche at the United Center. Their first meeting of the season went nine rounds into a shootout - the longest in Hawks history - and the second went eight rounds. Both were decided by 4-3 scores, the Hawks winning the first Oct. 10 and the Avalanche the second Friday. ''Just a coincidence,'' Hawks goaltender Cristobal Huet said. ''It's not that often that you go that deep in a shootout against the same team. They were entertaining games for the fans to watch, and shootouts are part of the game now. A point is on the line, so they're very important and fun when you win.'' ..."
Avalanche put positive spin on shootout loss
Comment
November 12
Denver Post
 
"Matt Duchene struck more iron than a blacksmith Wednesday night, and that was a big reason the Avalanche was on the losing end of a 3-2 shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks. Duchene, the heralded Avs rookie, hit the post three times, and by his own estimation has hit 10 this season. Two of his three came in the final minutes of regulation, allowing the Blackhawks to best the Avs in the shootout - the third one in three meetings with Colorado this season. "I don't think we can be too disappointed in that loss. We played a heck of a game, one of the better games I think we've played all year," Duchene said. "But it's tough to swallow not getting that extra point. I thought I had it with a ..."
Extra time, as usual
Comment
November 12
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Long, nail-biting games have become commonplace when the Blackhawks face the Colorado Avalanche, and Wednesday's meeting at the United Center was typical of that. For the third time in as many meetings the two teams went to a shootout, but at least this one wasn't as long as the others. The Hawks needed just their three shooters to claim a 3-2 win -- their fifth straight victory at the United Center in a game played before 20,879, the 61st home sellout in a row. ''We finished them off real early compared to the other games,'' said captain Jonathan Toews, the first Hawk to convert in the shootout. Patrick Sharp was the other. It was another long night against the Avalanche, who lead the ..."
Sharp's shootout goal lifts Blackhawks over Avs
Comment
November 12
Boston Globe
 
"Patrick Sharp scored in the third shootout round Wednesday night, lifting the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche -- the third straight game between the teams decided in a tiebreaker. It was the first time the teams didn't need to go to extended shootouts. Chicago won in nine rounds on Oct. 10, and Colorado won in eight last Friday."
Marian Hossa to begin contact practices
Comment
November 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"Marian Hossa has another big hurdle to clear before he can make his Blackhawks debut. The veteran winger, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, said Wednesday he will begin contact drills during practice soon. "I feel better and better every day and probably (Thursday) or Friday for first contact," said Hossa, who has been practicing with teammates with no checking. "There will be a little contact, not a full one yet but a little one, and that's going to be a good test. If I pass that I can go to full contact." Hossa, who led the Red Wings with 40 goals last season before signing a 12-year, $62.8 million contract with the Hawks, is expected to make his debut during the team's ..."
Chicago Blackhawks beat Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in shootout
Comment
November 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"With another date against the Avalanche looming, coach Joel Quenneville had the Blackhawks practice shootouts during Tuesday's practice. That proved prescient as the Hawks and Avalanche decided their third consecutive game this season in a shootout Wednesday night at the United Center. Patrick Sharp scored the shootout winner to help lift the Hawks to a 3-2 victory before a crowd of 20,789. The triumph was the Hawks' second straight on their four-game homestand and improved their record to 10-5-2. "When we tied it up in the third period I think everybody had a hunch it was going to go to overtime and a shootout," said Sharp, who beat Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson with a forehand shot ..."
Avalanche's Hejduk might return tonight vs. Blackhawks
Comment
November 11
Denver Post
 
"Milan Hejduk, a late scratch against Edmonton on Sunday with a back problem, didn't practice Tuesday with the Avalanche at the Family Sports Center. But coach Joe Sacco said that primarily was precautionary and he was "hopeful" Hejduk would be able to play against the Blackhawks tonight in Chicago. "He came in this morning, and he was feeling much better than before the game against Edmonton," Sacco said after practice, which followed Monday's day off for the team. "We decided to keep him off (Tuesday)." Also, winger Darcy Tucker and defenseman Tom Preissing went through the full practice and are at least possibilities to play against the Blackhawks. Tucker immediately lost consciousness, ..."
Bolland shelved by back surgery shelves Bolland
Comment
November 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks lost Marian Hossa and Adam Burish to surgery before their first regular-season game. Now they've got their first surgery patient of the regular season. Coach Joel Quenneville announced that second-line center Dave Bolland would undergo back surgery following the team's practice on Tuesday. The surgery was scheduled for Tuesday night, but the Hawks offered no other details. Bolland had missed the last two games, but it had been clear since before training that he had a health problem. Last season, Bolland's first full one in the NHL, he played in 81 of 82 regular-season games and all 17 playoff games. He was a big part of the Hawks' run to the Western Conference finals. Even ..."
Blackhawks lose Dave Bolland for 4 months
Comment
November 11
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks suffered a significant blow on both ends of the ice after Dave Bolland underwent surgery on his back Tuesday that could sideline the versatile center for up to four months. Bolland had been trying to play through the pain but missed three games this season, including the Hawks' last two, with the injury. "It was something he was dealing with throughout most of last year," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I don't think he was comfortable at the start of (this season)." Bolland, 23, has two goals and four assists in 13 games and is second among Hawks forwards in ice time, averaging 19 minutes 23 seconds per game. The fifth-year player also often drew the defensive ..."
Blackhawks notes
Comment
November 10
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The health report on second-line center Dave Bolland isn't encouraging. ''He hasn't made any progress,'' coach Joel Quenneville reported Monday after the morning skate. Bolland missed his third game and has been off the ice for four consecutive days with back problems. He's still listed as day-to-day, but Quenneville said Bolland is on ''a slower program — just more rest right now.'' With Jonathan Toews and Ben Eager back in the lineup, Jordan Hendry was no longer needed as a fill-in winger on the fourth line. Normally a defenseman, Hendry was the Hawks' lone healthy scratch. He had played in the previous seven games. The crowd of 20,293 extended the Hawks' string of sellouts at the United ..."
A triumphant return
Comment
November 10
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Apparently all it took to get the Blackhawks' power play working was the return of Jonathan Toews. The team captain returned from a six-game layoff to recover from a concussion and was on the ice for two third-period goals with the man advantage. Toews scored the second of the two, and they led to a solid 4-1 victory Monday over the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center. Until the third-period explosion, the Hawks had converted on three of their previous 33 power plays, a streak stretching back to the Oct. 15. It was 1-1 when Troy Brouwer scored on the first power play 93 seconds into the third period. Toews' goal followed at 5:04, thanks to a good bounce off the boards. ''I was coming ..."
Blackhawks beat Kings 4-1
Comment
November 10
Chicago Tribune
 
"First the Blackhawks welcomed Jonathan Toews and Ben Eager back to the lineup, and then they welcomed their power play back from whatever abyss it had sunk into. Sparked by the return of their captain, who missed nearly three weeks with a concussion, the Hawks played a solid game in all aspects as they defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Monday night at the United Center. The Hawks got two goals with a man advantage, including one by Toews, in the third period to break open a close game and improve their record to 9-5-2 in front of a crowd of 20,293. Troy Brouwer had a goal and two assists, and John Madden and Andrew Ebbett also scored. Goaltender Cristobal Huet made 17 saves to record ..."
Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews, Ben Eager return from concussions
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November 10
Chicago Tribune
 
"Jonathan Toews' long wait finally ended. So did Ben Eager's even longer wait. The Blackhawks forwards returned Monday night after recovering from concussions. Toews missed six games after taking a crunching check from the Canucks' Willie Mitchell on Oct. 21. "I thought I might only be (out) a couple of games," said Toews, who scored his second goal of the season in the third period of the Hawks' 4-1 victory over the Kings. "It just kept dragging out. You feel like you're very close to being 100 percent, but you know with any tiny, little symptom, it's not good to go out there and try and play through it. You don't know what you're risking. "It was hard, it was depressing and especially ..."
Toews, Eager look ready to return; Bolland still iffy
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November 9
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It wasn't a done deal after practice Sunday, but Jonathan Toews and Ben Eager are poised to return to the Blackhawks' lineup for the game tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center. Dave Bolland is another matter. The second-line center couldn't skate with the team for the second consecutive day because of his chronically sore back. Coach Joel Quenneville said Bolland is ''still day-to-day,'' but shutting him down for either a lengthy rest or surgery is looming as an option. ''We'll see. That's not where we're at right now,'' Quenneville said. Kris Versteeg again would move from wing to center if Bolland can't play. Toews, who has missed six games while recovering from a ..."
Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg moves to center
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November 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"In need of a center to fill in for an ailing Dave Bolland, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville looked to the left for a solution. Kris Versteeg, who has spent the bulk of his time playing left wing, has been shifted to center on a line with Patrick Kane and Andrew Ladd. "It's something I played when I was younger," said Versteeg, who also played a few games at center last season for the Hawks. "You just have to get adjusted to it again and go through the different routes that are out there and try to do the best of your ability." Bolland's balky back flared up again, and he missed Friday night's game against the Avalanche. He wasn't on the ice for Sunday's practice at the United Center. ..."
Chris Chelios hears cheers in return to Michigan
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November 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"Former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios travels to hockey arenas on buses these days instead of a private jet. And he stays in hotels geared for traveling businessmen, not the resorts and five-star accommodations that the Wings are known for staying at. Chelios, 47, returned to Michigan on Friday as a member of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. He's playing on a 25-game professional tryout contract in hopes of signing with an NHL team. Chelios said after the morning skate he wasn't worried about his reception at Van Andel Arena when he played against the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Wings' AHL affiliate."