Blackhawks Notebook: Prospect Showcase and Ladd’s Farewell

Many Chicago Blackhawks prospects are a day away from hitting the ice for practice to prep for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase this week. Rockford IceHogs head coach Anders Sorensen has been tasked with coaching the squad that will feature many of the Blackhawks top prospects.

The roster hasn’t been released but it doesn’t temper the excitement that is seeing the most recent draft picks in action. Better yet fans will be able to see Sunday’s game via livestream, which at this point, will serve as a nice distraction from the Bears.

Besides, it allows for Blackhawks fans to see Connor Bedard tooling around the ice.

Andrew Ladd Skates Into Retirement

After just over 1000 NHL games, former Blackhawks forward Andrew Ladd has called it a career. Ladd went to social media to make the announcement, thanking the teams he played for as well.

Ladd spent his first three seasons with Carolina and then went to the Blackhawks for a trade that sent Tuomo Ruutu the other way. Ladd played an important role in Chicago’s resurgence and captured the Cup with the team in 2010.  He then was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers and spent the next few seasons with them after they moved to Winnipeg.

The forward made his way back to Chicago in 2016-17, costing a first-round pick but his contribution wasn’t on par as in years past. Ladd finished his career out with the New York Islanders.

Blackhawks Preseason Schedule Reminder

The Blackhawks open up the preseason tilt in just over two weeks. They open up against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday September 28th before a pair of road games make way for a pair of homes games. The preseason finale is on October 7th in St. Louis.