Blackhawks Wrap: Preseason’s Greetings

After all the analysis, talk, mock drafts, scouting, and speculation, finally–finally(!), hockey begins. It’s only preseason but just a sampling of Blackhawks fans packing Fifth Third Arena to watch practice shows how excited they are for the future of the team. A single shot from Connor Bedard elicited an audible “ohhh” as it beat the netminder and banked off the back of the net.

Thursday marks the first game, albeit it preseason, which officially kicks off the Connor Bedard era in Chicago. The first game against Pittsburgh comes nearly two weeks to the day later, and then, mercifully, there’s six months of hockey that silences speculation and allows the chips to fall where they may.

Make no mistake, the Blackhawks are still in a rebuild and will likely be in it next season as well, barring some of the younger players blowing past projections significantly.

But the glimmer of hope that peeked through the shadows of a long rebuild after winning the draft lottery continues to glow.

CHN Top Ten Blackhawks Stories

1. Leadership again center stage as Taylor Hall explains his mentoring role with the Blackhawks
2. Kevin Korchinski is appearing more like he belongs with the big club. Korchinski’s words on staying in the moment and conquering the learning curve.
3. Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman holds the same esteem for Drew Commesso that the Blackhawks prospect holds for him
4. Head coach Luke Richardson knows what he has in Connor Bedard. So how will Bedard succeed when playing through the rigors of an NHL season?
5. Chris Chelios leaving a game midway through to drink with Michael Jordan? It most definitely happened
6. Kyle Davidson reiterated that his plan to rebuild the Blackhawks is alive and well–and will be a product of patience
7. No captain for the Blackhawks this season is precisely how it should be
8. The standouts from the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase went beyond #98
9. Nick Lardis looked great again despite the Blackhawks prospects falling 7-4
10. On Blackhawks camp opening and a look at the roster