CHN Daily
Jack’s Daily: Questionable Forwards; Devils Win Again; Ellis’ NHL Debut
After three much-needed days off, the Chicago Blackhawks return to action against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. Head coach Jeff Blashill, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach for the Lightning, faces off with his good pal Jon Cooper for the first time since taking over as the Blackhawks’ bench boss.
Also in Blackhawks news, Blashill could be without two key forwards in the lineup as he makes his return to Tampa Bay. Plus, four prospects who are already finding success while playing professional hockey.
Around the league, the New Jersey Devils picked up their sixth consecutive win, Colten Ellis made 27 saves in his NHL debut, and the New York Islanders fired their goaltending coach.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: The Blackhawks practiced in Tampa Bay on Wednesday ahead of tonight’s matchup, and Andre Burakovsky was absent from the session. Jason Dickinson, who missed Sunday’s 2-1 OT win over Anaheim, participated in some drills, but could be in jeopardy of missing his third game of the season. Here are the latest updates on the Blackhawks’ two key forwards.
More CHN: ICYMI, Blackhawks’ captain Nick Foligno is back with the team following his leave of absence. Foligno missed each of the last three games while spending time with his 12-year-old daughter, Milana, as she had to undergo a follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease. Nick provided a positive update on Milana’s status on Monday, and he appears to be making his return to the lineup against the Lightning.
More CHN: Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Spencer Knight have been crucial for the Blackhawks’ 3-2-2 start to the 2025-26 NHL season. However, they aren’t the only up-and-coming young players who are finding success while playing professional hockey. Four Blackhawks prospects are currently thriving at the pro level across different leagues.
Speaking of Blackhawks prospects, here’s a post that shows how many young players in the pipeline are off to red-hot starts to their respective seasons.
I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it again. The future is unbelievably bright for the Blckhawks.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: After a 3-3-0 start, the New York Islanders have apparently seen enough to make a change with their goaltending coach. Piero Greco is out, while Sergei Naumovs, who has a lengthy history with Islanders franchise goaltender Ilya Sorokin, steps into the role. The timing is odd, but Sorokin has struggled so far this season.
Sportsnet: Colten Ellis earned the win in his NHL debut on Wednesday, as he backstopped the Buffalo Sabres’ to a 4-2 victory and helped snap the Detroit Red Wings’ winning streak. Buffalo has now won three of the past four games.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Arseny Gritsyuk potted his first NHL goal, and Nico Daws recorded his first win of the season as the New Jersey Devils extended their winning streak to six games. Sheldon Keefe’s group is tied for the most points & best points percentage in the league.
Detroit Hockey Now: Emmett Finnie scored once again, while Dylan Larkin extended his point streak, but the Detroit Red Wings lost for the first time in nearly two weeks.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pittsburgh Penguins were expected to be part of the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes this season, but they’ve now won five of their opening seven games. There are still 75 contests remaining on the schedule, but has the narrative changed around what makes the 2025-26 campaign a successful one for the Penguins?
Forever Blueshirts: Trade rumors have been swirling around former first-round pick Brennan Othmann, but here is why the New York Rangers should hold onto the 22-year-old forward.
Montreal Hockey Now: Ivan Demidov and Mike Matheson played hero in the Montreal Canadiens’ 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. MHN breaks down the key takeaways from the contest, including the Flames needing a new arena.
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