The Blackhawks Are BACK
No, not "back" back like they're winning Cups, but back in national relevance. Back in the hearts and minds of Chicago sports fans. For the first time since 2017 it felt like the entire internet was locked into the Chicago Blackhawks. The amount of tweets from strangers and texts from friends last night was staggering. It was fun. Even the haters, of which there will be many as time goes along, were back
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All of that is a GREAT thing. We want new fans. We want casual fans. We want the diehards caring. We want the city and the league buzzing. National TV against the greatest player from the past 18 years. It was perfectly scripted to the point that I couldn't even believe it. 4 straight unanswered goals and a road win against a team that has playoff aspirations. Incredible. I would've been happy with a 5-2 loss with Bedard and the other rookies looking like they belong. We got much more than that and I can't wait to get another taste tonight. National TV...again. The Hawks are back. It's going to be a long road to the top, but it's exciting to get in on the ground floor. If this group plays hard, plays organized, and gives us a few wow moments every night then I will be more than satisfied. It feels great to be excited about the Blackhawks again.
LOOSE PUCKS
-- Bedard belongs at this level. Clearly had a few jitters early in the game, but settled in nicely and wasn't shy out there. He shot the puck a ton. He had it a ton. He created. He was sound defensively. It was a great first showing. He was part of a team win. Not the reason the team won. He's only going to get better. He won't win the Art Ross overnight, but he certainly didn't look like an 18 year-old playing his first game.
--Bedard should be on the right side of the PP. I don't know why they're set up with him on the left. I actually kind of hate it. It bothered me. It feels good to actually care about shit like this again, but with that shot and his mobility he should be attacking downhill with the puck on his stick. If it's a function of making the pass from the top of the PP setup from Jones easier because Jones is a right shot, then take Jones off of PP1 and put Korchinski there. Bedard is the most important player on the PP. It should be run through him and catered to him.
--All three rookie defensemen played well. It's nice that each of Vlasic, Korchinski, and Kaiser was paired with a veteran mentor that compliments what each of them are good at. They need at least one of those guys to become legitimate top 4 type defensemen. They all looked like they belonged. I really like the Jones-Vlasic pairing. They're both just so long and can break up plays.
--Even though the Blackhawks top line basically never won a faceoff, they still managed to get it back and controlled the play.
--I don't think there was a single point in the game where I felt like the Hawks were getting hemmed in or dominated. They essentially ran four lines and the game was even all night.
--Mrazek was sensational. One of his best games as a Blackhawk. Obviously he won't play like that every night, but a combination of depth, effort, intelligence, a strong top line, and good goaltending will make the Blackhawks tough to beat all year long.
I am getting the feeling that this is going to be an easy team to fall in love with. All I care about is playing hard and playing smart. The Blackhawks did that. Sprinkle in a few wow moments and it's going to be an extremely fun year.
Mid Show will talk Hawks tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has supported the show on our way to 100K subscribers. Incredible growth in the last year and a ton more to come going forward. Love you guys.