The Blackhawks play hockey in Utah tonight
Spreading the Book of Hossa one win at a time
Tonight, we officially have our first 2024 regular season Blackhawks game.
I was tempted to write something up for Monday morning concerning the blowout on Friday. Even had it all typed out. But the world doesn’t need more ruminations about preseason games where all conclusions lead to the same place:
It doesn’t matter until the regular season.
Preseason solidified concerns about this team. Am I worried? No. And the result of tonight’s game, good or bad, won’t move the needle in either direction1. One game won’t tell us a lot. But the Hawks do need to start on the right foot.
A strong first impression is everything. Right, Reichel?
The Hawks aren’t playing for anything this season, again. Except for making sure they win enough games to keep Hawk fans from increasing their anxiety medication dosage.
Hawks @ Utah
A reminder that there is no way I’m going to do previews or even recaps for every game. Especially starting next week.
Utah
We don’t have recent games to go off of, obviously. But Utah, formerly the Coyotes, are playing their first game in franchise history in Salt Lake.
Last season, the Coyotes got off to a surprising start before the reality of who they really are set in. Of course, a lot of off-ice noise contributed to that, but you can’t pin that on the players.
Their first line features newly appointed Captain, Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton, and old friend Nick Schmaltz. Great opportunity for Hayton to prove himself if he starts as the 1st line center tonight.
Logan Cooley is looking to have a breakout season after having a pretty mild run at the Calder last season. And I’m not saying that he’s a mild player. He looked good in his rookie season. Cooley is centering the second line with Jack McBain and Dylan Guenther.
The Utah Hockey Clubbers have nice depth on the wings but are lacking down the middle, especially with Nick Bjugstad on IR.
The blueline is where things get really interesting for the Yotes Hockey Club. After acquiring Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay, the top pairing which also features Sean Durzi looks solid.
Utah also acquired John Marino who’s sitting tonight out due to an injury.
While Utah isn’t a playoff team this season, at their absolute best they can be one of those teams that somehow sneak in. I highly doubt that despite what The Athletic says, they have them making the playoffs with a 51% chance.
Hawks
The opening night roster is interesting.
Particularly that first line.
Ben Pope went on to tweet the following:
Richardson on first-line Mikheyev: "Still trying things. I know camp's over, but we thought a little speed on the first line for some forechecking and getting pucks back, it'll be great for that line. But it'll also let us use Kurashev in the middle on the second line."
I think looking at Ilya Mikheyev going up there starts with Philipp Kurashev being the 2nd line center. I didn’t think Kurashev looked great at center during preseason, but he’s certainly a better choice than Andreas Athanasiou (who’s scratched). Who else are you going to put there?
Taylor Hall played very well with Kurashev, so if Luke sees that connection being strong enough to keep Hall there, I guess you throw Mikheyev on the 1st line? Tyler Bertuzzi is a better fit, and he’ll get to play there. It’s just interesting that Mikheyev gets slotted there because of his speed when Bertuzzi’s skill set makes much more sense…
We’ll see how that goes.
Not sure how much offense that top-six will generate.
I’m not going to be a fan of the blueline this season. Alex Vlasic has played with TJ Brodie during preseason, so that’s not a surprise. Although Vlasic should be on the top line with Seth Jones, Luke is spreading things out.
Nolan Allan will make his NHL debut, which is good. Isaak Phillips was placed on waivers which means he’ll get sent to Rockford when Wyatt Kaiser is back in the lineup. Not too big on Phillips, I don’t really see him having a future with the Hawks. I also think the time for him to have value as a small trade piece has passed. The league already knows what they’re getting in him (hence, he cleared waivers).
Frank Nazar needs to prove that he doesn’t need to be in Rockford as soon as possible (I know it’s not happening any time soon). And let me be clear, I am not declaring this kid a bonafide 2nd line center already.
Tonight, the best we can hope for is a solid effort from the Hawks. If it is a loss, it cannot be a blowout that resembles anything from preseason or last season. I don’t care if we even win. Let’s have a good game.
Trash Bin
For all things not Hawks related.
The NHL has already started
The NHL season started last Friday with back-to-back games in Prague. Meanwhile, the preseason was just wrapping up on Saturday.
I’m sure there’s a lot of things that I don’t understand for the NHL debuting like this (again), but I think they need to do a better job. Sure, there’s the whole timezone change and giving the players enough time to acclimate when they return. But by the time preseason closed on Saturday night, the NHL was already two games in.
It’s just weird.
The Devils, by the way, spanked Buffalo 4-1 on Friday and 3-1 on Saturday. It’s only two games but I was hoping the Sabres had a stronger start out the gate. For New Jersey, I think they’re going to come back from last season with a vengeance.
I guess I should also make a Lindy Ruff joke now or something.
Shane GOES 2
April has been putting together a solid team. Shane O’Neill last put out a Shane Goes part 10 years ago. It’s been a minute but the 34 year still has it. Solid music choice and really good editing in this one. The only thing I thought was meh was the ender. Everything else though went HARD. Another great ledge skater that I posted here and he has beautiful flip tricks. The tre flip nosegrind nollie flip out at 4:06 was probably my favorite.
Also, Thrasher put this on their Instagram.
Jamie Foy SOTY.
Out.
Unless it’s a blowout