Scott Powers

CHICAGO — rookie defenseman knew better than to start running his mouth a few minutes into his first game. Though defenseman partner had words with some of the , Del Mastro took on more of a spectator role and was there as a backup in case Murphy needed him. Advertisement “I think it was more so Murph, obviously he’s a little feisty out there,” Del Mastro said. “I think he was taking exception to something. I was just kind of standing there listening to what they were saying. I wasn’t obviou…

Which prospect has had the most impressive season? has to be up there. He was at a point game as a sophomore, helped Michigan to the Frozen Four, came up huge for Team USA in the World Junior Championship and is already translating his game to the . Minnesota’s freshman duo of Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel have to be in the discussion. Who knows what goal numbers Nick Lardis might have gotten in the OHL if he hadn’t gotten hurt? Paul Ludwinski had a bounce-back season. Gavin Hayes continues to pr…

Kyle Davidson is about to embark on this third offseason as general manager. In his first offseason, he began further executing his rebuild plan. He traded and and accumulated draft picks. He also weaponized his cap space by taking on and his contract from the for a draft pick. That year, Davidson drafted 11 players, including five players in the first two rounds. Advertisement In his second offseason, Davidson got lucky, won the NHL Draft Lottery and selected with the No. 1 pick. He also…

No player gained more respect and created more optimism within the dressing room this season than defenseman . ’s arrival may have altered the Blackhawks’ future, but he was exactly what they expected. He lived up to the hype. On the other hand, as Vlasic entered his first full season, no one was sure what to expect. Advertisement A season later, the 22-year-old Vlasic opened their eyes with his ability to extinguish opponents’ plays with his length, positioning and IQ. He did it against every…

We can all agree Lukas Reichel’s speed and quick hands are what make him an intriguing player. Sure, the spent a lot of time working with him in Rockford on being more reliable away from the puck, but that was to get him to a point where he wouldn’t be a liability. His offensive upside is what the Blackhawks are seeking to tap into. Advertisement So when Reichel’s offensive game disappeared this season, the weren’t sure what to do with him. Sit him? Play him? Move him up the lineup? Move him…

The question posed to general manager Kyle Davidson began with a statement that there would be no surprise player taken No. 1 at this year’s NHL Draft. Davidson interjected before the question was even over. “Do we?” Davidson said with a laugh at his recent end-of-season news conference. “We went through this last year, too.” Advertisement Despite the entire hockey world knowing the Blackhawks would pick after they won the draft lottery last year, Davidson stuck with tradition and didn’t publi…

A year after going their separate ways, the and Chicago Wolves are reuniting. The two teams have agreed to a three-year contract for the Wolves to become the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate again, the Hurricanes announced Thursday. The Wolves decided to become an independent AHL team after their affiliate contract with the Hurricanes ended after the 2022-23 season. The Wolves parted because they wanted more control of their roster. This season was a rocky one for the Wolves as they navigated not havi…

If the win the NHL Draft Lottery for the second consecutive year, no player may benefit more than . Of course, Bedard will be more than fine without the Blackhawks winning the lottery, but imagine what drafting Macklin Celebrini, the consensus No. 1 pick in 2024, would mean for Bedard and the Blackhawks. Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson surely has. Advertisement For one, Celebrini would likely become the Blackhawks’ top center. Bedard is probably more gifted offensively, but Celebrini has…

Standard Media Group in partnership with the , and will be the new television broadcast home for all three teams beginning in October, according to an internal document obtained by The Athletic. The media group is expected to make the network, which is unnamed, available across “multiple platforms,” including over-the-air and carriage agreements with cable and streaming providers. Advertisement NBC Sports Chicago is the current broadcast home for the Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox. The teams…

could have gotten more on a contract extension if he played to expectations this season, but he could have gotten less if the had wanted, given how he played this season. Instead, Reichel and the Blackhawks found middle ground. The team announced a two-year contract extension with a $1.2 million cap hit for Reichel on Tuesday. Advertisement From Reichel’s perspective, the contract gives him a few years of financial security and a two-year opportunity to prove he’s worth even more on his next de…