NHL
Behind-the-scenes folks at NBC Sports Chicago, such as producers, directors and production technicians, would help ease the transition. The teams already have informed some current staffers that they would be making the move.
The Hawks will have a 13.5% chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick, which would allow them to select consensus top prospect Macklin Celebrini. The lottery will be held in early May.
The veteran defenseman isn’t sure why, but his play and production improved significantly after Jan. 13 the last two seasons.
The teams’ contract with rights holder NBC Sports Chicago expires in October, though there’s a possibility that the sides could agree to a six-month extension, in which case Stadium would take over when the Sox begin play next year.
The Hawks averaged 18,836 fans in 2023-24, an increase of about 1,700 over last season. Plus, notes on Petr Mrazek, the world championships and Kevin Korchinski.
The Hawks’ newly signed top prospect buried a first-period goal, but the Hawks let a third-period lead slip away in a 4-2 defeat Sunday that concluded their home schedule.
Nazar, the 2022 first-round pick whose sophomore season at Michigan just ended Thursday, is expected to play in the Hawks’ final three games of the season, starting with the home finale Sunday against the Hurricanes.
The rookie defenseman logged 18:35 of ice time Friday on a pairing with Connor Murphy, who returned after his long injury absence, but there wasn’t much else of note in the Hawks’ 5-1 loss.
Seth Jones sees similarities between Korchinski now and Josi when he was younger, and Korchinski has looked at Josi’s shot as something to learn from in the NHL.
Raddysh’s production has declined precipitously, but he has handled the frustration in healthy ways without letting it affect others — while also adding penalty-killing to his repertoire.
Vlasic has spent more time defending guys like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon — the latter of whom he would give his hypothetical MVP vote — than just about anyone, and he has delivered fantastic results in spite of that brutal workload.
The Hawks conceded four goals in the first seven minutes en route to a 5-2 defeat Wednesday, their ninth loss in their last 10 trips to St. Louis.
Athanasiou finally found the net Saturday, but he hasn’t been as productive in the few games for which he has been healthy. That he signed a two-year contract last summer works out well for him, though.
The Hawks have just five games left in the season — against the Blues, Predators, Hurricanes, Golden Knights and Kings — and their front office’s focus has begun shifting toward prospects playing high-stakes games in the AHL and elsewhere.
The top two candidates for the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award faced each other head-to-head Sunday, but the outcome did nothing to quiet the raging debate.
The Hawks struggled to get or maintain any puck possession in a 4-0 defeat Sunday. Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt, making just his second career start, gave the Hawks their 13th shutout loss of the season.
Luke Richardson sent Bedard over the boards for the harrowing final shift of the Hawks’ win Saturday, and he rewarded that trust by making two smart clearances. Plus, notes on Taylor Raddysh and more.
The Hawks held on for a 3-2 victory Saturday and now stand 8-6-0 since March 5. They’ve beaten plenty of bad teams during that period, but the Stars represent a far tougher opponent.
Murphy hasn’t played since Jan. 13 due to Osteitis pubis, a condition which involves inflammation in the joint between his two pubic bones. He’s hoping to return in time to play a few games before the season ends.
It has been a superb week for Blackwell, not only because of his Masterton nomination but also because he’ll rejoin the Hawks’ lineup Saturday against the Stars after missing six games with an arm injury.
The Hawks once seemed destined for a historically awful season at the faceoff dot, but their 46.3% winning percentage doesn’t even rank last in the NHL. Dickinson has emerged as their go-to draw-taker, and the team overall has improved since January.
When Hawks president of business operations Jaime Faulkner learned of the success of the NHL’s first animated game last year, she pressed the league to give her team the chance to produce one locally.
Since Bedard returned from his fractured jaw on Feb. 15, he has drawn 10 penalties, four more than any Hawk and tied for 11th in the NHL.
Mrazek has been durable and stellar for the Hawks all season and has now matched his career high in starts, set way back in 2015-16. The veteran goalie was solid again Tuesday, but the Islanders rallied to edge the Hawks 2-1.
Slaggert has tried to emulate Lee’s net-front abilities and leadership since he was 8 years old, watching Lee’s Notre Dame freshman season. They faced each other for the first time in the NHL on Tuesday.
Coach Luke Richardson simply wanted to try Bedard and Jason Dickinson together, and Dickinson’s faceoff acumen and defensive skills made him the logical choice to center the line. Nothing is cemented as far as how long the new-look first line will last.
The frequency of losing throughout Johnson’s three-year tenure in Chicago has worn on him, but coach Luke Richardson praises the 33-year-old veteran for speaking up and often asking questions in team meetings.
Reichel scored for the first time since December and had multiple points for the first time this season, helping the Hawks pull away for a 5-1 victory Saturday.
This month, the Hawks’ rookie defenseman has much more closely resembled his impressive October form than his slumping November form.
Richardson generally has succeeded with his top priorities — developing players individually, maintaining morale and unity and talking about the importance of work ethic, togetherness and making smart decisions — in spite of his awful win-loss record.