Birthday boy. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Today is Brandon Bollig‘s birthday. He turns 26 today.

I guess that, since it’s his birthday, I should be nice and not mention that I wish he was back in Rockford, terrorizing the AHL with his limited skills.

I guess I shouldn’t say something like “Whatever you did to Coach Q, Jamal Mayers, please apologize for it so he can put you back in the lineup so we don’t have to suffer through another one of Bollig’s staged fights ever again.”

And I definitely shouldn’t wish Ben Smith a speedy recovery so he can eventually take Bollig’s place in the lineup if Coach Q is determined to keep Mayers in the doghouse for whatever petty, Coach Q-like reasons.

I should just be nice.

So… happy birthday, Bollig. I hope you get to celebrate by watching the game tomorrow from the comfort of Vancouver’s press box. I hear they have good popcorn in there.

(Oh, dammit, that was still mean, wasn’t it? Oh well. I don’t care enough to edit it.)

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Happy Birthday, Brandon Bollig!”

This picture is for Katie (@somehoosier). Hope you feel better.

Jonathan Toews will not be in the lineup for the game against the Minnesota Wild tomorrow. Boo. This is what he had to say:

“I’ll go on the trip and I’ll be excited to be back in the mix with the boys,” Toews said after Wednesday’s practice. “I’m practicing with them every day when they’re on the ice now. I’m getting closer and closer to getting back into the routine and schedule and being part of the group.” (Chicago Tribune)

Nick Leddy never wonders what could have been if the Wild hadn’t traded him. (CSN Chicago) Yeah, I’m going to keep bringing this up forever: Leddy and a dead guy for Cam Barker! Hahahaha!

The Blackhawks’ fan base had the largest percentage growth in the last year among all Chicago sports teams.

A survey of about 4,100 Chicago-area households showed 43 percent of respondents watched, listened to or attended a Blackhawks game during the 2011-12 season, up from 8 percent in 2007-08, according to New York-based market research company Scarborough Research.

The Blackhawks didn’t top the Bulls (46%), Cubs (50%), or the Bears (65%), but they did top the White Sox, who garnered 40%. We’re number 4! (Crain’s Chicago Business)

The Montreal Canadiens are searching for a new general manager, and Blackhawks assistant GM Marc Bergevin is on the list. (TSN.ca) Look, terrible Eastern Conference teams, could you stop attempting to poach our assistant GMs? First the Jets, and now the Habs? Come on.

What will become of Kyle Beach after this season? (ChicagoNow) Two words: peewee coach.

Now onto a prospect that might actually make the team next year: Brandon Saad‘s junior team, the Saginaw Spirit, have made it into the second round of the OHL playoffs thanks to him. They’ll be taking on the top team in the league, the London Knights. Good luck to the Spirit! (Midland Daily News)