Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr

And so, the last game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets as Central Division rivals ended the way it started this season — with a one-goal win by the Blackhawks.

(Except this one was via the shootout, which shouldn’t even be a thing, but whatever.)

» Continue reading “Ciao, Lumbus!: Chicago Blackhawks 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1 (SO)”

Pictured: A total badass. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The second game of a back-to-back is never all that pretty, but at times, this looked as awful as whatever animal is hiding out under Mike Smith‘s helmet this season.

Ray Emery‘s rebound control was nonexistent until well into the third period. Duncan Keith looked like Drunken Keith, and Brent Seabrook looked like he shared the bar tab with Keith.

» Continue reading “The Best Revenge Is Living Well: Blackhawks 6, Coyotes 4″

Ladies and gentlemen, start your Saad puns.

Brandon Saad is going to be on the Blackhawks opening night! (Chicago Tribune)

Some other dorks broke the roster, too. Namely Brandon Bollig and Andrew Shaw — wow, really? Will the Bollig-Shaw-Daniel Carcillo Shithead line become a reality?

See video of Saad talking to the Chicago Tribune after the jump.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Saad Cracks Opening Night Roster”

Dumbass! I’ve almost kind of missed you, sorta, but not really! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

It’s been a while since we’ve actually talked about Blackhawks hockey stuff on here, so there are some things you might have forgotten about. Let’s get everybody caught up!

• Daniel Carcillo is our dumbass for two more years.
• Ray Emery is here for another year.
• Jamal Mayers re-signed for another year, as well.
• Johnny Oduya re-signed for three years.
• Mike Haviland was fired from the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks hired Jamie Kompon, former assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings, to replace him.
• The Blackhawks signed two free agents over the offseason, Sheldon Brookbank and Michal Rozsival.
• Sami Lepisto is gone, but other than that, last year’s team is intact. Whether this is a good or bad thing remains to be seen.

And that’s what you forgot — or tried to forget — over this extended offseason!

Toews leads the team during practice. (Via @adamjahns/Twitter)

The NHL might be locked out, but that doesn’t stop the Blackhawks from getting a skate in.

Most of the team that has already made their way to Chicago — including Jonathan Toews, Jamal Mayers (who worked the whistle), Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland, Steve Montador, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger, and Sheldon Brookbank — skated in an informal practice today at Johnny’s Ice House West. Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, Adam Clendening, and Jeremy Morin also joined the group, along with ex-Blackhawks Brian Campbell, Ben Eager, and Troy Brouwer. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Funny thing about this lockout — the Blackhawks can go to Johnny’s Ice House West to practice, can wear their own practice sweaters — but they can’t use their locker room. (@TimSassone)

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Blackhawks Continue To Practice”

Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr

The Blackhawks were suspiciously quiet on the first day of free agency, as their only signing was defenseman Sheldon Brookbank, younger brother of Wade Brookbank, who spent some time in the organization (mostly with the IceHogs).

Here’s what Brookbank himself had to say about the deal, according to the Blackhawks:

“I’m really excited,” Brookbank said on a media call Sunday night. “Things happened quick here, but the Hawks were a team I hoped would have some interest in me. They’ve got a young team with a lot of potential here and they’re proven winners, so I’m happy to join and try to help get back there.”

…

“That’s one of the things they said they needed: a penalty-killing defenseman. I played penalty kill in the past few seasons, and it’s one of the roles on the team that I take pride in,” said Brookbank. “If I can help out the team that way, that’s what I’m doing.”

He averaged nearly two minutes per game on the penalty kill, which will probably prove useful once Daniel Carcillo returns to the team.

I would be greatly surprised if this was the last of the moves the Blackhawks make this summer, so keep watching this space.