Blackhawks News and Rumors: Big road trip, Brosoit, Bedard and more – Hockey Writer – Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks ended a five-game losing streak against the Anaheim Ducks on November 30th. They now begin their December schedule with a four-game road trip, starting on December 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Before the puck drops, here are the latest news and rumors.
Blackhawks’ big road trip
This is a big trip for the Blackhawks. They trail the Seattle Kraken by one point in the standings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Putting up points against Vegas, the Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim, all teams that have clinched playoff spots in the Western Conference, speaks volumes.
Head coach Jeff Blashill said on Nov. 28 that they needed to play “good hockey” during this stretch, and their 5-3 comeback win over Anaheim seemed to give them the encouragement they needed.
Before they left, I talked to linebacker Louis Creville at an optional practice and asked them about the fun win the night before, “It was fun. I thought it was a big win for us, especially after that game. [They trailed 3-0 to start]. You know, you never get tired of just winning at the United Center. Very interesting. On a day like today, everyone is smiling, so it’s nice. ”
When I ask Crevier about the road trip mentality, “Personally, I always say [the] The whole road trip, you know, we had four games. This is also true for all good teams. So, I think consistency is what we have to bring. Facing such a strong team, there are no days off. So…it’s definitely a challenge. But it’s always a good test for us and we’re looking forward to it [to it]”.
The Blackhawks last took a long road trip in early November and posted a 3-2-1 record. Therefore, they want more.
Snowy time in Slagter
The Blackhawks have used an 11/7 lineup for much of the season, meaning forwards will be left out. Right now, those two are Landon Slagter and Sam Rafferty as they have been rotated in and out of the lineup as needed.
Slagter had a frustrating start as he missed some training camp and began the season on injured reserve. On November 3, he was sent to the Rockford IceHogs. He was recalled on Nov. 12 when Andre Burakovsky fell ill and was a solid depth option when Tyler Bertuzzi, Jason Dickinson, Burakovsky and Nick Foligno were sidelined with injuries.
But now, only Forgino is left, and the 23-year-old Slagter seems to be ruled out again. He has been healthy in three of the past four games and has played in 10 games this season.
RELATED: Blackhawks snap five-game losing streak with 5-3 win over Ducks
Blashill was asked about Sluggett’s ice time and whether the balance would be better with the Blackhawks or Rockford. He responded: “That’s a discussion we’re going to continue to have. We’ll see where we go each day with our lineup decisions. But ultimately, he’s still at an age where he needs to play. So, I think if it gets to the point where he can’t play, we’re going to have to look at it and decide what’s best for him and his development.”
We’ll see what happens with his status depending on what they choose to do with their lineup.
Brosut activated
The Blackhawks announced on December 2 that goaltender Laurent Brossoit had been activated from the injured non-player list. He signed a 2-year, $6.6 million free agent contract in 2024. But he has dealt with lower-body injuries and undergone several surgeries, including offseason hip surgery. Therefore, he has not played in an NHL game since April 2024.
But he has recently been seen participating in Blackhawks practices and morning skates, and Chicago has assigned him to the IceHogs for conditioning work.
Blashill mentioned yesterday (December 1) that Brossoit would not travel with the team on the road trip.
It’s no secret that Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom are in net; Brosoit will have a hard time finding a path to actually playing with the Blackhawks. Additionally, insider Elliott Friedman noted in Saturday’s headlines sports network Chicago has allowed teams to talk to him on Nov. 29.
Overall, it’s great to see Brossoit progressing after a lot of hardships.
Bedard November Honors
Connor Bedard was named the NHL’s third star of the month for November after scoring 23 points in 14 games. He is joined by Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars). The eye-opening statistics about Bedard in the press release are:
“Only one other Chicago skater this century has recorded so many points in a calendar month: Patrick Kane (6 times, most recently in March 2022: 5-21-26 in 14 Grands Prix)”
That’s impressive company for Blackhawks history, too.
Bedard has been outstanding and ranks third in the NHL in scoring (37 points). He recently scored four points against the Ducks and continues to take his game to another level.
Be sure to stay tuned for more news and rumors throughout the season as the Eagles look to get off to a successful start in December.
