Utah has a team, meh. Chicago has Bedard: the 2024-2025 NHL Thread

[MartyFunkhouser]

Blackhawks first preseason game on Wednesday.

Excited about the return of Teuvo to Chicago. I am hoping that Chicago goes with Teuvo as winger with Bedard. Bedard's shot with Teuvo's play making ability would be great.

Reports from camp is that Bedard has really improved his skating speed over the offseason. It would be nice to see him play some semblance of defense this year.

[beefytee]

Sounds like you won't be cheering for the UHC in the opener.

As for me, my new true allegiance is to the Utah Hockey Club (hate the "club" part of that name). Sure, I'll cheer for Calgary, Edmonton, or even Montreal, but they are secondary to my new true (black and) blue through and through.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Sounds like you won't be cheering for the UHC in the opener.

As for me, my new true allegiance is to the Utah Hockey Club (hate the "club" part of that name). Sure, I'll cheer for Calgary, Edmonton, or even Montreal, but they are secondary to my new true (black and) blue through and through.

I'm sticking with the Blackhawks. Once Utah has a real name for the hockey team, I'll cheer for them when they don't play the Blackhawks.

[beefytee]

Fun game tonight between the kings and Utah. Can’t wait for the home opener.

[MartyFunkhouser]

It is looking like Korchinski will be spending the season in Rockford. Taking the same approach that worked with Vlasic.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/578...kford-defense/

Call it the Alex Vlasic model. Rockford is no longer a death sentence for Blackhawks prospects; it’s a crucial step on the journey. And after years of rushing prospects into the NHL with mostly poor results, that extra year of seasoning is now baked into the recipe. It worked on Vlasic, who played 15 capable games in the NHL in 2021-22 and then spent nearly the entire 2022-23 season in Rockford before his stellar breakout season last year. It worked on Kaiser, who benefited greatly from his 37-game stint in Rockford last year. And it’s likely the plan for Korchinski, who was too young for the AHL last year but is likely to spend much of this season there.

It took nearly 15 years for the Blackhawks to develop a true homegrown NHL defenseman after Niklas Hjalmarsson established himself in the league during the 2008-09 season. But suddenly Rockford is churning them out. Isaak Phillips, Louis Crevier, Nolan Allan, Ethan Del Mastro and No. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov will likely be manning the IceHogs blue line along with Korchinski this season. All of those players could play in the NHL right now. Ideally, none of them will have to.

In other words, Korchinski is a perfect candidate to follow the Vlasic model and hopefully return to the NHL either later this season or next season as a more confident, aggressive and well-rounded player.

“Every year, you’ve got to compete, whether you’re a veteran or a first-year guy,” Korchinski said. “That’s what everybody here is doing. I just want to put my best foot forward and show the Hawks what I am.”

What he is, is still all potential, all promise, all raw. Korchinski can play in the NHL, yes. But should he? Is that what’s best for him now and in the long term? Because the Blackhawks fervently hope there’s a great player to be unlocked in Korchinski. And for the first time in a long time, they think they have the key.

And it’s not in Chicago.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The puck drops tomorrow. Korchinski assigned to Rockford, so they are clearly going with the Vlasic model with him.

The preseason was a disaster for Chicago.

I think another year with a top 5 pick is in play. It was fun to see AJ Spellacy last as long in the preseason as he did. Really a surprise to see an 18-year old third rounder play that well.

[beefytee]

I will be attending the game tomorrow night. Looking forward to it!

[MartyFunkhouser]

I will be attending the game tomorrow night. Looking forward to it!

I'll be there as well. Looking forward to see some Bedard domination.

[MartyFunkhouser]

ESPN's first power rankings.

Utah - 21
Blackhawks - 29

The Athletic also has the Blackhawks at 29. Utah at 17

[LiveCoug]

LET'S GO HOCKEY CLUB!!

[MartyFunkhouser]

LET'S GO HOCKEY CLUB!!

Enjoy watching the most incredible thing in the NHL tonight, Connor Bedard's shot.

Blackhawks are going to be terrible this year, but I expect Bedard to hit 40 goals and 100 points this year. Teuvo on a line with him will make a huge difference.

Looking at the Blackhawks lineup has me baffled though. Tons of players now over 28 in the day-to-day roster. My only guess at this point is they are going to let most the young players ride it out in Rockford for half the season and then start flipping any veteran's that are playing well at deadline.

Really frustrating also to see Reichel not making the top 4 lines. It is looking more and more like his career is dead.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Blackhawks are going to suck and this season will be less fun than last with more of the young talent in Rockford, but watching this still has me hyped on the season.

[LiveCoug]

Puck drop in 5 minutes. I really hope NHL does well in Utah.

[LiveCoug]

Big crowd, but they seem to not how to cheer or interact with game. This will take time. lol

[LiveCoug]

Guenther!