Chicago Blackhawks: News, scores, updates and analysis

Connor Bedard's summer plans, Alex Vlasic's contract preference and more Blackhawks notes

Now that the Hawks’ season is over, Bedard plans to play for Canada in the World Championships, then head home to Vancouver to work on his speed and explosiveness.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

GM Kyle Davidson on Blackhawks' rebuild: 'It's time to take a step forward'

Davidson said Saturday he expects the Hawks to begin ascending next season after this season’s meager 23-win effort. Coach Luke Richardson said Davidson told him he plans to be active in free agency this summer to help make that happen.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Could Blackhawks rookie Kevin Korchinski develop over time like Predators star Roman Josi?

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Taylor Raddysh proud of his maturation through disappointing Blackhawks season

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Alex Vlasic has proved his mettle against NHL's biggest stars this season

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks implode early in another road loss against Blues

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Andreas Athanasiou nearing end of brief, disappointing season with one goal in hand

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks send Wyatt Kaiser to Rockford as season begins winding down

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Calder Trophy race between Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, Wild's Brock Faber reaching its climax

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks chase their own tails in shutout loss to Wild

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks place trust in Connor Bedard to help defend late lead

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks continue springtime surge with win over conference-leading Stars

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy dealing with same groin injury as Sharks' Logan Couture

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Colin Blackwell, Blackhawks' Masterton Trophy nominee, feeling ready to return from injury

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks not as bad as expected at faceoffs, largely thanks to Jason Dickinson

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.

By Ben Pope

The Blackhawks and Stars, in cartoon form, line up for a faceoff.

Sports Media

Blackhawks turning NBC Sports Chicago Plus into cartoon network for a day

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.

By Jeff Agrest

Blackhawks

How Blackhawks rookie star Connor Bedard is drawing more penalties

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.

By Kyle Williams

Blackhawks

Petr Mrazek makes 49th start, tying career high, but Blackhawks fall to Islanders

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Landon Slaggert has a role model in Islanders forward Anders Lee

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Connor Bedard's shift to wing based on Blackhawks' current lines, not long-term position change

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Tyler Johnson putting aside frustrations to help Blackhawks clear up 'gray areas'

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Lukas Reichel's two-point game powers Blackhawks' rout of Flyers

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Wyatt Kaiser now using his speed to escape trouble, not create it

This month, the Hawks’ rookie defenseman has much more closely resembled his impressive October form than his slumping November form.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Evaluating Luke Richardson's first two seasons as Blackhawks coach requires looking beyond the losses

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.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks doomed by another poor start in loss to Senators

The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Jarred Tinordi haunted by inconsistency in disappointing season for Blackhawks

Playing time has dwindled for Tinordi, a physical defensive defenseman who was a pleasant surprise for the Hawks last season but hasn’t found nearly as much success without Connor Murphy.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks helping prospect Oliver Moore learn new ways to employ, fluctuate speed

Entering the NCAA Tournament at the end of his freshman season at Minnesota, Moore has increased his production, improved his communication and diversified the ways he takes advantage of his world-class skating ability.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks ride much-needed hot start to victory against Flames

The Hawks focused hard on producing a strong first period Tuesday, and their efforts paid off. They translated a 2-0 lead at the first intermission into an eventual 3-1 victory.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Lukas Reichel's next step in Blackhawks comeback: Translate possession into production

Reichel has skated well and looked more active and assertive in his first four games since returning from the AHL, but he hasn’t yet been able to penetrate the interior of the offensive zone and earn some points.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

With 11 games left, Blackhawks seem nearly locked into second-best lottery odds

The bottom of the NHL standings has largely solidified with the Sharks at 40 points, the Hawks at 45 and the Ducks at 52 — gaps none of those teams seems likely to bridge.

By Ben Pope

Blackhawks

Blackhawks prospect Samuel Savoie has more knowledge, same 'pop' after recovering from broken leg

In hindsight, a lot of positives came out of Savoie’s four months in Chicago rehabbing from a gruesome preseason injury, and the scrappy young forward has translated that newfound maturity back to junior hockey.

By Ben Pope

Jason Dickinson, Joey Anderson and Colin Blackwell

Blackhawks

Jason Dickinson, Joey Anderson enjoying remarkable consistency as Blackhawks linemates

The two forwards have played on a line together almost the entire season — a rarity for defense-leaning guys. In a loss-filled season in which most of the bright spots have been individuals, their success represents one example of something within the team construction working well.

By Ben Pope