Ben Pope
Chicago Blackhawks reporter
Ben Pope covers the Chicago Blackhawks for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Dickinson was the alternate captain Tuesday against the Oilers and again Thursday against the Kraken. Seth Jones’ injury has led to a bigger workload for Alex Vlasic, too.
The Hawks’ decision to send Boris Katchouk through waivers and eventually to Rockford is proof of Anderson’s ascension up the depth chart. In 11 NHL games since his call-up, he has formed the team’s best forward line alongside Jason Dickinson.
In the first meeting between the two Connors — as well as between German forwards Leon Draisaitl and Lukas Reichel — the Oilers pulled away to beat the Hawks 4-1 on Tuesday.
Jones did not travel with the Hawks on their trip to Edmonton and Seattle after suffering an upper-body injury Sunday. Without him, the Hawks’ defensive corps is severely shorthanded.
Mrazek’s fantastic week of goaltending culminated in a 38-save effort Saturday, coming within a few minutes of a second straight shutout, as the Hawks beat the Blues 3-1.
Crevier’s unrestrained happiness about being in the NHL — and underdog journey (as a 2020 seventh-round pick) to get to it — gives the Hawks something to smile about during an otherwise dispiriting stretch of the season.
In the wake of Perry’s messy departure, even more leadership responsibilities have been shifted onto Nick Foligno, Seth Jones and Connor Murphy to steer the Hawks through adversity. They explain how they’ve regrouped and adjusted.
In the first meeting on NHL ice between the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the 2023 draft, Bedard and goalie Petr Mrazek helped the Hawks earn a 1-0 win Thursday.
For some reason, Donato has dominated the month of December throughout his career, although he was completely unaware of the pattern. Given the Hawks’ scoring woes, they wouldn’t complain if it repeated itself.