Hextall and Burke have a history of making bold moves, which should bring an element of surprise to their transactions. During Hextall’s time as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2014-18, he traded Brayden Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier, Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn and Scott Hartnell. Needless to say, when the right deal presented itself to bring his team what he felt was needed, Hextall pulled the trigger.

Burke is cut from the same cloth. The long-time executive has never been shy to make big or small changes to upgrade his lineup, and we saw that again and again in his time with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames. Pronger, Trevor Linden, Alexander Mogilny, Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf were all acquired by ‘Burkie’. While Burke’s outlook on the Penguins has changed over the last few months, he’s now on board and ready for another playoff run.

Burke and Hextall’s First Trade

It’s not likely to happen overnight, but there’s no doubt the Penguins will make changes before the deadline. The team lacks secondary scoring and goaltending depth, but Hextall and Burke will not be able to plug all the holes with one move. However, here are a few names to keep an eye on who the Penguins brass might target to bring toughness to the team:

Ryan Hartman, Minnesota Wild

The 26-year-old Hartman plays a tough physical game and is not shy to stick up for his teammates. His 20 points in 69 games last season were solid production from a 4th-line winger, and his $1.9 million contract is affordable.

Hartman has yet to play a full season, so there’s some risk with regards to his health. However, given the Penguins’ lack of forward depth and their need for more toughness, his skill set will be on the new regime’s radar. The Minnesota Wild are struggling and looking to rebuild for their future. Moving Hartman for some future considerations might be ideal for both parties. He’s the type of player who can play for Hextall and Burke’s team any day of the week.

Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames

Burke recently called Bennett ‘grumpy’ and questioned why he asked for a trade out of Calgary when he had one point in 10 games and no fights. These comments were followed by Burke noting that he loves Bennett, a friendly reminder that he was the Flames’ interim general manager and president of hockey operations when the team selected Bennett fourth overall in 2014.

Bennett is a 24-year-old versatile forward who can play anywhere in the lineup. His $2.55 million cap hit is a bit rich for the Penguins, but as Jim Rutherford showed us all, there is always a way to move money.

In the 2020 Playoffs, Bennett recorded eight points in 10 games, and everyone thought this would propel him into a more prominent role with the Flames. That wasn’t the case even after the coaching staff gave him the option to either play wing or center to start the season. While Bennett chose center, that only lasted a couple of games, and more recently, he’s found himself on the Flames’ top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Who knows how his trade request will play out, but we do know the Penguins’ new president of hockey operations loves him.

Cedric Paquette, Ottawa Senators

The 27-year-old Paquette is a Stanley Cup champion playing for the dismal Ottawa Senators. This isn’t by choice, as Paquette was dealt to the Sens earlier this season and, so far, it’s are not going well. While he’s never been one to light up the score sheet, Paquette will hit anything that skates by him and is a perfect role player come playoff time.

In seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the former fourth-round pick appeared in 91 playoff games. Considering the youth among the Penguins’ bottom-six forwards, a veteran who knows what it takes to win in the playoffs would be a welcome addition to their lineup.

Paquette is also a faceoff specialist who has experience killing penalties, which is even more important to success come playoff time. While he’s not a household name, he’s a valuable piece who is under-appreciated. We’ll have to see if he fits what Burke and Hextall are looking for.

The Penguins will continue to go as far as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will take them. Regardless, the superstars need the right combination of depth to win in the playoffs, which the Penguins’ current roster doesn’t have. Look for Burke and Hextall to evaluate, then execute.

The post Penguins Will Target Toughness With Next Trade appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

#5 Mike Richter

Mike Richter goes down as one of the greatest American-born goaltenders to ever play in the NHL. He also has a very special place in the collective heart of New York Rangers fans for that magical run to the Promised Land in 1994.

Richter’s first four seasons with the Rangers were spent splitting time with John Vanbiesbrouck. When the veteran was lost to the Florida Panthers in the expansion draft, Richter got his first chance to be the top goaltender on Broadway for the 1993-94 season.

Everything seemed to go right for Richter and the Rangers that season. He won a career-high 42 games during the regular season and posted a 2.57 goals-against average (GAA), the lowest of his career. He helped guide the Rangers to their second Presidents’ Trophy in the past three years and even won the All-Star Game MVP in Madison Square Garden.

As great as he was during the regular season, Richter amped up his game for the Stanley Cup playoffs. In 23 games, Richter posted a 2.07 GAA and a .921 save percentage (SV%). He became just the eighth goaltender ever to have four shutouts in one playoff season. That fantastic run ended with the Rangers winning their first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

Richter remained one of the league’s top goaltenders for the next few years but was never able to repeat the success from the 1993-94 season. He was known for being one of the most focused goaltenders in the game. He played in the era of smaller and more athletic netminders and he had some of the quickest reflexes in the league.

He played in 530 games for the Rangers during the decade and finished with a 2.85 GAA, .905 SV% and 22 shutouts. Richter appeared two All-Star Games to go along with his Stanley Cup win. However, he never won the Vezina Trophy. In 2008, he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame alongside his Rangers teammate, Brian Leetch.

Related – Best NHL Goalies of the 1980s

#4 Martin Brodeur

One may wonder how one of the greatest goaltenders of all-time is ranked fourth on this list. If this was the list of the best goaltenders of the 2000s, Martin Brodeur would be at the top because that is the decade in which he had his greatest success. Not to say the 1990s weren’t bad, but he was even better later in his career.

Brodeur’s rookie season, in 1993-94, set the standard for the rest of this Hall of Fame career. He won 27 games and finished the regular season with a 2.40 GAA and .915 SV%. His numbers were even better in the Stanley Cup playoffs as he led the Devils to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals before being victimized by Stefan Matteau’s double-overtime goal. He was awarded the Calder Trophy following the season for being the top rookie in the NHL.

Brodeur won the first of three Stanley Cups, and only one of the 1990s, the following season. He went 16-4 during the postseason with a remarkable 1.67 GAA and .927 SV%. The Devils would only get out of the first round one time for the remainder of the decade, but that was hardly Brodeur’s fault.

The former first-round pick won back-to-back William Jennings, for allowing the fewest goals against, in 1997 and 1998, while finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting. He played in every All-Star Game between 1996 and 1999. Brodeur played in 447 games during the 1990s, finishing with a 2.20 GAA, .913 SV% and 42 shutouts.

He was known for his hybrid style of play by standing up more than your average butterfly goaltender. It was hard to tell which was his stronger attribute; puck handling or his deadly quick glove hand. You can thank Brodeur for the trapezoid behind NHL nets these days because his puck handling was the biggest reason they were installed.

#3 Ed Belfour

Goaltenders have always been known as some of the most colorful players in the game and none may have been more so than Ed Belfour. His explosive personality was only topped by his quick reflexes and glove hand. The majority of Belfour’s success game during the 1990s, which was spent playing for three different teams.

After appearing in nine Stanley Cup playoff games for the Chicago Blackhawks in 1990, he became the team’s starting goaltender for the 1990-91 season. During his rookie season, he led the league with 74 games played, 42 wins, a 2.47 GAA and .910 SV% on his way to the Calder, Vezina and Jennings Trophies. This would be the last time a goaltender led the league in wins, GAA and SV% in the same season until Carey Price did it in 2014-15.

Belfour dominated his way through the first three rounds of the 1992 playoffs, getting the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1973. However, the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins swept the Blackhawks who entered the series on an 11-game winning streak.

He went on to win the Vezina and Jennings Trophy in the same season again in 1992-93 and took home a third Jennings Trophy in 1994-95. The Blackhawks had to make a hard decision in 1997 after Belfour refused to sign a contract extension and they traded him to the San Jose Sharks. At the time of the trade, Belfour only trailed legends Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito in games played and wins in Blackhawks history.

After a rather lackluster half a season in San Jose, Belfour signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars. He played in 67 games during his first season in Dallas and was tops in the NHL with a 1.88 GAA. He led the Stars to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Detroit Red Wings.

The 1998-99 season produced the fourth and final Jennings Trophy for Belfour and ended with the only Stanley Cup win of his career. He went 16-7 with a 1.67 GAA, .930 SV% and three shutouts on his way the game’s top prize.

Belfour was one of the biggest workhorses of the 90s. If he was healthy, he was playing. He played in 589 games in the decade with a 2.42 GAA, .908 SV% and 49 shutouts. He won one championship, two Vezina and four Jennings Trophies. He also played in five All-Star Games.

#2 Patrick Roy

Few goaltenders have been more decorated and respected than Patrick Roy. His Hall of Fame career worked its way through three decades, with the 90s seeing a great deal of success. He is one of the first goaltenders to popularize the butterfly style which has become the dominant style used by netminders around the world.

The decade started with Roy winning the 1990 Vezina Trophy. It was the second straight season he took home the award for being the NHL’s top goaltender and he made it three-out-four seasons when he won it again in 1992.

The 1992-93 regular season was one of the worst of his career with a 3.20 GAA and .894 SV% in 62 games. However, the postseason was a completely different story. He went 16-4 with a 2.13 GAA and .929 SV% on his way to the second of three career Conn Smythe Trophies for being the most valuable player of the postseason and his second Stanley Cup victory.

The Canadiens met their long-time rivals, the Boston Bruins, in the first round of the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs. Roy had to miss Game 3 after coming down with appendicitis. He talked his way back in between the pipes for Game 4 and made 39 saves in a 5-2 victory. The Bruins went on to knock out the defending champs in seven games.

Roy’s time in Montreal famously came to an end on after a memorable night on Dec. 2, 1995. He was finally pulled by head coach Mario Tremblay, who had had a rocky relationship with, after allowing nine goals to the Red Wings. As he walked to the locker room, he yelled to team president Ronald Corey that that was his last game in Montreal.

Four days later, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, along with captain Mike Keane, in exchange for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko. This deal remains one of the most one-sided trades in NHL history.

The trade completed the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup puzzle as Roy led the way to the 1996 championship, his second of the decade and third of four in his career. During the 1990s in Colorado, he won 40 playoff games with 2.37 GAA, .920 SV% and seven shutouts.

Roy played in all six games for Team Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Despite a 1.46 GAA and .935 SV%, Canada lost in the Bronze Medal game to Finland.

The 1990s was the best decade for one of the greatest netminders to ever lace up a pair of skates. He had a 2.56 GAA, .912 SV% and 36 shutouts in 600 games. He played in seven of the 10 All-Star Games in the decade, won two Vezina Trophies and had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup twice.

Related – Best NHL Goalies of the 1970s

#1 Dominik Hasek

“The Dominator” didn’t win a Stanley Cup until 2002 in Detroit, but the 1990s is when he laid the foundation for a Hall of Fame career that ended with two championships, six Vezina Trophies and two Hart Trophies.

Hasek was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 10^th round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. He made 28 saves in a 1-1 tie with the Hartford Whalers in his NHL debut on Nov. 6, 1990. He spent the 1991-92 season serving as Belfour’s backup in Chicago. He made an appearance in Game 4 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Final after Belfour allowed two goals on four shots.

After the season, the Blackhawks decided to go with Belfour and Jimmy Waite, who is their current goaltending coach, in net and traded Hasek to the Buffalo Sabres for Stephane Beauregard and the draft pick that turned into Eric Daze.

Once given the starting job with the Sabres, Hasek became a star. He won his first Vezina and Jennings Trophies following the 1993-94 season where he led the league with a 1.95 GAA, .930 SV% and seven shutouts in 58 games.

He went on to win his second Vezina Trophy in 1995 despite only playing in 41 games for posting another sterling .930 SV%. The following season, his numbers dipped a bit from the high standard he set, but he was still one of the top goaltenders in the game.

In 1996-97, he won both the Vezina and the Hart Trophies for another spectacular season, but much of that success was overshadowed by an ongoing feud with head coach Ted Nolan. Things came to a head during the playoffs when he removed himself from a first-round playoff game with a knee injury. He received a three-game suspension during the second round after an altercation with a local journalist who questioned his mental toughness.

He would be booed by Buffalo fans at the start of the 1997-98 season because his feud with Nolan, who won the Jack Adams Award for being the league’s top coach, led to his dismissal during the offseason.

Those boos did not last long as Hasek went on to win both the Vezina and Hart Trophies for the second straight season. He played in a career-high 72 games and set a franchise record with 13 shutouts. Six of those shutouts came during December, which tied the NHL record for the most in a single month. During the summer, he became the highest-paid goaltender in the league by signing a three-year, $26 million contract extension.

He closed out the decade by with his third straight Vezina Trophy for his remarkable 1.87 GAA and career-best .937 SV% in 64 games. He had a remarkable postseason leading the Sabres to their first and only Stanley Cup Final appearance.

The 1999 Stanley Cup Final between the Sabres and Stars made Blackhawks fans cringe as Hasek and Belfour manned their respective creases. The Stars won the series in six games. Hasek made 50 saves in the memorable Game 6; a triple-overtime loss that featured Brett Hull’s infamous game-winning goal.

In addition to his great body of work in Buffalo, he led the Czech Republic to the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics. He gave up just six total goals during the tournament and only two during the medal rounds.

Hasek will be remembered for all his success just as much as his unconventional style of play. He was one of the most flexible goaltenders to ever play the game and was often seen flailing in the crease, using any and all body parts to keep the puck out the net. His flexibility allowed him to make saves that were flat out impossible for most to make.

During the 1990s, Hasek had a 2.26 GAA, .926 SV% and 45 shutouts in 449 games. He won half of the Vezina Trophies given out during the decade. He remains the only goaltender to ever win two Hart Trophies and he did it in back-to-back seasons. Of all the great goaltenders who played in the 1990s, Hasek was the best.

The post Best NHL Goalies of the 1990s appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

Games 1-4: Nashville and Detroit

Dallas did not start the season on the originally planned Jan. 14 opener versus the Florida Panthers. Dallas was slated to start the season in Florida, playing the Panthers twice then a rematch in Tampa Bay. The Stars delayed their season till Jan, 22, starting the season at home against the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings. 

Dallas came out swinging, beating Nashville 7-0 and 3-2. Anton Khudobin and Joe Pavelski had significant impacts. Pavelski earned seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in those games while Khudobin stopped 49 of 51 shots in the series. Nashville really shot themselves in the foot, committing penalties that Dallas capitalized on, scoring eight goals in those games.

Next, the Red Wings lost a close 2-1 game, in overtime, and were polished off 7-3 in game two. The Stars had some injuries start to pile up, with Roope Hintz, Jamie Benn, and Joel Kiviranta sidelined for the game. Young forward Jason Dickinson notched the overtime winner. Stars’ prospect Jake Oettinger recorded the victory in the next game, stopping 20 of 23. Both players are good prospects in the Dallas system, filling in for injured players and showing off their talent at the NHL level.

Games 5-8: Carolina and Columbus

Dallas had to leave the friendly confines of American Airlines Arena, traveling to the Carolina Hurricanes, then up the road to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Carolina and Columbus, by most standards and experts, have more talent and higher expectations. Both teams were also supposed to contend with Dallas in playoff contention, to points were very important to all teams. Carolina took an early lead in the first game of their series, winning 4-1 and handing Dallas its first loss. 

The only bright spot was Pavelski continuing to keep up the hot pace, on the power play, scoring their only goal. The second game had Dallas come back from behind in the third period, only to lose the lead, and lose in a shootout. Captain Jamie Benn notched a goal and assist, in his return from injury. Dallas would leave Carolina with only one point, heading to Columbus.

Columbus was next, playing right after the Pierre-Luc Dubois for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic trade. The Blue Jackets had been under some scrutiny with Dubois and making the trade would have been a fresh start. Pavelski and Benn would again be key figures in the first game, notching seven points. The second game was the debut for Laine and hometown kid Roslovic getting his first goal.  Columbus held the lead the whole game despite a late charge by Dallas. The Stars headed home with only one point in four games versus some tough opponent

Games 9 & 10: Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks, like the Red Wings, were projected to be draft lottery eligible teams this season. Chicago had several departures and a gap in goaltending, along with a conflicting philosophy of “Rebuild’ and “Reload” with their ranks. For Dallas, games against Detroit and Chicago would be easy points and a great team to end a losing streak or gain some momentum. The Stars had a little bit of some off-ice issues when goalie Anton Khudobin overslept and missed a practice. 

Khudobin would be scratched from the Feb. 7 game and Dallas looking again to Jake Oettinger. He held down the net, in both games, but lose 2-1 in overtime in each outing. Jason Robertson scored his first NHL goal in the first game with Roope Hintz getting the goal in the second game. As Chicago left town, they came away with two hard-fought wins while Dallas started their homestand with close overtime losses and missing out on some valuable points in the standings.

Takeaways From 10 Games In

What did we see in the first 10 games for Dallas?  First, Pavelski was on a roll, earning Player of the Month honors. He notched seven goals, eight assists while scoring five power-play goals. Second, in three of the wins, Dallas put up six or more goals. Every loss was a one-goal defeat. Dallas can score in bunches and still be in the game if they get down early. Third, young players are getting playing time. Robertson, Ty Dellandrea, Jason Dickinson, and Oettinger have made noticeable plays and getting the experience that will take a back seat when Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop return from injury.

Their early season experience will be valuable later in the season if injuries still linger or the team needs to inject some youth or mix up the line matchups. Lastly, Dallas has 13 points (out of a possible 20 points), sitting in sixth place in the division, but have a few games in hand. To finish out the month of February, Dallas plays the Florida teams seven times. Points will be a premium in those matches, and Tampa Bay is looking just as good as last year’s team.   

The post Dallas Stars Season Not Going as Planned 10 Games In appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

In normal circumstances, Jarvis wouldn’t currently be eligible to play in the AHL. The NHL has an agreement with the Canadian Hockey League (which consists of the OHL, WHL and QMJHL) that mandates players under the age of 20 be re-assigned to major junior and ineligible to play in the pros. With COVID impacting the CHL season, the NHL has allowed otherwise ineligible prospects to participate in the AHL season until their respective major junior teams being training camp in their return-to-play.

A Taste of Life in the Pros

The first thing that’s very important to remember when critiquing Jarvis’ AHL play is that with the NHL’s current CBA in place, he wouldn’t be eligible to play in that league full-time until fall 2022. So when you look at the stat-sheet and consider that he has three goals and an assist in his first three pro games, you can’t help but be excited about his development.

The eye-test makes it all that much better. As a teenager, he’s having no trouble fitting in at the pro level, and he genuinely looks like he belongs. Though I haven’t had the opportunity to watch much of him in Chicago thus far, in my limited viewings the dynamic elements in his game were evidently on display. In the clip below, Jarvis undresses the defender with a slick toe-drag and quickly snaps a blazing shot into the net. Take a look:

With Jarvis, we’re talking about a player with legitimate top-end speed who can cut on a dime. He makes plays at a high pace, and his hands make him a terror for defenders to contain. He can go through you with a deke or just go around you with acceleration. He routinely makes defenders look silly, and his mature level of hockey sense and IQ allows him to make the most efficient and smartest offensive reads.

With the WHL recently announcing that its U.S. Division will begin the season on March 19th, as a member of the Portland Winterhawks, Jarvis will be attending. That means that his time with AHL Chicago will be brief, but nonetheless is a huge benefit for him to adapt to pro hockey and should be a serious confidence booster as he proves to himself (and the Canes) that he isn’t far away to compete at the highest level.

I talked to Canes prospect expert Matt Somma (@CanesProspects) on Jarvis’ Chicago stint, which he agreed will be great for his development:

“With Jarvis, any time that he gets in the AHL will do more for his development than anything we could hope for in the WHL. While he will only be with Chicago for a short while, it will help Jarvis get accustomed to the pro game and allow for him to understand what it means to be a professional hockey player. Three games is a small sample size, but we’re already seeing the type of player Jarvis can be. He’s quick, elusive, and a nuisance in the offensive zone.

Early on, Jarvis is showing that he is able to keep up at the pro level. Even for a 19-year-old, he is playing with a surprising amount of confidence. I’d like to see Jarvis grow stronger and continue his solid play in the AHL this season before moving on to the WHL [to finish off his 2020-21 season].”

Matt Somma, @CanesProspects.

Expectations For His Season

When he returns to his major junior club next month, I’m fully expecting Jarvis to absolutely dominate offensively. It’s not a stretch at all to say he’s the most dangerous offensive player at the WHL level – as evidenced by his 42 goals and 98 points in just 58 games last season, which was good enough for 2nd place in WHL scoring. 

What’s even more impressive about the numbers is that Jarvis’ points-per-game ratio of 1.69 was higher than that of both Dylan Cozens and Peyton Krebs, who’re both highly-lauded first-round prospects from the 2019 NHL Draft, and both a full year older than him. And despite scoring 98 points, no player on Jarvis’ Winterhawks team managed to score more than 70 – which further signifies how much he can do on his own.

As far as the coming WHL season goes, they’re currently planning to play a 24-game schedule, followed by the playoffs. Including Jarvis, Portland will be returning with most of their key players from last season, when they finished at the top of their division with a 45-11-7 record. 

The hope is that they can muster together a deep playoff run and Championship aspirations, with Seth leading the group. Whether the return-to-play and eventual Memorial Cup playoffs will go smoothly remains to be seen, but without any potential unseen hiccups, this shortened season should be a major key to his development.

His NHL Future

While his all-around offensive skills are quite polished and his skating is already NHL-level, Jarvis does have some kinks to iron out in his game before becoming a regular. He’s not a very physical player, and sometimes he can get caught flat-footed and drifts defensively. Some scouts have questioned his overall defensive IQ, and, regardless of whether he plays center or wing in the NHL, he’ll always have some limitations there with his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame.

Early signs of progression in that regard are encouraging though. Chicago’s coach, Ryan Warsofsky, has deployed Jarvis on the Wolves’ penalty kill at times throughout the first three games, which is super inspiring. Growth defensively could make him into a legitimate star, who can routinely take over games for a team. He has no real deficiencies in his offensive game, so his own zone should, and will, be his primary area of focus towards improvement. And although he’s small, he doesn’t back down. He willingly goes to the paint, and this past week got rewarded with a rebound goal off of a great solo effort from fellow Canes prospect Jamieson Rees:

As far as an NHL comparable goes, I personally see some real similarities to Martin Nečas. Both are electric skaters, though Nečas definitely has a higher gear. I think Jarvis’ offensive ceiling might be a bit higher – he’s more patient than Nečas, he doesn’t rush anything, and he’s got a wicked release and has proven he can finish consistently. Both guys are undersized and lack physical elements, and therefore both need to rely on hockey IQ far more than their bodies in the defensive end.

Once again, I asked Matt Somma to outline his outlook for Jarvis at the NHL level, a comparable, and what he thinks is in store for him:

“Jarvis could be a center [in the NHL] given how elite his skill set is. His elusive nature and speed means that he’ll be difficult for opposing defenses to contain. When you couple that with his ability to find ways to get open, you have an elite offensive center in the making. A Brayden Point comparison is a bit of a reach, but Jarvis has the same high-end speed and hockey sense that has made Point a star.”

Matt Somma, @CanesProspects.

Exactly when Jarvis may make his NHL debut remains to be seen, but I feel his development could be on the fast-track to the Canes’ lineup. Regardless, at this point, I feel that he’ll definitely emerge as an NHL regular ahead of their other top forward prospects like Ryan Suzuki, Jamieson Rees and Dominik Bokk, for example. With some salary cap issues on the horizon, coupled with his undeniable skill set and ability to contribute (at least offensively) right away, he might be a guy who can surprise and earn a spot, even as early as next season.

The post Hurricanes’ Top Prospect Seth Jarvis Is Turning Heads appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

This game underscores the overall point that so-far, the Lightning have not missed Nikita Kucherov one bit. Through the first 11 games last season, Tampa already had six losses on the season compared to just the one loss so far this year. This does not pin last season’s early struggles on Kucherov, just to illustrate how well the team has coped with the loss of him in the lineup thus far this season. 

Last week against the Detroit Red Wings, Patrick Maroon finally got on the score sheet. He was the only Lightning player on the entire team that hadn’t registered at least a point until that game. Right now, the Bolts have 14 players with at least a goal. Of those 14, eight players have already scored. Ten players have at least six points with half of those players having nine or more and four are in double figures.

Bolts Are Getting Contributions from Both Likely and Unlikely Sources

The usual suspects, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point are tied for the team lead in points with 14. Stamkos, unsurprisingly, is tops on the team with seven goals and Point has the most assists with 10. Ondrej Palat has continued to have the scoring touch that was so vital last season for Tampa in the bubble. Palat has five goals already this season in 11 games so far. To put that in perspective, last season, Palat had just 17 goals in 69 games played before exploding for 11 goals in the playoffs. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been Anthony Cirelli. He’s still been his wonted pesky self, winning face-offs and checking the league’s best players. Nonetheless, it’s on the offensive side of things that he’s been at his best. So far, he has 10 points already on four goals and six helpers while maintaining a solid plus-7. If he can maintain this form all season, the Bolts will be simply unstoppable come playoff time. 

Cirelli, buoyed by his new contract this past offseason, has had such a good start that it’s possibly taken some of the attention off of some of the other forwards. Last season’s trade deadline targets, Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman have also continued to play well, making that trade look even better.

On the third line, centered by Yanni Gourde, Coleman has chipped in with seven points, and Goodrow with six. Couple that with Gourde’s six points and you can see the solid offensive production the Bolts are getting from the checking line. Throw in the fact that the line as a whole is a plus-21 and you have, arguably, the best third line in hockey.

Lightning D Corps Has Been Solid at Both Ends of the Ice

Victor Hedman has continued his excellent play at both ends of the rink, but that is no real surprise. So far this season, he has 12 points on three goals and nine assists while being a plus-3 despite playing against everyone else’s top line. What is a bit of a surprise is the early production from Mikhail Sergachev, who is tied with Hedman for most assists on the team for a defenseman with nine helpers.

The 22 year-old, to this point, has justified all the financial gymnastics the team had to do this off-season to free up money and keep him in a Lightning uniform. He has yet to register a goal yet, but leads the team with a plus-10. Availability has also been a strength, playing in every game while averaging just under 20 minutes a night in TOI.

One of the most surprising players on the blue line is Jan Rutta. The 30-year-old was re-signed by the Lightning this off-season despite not seeing much of the ice the last two seasons. Last year, Rutta played in just 33 games, following a 14 game campaign the season before. This season, he’s played in all 11 games, averaging around 15:22 per contest. Those aren’t huge minutes, but definitely, important minutes, especially when paired alongside Hedman as the top D pairing. Rutta has been a steady performer, but only time will tell if he can keep it up all season.

The Lightning currently leads the division by three points despite playing three fewer games than three teams in the division and two less than another. The Florida Panthers presently sit second with 16 points but do have a game in hand. These two play each other three straight times starting on Thursday evening at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, FL. The Panthers have just one loss on the season and could pose some problems for the Bolts. That being said, if the balanced scoring continues for Tampa, expect them to take at least two out of three from Florida. 

The post Lightning Success Coming From Roster Depth & Balanced Scoring appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

Much of the change seems to have come from an infusion of young talent – both Artyom Zub and Erik Brannstrom have been earning regular minutes after their call-ups, and the top two lines are dominated by players under 25. That may prompt management to continue calling up top prospects since it’s been obvious the veterans have not been pulling their weight so far. However, that could make the roster incredibly crowded, especially when Christian Wolanin returns from the injured reserve. But a trade may be on the horizon, as it’s been reported that Pierre Dorion is shopping a few players, but it’s been quiet on that front since last week. Here’s what else was making news early in the week.

Item One: Dadonov Continues to Improve

When Evgenii Dadonov joined the Senators during the offseason, it was expected that he would fill the opening on the top line, especially after signing a three year, $15 million deal. However, when the 2020-21 season got underway, many were surprised to see the talented winger on the third line. Unsurprisingly, he struggled; with the Florida Panthers, he regularly played with Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov and upwards of 20 minutes per game, but he now was paired with Artem Anisimov and Nick Paul, averaging roughly 15 minutes a night.

Coach D.J. Smith shuffled the lines several times, but was hesitant to break up the top line of Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, and Josh Norris, as they were one of the only bright spots on an underperforming team. Finally, though, he gave Dadonov a shot on the top spot, shifting Batherson down to the second line, and it was almost instant chemistry. Against the Edmonton Oilers on Feb 8, he finally broke his nine-game goal drought, slipping the puck past goalie Mike Smith (with a little help from Adam Larsson) after getting a breakaway from a great saucer pass from Tkachuk.

Dadonov proved that it wasn’t just a flash in the pan, either. One day later, again facing the Oilers, he capitalized on a breakout pass from defenseman Mike Reilly, using his incredible speed to get around Slater Koekkoek. Better yet, he wasn’t even on the first line that game, as he was moved down to the second with Josh Norris, but he still led all forwards with six shots and was the second-highest with an 80.6% Corsi rating.

It’s fair to say, then, that Dadonov has finally broken out of his slump and showing the Senators exactly why he was worth such a big price tag. He’s driving play, taking chances, and getting rewarded with more ice time and bigger roles for his efforts. It’s also great to see his chemistry with the core members of the team, specifically Tkachuk and Norris, and that he is able to complement their abilities and match them in speed and vision. It bodes very well for the future of the Senators, especially as they transition younger.

Item Two: Gustavsson Called Up, Daccord Sent Down

The goaltending in Ottawa has been rough thus far, and although Matt Murray seems to have found his game again in the last few contests, no Senators’ goalie has a save percentage (SV%) above .900 to start the season. Backup Marcus Hogberg has had an especially difficult time and currently owns one of the worst SV% this season. But with several talented netminders who have been waiting in the minors for their chance, and it seems the Senators are preparing to give one of them an opportunity, as the Senators announced that they had called up Filip Gustavsson to the taxi squad and reassigned Joey Daccord to the minors.

Many believed that, at the start of the season, Daccord surpassed Gustavsson on the Senators’ depth chart, but that may have shifted now as Gustavsson spent the start of 2020-21 playing in Sweden’s Allsvenskan. In 19 games, he had 11 wins, a 0.919 SV%, and one shutout. Daccord, on the other hand, has yet to play this season, and the Senators seem to feel that he should spend some time in the minors before returning to the NHL.

Currently, there are no plans to get Gustavsson to start a game, but with him on the taxi squad, he’s closer than he’s ever been. Since joining the Senators organization in 2017-18, he has yet to start in an NHL game, although he has been called upon on numerous occasions. If the goaltending continues down the course it’s on, he’ll likely get the call to step in and give their overworked netminders a break.

Item Three: When Will Brown Get His Shot?

There doesn’t seem to be a more maligned prospect in the Senators’ system than Logan Brown. Fans and analysts have repeatedly called on management to bring up one of the franchise’s most talented centers, especially as the team struggled to score goals and stay competitive. On Feb. 7, it looked like they finally got their wish, as Brown was recalled from Belleville and placed on the taxi squad. Then, on Feb. 10, center Artem Anisimov was waived, seemingly in order to make room on the roster for another center. But then, moments later, it was announced Brown was returning to the AHL, and Matthew Peca was returning to the taxi squad.

The move is admittedly baffling. While Brown is no longer regarded as one of the Senators’ top prospects thanks to the additions of Norris, Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, and Alex Formenton, his arrival has been highly anticipated. Last season, he battled injuries but still played 25 games in the AHL, scoring seven goals and 28 points, plus another 23 NHL games, where he scored eight points. The Senators have also had some major consistency problems on their bottom six, specifically from their veterans. Brown seemed like a sure-fire bet to play his first game in 2020-21 in the near future, especially after giving Derek Stepan back number 21 and switching to 27, despite the vet stating at the beginning of the season that it belonged to Brown.

Thankfully, the AHL’s Canadian Division finally has a start date, and the Belleville Senators will play their season opener on Feb. 12 against the Laval Rocket in Montreal. Brown will likely have a prominent role on the team, but one can’t help but wonder what his impact would be in the NHL. Coach Smith has repeatedly claimed that everyone has to earn their spot on this lineup, so Brown will have to make sure he comes out blazing on Friday in order to grab a spot in the NHL this season.

Item Four: Andree Joins Belleville on ATO

In more goalie news, on Feb. 5, the Belleville Senators announced that they signed goaltender Cedric Andree to an amateur tryout contract (ATO). The former Ottawa 67 played three seasons in the OHL, splitting duties with the likes of Michael DiPietro and Will Cranley, and recording a career record of 67-21-8, six shutouts, and a .906 SV%. In 2018-19, he and DiPietro helped the team ascend to first in the league, with the pair sitting first and second in league-wide goals-against-average, and nearly captured the championship, but fell to the Guelph Storm in six games.

With Gustavsson and Daccord likely to see significant NHL playing time this season, the Belleville Senators will need to have some more consistency in the net. Kevin Mandolese, who is entering into his first professional season, will be the team’s backup and probably play most of 2020-21 in the AHL. That leaves Andree, if signed, to fill in when the Senators shuffle goalies around. While it won’t result in much playing time, it gives Belleville a talented, reliable goalie option. it could also result in an NHL deal down the road, although the Senators crease is already quite full.

What’s Next for the Senators?

Senators fans should keep their eye on Stützle – at least, more than they have been already. The German phenom has been on fire lately with three goals and five points in the last six games. Should he keep up the pace, there’s no question he’ll be in the conversation for the Calder Trophy at the end of the season. But he’s also gone pointless in his past three games, which could just be a bit of a cold streak for the teenager. Given his production so far, though, he’ll get back to scoring goals very soon.

The Senators’ schedule won’t get any easier, though, as they hit the road again on Feb. 11, first traveling to Winnipeg to take on the Jets again in a two-game series, then taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs three times next week. None of those matchups will be easy, as the Maple Leafs have been surging as of late, and the Jets will finally be getting Pierre-Luc Dubois into their lineup. Thankfully, the team seems to have shaken off most of their early-season rust, and despite the recent losses, have looked evenly matched with their opponents. Here’s hoping they can steal another win or two before they return home.

The post Senators News & Rumours: Dadonov, Gustavsson, Brown & More appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

      

Related: The NHL’s Top 100 Prospects – Preseason Rankings

These unnatural circumstances place even higher importance on each chance a scout gets to see these prospects, and it could make for some draft blunders. With that said, it’s hard to go wrong if you are a GM with a top pick this year — especially if your team is in the market for a defenseman.

2021 Draft Is Flooding With Defensemen

The top ten of the 2020 Draft was oozing with forwards but boasted very few blueliners. This summer, expect the opposite. This is great for the Kings, who have tons of offensive prospects but lack quality young defenders. Behind Tobias Björnfot, the Kings’ top defensive prospect, there is not much to write home about. Taking a defenseman somewhere in the top ten picks of the draft would go a long way in solidifying L.A.’s blue line of the future.

1.) Carson Lambos – Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

Carson Lambos has all the makings of a complete defenseman. The Winnipeg Ice blueliner can hold his own at both ends of the ice and is an excellent skater. Lambos, who turned 18 in January, has a knack for offensive play. However, weighing in at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he is no pushover in his defensive zone. Unlike many draft year prospects, he is already a capable defenseman who could hold his own in the AHL right away — and would not need much time to be ready for the NHL.

2.) Brandt Clarke – Barrie Colts (OHL)

Brandt Clarke may have the highest upside of any player in the draft, and he could very well be the top pick in 2021. He is a right-shot defenseman who was born in February of 2003.

He is tough to beat in his own end and spent a lot of last season shutting down L.A.’s Quinton Byfield back when Byfield suited up for the Sudbury Wolves. Byfield would surely be relieved to be on the same side as Clarke if the Kings got him, as the shutdown D-man can be frustrating to play against.

If Clarke can tap into his offensive game, the sky’s the limit for the young man. His scoring upside is underrated, and he shows flashes of Rasmus Dahlin. Don’t be surprised if Clarke is remembered as the best defenseman from the 2021 Draft.

3.) Owen Power – University of Michigan (NCAA)

Owen Power plays a big role on a star-studded University of Michigan team. The Wolverines’ roster boasts Power, Kent Johnson, and the top forward prospect for the 2021 Draft, Matthew Berniers.

Power will be a top-five pick in 2021 and most likely somewhere in the top three. He figures to be a top defenseman one day and could make a great pairing with Bjornfot if the Kings nabbed him. Before Michigan, he dominated with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, winning 2020 Defenseman of the Year in the league.

When summer hits, these young defensemen will hit “draft mode.” But, for now, Power is focused on helping his No. 7 ranked Wolverines win a National Championship — something which would only boost his draft stock further.

4.) Luke Hughes – USNTDP (USHL)

Luke Hughes, younger brother of Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks) and Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), has quite a bit to live up to. Quinn went seventh overall at the 2018 Draft, and Jack was selected first overall in 2019.

However, it’s Luke’s turn now— and he’s ready. He doesn’t have as good of a chance as Power, Clarke, or Lambos to go number one overall. He does have a good chance to be a top-five pick, though, which he’ll settle for.

Hughes plays for the USNTDP (United States National Team Development Program) and will join the University of Michigan at the end of the USNTDP’s season. His oldest brother Quinn had a dominant career at Michigan, playing there in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Related: Canucks Can Make Quinn Hughes the Team’s Cornerstone

Like his older brothers, Luke is a fantastic skater. He projects to be the second-highest draft pick of the three Hughes brothers, but don’t be surprised if he ends up with the strongest career.

5.) Simon Edvinsson – Frölunda J20 (Nationell)

Simon Edvinsson could be a sneaky value pick in this draft, as he’s no pushover, at 6-foot-5, 203 pounds as a 17-year-old. The big Swedish defender draws comparisons to Victor Hedman, which isn’t the worst company.

Edvinsson is a left-shot defenseman and still figures to add some inches and weight before cracking NHL lineups. He could be a terror to play against and would add some serious grit to L.A.’s lineup if the Kings drafted him. Since he is more of a physical presence, he is likely the worst skater on this last. However, his style of play is clearly effective, and any team would be lucky to draft a top tier defenseman as psychically capable as him.

Kings Should Find Defensive Value No Matter What

We are a long way from knowing which pick the Kings will have in the 2021 Draft. However, barring an unexpectedly successful season, the Kings should get a high pick and thus be able to nab a cornerstone defenseman.

If L.A. selects a defender this summer with their top pick, he will likely become their number one defensive prospect.

The post Kings Should Target These Defensemen in 2021 Draft appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

     

Related Stories

• Kings’ Decimated Lineup Has Contributed to a Miserable Month
• Kings’ Special Teams Playing Important Role in Early Season Success
• LA Kings Monthly: Unexpected Performances But Weak Team Play in January

 

As a member of the Original Six, their past presents a plethora of trivia-worthy material. This is beyond asking what year Chicago entered the league, who their leading producer of all-time is, or which goalie has the most wins in franchise history. Those are too easy and do little to help you proclaim Blackhawks’ bragging rights.

RELATED – Blackhawks All-Time Playoff Roster

Sit back, learn a few things, and have fun. We hope you enjoy the read, too. Be sure to keep track of your selections along the way and use our answer key at the end of the article to see how you did, along with what your results say about you as a fan.

Game On!

1) How long did it take Bill Mosienko to score the fastest hat trick in league history?

A. 43 seconds
B. 21 seconds
C. 36 seconds
D. 19 seconds

2) Which Hall of Famer does not have their number retired by the franchise?

A. Denis Savard
B. Pierre Pilote
C. Doug Wilson
D. Glenn Hall

3) How many playoff games did Chicago require in 2013 to capture that year’s Stanley Cup?

A. 24
B. 25
C. 22
D. 23

4) Who holds the record for most all-time regular season penalty minutes with the Blackhawks?

A. Bob Probert
B. Chris Chelios
C. Al Secord
D. Keith Magnuson

5) How many times have the Blackhawks finished a season with a points percentage of over .700?

A. 0
B. 3
C. 1
D. 2

6) Who are the only two Chicago players to earn a team record seven points in a single game?

A. Grant Mulvey/Max Bentley
B. Bernie Nicholls/Grant Mulvey
C. Jeremy Roenick/Steve Larmer
D. Max Bentley/Bobby Hull

7) How many All-Star appearances did Patrick Kane make between 2015-2020?

A. 6
B. 3
C. 5
D. 4

8) Which Original Six franchise has Chicago faced the least amount of times in the regular season?

A. Toronto Maple Leafs
B. Boston Bruins
C. Montreal Canadiens
D. New York Rangers

9) How many Blackhawks’ coaches have earned over 200 non-playoff wins behind their bench?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 1
D. 4

10) Against which team has Jonathan Toews scored the most regular season goals?

A. Dallas Stars
B. Nashville Predators
C. St. Louis Blues
D. Colorado Avalanche

11) How many times has Chicago won the Presidents’ Trophy for finishing in first place overall?

A. 2
B. 1
C. 5
D. 4

12) Who holds the record for most points in a single season by a Blackhawk?

A. Bobby Hull
B. Denis Savard
C. Patrick Kane
D. Jeremy Roenick

13) How many 40-goal campaigns did Stan Mikita have?

A. 1
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2

14) Who was the only Chicago coach to win the Jack Adams Award as best in the league?

A. Billy Reay
B. Orval Tessier
C. Joel Quenneville
D. Mike Keenan

15) During their longest point streak, how many did the Blackhawks earn?

A. 28
B. 25
C. 21
D. 24

16) Which goalie set the mark for most games played in one season with the organization?

A. Glenn Hall
B. Ed Belfour
C. Frank Brimsek
D. Tony Esposito

17) How many different athletes have scored 50 or more goals in a Chicago sweater?

A. 5
B. 2
C. 7
D. 3

18) Who was the oldest player to ever captain the team?

A. Doug Gilmour
B. Chris Chelios
C. Dick Irvin
D. Helge Bostrom

19) What is the highest number of goals the Blackhawks have ever accumulated in a single season?

A. 351
B. 374
C. 346
D. 338

20) Which of the following teams is the only one with an affiliation to the Chicago Blackhawks?

A. Wisconsin Badgers
B. Chicago Wolves
C. Indy Fuel
D. Saginaw Spirit

21) How many saves did Al Rollins make to set Chicago’s bar for most in one game?

A. 57
B. 68
C. 62
D. 59

22) Who holds the title for points by a rookie with the Blackhawks?

A. Steve Larmer
B. Artemi Panarin
C. Ed Olczyk
D. Jeremy Roenick

23) How many shutouts did Tony Esposito accumulate to set the NHL’s single-season record?

A. 14
B. 17
C. 12
D. 15

24) Who was their opponent, when Chicago scored their most ever goals in an individual game?

A. Hartford Whalers
B. Philadelphia Flyers
C. Detroit Red Wings
D. Minnesota North Stars

25) In which year did the franchise change their name from Black Hawks to Blackhawks?

A. 1982
B. 1979
C. 1986
D. 1973

Check Your Work

We’re trusting that you’ve made it this far only after attempting to answer every question above. If that’s not the case, you don’t deserve to see the answers. Please either complete those you skipped or close your browser at this point.

Great, since you’ve made it this far that means you have a set of 25 choices to verify. While we anticipate that you’re confident with your selections, we’re also banking on the fact that you definitely failed at some of these.

Answers & Explanations

1) B. 21 seconds

On March 23, 1952, Mosienko scored three goals in a 21-second span during the third period en route to a 7-6 comeback victory over the New York Rangers.

2) C. Doug Wilson

Despite being elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020, Wilson’s 24 isn’t currently one of the seven such banners that line Chicago’s rafters.

3) D. 23

Chicago won their rounds against the Minnesota Wild (4-1), Detroit Red Wings (4-3), Los Angeles Kings (4-1), and Boston Bruins (4-2), on their way to capturing the 2013 Stanley Cup.

4) B. Chris Chelios

Through 664 regular season games with the Blackhawks, Chelios accumulated 1,495 penalty minutes for an average of at least one minor per contest.

5) C. 1

Chicago’s points percentage of .802 in 2012-13 was the highest throughout the league that year and the only time they’ve surpassed .700 in club history.

6) A. Grant Mulvey/Max Bentley

Mulvey accumulated five goals and two assists on February 3, 1982, facing the St. Louis Blues; Bentley scored five and assisted on two against the New York Rangers on January 28, 1943.

7) A. 6

Kane has participated in nine All-Star games since entering the league in 2007-08, including all six between 2015-2020 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).

8) C. Montreal Canadiens

As of the end of the 2019-20 calendar, the Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens had faced each other 568 times throughout the regular season.

9) A. 2

Of their 38 coaches in franchise history, only Billy Reay (516) and Joel Quenneville (452) earned over 200 non-postseason wins, with Bob Pulford just shy of the milestone (185).

10) D. Colorado Avalanche

By the end of the 2019-20 campaign, Toews had faced each of the Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues more times than the Avalanche, yet his 22 goals in their 49 meetings are his most against any opponent.

11) A. 2

The Presidents’ Trophy has only been awarded since 1986, to the team that finishes the season with the best overall record, with the Blackhawks having earned it twice in that span — 1991 and 2013.

12) B. Denis Savard

Savard not only achieved the best single-season production in franchise history, he currently owns the top four spots on that list with 131 (1987-88), 121 (1982-83), 119 (1981-82), and 116 (1985-86).

13) A. 1

Five of Mikita’s 22 seasons in Chicago saw him earn at least 35 goals or more, including two where he hit 39, yet he only achieved the 40-goal mark once.

14) B. Orval Tessier

Tessier is currently the sole coach in club history to have won the Jack Adams Award, following his 1982-83 record of 47-23-10 during his first of three years behind their bench.

15) D. 24

Not only are the 24 points that the Blackhawks earned to kick off their 2012-13 campaign the franchise’s longest such streak, but it also set an NHL record for most to start a season.

16) B. Ed Belfour

Hall’s record of 502 consecutive appearances spanned multiple seasons, none of which saw him play as many as the 74 Belfour participated in during 1990-91 alone.

17) D. 3

While Patrick Kane still has time ahead of him to achieve the feat, only Bobby Hull, Al Secord, and Jeremy Roenick have reached the milestone in a Blackhawks uniform.

18) D. Helge Bostrom

Bostrom played four seasons with the Blackhawks and was 39 years old when he captained the team throughout the 1932-33 campaign.

19) A. 351

Chicago’s 351 goals scored through 1985-86 was third highest in the league that year, behind the Edmonton Oilers (426) and Calgary Flames (354), and is the most they’ve ever achieved in a single season.

20) C. Indy Fuel

The Blackhawks have both an AHL and ECHL affiliate, with the former being the Rockford IceHogs and the latter is the Fuel.

21) D. 59

Rollins owns the top two spots on the team’s list of most saves in a single game, with the 59 of 62 he stopped during a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on December 13, 1956, leading the way.

22) A. Stever Larmer

Larmer’s 90 points through 1982-83, which was also enough to earn him the Calder Memorial Trophy that year, still stands alone as most by a Blackhawks’ rookie.

23) D. 15

What makes Esposito’s record-setting 15 shutouts through 1969-70 even more impressive, is that it was his rookie season with the Blackhawks.

24) B. Philadelphia Flyers

On January 30, 1969, the Blackhawks scored the most they ever have in a single game during a 12-0 shutout victory over the Flyers.

25) C. 1986

Prior to the 1986-87 season, while reviewing franchise records, someone noticed Chicago’s team name was actually one word on their original league paperwork and it changed from that point forward.

What Your Score Says About You

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed the challenge while elevating your level of Blackhawks knowledge. Be sure to share this with that friend who thinks they know all there is to know about this team, so they can be reminded that they absolutely do not. Don’t forget to let us know how you did, in the comments section below.

RELATED – Corey Crawford’s Retirement Leaves Legacy With Blackhawks

And feel free to brag about your new trivia skills — you’ve earned it.

Blackhawks Banter

Join our crew at The Hockey Writers as we debate and discuss all things Blackhawks every Monday night at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST. Tune in live on our YouTube Channel and follow our Facebook Page so you’re always in the know.

Think you can stump our knowledgeable team? Tag us on Twitter with your best attempt and be sure to include #BlackhawksBanter. We might even read your question during an upcoming episode.

The post Toughest Blackhawks Trivia Quiz You’ll Ever Attempt appeared first on The Hockey Writers.