Building Character & Fighting Through Adversity
A look into how the Blackhawks are making the most of adversity, as well as some good and bad news updates
Welcome to the THW Chicago Blackhawks Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Blackhawks writers.
In today’s edition, we look at how the Blackhawks are letting character trump adversity, give an injury update on Connor Bedard, and a flurry of other news.
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Now, onto the good stuff…
Blackhawks News & Rumors: Bedard, Perry, All-Stars & More
January 11, 2024 by Gail Kauchak
The Chicago Blackhawks might not be very good right now, but they certainly aren’t boring. At one point this past week, the team had nine players on injured reserve. We’ve had a few updates on the injury front since then, and some corresponding new reinforcements added to the team.
Besides that, there is a bit of a twist to the Blackhawks’ 2024 All-Star representative. Plus, former Blackhawk Corey Perry is now eligible to return to the NHL. Let’s get to all this and more in our latest news and rumors.
Jason Dickinson Making Case to Be Part of Blackhawks Future
January 10, 2024 by Brooke LoFurno
Where do you find the constant when everything about the 2023-24 Chicago Blackhawks has been in disarray? Everything from injuries, contract terminations, losses galore, and uncertainty have plagued the locker room since the beginning. Unfortunately, those aspects can cause a downward spiral that is hard to overcome because it tests resiliency. When faced with hardships on a young squad, they need a steady voice and one that has brought them that is Jason Dickinson.
Besides Dickinson having a career year, he has been continually pushing the Blackhawks to be better on and off the ice, and it’s paying off. Here is a look at his influence this season.
Connor Bedard to Miss 6-8 Weeks After Jaw Surgery
January 10, 2024 by Hunter Crowther
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard underwent surgery on Monday to repair a fractured jaw and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
Bedard was injured in the Blackhawks’ Jan. 5 game against the New Jersey Devils. The 18-year-old center carried the puck into the Devils’ zone when defenseman Brendan Smith stepped up and hit Bedard high, causing Bedard to grab his mouth and fall to the ice. Bedard skated on his own to the bench and went straight to the locker room. He did not return.
Blackhawks Build Character While Fighting Multiple Injuries
January 8, 2024 by Gail Kauchak
The Chicago Blackhawks knew this was going to be a tough season, basically their second campaign of a full-on rebuild. But they had no idea it was going to be this bad. Injuries have absolutely derailed any sort of plan for the squad at this point. The losses of cornerstone player Connor Bedard and de-facto captain Nick Foligno are the latest additions to the injury list.
The Blackhawks currently have nine players on injured reserve, giving them more salary on their IR list than on their active roster. Needless to say, the team is icing quite the ragtag group. But the show must go on. It’s a next-man-up mentality, and there are some players who are getting opportunities they never might have had otherwise. Let’s talk about who’s left, and what they’re doing to make the most out of a difficult situation.