Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks know they're a win-now team

The Blackhawks have a couple more days off after that lengthy road trip across the West Coast. For now, let's catch up on the news from the weekend:

**The Blackhawks know they're built as a win-now team, and that fact is only being magnified as the cap crunch looms. (Chicago Tribune)

**Former Blackhawks star Chris Chelios is making the rounds on a Chicago area book tour for his upcoming biography. He'll be at the Blackhawks Store downtown tomorrow from 11am-1pm before heading up north to Winnetka at night. He'll also make other stops in subsequent days. Not a bad way to meet a hockey legend!  (Triumph Books)

**We've been on Kris Versteeg's side for some time here at SCH, and now he's paying off that faith for his supporters. (CSN Chicago)

**The Bruins have placed David Krejci on IR due to a lower body injury. Craig Cunningham has taken his roster spot for the time being. (PHT)

**Edmonton placed forward Jesse Joensuu on waivers Sunday with the intention of sending him to the AHL (Oilers)

**The Habs and forward Brendan Gallagher agreed to a five-year, $22.5 million deal that comes with a $3.75 million annual cap hit. Much of Montreal's core is locked up long-term now. (Canadiens)

**The Wild signed defenseman Marco Scandella to a five-year, $20 million extension over the weekend. That's an annual cap hit of $4 million. (Star Tribune)

**The Flyers may have another star forward in hand with the emergence of Jakub Voracek. (SB Nation)

**Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis is expected to be sidelined until Christmas (PHT)

**Greg Wyshynski asks if it's time for the Devils to fire coach Peter DeBoer. (Puck Daddy)

**Gordie Howe suffered a minor stroke Saturday night that's complicated his recovery from another stroke in October (PHT)

**Former Winnipeg and Columbus coach Claude Noel has landed with the WHL's Vancouver Giants (Vancouver Province)

**Sunday's game between the Red Wings and Canucks in Detroit got delayed by a power outage at Joe Louis Arena. (SB Nation)

**No extra discipline for the blindside hit that Alex Ovechkin laid upon Leo Komarov last week (PHT)

**The Ducks continue to deal with the mumps going through their locker room, as we discussed when they hosted the 'Hawks on Friday. (Puck Daddy)