Morning Bag Skate: 10-19-21

This is your daily thread to talk about the latest hockey news.

BLACKHAWKS

Blackhawks Bits: Hossa legacy night announced; Hardman recalled (SCH)

Number Munchers: Quantifying the Blackhawks’ dreadful start (SCH)

3 Things to know if you’re going to the Blackhawks home opener at the United Center, including a new policy banning almost all purses and bags and new food options (Tribune)

Entering home opener, reeling Blackhawks focus on playing a more “boring game” (Sun-Times)

Jeremy Colliton might have lost the Blackhawks fan base but he hasn’t lost the room (The Athletic)

As Blackhawks approach crisis point, Patrick Kane backs Jeremy Colliton (Sun-Times)

Lazerus: Blackhawks’ unacceptable start(s) leaves the team at a crisis point (The Athletic)

RECAPS: Penguins 5, Blackhawks 2 (SCH) (Tribune) (Sun-Times) (Pensburgh)

RECAPS: Devils 4, Blackhawks 3 (SCH) (Tribune) (Sun-Times) (All About the Jersey) (The Athletic)

Blackhawks ugly opening loss sketches blueprint for how ‘21-22 plan could flop (Sun-Times)

Was it nerves or something else? What’s with the slow starts? Blackhawks face big questions after a sobering 4-2 season-opening loss (Tribune)

RECAPS: Avalanche 4, Blackhawks 2 (SCH) (Tribune) (Sun-Times) (Mile High Hockey) (The Athletic)

An incomplete list of things we’re excited about for the ‘21-22 Blackhawks season (SCH)

Musings on Madison, Episode 64 — Blackhawks 2021-22 season preview (SCH)

“I don’t see a lot of issues”: What scouts are saying about the Blackhawks as the season begins (The Athletic)

CENTRAL DIVISION

RECAP: Blues 7, Coyotes 4 (St. Louis Game Time) (Five For Howling)

Jets’ Blake Wheeler enters NHL’s COVID-19 protocols (The Athletic)

John Klingberg injured in first game of Stars season (Defending Big D)

Gabriel Landeskog suspended 2 games (Mile High Hockey)

NHL

RECAP: Rangers 2, Maple Leafs 1 (NHL)

RECAP: Flyers 6, Kraken 1 (NHL)

RECAP: Ducks 3, Flames 2 (NHL)

Evander Kane suspended 21 games by NHL (NHL)

Canucks defenseman Travis Hamonic taking temporary leave of absence (The Athletic)

Kucherov out indefinitely for Lightning (NHL)

Domi out 2-4 weeks for Blue Jackets (NHL)

Knyzhov out 8-10 weeks for Sharks (NHL)

Pacioretty week-to-week for Golden Knights (NHL)

Brady Tkachuk signs 7-year deal (Silver Seven)

Bettman: All but 4 NHL players vaccinated (NHL)

HOCKEY WORLD

Former NHL players Jimmy Hayes died with fentanyl, cocaine in his system — “He never showed any signs of a struggle at home” (Tribune)

Kovalchuk named ROC GM for 2022 Olympics (NHL)

One league, under Barstool: The PHF’s near-miss at partnering with a media menace (The Ice Garden)

In a small Ontario town, the pandemic shutters a junior hockey team and creates an uncertain future (The Athletic)

Understanding the true impact of racism in hockey is the only way we’ll find progress (Sportsnet)