The Blackhawks practiced on Monday and notable absences included Ryan Carpenter, Calvin de Haan and Patrick Kane:
MEDICAL UPDATES: Ryan Carpenter (concussion protocol), Calvin de Haan (hip) and Patrick Kane (maintenance day) will not practice today.#Blackhawks https://t.co/9XmemVwKaj
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 26, 2021
Carpenter was placed in concussion protocol after playing just 10:01 against the Predators on Friday night. Carpenter averages 12:41 this season, so his lowered playing time may have been an indication. Calvin de Haan left last Wednesday’s game against Nashville after playing just 3:50 due to lingering hip pain, so his absence is not a shock. Kane’s absence is just due to a maintenance day and is not alarming.
After news that Andrew Shaw is done playing the sport of hockey, he thanked fans in a press conference on Monday:
“You made me feel right at home here. Everyone was very kind. Chicagoans are the best people. Welcoming, caring, loving, supportive.”
–Andrew Shaw to #Blackhawks fans pic.twitter.com/UrgKjDhWGC
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 26, 2021
Shaw also said he sees Brandon Hagel as being a potential replacement:
Shaw says he hopes Brandon Hagel can carry on his role with the team.
“You can see a little bit of me in Hags… [But] he’s a lot more skilled than me, and faster. I’d like to see him be a little more consistent.”
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 26, 2021
In media news, TNT has purchased the NHL’s secondary rights package, meaning that the league is moving away from NBC as a broadcast partner:
NBC done with NHL as TNT joins ESPN as new TV partner https://t.co/lqtaHjXpe7 via @MollieeWalkerr
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 26, 2021
Turner is going to pay in the neighborhood of $225M per season over its seven-year NHL deal, according to sources. That’s nearly $1.6B.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 26, 2021
The NHL joins the NBA as a big-four sport with coverage on the network and another sports entertainment property in All Elite Wrestling. A TNT Inside the NHL show with Patrick Sharp, PK Subban and Kevin Weekes? Sign me up.
The $1.6 billion dollar deal is 12.5 percent more money than the NHL got from NBC for the entire rights package and complements the $400 million per year the NHL will be receiving from ESPN for the primary ownership.
An actual media deal for the NHL. Who would have thought?