This is your daily thread to talk about the latest hockey news.
BLACKHAWKS
Blackhawks assistant coach Kevin Dean pushing new focus: Getting defensemen involved offensively (Sun-Times)
RECAPS: Rangers 6, Blackhawks 2 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
Where have you gone, Andrew Shaw? Lifeless Blackhawks in dire need of a sparkplug (The Athletic)
Roenick’s whining about Connor Bedard should’ve been addressed privately (Sun-Times)
It’s time for the Blackhawks to give Arvid Soderblom a chance as No. 1 goalie (The Athletic)
Looking back at Blackhawks’ three huge 2022 trades, moving Kirby Dach seems smart so far (Sun-Times)
RECAPS: Blackhawks 4, Canadiens 2 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune) (The Athletic)
Toews’ possible NHL comeback must be seen to be believed (Sun-Times)
Winter Classic posts awful TV ratings: Blues-Blackhawks wasn’t draw NHL hoped (Sun-Times)
Blackhawks Bits: Colton Dach to make NHL debut while Lukas Reichel will sit (SCH) (Tribune)
Blackhawks OHL prospect update, 1/2: Lardis keeps lighting lamps; Vanacker debuts (SCH)
Poor goaltending one of Blackhawks’ many problems during ongoing collapse (Sun-Times)
What Blackhawks can look forward to in 2025: Linemate for Connor Bedard? Top-3 pick? (The Athletic)
After Winter Classic debacle, where do the Blackhawks go from here? (Sun-Times)
Musings on Madison, Episode 170 — Reactions following an embarrassing Winter Classic (SCH)
RECAPS: Blues 6, Blackhawks 2 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune) (The Athletic)
Winter Classic comes at unfortunate time for struggling Blackhawks, who don’t fit the festive mood (Sun-Times)
Bedard set to play on Winter Classic stage for Blackhawks at Wrigley (NHL)
RECAPS: Stars 5, Blackhawks 1 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune) (The Athletic)
NHL GAME RECAPS
Sabres 4, Capitals 3 (NHL)
Canadiens 5, Canucks 4 (NHL)
Avalanche 3, Panthers 1 (NHL)
Devils 3, Kraken 2 (NHL)
NHL NEWS
4-time Cup-winning coach, executive MacNeil dies at 89 (NHL)
Chiasson, Stanley Cup winner with Capitals, retires (NHL)
Rangers claim Kaliyev off waivers from Kings (ESPN)
Maple Leafs forward Domi fined $5k for elbowing (ESPN)
Ullmark week to week for Senators with back injury (NHL)
Vatrano gets 3-year contract with Ducks (NHL)
Hurricanes put defenseman Gostisbehere on IR (ESPN)
Toews considering trying to resume NHL career, per report (Sun-Times)
Wild’s Spurgeon to miss 2-3 weeks after slew-foot (ESPN)
Avs’ Nichushkin day-to-day with lower-body injury (ESPN)
Avs sign D Middleton to two-year extension (ESPN)
Avs’ Drouin set to return Tuesday against Jets (ESPN)
NHL fines Flyers’ Michkov, Blackhawks’ Maroon (ESPN)
FBI warns about targeted burglaries of athletes (ESPN)
Source: NHL draft set for LA, to have new format (ESPN)
Matthews to miss 5th straight game (NHL)
Teams say winning makes Winter Classic more special (NHL)
Hughes, Petterson out at least 1 week for Canucks (NHL)
Source: Stars to be fined for holiday-break skate (ESPN)
Avalanche acquire Parssinen, 23, from Predators (ESPN)
Within 25 of Gretzky, Ovechkin scores in return (ESPN)
HOCKEY WORLD
Gold standard: US wins World Junior Championship for second straight year (NHL)
2025 NHL Draft prospect roundup (SCH)
2025 World Junior Championship schedule, results (NHL)
Who are the best NHL prospects at 2025 World Juniors? Rankings the top 25 players (The Athletic)