This is your daily thread to talk about the latest hockey news.
BLACKHAWKS
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)
Korchinski showed defensive improvement in nine-game NHL stint (Sun-Times)
Connor Bedard has finally found his ideal linemates in Hall, Bertuzzi: What took so long? (The Athletic)
For Blackhawks, trip to Buffalo a reminder of the folly of tanking and the sliding-doors 2019 draft (The Athletic)
Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov’s explosive month in the KHL: Film breakdown (The Athletic)
RECAPS: Sabres 6, Blackhawks 2 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
Seth Jones still trying to rediscover pre-injury form within new Blackhawks systems (Sun-Times)
RECAPS: Wild 4, Blackhawks 3 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
Blackhawks buddies Maroon, Reichel enjoyed Christmas together: “Better to celebrate with him” (Sun-Times)
Four storylines to follow during middle portion of Blackhawks’ season (Sun-Times)
Blackhawks will eventually have to make hard decisions about which prospects to trade (Sun-Times)
Analyzing Blackhawks’ most-improved, least-improved players from Anders Sorensen’s coaching (Sun-Times)
The time has come for Blackhawks to move Lukas Reichel off the fourth line (Sun-Times)
Breaking down Frank Nazar’s first 5 games since his Blackhawks call-up (The Athletic)
Analyzing Frank Nazar’s first five Blackhawks games of the season (Sun-Times)
Nolan Allan carving out role in Blackhawks’ defense (The Athletic)
RECAPS: Flames 6, Blackhawks 4 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
Blackhawks cherishing the “good energy” created by rare winning streak (Sun-Times)
RECAPS: Blackhawks 3, Kraken 1 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune) (The Athletic)
Blackhawks reducing Bedard’s faceoff responsibilities while keeping him at center (Sun-Times)
Petr Mrazek is back from a groin injury — but his absence helped fellow goalie Arvid Soderblom (Tribune)
Blackhawks power rankings: Anders Sorensen’s impact, Jonathan Toews’ upswing, CHSN’s failure (The Athletic)
Blackhawks’ attendance at United Center holding steady despite lack of TV visibility (Sun-Times)
RECAPS: Blackhawks 3, Capitals 2 (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
NHL GAME RECAPS
Panthers 5, Rangers 3 (NHL)
Jets 3, Predators 0 (NHL)
Kraken 5, Utah 2 (NHL)
NHL NEWS
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)
Bruins’ Pastrnak exits with upper-body injury (ESPN)
Crosby ties Lemieux’s Penguins record for assists (ESPN)
Tkachuk “OK” following collision with Kucherov (ESPN)
Rangers sit Kreider vs. Devils as skid continues (ESPN)
Rempe suspended 8 games for boarding, elbowing (NHL)
Capitals place F Eller (illness) on injured reserve (ESPN)
DC mayor, Leonsis break ground on new arena (ESPN)
Kakko doesn’t think Rangers criticism led to deal (ESPN)
NHL’s 2nd season of “Faceoff” series in production (ESPN)
Kakko traded to Kraken by Rangers for Borgen, picks (NHL)
Carrier traded to Canadiens by Predators for Barron (NHL)
HOCKEY WORLD
2025 NHL Draft prospect roundup (SCH)
WJC Roundup: Finland defeats United States in OT (NHL)
2025 World Junior Championship schedule, results (NHL)
World Junior Championship preview: Top contenders, key players to watch (ESPN)
Who are the best NHL prospects at 2025 World Juniors? Rankings the top 25 players (The Athletic)