The Chicago Blackhawks broke camp Monday, and at least one person is amped up to start the regular season Tuesday.
Guess who?
“Yeah, very (excited), Connor Bedard said Monday at Fifth Third Arena. “Kind of working all summer, waiting, that anticipation. We’re all pretty fired up.”
For the fifth season in a row, the Hawks will start on a road trip of at least three games.
At least there’s a twist this time.
The season opener is the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural game, which takes place at 9 p.m. CT at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. It airs nationally on ESPN.
“We’re pretty excited for Utah’s first game ever, and I’m sure it’ll be pretty electric in there,” Bedard said. “When I saw that on the schedule, I was pretty excited for that.”
Goaltender Petr Mrázek was less hyped about the history, saying the Hawks, who finished second-to-last last season (23-53-6), just need to focus.
“I don’t think it’s any special moment for us,” he said. “We’re just going into there, play our best hockey as we can, and hopefully get a good result.”
It will be the fifth time the Hawks have played a club in its first-ever game. The NHL considers Utah — the former Arizona Coyotes — to be a new franchise. Here are the other first games:
- Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Hawks on Oct. 7, 2000
- Florida Panthers at Hawks on Oct. 6, 1993
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Hawks on Oct. 7, 1992
- Edmonton Oilers at Hawks on Oct. 10, 1979
Coach Luke Richardson said, “I’ve never been to Utah before, so it’ll be something new for everybody, hockey-wise for sure. It’s exciting for us to get started, for one thing.
“Camp is great to get things ironed out, but it gets long, especially for the older guys — they really look forward to opening the season.”
“Ironed out” is putting it mildly.
The Hawks hope to escape the rebuild phase after loading up with more proven veterans this offseason, but losing five of six preseason games — including two stinkers against the Minnesota Wild — doesn’t bode well for a fast start.
“No, you don’t flip switches,” Seth Jones said after the Hawks lost 6-1 to the Wild on Friday. “It’s going to be a hostile environment in Utah. We need to be ready to play 60 minutes, hard.”
Still, there are a lot of new faces trying to jell.
“We need to get on the same page when it comes to some of our systems,” Jones said. “We need to figure out what to do in certain situations. It’s not going to be perfect — we understand it’s a game of mistakes. But we need to limit those.
“If one guy makes a mistake, we can’t have two, three mistakes right after, because that’s when it’s in the net.”
Here’s a breakdown of the projected opening lineup.
Forwards
First line
Right wing: Ilya Mikheyev
He was a bit of a surprise addition to the top line on the last day of camp.
“Still trying things,” Richardson said Monday. “I know camp’s over, but we thought a little speed on the first line for some forechecking and getting pucks back, it’ll be great for that line. But it’ll also let us use (Philipp) Kurashev in the middle on the second line.
“It feels a little more balanced for a road lineup at the start. We can always make changes on the fly if we feel different.”
Bedard said, “I haven’t played with Ilya yet, but just from watching him and practice today, it’s just his speed. He’s one of the faster guys in the league. And I think we can really use that.
If me and (Teräväinen) can maybe slow down a little bit and then hit him or whatever, we know he’s gonna be flying, so it’s going to be a good addition.”
Mikheyev will likely see time on both special teams units. Earlier in camp, he logged time with Jason Dickinson and Nick Foligno, and they may be reunited in the regular season. But for now, he’s been elevated to Bedard’s line over several contenders.
Richardson said, “I think he’s going to be a utility guy, you can move him anywhere. … Strong guy on the puck, strong forechecker.”
Center: Connor Bedard
Bedard led the Hawks in goals (22, tied with Jason Dickinson), assists (39) and points (61) — and that’s after missing 14 games with a broken jaw. The Hawks hope that with some free-agent imports, Bedard can take a leap offensively while filling out his all-around game.
“He’s a dynamic player, he loves to have the puck,” Richardson said. “He’s driven and he came in great shape. I know management challenged him to do that over the summer — he wants to be the best player, so you’ve got to be in the best shape, and he did that — so now it’s just repetition.”
If there’s at least one area of improvement, it’s power play, where Bedard ranked fourth on the team with four goals. He said, “Best thing you can do is move the puck quick and not be hesitant on your plays, and that’s when we’ll be at our best.”
Right wing: Teuvo Teräväinen
The former Hurricane returns to Chicago after eight seasons in Carolina. The Hawks have talked about how the soft-spoken wing can help Bedard not only with his passing but with the subtleties of the game.
Bedard said, “His brain and the way he thinks the game, the areas he can get in, it’s a lot of fun to play with him and kind of read off him.”
Richardson said, “I’d like to see Connor, when it’s time for him to shoot, we have to use his ability to shoot. And I think Teräväinen will help with that message as well. He doesn’t want the puck when he’s not open or when it’s not there, so I think he’ll help promote that as well.”
Teräväinen even wants to mentor quietly: “I’ve never been the loudest person, like in the locker room, but I’ll try to lead the way on the ice and just do those small things right, maybe. That’s always been more like my style.”
Second line
Left wing: Taylor Hall
After coming back from a shoulder injury in early November, Hall tore his right ACL and missed the rest of the season. About 10 months removed from surgery, Hall said, “My knee is as good as it’s going to be.”
Hall was brought in last year to be an on-ice mentor for Bedard, but he played mostly with Philipp Kurashev and Ilya Mikheyev in camp. They showed, “some really good bursts,” Richardson said, but Hall was “still finding some timing.”
Center: Philipp Kurashev
Kurashev, who was second to Bedard with 54 points (18 goals and 36 assists), spent a lot of time as Bedard’s wing last year, and they recaptured some of that old magic in the preseason finale, but the Hawks want to experiment with Kurashev centering another line.
Asked about not lining up with Bedard, Kurashev said, “For me, it’s whatever the coach … wants me to play, and I take the role and just try to do the best I can for the team. So whatever it ends up being, I will do my best at it.”
Left wing: Tyler Bertuzzi
The Hawks had hoped Bertuzzi could bring some grit to complement Bedard’s offensive finesse, but he’ll play on the second line, at least to start the season.
Richardson explained the change: “I’m sure he would like to score more. We have to score more goals and find the ability to create that. Today we worked a little more on our forecheck, and I think that’s going to help create a little more turnovers.”
Hall said, “(Bertuzzi) is a straight-line player. He goes to the front of the net. He’s got a really good stick and he’s got some sneaky dangles as well. He holds onto the puck well and makes plays at the proper time.”
Third line
Left wing: Nick Foligno
Foligno was named captain, the franchise’s first successor to Jonathan Toews.
Foligno told the Tribune that even if he hadn’t been chosen, “I would have come in and done the exact same thing I’m doing right now. The only thing I feel is gratitude and an honor to be able to wear the captaincy, but I’m just, you know, going to continue to go about my way of doing things, and would have done it no different.”
Center: Jason Dickinson
Dickinson was arguably the Hawks’ most versatile forward last season, tying Connor Bedard for the team lead in goals (22), leading Hawks forwards with 73 blocks and was one of only three Hawks forwards to have a plus rating (including linemate Joey Anderson).
Richardson experimented with shuffling lineups in the preseason, and may do so again, but “it’s always easy to go back to Nick (Foligno) and Dickinson to be a reliable line.”
Right wing: Joey Anderson
It says something that Anderson has been one of the few depth forwards to survive the offseason purge. He was solid during camp playing as well with veterans as he did leading a line with prospects Samuel Savoie and Paul Ludwinski.
“It’s going to be more on a bottom role,” Anderson said. “If they want me to go out and play 10 minutes and forecheck and be good defensively, that’s what we’ll do. … Once the regular season starts, it’ll kind of be more defined as to what they want from me, but I’m happy to do whatever they need.”
Fourth line
Left wing: Pat Maroon
The three-time Stanley Cup winner (St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning) probably resides on several NHL fan bases’ “most hated” lists, and Hawks fans certainly should remember him from playoff battles when he was an Anaheim Duck.
He’s also a St. Louis native and former member of the Blues.
“I used to love the (Hawks) logo back in the day, and just following them growing up,” Maroon said. “When I was in Anaheim, they were on those runs those couple years. … So I never thought I would end up here. But like I said before, that’s the nature of business. You never know what’s going to happen, and you never know where you’re going to end up.”
Center: Ryan Donato
The Hawks like his hockey sense and hands, though his lack of speed can sometimes be a liability. He’s certainly on the fringe, particularly if someone from Rockford pushes his way up to Chicago. But Donato shined in the preseason finale, scoring the opening goal and assisting on Frank Nazar’s marker.
Donato said of his camp, “We’ve had some tough games, but personally, I just show up and do the work and hopefully it gets noticed if you’re doing a good job.”
Right wing: Craig Smith
The Hawks are the 35-year-old’s fifth team and he seemed to take to the systems seamlessly during camp, taking on a number of roles.
Smith said, “I’ve been on a lot of good teams (Nashville, Boston, Washington, Dallas), played with some really good players, players who do things the right way. So I could definitely add to that with a few guys and help some of the older guys move this team in the right direction.”
Richardson said, “He’s a big body, he’s a lot bigger than I thought he was, and plays with a lot of energy. … He’s going to be a guy that, if someone’s not going, I can easily throw out anywhere.”
Defensemen
First pairing
Left defenseman: Alec Martinez
He played in one preseason game and had been under maintenance last week before returning to the ice for Monday’s last day of camp. Richardson said, “He doesn’t need to play exhibition games. We want to make sure he’s ready for the regular season.”
Martinez will pair with Seth Jones, who he regards as one of the league’s best defensemen. Still, he said it would take time to develop chemistry with a new partner.
“We’ve been talking a lot about what we want to accomplish as a pair, how we want to do it, both in a general sense, but also specific plays and things like that,” Martinez said. “It’s no different if you’re a new D-partner playing hockey or if you’re working with someone new in the office, you’re just trying to learn about each other, and then that way I just naturally know where he’s going to be without even really looking.”
Richardson said Martinez is in great shape and ready to jump into such a large role.
“He’s a real veteran,” he said. “That’s why we got him. He’s a good player to help keep things calm out there, but at the same time, he competes as much or more than anybody in the league.
“He’s got a heavy shot, he makes the right plays all the time, he doesn’t lose battles. He’s just a guy that can go in and play with his experience, and he knows how to play.”
Right defenseman: Seth Jones
He’s the centerpiece of the blue-line group and led Hawks D last season with eight goals and 23 assists.
The Hawks want to try Jones with some options other than Alex Vlasic, but Martinez has missed the latter part of preseason for maintenance. “We thought it’s better to ramp him up,” Richardson said.
But as for Jones reuniting with Vlasic, “it’s easy to throw them out there in a game, if we need to, if it’s special teams that have big lines,” Richardson said.
Second pairing
Left defenseman: Alex Vlasic
Vlasic, a Wilmette native, has graduated from a surprising prospect to a solid veteran. His two goals and 14 assists were a bonus to his defense.
Richardson said, “(Vlasic) seems to be just taking another step again. He seems really confident skating with the puck and he covers so much ice out there. We’re getting him more confident being vocal on the ice too, which will help.”
Right defenseman: T.J. Brodie
Brodie played mostly with Vlasic during camp, but the Hawks have had no problem moving him around. Richardson said, “He’s a smart veteran and he’s pretty self-sufficient out on the ice and he’ll fit in fine.”
Brodie, 34, played 78 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, but only one playoff game. The Hawks have to hope that’s not a sign of decline.
Third pairing
Left defenseman: Nolan Allan
Allan sustained a lower-body injury in April and missed the rest of the IceHogs’ season. He spent the summer rehabbing and working on his mobility. He had some ups and downs in the preseason but won the battle among several prospects, including Isaak Phillips.
Now, after two slide years, the 2021 first-round pick is primed to finally make his NHL debut
Richardson wants him to play a simple, traditional defensive role, which Allan sees as “being hard to play against, being good defensively. I definitely think that’s the reason why the Hawks picked me.”
Right defenseman: Connor Murphy
Murphy was Kevin Korchinski’s second most common partner last season, but Korchinski was shipped to Rockford.
“We’ll just adjust, we’ve done that,” said Murphy, who was limited to 46 games because of a groin strain last season. “I think all of our D have played with different guys throughout the training camp. So that’s kind of the fluid situation we’ve had with different D rotating in and with injuries and everything. So you’re used to building chemistry with everyone.”
He’ll get a chance with another inexperienced partner.
Goaltenders
Petr Mrázek
The Hawks liked Mrázek so much last season that (.907 save percentage, 3.05 goals-against average) they gave him a two-year extension in January.
“Just trying to keep the same momentum, doing the right things on the ice,” he said. And working with (goalie coach) Jimmy (Waite) on the things that we did last year and two years ago: being patient, overlapped and set on shots when I can, those little details.
They don’t want to wear him out as much as they did last season — a career-high 53 starts — part of the reason they signed Laurent Brossoit.
“Let’s do it game by game and see where we’re at,” Mrázek said, adding that he felt good last season. “When you’re in the flow, when you’re in the game, I don’t think you’re thinking about it, just going and playing the game, and then try to recover as best you can. Whatever works.”
Arvid Söderblom
He would be in Rockford right now after muddling his way to an .879 save percentage and 3.92 goals-against average last season, but he’ll return to his old backup role as long as Laurent Brossoit remains out with a right knee injury
Söderblom spent the offseason working on his puck tracking and decision-making, learning to anticipate attacks based on situations.
“A lot of plays happen high-tempo,” he said. “So if you can be one step ahead … know your surroundings better, and also tracking pucks, finding rebounds, getting more control of rebounds, that’s one big thing I’ve been working on.”
Other players
Forward Lukas Reichel didn’t distinguish himself in camp or any of the three preseason games, save one secondary assist on Kurashev’s goal in the prospect-heavy preseason finale.
He’ll ride the pine for now.
“I thought he played better in Milwaukee, but he still needs to have a little more production,” Richardson said. “I don’t mean goals and assists, it just means opportunities on the net. It’s just creating a little more with that speed and at the right times.”
Richardson said Reichel has had a great attitude and work ethic despite his setbacks: “He’s listening and he’s trying to better his game. We’re trying to help him, but right now, just might not be there yet for the opening lineup.”
Based on the offseason additions to the roster, speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou looked like he was a candidate to get squeezed out of a middle-six role, and he was.
The Hawks placed Isaak Phillips on waivers, but he cleared and is in line for the seventh defenseman role.
On Monday, before Phillips officially cleared waivers, Richardson said with Martinez’s return to action and Wyatt Kaiser (illness) possibly not far behind, the left-shooting defenseman got caught in a numbers crunch.
“We definitely don’t want to lose a big young defenseman like Isaak, but there has to be a decision somewhere in the organization and that’s what it was this time.”
