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The summer is coming to an end, and the long wait for the hockey season is almost over. Chicago Blackhawk training camp kicks off this Thursday, and after the excitement of Bedard's unofficial Blackhawk debut, this season can’t get here any faster. We are starting to get more news and updates from the team, so I just wanted to put together a quick blog in case you missed it.
Connor Bedard
I was out of town this past weekend, so I wasn’t able to watch the game live, but going into this one, I had hoped one thing would happen: Bedard would stand out and absolutely look like a man playing against mites. When I finally got a chance to watch his goals, I have to say I think he did just that. Now I know the rookie showcase isn’t the best hockey, and it means absolutely nothing when it comes to determining if a player is ready to take the next step. However, seeing the patience and awareness Bedard showed during his game, it should send the message to anyone who might not have been on the Bedard bandwagon to get on board now because this kid is special. Once he plays in his first game, I think he automatically joins the ranks of the best wrist shot in the league. The quickness of his release and how easy he made it look, especially on his second goal, make me think if you are a gambler, you might want to hammer the over on the projected 30 goals this season.
Lukas Reichel
Kyle Davidson spoke with the media this afternoon and discussed a few different things, and a big topic was the plan for Lukas Reichel. "Lukas Reichel did everything we asked of him last year in terms of the little things we asked him to improve on, to the point that at the end of the year—and as we walk into training camp this year—he's an NHL-ready player," Davidson said. With one statement, Kyle Davidson made it clear that Reichel will be a full-time member of the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The kid absolutely deserves this opportunity after the play he showed last season, especially after the trade deadline. He put up 7 goals and 8 assists last season in 23 games and showed a level of confidence that he seemed to be missing during his first stint with the team the year prior. Davidson also stated that he will be coming into the training camp as a center. Ultimately, I believe he will end up on the wing and see minutes with Hall and Bedard, but without a true 2C on this roster right now, it definitely doesn’t hurt to see what he can do.
Next Hawks Captain
Teams across the NHL have been announcing the next captains for their franchise, and with the Hawks moving on from Jonathan Toews and Seth Jones expressing his interest in taking over the role, many were wondering what the plan was for the Hawks. Well, today Davidson answered that question by stating the team will not have a captain this season and will roll with multiple alternates throughout the year. This will be the first time since 2007–2008 that the team will not have a captain. I think we all know the plan here, and it's one we already saw with Toews. Let Bedard adapt to the league and not have the pressure of wearing the C right away, and if he’s ready, give it to him next year.
Like I said, I just wanted to give a few quick notes in case anything slipped past anyone. I am going to be working on a few preview pieces, taking a look at the forwards, defense/goals, team as a whole, and maybe even a prediction for the season blog. I will start posting those in the next week or so, leading up to the season. I have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to step my game up not only here but in terms of content for the WCBPodcast and trying to put my film background to use and get some video content going for this year. The excitement level is high, and I hope to keep you all entertained the best I can this year! That’s all for now. Go Hawks!
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