The injury bug has come to Chicago, and it's getting to the point where you have to wonder what else is going to happen. This team has fallen to dead last in the NHL, and with almost their entire d-core that started the season either on the IR, injured, or away from the team, it almost guarantees that things are going to get a lot worse for this young (and getting younger) Hawks team. Seth Jones was placed on the IR last week, and today Coach Richardson said he will not play again before Christmas as the injury has gotten worse since it first happened. Alex Vlasic will not skate tonight against the Avalanche, but he did skate on his own this morning, so that is a positive. Kevin Korchinski, who has been away from the team since December 9th after his father passed, only skated once while he was back home, so he is going to need a few practices before he gets back into the lineup, but it is great to see him back with the team after the tough times he just experienced. Then there is Jarred Tinordi, who still finds himself on the IR due to a concussion but is skating with the team as the 4th d pair. While it's not the way you had hoped the backend was going to look, fans should take a glass-half-full approach to this. This season was already a bust; there was no chance of them making a playoff push. Now, because of injuries, we are getting the chance to get a look at some of the other defensive prospects that we might not have seen. I have liked the play of Louis Crevier given the rate at which he has been thrown into NHL action after being a 7th round pick just 3 years ago. Phillips continues to impress, as does Roos. Are all these guys ready to make an impact in the NHL now? No, but seeing that they are able to hold their own has to make you feel good about the future of the Hawks defense.

Other injury updates:

Joey Anderson will be out at least 7 days after being placed on the IR for a shoulder injury. This is a tough break for him, as he has really been finding a role with this team since being called up on Thanksgiving. Hopefully, once he is back, he will be able to pick up right where he left off.

Athanasiou continues to be evaluated for his groin injury, which seems to be lingering and not improving the way they had hoped.

Colin Blackwell was activated from the IR and will make his season debut tonight. He was dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup so far. It will be a nice addition to this already light-forward group.

After dealing with an illness, it looks like both MacKenzie Entwistle and Ryan Donato will be back in the lineup tonight.

Projected Lines:

#Blackhawks lineup at morning skate:
Reichel-Bedard-Kurashev
Beauvillier-T. Johnson-Raddysh
Foligno-Dickinson-Blackwell
Donato-Entwistle-R. Johnson

Phillips-Murphy
Kaiser-Crevier
Roos-Zaitsev
Korchinski-Tinordi

Mrazek
Söderblom

Extra: Guttman
Not practicing: Vlasic (injury)

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 19, 2023

Riechel finds his way back in the top line; could this be his last shot before a trip to Rockford? Blackwell takes over for Anderson on the third line; this has been the best line for the Hawks the past few games, so hopefully the addition of Blackwell keeps them buzzing.

Mrazek gets the nod; he continues his good season and is doing his best to keep this team in as many games as possible. He has played with more confidence than I have seen from him in a long time, and hopefully it will start paying off more for him, as it is much deserved.

That’s going to be it from me. The puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. central time, and as always, let's go Hawks.

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