We are three weeks away from the start of the regular season and just days away from the start of training camp. The excitement of a new season is here, and while expectations are still low for this club, there is just a vibe that things will be better than last season. I mean, it has to be right? So to get ready for the season, I wanted to bring a quick hit blog with some news from the last few days.
 
Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase
The yearly tradition of the Hawks prospects taking on the Wild and Blues prospects took place this past weekend, which saw the Hawks split their games.
 
They dropped game one against the Blues 4-3. The top line in this game saw Colton Dach with Landon Slaggert and Frank Nazar really playing well together. Nick Lardis picked up a great one-timer power play goal off a nice pass from Nazar. This past year, 3rd round pick A.J. Spellacy showed off his speed that has scouts raving, and he was able to pick up the team's second goal of the night, and he was one of the more noticeable players in this first game. Slaggert would get the Hawks final goal shorthanded on a nice feed from Paul Ludwinski. Drew Commesso played solid in this one, stopping 30 of the 34 shots he faced.
 
The Hawks would bounce back the next night, defeating the Wild 4-2. Nazar got the Hawks on the board first, putting away a nice backdoor pass from Martin Misiak on the power play. The Hawks would keep up the pressure with the extra man picking up another powerplay goal from Gavin Hayes. Nazar showed why he is so highly touted as he took a big hit to help give Ryder Rolston a quick break to put the Hawks on top 3-2. Finally, Misiak would put the cherry on top, picking up an empty net goal to make it 4-2.
 
These games are a nice chance for the fans to get a look at who could be a factor for the team in a few years, and while it's hard to really base anything off these kinds of games, it definitely helps bubble players get a nice jump start before training camp. Frank Nazar is one of those players who will more than likely start the year with the Ice Hogs, but if there is anyone who could make a case to start with the Hawks, it's him. He had a fantastic weekend in St. Louis and was clearly the best player for the Hawks in those games. While it's going to be tough to get him penciled in this line-up, I think that he is making his case for the first man-up role. While I much rather have him playing top-line minutes in Rockford getting to play in all situations, I do believe he will get some games with the Hawks and really get prepared to make the jump next season.
 
Connor Bedard Is Going To Be a Problem
Getting ready for the upcoming season, I have been getting back into my hockey podcast listening mode. One thing I am noticing from a few that I have personally listened to and others I have seen quotes is Bedard is taking this off season seriously. Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast takes about how Bedard looked thicker at the players media tour in Vegas. He looks very strong and put in the work this off season to get big. Paul Bissonnette mentioned on an episode of Spittin’ Chiclets that after seeing the shape he has gotten himself into this summer, he wouldn’t be shocked if he put up a 40/40 season. Finally, the last one I saw was Frank Seravalli on the DFO Rundown Podcast talking about how he believes Bedard is going to hit 100 points this season. He is that good and that driven, and if he was at a 74-point pace last season with zero help, it's crazy to think where he will be with NHL talent around him. The rest of the league is starting to truly see how special 98 is, and if he is taking his off season the same way his idol Crosby does, then the league better watch out for what he’s going to do next.
 
CHSN TV Details
It feels like it has been forever since we had the news of the Chicago Sports Network, and now we have a better idea of how we will be getting this station. Today it was announced that CHSN will be offered to fans via an over-the-air agreement with Millennial Telecommunications. Now if this ends up being the only way to get Hawks games, it means a lot of people are going to need to get an antenna for their TVs in order to pick up the channel. While it's great that this station will be free, I just find it a bit frustrating that, in this day and age, this is the best they can do. Hopefully they will eventually strike a deal with cable providers to carry the station (e.g., Marqueee Sports Network), but who knows when that could be done? I will be curious to see the viewership numbers if this is the only way to get these games because I find it hard to believe that a lot of people will be getting an antenna just to watch the Hawks, Bulls, and/or Sox, but who knows, maybe I am overthinking it.


Thats going to be it from me, I will try to be back later this week with more new player profiles but I am hoping there will be a lot to breakdown after Kyle Davidsons media availability after day one of training camp. Until then as always, Lets Go Hawks!

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