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Today’s News Clips March 2, 2020

Chicago Tribune Calvin de Haan threw himself into creating a craft beer for charity while recovering from a shoulder injury. The result is Loud Barn Lager, a tribute to Blackhawks fans

Phil Thompson Feb. 29, 2020

Who knew beer could be part of the process for recovering from a hockey injury?

Blackhawks defenseman Calvin de Haan started a brewery as a business and later had an idea to make a specialty beer for charity. But along the way he found the charity project helped him endure a demoralizing third season-ending right shoulder injury.

“I’d obviously rather be playing than focusing on this, but it’s been really helping me pass the time and keep my mind focused on other things,” he said. “I’ve (had) three shoulder surgeries in the past three years, so it’s been a grind mentally. It’s keeping me a little bit more occupied, focusing on being a human versus a robot at the rink.”

The beer, Loud Barn Lager, made its public debut Saturday at Goose Island Taproom, about a half-mile from the . It will be sold the night of every Hawks home game in March until supplies run out, and all proceeds benefit the team’s foundation.

De Haan brought down brewmaster Jamie Maxwell from his company, Ridge Rock Brewing in Carp, Ontario, to work with Goose Island on the beer, though de Haan did plenty of taste testing.

T.J. Annerino, Goose’s Island experiential market director, described the flavor as “easy drinking.”

“They actually took the hop character down a bit right before they brewed it, and it came out very approachable, not crazy bitter,” Annerino said. “I like to think of it as just a good hockey beer.”

Annerino and his team worked with de Haan on the name.

“The reason we picked that (‘Loud Barn Lager’) is it’s a tribute to the Blackhawk fans, the consecutive sellouts, the anthem — it’s an iconic rink to play in,” de Haan said. “I remember coming here as an opposing player and hearing belt out the national anthem as loud as he can, the fans are standing up, then you see , , , , and you’re like, ‘I gotta play tonight,’ like this is surreal.”

It also was a nod to de Haan’s roots.

“We took some Canadian slang because we’re hillbillies back home and the rink is ‘the barn,’ ” he said.

Three years ago, de Haan and three buddies started the brewery on a lark to fulfill a “pipe dream” and provide a watering hole in their hometown of Carp. They converted an old building that become something of an eyesore but had a quirky history. It had been used as a bank, a pharmacy and a gas station, among other things, but there are legends associated with the building.

“We have a conference room in the basement that we call the ‘Vault Room,’ ” de Haan said. “But back in the day, the biggest bank heist in Canada, in like the ’30s or something, was planned and executed in that building, like tunneled up underneath into the bank in our small little hillbilly town back home. … No one knows where the money went.”

Now it’s the social venue for the small community, where residents pull up in snowmobiles.

He wanted to set down roots in and thought establishing a signature charity event — similar to Duncan Keith’s concert and Brent Seabrook’s bowling event — would be a good first step.

Despite starting a brewery and partnering with Goose Island, de Haan doesn’t know much about the brewing process. But, he said, “since I’ve been hurt, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and research on it to try to understand everything. It’s cool. Beer’s a good way to bring people together. That’s kind of how T.J. and I have become buddies.”

They bond over beer and their love of hockey. Annerino plays amateur-league hockey — a defenseman just like de Haan.

Four years ago, when Goose Island had a corporate team, several coworkers attended a game at McFetridge Sports Center on the North Side during which Annerino took a stick to the face, resulting in a split forehead and a trip to the emergency room.

“They thought it was the coolest thing that they’ve ever seen,” Annerino said of his coworkers.

Annerino now plays at Morgan Park Sports Center. But standing next de Haan behind the taproom’s bar, he blushed at the mention of his own dabbling in hockey.

“Don’t model your game after me,” de Haan joked. “That’s probably not the smart thing to do.”

De Haan has had plenty of such lighthearted moments with Annerino and the Goose Island staff, such as playing video games with brewmasters.

It’s part of his healing process, and de Haan shared his passion for beer with teammates as well.

“We’re out on the road and he’s like, ‘Hey, let’s go grab a beer here and try all these different beers,’ ” said Drake Caggiula, who calls de Haan a mentor. “So I know he’s definitely into that, and it’s kind of cool to see that he’s doing this for charity.”

Caggiula and de Haan met last summer at the wedding of Ryan Strome (Hawks teammate ’s brother), and now they live in the same building in Chicago, often riding to the airport and the rink together. And beer was a natural for the Ontario natives — Goose Island’s 312 Urban Wheat Ale is Caggiula’s local favorite.

“He’s great at ‘Call of Duty,’ he’s very outgoing, he’s super easy to talk to,” Caggiula said of de Haan. “He likes to run and mess around and be a little bit quirky. That’s kind of what I’m like too.”

Caggiula and de Haan also have been part of each other’s support systems while each dealt with injuries. Caggiula missed most of November and all of December while in concussion protocol.

“He’s had his shoulder injuries and he’s been out for lengthy periods of time, and he’s been able to help me deal with that and get through that mentally,” Caggiula said. “And (when) he got hurt (in December), we were kind of going through it together.”

De Haan said his recovery from shoulder surgery has been going well (“no complaints”) and he feels good.

“It’s just a slow process, that’s all. Part of the grind,” he said. “I’ve done it so many times now, it’s almost become clockwork. Just trying to stay positive. Trying to not think ‘woe is me’ and everyone’s not out to get you is the hardest part. (But) doing something like this with T.J. and Goose Island has been a cool venture.”

Chicago Tribune

The -horn operator. The ‘Split the Pot’ seller. The Zamboni driver. Meet 8 behind-the-scenes people who make things go during Blackhawks games at the United Center.

Jimmy Greenfield March 2, 2020

Fans attending Blackhawks games at the United Center look at the video board, hear the game horn and gaze adoringly at the ice.

But they don’t know who programs the video board or how it’s done, who pushes the button for the game horn or how the ice is kept in such pristine shape.

The working people who make the United Center go night after night might not be as famous as the players, but they play a huge role in creating a memorable experience for the 21,000-plus people who attend games.

Here’s a look at the game-day experience through the eyes of eight people whose work touches fans — but whom you might not necessarily see.

Mike Horn, Goal-horn operator

If you conjured a cartoon image of how the goal horn goes off at the United Center, you would have a hard time coming up with something better than the real thing.

First of all, the name of the man who hits the horn is ... Mike Horn. No joke.

The button Horn pushes when the Hawks score is large, red and says “Goal!” on top, and the urge to give it a push the second you see it is enticing — which is partially why the button is “protected” in lockdown mode until needed.

A key is required to activate the button, and Horn is very careful about not turning it before the time is right.

“You’ve got to be pretty sure about it when you go,” Horn said. “It’s turn the key and go. I’ll cheat sometimes if it looks like it’s going to be a good opportunity for us — I’ll have it halfway there so I’m ready to go.”

Being the keeper of the goal horn is just one of Horn’s duties. As the team’s senior manager of game presentation, he plays a pivotal role in what appears on the video boards all around the United Center and calls for certain replays of game action if he sees a need.

The main rule for replays — one the NHL put forth — is not to show anything that might incite the crowd and create a hostile environment.

“We can show them, but they don’t want us to repeatedly show it,” Horn said. “In other words, if a guy gets cross- checked in the face and he’s lying on the ice and they don’t call anything, I can’t show that four times because all that’s going to do is incite the crowd.”

The horn isn’t used exclusively for goals. It also gets blasted every time Hawks players come out on the ice to announce their presence. And not all goals are created equally. A shootout goal gets just one blast, while regulation and goals get three blasts with varying lengths between them, depending on the situation — and all at Horn’s discretion.

“I put some emotion into it, that’s for sure,” Horn said. “If we’re down two goals and score two to tie it up real quick, you can believe that the goal horn for that second goal is going to be longer than it would be if it was a first-period goal. That’s just me as a fan. When (Patrick) Kane got his 1,000th , it was a lot longer then.”

John Steinmiller, Media relations manager

At the end of every Blackhawks win at the United Center, John Steinmiller is ready to leap into action. Standing behind the bench, he keeps a watchful eye on the players as they exit the ice after giving Jonathan Toews a traditional post-victory high-five. Steinmiller’s attention is focused on the game’s Three Stars, one of whom he’ll grab for the in-house interview to cap the evening.

“It’s part of what makes the United Center Blackhawks experience so exciting,” he said. “It’s a cool hockey tradition.”

Steinmiller and his team constantly watch for and react to news during a game in order to provide updates to the dozens of media members working on a given night. The staff can prepare for potential milestones, but it’s the unexpected events — such as an injury or trade — that alter his responsibilities the most.

The in-game experience also includes making sure TV outlets have players to interview during intermissions, which also are shown on the United Center video board. It can be cumbersome when local and national broadcasts take place simultaneously.

Steinmiller consults with the broadcasting team to determine which players make sense, then approaches them after the period.

“We always work together and make sure it’s appropriate for the player,” he said. "We don’t want it to be Patrick Kane every time. Part of our job is getting every player exposure and attention here and there. We want to spread it around and make sure it’s good for the fans, it’s good for the people in the arena and it’s good for the players. We know their time is precious, especially in-game.

“A lot of them, they’re ready for it. They understand that it’s part of it and it’s another way for the fans to have an inside look during the game. ... It’s very unique.”

Mitch Kerzner, NBC Sports Chicago producer

Mitch Kerzner’s game day at the United Center begins around 10 a.m. and ends at about midnight, and unlike the players, he doesn’t get to nap after the morning skate.

As producer of the NBC Sports telecasts, Kerzner gets to the early enough to watch coach ’s post-morning-skate news conference and make sure he’s aware of the best storylines for the evening telecast.

His crew arrives by 1 p.m., and the team heads to its production truck located just outside the building. Over the next few hours, the group builds video packages and prepares graphics. About 45 minutes before the game, broadcasters and Ed Olczyk rehearse their opening segment.

“Director picks cameras,” Kerzner said. “What I do is between the whistles — what replays we’re doing, what sponsorships, are we going to commercial or not. Talking to the announcers, letting them know what’s coming so there’s that two-way dialogue. It looks like it’s seamless, but there’s a lot of talking going on.”

Kerzner is in his first season with NBC Sports Chicago but has been producing NHL games for 25 years and said the United Center is among the best in the league for a production team to work. “I know when visiting teams come in, they’re happy because they’re like a kid in a candy store to work with, camera- wise,” he said.

Kerzner has 16 to 17 cameras to choose from throughout the arena, he said, including the overhead and in-net cameras. Some people have a better shot at getting on TV than others.

Patrick Kane wasn’t the only person upset his parents were snowed in and couldn’t get out of Buffalo, N.Y., to see him register his 1,000th career point in Chicago. Kerzner said he would have made sure he knew where they were sitting so the director could cut to them at the right time.

Most likely to get some TV time? Kids. And least likely?

“If a guy’s got 20 beers sitting in front of him, it’s probably a good idea not to shoot him,” Kerzner said.

Chase Agnello-Dean, Team photographer

As the players, officials and youth hockey players stand at attention during the national anthem, it’s hard to miss team photographer Chase Agnello-Dean at work.

With a camera in one hand and one or more draped over his shoulders, this gentle giant moves along the ice capturing the moments for posterity. And he’s also doing his best not to slip.

“I’ve fallen twice,” Agnello-Dean said. “It was not graceful.”

The seemingly simple task of photographing the day’s events at the United Center is actually complex, requiring two photographers — Bill Smith is the other — and a team of interns. At the end of a game day, roughly 3,000 photos are taken.

Agnello-Dean’s favorite moments? The 2010 championship banner-raising ceremony and when Duncan Keith scored the go-ahead goal in Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final — the only one of the three titles from the last decade that the Hawks clinched on home ice.

“After Duncan scored, you can see it (was going to happen),” he said. “The building was alive.”

Agnello-Dean has near carte blanche to shoot what he needs to preserve what takes place at the United Center. He has developed an intuitive understanding of how to give the players privacy when they need it.

“The players and I over the years have struck an unofficial agreement, I suppose,” he said. “There’s some times when I just don’t go in the room, and outside of that, I’m kind of free to roam.

"I stay out of the coaches room — that’s an old-school thing. That’s their area. Leave it be.”

Agnello-Dean fortuitously joined the Hawks before the 2009-10 season and shot the three subsequent Stanley Cup title runs. He realizes his pictures will be around long after he and everyone else currently in the organization are gone.

“It’s not just now; it’s 20, 30, 40, 100 years down the road when Blackhawks hockey is still playing,” he said. “We can look back on this era and reminisce, enjoy, celebrate. And we’ve shot the hell out of it.”

Joelle Kearns, Game presentation coordinator

Within seconds of the whistle blowing to end a period, a dozen kids in full hockey uniforms ready to skate in a relay race magically appear on the United Center ice. Only it’s not magic.

It’s the result of Joelle Kearns and her team’s meticulous planning — right down to the second.

“A lot of people, when they come to the game, they don’t think (about) what’s going on to get to this point,” Kearns said. “So when I tell people what I do, they’re like, ‘Oh, that happens?’ From doors opening to game ending, logistically you’re planning that out.”

Time is precious when officials take TV timeouts, giving Kearns two minutes to make sure everything gets done before play resumes — which is why she moves constantly. During the course of a game day, she walks seven miles — yes, she has tracked it — around the United Center to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Among her responsibilities, she spends time in the stands with the in-game hosts as they play games on the video board with fans, moves to the ice for the shoot-the-puck contest and then to the hallways to wrangle the youth hockey players.

“Fans are seeing the relay race,” she said. “But they’re not seeing (me) lining the kids up in the back of the hallway, screaming that they have to get off the carpet because the refs are coming through (and telling them), ‘OK, make sure you stay in line when you get out there.’ ”

When the Hawks honored Patrick Kane for reaching the 1,000-point milestone, fans witnessed an emotional pregame ceremony with Kane, his parents and sisters, Stan Mikita’s wife, Jill, and Denis Savard, among others. It was Kearns who instructed every person on the ice — Kane included — where and when to go and made sure they followed suit.

“It’s a constant go,” Kearns said. “But your adrenaline gets going, and the fun part for me is that it’s exciting and you want to keep moving.”

Sergio Lozano, Scoreboard operator

A massive amount of information is constantly delivered to video boards throughout the United Center, and it all comes from a secure room high atop the building. It’s in this room with dozens of video screens and enormous panels full of buttons that scoreboard operator Sergio Lozano and his team of 22 people tell the story of the game to the 21,000 fans below.

Wherever they are inside — or outside — the stadium, Lozano can reach them with the push of a button.

“When we score a goal, our goal animation is going everywhere,” Lozano said. "It’s going outside, it’s going on the marquee, it’s going on the concourse. When we win, our win graphic and the score of the game is going outside.

“That’s kind of neat that when we score a goal, if you happen to be outside or driving by, you can see the Blackhawks scored a goal.”

Lozano, 51, has been a scoreboard operator at the United Center since it opened in 1994 and is on his third scoreboard. The current one, in its rookie season, is far more powerful than the first two, and the team still is learning new and creative ways to use it.

But ultimately Lozano tries to provide fans with updated statistics and video pouring in from the 24 camera angles at his disposal that are mostly different from what TV viewers see.

“We look at our audience as different than if you’re at home watching TV,” Lozano said. “So the audience here at the arena has a different experience, whether we’re showing more replays or fan shots or just different shots of players.”

One thing Lozano doesn’t need to worry about anymore is how to improve the experience for people sitting closest to the ice. The new scoreboard has video screens underneath, so those fans can see replays.

“The inner ring underneath is a game-changer for everyone at the 100 level,” he said. “We never had (anything) like that. We have statistics there and the feed of the game. And anyone in the arena can see some kind of video feed, and that’s what’s important when you’re in the arena.”

Danny Ahearn, Zamboni driver/ice technician

Danny Ahearn feels at home at the United Center, which sometimes really is home.

Ahearn, one of the UC’s ice technicians and Zamboni drivers, is responsible for preparing the ice for Hawks games, a process that sometimes doesn’t begin until whatever event taking place the night before is over.

After Bulls games, for instance, that means getting home around 2 a.m. after the transition is complete. But cleaning up after concerts is more time consuming, and occasionally it makes sense for Ahearn to stick around after getting the ice ready.

“A lot of people say, ‘You’ve got the greatest job in the world,’ ” said Ahearn, 62, who has been an ice technician since 1980, when the Hawks played at Chicago Stadium. “I tell everybody, we’re here all day, not just for the game, and sometimes we’re here all night. If there’s a concert, that’s the worst because once the concert’s over, we can’t start working until they get out of here.

“Sometimes we have to stay here (all night) because there’s not enough time to go home.”

Fans attending Hawks games see the United Center ice resurfaced three times — after warm-ups and during the intermissions — but that’s a fraction of the work done to keep it in pristine shape.

An early morning crew comes in on a game day for some resurfacing and prep work, then Ahearn arrives between 9 and 10 a.m. to start his day. On a game day after the Hawks have a morning skate — and even if they don’t — Ahearn and the crew resurface hourly, he said, and take care of any necessary maintenance.

The invention of the Zamboni in the 1940s made it possible to complete a resurfacing in minutes, but ice sheets still require more hands-on attention. Between periods, technicians scrape ice off the corners of the boards to try to keep the entire surface even for when the Zamboni makes its rounds.

Ahearn takes a lot of pride in maintaining the United Center’s two Zambonis year-round. The current ones are 3 years old, having replaced a pair that lasted 18 years.

Ahearn is a smooth operator — he has a perfect Zamboni driving record, in part because he never gets nervous wheeling around the ice in front of 21,000 fans.

“Doesn’t bother me at all,” he said.

Lola Jefferson, ‘Split the Pot’ seller

The United Center’s “Split the Pot” raffle tickets don’t sell themselves. They require energetic and ubiquitous hawkers such as Lola Jefferson, who has been selling the tickets for 20 years, starting with the Bulls before adding the Hawks nine years ago.

Jefferson would stop, but where else can she feel as if she single-handedly raises $100,000 a year for great causes?

“I cannot give $100,000 to charity no matter how well I do,” she said.

The Hawks and Bulls raise money at each home game for their respective charitable foundations with the “Split the Pot” raffle, in which half the proceeds go to a single winner and half go to the foundation.

Tickets are available online, but Jefferson and other sellers walk up and down the aisles during games, just as vendors do selling beer and hot dogs.

Jefferson has sold the winning ticket multiple times, which she loves. And she has developed a relationship with her “regulars.”

A fan once grabbed her sign and started selling tickets for her. Another time, one wanted her to take a break so they could have a meal together. Another fan attempted to feed her some chocolate ice cream. “That was the weirdest probably,” Jefferson said. “It was nice, it was friendly.”

The experience selling the “Split the Pot” tickets has changed Jefferson’s life — one of her customers helped her land a job in real estate, an industry in which she still works. So for Jefferson, it’s not really about making a few extra bucks. It’s about giving back and being in an environment that usually oozes positivity.

“You’re meeting a lot of fun, energetic people who love the Blackhawks,” Jefferson said. “It’s just fun to see. You feel that energy. It’s not just selling.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Blackhawks’ old-time stars ‘show up’ in 3-2 shootout victory against Panthers

Ben Pope Feb. 29, 2020

SUNRISE, Fla. — With the playoffs a long shot for the Blackhawks, the challenge for coach Jeremy Colliton has been keeping his players locked in despite sitting far from where they imagined they would be in the standings.

That disappointment can take a toll on morale, but Colliton wants to see the Hawks care enough to play hard — and play within his system — until the end. That alone won’t always overcome the Hawks’ talent deficit, but it can keep them from an all-out spiral.

They showed Colliton what he needed to see in a 3-2 shootout victory Saturday against the Panthers and former coach Joel Quenneville.

‘‘That’s what we’re asking of the guys: Show up,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘We want the results, but it’s all about how we perform. Let’s put ourselves in position to get results.’’

The game was evidence that his players hear him. It would have been an easy one to concede at the end of a weeklong road trip and an exhausting month.

The Hawks were hardly artistic, but who cares about that anymore? These aren’t the title teams of the last decade. Any victory is a good one for them at this point.

They took a 2-1 lead six minutes into the second period — the goals were blue-collar chip-ins by Jonathan Toews and Drake Caggiula off shots by defensemen — and nearly held it to the end. But Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson tied the score on a two-on-one with 1:28 left in regulation.

In overtime, however, the Hawks’ best players showed the grit of their glory days. With a little more than a minute left, defenseman Duncan Keith hit the ice in full sprawl to break up a two-on-one that could have ended the game.

Goalie Corey Crawford finished regulation and overtime with 38 saves on 40 shots. He then stopped both skaters he faced in the shootout, and Toews and Patrick Kane buried their shots for the victory.

‘‘We want to make the playoffs,’’ said Toews, who became the first player in NHL history to score 50 shootout goals. ‘‘We’ve pushed each other hard all year. There’s been a lot of bumps in the road . . . but credit to these guys in the room. I think there’s a lot more experience, a lot more character.

‘‘We’re ready to play our best hockey, and I think the last two games have been a pretty good example of that.’’

On Thursday, wing Dominik Kubalik’s hat trick lifted the Hawks to a 5-2 victory at the Lightning.

The Hawks are six points out of the final wild-card spot, pending the result of a late game Saturday between the Jets and Oilers. There are four teams between them and that spot.

Even with a home-heavy schedule, it looks too late for the Hawks to make a run. But the team is determined to give chase.

‘‘Absolutely,’’ Toews said. ‘‘The opportunity is there.’’

The Hawks will play 11 of their next 15 games at home, and 10 of their last 17 opponents are currently out of the playoff field.

The downside, however, is that they must do it without feisty wing Andrew Shaw after they ruled him out for the season with a concussion. He would have been especially helpful at a time like this.

‘‘A lot of personality in the dressing room, holds guys accountable, pushes them, makes them uncomfortable, drags them into the fight, helps to prepare them to play,’’ Colliton said of Shaw. ‘‘He can get the group engaged, and obviously we miss that.’’

The Hawks also shut down center Zack Smith, who will have back surgery Friday.

Between those losses and the players they dealt at the trade deadline, the Hawks are depleted. But they aren’t dead.

Chicago Sun-Times As young core develops, Blackhawks still count on crew that won Stanley Cups

Ben Pope March 1, 2020

SUNRISE, Fla. — A blossoming core of young players will decide the Blackhawks’ future, but for now, this team’s success hinges on the icons who led their decade of dominance.

It’s the strangest part about watching the Hawks these days: You can still go see the legends from their championship teams, but instead of chasing Stanley Cups they’re exhausting themselves in the improbable pursuit of the last playoff seed.

Regardless of how little chance they have of making this happen, their old guard is adamant about giving it a shot. And based on how old-timers Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Corey Crawford and Duncan Keith played in played in the shootout win over the Panthers on Saturday, they mean what they say.

“They’re pushing,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “They want to win as bad as anyone. The peer pressure in the group is important; they’re not going to let anyone off the hook. I think that filters through to everyone.”

That accountability is key for what Colliton wants to establish. It’s too early to know whether the talent of Dominik Kubalik, Adam Boqvist, Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander will rise to the level of their star teammates, but there’s no doubt they’ll get a proper education.

In the final minutes of a prolonged game against the Panthers, Crawford withstood shot after shot —Florida had a 33-6 advantage in shots on goal after the Hawks took a 2-1 lead early in the second period— to keep the game alive. He saved 38 of 40 shots, and both Florida goals came on scoring chances that left him in highly unfavorable positions.

Crawford, a 35-year-old that many thought would’ve retired by now, will likely be the everyday starter for as long as Colliton believes the Hawks have a chance at the playoffs.

Keith spared Crawford from another dicey situation near the end of overtime as he derailed a two-on-one at the net by laying out on the ice, an impressive play by a 15-year veteran in his game-high 27th minute. That was the least Keith played on the four-game road trip, by the way.

“That’s kind of nice that he’s willing to lay out and block a shot for once,” Crawford snickered. “If you watch the games every night, there’s a lot of plays that he makes that go unnoticed. He does everything out there.”

Toews was equally relentless at both ends of the rink and scored his 17th goal of the season on a deflection.

Kane played 23 minutes, and he and Toews scored on their first attempts to clinch the shootout. Kane’s 21:19 average ice time is seventh among forwards, and everyone else in the top 10 is at least five years younger than him.

”Our guys that have been around for a while found that enthusiasm again,” Toews said. “You can spread that credit around to the young guys and some of the veterans guys ... Guys come here knowing that this team has a history of winning, and that’s been the culture in our locker room.

“Sometimes for us, it’s just a matter of hitting that reset button and trying to find that within ourselves.”

If that establishes the mentality of the next wave, it’s worth something to the Hawks even if it doesn’t get them to the playoffs this season.

In a perfect world, of course, the upstarts would develop quickly enough and the stalwarts would hang on long enough that the two generations would blend into a contender.

That’s the puzzle that general manager hasn’t been able to piece together, but Toews and Co. are doing everything they can to buy time.

The Daily Herald

Dietz's thoughts on the Blackhawks' future, Kubalik and the goalie situation

John Dietz March 1, 2020

Which way is the Blackhawks' arrow pointing as we look ahead to the next 1-3 years?

Up, down or sideways?

It's a question I posed after GM Stan Bowman got a modest return at the trade deadline last week when he shipped Erik Gustafsson to Calgary and to Vegas.

In my opinion, that arrow is pointing sideways -- with perhaps a slight edge in the upward direction.

But as currently constructed, the Hawks don't figure to be much more than an 78-88 point team.

The reasons are fairly simple:

• There are still too many young players that are learning how to win.

• While this is happening, the Hawks' oldest -- and most expensive -- players will soon see their effectiveness wane.

• Whereas you see the Blues and Stars clog up the defensive zone and wear teams down with a big, physical defensemen, the Hawks have none of that outside of Connor Murphy.

• The salary cap continues to be a serious issue, likely preventing any significant moves in the near future.

Add it all up and the Hawks appear to be a fringe playoff team in 2021, '22 and '23. If everything goes right -- meaning Andrew Shaw and Calvin de Haan come back and play to their potential, the goalie situation is solved, the veterans don't experience a significant drop-off and players like Adam Boqvist, Kirby Dach and Dominik Kubalik continue to make strides, then the playoffs are possible.

If not, expect more of the same.

So that's one of the points I wanted to make as the Hawks come home off a 2-2-0 road trip.

Here are a couple other things to keep an eye on as we enter the final month of the regular season:

Show him the $$$:

On January 9, I went on Twitter and said the Hawks ought to sign Dominik Kubalik to a three-year, $10 million extension. I then added: "And if I'm an another team's GM, I'm offer sheeting him a deal like that if the Hawks don't lock him up."

(Anything under a $4.22 million annual average valuation would only cost a team a second-round pick.)

I took some heat over my proposal, with some saying that Kubalik's 43 games weren't a big enough sample size. Well, since that tweet, Kubalik has an incredible 15 goals in 20 games.

This young man is no fluke. That shot is no fluke. His ice awareness is no fluke.

He's also fast as hell and competes like a bulldog.

He's worth every penny, and every shot that goes past a is costing Stan Bowman more and more money.

It will be fascinating to see what happens with the negotiations because 30-35 goal scorers are awfully expensive. I'm still thinking a three-year deal makes sense, but if I'm Kubalik I'm probably trying to get about $12 million to $13 million.

If all else fails -- and Kubalik feels he's being lowballed -- he can go to arbitration. Last season six players were awarded a contract by an arbitrator, with five being one-year deals.

Goal oriented:

If the Blackhawks believe they have a chance to make the playoffs then Corey Crawford should be in net almost every game the rest of the way.

If it becomes clear, however, that the postseason is all but a pipe dream then coach Jeremy Colliton ought to give and Colin Delia about three starts each.

The Hawks already know what they have in Crawford, so it would behoove them to see how Subban and Delia look as they look toward next season and beyond.

Subban (.890, 3.13) will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this off-season, while Delia (15-12-1, .910, 2.74 in Rockford) carries a $1 million cap hit until 2021-22.

The Athletic (Chicago)

‘We’re slow moving’: Brent Seabrook provides rehab update after 3 surgeries

Scott Powers March 1, 2020

Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook preferred not to talk about his recent surgeries, his recovery or himself much on Sunday.

It wasn’t why he was making a public appearance, and, well, he just doesn’t like talking about himself anyway.

In the end, Seabrook did provide a brief update. He recently underwent his third and final surgery. He decided in late December to end his season earlier than he ever had and surgically repair his right shoulder and both of his hips. As expected, Seabrook said his rehab process will take patience.

“I am where I was two months ago,” said Seabrook prior to his 12th annual Blackhawks ICE Bowl at Lucky Strike. “Having three surgeries in five weeks isn’t ideal, but I’m feeling great. We’re slow moving right now. I’m hoping I can start moving more and getting more things going. Dr. (Michael) Terry is pretty tough with this hip brace. He’s not letting me take it off. I’d like to take it off. I’d like to get on the ice. I’d like to skate. But, yeah, we’re just sort of taking it day by day. I have a lot of great people around me helping me out, pushing me in the right direction to get better.”

Seabrook’s hip brace, which he wore over his jeans on his upper left leg, was the only noticeable sign of the surgeries. He also was not going to be an actual participant in the bowling portion of the evening. Other than that, he was active and moving around in the crowd. Wearing a Blackhawks No. 7 Seabrook bowling jersey, he shook hands with fans, took photos and signed autographs.

Seabrook was joined by a of his Blackhawks teammates at the event. He was grateful for that, too, knowing his teammates returned from a weeklong road trip late Saturday night.

Seabrook had joked he hadn’t seen much of Blackhawks rookie Kirby Dach as of late. Dach has been living with Seabrook and his family this season.

“I mean, yeah, it’s hard for me to comment on how the guys are,” Seabrook said. “I’m not around them a lot. They’ve been on the road so much, pretty much since Christmastime. Kirby’s living at our house; I think the cleaners have been in his bedroom more than he has the last two months. I think the guys are playing well. I think there’s been some ups and downs on certain trips, but the guys are playing hard. They’re playing right till the end. They’re battling for every point that they can get.

“I try to (mentor Kirby) as much as I can. Kirby’s a pretty smart guy. He asks questions, and we talk. I said to him a couple weeks ago, it sucks I’m not able to be there and drive with him to the rink and games and be around as much as I would like. You know, we’ve got a great group of people on this team. There’s a great group of guys who are mentoring everybody and him.”

Whether it’s been Dach or the Chicago hockey community, Seabrook has found ways of giving back himself. His contribution to Inner-City Education Program (ICE), a Chicago-area nonprofit organization, began when he sought to donate some hockey equipment locally early in his Blackhawks career. He was introduced to Brad Erickson, who is the founder and executive director of ICE.

“We went out with the Blackhawk equipment truck, opened it up and handed out 50 gloves and 50 helmets,” Seabrook said. “That was sort of how me and Brad’s relationship started. A couple years after that, we’d decided we’d like to do an event. We both came together and decided on bowling.”

The event raised about $15,000 the first year.

“We thought we were rock stars,” Erickson said. “It was amazing at the time. The event got more well known. The Blackhawks started winning Stanley Cups. The event got bigger. We outgrew one place and then we outgrew another place, and we’ve been here eight or nine years. Now we raise about $200,000 at this event.

“The relationship is phenomenal. We got lucky hooking up with a guy like Brent, who is just a phenomenal guy in the community, has been with the team all along, hasn’t gotten traded, hasn’t had any issues. The relationship has been amazing.”

With that $200,000 this year and nearly $1.2 million over the 12 years, ICE provides low-income children educational and opportunities. The program used $105,000 this school year to fund educational scholarships for 24 children. It also pays for ice time, hockey equipment, coaches and more for aspiring hockey players.

“If you know anything about hockey, it’s an expensive sport,” Erickson said. “It’s not usually available in low-income neighborhoods or to low-income kids or, honestly, the non-white kids, mostly. Most of our kids are low-income, they’re all low-income, and about 45 percent black, 45 percent Latino and the other 10 percent white at the most. Thirty-five percent of our kids are girls. We’re trying to get more girls in the game.”

Seabrook is proud of that, too.

“I think it’s huge,” Seabrook said. “I think hockey in general is a hard sport to get into just because of rink availability. I know it’s expensive to get gear. My son’s playing hockey now. I know it’s expensive to buy skates, shoulder pads and all that kind of stuff and put your kid in hockey. What this program does is allows kids to get out and do something they love to do that they might not otherwise have an opportunity to do it. I’m proud of what ICE has become, and I’m proud to be associated with a great group of people.”

The same goes for ICE. The program would be lost without Seabrook.

“He understands the impact that it has,” Erickson said. “We’ve talked about that. We’ve talked about, ‘My God, what if you get traded, what happens when your contract’s up?’ He’s like, ‘This event is so important — I better not get traded.’ He’s like, ‘This helps so many kids; we got to keep doing this.’ Hopefully, he’ll retire here, stay here and keep doing it.”

NBC Sports Chicago

Blackhawks’ defenseman Brent Seabrook provides update on injury recovery

Tim Stebbins March 1, 2020

Sunday, defenseman Brent Seabrook hosted his 12th annual Blackhawks ICE Bowl event. Held in partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, Seabrook, some teammates and fans competitively bowl for charity.

All proceeds benefit the Inner-City Education (ICE) Program, a non-profit that helps low-income children gain educational and hockey opportunities otherwise unavailable to them — including scholarships, a mentor program and hockey club.

Seabrook is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder in December, his left hip in January and right hip last month. He met with the media at Sunday’s event and discussed his recovery and rehab from surgery.

“I am where I was two months ago,” Seabrook said. “Having three surgeries in five weeks isn’t ideal but I’m feeling great. We’re slow-moving right now, hoping I can start moving more and getting more things going. Dr. [Michael] Terry is pretty tough with this hip brace. He’s not letting me take it off.

“I’d like to take it off, I’d like to get on the ice, I’d like to skate. But, yeah, we’re just sort of taking it day-by-day. I’ve got a lot of great people around me, helping me out and pushing me in the right direction to get better.”

The Blackhawks were on the precipice of a playoff spot before the All-Star break but have recently slid down the standings. They're trying to remain positive, even after dealing goaltender Robin Lehner and defenseman Erik Gustafsson at the trade deadline. They picked up a big win Saturday against Joel Quenneville’s Florida Panthers — putting them six points back of the Western Conference's final wild card spot (with four teams ahead of them).

"I think the guys are playing well," Seabrook said. "I think there’s been some ups and downs on certain trips, but the guys are playing hard. They’re playing right till the end. They’re battling for every point that they can get. Things are looking good.”

Seabrook turns 35 in April and is under contract for four more seasons with a $6.875 million annual cap hit. But it’s unclear what the future holds for him and how he’ll fare post-surgeries.

This season, even though he’s on the mend, Seabrook is serving as a mentor for rookie Kirby Dach. The 19-year-old lives with Seabrook and his family, though the defenseman quipped he hasn’t seen Dach much lately due to the Blackhawks’ road-heavy schedule.

“Kirby’s living at our house, [but] I think the cleaners have been in his bedroom more than he has the last two months,” Seabrook said.

“I try to [help] as much as I can. Kirby’s a pretty smart guy. He asks questions, and we talk. I said to him a couple weeks ago it sucks I’m not able to be there and drive with him to the rink and games and be around as much as I would like.

“You know, we’ve got a great group of people on this team. There’s a great group of guys who are mentoring everybody.”

NBC Sports Chicago

Corey Crawford proves he can still handle starting workload for Blackhawks

Charlie Roumeliotis March 1, 2020

SUNRISE, Fla. — Corey Crawford has never been afraid to say that he’s comfortable when he's getting consistent reps. He's been a starter throughout his entire NHL career and wants to have the net as often as he can.

When Robin Lehner signed in Chicago, it gave the Blackhawks two No. 1-type . The goal was to divide the workload as evenly as possible to keep both guys fresh, which worked for most of the season.

But after falling out of playoff contention and trading Lehner to the , the Blackhawks have fully handed the keys back to Crawford as goalie No. 1. And he's showing exactly why he prefers to string together consecutive starts.

For the first time all season, Crawford has started five straight. In those games, he has a 3-2-0 record with a 2.52 goals- against average and .932 save percentage. His goals 4.47 goals saved above average ranks third among goaltenders over that span and his .927 high-danger save percentage ranks second among goaltenders with at least three starts, according to Natural Stat Trick.

“It’s nice," Crawford said after stopping 38 of 40 shots in a 3-2 shootout win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. “It kind of takes a little bit once you sit and you have to get back in. Just the little details. Reading stuff through screens and staying a little bit more patient. When you’re not playing that much, you’re kind of chasing shots and getting a little antsy to make saves. Once you’re in there for a while, things come together and you’re able to read a little bit better.”

At one point in the season, Crawford and Lehner were both at the top of their games and even Crawford admitted it made sense to continue alternating. But now, we’re seeing what happens when goaltenders get into a consistent rhythm.

Crawford isn’t just giving his team a chance to win on a nightly basis. He's a big reason why they are winning.

"He’s been excellent," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "He’s been good all year but another level the last month or two, and it’s good for our group."

The Blackhawks have 17 regular-season games left. The plan is for the 35-year-old netminder to start a majority of them.

Set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, Crawford is playing his best hockey of the season and a strong finish down the stretch would certainly strengthen the case that he can still be an everyday starter in the NHL, and play at a high level. And it should be for the Blackhawks.

NBC Sports Chicago

Blackhawks ready for normalcy after demanding road schedule in February

Charlie Roumeliotis Feb. 29, 2020

SUNRISE, Fla. — The month of February has been a busy one for the Blackhawks, to say the least.

The Blackhawks have played games in 14 of 29 days, 11 of which were on the road. And they were all over the map.

The Blackhawks started the month in Arizona, then made their way to Minnesota before returning to Chicago 24 hours later for the second of a back-to-back. They went on a five-game trip to Western Canada that started and ended in Winnipeg, with a back-to-back in Edmonton and squeezed in-between. Then, they went back to Chicago for less than a week to play two home games before embarking on a four-game road trip that included Dallas, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Florida.

After Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over the Panthers, the Blackhawks went straight to Chicago, where they will play 11 of their next 15 games. And they can't wait to have some consistency back in their schedule.

"Yeah, being at home for the majority of the next month is going to be big for us," Drake Caggiula, who scored his eighth goal of the season on Saturday, said. "It’s been a tough month in February just being away and it’ll be nice to have some stability at home, and being around your family and stuff like that, as well. We’re looking forward to going home and playing in our building, and having the home fans behind us and being around our families and stuff as well.”

Every team goes through their fair share of tough travel but this demanding schedule came at a crucial time for the Blackhawks. They won't use it as an excuse but you have to wonder how draining it was, both mentally and physically, to go through that kind of a stretch.

"I think the thing that would weigh on the guys is just we've fallen a little bit out of the picture based on the results, even though I think they're competing and they're playing hard," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "Not so much the road games. We've shown we can win on the road and we've done that. Guys are competitive. They want to be playing big games and so that's what would weigh I them, I would think."

After back-to-back wins in Tampa Bay and Florida to wrap up the road trip, the Hawks can enjoy the plane ride home and day off on Sunday. Even though making the playoffs is a long shot, the Blackhawks will fight to the end.

"Absolutely," Jonathan Toews said when asked whether he believes the Blackhawks can still make a run. "I think our schedule is definitely favorable. So, take advantage of the rest when we can and try to play with energy. Try to be really good at home. The opportunity is there and we'll just take it one game at a time."

NBC Sports Chicago

3 Takeaways: Jonathan Toews and Corey Crawford come up big in shootout win against Panthers

Scott King Feb. 29, 2020

Jonathan Toews had two points in regulation and a goal in the shootout to help the Blackhawks win 3-2 against the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Here are three takeaways:

Go Johnny go

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews picked up a goal and an assist in regulation and scored in the shootout against the Panthers on Saturday. Toews became the first player in NHL history to reach 50 shootout goals.

Patrick Kane scored the final goal of the shootout for the win.

Toews assisted on Dominik Kubalik's second period goal and tied the game 1-1 in the first period, redirecting an Adam Boqvist shot past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky from in front of the net at 12:54.

The Hawks center has 56 points (17 goals, 39 assists) through 65 games this season.

Something to Crow about

Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford has been making the most of his recent opportunities. Crawford started his fifth consecutive game on Saturday in a strong performance with 38 saves on 40 shots through overtime before stopping both Florida shooters (Frank Vatrano and Mike Hoffman) in the shootout to help Chicago win its second straight game.

The 35-year-old netminder kept the door shut on a Panthers' run from the second to third period in which they were outshooting the Hawks 21-2. The game-tying goal got past him with 1:28 remaining in regulation when Blackhawks defenseman Olli Maatta gave up position spawning a Florida 2-on-1 with Mike Matheson keeping the puck and scoring.

He also saved 36 of 38 shots against the Lightning in Thursday's 5-2 win.

The two-time Stanley Cup champ appeared to be taking over the net a couple games prior to goalie Robin Lehner being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

His stellar play of late could do him some good in potentially negotiating an extension to remain in Chicago as he's due to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Dom don't quit

Blackhawks forward Kubalik hasn't seemed to let up much in his sensational rookie season, especially during the second half of the year.

The 24-year-old winger recorded his first NHL hat trick last game against Tampa Bay and picked up an assist against Florida on Saturday.

He assisted on Toews' first period goal that made it 1-1 and seemed to score at 6:21 of the second period to make it 2-1, tipping a Connor Murphy shot from the blue line over Bobrovsky's right shoulder and in, but the goal was later credited to Drake Caggiula, who may have been the one to get a blade on the puck.

Kubalik's 29 goals lead all NHL rookies and his 44 points rank third among first-year players. He has 18 goals in his past 23 games.

Blackhawks.com

THREE THINGS: Corey, Traveling Men and Missing Pieces

Chris Kuc Feb. 29, 2020

SUNRISE, Fla. - The Blackhawks refuse to go quietly in the Western Conference postseason race.

Jonathan Toews had a goal and assist in regulation and scored in the shootout as the Blackhawks defeated the Panthers 3-2 on Saturday at the BB&T Center. Drake Caggiula also scored in regulation and Corey Crawford put together a stellar game in goal to help the Blackhawks win their second in a row to complete a four-game road trip.

After Mike Hoffman opened the scoring for the Panthers early in the first period, the Blackhawks rallied on a pair of goals off redirections. The first came from Toews off an Adam Boqvist pass late in the opening period and the second when Caggiula got a stick on a Connor Murphy blast from the point early in the middle frame.

The Blackhawks were closing in on the victory in regulation before Mike Matheson scored with just under two minutes remaining to tie it for the Panthers. That set up the shootout where Toews and Patrick Kane beat Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky while Crawford was blanking Florida at the other end.

"It took a little extra longer than we would have liked, but we found a way to get the extra point, which is huge for us," Caggiula said. "We could easily have broken after they tied it up, but we just kept battling. We bent a little bit, but we didn't break. And we came out with the two points."

The Blackhawks improved to 29-28-8 on the season and maintain their belief they can make a run at wild-card spot.

"Absolutely," captain Jonathan Toews said. "I think our schedule is definitely favorable. We just want to take advantage of the rest when we can and try to play with energy, try to be really good at home, so I think the opportunity is there."

Here are three takeaways from the Blackhawks' win:

COREY, COREY

Crawford started his fifth consecutive game and has gotten stronger with each one, including a big effort in the two wins to close out the trip. With Robin Lehner traded to the Golden Knights, Crawford is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 netminder and said after Saturday's victory that he is able to develop a consistency with multiple starts in a row.

"It's nice," said Crawford, who finished with 38 saves to up his record to 13-18-3 on the season. "Once you sit and you have to get back in it kind of takes a little bit just to get the little details, reading stuff through screens and staying a little bit more patient. When you're not playing that much, you're kind of chasing shots and getting a little antsy to make saves. Once you're in there for a while, things come together and you're able to read a little bit better."

Said Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton of Crawford's recent play: "He's been excellent. I think he's been good all year, but another level the last month or two and it's good for our group."

TRAVELING MEN

After dropping the first two games of the trip, the Blackhawks rallied to win the the last two to improve to 16-15-4 away from home this season.

Colliton was pleased with the trip as a whole as the Blackhawks were in some point in each game.

"That's what we're asking the guys: Show up," Colliton said. "Show up, play hard and we want the results but it's all about how we perform. Let's put ourselves in position to get results. (In the) Dallas game (Sunday), I thought we were pretty good. St. Lous game (on Tuesday), we were in it, we gave them a few too many extra chances and those points were there for us too. We're right there."

Said Toews of the trip: "Not a great start, but we were in every game. It's a big win in Tampa (on Thursday) and here (against the Panthers) so I think we're getting back to that four-line, five-man game that we were playing with energy, forwards helping out our D-men, everybody in the picture, everyone supporting each other (and) checking well like we were playing going into the bye week. It's been there especially the last two games (when) we've played some pretty good teams. Those are two wins we can build off of for sure."

It marked the final time this regular season the Blackhawks had more than a two-game road trip. The Blackhawks now head home to play 11 of their next 15 contests at the United Center with single-game trips to Detroit, Washington, Minnesota and Buffalo, respectively, sprinkled in. Their final two games of the regular season will be on the road against the Islanders and Rangers, respectively.

Each trip continues to be a learning experience for some of the younger Blackhawks, including Kirby Dach, the team's top pick (No. 3 overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft.

At 19, Dach is experiencing NHL life on the road for the first time and said he is adapting well to the lifestyle.

"I like being on the road," Dach said. "It's a time when you're distraction-free, unlike at home, and you're able to just hang out with the guys and relax and kind of go through your routines."

Dach said road trips are especially beneficial for young players as they develop bonds with teammates by going out to dinner or enjoying other activities.

"At the end of the day, these are the guys you're going to war with," Dach said. "We have to find a way to have that bond and create memories and friendships as we keep striving for a playoff spot."

Much of Dach's time on the road is spent with fellow rookies and Sweden natives Alex Nylander and Adam Boqvist and that has come in handy with a new life skill.

"It's helping me with my Swedish, for sure, so if I ever end up in Sweden I'll know what I'm saying," Dach said with a smile.

MISSING PIECES

Before the game, the Blackhawks announced that Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith would not return from injuries this season.

Shaw has been shut down for the rest of the season while he remains in concussion protocol. The scrappy Shaw was brought in via a trade with the Canadiens to provide a spark both on the ice and in the dressing room.

"He adds an element to our team, both on and off the ice, that we wanted to add: a lot of personality in the dressing room, holds guys accountable, pushes them, makes them uncomfortable, drags them into the fight (and) helps to prepare them to play," Colliton said. "And on the ice, obviously, he plays all situations. He can get your team going on a Tuesday night in November. He can get the group engaged, and obviously we miss that."

Former Blackhawks and current Panthers coach Joel Quenneville knows as well as anyone the kind of impact Shaw can have with a team.

"(Shaw) is one of those guys (with the) unique quality of having the intangibles of really getting under the other team's skin," Quenneville said before Saturday's game. "(He's) one of those guys that you need and want on your team that will do anything he can to gain momentum or play the right way or score some scrappy goals and basically does everything he can to win a hockey game. You really appreciate what he brings to your team and you wish him well."

Smith, who was acquired in a trade with the Senators last summer, is scheduled to have back surgery Friday.

"He's been battling it," Colliton said. "He's had some maintenance days throughout the year and obviously it's time to get it taken care of."