Today’s News Clips March 8, 2017

Chicago Tribune

Jonathan Toews, lines creating nightmare matchups for opponents

Chris Hine March 7, 2017

There's a reason Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville prefers to keep Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on different lines.

In an ideal scenario, Toews' and Kane's lines would produce goals on a nightly basis, making it next to impossible for a coach to defend both with his top defensive options.

Quenneville wants to make opponents pick their poison, and of late he has been able to ask: Hemlock or arsenic?

Both Toews and Kane are scoring like the players who signed $10.5 million-per-year extensions in 2014. Toews was the NHL's No. 1 star for February and has eight goals and 12 assists in his last 13 games. Kane has 14 goals in his last 13 games.

For much of last season, Kane and linemates Artemi Panarin and drew the bulk of defensive attention, and opponents could get by easing off Toews' line. That's not the case recently.

"There's no doubt for a long time this year and last year, (the Kane line has) been that line that other teams really had to worry about," Toews said. "It's always good to have different lines pick up the slack offensively, and it definitely makes teams think twice about who they're going to go after and try to shut down. It eases the pressure on everybody else too."

Before, an opponent might have been able to get away with deploying its top defensive pairing and top checking line against Kane and his linemates. Now if a coach does that, Toews and linemates Richard Panik and Nick Schmaltz are likely to make him pay, as they have for most of the last month.

"That's always been one of our strengths is having two lines where your opponents are not quite sure which line they want to check or which is the most dangerous," Quenneville said. "That depth is very important, whether it's in big games or as you go deeper in (playoff) series. There's always going to be something concerning for your opponents when you have a one-two tandem."

Toews said it seems through the course of a game his line sees both the top defensive pair and the top checking line. That's due in part to the evolution of Schmaltz, who has played like a different player since rejoining the Hawks from Rockford for a second time in January.

Before missing the last two games because of an illness, Schmaltz had three goals and nine assists in his last nine games.

"If we have all four lines going and every line is a threat to score, that's really tough for teams to match up against," Schmaltz said. "I know a lot of the attention is on Panarin, Anisimov and Kane, which it should be. Those guys are one of the best lines in the league, and we're just trying to take a little bit of pressure off them and get some secondary scoring."

But Toews' line isn't just secondary scoring. It's a primary option for Quenneville and has created a lot of tough decisions for opponents.

Chicago Sun-Times

Staying out of the box has been key to Blackhawks’ success

Mark Lazerus March 7, 2017

Sometimes the only thing to do as a defenseman when a guy like Connor McDavid is flying full speed in your direction is to put your stick on him. Hook him. Slash him. Trip him. Give him the old can-opener move. Just stop him somehow.

“You watch old clips of Brian Leetch, and he’d make a great play by putting his stick in between the guy’s stick and his arm, or putting his stick between a guy’s legs,” defenseman Duncan Keith said. “But that would be a now, where before, that’s what they taught. You’re not really allowed to use your stick the way you used to be able to use your stick to prevent goals and to defend. Now you’ve got to be able to skate and use your speed.”

And few teams do that as well as the Hawks. For all the keys to their success over the years — top-end talent up front, well-structured team defense, excellent goaltending, and all sorts of intangibles — a very important one goes largely unnoticed: They stay out of the penalty box. With 196 penalties in 65 games, the Hawks are 29th out of 30 teams. In fact, they’ve been 27th, 28th or 29th in the league in penalties for eight consecutive years, dating back to the 2009-10 season, when they won their first Stanley Cup of the modern era.

In a league in which goals are at a premium, limiting opposing power plays is crucial.

“The coaches emphasize it,” defensive forward Dennis Rasmussen said. “We try to work with our sticks on the ice and not take stupid penalties. We work with our sticks instead of just using our bodies. You’ve still got to use your body to separate guys from the puck sometimes, but we’re pretty smart about it.”

It goes beyond just being smart, though. For years, the Hawks have been one of the top puck-possession teams in the league, and if you have the puck, you’re usually not clutching, grabbing, hooking, tripping or retaliating. And beyond that, the Hawks simply aren’t a very physical team. They’re built on skill, not brawn, so there are fewer opportunities to take penalties such as interference and boarding.

Hits isn’t a terribly reliable stat, varying from arena to arena, but the Hawks are officially dead last in the category, with 928 of them — less than half what the league-leading Los Angeles Kings have. Brian Campbell said the Hawks would like to ratchet up the physical play with the drawing near, but it’ll never be a focal .

“It hasn’t really been our identity to just run through teams,” Jonathan Toews said. “Other teams have tried to run through us, and it doesn’t necessarily always work. We focus on having the puck and playing with the puck, and then you don’t have to worry about hitting guys or taking stick penalties or trying not to get caught cheating.”

Defensively, the Hawks focus on taking away shooting lanes, and blocking shots. Top defensemen such as Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson and newly reacquired Johnny Oduya manage to maintain a tight gap between themselves and the puck- handler by body-positioning, smart stick-work and elite skating. The less they have to put their stick on an opponent’s body, the less time their team will spend short-handed.

And as the Hawks have shown over the years, that’s a good way to ensure long-term success.

“We’re a disciplined team and the coaches stress that,” Keith said. “It’s no secret you don’t want to be on the penalty- kill all day long. It’s just not a recipe for success.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Artemi Panarin apologizes for ‘insensitive’ comment in 2012 clip

Mark Lazerus March 7, 2017

Artemi Panarin apologized for saying he would never “have sex with a black woman” during an interview with a Russian television station in 2012.

The segment, unearthed by the blog Faxes From Uncle Dale, has since been removed from YouTube. During the nearly 15-minute interview, Panarin and teammate Yaroslav Tulyakov answered a lengthy list of “getting to know you” questions. Asked, “What can you not do?”, Panarin replied in Russian, “Have sex with a black woman.”

“In 2012, I was a guest on a Russian TV show and made insensitive comments that I deeply regret,” Panarin said in a statement released by the Blackhawks. “I understand my comments are offensive and I apologize for my hurtful words.”

Panarin was 20 or 21 when the interview was conducted, and based on the tone of the interview, the comment seemed to be a poor attempt at a joke.

“On Sunday, we were made aware of the video from Artemi’s appearance on a Russian TV show in 2012,” the Blackhawks said in a statement. “We immediately addressed the matter with him. His comments in the video in no way represent the values of our organization. He has apologized and understands the offensive nature of his words.”

Panarin won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie last season, and recently signed a two-year, $12-million contract extension.

Daily Herald

Amonte will not participate in One More Shift

John Dietz March 7, 2017

Sources have confirmed to the Daily Herald that Tony Amonte will not participate in the One More Shift promotion. Amonte was scheduled to skate out during a game in February but things fell through with the former Hawk, who played in Chicago from 1993-2002.

Attempts to contact Amonte were unsuccessful.

The next One More Shift participant, according to sources, will be goalie Ed Belfour. The scheduled date for Belfour's shift is March 23 against Dallas, the team he won a Stanley Cup with in 1999.

Belfour's 201 victories rank fourth in Blackhawks history. He played in Chicago from 1988-97. Belfour retired in 2007.

The first three One More Shift participants were Denis Savard, Steve Larmer and Jeremy Roenick.

Daily Herald

Answering some key Blackhawks questions for the stretch run

John Dietz March 7, 2017

With the Blackhawks enjoying a four-day break in the schedule, let's answer a few questions that may be on your mind.

Q: Will Corey Crawford start every game until Scott Darling returns?

A: Almost definitely.

Darling will miss about three weeks with an upper-body injury he suffered last Friday, so Crawford will be backed up by 31-year-old Jeff Glass, who played in the KHL from 2009-16. The Hawks close the regular season with a crazy stretch of 17 games in 31 days, but only play on back-to-back nights once -- Thursday against Anaheim and Friday at Detroit.

So Crawford should be able to handle the load.

"This time of the year, he likes a lot of action in the net," said coach Joel Quenneville, who lost Crawford to an upper- body injury for 10 of the last 11 games last season. "Darls has been in the position this year where you don't have to worry about playing Crow as much. But now he's got a good chance to get that net (and) get more ice time … so he's going to get that opportunity and hopefully he just keeps getting better here."

Crawford is 8-1-0 in his last nine games but is allowing 2.54 goals per game over that stretch, which ranks 16th among goalies with at least 21 appearances.

Q: How tough will the competition be among the bottom six forwards down the stretch?

A: Tough. Very tough.

The recent addition of Tomas Jurco has created a roster logjam and will force players to step up their game to stay in the lineup.

To this point, Dennis Rasmussen (healthy scratch three of last four) has been most affected by the addition of Jurco. After practice Monday, Quenneville deemed Rasmussen's play "ordinary for him," opening the door for Jordin Tootoo and Andrew Desjardins.

"Toots came in and did a tremendous job -- whether it was in Dallas or Nashville -- (and) really added an element to our team game," Quenneville said. "So he enhanced his positioning and his ice time. And Desi came in and has played well. … There's some competition now."

And the competition will get stiffer if and Vinnie Hinostroza rejoin the team for the postseason.

"There's about six or seven guys that are probably going to be in that boat," Quenneville said.

Q: Who is the Hawks' MVP and unsung hero?

A: I completely forgot to unveil the results of this poll I ran on Twitter a couple of weeks ago, so here they are:

MVP -- Corey Crawford prevailed with 38 percent of the 700 votes. Patrick Kane (33 percent) finished second, followed by Marian Hossa (21) and Artem Anisimov (8).

Unsung hero -- With 382 people voting, Niklas Hjalmarsson (32 percent) squeaked ahead of Ryan Hartman (30). Scott Darling (23 percent) and Richard Panik (15) also had solid support.

Q: What are the biggest games left on the schedule?

A: The Hawks are nipping at Minnesota's heels and trying to claim their first division title since the 2012-13 campaign. The five contests you absolutely should not miss:

• Sunday vs. Minnesota. A win by the Hawks in this nationally televised affair would go a long way in planting doubt with a Wild team that must wonder if it has what it takes to get past Chicago in the playoffs. Would it also start a mild tailspin for Bruce Boudreau's team? If so, the Hawks could claim the Central and the No. 1 seed in the West.

• Tuesday, March 14 at Montreal. Two days after facing the Wild, the Hawks face a red-hot Canadiens squad riding a five-game win streak into Tuesday's game at Vancouver.

• Wednesday, March 29 at Pittsburgh. The defending champs will be out to avenge their 4-1 loss at the United Center last week.

• Thursday, April 6 at Anaheim. The Ducks are in a dogfight with Edmonton and Calgary for the second, third and fourth spots in the Pacific. Whichever team ends in fourth will likely face the Sharks in the first round.

• Saturday, April 8 at Los Angeles. The regular-season finale. Imagine if this determines the winner of the Central AND whether the Kings make the playoffs. Let's hope it's both because that would be one fun game to watch.

Daily Herald

Rolling Meadows High School wins Goodwill Fall Haul Challenge

Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago March 7, 2017

Chicago Blackhawk wingers Ryan Hartman and Nick Schmaltz will square off with students and teachers in a "Shoot the Puck" competition on Tuesday, March 7.

Fall Haul, Goodwill's popular donation challenge, had 260 participating high schools in metropolitan Chicago donating nearly 1.4 million items.

Rolling Meadows High School, which won the overall challenge by donating more than 114,500 items, will receive a visit from Chicago Blackhawk players Ryan Hartman and Nick Schmaltz.

The second- and third-place winning schools were Palatine High School, donating 76,435 items, and St. Charles East High School, donating 47,400 items.

Each of these schools received a $500 gift card and plaque commemorating their extraordinary efforts.

Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago is the largest Goodwill organization among 163 agencies in North America.

Goodwill employs more people with disabilities than any other private-sector business in the area. In 2016, Goodwill provided services to nearly 65,000 men and women with disabilities and disadvantages and had 9,608 individuals enter employment.

Visit www.goodwillchicago.com for more information.

The Athletic

Bad words: Artemi Panarin skates into trouble in old video

Evan F. Moore March 7, 2017

Last year during the Stanley Cup Final, I was driving home through West Englewood, when I saw a black man wearing an Artemi Panarin Blackhawks sweater. I thought that was pretty cool.

When the news of Panarin’s recently unearthed comment about black women got out, I thought of that mystery fan.

Panarin, the team’s star winger, may have gotten himself into a predicament that he can’t easily deke his way out of.

Back in 2012 during a segment on Russian TV called “Get To Know A Player,” a young Panarin, who was 20 or 21 at the time was asked, “What is something you could never do”, and he replied, “Have sex with a black woman.”

This was in 2012.

However, racism, real or perceived, doesn’t have a timestamp, whether anyone likes it or not.

Panarin said it. And it’s fair game to ask him about it since he’s a star player on one of hockey’s most popular teams. Apparently, the Blackhawks thought it was worth asking about it when the video came to light on a local hockey blog, which prompted an inquiry from the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune reported Panarin’s comment was likely made in jest, a joke with the teammate who was on the show with him. Panarin then gave a serious answer.

At best, it’s a horrible joke meant to demean black women. But I hope Panarin learns from his mistake, much like Andrew Shaw seemed to do when he was suspended last year for yelling a gay slur at an official.

The Blackhawks needed to know if their star winger still feels harbors feelings that can be seen as racial stereotypes. They know that can’t have a player on their team who may still look at people, particularly women, that way.

While it’s a completely different situation, we all remember Panarin’s linemate Patrick Kane was accused of sexual assault in 2015. Kane was never charged with a crime, but some folks have never forgiven the team for letting him play when his legal situation was still up in the air.

As for Panarin, the Blackhawks sent out a statement from the team and Panarin.

“On Sunday, we were made aware of the video from Artemi’s appearance on a Russian TV show in 2012,” the Blackhawks wrote in a statement. “We immediately addressed the matter with him. His comments in the video in no way represent the values of our organization. He has apologized and understands the offensive nature of his words.”

Panarin’s statement was: “In 2012, I was a guest on a Russian TV show and made insensitive comments that I deeply regret. I understand my comments are offensive and I apologize for my hurtful words.”

The Blackhawks knew that they needed to get out in front of this after having a “Hockey Is For Everyone” night at the United Center during Black History Month, along with hosting a screening last week in Chicago for a documentary called “Soul On Ice: Past, Present & Future,” a film on the history of black hockey players.

The Blackhawks fanbase these days isn’t as male, white and suburban as it once may have been. Singling out a part of their fandom by one of their players is foolish and bad for their brand.

Black people and hockey, especially in Chicago, have always had a complex relationship. Hockey is often looked at as the “white man’s sport.” During the Blackhawks most recent Stanley Cup run, when a WGN reporter talked to a random man on the street who said, “The Blackhawks are so good that they got black people loving hockey!” Even though it was a funny moment, it confirmed a narrative that hockey appears to be only accessible to white people. As we’ve seen over the past few years, that is no longer the case.

Seeing players like Dustin Byfuglien, Johnny Oduya, Ray Emery and Jamal Mayers play on Stanley Cup winning teams did for the Blackhawks’ black fan base what Cubs Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ferguson Jenkins did for black fans decades ago.

Black hockey fans needed to see someone whom they identify with.

I know what that feeling is like. As a kid, I saw a photo of former Blackhawk Tony McKegney in Jet Magazine. Even though his stay with the team was short, it was cool to see someone who looked like me on the ice. It told me it was OK to like hockey.

Per history, a loud minority within Blackhawks fandom felt the need to stand up for Panarin. They blamed media members for writing/tweeting a “non-story.” I also felt the brunt of their anger. When I woke up this morning, I looked at my Twitter DMs to see that I was called a “f–king idiot” and challenged to a fight from a Blackhawks fan.

Certain folks within Blackhawks fandom want to question the timing of the video’s release, while some don’t like it when their fandom is upset. They want to take the fashionable route of blaming the press — Remind you of anyone? — and they seem to forget that Panarin’s comments harken back to a long history in his home country of .

Panarin played in the KHL for five years before he signed with the Blackhawks. Last year, fans of Spartak Moscow threw bananas onto the ice at Edwin Hedberg, a Colombian-born Swedish winger, who played at the time for Medvescak Zagreb, a Croatian team. Spartak used security cameras to catch the offenders and apologized to Hedberg. The KHL took the offense seriously. The Hockey News reported that Spartak was fined $9,200 for the incident.

“I don’t know what to say,” Hedberg told reporters after the game. “Things like this shouldn’t happen but unfortunately they do. It’s my second KHL season, but I’ve encountered this for the first time.”

Racially-charged vitriol at the hockey rink happens in North America as well.

Philadelphia Flyers alternate Wayne Simmonds, the reigning NHL All-Star Game MVP, was on the ice when a fan threw a banana at a preseason game in London, Ont. in 2011.

As someone who closely watches the popularity of the Blackhawks in Chicago’s black and brown communities, I’ve had an up close and personal view of the new generation of fandom.

Seeing that man wearing Panarin’s sweater in West Englewood shows an evolution in local hockey fandom for Black people. In the ’80s and ’90s, I needed to see a Black player for me to get involved in hockey. That man I saw in West Englewood may have just saw Panarin play and loved his game, and he was sold.

I wonder what that man would think about Panarin today.

The Athletic

Blackhawks prospect Luc Snuggerud has developed into skilled defenseman

Scott Powers March 7, 2017

Luc Snuggerud made himself a fan favorite when he was drafted in 2014 because of his nickname of “Snuggy.”

Since then, he’s been giving Blackhawks fans plenty of other reasons to like him. He has developed into one of the organization’s top defenseman prospects and one of college hockey’s best offensive defensemen.

Snuggerud, a 21-year-old junior at the University of Omaha, is tied for first among NCAA defensemen with 11 goals and is tied for fifth with 31 points.

Snuggerud and the Mavericks will be fighting for their postseason lives entering the NCHC playoffs this weekend. Omaha, which is 9-13-2 this season, will likely have to win the conference tournament to reach the NCAA tournament.

In an interview with The Athletic this week, Snuggerud discussed his season, idolizing Nick Leddy growing up in Minnesota, closely watching Duncan Keith’s game, the possibility of signing after this season and more.

Scott Powers: The team has had some ups and downs, but your production has been pretty steady throughout the season. What do you credit that to?

Luc Snuggerud: I think there’s a few things for that. I think one of the things is just I take every single game the same way. I try to go out there and work hard whether we’re playing the best team in the country or a team that’s at the bottom end of the league. I try to take every single game the same way, every single shift the same way. I try to be consistent. Another thing is I’m playing with a lot of good teammates here, a lot of skilled guys who can score goals and make plays. That’s definitely a big reason for some of the success I’ve been having this season.

SP: You seem like you’ve progressed each year in college. Are you developing as you hoped?

LS: I think that comes with growing up in college hockey. So coming in here, I was an 18-year-old who had just turned 19 through my first year of college hockey. I was playing against you know 22-, 23-, 24-year-old grown men who obviously were a bit bigger and stronger than myself coming straight out of high school. It was a bit of an adjustment, but now that I’ve grown up a bit and added some weight and strength to my frame I think it’s made it a little bit easier, as well as just mentally growing up a bit and being able to handle all aspects of the college game.

SP: The high school route is a little rarer these days. Did you find any advantages/disadvantages to that entering college?

LS: I think one of the biggest things of being able to stay in high school I got to grow up with my family, my friends that I grew up, I got to play hockey with them. I didn’t really miss out, I guess, on any of the things I would have if I had left home early. I wouldn’t have been able to stay with my family for 18 years and be with them and play with my buddies who I grew up with. Honestly, I think it was one of my best decisions of my life going back and playing my senior year of high school. I don’t regret it one bit because the way I looked at it was if I worked hard it wouldn’t have mattered where I played hockey before college.

SP: How was Nick Leddy perceived in that area growing up?

LS: Oh, he was a Minnesota hockey legend. He obviously was unbelievable in high school. He won a state tournament at the same high school I was at, played one year at Minnesota and then signed with Chicago, made it to Chicago fairly quickly. I think he spent maybe a year in the AHL. It was pretty cool growing up and seeing a guy I idolized like that kind of took a career path I envisioned myself hopefully taking one day. And seeing the success he had winning a Stanley Cup with Chicago, I thought was pretty unbelievable, just a guy I looked up to my whole life growing up. It was pretty cool having someone like that to just watch.

SP: Was that disappointing at all when he got traded?

LS: Yeah, I mean in a way it was. It was pretty tough to see, but obviously he’s got to do what’s best for himself and his career. He’s taken off since he left Chicago for New York. He’s kind of transformed into their team’s top defenseman. It’s cool to see he’s taking advantage of that opportunity.

SP: Your scoring has taken a big jump this season. What’s been different there?

LS: I worked a lot on the offseason just shooting pucks and learning to get my through more efficiently and effectively. I think a great example of that is Brent Burns this year in San Jose. He does an unbelievable job of getting his shot through quick and hard every single time. I think that’s just the biggest thing because nowadays everyone knows how to block shots. You’re usually not going to score a goal by trying to blast one through from the point. It’s lot of times picking your spot, knowing where to shoot and trying to get it by everyone. I think there’s a number of things that go into it. Yeah, it’s been pretty unexpected, I guess. I didn’t expect to score this many goals this year, but it’s been a nice surprise.

SP: Are you skating with the puck to find holes or is it getting your shot off quicker when you get a pass?

LS: Yeah, it’s a little bit of everything. I think my goals have come from a lot of different variety this year. A few have came from one-timers, just getting it off quick. And then a few others have been getting the puck at the point, making a fake and skating around a guy quick and letting it go. I think there’s just a number of different things that have played a role in that. Also probably just my confidence has gotten a bit higher this year as I’m a little older and I’m looked upon more on my team. I think confidence has played a role in that as well.

SP: It’s got to be a good feeling to see something you’ve worked on improve like that?

LS: Yeah, exactly. I think another thing too in the summertime I skated with two forwards. One of them you might know he’s going to get drafted pretty high in the draft next year, his name is Casey Mittlestadt. It’s kind of funny that this is the first summer that I’ve skated on the ice with just two forwards, and we were doing a lot of forward skill stuff. I guess it was pretty cool to just kind of round out my game, and you can never do enough skill work and stuff like that. It’s definitely something that’s paid off.

SP: How do you feel your defensive side of the position has developed?

LS: So I’ve been pretty fortunate this year, we hired a new assistant coach, his name is Mike Gabinet. He’s done a wonderful job with helping my defensive game as a whole here. And just in general playing college hockey, you need to play defense in order to be effective. When you’re playing against bigger, stronger guys that I did at such a young age when I wasn’t as big, it taught me a lot about the defensive positioning and how to use my stick to my advantage and stuff like that. I think I’ve done a great job at trying to pick up kind of pointers here and there. Especially watching a guy like Duncan Keith, who I would say has a very similar frame to myself. He’s not an overly physical or big player, but he uses his stick unbelievably great. He’s great with his feet. He’s always in the right spots. I think it’s just stuff like that I’ve tried to pick up on and try to emulate into my game.

SP: Have you been watching the Blackhawks defensemen more since being drafted?

LS: Oh, absolutely. So I like to watch almost all of Chicago’s games that I can. Obviously it’s tough when we play Friday and Saturday nights. I can’t really watch those games. But this past year too Chicago came out with this new app that allows me to watch any players on their team their shifts from the past game. I’ve been utilizing that a lot. For instance, I’m able to pull up Duncan Keith’s shifts from his last game that he played, and I can just watch those in order. It’s something I’ve definitely utilized and used to my advantage. It’s helped a lot in just learning those different little things that he does that make him so great.

SP: Who do you have contact with during the season?

LS: So I talk a lot with Mark Eaton. He’s the head of player development for Chicago. He’s obviously had a career in the NHL as a defenseman. I’ve really just tried to soak up all the knowledge that he’s trying to give me and the pointers he’s helping me out with. He’s done a great job of helping develop my game and helping me with some of the flaws I need to get better before I move on to the next level. And then Barry Smith has helped too. He’s came to a few games this year. Each time after the game he usually gives me a list of things that I need to try to work on whether it’s in practice every day or just think about during games. Those two have been a big influence on just the work I’ve been trying to put in this year.

SP: Is there anything specific you feel like you need to get better at?

LS: Yeah, it’s just some of the things that they said Chicago stresses in their defensemen. Some of those would include always having your stick on the puck, always having a nice tight gap, not giving forwards room because at the next level obviously there’s a lot of skilled guys who can make a lot of stuff happen if you give them time, and then just being buys too in the defensive zone and having good defensive positioning. Just all things I’m sure all defensemen can always get better on, you can never be perfect at it, just stuff like that.

SP: It seems like fellow Blackhawks prospect and Omaha teammate Freddy Olofsson has really come on since he returned from his injury?

LS: Yeah, he’s an unbelievable player. He’s one of those guys who has just kept getting better and better and really thinks the game at a really high level. He has a very high hockey IQ. He’s a big body too. It’s rare that you get someone who is as big as he is and thinks the game as well as he does. I think he’s one of those guys too if you keep putting him with better and better players he’s going to elevate his game and make them better hockey players too. I think he’s got a bright future ahead of them.

SP: Has it been unique facing players in conference like Anthony Louis and Matheson Iacopelli who could be teammates down the road?

LS: It’s been great playing them. Obviously they’re all great players. I’ve developed a little bit of a relationship with them the past couple years in development camp. It’s definitely fun playing them during the year. It’s competitive out there between us because we like shutting each other down or try to make a play against each other. It’s all fun and competitive when we’re out there playing against each other.

SP: The Blackhawks have been more aggressive in trying to sign college players after their junior seasons. Do you see that as being a possibility coming out early?

LS: It’s obviously something I’m always thinking about in the back of my head, but I try not to worry about too much. I know if I can work hard and keep playing well every single game and improving, it’s going to work itself out. Yeah, I try not to let it bother me too much. Obviously it’s tough not to think about it. Like I said, as long as I’m getting better and playing hard and working on the stuff I need to improve on, then I think it’s going to work itself out in the end and hopefully they’re happy with what I’m doing.

SP: Entering this final portion of the season, do you think at all these could be your final college games?

LS: It’s always something to think about. Like I said, I approach every single game the same way. Whether it is or whether it’s not, I’m going to play the same way. I’m going to play hard every shift and try to lead my team as best as I can. Obviously it’s something that’s in the back of my mind, but I try not to let it affect me or affect the way I play.

SP: You’ve been through the playoffs before. What are these next few weeks like?

LS: Oh, it’s tough. It’s an absolute grind in the league we play in. If you look at our conference, we have three of the top five teams in college hockey who we have to get through. It’s obviously an extremely tough and competitive league that we play in. You can kind of look at that as a benefit. If we can somehow find our way to get to the next spot in Minneapolis for the final four in our conference, it can only make us better in the long run and prepare us for the NCAA tournament if we can make it there. My freshman year I made it to the Frozen Four, so that was a pretty good experience and knowing how to get there and what it takes. We’re definitely going to use some of the lessons that taught us this weekend.

SP: Does the Frozen Four being Chicago make it more unique too?

LS: Oh, absolutely. It’s pretty awesome to play in the United Center. Obviously that’s been a dream of mine since getting drafted by Chicago is finding a way to play at that historic rink in front of those great fans. It’s been pretty cool to be able to do that with my college team.

The Athletic

Charting Hockey: Big money leading to big impact for Blackhawks

Sean Tierney March 7, 2017

The Blackhawks appear to be doing it. Again.

After a choppy start that included some ominous advanced stats and a run of PDO to keep the team afloat, the Blackhawks have hit their usual stride. And just in time for the playoffs too.

The most encouraging views from that thread are the Blackhawks’ shot rates and expected goal rates:

In both cases, the Blackhawks have hit their stride. Even-strength shot rate for is climbing steadily, as is the team’s rate of expected goals for. Conversely, shots against are dropping and expected goals against have mostly dropped as well.

Heading into the playoffs, these are great trends.

But what sort of impact should fans expect the Blackhawks to have once the postseason begins? And, in an ever-cap- conscious environment, are the Blackhawks getting sufficient bang for their buck as this iteration of the roster ramps up for a run at the Stanley Cup?

To get some answers, we’ll revisit the (newly updated) XPM data and make some league-wide comparisons to see if GM Stan Bowman is making his money matter.

Let’s dig in.

Paying for impact (and getting results too)

A while back, we took a long look at Expected Plus-Minus, a catchall statistic created by Dawson Sprigings that is unrelated to traditional plus-minus. “XPM” or “total impact” has gained momentum as a well-founded metric for summing a player’s total value.

Rather than rehash the specifics here, please check the prior look at the Blackhawks linked above and definitely reserve some time to dig through Sprigings’ work too.

Post-trade deadline, the data was updated. Here’s how the Blackhawks look as we settle into March:

At forward, the usual suspects stand out. Jonathan Toews is the team’s most impactful player, contributing top-notch offensive influence but below-average defensive contributions (which is interesting). Richard Panik’s excellent season has landed him just slightly inside the “good” quadrant, ageless wonder Marian Hossa continues rolling, and Dennis Rasmussen seems to have ascended to the defensive specialist role formerly occupied by Marcus Kruger.

Total impact for defensemen is a little more spaced out. Veteran Brian Campbell is the team’s most all-around impactful defender. Niklas Hjalmarsson continues his reign as one of the NHL’s premier stay-at-home defensemen. Duncan Keith’s offensive contribution rate remains elite.

Though Johnny Oduya isn’t represented by a Blackhawks logo here, his place is just to the left of Trevor Van Riemsdyk and up – he’s a slight negative offensively and about a +2 defensively. For more on Oduya, I covered that in much more depth here.

How do these individual results add together and compare league-wide?

*for a full, interactive view, check here.

Together, the forwards crew rank 19th in the NHL. While Toews, Hossa, Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin do their part, the Blackhawks don’t have the depth up front that they’ve enjoyed in the past, leading to a low aggregate rank.

*again, for the fuller, interactive view, check here.

The Blackhawks’ blue line remains a typical strength, ranking seventh-best in the NHL. Campbell, Hjalmarsson and Keith lead the way here, and the addition of Oduya bolsters the already deep group. With Brent Seabrook and Michal Kempny filling out the defense pairs, few teams can contend with the Blackhawks’ impact from the back end.

All told, the Blackhawks rank as the NHL’s 14th-best group by total impact, just behind the Minnesota Wild and just ahead of the . The Blackhawks are a playoffs-caliber club but not a top-notch Stanley Cup threat as their place in the standings might suggest. Good fortune and a weaker Western Conference have been positive factors this year.

But are they getting enough bang for their buck?

First, a few words on the graph. I’ve calculated each team’s average impact per million dollars spent (x-axis). That represents the average total impact (or XPM) the team receives for every million dollars invested in its skaters.

The y-axis shows each team’s spending in terms of average annual value. When compared in a scatter plot, we can see which teams are getting lots of impact (and which teams are not) relative to team spending.

In this breakdown, the , Boston Bruins, and Los Angeles Kings stand out for above- average impacts per dollar and below-league average team spending in the data sample. Conversely, the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers and stand out for big spending but league-low impact per dollar spent.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and find themselves in the dull quadrant. Neither team tips the scale in average impact per dollar and neither group has invested big money in the contracts considered here.

And then there are the high rollers, where we find the Blackhawks. They, along with the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks and , have invested considerable cash in their rosters but have also secured significant average impact.

Even more encouraging is the steady increase most Blackhawks regulars have enjoyed as the season’s gone on:

This graph compares each player’s ratings with their overall impact scores from December. With the exception of Kruger, every lineup regular has enjoyed some increase in overall impact score. This is a good sign for on-ice performance and, if this trend continues, the Blackhawks’ investment will continue to pay very efficient dividends.

Some concluding thoughts…

The Blackhawks’ core isn’t getting any younger and they’re clearly in win-now mode. For a team looking to secure another Stanley Cup, big spending to ensure big impact in pursuit of a championship is the right way to go. Based on the team’s expected influence on goal creation and suppression going forward, there’s lots of reason to expect another long playoff run in Chicago this spring.

The Athletic

Agent: Maxim Shalunov not allowed to join Blackhawks this season

Scott Powers March 7, 2017

It looks like the Blackhawks will have to wait at least another season for Maxim Shalunov.

Shalunov will not be able to join the Blackhawks this season because his current KHL team Sibir Novosibirsk is unwilling to release him from his contract, Shalunov’s agent Shumi Babaev said on Tuesday. Sibir Novosibirsk’s season is over, but Shalunov’s contract officially runs until April 30.

“They will not give us permission to play in the NHL for the next four months, so we can only decide after the contract,” Babaev said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “I talked to Sibir’s GM [Kirill Fastovsky] and asked if they’re ready to cancel the contract. He said, ‘No, is not possible.’”

Babaev was hopeful Sibir Novosibirsk would cancel Shalunov’s contract and allow him to sign with the Blackhawks and play with them in the this season. Shalunov will not break his KHL contract otherwise because he has aspirations to play for Russia’s national team.

The Blackhawks drafted Shalunov, a 24-year-old forward, in the fourth round in 2011, and have held his rights while he’s played in the KHL the past three seasons. Without a transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL in place, the Blackhawks will continue to possess Shalunov’s rights for an infinite amount of time.

Babaev said he expects Sibir Novosibirsk to trade Shalunov’s KHL rights to either SKA or CSKA in the next few weeks. Shalunov will then decide to either sign a KHL contract with his new team or wait until after April 30 to sign an entry- level contract with the Blackhawks. Shalunov and Babaev have both said Shalunov will eventually play in the NHL, but they’re unsure of the timing.

“We’ll make the decision whether he plays here or he’ll leave,” Babaev said. “We’ll stay here for a couple years or we’ll leave. We’ll see what’s going to happen.”

Babaev said Shalunov would like to play for Russia in the 2018 Olympics. With the NHL uncommitted to the next Olympics, that could impact Shalunov’s decision.

Babaev said he’s yet to speak to Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman. Bowman said last week he expected to explore signing Shalunov in the coming weeks.

“I think that now we’re through the deadline we’re going to have some discussions,” Bowman said after the trade deadline on March 1. “I got a chance to see Max play, it was probably a month ago, over in Finland. He brings a lot to the table. He’s a big kid, great skill set and his skating has come along over the past couple years.

“Part of it’s going to be what their intentions are and their plans are, and we’ll see where that goes over the next couple weeks.”

Shalunov was one of the KHL’s top under-25 players this past season. He had 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 games. His team failed to reach the KHL playoffs.

The Athletic

Blackhawks’ Artemi Panarin apologizes for ‘insensitive comments’

Scott Powers March 7, 2017

Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin has apologized for “insensitive comments” he made during a 2012 Russian television interview.

In the interview, Panarin was asked by a teammate what was something he would never do and Panarin answered, “Have sex with a black woman.” The video, which was shot when Panarin was 20 or 21, was brought to public light Monday by a Chicago hockey blog and has since been removed from YouTube.

Panarin released a statement through the Blackhawks.

“In 2012, I was a guest on a Russian TV show and made insensitive comments that I deeply regret,” Panarin said in the statement. “I understand my comments are offensive and I apologize for my hurtful words.”

The Blackhawks also released a statement.

“On Sunday, we were made aware of the video from Artemi’s appearance on a Russian TV show in 2012,” the Blackhawks said. “We immediately addressed the matter with him. His comments in the video in no way represent the values of our organization. He has apologized and understands the offensive nature of his words.”

NHL.com

Playoff race primer: Central Division

Robby Stanley March 7, 2017

With the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs five weeks away, NHL.com is taking a division-by-division look at the race for the coveted spots in the postseason. Here is how the Central Division stacks up:

The first seven weeks of the season brought few surprises in the Central Division, with the and St. Louis Blues running 1-2.

Then, the Minnesota Wild turned the division on its ear, staring a franchise-record 12-game winning streak on Dec. 2, going from tied for third to first place.

They haven't stopped; the Wild's 32-8-3 record is the League's best since the start of that win streak. Still, they haven't been able to distance themselves from the Blackhawks, who have been steady, giving the Central two teams clearly a cut above the rest.

Minnesota Wild

Record: 42-16-6 (90 points)

Where They Stand: First place in the division and Western Conference. They lead the Blackhawks by one point, and have played one fewer game.

What's left: 18 games: 10 on the road and eight at home.

3 Key Games: March 12, at Blackhawks. Any playoff road likely goes through Chicago. March 21 vs. San Jose Sharks. Defeated the Pacific Division's top team March 5 at home; a potential Western Conference Final. March 28 vs. Washington Capitals. The Wild have two games remaining against Washington (the other is March 14), the top team in the League.

Key injuries: None.

Player to Watch: Eric Staal. The 32-year-old has 48 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience, but has played five postseason games in the past seven seasons. Staal has been a great fit in Minnesota and his effectiveness is quite possibly the element that can help the Wild go far in the playoffs.

The outlook: The Wild have a demanding March -- 15 games in 26 days -- and then a finish that appears less stressful. Minnesota's final four games are against the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, at the Avalanche and at the Arizona Coyotes. The Wild appear to be a legitimate threat heading into their fifth straight playoff appearance.

Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 42-18-5 (89 points)

Where They Stand: Second in the division and conference. They lead the third-place by 15 points.

What's left: 17 games: 10 on the road, seven in the Eastern time zone, one in the Mountain and two in the Pacific, and seven at home.

3 Key Games: March 12 vs. Wild. Top spot in the division is likely on the line. April 6 at Anaheim Ducks. Playoff seeding in the Pacific Division is likely to go down to the wire and Chicago, though comfortably in the playoffs, may need the points to finish first in the Central. April 8 at Los Angeles Kings. The regular-season finale is between teams that have won five of the past seven Stanley Cup championships.

Key injuries: D Niklas Hjalmarsson has missed four games. He is listed as day-to-day because of an upper-body injury.

Player to Watch: Jonathan Toews. The captain has been an impact player in the second half. He led the League with 18 points in 10 games in February and was named the NHL's First Star of the month. Toews has had eight multipoint games since Jan. 22 and his 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 17 games is the most in the NHL since that date.

The outlook: Chicago has taken a run at first place by winning six in a row and 11 of its past 12. That challenge to Minnesota sets up a great finish and real intrigue for the playoffs, given that the Blackhawks have eliminated the Wild from the playoffs the past three times they have played each other (2013, 2014, 2015).

Nashville Predators

Record: 32-24-10 (74 points)

Where They Stand: Third in the division. They have a three-point lead on the fourth-place St. Louis Blues.

What's left: 16 games: nine on the road and seven at home. Five of the Predators' remaining games are against Central teams.

3 Key Games: March 13 vs. Winnipeg Jets. A division game the Predators need if they want to keep a comfortable cushion as the third-place team in the Central. April 1 vs. Wild. Minnesota has set a standard of excellence in the division; can the Predators match it late in the season? April 2 at Blues. Could be a make-or-break game for St. Louis.

Key injuries: RW Mikka Salomaki has been limited to 20 games this season because of a variety of injuries. His latest (lower body) has kept him out since Dec. 13 but he's been sent for a conditioning stint with Milwaukee of the , so his return may not be too far away.

Player to Watch: Pekka Rinne. The play of Nashville's No. 1 goalie will be crucial. The Predators have reconfigured several key spots in the past 18 months, including the addition of defenseman P.K. Subban and have played well in spurts. An experienced goalie at the top of his game would make a major difference in the postseason.

The outlook: The Predators have had their share of injuries, a significant 185 man-games lost as of Saturday. But that does not completely explain their inconsistent stretches. Nashville would appear to have upside if key players such as Subban, D Roman Josi, RW James Neal, C Ryan Johansen and LW Filip Forsberg are playing well. If that's the case, the Predators could be the Central's dark-horse team.

St. Louis Blues

Record: 33-27-5 (71 points)

Where They Stand: Fourth place in the division, three points behind the Predators and three points ahead of the Kings for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference after games Tuesday.

What's left: 17 games: nine on the road and eight at home. They have three games each against the Avalanche and Coyotes, who will not make the playoffs.

3 Key Games: March 13 at Kings. The Blues and Kings are neck-and-neck in the wild card race. March 25 vs. Calgary Flames. The Flames are five points ahead of the Blues for the first wild card. April 4 vs. Winnipeg Jets. Against a divisional rival hot on their heels in March, the Blues may need this one to secure a playoff berth.

Key injuries: C Robby Fabbri is out for the season after sustaining a left knee injury Feb. 4.

Player to Watch: Vladimir Tarasenko. The right wing is the Blues' leading scorer with 57 points (29 goals, 28 assists), but his production has sagged for stretches this season. Tarasenko has had goal droughts of seven and eight games, but his remarkable shot, spark and danger factor drives a lot of other elements in the Blues attack.

The outlook: After dealing D Kevin Shattenkirk to the Capitals prior to the NHL Trade Deadline, many expected the Blues to sag. But St. Louis remains in the playoff chase, and even though it's a compressed schedule (17 games in the final 31 days of the season starting on Friday), it shouldn't have any excuses at the finish line.

Winnipeg Jets

Record: 30-31-6 (66 points)

Where They Stand: The Jets are fifth in the division, five points behind fourth-place St. Louis and eight back of the third- place Nashville.

What's left: 15 games: eight at home and seven on the road.

3 Key Games: March 13 at Predators. If the Jets are trying to stay in the race, getting points from teams ahead of them is key. March 23 at Los Angeles. Given the Kings are in the battle for a wild card, desperation could be part of this game story. April 4 at Blues. Another key game for the Jets is on the road and against a division rival. Winnipeg's record against Central teams this season is 16-8-1.

Key injuries: D Tyler Myers has been out because of a lower-body injury. He hasn't played since Nov. 11 at the Colorado Avalanche, the only game this season the Jets have dressed their top six defensemen. G Ondrej Pavelec is out at least three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Player to Watch: Connor Hellebuyck. It's easy to watch C Mark Scheifele, RW Patrik Laine and LW Nikolaj Ehlers, given their increasing chemistry and production, but goaltending is always critical. Hellebuyck has had an inconsistent season, and because of Pavelec's injury, there no veteran to fall back on.

The outlook: Winnipeg's defensive and goaltending woes - 208 goals against, fourth-most in the League - have sabotaged its chances to get into a playoff position. But with 15 games to go, the Jets are still within striking distance. Pulling that off almost certainly means they must change that defensive story in a very short span.

Dallas Stars

Record: 27-29-10 (64 points)

Where They Stand: Sixth place, seven points behind fourth-place St. Louis and 10 behind third-place Nashville.

What's left: 16 games: 10 on the road and six at home.

3 Key Games: March 8 vs. Ottawa Senators. Dallas needs momentum, so a home win Wednesday would be a good place to start before beginning a four-game road trip. March 17 at Calgary. This is the second night of a back-to-back against a team ahead in the standings. March 23 at Chicago. Not an easy task when you are fighting for your playoff life.

Key injuries: RW Adam Cracknell is out 3-6 weeks with a lower-body injury sustained Feb. 18; LW Antoine Roussel is out 6-8 weeks with a hand injury sustained March 2; C Mattias Janmark has not played this season after surgery to repair a knee injury.

Player to Watch: Esa Lindell. As the Stars wind down the season and search for a way back to the top of the division, they'll be trying to identify players with more and/or better to give. The rookie defenseman has averaged 21:29 of ice time in 56 games this season, and will warrant a greater role in the future.

The outlook: Dallas has too far to go and too many teams to pass to reach the postseason. The falling Stars, who won the Central last season, were never unable to overcome injuries (276 man-games through Monday) and shaky defense and goaltending that have allowed 208 goals this season.

Colorado Avalanche

Record: 17-44-3 (37 points)

Where They Stand: Seventh in the division.

What's left: 17 games: nine at home and eight on the road.

3 Key Games: March 19 at Chicago. April 6 vs. Minnesota. April 9 at St. Louis. Pride and a chance to play the spoiler are about all the Avalanche have left for this season. The three games are all opportunities to impact the division standings.

Key injuries: G Semyon Varlamov has been out because of a groin/hip injury since Jan. 19. D Nikita Zadorov (ankle) has been out since Feb. 21.

Player to Watch: Mikko Rantanen. The rookie right wing offers some encouragement for the future. He has 14 goals and 16 assists this season and has put much validation in being the No. 10 pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.

The outlook: The Avalanche have nowhere to go in the standings and will almost certainly have the greatest odds in the NHL Draft Lottery for the No. 1 pick for the 2017 NHL Draft. All that's left this season is to disrupt playoff-bound teams and to evaluate what should happen in the offseason.

CSNChicago.com

Tomas Jurco Finding His Place with the Blackhawks

Tracey Myers March 7, 2017

Tomas Jurco knew the trade was coming. At least he thought he knew the trade was coming.

Jurco was enjoying his bye break with his girlfriend in New York when his agent told him to expect a call around noon on Feb. 24. But noon, as well as an afternoon of sightseeing, came and went. By 4 p.m. that day, there was still no call.

"So I took a nap," Jurco said with a laugh. "After 30 minutes my phone was blowing up."

The rest of that day and the next are a blur to Jurco, who flew back to Detroit, packed, flew into Chicago early on Feb. 25 and practiced with his new teammates. Yeah, a lot of quick adjustments those two days. But to get a fresh start with the Blackhawks, to get a chance to show a new team what he can do, is worth it.

Jurco's been "a work in progress," to quote Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. It's not a big surprise to hear that. Jurco, who struggled to find a place in the Detroit Red Wings' regular lineup, is getting that right now with the Blackhawks. After playing fewer than 10 minutes a game when he did play for the Wings, he's played 11-13 minutes in three games for the Blackhawks.

"He's trying to get established, getting comfortable, whether on a regular line or side," Quenneville said. "We've tried him in different spots. He's been fine. I think he's still getting acclimated to the systems. Offensively we want him to trust his instincts and getting more comfortable with the puck."

Jurco has played in a few different spots, from the third line with Marian Hossa to the fourth line to the top line with Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik midway through the Blackhawks' 5-3 victory over Nashville on Saturday. Jurco is trying to learn quickly but knows it may not all click immediately.

"Everything is great around there. The city's great. Of course the team has a great year and another great chance to go for a Cup so for me that's a really good thing. But I'm still getting used to all the stuff, different systems, different teammates," he said. "I like everything about the team but I need time to get used to it."

General manager Stan Bowman, when he acquired Jurco, said the 24-year-old should be given time to adjust.

"He's been an accomplished player at a lot of different levels. He's shown flashes in the NHL, not as consistently as he or the Wings would like, but you can see the talent and potential," Bowman said. "You have to have some patience with these guys. It doesn't always come together right away. We're not expecting him to carry our team but I think he can contribute. There has to be a measure of patience but the potential is great."

Everybody adjusts at a different rate. Fellow countryman Panik came in last season and fit in relatively fast, although Panik was playing regularly before he got here. Jurco doesn't know how long it will take but he's determined to fit in and help the Blackhawks down the stretch.

"I think it'll take time for me to actually fit in and play really well. Of course, the first few games, I'm finding my spot where to go. But I'm thankful for the chance," he said. "I'm trying to show them that, once I get used to it, I can be a good player for this team."