In a post on X, Granato said he was recently diagnosed with a form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and will begin treatment this week.

“I wish I could reach out to everyone individually, but felt like this was the best way to share the news,” he said, in part. “My family, faith, and friends will be my strength to help me through my treatments…”

Granato said he appreciates the love and support he has received, and with the holidays underway, encouraged people to cherish time with those they love.

“With the holiday season here, cherish the times with your loved ones, as I know I will,” he said.

A Downers Grove native, Granato was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1982 and had runs with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks before beginning his coaching career with the Colorado Avalanche, where he served as both assistant and head coach.

He also led the United States men’s national ice hockey team as head coach at the 2018 Winter Olympics and was most recently head coach of the University of Wisconsin Badger’s men’s hockey team from 2016 to 2023.

Granato joined NBC Sports Chicago’s studio team for the 2023-24 season as a Blackhawks analyst. The veteran coach appeared on a Blackhawks Talk podcast with NBC Sports Chicago’s Pat Boyle and Charlie Roumeliotis in September ahead of the season, where he shared his background on coaching, growing up as a Blackhawks fan in the Chicago area, future of the team and more.

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And guess who assisted it? His former Blackhawks linemate Alex DeBrincat, of course.

Kane, 35, ended his long-awaited free agency decision, signing with the Red Wings on Nov. 28. He signed a one-year, prorated deal worth $2.75 million.

Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was put on a four-to-six-month timetable. He was expected to decide American Thanksgiving, and he did just that.

He will make his return to the United Center on Feb. 25, when the Blackhawks take on the Red Wings. The Blackhawks will also retire Chris Chelios’ jersey that night.

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Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde told reporters Wednesday that he expects the newly signed veteran to play Thursday night at home against the San Jose Sharks.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Hart Trophy winner signed a one-year $2.75 million deal with the Red Wings on Nov. 28, almost six months after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery.

“The season ended right around May 1, and it took us a good month to figure out what to do,” Kane told NBC Sports Chicago’s Blackhawks Insider Charlie Roumeliotis. “We wanted to make sure we were confident in the decision we were going to go. Decided to go through with the surgery on June 1. It was pretty much the best option for me.” 

Kane is shooting to join Ed Jovanovski and Nicklas Backstrom as NHL players to come back from the specialized surgery. The operation involves dislocating the upper end of the thighbone, trimming it, capping it, and removing cartilage before putting it back in place.

“I could’ve maybe done a labrum repair and a scope, but with the wear and tear in the hip, it would’ve maybe given me a year or a year and a half, and I could’ve potentially even had more pain,” Kane said. “It was the right move to do the resurfacing.”

If he returns to the ice on Thursday, this would be Kane’s first time playing with former linemate and teammate Alex DeBrincat since the 2021-22 season.

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Kelce doubled down on his fandom on a recent episode of his podcast “New Heights” with his brother, Jason. In a previous episode, Kelce butchered the pronunciation of Bedard’s last name. He apologized and offered a compliment to the 18-year-old phenom.

“You haven’t? One snippet?” Kelce reacted to his brother not having seen a clip of Bedard. “He’s a baller.”

Previous to the aforementioned episode, Kelce expressed his desire to play with the team. He recounted the time retired NFL legend Rob Gronkowski was invited to skate with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2021.

“He was in net for a practice or something like that,” he said. “It was a great bit.

“I kind of got jealous. I wanna do it now. I wanna hit up the Blackhawks and get in net or something.”

The Blackhawks responded to Kelce with open arms on social media.

“New Heights” is hosted by Travis and his older brother Jason, who plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles. The show gained widespread popularity earlier this year when the two brothers faced off in Super Bowl 57. It shot up the charts again when Travis began dating global pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Their fandom for Bedard is extremely warranted, too. The rookie has 11 goals and 20 points this season, leading all rookies in both categories. He’s shattered several records along the way, proving to be the superstar everyone anticipated he would become upon entering the league.

Maybe, Kelce will visit the United Center soon and don some Blackhawks threads? Stay tuned.

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Two goals and an assist from Nick Foligno in regulation wasn’t enough for the Chicago Blackhawks, who headed to overtime with the Nashville Predators Tuesday night at the United Center tied at 3.

After forcing Predators’ goalie Juuse Saros to make two saves in extra time, Connor Bedard was called on for team’s first shootout attempt of the season.

He didn’t disappoint.

Bedard froze Saros with a quick wrist shot to keep things square after Gustav Nyquist scored on Soderblom in Nashville’s first attempt.

The Predators would eventually win the extra point after Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg each scored on the backhand for a one, two, three shootout victory.

Blackhawks insider Charlie Roumeliotis has more on the Blackhawks’ action-packed loss here.

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After signing a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings last week, the three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Hart Trophy winner joined the Red Wings’ broadcast booth Saturday for a second-period hit with Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond.

DeBrincat cashed in on a one-timer on the power play while Kane was in the booth, giving his close friend the opportunity to call his 200th NHL goal live on air.

“Great shot by DeBrincat,” Kane said. “He doesn’t miss many of those, that’s for sure.”

Kane, 35, and DeBrincat were a dynamic duo on the Blackhawks’ front line from 2017 to 2022. While teammates in Chicago, DeBrincat recorded two seasons with over 75 points, and Kane averaged over 85 points per season.

DeBrincat, 25, signed a four-year deal with the Red Wings this offseason worth $31.5 million after playing 82 games for the Senators in 2022-23.

Kane is still rehabbing from offseason hip surgery, and is expected to make his Red Wings debut in the month of December.

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Bedard picked up an assist on Taylor Raddysh’s third period power play goal in a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, and in doing so he extended a record that he already owned.

The assist gives Bedard at least one point in nine consecutive road games, a Blackhawks’ record for a rookie, according to the team.

According to the Blackhawks, the points streak is the longest for an NHL rookie since Auston Matthews registered points in 11 consecutive road games for the Maple Leafs during the 2016-17 season.

The NHL record, for those curious, belongs to Nathan MacKinnon, who registered at least one point in 16 consecutive road games during the 2013-14 season.

The Blackhawks have now lost seven consecutive road games, having not won away from the United Center since Nov. 9 against Tampa Bay.

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Bedard scored six goals and notched 12 points in 12 games during the month of November. He led all rookies in those categories, deserving of the Rookie of the Month award.

He is now one of three Blackhawks to win the award, joining Dominik Kubalik (Jan. 2020) and Patrick Kane (Oct. 2007). Bedard leads all Blackhawks skaters this season with 18 points (10 goals, 8 assists) through 21 games.

Bedard has broken through many barriers so far during his rookie outing. He became one of the youngest players to reach 10 career goals, accomplishing the feat in just 17 games.

He became the youngest player since Jeremy Roenick to earn a three-game goal streak. Bedard is the youngest Blackhawks player to score two goals in a single game, too.

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In the first period, The Chicago Blackhawks forward delivered a nifty pass to Lukas Reichel, who lit the lamp for his second goal of the season.

Bedard has tied Darryl Sutter, who set the mark 43 years ago, with a goal or assist in seven straight away games. Bedard is also now tied for the second-longest road point streak in NHL history for a player 18 years or younger with Sidney Crosby, Steve Yzerman and Sylvain Turgeon. Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon stands alone with a 16-game rookie point streak in 2013-14.

Bedard leads all rookies in points (18) and goals (10) so far this season through 21 games.

Last week, he became the third-fasted player in NHL history to reach the 10-goal mark among players 18 years or younger.

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Perry was accused of inappropriate conduct earlier this month, and after an investigation by the team, his contract was terminated earlier this week.

In his statement, Perry said that he was seeking help for mental health and substance abuse concerns, and apologized to the organization, his family and fans.

Here is his full statement:

“I would like to sincerely apologize to the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization, including ownership, management, coaches, trainers, employees, and my teammates. I would also like to apologize to my fans, and my family.

“I am embarrassed and I have let you all down. As a result of my actions, there has been speculation and rumors. I am sickened by the impact this has had on others, and I want to make it clear that in no way did this situation involve any of my teammates or their families.

“Most importantly, I want to directly apologize to those who have been negatively affected and I am sorry for the additional impact to others it has created. My behavior was inappropriate and wrong.

“I have started working with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss my struggles with alcohol and I will take whatever steps necessary to ensure this never happens again. I hope to regain the trust and respect of everyone who has believed in me throughout my career.

“Once again, I am deeply sorry.

-Corey”

Perry was scratched from the team’s lineup on Nov. 22 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and after an investigation by the Blackhawks, it was announced Tuesday that his contract would be terminated.

GM Kyle Davidson declined to divulge details on the accusations, but said that he stood by the results of the investigation into Perry’s actions.

The NHL Players’ Association is looking into the matter, and has 60 days to determine whether it will file a grievance on Perry’s behalf.

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The NHLPA told reporters that they are reviewing the move by Chicago, which came after unspecified allegations were investigated by the team.

According to reports, the NHLPA has 60 days from the termination of Perry’s contract to determine whether to file a formal grievance against the Blackhawks.

The situation unfolded earlier this month, with the Blackhawks removing Perry from their lineup ahead of a Nov. 22 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. According to General Manager Kyle Davidson, the team initiated an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Perry, and the team waived the forward with the intention of terminating his contract on Tuesday.

“Last week, management was notified of possible misconduct by Corey Perry,” Davidson said during a Tuesday press conference. “We immediately pulled him from the game and conducted an internal investigation. Upon learning the finding of the investigation, we made the decision to terminate his contract.”

The team declined to disclose details surrounding the allegations.

Perry cleared waivers on Wednesday, and the team moved to terminate his contract.

No further details have been made available on the NHLPA’s inquiry, or on a timeline for a decision.

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The Blackhawks placed the veteran forward on waivers with the intention to terminate his contract with the team after an internal investigation found Perry engaged in conduct that is “unacceptable” to his contract and the Blackhawks’ organizational standards.

Following the team’s 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken at home on Tuesday, veteran forward Nick Foligno spoke about the difficulty the situation has provided the team.

“There’s a standard in this room and we all adhere to it,” Foligno said. “They [the organization] believe strongly in making sure that’s understood by all of us. It’s a hard day. Nobody wants to hear that news. We all care about Corey. But we understand there’s a standard we’re going to be held to.

“It’s hard when you don’t have all the details to comment fully. But we care about the person and we care about this organization and they’re gonna do what’s best for all of us and we have to know that and understand there’s a standard we have to get to.”

MORE: What happened with Corey Perry and the Chicago Blackhawks? What we know

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson addressed the media before Tuesday’s game at the United Center to talk about the situation. He was not able to share many details, but he did want to hammer home one thing.

“I do want to be very clear on this one point: This does not involve any players or their families, and anything that suggests otherwise, or anyone that suggests otherwise, is wildly inaccurate, and frankly, it’s disgusting,” Davidson said. “This has been a tough situation.”

Davidson declined to address specifics about the nature of the allegations, describing it as a “workplace matter” when asked if law enforcement would be involved in any investigation. He also said that it was a “team incident,” but said that it did not involve any players with the Blackhawks.

Davidson told media that the team had learned about the allegations on Wednesday while they were in Columbus and preparing to take on the Blue Jackets. The team pulled Perry from the lineup that evening, and he missed three games while the investigation was underway.

Davidson believed the team “went through the process as quickly as we could in order to run a responsible investigation,” which is why they didn’t disclose anything sooner.

“To be honest, I think over the last 24 hours, what’s gone on has been very disturbing and I feel like I’m wearing it. I’m carrying that,” Davidson said before his voice trailed off. “It’s just tough to see. Yeah, it’s tough to see.”

When asked whether the Perry situation will lead to more internal changes, Davidson responded: “It’s so fresh that we’ll get through today and I’m sure we’ll continue to always evaluate.

“The one thing, it goes without saying whether it’s after something comes up or not, you’re always trying to be better, you’re always trying to improve. I don’t see why that wouldn’t be the case moving forward. We’re always looking to be better than we were the day before.”

Players were not given exact details of the nature of the allegations but were told prior to Tuesday’s announcement that the team had decided to terminate Perry’s contract.

Foligno expressed his pride in how the Blackhawks team handled the news about Perry and didn’t let it get in the way of defeating the Kraken at home.

“You can’t control some things, right? That’s what we had to understand,” Foligno said. “A lot of that’s out of our control and we really don’t even know what’s going on. We don’t have the details. But we came here to work and get a job done. It shows growth, it shows maturity. Now we need to build off of that. It’s a great step in the right direction on a day that was really difficult for everyone.”

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Unfortunately, Kane will not play on Thursday when the Blackhawks head to Detroit for the first time this season. But he’s looking forward to playing them at the United Center on Feb. 25 — the same night Chris Chelios will have his jersey hung in the rafters.

“Obviously, you have New York and Chicago on the schedule. It would’ve been nice to play those games,” Kane said. “But I think it’ll be a pretty special night in Chicago in late February there when [Chris] Chelios’ jersey is going up. Hopefully, we make it up with that one.”

On the subject of Chelios — who also played for the Blackhawks before moving to the Red Wings — Kane said he spoke with the legend two weeks ago.

According to Kane, they didn’t talk about the rivalry as much as you’d expect.

“I talked to him a few times,” Kane said of Chelios. “I just kind of asked him about the city, the situation, the organization, and how he liked it here. It never really came up too much about the Blackhawks-Red Wings rivalry, to be honest with you.”

Kane’s move to Detroit was as equally unsurprising as it was surprising. Detroit has long been rumored to be an interest of Kane’s. But there were plenty of teams in the running, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche.

Alas, he made the move to the Blackhawks’ most notorious rival, dating back to the 1980s. Kane said he believes that the rivalry has “faded” a bit. He also claimed the Blackhawks, in his day, admired the Red Wings.

“It was always a team we were striving to be,” Kane said. “Even organizationally, it was always a team we were looking up to and striving to be. It’s an incredible franchise. Incredible organization. I think the jersey is beautiful, too, even if you play against them and you hate ’em there for a while.”

There’s the knife twist.

Kane’s interest in Detroit involved several factors. He isn’t unfamiliar with the area, having moved to Detroit when he was a freshman in high school. He played hockey in Ann Arbor, too.

Certainly, reuniting with Alex DeBrincat — who signed a three-year deal with the Red Wings in the offseason — played a factor. And the Red Wings’ third-place standing in the Atlantic Division helps check the competitive box that Kane desired, but not strongly.

It’s a weird sight seeing Kane don Detroit’s red instead of the Blackhawks’. He said it was a strange feeling to put on the jersey at the team’s morning skate.

But for the right opportunity, Kane pushed the rivalry to the side.

“For the right situation, sometimes you put that stuff to the side a bit,” Kane said. “I loved my time in Chicago. I loved everything about being a Blackhawk. But sometimes you move on to different things and you look for different opportunities and situations. This seemed like the right one for me.”

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On a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast, the Kansas City Chiefs star recounted the time retired NFL legend Rob Gronkowski was invited to skate with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2021.

“He was in net for a practice or something like that,” he said. “It was a great bit.

“I kind of got jealous. I wanna do it now. I wanna hit up the Blackhawks and get in net or something.”

The Blackhawks responded to Kelce with open arms on social media.

The Blackhawks also referenced a funny moment from later in the podcast episode when Kelce had trouble pronouncing the name of NHL rookie phenom Connor Bedard.

“Connor Bednard or Bendard. I don’t even know how to say his last name. I just know I love watching that dude play hockey.”

Earlier this month, fans dug up an old tweet from 2014 in which Travis said he was a Blackhawks fan. The Blackhawks’ social media team had a cheeky response then, too.

“New Heights” is hosted by Travis and his older brother Jason, who plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles. The show gained widespread popularity earlier this year when the two brothers faced off in Super Bowl 57. It shot up the charts again when Travis began dating global pop superstar Taylor Swift.

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Kane, 35, underwent hip resurfacing surgery on June 1 and was put on a four-to-six-month timetable. He was expected to make a decision around American Thanksgiving, and he’s done just that.

Kane reunites with his old linemate and close friend Alex DeBrincat, who was traded to Detroit from Ottawa over the offseason. The two of them were magic together in Chicago and they’ll try to recreate that with the Red Wings.

The Chicago Blackhawks play in Detroit on Thursday night, but it’s unclear whether or not Kane will be slotted into the lineup right away. The two teams play in Chicago on Feb. 25, which is Chris Chelios’ jersey retirement night.

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Here’s how it all unfolded.

Nov. 22: Perry became a late, healthy scratch for the team’s game on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the game, head coach Luke Richardson said it was an “organizational decision” to scratch Perry. He participated in the morning skate but did not partake in warm-ups.

Davidson said Tuesday the team found out about a “possible misconduct” while in Columbus. He said the investigation launched immediately, leading the organization to its decision to terminate Perry’s contract.

Nov. 25: Davidson told the media Perry would be away from the team for the “foreseeable future.” He did not disclose details about his absence but mentioned the decision stemmed from the organization to keep Perry away from the team.

On the same day, Perry’s agent released a statement on his behalf:

“Corey Perry has stepped away from the Chicago Blackhawks to attend to personal matters,” Pat Morris of Newport Sports Management told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. “Corey and his family appreciate privacy at this time.”

Nov. 28: The Blackhawks announced their decision to place Perry on unconditional waivers. In the event he clears waivers, the Blackhawks said they would terminate Perry’s contract regardless.

The team released a statement in the afternoon:

“After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.

“As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately.”

Later in the day, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson spoke on the organization’s decision to cut ties with Perry, without delving into details about the reasoning for his dismissal.

“First and foremost, I want to start off by reiterating that the organization is committed to a culture of accountability,” Davidson said. “Last week, management was notified of possible misconduct by Corey Perry. We pulled him from the game and conducted an internal investigation. Upon learning the findings of that investigation, we made the decision to terminate his contract. I will not be able to disclose any details.”

Davidson also dismissed online rumors about Perry’s conduct, saying it did not have anything to do with another one of his teammates.

“I do want to be very clear: this does not involve any players or their families, and anything that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate, and frankly, it’s disgusting,” he said.

Davidson was asked if the matter involved law enforcement and emphasized that it was a “workplace matter” while declining to offer further details.

Perry had been scratched from the team’s lineup in Columbus on Wednesday, with Davidson saying the team learned of the allegations while the club was in Ohio. He said the investigation began immediately, and culminated Tuesday with the decision to terminate Perry’s contract.

He said that the rapidly evolving investigation shows the organization’s commitment to accountability

“I think more than anything, it reinforces the resolve that we have to change the culture and make sure we’re doing the right things and upholding our values and making sure that we continue to build a culture of accountability,” he said.

Davidson said the team had been informed of the decision, but they were not made aware of details involving the allegations against Perry.

“They just kind of listened,” he said of the meeting.

Davidson said that the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association had been kept up-to-date with the progress of the investigation, and was informed of the team’s decision before it was announced Tuesday.

A visibly emotional Davidson said that he had been struggling with the fallout from the allegations, but said that it reinforced his resolve to continue improving the organization’s culture.

“I think it’s so fresh that we’ll get through today, and we’ll always evaluate,” he said. “It goes without saying, after something comes up, you’re always trying to get better. I don’t see why that wouldn’t be the case. We’re always looking to be better than we were the day before.”

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Davidson said the team learned of a situation involving Perry on Wednesday in Columbus. The team scratched him from the lineup and began an immediate internal investigation that determined Perry had violated “both the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments,” according to a statement released by the organization Tuesday afternoon.

Watch the full press conference in the player above or here.

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The rumors, prevalent online ever since Perry was unexpectedly scratched from the team’s lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 22, were categorized as “disgusting” by Davidson during a Tuesday press conference.

“I do want to be very clear: this does not involve any players or their families, and anything that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate, and frankly it’s disgusting,” he said.

Davidson declined to address specifics about the nature of the allegations, describing it as a “workplace matter” when asked if law enforcement would be involved in any investigation. He also said that it was a “team incident,” but said that it did not involve any players with the Blackhawks.

Players were not given exact details of the nature of the allegations, but were told prior to Tuesday’s announcement that the team had decided to terminate Perry’s contract.

“They just kind of listened,” Davidson said when asked about how the meeting proceeded.

Davidson also expressed confidence in the resilience of the locker room, and that he believed they would persevere through the challenges ahead.

“I am very confident in the locker room and their resilience,” he said. “Obviously it’s a tough day, but we’ll continue to communicate with our players and we’ll go forward from there.”

He also said that the team is committed to accountability, and that the rapid response to the allegations against Perry was indicative of that goal.

“I think more than anything, it reinforces the resolve that we have to change the culture and make sure we’re doing the right things and upholding our values and making sure that we continue to build a culture of accountability,” he said.

Davidson told media that the team had learned about the allegations on Wednesday while they were in Columbus and preparing to take on the Blue Jackets. The team pulled Perry from the lineup that evening, and he missed three games while the investigation was underway.

Davidson said that the team tried to move quickly, but thoroughly, amid the investigation.

“We went through the process as quickly as we could in order to run a responsible investigation,” he said.

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“First and foremost, I want to start off by reiterating that the organization is committed to a culture of accountability,” Davidson said. “Last week, management was notified of possible misconduct by Corey Perry. We pulled him from the game and conducted an internal investigation. Upon learning the findings of that investigation, we made the decision to terminate his contract. I will not be able to disclose any details.”

Davidson also dismissed online rumors about Perry’s conduct, saying it did not have anything to do with another one of his teammates.

“I do want to be very clear: this does not involve any players or their families, and anything that suggests otherwise is wildly inaccurate, and frankly, it’s disgusting,” he said.

Davidson was asked if the matter involved law enforcement, and emphasized that it was a “workplace matter” while declining to offer further details.

Perry had been scratched from the team’s lineup in Columbus on Wednesday, with Davidson saying the team learned of the allegations while the club was in Ohio. He said the investigation began immediately, and culminated Tuesday with the decision to terminate Perry’s contract.

He said that the rapidly evolving investigation shows the organization’s commitment to accountability.

“I think more than anything, it reinforces the resolve that we have to change the culture and make sure we’re doing the right things and upholding our values and making sure that we continue to build a culture of accountability,” he said.

Davidson said the team had been informed of the decision, but they were not made aware of details involving the allegations against Perry.

“They just kind of listened,” he said of the meeting.

Davidson said that the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association had been kept up-to-date with the progress of the investigation, and were informed of the team’s decision before it was announced Tuesday.

A visibly emotional Davidson said that he had been struggling with the fallout from the allegations, but said that it reinforced his resolve to continue improving the organization’s culture.

“I think it’s so fresh that we’ll get through today, and we’ll always evaluate,” he said. “It goes without saying, after something comes up, you’re always trying to get better. I don’t see why that wouldn’t be the case. We’re always looking to be better than we were the day before.”

Check back to this story for updates

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Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is expected to address the media at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, following the team’s announcement that they will place Corey Perry on unconditional waivers and will terminate his contract. The team made the decision after an internal investigation found Perry “engaged in conduct that is unacceptable.”

The team released a full statement about the decision on Tuesday afternoon. The move also provides some closure after the decision to make Perry a healthy scratch over the last three games led to widespread speculation.

If you’re looking for a full timeline of the events that led to Perry’s departure, click here.

The Blackhawks signed Perry to a one-year, $4 million contract over the summer. Perry scored nine points, (4G, 5A) in 16 games this season.

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Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich

The Chicago Blackhawks released a statement Tuesday on an internal investigation surrounding Corey Perry following days of speculation on the forward’s mysterious absence.

The team said they are placing Perry on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.

Here’s their full statement.

“After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments. As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately.”

Perry was listed as a surprise scratch on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, which ended in a 7-3 lopsided loss at Nationwide Arena. He participated in the team’s morning skate but did not take part in warmups.

After the game, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson confirmed to reporters that it was an “organizational decision” to sit Perry. He was a healthy scratch.

The Blackhawks returned to practice on Thanksgiving Thursday and there was no sign of Perry.

Head coach Luke Richardson opened his media availability by addressing the elephant in the room.

“I just wanted to start by saying I know you have questions about Corey Perry not playing last night and attending practice today but we’re going to keep that internal in the organization right now,” Richardson said. “I’m not going to be able to answer any more questions on that.”

When pressed about specifics due to wild speculation going on, Richardson responded: “I’m sure there is but unfortunately, I can’t give you anything but that today.”

On Friday morning, Richardson revealed that Perry would not be in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson held a media availability on Saturday morning to address Perry’s status as questions continued to swirl around his mysterious absence.

“There’s no update on that end,” Davidson said. “He’s away from the team and will remain so for the foreseeable future. I’m unable to provide any further update on that front.”

Davidson said he “understands” there’s speculation out there as to what’s going on, but respectfully didn’t want to get into details. He did, however, provide some sort of clarity on one front.

“It’s been a team decision so far to hold him out and that’s all I’m able to provide,” Davidson said. “It is coming from the organization’s end, yes.”

Later in the day, Perry’s agent released a brief statement.

“Corey Perry has stepped away from the Chicago Blackhawks to attend to personal matters,” Pat Morris of Newport Sports Management told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. “Corey and his family appreciate privacy at this time.”

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Here’s what we know about the situation:

Tuesday, November 21

Perry practiced with the team on Tuesday in his usual spot on the top power-play unit and on the right wing of the third line before traveling with the team to Columbus.

Wednesday, November 22

Perry was listed as a surprise scratch on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, which ended in a 7-3 lopsided loss at Nationwide Arena. He participated in the team’s morning skate but did not take part in warmups.

After the game, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson confirmed to reporters that it was an “organizational decision” to sit Perry. He was a healthy scratch.

It doesn’t sound like this was for on-ice performance reasons. Perry is tied for third on the team in goals (four) and points (nine).

The Blackhawks played the game with 11 forwards and seven defensemen after Taylor Hall was ruled out, which we later found out was because of a knee injury that will likely end his season.

Thursday, November 23

The Blackhawks returned to practice on Thanksgiving Thursday and there was no sign of Perry.

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson opened his media availability by addressing the elephant in the room.

“I just wanted to start by saying I know you have questions about Corey Perry not playing last night and attending practice today but we’re going to keep that internal in the organization right now,” Richardson said. “I’m not going to be able to answer any more questions on that.”

When pressed about specifics due to the wild speculation going on, Richardson responded: “I’m sure there is but unfortunately, I can’t give you anything but that today.”

The players didn’t seem to know many details, either.

“We just know he’s not with us,” alternate captain Nick Foligno said. “We haven’t really gotten any details. It’s unfortunate; he’s a big part of this, so we’ll miss him. But we haven’t really gotten any other information.”

Said Connor Bedard: “I’m not going to speak on it too much. Obviously, it sucks he’s not here, but we don’t really have too much information on it or anything yet, but of course, he’s a big part of the team, and it sucks he can’t be here today.”

Friday, November 24

On Friday morning, Richardson revealed that Perry would not be in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

When asked about who made the decision, Richardson responded: “That’s just going to be kept internal for now in the organization. Hopefully we’ll be able to get an update soon, but we can’t give a timeline on that.”

—

Perry is tied for third on the Blackhawks in goals (four) and points (nine) going into Thanksgiving. He’s been a key part of the team and is part of the leadership group.

Now, the challenge for the Blackhawks — who have lost five in a row — is to prevent this situation from becoming a distraction until there’s more clarity around Perry.

Saturday, November 25

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson held a media availability on Saturday morning to address Corey Perry’s status as questions continue to swirl around his mysterious absence.

“There’s no update on that end,” Davidson said. “He’s away from the team and will remain so for the foreseeable future. I’m unable to provide any further update on that front.”

Davidson said he “understands” there’s speculation out there as to what’s going on, but respectfully didn’t want to get into details. He did, however, provide some sort of clarity on one front.

“It’s been a team decision so far to hold him out and that’s all I’m able to provide,” Davidson said. “It is coming from the organization’s end, yes.”

Davidson did not want to get into specifics as far as whether it could be trade-related or any other reason.

“I think it’s, to start ruling anything out is irresponsible,” Davidson said. “So I’m just going to not comment on any possible outcome of this.”

Later in the day, Perry’s agent released a brief statement on Saturday regarding his client’s status as questions continue to swirl around the Blackhawks forward’s mysterious absence.

“Corey Perry has stepped away from the Chicago Blackhawks to attend to personal matters,” Pat Morris of Newport Sports Management told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. “Corey and his family appreciate privacy at this time.”

Tuesday, November 28

On Tuesday, the Blackhawks announced they would be placing forward Corey Perry on unconditional waiver for the purpose of a buyout.

The Blackhawks released this statement on Tuesday afternoon:

“After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments. As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately.”

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O’Dowd showed up for the interview in a sharp suit, a perfect hockey mullet and a million-dollar smile. Of course he came prepared with some questions for Bedard that helped hockey fans everywhere get to know the rookie sharpshooter better.

For instance, thanks to O’Dowd we now know that Bedard’s favorite candy is Swedish Fish and his favorite flavor of ice cream is cookies and cream. O’Dowd also asked what Bedard enjoys most about playing for the Blackhawks.

“I can name a hundred things, but getting to be in front of our fans and in this city is pretty special,” Bedard said. “It’s original six and a pretty cool place to be.”

Their wide-ranging conversation touched upon many topics, like jokes and burps. There was a demonstration of the former, but not the latter.

Overall, it was an adorable moment from a young fan who seems to have a bright future in journalism.

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Chicago Blackhawks forward Corey Perry was a healthy scratch for the second straight game on Friday afternoon.

Here’s what we know about the situation:

Tuesday, November 21

Perry practiced with the team on Tuesday in his usual spot on the top power-play unit and on the right wing of the third line before traveling with the team to Columbus.

Wednesday, November 22

Perry was listed as a surprise scratch on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, which ended in a 7-3 lopsided loss at Nationwide Arena. He participated in the team’s morning skate but did not take part in warmups.

After the game, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson confirmed to reporters that it was an “organizational decision” to sit Perry. He was a healthy scratch.

It doesn’t sound like this was for on-ice performance reasons. Perry is tied for third on the team in goals (four) and points (nine).

The Blackhawks played the game with 11 forwards and seven defensemen after Taylor Hall was ruled out, which we later found out was because of a knee injury that will likely end his season.

Thursday, November 23

The Blackhawks returned to practice on Thanksgiving Thursday and there was no sign of Perry.

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson opened his media availability by addressing the elephant in the room.

“I just wanted to start by saying I know you have questions about Corey Perry not playing last night and attending practice today but we’re going to keep that internal in the organization right now,” Richardson said. “I’m not going to be able to answer any more questions on that.”

When pressed about specifics due to the wild speculation going on, Richardson responded: “I’m sure there is but unfortunately, I can’t give you anything but that today.”

The players didn’t seem to know many details, either.

“We just know he’s not with us,” alternate captain Nick Foligno said. “We haven’t really gotten any details. It’s unfortunate; he’s a big part of this, so we’ll miss him. But we haven’t really gotten any other information.”

Said Connor Bedard: “I’m not going to speak on it too much. Obviously, it sucks he’s not here, but we don’t really have too much information on it or anything yet, but of course, he’s a big part of the team, and it sucks he can’t be here today.”

Friday, November 24

On Friday morning, Richardson revealed that Perry would not be in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

When asked about who made the decision, Richardson responded: “That’s just going to be kept internal for now in the organization. Hopefully we’ll be able to get an update soon, but we can’t give a timeline on that.”

—

Perry is tied for third on the Blackhawks in goals (four) and points (nine) going into Thanksgiving. He’s been a key part of the team and is part of the leadership group.

Now, the challenge for the Blackhawks — who have lost five in a row — is to prevent this situation from becoming a distraction until there’s more clarity around Perry.

Saturday, November 25

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson held a media availability on Saturday morning to address Corey Perry’s status as questions continue to swirl around his mysterious absence.

“There’s no update on that end,” Davidson said. “He’s away from the team and will remain so for the foreseeable future. I’m unable to provide any further update on that front.”

Davidson said he “understands” there’s speculation out there as to what’s going on, but respectfully didn’t want to get into details. He did, however, provide some sort of clarity on one front.

“It’s been a team decision so far to hold him out and that’s all I’m able to provide,” Davidson said. “It is coming from the organization’s end, yes.”

Davidson did not want to get into specifics as far as whether it could be trade-related or any other reason.

“I think it’s, to start ruling anything out is irresponsible,” Davidson said. “So I’m just going to not comment on any possible outcome of this.”

Later in the day, Perry’s agent released a brief statement on Saturday regarding his client’s status as questions continue to swirl around the Blackhawks forward’s mysterious absence.

“Corey Perry has stepped away from the Chicago Blackhawks to attend to personal matters,” Pat Morris of Newport Sports Management told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. “Corey and his family appreciate privacy at this time.”

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Allan Walsh confirmed his client was informed he couldn’t wear the mask, even for warmups. The league prohibits players from wearing specialty jerseys, masks, stickers, decals, or tape for theme nights.

The league initially banned players from using rainbow-colored tape on Pride nights before reversing that decision after receiving backlash from around the hockey community. Teams are not allowed to dress players in themed jerseys for warmups this season after a handful of players decided last season to opt out of Pride Night warmups that included specialty jerseys.

With the Wild celebrating Native American Heritage night Friday against Colorado, Fleury wanted to honor his wife, Véronique, who is Native Canadian, with a specially designed mask. Walsh said Fleury offered to pay whatever fine he’d receive and the NHL threatened to levy the organization with an “additional significant fine.”

It was not clear how much either of those fines would be. A message sent to the NHL seeking comment was not immediately returned.

This is not the first time the netminder designed a mask to honor his wife. He did the same thing in November 2021 while with the Blackhawks for Native American Heritage Month.

Fleury, 38, is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and won the Vezina Trophy in 2021 as the league’s top goaltender.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are launching a youth-focused celebration with special activities and entertainment geared at fans of all ages on Sunday Nov. 26 when the Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues.

“With entertainment for our next generation of fans at the forefront of this series of games, the team looks forward to building their love of hockey for years to come,” Jaime Faulkner, President of Business Operations for the Blackhawks, said in a statement.

The festivities will include youth entertainment hosts, along with a youth public address announcer and a youth organist. During the game, the jumbotron will display educational graphics to teach kids about the game of hockey. Select TV timeouts will feature kid-friendly segments and interactive games on the jumbotron, and at intermission, fans can jam out to DJ Arman and drummer Mason Tucker. The Blackhawks Ice Crew will be joined by high school hockey players, and two teenage fans will have an opportunity to shadow the referees before the game.

Additionally, the Blackhawks will be launching a revamped Kids Club, which fans can sign up for along the 100-level concourse or online.

The United Center Atrium will open at 10:30 a.m. with special activities, including a pancake artist, DJ, puppy pen, creative station, gaming station, balloon artist and more. And, of course, there will be plenty of holiday cheer.

While Sunday marks the first installment of the “Best Day Ever” game series at the United Center, the celebration will take place across four other Saturday and Sunday afternoon games throughout the season. Those dates include:

• Jan. 7 vs. the Calgary Flames
• Feb. 17 vs. the Ottawa Senators
• March 10 vs the Arizona Coyotes
• April 7 vs the Minnesota Wild

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Bedard put Chicago on the board in the first period thanks to that lethal shot of his to end a three-game goal drought.

Among players 18 years or younger in NHL history, Bedard has reached the 10-goal mark in the third-fastest fashion. Only Patrik Laine (14 games) and Steve Yzerman (15) have reached the plateau quicker.

Alex Ovechkin (14 games) and Eric Lindros (16) are the only other two No. 1 overall picks to hit the 10-goal mark faster than Bedard.

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Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, and Fantilli, the No. 3 pick in the draft, have both gotten off to solid starts in their NHL careers, and though the pressure has been high on the two players that many considered to be the top prospects in the class, they’re delivering in a big way.

Bedard is leading all NHL rookies in goals and points, with nine goals and 15 total points in his first 16 career games with the Blackhawks. He is also averaging 19:35 of ice time per game, and has posted a minus-7 rating.

As for Fantilli, he has had a bit tougher time, but has still scored four goals and dished out five assists in 19 games during his rookie season with the Blue Jackets.

He has one power play goal and one power play assist, and is averaging 15:42 of ice time per game.

Another thing that the two players share in common: teams that are struggling. The Blue Jackets are in dead last in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-11-4 record, and they’ve struggled to keep the puck out of the net, giving up a conference-worst 70 goals in 19 games.

The Blackhawks are also in last place in their division, with a negative-16 goal differential and a four-game losing streak coming into Wednesday’s game in Ohio’s capital.

The two teams will hope to start a reversal of fortune when they face off at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

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Zaitsev was placed on the non-roster list prior to Saturday’s game against Nashville due to undisclosed personal reasons, and hasn’t played since Nov. 12 against Florida.

In a corresponding move, the Blackhawks have assigned defenseman Filip Roos to the Rockford Icehogs.

Zaitsev has appeared in five games for Chicago this season, with one goal and two penalty minutes in those contests. He has averaged 14:09 of ice time per game this season.

Roos was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Predators.

It isn’t known whether Zaitsev will suit up for the Blackhawks Sunday, with a 6 p.m. puck drop against the Sabres at the United Center.

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What’s more, he did it during a Blackhawks’ power play, where he played as a bumper — his first game at the position. Check out his redirect beauty into the top-left corner of the net.

Reichel’s goal came off a powerplay that Philipp Kurashev earned for being hit illegally and nearly head-first into the boards. Connor Bedard, who is usually a pacifist on the ice, was the first to come to the rescue of Kurashev.

Reichel now has three points on the season on account of his goal and the two prior assists he notched. He’s gone through a couple of changes, including his insertion to the bumper spot. The Hawks also moved him to wing at one point this season, too.

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Nick Lardis, the No. 67 overall pick from the 2023 NHL entry draft, scored two goals in just 10 seconds. Thought the two goals in 17 seconds from the 2013 playoffs were crazy? Well, it is. And this definitely doesn’t compete.

But still, check this out.

This season marks Lardis’ fourth in the OHL. In 18 games this season, he’s scored 14 goals with five assists, racking up an impressive 19 points — over one point per game.

Lardis, 18, was drafted by the Blackhawks in the most recent draft. The Ontario native is 5-foot-11 and weighs 171 pounds. This season, he’s playing for the Brantford Bulldogs, his third OHL team over four seasons.

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s high-profile relationship has taken the internet by storm, and some of the tight end’s old social posts have resurfaced as a result.

Don’t worry. It’s not what you think.

Fans of the popstar dug through over a decade’s worth of Kelce’s old tweets, only to find a relatively wholesome stream of consciousness riddled with hilarious spelling errors and random anecdotes.

It also turns out the NFL superstar is a Chicago Blackhawks fan. Or at least he was in 2014.

It was a golden opportunity for the Chicago Blackhawks’ social media team to have some fun with the viral trend.

Two lyric references in the same sentence. 10 out of 10, no notes.

Swift and Kelce went public with their relationship in September when the singer showed up at Arrowhead Stadium to watch her new man take on the Chicago Bears. It doesn’t matter who won the game — all that matters is that everybody had fun.

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Connor Bedard leads all NHL players in percentage of goals scored for a player’s respective team, according to Sportsnet Stats. He has 26.5% of all of the Blackhawks’ goals this season.

It’s a loaded statistic because the Blackhawks don’t have another scorer who can live up to Bedard’s volume. That’s evident. Other teams — the Maple Leafs, for example — have Williams Nylander taking goals from Auston Matthews. The Canucks have J.T. Miller taking goals away from the NHL’s goal-scoring leader: Brock Boeser.

Either way, for an 18-year-old rookie, we opt to believe Bedard’s performance thus far has been nothing less than elite.

On the season, Bedard has nine goals and four assists, giving him an impressive 13 points. For what it’s worth, those points were scored through a gauntlet schedule against some of the NHL’s best teams.

Going into their last game on Tuesday, the combined record of the 10 teams they’ve faced this season through 13 games is 83-45-14. The combined goal differential of those teams is +61.

The Blackhawks have placed Boston twice, a team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season. They’ve played the defending Stanley Cup Champion Las Vegas Golden Knights. They’ve also played Colorado, which won the Stanley Cup two years ago, and Tampa Bay, which won consecutive titles in 2020 and 2021.

And then there’s Florida, which was the Eastern Conference champion last season, and New Jersey, which had the third-most points in the NHL a year ago. Not to mention Toronto, which has the fourth-most regular-season points since 2020.

But, Bedard & Co. have stuck through it all, holding their own for the most part. Their early-season games and performances have caught the eyes of hockey’s greats, including Wayne Gretzky, who made a bold statement about Bedard’s play through the early portion of the season.

“With young players, one of the hard things is you always tell them, ‘You got to shoot the puck, you got to shoot more,'” he said. “Young guys don’t want to be called selfish on the hockey club. You want to show your teammates, ‘Look, I’m not a selfish player.’ And he’s not a selfish player. He sees the open man, but he doesn’t hesitate to shoot the puck. I think he stepped in nicely, and he’s been everything that everybody thought he was going to be.

“And he might even be better than we thought.”

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Now, it’s laughable there was ever a doubt.

The Blackhawks superstar has set the league on fire with 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in as many games, and his electrifying play has demanded the attention of the greatest hockey player who ever lived.

Wayne Gretzky, an analyst on TNT’s NHL broadcasts, has been wowed by Bedard’s performance against the league’s toughest teams early in the season.

“He had to go into Toronto, into Montreal, into Colorado, and he got Boston twice and Vegas twice,” Gretzky said Wednesday. “Those are good hockey clubs. Those are hard buildings to play in, and I thought he held his own. And you can see him getting more and more confident.”

Gretzky added that the 18-year-old phenom has not only met expectations of grandeur, but surpassed them.

“With young players, one of the hard things is you always tell them, ‘you got to shoot the puck, you got to shoot more,'” he said. “Young guys don’t want to be called selfish on the hockey club. You want to show your teammates, ‘look, I’m not a selfish player.’ And he’s not a selfish player. He sees the open man, but he doesn’t hesitate to shoot the puck. I think he stepped in nicely, and he’s been everything that everybody thought he was going to be.

“And he might even be better than we thought.”

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“We’re looking at around the next week or two as to where he ends up potentially going and which team he’s going to join,” Pagnotta said. “… Around mid-November is when he’d like to narrow down his choices and then make decisions in or around the Thanksgiving period.”

Pagnotta said Kane and his team are looking for a multi-year contract with a suitor. Now is the time when teams interested in Kane will need to start making adjustments to their cap space to inhale Kane. Teams like the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche will need to maneuver their respective books.

Here are the latest teams Kane’s been attached to, provided by reports from The Athletic’s Chris Johnston:

New York Rangers

It’s the team Kane allowed the Blackhawks to trade him to in the first place last season. And although a first-round playoff exit to the New Jersey Devils stings, Kane has familiarity with the Rangers.

One caveat returning to Broadway, however, is cap space. The Rangers would have to maneuver their roster to bring in Kane, who’s looking for a contending team, as well as one that can sign him long-term.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers check the competitive box, as they just competed against the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup.

According to Johnston, Kane has an established relationship with Bill Zito, the team’s general manager. The two were together for the 2018 IIHF World Championship with Team USA.

Emily Kaplan previously reported the Panthers are “interested” in Kane, too.

Detroit Red Wings

It’s the one that’ll sting Blackhawks fans the most.

However, for Kane, joining the Red Wings means reuniting with one of his favorite linemates — Alex DeBrincat. He inked a three-year deal in Detroit this past offseason and already has nine goals this season.

The question is — does Kane believe the Red Wings are ready to compete? They haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, and Kane’s chasing for higher than that. They’re currently third in the Atlantic Division, poised for a playoff berth if the season ended today.

Buffalo Sabres

Another team familiar to Kane, the Sabres offer something no other team can — playing in his hometown.

Like the Rangers, Buffalo offers the convenience of Kane’s family being able to attend with ease. That was a tidbit mentioned last season for Kane when he was traded to New York.

The Sabres aren’t currently in the wild card. But, rare to other teams — besides the Red Wings — the Sabres have cap space. They have the third most in the NHL this season. Hence, they could sign Kane long-term, no questions asked.

Toronto Maple Leafs

And finally, the newest installment to the Patrick Kane rumor mill — the Maple Leafs.

At the top of the Eastern Conference wild card, the Leafs possess some attractive offerings. Johnston mentioned Kane has been rehabbing from his offseason hip surgery in Toronto.

Plus, according to Johnston, Auston Matthews — a fellow American hockey player — grew up a huge fan of Kaner. That duo would be lethal.

Where will Kane end up? The answer is coming within a matter of a couple of weeks.

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The star forward spotted a kid pressed against the glass at Amerant Bank Arena holding a sign that said, “Bedard, I want just like you,” before Sunday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Bedard skated over and flipped a puck from the end of his stick into the crowd where where the young fan was standing. He then pointed to the kid to make sure the souvenir ended up in the right hands.

The kid’s jaw was on the floor as he watched Bedard skate away.

The phenom put on a spectacular performance Sunday, scoring two breathtaking goals to single-handedly keep his team in the game. The Blackhawks fell 4-3 to the Panthers, but Bedard made history by becoming the youngest player in NHL history with consecutive multigoal games, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s Chris Kamka.

Bedard currently leads all rookies in goals (nine) and points (13), as well as all Blackhawks skaters in those two categories. With nine points (seven goals, two assists) in his last six games after having four points (two goals, two assists) in his first seven, the first overall pick seems to have found his stride.

“You can see the game is starting to slow down for him, which is scary,” Blackhawks veteran forward Nick Foligno said.

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The 18-year-old phenom put on a spectacular performance against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. He scored two goals in breathtaking fashion. Bedard notched a no-looker and a separate score from his patented wrist shot. The Blackhawks lost, but it didn’t sting as much after Bedard’s performance.

With those two goals, Bedard now has the most goals through 13 career games in Blackhawks history, according to Chris Kamka. He’s also the youngest player in NHL history (18 years, 118 days) to have consecutive multi-goal games.

Bedard has put on a show this season. He has 13 points in 13 career games by way of nine goals and four assists. He’s had some phenomenal single-game performances and Sunday’s is up at the top somewhere.

Check out the two goals he put in the back of the net in Florida.

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According to Luke Richardson, he was caught off guard at the hotel gym when his 18-year-old rookie strolled in for some morning stretching. But that’s the kind of athlete Bedard has proven to be.

“I think he’s that guy. He’s eager,” Richardson said Sunday. “I’m in the gym at 6:30 this morning and he rolls in not too long after me and he’s in there stretching in his bare feet preparing his routine before the game.”

It appears, from the other side of the story, that Bedard appreciates the work his coach puts in and draws inspiration from how Richardson takes care of his body.

“I went in there (to) kinda warm up a little bit,” Bedard said after Sunday’s game. “He (Richardson) was just drenched on the bike. He’s a horse on the Peloton, or whatever there. It’s cool to see him working. That’s why he played as long as he did (Editor’s note: 21 seasons, in fact) — the dedication he put into his body and the game.”

What does Bedard’s gym dedication tell the Blackhawks head coach about him?

“I think he’s driven. He gets excited at times but there’s times where it’s a really quick celebration and you can tell he’s just skating and moving on mentally to the next play. I like that. I think that’ll drag everybody along with him; not that the other guys aren’t like that as well, but it’s great to have young guys who are already in that mindset.”

Bedard has proven to operate with a certain tunnel vision on and off the ice. He’s the first guy on the ice, the last guy off the ice type of player.

Earlier this season, the Blackhawks veterans had to force Bedard and the other rookies off the ice after practice. They kept the team waiting as they were all sitting on the team bus ready to travel.

This type of work ethic and standard is vital for the Blackhawks long-term. Remember, there are no permanent captains this year. Kyle Davidson made it clear during the preseason he would leave it up to the players to figure out who’s the voice and leader of the team.

It doesn’t have to be the best guy on the ice. But Bedard is showing himself to be a natural leader. He leads by example in his work ethic and communicates effectively on the ice, as Richardson said with his shortened celebrations.

His efforts off the ice are proving effective on it, too. On Sunday, Bedard notched two goals against the Panthers. He’s up to nine goals on the season, tied for eighth most in the league this season.

“I think he’s driven to be better, and better, and better every game. And that’s great to see,” Richardson said.

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Bedard, who is still just 18 years old, scored two goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, and he turned around and matched that in the team’s follow-up game against the Florida Panthers, potting a pair of tallies in the first two periods of the game.

According to the NHL, Bedard is the first player to have consecutive multi-goal games as an 18-year-old since Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak achieved the feat during the 2014-15 season.

The only other 18-year-olds to hit that mark in the last 25 years are Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene, both of whom did so for the Colorado Avalanche.

In terms of Blackhawks rookies, Bedard is the first with consecutive multi-goal efforts since Dominik Kubalik did so during the 2019-20 campaign.

In all, only nine Blackhawks rookies have hit that mark, according to NBC Sports Chicago.

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Connor McDavid.

By now, you’ve heard it a million times. Bedard is the most talented player to enter the league since McDavid was drafted by the Oilers in 2015.

So when will the fresh-faced phenom finally get to dance with the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner in an NHL contest?

The Blackhawks head to Edmonton to face the Oilers on Dec. 12. Blackhawks fans hoping to catch the marquee matchup in person at the United Center can mark their calendars for Jan. 9.

The Oilers are off to a putrid start. After finishing the regular season with 109 points before losing to the Kings in the second round of the playoffs last year, they are currently 3-9-1 to start the 2023-24 campaign. McDavid hasn’t quite been himself, either. The reigning Art Ross Trophy winner has just two goals through his first 11 games, which can be attributed to an upper-body injury he suffered a few weeks ago in a game against the Jets. He’s also tallied eight assists.

Bedard, on the other hand, is passing the “not a bust” test with flying colors. The first-overall pick has netted nine goals and four assists so far this season, leading all Blackhawks skaters in goals and points.

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A new Blackhawks tradition this season in the puck chain. After a win, the team awards a giant hockey puck secured on a hefty gold chain to the player who made the biggest difference in the game.

Taylor Hall, who left Thursday’s game in the third period with an apparent leg injury, presented the honor to Connor Bedard in the locker room after the rookie erupted with four points and two goals.

“Good win, guys, the moms will be fired up,” Bedard said, referencing that most of the players’ moms were in attendance for the team’s biennial “mom’s trip.”

This marked the forward’s first career multi-point game, but that was just the tip of the iceberg on an historic evening for No. 98.

Bedard registered three points in the first period of the game alone, with two goals and an assist on his ledger before the first 20 minutes were up.

He then added a fourth point with an assist on Corey Perry’s second period power play goal, giving the Blackhawks a 5-2 lead.

According to Stathead, Bedard is now the youngest player in the NHL to register four points in a game since Bep Guidolin did so for the Boston Bruins in a Feb. 1944 game against the New York Rangers.

Bedard is also the youngest player to ever score two goals and register two assists in a game in NHL history.

Finally, Bedard was the first Blackhawks rookie to register four points in a game since Alex DeBrincat achieved the feat in 2018.

Bedard had an opportunity to become the youngest player in NHL history to score a hat trick, but was denied on several good chances later in the contest.

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Bedard registered three points in the first period of the game alone, with two goals and an assist on his ledger before the first 20 minutes were up.

He then added a fourth point with an assist on Corey Perry’s second period power play goal, giving the Blackhawks a 5-2 lead.

According to Stathead, Bedard is now the youngest player in the NHL to register four points in a game since Bep Guidolin did so for the Boston Bruins in a Feb. 1944 game against the New York Rangers.

Bedard is also the youngest player to ever score two goals and register two assists in a game in NHL history.

Finally, Bedard was the first Blackhawks rookie to register four points in a game since Alex DeBrincat achieved the feat in 2018.

Bedard had an opportunity to become the youngest player in NHL history to score a hat trick, but was denied on several good chances later in the contest.

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Attention Blackhawks fans: If you think you know your beloved Chicago team well, are you willing to put it to the test?

While many will remember details from Stanley Cup-winning teams, there’s even more history and newer changes for the team. How well have you been keeping up?

Test your knowledge with our Blackhawks fan quiz:

According to Johnston, Kane and his agent, Pat Brisson, “have started the process of speaking directly to those in the running for his services.”

“It’s kind of like the interview period we used to have for July 1,” Brisson said to Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday. “That’s what we’re starting to do here.”

Here are the teams Johnston mentions could be fits for Kane:

New York Rangers

It’s the team Kane allowed the Blackhawks to trade him to in the first place last season. And although a first-round playoff exit to the New Jersey Devils stings, Kane has familiarity with the Rangers.

One caveat returning to Broadway, however, is cap space. The Rangers would have to maneuver their roster to bring in Kane, who’s looking for a contending team, as well as one that can sign him long-term.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers check the competitive box, as they just competed against the Las Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup.

According to Johnston, Kane has an established relationship with Bill Zito, the team’s general manager. The two were together for the 2018 IIHF World Championship with Team USA.

Emily Kaplan previously reported the Panthers are “interested” in Kane, too.

Detroit Red Wings

It’s the one that’ll sting Blackhawks fans the most.

However, for Kane, joining the Red Wings means reuniting with one of his favorite linemates — Alex DeBrincat. He inked a three-year deal in Detroit this past offseason and already has nine goals this season.

The question is — does Kane believe the Red Wings are ready to compete? They haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, and Kane’s chasing for higher than that. They’re currently third in the Atlantic Division, poised for a playoff berth if the season ended today.

Buffalo Sabres

Another team familiar to Kane, the Sabres offer something no other team can — playing in his hometown.

Like the Rangers, Buffalo offers the convenience of Kane’s family being able to attend with ease. That was a tidbit mentioned last season for Kane when he was traded to New York.

The Sabres aren’t currently in the wild card. But, rare to other teams — besides the Red Wings — the Sabres have cap space. They have the third most in the NHL this season. Hence, they could sign Kane long-term, no questions asked.

Toronto Maple Leafs

And finally, the newest installment to the Patrick Kane rumor mill — the Maple Leafs.

At the top of the Eastern Conference wild card, the Leafs possess some attractive offerings. Johnston mentioned Kane has been rehabbing from his offseason hip surgery in Toronto.

Plus, according to Johnston, Auston Matthews — a fellow American hockey player — grew up a huge fan of Kaner. That duo would be lethal.

Where will Kane end up? The answer is coming relatively soon.

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As the NHL attempts to reposition itself in the American sports sector, the arrival of Connor Bedard was a golden opportunity to begin branding the sport of hockey as a star-studded affair.

It’s a smart move. And no matter how crass it may seem to put an 18-year-old on display like a baby lion at a zoo, it’s a necessary strategy to grow the sport. The league failed with Connor McDavid. It cannot afford to fail again.

Thankfully, Bedard is the type so far who can handle the pressure.

The Blackhawks‘ rookie forward spoke about the incessant media coverage Tuesday on the “What Chaos!” YouTube show.

“I mean, there’s interviews and I’ve been answering questions for years now, so that doesn’t bother me too much,” Bedard said. But [there are] a couple extra events, for sure. But I’m more grateful. It’s kind of the first time in everything and all of this, so I’m having fun with it, but it’s definitely a lot of stuff. I think now it’ll die down a bit, for sure”

The No. 1 overall pick gave a similar spiel after playing in his first regular season home game at the United Center last month.

“It’s been pretty wild,” he said. “Ever since before camp-ish, it’s been crazy, but it’s not something I look at as a negative at all. I’m really grateful to be in the position I am and there’s very few people that get that opportunity, get to be as lucky. I’m looking at it like that.

“I’m living out a dream and I feel very fortunate for that. But it is crazy and busy. I’m human too; I can get a little tired. But it’s been good and I’m just enjoying it.”

Bedard’s response to the limelight comes as no surprise. Maturity, work ethic and humble leadership traits are all listed in the scouting report.

Still, the NHL is lucky its crown jewel can take it in stride.

“What Chaos” host DJ Bean asked Bedard what it was like to take the opening faceoff against Sidney Crosby in his nationally televised NHL debut — a moment that so brilliantly, so strategically ushered in a new era of the sport while saluting another star they so miserably failed to market. A moment that drew in a record-breaking 1.43 million viewers waiting to witness history.

“I was just playing hockey,” Bedard said.

Good answer. Let the league handle the rest.

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As it turns out, his fourth goal of the season was a record-setting one. Bedard is now the youngest player in NHL history to score a goal in the first 30 seconds of a game, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

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Speaking from the locker room Sunday, several players spoke to the Chicago Tribune expressing their condolences in the tragedy.

“It’s awful,” Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato told the publication. “When you hear (the news), you get a pit in your stomach and you can only pray for their family and his friends.”

“Obviously (it’s) so sad for of course him and his family and everything. It’s hard to think about that. You’re thinking about him and his family, that’s a tragedy,” young star Connor Bedard said. “The hockey community is so tight and such a small world. … I don’t know him, a few guys in here know him, but you want to do what you can to support anyway.”

Defenseman Connor Murphy called it “the worst nightmare of a possibility.”

“You don’t have the words, and it’s hard to think about it even knowing it’s a possibility, but you just chalk it up to being such a fluke thing,” Murphy reportedly said.

Johnson, a Minnesota native who appeared in 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020, died after his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England on Saturday, his team said. Johnson was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers when he suffered the skate cut during the second period of the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

“The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night,” the team said Sunday.

“The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam’s family, his partner and all his friends at this extremely difficult time. Everyone at the club including players, staff, management and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam’s passing.”

The Penguins were among the teams to react to the shocking news over the weekend.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins join the entire hockey world in mourning the life of Adam Johnson, whose life tragically ended far too soon,” the Penguins said Sunday in a statement. “We offer our deepest condolences to Adam’s family and friends, as well as all of Adam’s past and present teammates and coaches. Adam will always be part of the Penguins family.”

Donato said the “tragic situation” is “hard to think about.”

“And for good reason. And it’s just sad the way it happened,” he said.

The NHL has had skate cut scares throughout its history, including a recent game involving the Blackhawks, when  Bruins center Jakub Lauko took a skate to the eye.

Lauko fell on the ice when Dickinson lifted his skate and accidentally poked him near his eye. Lauko immediately rushed off the ice as blood started pouring into his hands. Luckily, however, he avoided a major injury.

See: Jakub Lauko posts gruesome aftermath from eye-skate injury against Blackhawks

Buffalo goaltender Clint Malarchuk also took a blade to the neck during a game against St. Louis on March 22, 1989. Malarchuk received rapid medical attention and played again 10 days later.

In wake of Johnson’s death, ice hockey players in England will be required to wear neck guards from the start of 2024.

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Vlasic left in the second period of Friday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson didn’t want to label the injury after the game, but acknowledged it might’ve been a “whiplash” situation and that Vlasic looked “wobbly.”

Phillips has a goal and two assists in five games so far with Rockford this season. He has appeared in 20 NHL games, with a goal and four assists to his credit.

Vlasic was injured just before the midway mark of the middle frame when he took a high hit from Golden Knights forward Brett Howden. He looked a little disoriented after the hit and needed a few seconds to collect himself.

Richardson was seen yelling to the official about it being a potential blindside hit. It’s hard to disagree with him.

The Blackhawks are obviously sensitive to that hit because it’s what knocked out Taylor Hall, who’s on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

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On Friday, Lauko took a selfie showing the aftermath of his gruesome injury. Warning: this image is graphic.

Thankfully, Lauko seems in good spirits, cracking a joke about his offputting appearance. From the stitches, it looks like Lauko was centimeters from losing his eye.

Lauko fell on the ice when Dickinson lifted his skate and accidentally poked him near his eye. Lauko immediately rushed off the ice as blood started pouring into his hands.

Here’s the play where it happened.

The Bruins defeated the Blackhawks, 3-0, that game. They’re 2-0 against the Blackhawks after also defeating them at home for the Hawks’ second game of the season.

The Blackhawks don’t face the Bruins again this season. But, hopefully, Lauko can return to the ice soon. Head coach Jim Montgomery noted Lauko will miss at least a week of games.

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