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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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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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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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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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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Here are the Blackhawks all-time scoring leaders in the following categories:

Points

1. Stan Mikita – 1,467
2. Patrick Kane – 1,225
3. Bobby Hull – 1,153

Goals

1. Bobby Hull – 604
2. Stan Mikita – 541
3. Patrick Kane – 446

Assists

1. Stan Mikita – 926
2. Patrick Kane – 779
3. Denis Savard – 719

Game Winning Goals

1. Bobby Hull – 98
2. Stan Mikita –84
3. Jonathan Toews – 69

Overtime Goals

1. Jonathan Toews – 16
2. Alex DeBrincat – 9
3. Patrick Kane – 9

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Last season’s episodes included several intriguing watches. Most notably, they produced an episode dedicated to the NHL trade deadline and an inside look at when the Blackhawks traded Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers.

The first episode included several key moments from training camp and preseason. Take a look.

The episode included a captivating number of inside looks at the team over the preseason.

They showed the moments Kyle Davidson and Luke Richardson told Alex Vlasic, Lukas Reichel, Wyatt Kaiser and Kevin Korchinski they made the roster.

Inside interviews with Corey Perry and his first days in Chicago.

And, of course, footage of Connor Bedard on the ice. They showed some mic ‘d-up moments of him at Fifth-Third Arena, which he joked weren’t very usable due to his profanity. His first media sessions. And his iconic faceoff against his childhood idol, Sidney Crosby.

If you haven’t yet, check out the episode on YouTube. And stay tuned all season for more episodes like this one.

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The Blackhawks are even to start the season after two hard-fought battles on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. They scored four unanswered on the NHL’s opening night to overcome Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Sadly, they dropped their second game on the road to the Bruins.

Connor Bedard, the 18-year-old sensation center for the Blackhawks, already has two points to his name by way of an assist on opening night and a goal in the first period against the Bruins. He will start at center on Saturday alongside Ryan Donato and Taylor Raddysh, though without Taylor Hall.

Hall suffered an upper-body injury against the Bruins on Thursday. Originally diagnosed “week-to-week” his, status quickly shifted to “day-to-day.” He told head coach Luke Richardson he’s a “miracle healer,” which is quickly becoming a reality.

“He told us he was a miracle fast healer,” Richardson said. “I didn’t know what that meant, but surprised to see him on the ice this early. He said he feels better. We just want to let him settle down for a day or two and see how that looks tomorrow.”

One significant coaching change coming to the Hawks’ lineup is the insertion of Lukas Reichel into the first power-play unit. Reichel is filling in for the injured Hall on the unit, but Raddysh is getting the bump up to the first line.

Why?

The Blackhawks promised Reichel a shot at being a true NHL center, an experiment only possible if he isn’t on the same line as Bedard, who is also a center. If and when the Blackhawks decide Reichel is better suited as a wing, they’ll pair him with Bedard. Until then, he gets a shot at center.

There are plenty of storylines to follow this Saturday. You can watch the game on NBC Sports Chicago or the NBC Sports app. Tune in at 6 p.m. CT to watch the Blackhawks play their third contest of the season.

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Why the chain?

“We lost our belt, so we got a chain this year,” Connor Murphy said.

The first winner of the puck chain for the season was goalie Petr Mrazek. And rightfully so.

Mrazek let up an early two goals to a strong Penguins team on their home ice. But he, like the Hawks as a whole, bounced back. He didn’t allow a single goal while the Hawks scored four unanswered against Pittsburgh to seal a win on opening night.

He saved 38 shots on 40 attempts for a blistering 95% save percentage to kick off his season. Four of his saves were during the Penguins’ power plays.

“Way to battle, boys,” Mrazek said upon donning the chain. “For the young guys, congrats on the first win. Let’s get it done tomorrow again. Let’s go.”

Mrazek will not play against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday for the team’s second game of the season. Arvid Söderblom, as expected, will take the net for his season debut.

Who will get the puck chain next?

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While practices remain open to the public, fans now must claim a free ticket to attend. Fans can visit Blackhawks.com/Practices to claim up to four free tickets for their preferred date, with all tickets distributed for mobile entry via the Blackhawks app or mobile wallet.

Doors to the public will open roughly 30 minutes prior to the scheduled practice start time. Any schedule changes or practice cancellations will be communicated to ticket holders via email, typically within 12-24 hours of each practice date.

The on-ice portion of Blackhawks training camp begins Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at Fifth Third Arena.

Take a look at the full training camp schedule here.

The $65 million project will include two additional sheets of ice. The plan is for the arena to become a “hub for Midwest hockey” with the goal of hosting “youth and amateur hockey clubs, figure skating, as well as national and international competitions.”

“We’re excited to move forward on a project that will not only establish Chicago’s West Side as a hub for Midwest hockey but enable us to expand community programs and outreach at the ice rink,” CEO and Chairman Danny Wirtz said. “That was a top priority for my dad [Rocky] who wanted Fifth Third Arena to be a community rink first and a practice facility for the team second. We thank Ald. Walter Burnett, the City Council and the local community for working with us and supporting this expansion.”

Another part of the project, the Blackhawks intend to build outdoor multi-purpose spaces for afterschool programming. They will be open to the public. There will be outdoor seating and a public café, too.

The project is expected to begin in “early 2024” with the goal of a grand opening in 2026.

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Ladd, 37, played with the Blackhawks over two different stints. His first stint between 2007-10 (three seasons) earned him his first of two Stanley Cups. Before that stint, the Hawks traded Tuomo Ruutu to the Winnipeg Jets to acquire him.

The second stint happened during the back half of the 2015 season. He helped the Blackhawks win their third Stanley Cup. The Hawks traded a 2016 first-round pick to re-acquire Ladd before he joined the team.

Ladd recorded 305 points over his career by way of 139 goals and 166 assists. He played over 8,800 minutes on the ice over his career between the Hawks, Jets Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers and Arizona Coyotes.

He played his last game in April 2022 with the Coyotes.

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For that, and the other improvements the Blackhawks have made this offseason, they have 13 games slated for national television. The rest will be available on NBC Sports Chicago.

Here are the games they have nationally televised (H/T to Ben Pope).

Five games on ESPN:

• Oct. 10 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
• Oct. 19 @ Colorado Avalanche
• Oct. 24 vs. Boston Bruins
• Dec. 12 @ Edmonton Oilers
• Feb. 29 vs. Colorado Avalanche

Five games on TNT:

• Oct. 11 @ Boston Bruins
• Jan. 17 @ Buffalo Sabres
• Jan. 24 @ Seattle Kraken
• Feb. 7 vs. Minnesota Wild
• Feb. 21 vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Three games on ESPN+:

• Nov. 16 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
• Jan. 9 vs. Edmonton Oilers
• April 16 @ Las Vegas Golden Knights

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The honor is well-earned. Keeping fans at the United Center entertained last season was no easy act. While the team on the ice was No. 30 in the league, the beloved bird managed to secure the No. 1 seed in all of our hearts.

While a bird of many talents, fan safety is always his first priority.

Popularity has never been an issue for Tommy Hawk. No wonder his peers voted him as their favorite friend. He’d be there for any of his fellow mascots at the drop of a puck.

The only thing he loves more than hockey is ‘Merica.

It doesn’t matter where you come from, Tommy Hawk will welcome you into his home with open arms.

We tried to get footage of his signature “Let’s go Hawks” rally chant, but all we could find was “Detroit Sucks.” Oh well.

Though typically a fan of more sophisticated forms of literature, Tommy Hawk is a self-proclaimed cinephile.

He respects Harry Styles, which is less of a statement than it is a glowing tribute to his character.

Lastly, he’s wonderful with kids.

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Jones, 26, has spent the last two seasons with the Blackhawks.

Playing alongside his brother, Seth, he logged 124 games on the ice between two seasons in Chicago. He racked up 31 points between nine goals and 22 assists.

Originally a fourth-round selection in the 2015 NHL entry draft, Jones played the first three seasons of his professional career with the Edmonton Oilers.

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The team announced Monday that a private ceremony will be held on Aug. 8, followed by two public ceremonies on Aug. 9 at the United Center, the home of his beloved Chicago team.

The public event will begin at 11 a.m. inside the arena, with first-come, first-served seating, the team said. The United Center will then remain open until 3 p.m. for anyone “wishing to pay their respects.”

Details from the team include:

• Arrival & Entry: Guests should enter the United Center through Gates 6 and 7 on the south side of building, which will open at 9:30 a.m. for arrival.
• Parking: Free parking will be available in Lot K with overflow lots to be opened as needed.

In lieu of flowers, the Wirtz family has asked for donations to be made to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.

Wirtz, the chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks, passed away after a brief illness Tuesday.

“Our hearts are very heavy today,” his son and Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. “Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work and visit, but his true love was for his family and close friends. He was a loving father, a devoted husband to Marilyn, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a doting grandfather to his six remarkable grandchildren. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of many and we will miss him terribly.”

Wirtz, who was also the owner of the Wirtz Corp, which included Breakthru Beverage Group, took over as the owner in 2007 after his father Bill passed away. Rocky was the fifth principal owner in franchise history; his grandfather Arthur purchased a stake of the Blackhawks in 1950 and acquired majority ownership in 1966.

Wirtz immediately revitalized hockey in Chicago, which started by televising home games and spending money, whether it was inside the organization or for the on-ice product. Shortly after he took over, the Blackhawks’ popularity exploded, they became a staple in outdoor games, and put together a dynastic run in the salary cap era by winning three Stanley Cups in six years.

“Being a Blackhawk all these years has been special because you felt you were part of a family. Not only with the players and the organization, but with the fans and the greater Chicago community,” former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said in a statement. “Rocky Wirtz led this example every day. I knew Rocky to be a humble, caring person. He showed how to be an incredible businessman that brought the emotion and excitement of 3 championships to Chicago, while maintaining the most genuine and sincere relationships with all those who worked for him. I owe so much to him and his family for making all of my dreams of being a professional hockey player come true. I am shocked and saddened to hear this news. My sympathy and heartfelt condolences to his wife Marilyn, his son Danny, and to the rest of the Wirtz family.”

“Not only was Rocky Wirtz a great man and humble to the core, he was extremely loyal and generous to everyone, but especially to us players,” former Blackhawks star Patrick Kane wrote. “He always made sure everything was first class for us. That mattered to him, just like winning and just like his family. My sympathy to his wife Marilyn, to his son Danny, and the entire Wirtz and Blackhawks family.”

Wirtz hadn’t made a public appearance since March 2022 when Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson was introduced as the permanent general manager. The appearance came a month after Wirtz made headlines for his comments about the Kyle Beach sexual assault scandal.

During Wirtz’s tenure as chairman, the Blackhawks made the postseason 10 times, won 17 rounds, reached five Conference Finals and won three Stanley Cups.

“Throughout his accomplished life, Rocky wore many hats: a dedicated businessman, passionate philanthropist, die-hard Chicago sports lover, devoted family man, and, of course, an Illinois giant,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. “His contributions to the Land of Lincoln are far-reaching and all- encompassing–from uplifting the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup Championships to supporting thousands of Chicago families in need through the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation. Rocky epitomized what it means to be an Illinoisan -always ready to lend a hand to a stranger. His absence leaves a gaping hole in our state and nation, but Rocky’s extraordinary legacy will carry on in the thousands of lives that he touched and the hundreds of thousands of fans whose hopes he helped fulfill. To the love of his life, Marilyn, and his children Danny, Hillary, Kendall, and Elizabeth: the State of Illinois offers our deepest condolences and wishes you healing in light of this unimaginable tragedy. May his memory be a blessing.”

Wirtz leaves behind his wife Marilyn, and children Danny (Anne) Wirtz, Hillary Wirtz (Erin Quaglia), Kendall (Brendan) Murphy, and Elizabeth Queen (Joe Barley), and six grandchildren.

Wirtz died on Tuesday, the family announced. He was 70.

Following the city’s coveted baseball matchup — the Crosstown Classic series — between the White Sox and Cubs, NBC Sports Chicago hosted a show, “Remembering Rocky.”

With it, Blackhawks legends Eddie Olczyk and Pat Foley joined to share their fondest memories of Wirtz.

Backstory: in 2007, the duo became television commentators for the Hawks together. Wirtz was the catalyst for Blackhawks television, helping create a partnership with Comcast Sportsnet (now NBC Sports Chicago) to televise the Hawks games locally for the first time in franchise history.

One of his first orders of business was putting Foley back in the broadcast chair he maintained from 1981 before he was fired in 2006.

“When he reached out to me, I was thrilled,” Foley, the Hall of Fame broadcaster, said of Wirtz. “I was quite sure after having been fired a couple of years previously, that I would certainly never be back at the United Center. Once they let me go, I never stepped foot back in there again.

“When he brought me back, everything had been forgotten . . . He couldn’t have been more welcoming, more generous to Pat Foley and the Foley family. Everything changed for the better. I got back to a chair I’d never thought I’d sit in again and got another 15 years out of it. It was awesome.”

Olczyk recalled Wirtz’s support during his battle with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2017.

“Rocky, when I got sick 5+ years ago, was one of the first phone calls that I got,” Olczyk said. “And Rocky pretty much said ‘Whatever you need, whoever you need to see, you just call me and we’ll get it done. He checked up on me often.

“If you got a chance to know him, you were better off for it.”

Olczyk not only played for the Blackhawks under Rocky’s father, Bill, but spent 16 years as the Blackhawks color commentator for NBC Sports Chicago. Olczyk and Foley’s time in the Blackhawks’ broadcast booth wouldn’t have been possible without Wirtz.

The television deal was just the tip of the iceberg of Wirtz’s makeover for the Blackhawks, who then were one of the most frowned-upon franchises in professional sports. He was a terrific businessman and mind for the organization

Upon drafting Patrick Kane in 2007, Wirtz hired the right people — Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville — to take the team to the next level. Under Wirtz’s leadership, the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks made the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons from 2008-17.

Some say Wirtz revitalized the organization; Foley says he saved it.

“You could say he revitalized the franchise, but I would make the case that he saved it,” Foley said. “Honestly, I think the Blackhawks had fallen so far off the map. Remember, before he took over, they were voted the worst franchise in professional sports, not just the NHL. They were at the bottom of the barrel.

“He got them relevant again. Not long after he took over the Hawks ticket was the hottest in town. And Rocky Wirtz made that happen. He saved the franchise, in my opinion.”

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Here is Danny Wirtz and the Wirtz Corporation’s statement regarding the death of Rocky.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the sudden passing of W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, 70. Rocky passed away today at NorthShore Evanston Hospital following a brief illness. He was surrounded by his wife Marilyn and his children Danny, Hillary, Kendall, and Elizabeth.

“‘Our hearts are very heavy today,’ said son Danny Wirtz. ‘Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work and visit, but his true love was for his family and close friends. He was a loving father, a devoted husband to Marilyn, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a doting grandfather to his six remarkable grandchildren. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of many and we will miss him terribly.’

“Beyond his keen business acumen overseeing the Wirtz Corporation family holdings, Rocky will be remembered by those that knew him for his sharp wit, enduring loyalty and his humility. He treated everyone he met with kindness and respect whether it was a fan at the United Center, a visiting dignitary, or one of the thousands of employees with whom he worked.

“His legacy includes rebuilding the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup Championships, growth of North America’s third largest wholesale beverage company, the multimillion-dollar United Center campus expansion and the development of the Fifth Third Arena on Chicago’s West Side. He was passionate about giving back to the community through the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation and the thousands of families it helps. Rocky leaves behind a vast legacy of generosity and philanthropy.”

Wirtz, 70, was the fifth principal owner in franchise history.

He inherited ownership of the team from the death of his father, Bill Wirtz, in 2007. Arthur Wirtz, Rocky’s grandfather, purchased a stake in 1950 and acquired majority ownership in 1966. Bill received the ownership from Arthur upon the latter’s death in 1983.

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“Our hearts are very heavy today,” Rocky’s son and Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. “Our dad was a passionate businessman committed to making Chicago a great place to live, work and visit, but his true love was for his family and close friends. He was a loving father, a devoted husband to Marilyn, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a doting grandfather to his six remarkable grandchildren. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of many and we will miss him terribly.”

Wirtz, who was also the owner of the Wirtz Corp, which included Breakthru Beverage Group, took over as the owner in 2007 after his father Bill passed away. Rocky was the fifth principal owner in franchise history; his grandfather Arthur purchased a stake of the Blackhawks in 1950 and acquired majority ownership in 1966.

Wirtz immediately revitalized hockey in Chicago, which started by televising home games and spending money, whether it was inside the organization or for the on-ice product. Shortly after he took over, the Blackhawks’ popularity exploded, they became a staple in outdoor games, and put together a dynastic run in the salary cap era by winning three Stanley Cups in six years.

Wirtz hasn’t made a public appearance since March 2022 when Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson was introduced as the permanent general manager. The appearance came a month after Wirtz made headlines for his comments about the Kyle Beach sexual-assault scandal.

During Wirtz’s tenure as the chairman, the Blackhawks made the postseason 10 times, won 17 rounds, reached five Conference Finals and won three Stanley Cups.

Wirtz leaves behind his wife Marilyn, and children Danny (Anne) Wirtz, Hillary Wirtz (Erin Quaglia), Kendall (Brendan) Murphy, and Elizabeth Queen (Joe Barley), and six grandchildren.

With popular beverages like Pepsi Zero Sugar and STARRY — its new lemon-lime flavored soda — PepsiCo will deliver its brand of drinks around the stadium. They’re also implementing the Pepsi Grab & Go store all across the arena.

“Chicagoans live and breathe sports, entertainment, and creativity. Our athletes, artists, and fans are some of the most passionate in the world and the United Center hosts the city’s most unforgettable moments,” said Kalen Thornton, VP of Sports, Gaming and Entertainment, PBNA. “Our company’s longstanding presence here in Chicago goes back more than 100 years, where we’ve fueled iconic athletes in the game and celebrated fandom off the court.”

PepsiCo is also stepping into the community service projects the triopoly has in place, becoming a sponsor of the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation’s new Job Exposure Pilot Program. The program “aims to increase awareness of career fields and job opportunities among young people through a partnership with West Side after-school and school organizations,” according to the release.

“The expanded partnership with the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks is the ultimate opportunity for us to continue giving back to our neighbors and support our culture,” Thornton said. “We can’t wait to lift up Chicago fans, its teams and players, and our city’s vibrant community with epic experiences brought to you by iconic brands like Pepsi, our new lemon-lime flavored soda STARRY, fan-favorite MTN DEW and more.”

On July 20, fans are invited to Union Station to sample the drinks, play basketball and hockey minigames, earn a chance to win Blackhawks and Bulls tickets and take photos with Tommy Hawk and Benny the Bull. The event takes place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. CST.

“Together with the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, the United Center is committed to elevating the fan experience by partnering with brands who lead with innovation and offer best-in-class products,” said Joe Myhra, Senior Vice President, United Center. “We are thrilled to collaborate with PepsiCo in the coming years as we work to create iconic experiences for fans at the arena in addition to expanding our collective impact in our surrounding community.”

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Drake and Domi, the Maple Leafs’ all-time leader in penalty minutes, posed with boxing fists. The caption read, “@nhl I sent you a dm read it immediately you have 24 hours to respond.”

An Ontario native and noted hockey fan, Drake is often spotted at Maple Leafs games cheering on his hometown team, though he clearly has an appreciation for all legends of the sport.

Before his performance at the United Center on Thursday, the Grammy winner posted a picture of the Blackhawks’ first-overall draft pick, Connor Bedard to his Instagram story.

Hopefully rubbing shoulders with some fellow Canadian stars in a town that’s currently buzzing over its hockey team made Drake feel right at home.

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DeBrincat is entering his final year as a restricted free agent and has told his current team, the Ottawa Senators, that he won’t re-sign on a long-term deal. The Senators have some options, but the most likely outcome is that they’ll move DeBrincat in the coming days for a big return.

One frontrunner is Detroit, which seems like a natural landing spot for DeBrincat, who grew up in the state of Michigan rooting for the Red Wings.

The Red Wings made room earlier this week by placing former first-round pick Filip Zadina on unconditional waivers — likely after Ottawa rejected him in a trade package.

Four years into a full-scale rebuild and not much to show for it, the Red Wings now have both the assets and the cap space to make a realistic trade for a goal-scorer who can help end a seven-year postseason drought.

The New York Islanders, though, might be standing in their way with a reasonable offer that could include Jean-Gabriel Pageau if they’re able to move other assets to create enough cap space to sign DeBrincat to an extension. This might be too complicated for the Islanders to pull off, though.

Unfortunately for Blackhawks fans, it seems more likely than not that DeBrincat will be in a Red Wings sweater next season.

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Bedard mentioned the big names who reached out, including his childhood idol and a former Blackhawk.

“I got a text from Sidney Crosby so that was pretty cool,” Bedard said. “(He was) my favorite player growing up. He’s one of the best to ever do it so I was pretty excited there.”

Reminder: The Blackhawks open the 2023-24 season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s possible Bedard’s first action on the ice as a pro is a faceoff against his childhood idol.

Another prominent NHL figure who reached out to Bedard is one of Chicago’s very own, Patrick Kane.

Bedard and Kane spent time together at the Biosteel hockey camp. There, Bedard acted as a sponge, soaking in any information he could from arguably the league’s greatest American player in history.

What did Bedard learn from Kane?

“Just kinda watching him prepare and work on the ice and off the ice. Just seeing his dedication. He’s a hell of a player,” Bedard said.

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But before the ping pong balls fell Kyle Davidson’s way, it probably eased a bit of pain for fans to know their biggest rivals were bad, too. That, of course, means the Blackhawks weren’t the only team leaving the first round with an arsenal of talent.

Along with the No. 9 and 10 picks, respectively, the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues each had multiple first-round picks. The Nashville Predators, who were better than Detroit and St. Louis last season but still bad enough to miss the playoffs, also picked twice on Wednesday.

Here’s a list of who the Blackhawks’ biggest foes snatched in round one:

Detroit Red Wings

No. 9: Nate Danielson, C

No. 17: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D

St. Louis Blues

No. 10: Dalibor Dvorsky, C

No. 25: Otto Stenberg, C

No. 29: Theo Lindstein, D

Nashville Predators

No. 15: Matthew Wood, RW

No. 24: Tanner Molendyk, D

The Blackhawks committed to a rebuild with their chest and lucked into a situation where the path is crystal clear. The road to success isn’t as obvious for everyone, though, so it’s hard to tell when the Red Wings, Blues and Predators will be legit contenders again.

The Red Wings are four exhausting years into a full-scale rebuild and still don’t have a top-50 player in the league to show for it, according to ESPN. The Blues traded away two franchise cornerstones but seem iffy about tearing the whole thing down. It’s unclear what the Predators’ plan is at this point. They traded Ryan Johansen to the Avalanche for next to nothing earlier this week, but they might have trouble moving veterans like Matt Duchene and Roman Josi, which means a legitimate rebuild could take a while.

As of right now, the Blackhawks are the farthest away from contention of the four teams. But unless some big moves are made, having a clear and tangible direction in Connor Bedard feels like kind of a leap frog.

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The Blackhawks traded a 2024 seventh-round pick during the 2023 NHL draft to the Lightning in exchange for his negotiation rights. Meaning, they had the sole right to negotiate a contract with Perry before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Saturday, July 1.

Kyle Davidson mentioned after the draft they planned to pursue him for a one-year contract.

“We’re going to try and get him signed,” Davidson said. “We’ll see where that goes in the next day or two. I think what he can bring — similar to Nick Foligno — amazing veteran presence, been in the league quite some time, knows what it takes to win, knows how to be a great professional.”

MORE: Blackhawks acquire Corey Perry from Tampa Bay for 7th-round pick in 2024

Perry, 38, is an 18-year NHL veteran, having played 14 years notoriously with the Anaheim Ducks before shifting to the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He has two All-Star nods, one Hart Trophy, one Richard Trophy and one Stanley Cup under his belt. He is a notorious antagonist to the Blackhawks’ dynasty run between 2010-15. So much so, in fact, Kyle Davidson mentioned the awkwardness of him playing in a Blackhawks sweater.

“Probably a guy you hate to play against, you love to have on your team,” Davidson said. “That’s how we hope it’ll play out.”

Perry is in the back half of his career. Last season, with the Lightning, he racked up 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 81 games.

With the Blackhawks, Perry will reunite with head coach Luke Richardson, who was an assistant when he played one lone season with the Canadiens during the 2020-21 expedition.

“Luke was with him in Montreal and saw how he worked with some of their young players,” Davidson said. “He appreciated that, was a great benefit in what Corey did, so we’re going to try to extract some of that benefit as well.”

As Davidson alluded, one of the expectations for Perry coming to the Blackhawks is to help develop the predominantly youthful roster the Hawks currently possess. His services and leadership come with great timing, as the Hawks notched Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the draft on Tuesday.

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Shortly after, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson was on the clock again. At 19th overall, the Blackhawks picked Oliver Moore from the USHL’s US National Development Team.

The Draft is set to continue on Thursday, June 29 at 10 a.m. CST with Rounds 2-7.

The Blackhawks are slated to have nine picks on the second day of the NHL Draft. Here is the official order of selection for the Blackhawks:

• 2nd round: No. 35 overall
• 2nd round: No. 44 overall
• 2nd round: No. 51 overall
• 2nd round: No. 55 overall

• 3rd round: No. 67 overall
• 3rd round: No. 93 overall

• 4th round: No. 99 overall

• 5th round: No. 131 overall

• 7th round: No. 195 overall

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Once the Blackhawks announced their selection of Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick, Chicago went berserk. Check out this video of the crowd at the Salt Shed reacting to the pick.

Bedard is the second player in franchise history to be taken first overall. Patrick Kane, of course, is the other after the Blackhawks drafted him in 2007.

Bedard, 17, produced a ridiculous 143 points (71 goals, 72 assists) in 57 games last season for the Regina Pats, which led all Western Hockey League skaters by a considerable margin. He also recorded 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in seven postseason contests.

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The former Chicago Blackhawk, now free agent, had hip surgery three weeks ago. Presently, he’s shooting pucks and skating with assistance. Check out these videos of Kane’s insane recovery speed.

The surgery handed Kane an original timeline of 4-to-6 weeks out of action. From these videos, it appears Kane will smash that timeline.

Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that Kane, 34, “wants to play for a long time.” Kane’s doctors confirmed his hip operation should give him the opportunity to prolong his career.

Kane played 15 full seasons with the Blackhawks before being traded to the New York Rangers near the NHL trade deadline last season. With the Rangers, he scored five goals and assisted seven goals in 19 regular season games in New York. In the playoffs, he recorded six points in seven games before the Rangers were eliminated.

He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. It’s unknown what destinations Kane could end up, but it’s unlikely the future Hall of Famer will land with the Blackhawks.

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