en-us SportSpyder - The Latest Chicago Blackhawks News https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/news Hockey is going strong, but we at Last Word on Hockey are still going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for September 25, featuring the addition … Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:56:36 GMT Dan Mount, Editor https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58394472 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58394472 false false Horny Mike awaits. Thank you. Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:06:12 GMT McClure https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58395422 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58395422 false false Is Drew Commesso the goalie of the future for the Chicago Blackhawks? He certainly will get his chance to play games. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:39:38 GMT Vinnie Parise https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58393410 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58393410 false false A Blackhawks green jersey could finally be worn in a game, as a Fanatics Hometown Remix teaser hints at the Shamrock's return. Here's the history. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:29:18 GMT Achilles "The Blackhawks Cowboy" Samaan https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58393295 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58393295 false false When the Montreal Canadiens are back to full health, they'll have an influx of forwards. Could Kirby Dach be the next player moved by Kent Hughes? Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:27:49 GMT Cooper Godin https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58393278 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58393278 false false Anton Frondell and Ryan Greene have collectively assumed the role Jason Dickinson used to fill, facing opposing teams' best players every game. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:30:04 GMT Ben Pope https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58392554 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58392554 false false Rockford, IL - Rockford IceHogs Team Physician Dr. Geoff Van Thiel released the following medical update: Defenseman Jake Furlong is listed as out with an… Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:00:27 GMT @goicehogs https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58391349 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58391349 false false What’s going wrong with the Chicago Blackhawks’ defense? Jay Zawaski and Greg Boysen are joined by NHL video coach Steve Peters to break down the Blackhawks’... Wed, 21 Oct 2026 19:46:41 GMT CHGO Sports https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58391167 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58391167 false false It’s been a relatively slow news week for the Chicago Blackhawks during the team’s five-day break without any games. The […] Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:56:27 GMT Jack Bushman https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58389543 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58389543 false false The Chicago Blackhawks could consider Matvei Michkov if he is available for trade. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:02:49 GMT Vinnie Parise https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58388741 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58388741 false false It isn’t a shocking revelation to say the Blackhawks haven’t defending incredibly well early in the new season. And, on a Blackhawks blue line that doesn’t have a lot of physical players, the battle is to identify guys who can improve the overall situation. A couple of areas where the Blackhawks did a better job of helping and supporting their goaltenders last year was having a big, physical defenseman battling in front of the net and a smart veteran center doing the same. But Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson are no longer on the roster. Veteran Ian Cole was brought in to replace some of what Murphy provided during his time in Chicago, and he’s done that. But the Blackhawks need more physicality on the back end as they work with four centers who are all 22 or younger. A lot of the talk in recent weeks has been about Kevin Korchinski not getting into the Blackhawks’ lineup. And the struggles we’ve seen from Sam Rinzel. The biggest difference between those two players, specifically, is Rinzel is right-handed. If the Blackhawks skated Korchinski in his place, the Hawks would have five left-handed defensemen in the lineup. And that’s far from ideal. And neither of those players is going to provide the physical presence the Blackhawks need. Which is a big reason why Ethan Del Mastro has received more of an opportunity with Bowen Byram out of the lineup over the past couple games. Blackhawks defenseman Ethan Del Mastro Del Mastro’s size and style of play are his biggest differentiator on the Blackhawks’ roster. He’s big (6-4, 210) and plays with a mean streak that, frankly, the other defensemen lack. In three appearances thus far, Del Mastro is averaging , which leads Blackhawks with more than one game played. “He’s a big man that can be physical,” Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think ultimately that can help differentiate. It just depends. At the end of the day, you’re still probably judged on good plays versus bad plays and the more good plays he makes, whether that’s a physical play, whether that’s a play with the puck, whether that’s a defensive play than bad plays, the better light he’s going to be seen in.” When Byram was healthy, Del Mastro wasn’t in the lineup, however. The Blackhawks entered the new season with both Del Mastro and Korchinski in the press box on most nights. That can be a tough situation for a young player trying to establish himself as an NHL regular. Del Mastro got into the lineup earlier this season in Buffalo, but then went back to the press box. He’s dressed for the last two games with Byram out again, this time with an upper-body injury. Del Mastro said the messaging from the coaches has consistently be to be ready, and continue doing what he can do on the ice. “When you’re out for a little bit, sometimes you’ve just got to get touches again and feel pressure. Obviously in practice you’re battling with guys and stuff, but it’s not the same as the game. It’s always different feelings. So I think the first game [against Winnipeg] I was getting going there and then [against Dallas] I felt pretty good. The legs were getting going, touched a little better, but obviously not the way we wanted to go when you’re losing like that. … I thought the second one was not bad, but hopefully just keep going and add a few more to it and keep getting better.” How a young player in Del Mastro’s situation performs when he gets his chance is important. He said the coaches have consistently told him to play his game and continue working for when his opportunities present themselves. “Over the last year, since Blash got here, we’ve been talking a lot and how he thinks I shape up to be a player and play a long time in this league is to just be solid defensively and play my game. I think when I’m playing well, I’m not giving up too many chances, not making a lot of mistakes, but just trying to shut guys down, be hard to play against and transition pucks well. So I think just those kind of things, focus on those. And I think that’s what I’ve been doing, just keep building on it.” Cole isn’t as big as Del Mastro, but he plays a similar style of game. Del Mastro has been picking Cole’s brain a lot in practices to learn some of the nuances of the game that you learn with experience. And Cole, who will play his 1,000th game on Friday night, has plenty of . “There’s a reason he’s played that many games,” Del Mastro said. “I’ve been just trying to pick his brain about everything. I mean, he’s got a lot of nice tips around the net about stacking your feet and stuff like that I think we talked about before. I think he’s just awesome to be able to bounce off. He gets the game so well, he thinks so well and that’s why he’s been able to play so long.” As long as Byram is out, it looks like Del Mastro will continue to get a chance to show what he can do in the NHL. If he can continue to be a physical presence on the ice — and minimize mistakes with the puck — he could force the coaches to make a decisio... Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:38:12 GMT Tab Bamford https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386897 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386897 false false There hasn’t been a lot of huge Blackhawks news this week from practices, but one noteworthy nugget from Tuesday was head coach Jeff Blashill telling us defenseman Bowen Byram‘s upper body injury is not dealing with a concussion. Which is good news considering he’s dealt with concussion issues in the past, but we still don’t have any clarity on the actual injury beyond seeing him get hit with a puck. Hopefully he’s back on the ice soon. The Hawks are off today. There’s been a lot of talk since the start of the Blackhawks’ home schedule about the nightmare parking has become with the construction around the United Center, which cut 1,100 parking spots. Ben Pope at the provided an update on the situation. At the United Center, construction has eliminated 1,100+ parking spots. Prices have increased, too. Blackhawks fans are frustrated. The UC, which controls parking (the Hawks don't), says it has "reassessed our operations" to fix problems. New story: — Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) Yesterday I shared from a piece by James Mirtle at that broke down the average heights, weights, ages and nationalities of rosters around the NHL. One other interesting note from that date: the Blackhawks’ roster is 50 percent American — by far the highest percentage in the league. I also found this informative: Source: I will note that nine of the 20 skaters on the Blackhawks’ current roster were drafted by Kyle Davidson, of which seven were first-round picks. The Blackhawks also have later-round selections from the — Alex Vlasic (second), Wyatt Kaiser (third), Ethan Del Mastro (fourth) — on the roster. On Tuesday, David Pagnotta at reported the New Jersey Devils are floating veteran left-handed defenseman Brenden Dillon on the trade market. And… though there is not a direct connection to Dillon, Pagnotta reports the Blackhawks are looking to potentially add on the blue line. Several teams are looking for defencemen, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken, though not all may have interest in the 35-year-old rearguard. The Blackhawks don’t need another left-handed defenseman, even if Dillon would add a physicality they don’t have outside of Del Mastro and Cole right now. But the fact that they’re reportedly looking is noteworthy. Kalen Lumpkins of the spoke with Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard about Kevin Korchinski’s situation after Tuesday’s skate. A really good quote here: An interesting nugget here from Ben Pope before Tuesday night’s games. So, of course, home teams went 2-2-1. NHL home teams are 81-49-10 so far this season. It's the first time since 2021 that home teams have won 80+ of the league's first 140 games, per NHL Stats and Information. Back in 2016-17, home teams started 90-45-5, which is the all-time record.— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) Maybe a bit of a break here for the Blackhawks: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told media after Florida’s skate on Tuesday that goaltender Jacob Markström will miss 10-14 days. The Panthers recalled , and Jameson Olive “Black will see some playing time in his absence.” Maybe we’ll see him on Sunday for the matinee start. Black, listed at 6-8, could become the tallest goaltender to appear in a game in NHL history. We have recalled goaltender Cooper Black from . 📝 » — Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) Helene St. James at the reported on Tuesday that Dylan Larkin has expanded his list of acceptable trade destinations to ten: Florida, Minnesota, Vegas, Dallas, Washington, Carolina, Utah, Tampa, New Jersey and Colorado. The Los Angeles Kings visit the United Center next week. Their new No. 1 center, Quinton Byfield, left last night’s game with an upper-body injury and did not return. Of course the Kings came back from a two-goal deficit to pick up their first win of the new season — at Washington. Finally, this is an incredibly scary situation. Ben Kindel, a really good 19-year-old center of the Penguins, experienced a medical emergency that forced the team plane to turn around and return to Salt Lake City. Josh Yohe at corrected his story on the situation to indicate it was “not necessarily a seizure.” Here’s hoping for the best for Kindel, who’s a terrific player and, by all accounts, a wonderful young man. A statement from the Pittsburgh Penguins — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) BLEACHER NATION: | Subscribe to the Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:48:22 GMT Tab Bamford https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386353 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386353 false false The Chicago Blackhawks are trying to find their way as the 2026-27 season unfolds. They’ve certainly had their struggles, as a 3-6-0 record attests to. While cr Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:41:54 GMT Gail Kauchak https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386271 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386271 false false There’s been a lot of uneven hockey played at the college level already this year with some fascinating results, so the polls are moving every week. After a huge weekend sweep of then-No. 1 Denver, the University of Michigan ascends to the top spot in this week’s USA Hockey poll — followed by Blackhawks prospect Mason West and Michigan State at No. 2. Blackhawks prospects will give us a three-day weekend of action this week, with freshman defenseman and Boston University getting the party started on Thursday night at UConn. Here’s this weekend’s slate for the Blackhawks prospects. Thursday, Oct. 22 No. 14 Boston University at UConn — 6 PM CT Friday, Oct. 23 No. 2 Michigan State at New Hampshire — 6:00 PM No. 9 Providence at UMass Lowell — 6:15 PM CT No. 14 Boston University — OFF No. 19 UMass — OFF Arizona State — OFF Saturday, Oct. 24 No. 9 Providence vs UMass Lowell — 5:00 PM No. 19 UMass vs. Stonehill — 5:00 PM No. 14 Boston University vs. No. 17 UConn — 6:00 PM No. 2 Michigan State at New Hampshire — 6:00 PM Arizona State — OFF Blackhawks College Prospects , D, Boston U. — 4 games, 2 assists, 5 shots on net, 3 blocked shots Václav Nestrašil, F, UMass — 6 games, 3 goals, 25 shots on net , D, UMass — 6 games, 1 assist, 17 shots on net John Mustard, F, Providence — 3 games, 1 goal, 1 assist Julius Sumpf, C, Providence — 3 games, 6 assists, 4 shots on net Mason West, F, Michigan State — 3 games, 0 points, 3 blocked shots, 14 PIM Nathan Behm, F, Arizona State — 6 games, 4 goals, 19 shots on net, 1 blocked shot Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:14:21 GMT Tab Bamford https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386006 https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/58386006 false false