Corey Crawford Injury: Updates on Blackhawks Goalie's Recovery from Appendectomy
Dec 3, 2016
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 28: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks follows the action against the Washington Capitals at the United Center on February 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Capitals 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
"Corey presented this morning with acute appendicitis," Blackhawks physician Dr. Michael Terry said, per the team's official Twitter account. "He is undergoing an appendectomy today at a Philadelphia hospital. We are anticipating a full recovery and return to play."
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville told reporters Crawford is expected to miss two to three weeks as he recovers from the procedure.
A former second-round pick in the 2003 draft, Crawford has turned himself into one of the top goalies in the NHL.
The 31-year-old veteran led the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup titles in 2013 and 2015, winning the Jennings Trophy in each of those seasons as well while having the best goals against average in the NHL.
Crawford saw his GAA raise from 2.27 to 2.37 this past season, but he still ranked fourth in the league with a .924 save percentage. He also led all goalies with seven shutouts on the year.
NHL Network named the All-Star the No. 7 player in the NHL at his position, although he has a chance to move further up the list with another strong year in 2016-17.
While Chicago once again expects to be a top contender for the Stanley Cup this season, any extended absence by Crawford could represent a major roadblock.
The team will likely turn to third-year player Scott Darling to fill in for the starter while he is out.
Jonathan Toews Injury: Updates on Blackhawks Star's Back and Recovery
Dec 2, 2016
NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 28: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 28, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews was placed on injured reserve Friday as he continues to battle a back injury. It is uncertain when he will return to action.
Continue for updates.
Toews Out vs. Jets
Sunday, Dec. 4
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville told reporters Toews will not play Sunday night against the Winnipeg Jets.
Quenneville Comments on Toews' Recovery
Friday, Dec. 2
"You've got to be fully recovered and make sure guys are 100 percent before they can play," Quenneville said Friday, per NHL.com's Brian Hedger. "Jonny plays at a certain pace and it's all out, so let's make sure he's more than ready when he's coming back."
Toews Is Model of Consistency for Blackhawks
Toews dealt with a concussion and post-concussion symptoms throughout the second half of the 2011-12 season, which limited him to 59 appearances, but he's been quite healthy since. Specifically, Toews hasn't appeared in fewer than 76 games in each of the past three seasons after he played in 47 of 48 games during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign.
He's also been remarkably consistent.
Since debuting with the Blackhawks in 2007, Toews has scored at least 20 goals in every season to date. According to Hockey-Reference.com, Jeff Carter, Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane are the only other players to bag 20 goals in every season dating back to 2007.
Twenty-onegames into the 2016-17 season, the three-time All-Star has tallied fourgoals and eightassists.
The 2009-10 Conn Smythe and 2012-13 Selke Trophy winner has been arguably Chicago's most important player during Chicago's dynastic run that's included three Stanley Cup titles since 2010, so making sure he's back at full strength before he returns to the ice should be the top priority for the Blackhawks moving forward.
Artem Anisimov Injury: Updates on Blackhawks Center's Status and Return
Nov 9, 2016
NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 28: Artem Anisimov #15 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 28, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Eric Lear of Blackhawks TV reported Anisimov is day-to-day.
Per Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago, the center's last shift came with roughly 5:30 remaining in the second period.
The 28-year-old is off to a tremendous start to the 2016-17 season, totaling 17 points through 13 games coming into Wednesday's contest, with only Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets recording more.
Anisimov had recorded a point in a career-high 11 straight games, but that streak came to an end Wednesday.
While Anisimov leads Chicago in points this season, he was just sixth on the squad last year with 42, featuring 20 goals and 22 assists. In his nine-year career with the Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers, he hasn't recorded more than 44 points in a single season.
"This year, he's even better, more improved in all areas," coach Joel Quenneville said, per Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune. "But he's just getting better with time with us and whether he's getting acclimated to the surroundings or his teammates or linemates…it works pretty well. He deserves credit for how he has approached the season."
A serious injury in the midst of a career year would be devastating for both Anisimov and the Blackhawks.
Nick Schmaltz helped fill in for Anisimov on Wednesday, but Chicago will likely need additional contributions from Marcus Kruger and Andrew Desjardins as well.
Have Depth Issues Closed the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Window?
Nov 7, 2016
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 14: Jonathan Toews #19 and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks skate against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on October 14, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks won their sixth straight game on Sunday, overcoming an early lead by the Dallas Stars and ultimately triumphing in overtime. The victory pushed the team to 9-3-1 on the season, which is a good start for any club. It's a particularly strong beginning for a team with the salary cap issues the ‘Hawks have had over the last few years.
Yet the ultimate test for general manager Stan Bowman’s roster isn’t to be found in October or November. He’s been forced to make sacrifices in assembling his team, and despite the impressive record, it isn’t hard to find the impact of those painful decisions.
The simplest approach is to compare this year’s team with previous editions of the Blackhawks. There have only been two kinds of Blackhawks in recent years, and the 2016-17 group doesn’t fit either mold:
Successful Chicago teams over this span, without exception, have been strong even-strength clubs. Every version of the Blackhawks to enjoy playoff success has been dominant, both by goal differential and by shot attempt differential (better known as "Corsi"). They outshoot the opposition, and they outscore the opposition.
There have been three versions of the team we can identify as unsuccessful, relatively speaking: the 2011, 2012 and 2016 iterations. They all bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. These teams all had weaker five-on-five shot and goal metrics during the season, and those weaknesses manifested themselves in early playoff defeats.
This year’s team, like the successful Blackhawks squads, has been good at running up the score. In fact, no Chicago team of the current era has been as effective at outscoring the opposition.
However, like the unsuccessful Blackhawks teams, this one does a bad job of outshooting the opposition. No Chicago team of the current era has been as bad on the shot clock. It's also unsettling to note that the 2015-16 and 2016-17 teams lag well behind the 2010-11 and 2011-12 clubs by Corsi.
For most hockey numbers people, there’s an easy prediction here. Our 5-on-5 goals sample for 2016-17 consists of 37 events (26-11 in Chicago’s favour). Our 5-on-5 Corsi sample has more than 1,000 events (513-511 for Chicago’s opponents). It’s not hard to figure that the 1000-plus Corsi events give us a better window into the future than those 37 goals do.
Leaving the numbers aside for a moment, anyone familiar with the Blackhawks should spot the common link between our "unsuccessful" versions of the team.
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: Vice President and General Manager Stan Bowman of the Chicago Blackhawks speaks at the podium during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
After winning the Stanley Cup in the summer of 2010, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane saw their entry-level deals expire, forcing Bowman to juggle furiously to find room for their pricey new contracts. The same thing happened after the Cup win in 2015. The second contracts awarded to Toews and Kane expired, and again Bowman had to make hard decisions in the service of finding cap space.
These three Chicago teams all suffered from their hard-pressed GM having to strip down their supporting casts. On the salary front, there's no question that this year’s Blackhawks have more in common with those three unsuccessful versions of the team.
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 14: Brian Campbell #51 of the Chicago Blackhawks against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on October 14, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Sanford Myers/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***Brian Campbell 'n'n
According to Cap Friendly, 14 of the 24 players currently on the roster (including the injured Trevor van Riemsdyk) have a cap hit of less than $1 million. Nine of the 24 have a cap hit of more than $3 million. The only exception to this extreme stratification is defenceman Brian Campbell, whose one-year/$1.5 million deal was the best bargain in free agency this summer.
With that kind of salary structure, it’s essential that the team correctly identify a core capable of carrying a disproportionate share of the load when it comes to winning hockey games. With a few exceptions, Bowman’s done this well, something that distinguishes him from L.A.'s Dean Lombardi, Loyalty contracts have repeatedly burned the Kings GM.
Yet even with a ruthless general manager, there’s only so much money to go around. That makes it essential to get production from cheap players. Chicago hit the jackpot in that regard last year with Artemi Panarin (whose entry-level deal expires this summer). But too many of its other depth pieces look problematic early:
Gustav Forsling has a 43 percent Corsi rating on the season. His most common defence partner, Campbell, has an on-ice Corsi of 53 percent with other partners. That is down to just 41 percent when he’s paired with Forsling. The Blackhawks are currently outscoring the opposition nearly 2-to-1 with Forsling on the ice.
Tyler Motte has decent scoring numbers, but he’s struggled to keep up with more high-profile partners. When he’s present either on Marcus Kruger’s defensive zone specialty line or on Toews’ top trio, those forward units see their shot metrics fall. Chicago presently outscores the opposition more than 3-to-1 when Motte’s on the ice, despite being outshot.
Vinnie Hinostroza is one of the few near-constants on the fourth line and to some degree personifies the entire unit. When he’s on the ice (generally in soft minutes), foes out-Corsi Chicago by 15 events per hour. Yet the goal differential is 1-1.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks watches as his team takes on the St. Louis Blues during the season opening game at the United Center on October 12, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty
The Blackhawks’ typical approach to handling these weak links has been two-fold. First, head coach Joel Quenneville mixes and matches his lines. He blends weaker and stronger players, making it more difficult for opponents to exploit weak matchups. Second, Bowman has typically been active at the trade deadline. The GM brings in rental players to shore up weak spots at a point in the season where only a small portion of their salary counts against the cap.
Both Bowman and Quenneville are at the top of their respective fields. If anyone can turn Chicago’s scant cap space into enough talent to paper over the holes, it’ll be Bowman. If anyone can then goose that roster over the finish line, it will be Quenneville. Even so, this team seems more likely to be bound for playoff disappointment.
That isn't the worst of it, though. When we look at shot metrics alone, the 2015-16 team and the early 2016-17 club look to be a step down from the 2010-11/2011-12 Blackhawks. That means the needed improvement to contend again is greater, even as the core ages and the cap space problem grows more acute.
Bowman and Queneville have worked wonders in the past. But they'll need to be even more impressive in the future if they're to keep 2015 from being the end of an era.
5 Reasons the Chicago Blackhawks Can Win the 2017 Stanley Cup
Oct 12, 2016
BR Video
Will Patrick Kane keep up his torrid pace? Can veterans lead the team to success? Do the Chicago Blackhawks have what it takes to win it all?
Watch the video above to find out.
Duncan Keith Injury: Updates on Blackhawks Defender's Knee and Return
Sep 15, 2016
Apr 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) skates with the puck during game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks won the game 4-3 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
The status of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith for the start of the 2016-17 season is uncertain as he recovers from a knee injury.
Continue for updates.
Keith Comments on Status
Friday, Sept. 23
Keith told reporters he's not concerned about his knee issue, but stopped short of saying with certainty he'd be ready for the regular season.
Keith Could Miss Start of New Season
Thursday, Sept. 15
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times passed along an update Thursday from Hawks general manager Stan Bowman, who stated the ailment is "nothing to be alarmed about," but he couldn't provide an exact timetable for the star's return to action.
Keith underwent knee surgery early last season after suffering a meniscus tear. He returned to play a majority of the campaign, tallying nine goals and 34 assists in 67 games. His 43 points ranked 22nd in the league among defensemen despite the injury time.
The 33-year-old Canadian pulled out of the upcoming World Cup of Hockey in August in an effort to complete a full recovery without risking a setback. Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune passed along a statement from team physician Michael Terry about the decision.
"As Duncan continues offseason rehabilitation on the right knee injury that he sustained last season, we understand his decision not to participate in next month's World Cup of Hockey," Terry said. "We believe it is in his best interests to focus on getting stronger and not risk further injury."
Neither Bowman nor Terry provided further details about the exact nature of the ailment. It's also unclear whether he suffered a setback that has brought his availability for the start of the new season into question.
Scott Powers of The Athletic reported Wednesday that Keith has been among the Blackhawks in attendance for informal skates this week ahead of training camp, which opens next Friday.
The Hawks, which will once again open the season as one of the top contenders in the Western Conference, are likely to take the cautious approach with the blueliner. It's more important to have him close to full strength for the playoffs than playing the first month of the season.
Michal Rozsival figures to secure a regular place in the lineup until Keith is cleared to return.
Chicago Blackhawks Shore Up Need, Nab Best Value of Day in Brian Campbell
Jul 1, 2016
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell reacts after scoring a goal during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
On Friday, defenceman Brian Campbell signed the sweetest of sweetheart deals with the Chicago Blackhawks, per the team's official Twitter account. He took a one-year term when he should have been able to get the security of a two-year deal. He took a fraction of his true value in terms of dollars.
In the process, he made the Blackhawks a much better team.
ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun first reported contract details, which include one-third of the player’s total compensation coming in the form of a performance bonus:
Brian Campbell contract with Chicago: $1.5 M salary base plus $750k 10gp bonus: $2.25 M total
For the most part, the NHL’s rules on over-35 contracts work against NHL teams signing those players, but performance bonuses are the exception. Because those bonuses are permitted on over-35 deals, the Blackhawks can treat Campbell's contract as though its actual dollar value is just $1.5 million, deferring the bonuses to next season. That can be valuable to a team that is up against the salary cap, and Chicago always is.
More valuable to the Blackhawks is what Campbell will bring them on the ice.
The best way to express Campbell’s impact is by looking at shot differential. There’s often a perception that puck-moving defencemen primarily have value at the offensive end of the rink, but in Campbell’s case, that’s not true:
Year
CF/60 w/
CF/60 w/o
Difference
CA/60 w/
CA/60 w/o
Difference
Total
2012-13
53.7
51.7
2.0
50.6
56.9
-6.3
8.3
2013-14
53.8
54.3
-0.5
48.4
54.7
-6.3
5.8
2014-15
55.5
52.8
2.7
45.8
54.2
-8.4
11.1
2015-16
51.0
46.6
4.4
45.7
53.6
-7.9
12.3
The chart above shows two different numbers. The first is Corsi For per 60 minutes, which is another way of saying how many times the Florida Panthers shot a puck at the opposing net in an average hour. In three of four years, Florida was better at generating shots when Campbell was on the ice than when he wasn’t.
His biggest impact, however, was on defense. In each of the four seasons, the Panthers faced between six and nine fewer shot attempts against when Campbell was on the ice than when he wasn’t. That makes sense when one thinks about it; Campbell is a player who is good at keeping control of the puck. It’s hard for opponents to take a shot when Florida has possession.
Overall, Campbell’s impact is massive. In his worst season, Florida’s shot differential improved by six per hour. In his best, which also happens to be his most recent campaign, it went up by 12 shots per hour.
It’s no wonder Chicago general manager Stan Bowman is happy:
SVP/GM says the #Blackhawks are "thrilled" to bring back Brian Campbell: "We are really excited for the elements he’ll bring to the table."
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 1, 2016
The best part from the Blackhawks' perspective is that Campbell doesn’t need to be a star. When he last played in Chicago, he partnered with Niklas Hjalmarsson, and the Hawks could reunite that pairing once again. That would allow them to play Duncan Keith with Brent Seabrook and bump Trevor van Riemsdyk into a third-pair role, a place where he should provide real value.
It should be the best one-through-six defence the Blackhawks have had in years. It will be better than the group that won the Stanley Cup in 2015, which lacked depth and featured Johnny Oduya in the No. 4 slot. Oduya’s a capable defenceman, but he doesn’t drive play the way Campbell does.
And if it works out, there’s nothing to stop the Blackhawks from doing it again next year. And maybe the year after that. Possibly even the season after that. Smart, fast, puck-moving defencemen have a history of aging well, and there’s nothing to keep Chicago from signing Campbell to a series of bonus-laden, one-year deals for as long as he’s willing to take them.
As Blackhawks TV's Eric Lear reported, Campbell is happy to be back with Chicago:
Campbell on Chicago: "It's where my heart is. It's where I want to play." #Blackhawks
That’s understandable, and it offers the explanation for today’s deal, which represents the best value of any deal signed thus far in the 2016 free-agency period.
Jonathan Willis covers the NHL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for more of his work.
Patrick Kane Wins Hart Trophy for 2015-16 NHL Season
Jun 22, 2016
Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane plays against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks won the Hart Memorial Trophy on Wednesday as the NHL's most valuable player for the 2015-16 season.
Kane adds the Hart Trophy to an already impressive collection of hardware. The three-time Stanley Cup champion won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie for the 2007-08 season and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 2013.
The 27-year-old Buffalo, New York, native also collected the Art Ross Trophy as the top scorer in the NHL at the conclusion of the regular season. He tallied 106 points (46 goals and 60 assists), besting his closest competition by 17 points.
His points total was also a new career high by a significant margin. His previous highest came in 2009-10 when he scored 88 points. It was a dominant season from start to finish for the league's most dynamic American player.
Chicago's attempt to repeat as champions ended with a Game 7 loss to the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the playoffs, though. Afterward, Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune noted the forward stated he'd gladly give up the individual success for another Cup run.
"Absolutely. (There's) nothing like winning a (Stanley) Cup and going far in the playoffs and being part of a championship team," Kane said. "Absolutely, you'd trade it all in."
The good news for Kane is that the Blackhawks are one of the best franchises in all of American sports, and the team's foundation remains strong moving forward. So he should get numerous more chances at a championship in the future.
On the flip side, having another season like he enjoyed this year will be difficult. The NHL's scoring decline in recent years has made a 100-point season a massive accomplishment. In 2014-15, Benn won the points race with just 87.
Although it might have been difficult to reflect on the magnificent season he had immediately after the playoff exit, he should come to appreciate it more over time. The Hart Trophy will be a constant reminder of a terrific year.
Andrew Shaw Contract: Latest News, Rumors on RW's Talks with Blackhawks
May 11, 2016
Apr 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) with the puck during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Chicago won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, putting his future with the organization in question.
Continue for updates.
Shaw and Blackhawks Open Talks On New Contract
Wednesday, May 11
“I’ve had some preliminary discussions with [Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman],” Shaw's agent, Pat Brisson, told Scott Powers of The Athletic on Wednesday. “We are talking about it right now. That’s pretty much it for now. I have not explored deep enough yet to get a sense [whether we can work something out]. I will have more discussions with Stan in the future.”
Shaw, 24, scored 14 goals and added 20 assists for the team in 78 games this season. He added four goals and two assists in six postseason games. That ability to play at his best in key games—along with the passion and energy he brings on a nightly basis—certainly has made him a valuable player for Chicago.
But that hardly guarantees his return.
“You try not to [think about it], but I trust my agent and Stan to do what they can," Shaw said on April 27, per Powers. "I want to be back here and I think they want me back. Just get both teams working together and that’s going to be something in the future, obviously later in the summer. A lot of cap issues, obviously. Just got to be patient and wait for it.”
Indeed, the Blackhawks' cap situation will potentially be an issue. According to Powers, the team already has $69 million committed to players for 2016-17, with the cap expected to settle in around $74 million. That could make retaining Shaw—who will surely garner serious interest on the free-agent market if he's allowed to become an RFA—tricky for the Blackhawks.
Still, the team has had to manage the cap before and has managed to keep its core in place. If Shaw is seen as a key piece in that core, the Blackhawks will find a way to retain him. The organization has remained cagey about its intent, however.
"We certainly like what Andrew brings to the table," Bowman said in April, per Powers. "There’s just some things that have yet to be determined, in terms of what’s the salary cap going to be. We’ll get that number over the next two months and once we get that, we’ll make it work and put a team together that fits and is competitive."
Twitter Bro Becomes Hockey Superfan After 45 Seconds of Playoff Action
Apr 26, 2016
Hockey is generally underrated in American sports, but many would agree its postseason is crazy fun to watch.
One non-hockey fan discovered the beauty of the playoffs during the St. Louis Blues' Game 7 thriller against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.
To say it was love at first sight would be an understatement. It took Tony X. just 45 seconds to realize playoff hockey is, in his own words, "LIT." (Warning: NSFW content forthcoming):
