NHL lockout: Blackhawks prospects ripping up minor leagues

Blackhawks' prospects Kyle Beach and Mark McNeill have earned Player of the Week honors in their respective minor leagues.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp Would Consider Europe In Case Of Lockout

If the NHL eventually locks out players to begin the 2012-13 season, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp would consider playing in Europe, as Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune writes. Sharp isn't sure what he would do if he's not able to play for the Blackhawks, but he wouldn't necessarily stay in the United States:

If (Europe) needs to be an option, certainly. I grew up dreaming of playing in the NHL and I love playing for the Hawks so that’s obviously the first choice, (but) if it comes to that then that’s always an option. I feel like you have to play somewhere... (But) right now, my focus is playing for the Blackhawks and supporting my union.

With many players expressing concern that the lengthy time off could deplete their skills, leagues around the world become appealing as short-term alternatives. Dave Bolland and Jamal Mayers are among the other players that discussed the possibility of Europe, but ultimately playing in the NHL is the ideal scenario for most players.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on theBlackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Season Tickets In High Demand

Having made the playoffs in each of the last four years, and only two seasons removed from winning the Stanley Cup, the Chicago Blackhawks have become a popular ticket. Heading into the 2012-13 season, the Blackhawks have over a 99 percent renewal rate on season tickets, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.

Any spots that do open up, are quickly filled as Kuc reports the team also has a waiting list in the neighborhood of 11,000 people. The Blackhawks have a sellout streak of 190 straight games and that figure will likely rise next season as single game ticket sales have also been strong.

Single game tickets went on sale Monday and Blackhawks ticket director Chris Werner said sales were ahead of where they were last year.

"The phone lines and the number of ports people could get into on the web reached its capacity right out of the gate," Hawks ticket director Chris Werner said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We saw a tremendous amount of interest and that interest sustained itself for a similar amount of time as in the past."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: NHLPA To Hold Regional Meeting In Chicago

The NHL and the NHLPA have until Sept. 15 to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement before the old one expires. The NHL has made an offer to the players, but the players have yet to make their counteroffer back to the league. That counteroffer is likely to be the topic of discussion at the NHLPA's regional meeting in Chicago on Thursday and Friday.

The @nhlpa will hold a regional meeting Thursday and Friday in Chicago to discuss CBA negotiations. #Blackhawks

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) August 15, 2012

If the two sides can't agree on a deal before Sept. 15, then a lockout will begin in earnest, which could include the cancellation of training camps and eventually preseason and regular season games.

The NHLPA is headed by Donald Fehr, who directed baseball's player association from 1986-2009.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Joakim Noah's 3 Favorite Chicago Athletes Are A.J. Pierzynski, Patrick Kane And Patrick Kane

Blackhawks Offseason: Jonathan Toews Still Comfortable With Decision To Play Through Concussion

Chicago Blackhawks star center Jonathan Toews only managed to play in 59 games during the 2011-12 NHL season -- a career low since joining the Blackhawks at the NHL level in 2007-08 -- but he isn't at all contrite about trying to play through concussive symptoms last year. In a recent interview Chris Boden of Comcast SportsNet, Toews admitted that he would do it all over again and try to play through those issues.

"I wasn't feeling like myself, and to me, I look back, and if I felt that way today I would still give an effort to try and play through it. It didn't feel like it was enough, my body wasn't telling me that 'OK, it's time to quit, this isn't working.'"

Here is a video of the interview, via CSN-Chicago:

Even after what happened to Marian Hossa during the playoffs, Toews noted that he just tries not to think about the potential consequences of skating onto the ice with a bruised brain and putting his future mental health at risk.

Maybe that mindset is necessary to get by in professional sports, but hopefully the Blackhawks will be extra careful with all of their players suffering from concussive symptoms going forward.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Hire Jamie Kompon As Assistant Coach

The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Tuesday that they added former Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Jamie Kompon to their staff. He spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach for the Kings, but before that time he served as a video coach and assistant coach under Joel Quenneville as part of the St. Louis Blues staff. Blackhawks Vice President and General Manager Stan Bowman noted the "obvious familiarity" with the Blackhawks' coaching staff as something that will make the transition easier, while Quenneville elaborated on the extent of the connection in the team's official press release:

"Jamie will bring us all the great qualities you look for in a coach, most notably his work ethic and a winning resume," Quenneville said. "We have a great working relationship and I am confident he will be a great fit with us here in Chicago."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Offseason 2012: First Round Pick Teravainen Impresses Hawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have a bevy of talented forwards led by the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. While it might not be in the immediate future, Chicago might have another talented youngster in its midst, according to NHL.com.

Seventeen-year-old Teuvo Teravainen impressed recently at the Blackhawks week-long prospects camp, showcasing Teravainen, the 18th overall pick of the 2012 NHL Draft.

"I think Teuvo has shown in a short amount of time here that he's got incredible talent, but he's not even 18 years old yet," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said on the last day of camp. "It's great to see a young kid like Teuvo be as good as he is. He's the youngest kid at the camp here, and I think he's probably been one of the best kids all week."

Teravainen will head back to his home country of Finland for now, where he'll turn 18 years of age in September. He'll also get a season of pro hockey under his belt, with the Finnish team Jokerit Helsinki of SM-Liiga.

Bowman certainly feels good about Teravainen's future.

"He's going to be a special player, for sure, so it's exciting."

For more on the Blackhawks, please be sure to check out our blog Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago for all the latest news and updates.

Blackhawks Offseason 2012: Joel Quennneville Talks Shane Doan, Corey Crawford & More

The Chicago Blackhawks are in the thick of the offseason and beginning to make decisions on their team and their roster heading into the winter. Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago talked to head coach Joel Quenneville on Wednesday and gathered quotes from the skipper on quite a few players that might have an impact on the team in the near future.

Regarding goaltender Corey Crawford, whom Quenneville believed suffered from sophomore slump last season:

You look at the history of goaltenders around the league…there is a little bit of a bounce factor in that second year. A number of top goalies have had that career path. We anticipate Corey getting right back on track.

Regarding free agent Shane Doan, whom the Blackhawks are believed to be pursuing:

You see what’s out there and where he is at. I'm sure teams would be interested. Tough to comment.

Regarding Brandon Saad, the 2011 draft pick who hopes to stick in the NHL in the upcoming season:

Maybe he can not just make our team but maybe he can do more than that.

And regarding the Blackhawks' top 2012 draft pick, Teuvo Teravainen:

I think he's going to be one of those tricky type players. Real handy with the puck.

It will be interesting to see who ends up being on the final roster for the 2012-13 Blackhawks team.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Pierre Gauthier Named New Blackhawks Director Of Player Personnel

The Chicago Blackhawks made an addition to their front office on Tuesday by naming former Montreal Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier as their new Director of Player Personnel.

Update: Pierre Gauthier will officially be the #Blackhawks' Director of Player Personnel. #Canadiens

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) July 10, 2012

Related: NHL Free Agency 2012: Shane Doan Interested In Playing For Blackhawks

Gauthier got his start in Montreal as the team's Director of Professional Scouting back in 2003. He became Montreal's GM in February of 2010 and was relieved of those duties in March of 2012. Prior to working for Montreal, Gauthier had GM stints with Ottawa and Anaheim, and prior to those stops, he served in various scouting capacities for the Quebec Nordiques.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Free Agency 2012: Shane Doan Interested In Playing For Blackhawks

Free agent forward Shane Doan is interested in playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, according to his agent.

Shane Doan's agent, Terry Bross, said not only have #Blackhawks contacted them, but also that Doan has interest in joining Hawks.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) July 9, 2012

Related: Roberto Luongo Trade Rumors: Vancouver Goaltender Would Be Happy With Trade To Chicago

Doan, who has been with the Coyotes organization for his entire NHL career up to this point, is being pursued by a number of teams, including the Detroit Red Wings. Doan scored 22 goals and added 28 assists during the 2011-12 regular season; he has tallied at least 50 points in nine consecutive seasons.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Roberto Luongo Trade Rumors: Vancouver Goaltender Would Be Happy With Trade To Chicago

During a radio interview on Friday, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo said he would enjoy playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Roberto Luongo, who lost his starting job with the Vancouver Canucks to Cory Schneider, told a Fox radio station in Vancouver on Friday that "I think it's time to move on" and didn't rule out a deal to the Hawks.

"I'd rather not talk specific right now," Luongo told CFOX-FM 99.3. "I mean, there's a lot of stuff going on ... I've always said I like playing in Chicago."

Related: NHL Free Agency 2012: Blackhawks Made An 'Impressive Offer' To Zach Parise, Were Never Finalists

Luongo is also interested in returning to the Florida Panthers, where he spent five seasons before moving on to Vancouver.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Free Agency 2012: Blackhawks Made An 'Impressive Offer' To Zach Parise, Were Never Finalists

The fourth of July saw two American-born players sign with the same American hockey franchise for very large sums of American money. The Minnesota Wild were able to acquire former New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise and Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter for $98 million to each. Not bad work if you can get it.

The Chicago Blackhawks were interested in both players, though it appears they didn't come very close to landing either. Though Chicago GM Stan Bowman said Parise was made an "really impressive offer" by the 'Hawks, the forward himself went on record to say it came down to the Devils and Wild.

Either way, the good news for Blackhawks fans is that the Wild and Vancouver Canucks are in the same division. Having another team to beat up on the Canucks is never a bad thing.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Free Agency 2012: Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Sign With Minnesota Wild For $98 Million Each

The Minneosta Wild are back on the map. The franchise, which hasn't made the NHL playoffs since the 2007-2008 season, have improbably reeled in the two biggest free agents of the offseason. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter have reportedly agreed to sign identical 13-year, $98 million contracts with Minnesota, spurning traditional powers like the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils.

The duo also jilted the Chicago Blackhawks, who were reportedly in the running for the two's services. How close Chicago actually was will likely be revealed sometime in the near future. Both Parise and Suter are 27-years-old and entered the NHL in 2003. Parise has spent his entire career with the Devils, while Suter has spent his entire career with the Nashville Predators.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Zach Parise Free Agency: Chicago Blackhawks Would Need To Offer $100 Million With $12 million Signing Bonus

Blackhawks Free Agency 2012: Chicago Signs Center Martin St. Pierre

The Chicago Blackhawks and center Martin St. Pierre have agreed to terms on a contract, according to a report from David Pagnotta.

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed center Martin St. Pierre.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 2, 2012

Related: Blackhawks 2012 Free Agency: Zach Parise Considers Chicago 1 Of 2 Finalists

St. Pierre is not a stranger to the Blackhawks -- he played in 21 games for the team between 2005 and 2008 -- but he has spent the bulk of his career in the minor leagues and has not appeared in an NHL game since the 2009-10 season, when he was with the Ottawa Senators.

During the 2011-12 season, St. Pierre logged 73 games with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL, scoring 11 goals to go with 53 assists.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks 2012 Free Agency: Zach Parise Considers Chicago 1 Of 2 Finalists

Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger is reporting veteran free agent LW Zach Parise has apparently narrowed his search to just two possible landing places, the Chicago Blackhawks among them:

Zach Parise decision may be down to two teams-- the Chicago Blackhawks being strong contenders

— Rich Chere (@Ledger_NJDevils) July 2, 2012

Parise has played all seven of his NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils, and he has scored nearly 200 goals with over 400 points in that span. In the 2011-12 NHL season, he played in all 82 Devils games, averaging a career-high 20:53 minutes on the ice while scoring 31 goals on 293 shots.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native also made an All-Star appearance in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, but then missed much of the 2010-11 NHL Season with a torn meniscus in his right knee.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Free Agency: Martin Brodeur Re-Ups With Devils

The courtship of Martin Brodeur: Free Agent was a short one. Just a day after the Chicago Blackhawks, amongst other teams, expressed interest in signing the legendary goalie, Brodeur decided to re-sign with the New Jersey Devils, the only team he's ever played for.

Blackhawks Free Agency 2012: Martin Brodeur Has Mutual Interest In Joining Blackhawks

While it was reported earlier in the day that the Chicago Blackhawks are interested, free agent goaltender Martin Brodeur apparently has mutual interest in the possibility of joining the team, as a source tells Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago. The 40-year-old Brodeur has played for the New Jersey Devils during the entirety of his 19-year career.

A four-time Vezina trophy winner, Brodeur has never played for another team, but it appears that he's entertaining the possibility now that he's an unrestricted free agent this summer. Contract negotiations with the Devils reportedly broke down earlier this week, allowing other teams to get into the mix for the legendary goaltender.

At this point, it's unclear if the Blackhawks have actually made an offer yet, but they can offer him an immediate spot as the starter for one of the Western Conference's top teams. Chicago's top-two goalies from last season, Corey Crawford and Phil Emery, are both under contract, but Brodeur would provide a significant upgrade.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Free Agency 2012: Chicago Signs Sheldon Brookbank To Two-Year Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks and Sheldon Brookbank have agreed to a two-year contract that'll bring the defenseman to the Windy City, as Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune reports. The 31-year-old Canadian had spent the previous three-plus seasons playing for the Anaheim Ducks.

Looking to add depth to their blue line, the Blackhawks land a veteran to fit that need just a few hours into free agency, allowing the team to turn its efforts towards other issues. Some reports have even tied the Blackhawks to legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur.

In 80 games with Anaheim last year, Brookbank put up three goals and 11 assists, both career-high figures as he saw more playing time than ever.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Offseason 2012: Chicago Is Only Team Absent From List Of RFA's To Receive Qualifying Offers

The Chicago Blackhawks are the only team that's absent from the recent NHL free agent list consisting of restricted free agents receiving qualifying offers, as Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun Times.

#Blackhawks are the only team not to have a player on the NHL free agent list just released, consisting of RFA's tendered QO's.

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) July 1, 2012

Teams were required to make qualifying offers to any RFA's before Sunday's deadline in order to retain negotiating rights, and every team had at least one player on the list but the Blackhawks. By retaining those rights, the team is able to match any offer sheet that's given to the player.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Blackhawks' offseason, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Rumors: Chicago Reportedly Interested In Martin Brodeur

If there was one noticeable difference between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Phoenix Coyotes, the team that defeated them in the first round of the 2012 NHL Playoffs, it was goaltending. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford didn't have a bad series by most measures, but in a series where five of six games went to overtime, Phoenix goalie Mike Smith was a steady backbone for his team while Crawford let in a few notable soft goals.

Joakim Noah Tweets To Show Local Party Boy Solidarity With Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane Has The Support Of Teammate Jonathan Toews

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane has been the news for all the wrong reasons since the 'Hawks were eliminated in the first round of the 2012 NHL Playoffs by the Phoenix Coyotes.

Related: Patrick Kane Drunk Photos: Blackhawks 'Disappointed' By Pictures

A May excursion in Madison, Wisconsin resulted in numerous drunk photos of the Chicago star which of course went viral on the Internet. As an organization, the Blackhawks have vowed they handled the situation internally and hope Kane will soon be able to change his behavior.

On Monday, Kane found more support in the form of teammate Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks' captain says he has Kane's back.

"The guys on our team are behind him, he's been through some tough things," Toews said. "I think he's still learning and it's just unfortunate that now people are looking for it, and it tends to be easier for them to find it.

"People want to get to know him off the ice and they want to see what he's like, and next thing you know you're under the microscope. There are a lot of 23, 24-year old guys out there and they don't have to worry about that sort of thing. He does, I know it's tough on him."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Roberto Luongo Trade Rumors: Luongo Reportedly Only Willing To Be Traded To Florida

The trade rumors surrounding Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo will only likely get louder in the coming days and weeks, but any trade will have to overcome one big hurdle: Luongo's no trade clause. That, according to Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch, has already been put in play by Luongo, who reportedly will only agree to be traded to the Florida Panthers.

Only place Luongo is willing to be traded, as of today, is back to the Florida #Panthers.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 25, 2012

Luongo started his career with the Panthers before being dealt to Vancouver, but the Panthers— or any team looking to acquire Luongo— would have to be willing to take on a contract that lasts through the 2021-2022 season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Roberto Luongo Trade Rumors: Chicago Blackhawks Linked To Vancouver Goalie

NHL Draft Day 2 2012: Start Time, TV Schedule, Results And More

The Chicago Blackhawks added to their future on the first night of the 2012 NHL Draft when the picked Finnish forward Teuvo Teravainen with the No. 18 overall pick in the first round. But that's only the beginning, as the team will pick seven more times across the draft's final six rounds on Saturday morning and afternoon.

The Blackhawks in recent years have shown that they have no problem with jettisoning veterans and giving their roles to younger players, so the players drafted on Saturday could become familiar faces in the team's rotation a few years down the road. All of Chicago's picks on Saturday will come at No. 18 in each respective round, with the exception of their second pick in the fifth round, which will come at No. 28.

Date/time: Saturday, June 23; 9 a.m. CT

TV: NHL Network

Radio: Sirius XM Radio

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

2012 Blackhawks Offseason: Chicago GM Tells Fans To Expect Trades

The Chicago Blackhawks' 2012 offseason is just underway, and with the NHL Draft finishing up this weekend, the team's front office will move onto retooling the team in different ways. On the night of the draft, general manager Stan Bowman told reporters that he will complete at least a few trades within the next few days.

#Blackhawks Gm Stan Bowman said he anticipates trades to happen in coming days.

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) June 23, 2012

Around this time in 2011, Bowman made two major trades, dealing defenseman Brian Campbell and winger Tomas Kopecky to the Florida Panthers in two separate deals. In that Kopecky trade, the Blackhawks picked up a seventh round pick in the 2012 draft.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Draft Results: Blackhawks Select Teuvo Teravainen

With the No. 18 overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Finnish winger Teuvo Teravainen. Teravainen, who will be 18 in September, spent the 2011-2012 his team Jokerit's junior and senior clubs, scoring 13 goals and tallying 10 assists. He also played for Finland in the Under-18 World Championships.

At five-foot-11 and 165 pounds, Teravainen is in the mold of current Blackhawks wingers Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw. Here, according to NHL.com, are some various miscellaneous facts about Tearvainen. Spoiler alert: his favorite movie is "Saw."

FAVORITES

NHL player: Pavel Datsyuk
Shootout move: Like Linus Omark
Movie: Saw
Video game: Call of Duty
Pump-up song: "Stamp on the Ground" - ItaloBrothers
Home-cooked meal: Spaghetti and meat stew
Place to visit: New York

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

2012 NHL Mock Draft: Blackhawks Land Derrick Pouliot In Chicago Tribune Mock

The 2012 NHL Draft begins on Friday, June 22 at 6 p.m. CT, and the Chicago Blackhawks hold the No. 18 overall pick heading into the event. The Blackhawks never quite matched high expectations in the 2011-12 season as they were bounced from the playoffs in the opening round, but the draft presents a chance to add depth to the organization and built a strong foundation for a sustainable future.

At pick No. 18 in their 2012 NHL Mock Draft, the Chicago Tribune projects the Blackhawks to take Derrick Pouliot, a defenseman from the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League.

Notes: Canadian defenseman is a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, but he is considered by scouts to be a superb puck mover and a speedy skater. Pouliot wouldn't fill a tremendous need for Chicago, but he could be the best available player left at No. 18.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Mock Draft 2012: Matt Finn Goes To Blackhawks In SB Nation's Mock Draft

The 2012 NHL Draft gets underway on Friday, and over the past week the SB Nation hockey bloggers have been participating in a mock draft. The No. 18 selection for the Chicago Blackhawks was recently made as Second City Hockey selected defenseman Matt Finn from the Guelph Storm out of the Ontario Hockey League.

Finn has always had a great shot, but the one area he needed to improve upon was his conditioning if he wanted to be a first round selection, and that is what Finn concentrated on over this past season. Finn's coach Scott Walker talked about his improvement:

"His conditioning is 100 times better this season. If you can imagine a 16-year-old being out of shape, he was. I had my year-end meeting with him and I said, ‘you can be a top 10 player or in the top seven rounds, you got to decide.' That's really ultimately on the player and, man, he went home and came back in phenomenal shape. I give full credit to him."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Draft 2012: Start Time, TV Schedule, Results And More

The 50th edition of the 2012 NHL Draft begins on Friday June 22 and is being held at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the Chicago Blackhawks have the No. 18 pick. The Blackhawks feel that they are well prepared for this years draft as they have had a productive offseason with their signings, and can make some moves if they want to make trades during the draft.

The various mock drafts have the Blackhawks possibly taking Tomas Hertl from the Czech Republic or goalie Malcolm Subban.

Date/time: Friday, June 22; 6 p.m. CT

TV: NBC Sports Network

Radio: Sirius XM Radio

First round order:

1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. New York Islanders
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Minnesota Wild
8. Carolina Hurricanes
9. Winnipeg Jets
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
11. Washington Capitals (from Colorado Avalanche)
12. Buffalo Sabres
13. Dallas Stars
14. Calgary Flames
15. Ottawa Senators
16. Washington Capitals
17. San Jose Sharks
18. Chicago Blackhawks
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit Red Wings)
20. Philadelphia Flyers
21. Buffalo Sabres (from Nashville Predators)
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Florida Panthers
24. Boston Bruins
25. St. Louis Blues
26. Vancouver Canucks
27. Phoenix Coyotes
28. New York Rangers
29. New Jersey Devils
30. Los Angeles Kings

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Mock Draft 2012: Tomas Hertl Projected To Blackhawks At No. 18

The 2012 NHL Draft gets underway this Friday and continues through Saturday, and there is still plenty of speculating surrounding who the Chicago Blackhawks will take with their No. 18 pick. Sports Illustrated's Allan Muir has the Blackhawks taking center Tomas Hertl who has been playing in the Czech Republic.

Here is what Muir says about the Blackhawks selecting Hertl:

Say what you want about the diminished talent in the Czech league. It's still populated with men, and Hertl managed 25 points in 38 games playing against them. Scouts love his big body and believe he still has some filling out to do, which bodes well for a physical/defensive style that has earned comparisons to Martin Hanzal. Beyond that, he's a bit limited. Hertl's not the most agile skater or finisher, and he has a tendency to try to do too much. If he simplifies his game and learns to use his wingers more effectively, he could mature into a solid checking center.

In addition to playing in the Czech league, Hertl has been part of the Czech Republic's 18-under national team in 2010-11 and then in 2011-12 played for their 20-under team.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Mock Draft 2012: G Malcolm Subban Could Land With Blackhawks

The 2012 NHL Draft gets underway on Friday night and there has been plenty of speculation which prospects will be taken where. In his latest mock draft for NHL.com, Steven Hoffner predicts that the Chicago Blackhawks will select goaltender Malcolm Subban with the No. 18 overall pick. Here's what Hoffner has to say about Subban:

Impressed at the Combine and has the drive to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL

Related: Blackhawks Trade Rumors 2012: Chicago Willing To Deal Steve Montador And Niklas Hjalmarsson, According To Report

Subban is rated No. 1 among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting and No. 2 by International Scouting Services.

Subban spent the 2011-12 season with Belleville in the Ontario Hockey League.

Subban won 25 games during an injury plagued 2011-12 campaign, ranking fourth in the Ontario Hockey League with a 2.50 goals-against average and tied for fifth with a .923 save-percentage. The agile netminder also represented Team Canada at the 2011 Under-18 World Championship, finishing the tournament with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .913 save-percentage.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Trade Rumors 2012: Chicago Willing To Deal Steve Montador And Niklas Hjalmarsson, According To Report

With the 2012 NHL Draft set to get underway on Friday, trade discussions are starting to heat up around the league. According to a report from ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers, the Chicago Blackhawks have made it known that they're willing to part with defensemen Steve Montador and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

League sources indicate defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson and Steve Montador are being dangled. While the Hawks would undoubtedly want to make a good "hockey deal" in moving them, shedding their salaries could be just as important. Combined, the two players cost the Hawks $6.25 million on the salary cap per year. Hjalmarsson is signed for two more years, Montador for three.

Related: Blackhawks Offseason 2012: Chicago Re-Signs Brandon Bollig, Ben Smith

If Chicago is able to free up that money, Rogers speculates that the Blackhawks could use it to make an offer to Ryan Suter -- or even Shea Weber -- once the free agency period gets underway on July 1.

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Blackhawks Offseason 2012: Chicago Confident Heading Into NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks have already signed several would-be free agents, and that combined with the overall strength of the roster puts the franchise in an advantageous position heading into the 2012 NHL draft, according to GM Stan Bowman.

"We're a little bit ahead of it compared to previous years," Bowman said Tuesday. "We have a lot of these guys taken care of before we hit July. There are a lot of teams looking to find players so I think it's kind of dealing from a position of strength if we choose to make moves.

"Some teams have six-seven holes they need to fill and they probably have a different task with a lot of uncertainty but for the most part we know what our roster is going to be with some minor tweaks here and there."

Related: Blackhawks Offseason 2012: Chicago Re-Signs Brandon Bollig, Ben Smith

The Blackhawks have eight picks in the draft, with their first coming at No. 18 overall.

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Blackhawks Offseason 2012: Chicago Re-Signs Brandon Bollig, Ben Smith

The Chicago Blackhawks were busy this weekend. The team announced on Monday morning that they have re-signed three players: forwards Brandon Bollig and Ben Smith, as well as goaltender Carter Hutton. Although the monetary terms of the deals have only been released as far as Smith goes, the length of the contracts for all three are known:

2012 NHL Draft Order: Chicago Blackhawks Learn Selections For Next Week's Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks' offseason has been mostly discouraging. There are the sobering reminders of just how serious the hit that ended forward Marian Hossa's playoff run really was, as well as the less-than-sober news surrounding star Patrick Kane. Thankfully, we're about to get to the part of the off-season that is hockey-centric, starting first with next week's 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

On Friday, the NHL released the order for the 2012 draft. Here's what the Blackhawks will have to work with:

NHL releases order for next week's entry draft. #Blackhawks have eight selections: Nos. 18, 48, 79, 109, 139, 149, 169, 199.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) June 15, 2012

Chicago was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Coyotes in six games to end the 2011-2012 season.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Offseason: Preseason Schedule Announced

The Chicago Blackhawks' preseason schedule has been announced, as Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune reports. It kicks off on Sept. 25 with a match-up against the Philadelphia Flyers on the road, with the first game at the United Center going down on September 28.

#Blackhawks preseason schedule: 9/25 at Flyers; 9/28 vs. Red Wings; 9/29 at Red Wings; 9/30 vs. Penguins; 10/5 at Penguins; 10/6 vs. Flyers

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) June 13, 2012

The six-game preseason concludes on Oct. 6 with another match-up against Philadelphia. The full regular season schedule hasn't been released yet by the NHL, but now hockey fans at least know when they'll be getting their next fix of Blackhawks hockey live.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Offseason: 2013 Stanley Cup Odds Released

With the Los Angeles Kings winning the Stanley Cup on Monday night, the focus now shifts to the 2012-12 season.

Bovada.lv has released its 2013 Stanley Cup odds, and the Blackhawks are one of the favored teams, coming in at 12/1 odds to win it all.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are the favorite at 7/1 odds. The defending champions Kings are second at 11/1. But behind those teams are the Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues all at 12/1.

This past season, Chicago finished sixth in the Western Conference and third in the Central Division, despite finishing with a 45-26-11 record and 101 points. The depth of the division is apparent, with three teams given 12/1 odds. The Nashville Predators aren't far behind at 18/1 odds. The Columbus Blue Jackets are tied for the worst odds at 75/1.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Sign Adam Clendening To 3-Year Deal

On Friday morning, the Chicago Blackhawks signed second-round pick Adam Clendening to a three-year contract. The 19-year-old defenseman was drafted by the Hawks with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He earned Hockey East All-Rookie honors and an honorable mention to the Hockey East All-Star team as a freshman at Boston University and followed that up by being named to the Hockey East All-Star First-Team and the All-New England Division-I All-Star team in 2011-12.

Clendening won gold with Team USA at the 2009 and 2010 Under-18 World Championships as well, and now he will get an opportunity to start his NHL journey after officially joining the Blackhawks organization.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Patrick Kane Drunk Photos: Patrick Sharp Not Worried About Kane

The Chicago Blackhawks got an unwanted surprise in early May when images surfaced of RW Patrick Kane imbibing and partying at a University of Wisconsin get-together. Well, according to C Patrick Sharp, there's no need for concern:

"[Kane] lives a pretty famous lifestyle. Everyone can recognize him wherever he goes and he’s in the public eye quite a bit," Sharp said. "I think it’s more of a personal matter, to be honest with you as far as everything that he is dealing with. It’s better that he answers those questions. He’s my friend, he’s my teammate, I love the guy and I’m going to be behind him no matter what... He’s a kid with a good head on his shoulders and I’m not worried about him at all."

Kane played in all 82 games for the Blackhawks in the 2011-12 NHL season. He managed to collect 66 points despite a career-low Shot Percentage (9.1%). The 23-year-old also failed to score a goal in his six playoff game appearances, but did score 4 assists.

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Marian Hossa Update: GM Stan Bowman Believes Forward Will Be Ready For Training Camp

Marian Hossa is alive. For Chicago Blackhawks fans who witnessed the brutal hit the forward took in the 2012 NHL Playoffs from Raffi Torres of the Phoenix Coyotes, even that much seems like a minor miracle. The hit earned Torres a 25-game suspension, one of the longest in league history, but Hossa definitely received the worse end of the deal.

The B-Hawks' forward has been very slow to recover from the devastating shot, but the latest report from team general manager Stan Bowman has Hossa making some progress.

Bowman believes Hossa should be ready to go for training camp.

"We’re sitting here in May, projecting out to training camp in September: I can’t predict it, but I’m very encouraged that he’ll be ready to participate by then," Bowman said. "He’ll get some rest here. I think he’ll be ready to go. He had a good (2011-12) season with that rest (last summer). We’re hoping this summer will provide that, too."

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Patrick Kane Drunk Photos: Team Suggests Counseling For Kane, According To Report

Weeks after numerous photos were released showing Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane exhibiting what could be considered reckless behavior at a block party near the University of Wisconsin, the team finally responded this week with a statement expressing disappointment in the player's actions.

The team doesn't appear to be done dealing with the entire situation, though, as Adam Jahns of the Chicago Tribune reports that some in the organization have already suggested finding counseling for the 23-year-old. Here's what one source said of Kane's actions:

He’s obviously got some issues. How many more times can these things happen? It’s a much bigger thing than some photographs in a 48-hour window.

One of the biggest stars in Chicago, Kane has been in the news numerous times in the past for off-field behavior, including a 2009 arrest for an incident with a Buffalo cabdriver. A leader of the 2010 team that won the Stanley Cup Finals, he's one of the most talented players on the team but there's clearly mounting frustration at his inability to stay out of the headlines.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over toBlackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Patrick Kane Drunk Photos: Blackhawks 'Disappointed' By Pictures

Patrick Kane had a fun little getaway at the campus of University of Wisconsin recently, but the Chicago Blackhawks star received plenty of bad publicity when pictures of his excursion went viral on the Internet. It's not the first time Kane has been photographed drinking and very obviously inebriated.

In what's turning into an annual occurrence, the Blackhawks stated they're "disappointed" in Kane's behavior and that the team has been "following the situation closely."

Here's the rest of general manager Stan Bowman's statement:

"We discussed it with Patrick. We've handled that internally. We're obviously disappointed with how it played out and Patrick is aware of that fact. At this point, it's a private matter. Out of respect for Patrick, we're not going to comment further. We're going to look forward."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Roster: Chicago Re-Signs Veteran Defenseman Johnny Oduya

According to CBS Chicago, the Chicago Blackhawks have come to terms with 30-year-old D Johnny Oduya, retaining Oduya for another three seasons. The journeyman defender started the season with the Winnipeg Jets before coming to Chicago in a late February trade.

In his 18 games with the Blackhawks in the 2011-12 season, Oduya played strong defense and earned a playoff roster spot. He finished the season with a defensive point share total of 2.4, and with the 'Hawks, he averaged 3.41 defensive point shares per 1500 minutes -- good for the third best defensive numbers on the team.

Here is a look at Oduya's stats from the 2011-12 NHL Season:

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Blackhawks Offseason: Chicago Re-Signs Jamal Mayers

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a one-year, $600,000 contract with Jamal Mayers, as Nina Falcone of CSN Chicago reports. Falcone notes that he likely won't be a key contributor next season, but Mayers has legitimate value to the team.

Despite being a healthy scratch during the end of the playoff series against the Coyotes, Mayers proved to be a leader who added physical presence to the team and could be relied on during the penalty kill.

The Blackhawks have good depth on the fourth line, so Mayers is mostly depth, but he does give Chicago another solid veteran presence. The 37-year-old has experience playing with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks during his 16-year career.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks News: Chicago Signs Forward Rob Flick To 3-Year Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with forward Rob Flick.

Patrick Kane's Cinco De Mayo Adventure In Madison Continues To Evolve

Blackhawks Offseason: Joel Quenneville Says Staff Dysfunction Led To Firing Of Mike Haviland

The Chicago Blackhawks fired assistant coach Mike Haviland on Tuesday -- a decision that was made by head coach Joel Quenneville. In addressing the media about the move, Quenneville said that dysfunction within the coaching staff ultimately motivated him to make a change.

"I took a look back at the situation and I had my own reflection on the job I did. I know I can be better in certain areas. I watch other playoff games, I know there is areas where I can be a better coach. At the same time, I had an assessment that there is some dysfunction to our coaching staff and we need a change."

Related: Mike Haviland Fired: Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Relieved Of Duties

Quenneville also addressed his relationship with assistant Mike Kitchen and insisted that their friendship had nothing to do with the decision to remove Haviland rather than Kitchen.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks Offseason: Joel Quenneville Denies Any Interest In Going To Montreal

After the Montreal Canadiens hired Marc Bergevin -- a good friend of Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville -- to be their new general manager, some speculated that Quenneville might follow Bergevin to Montreal. Quenneville addressed the issue on Tuesday:

"I think over the last few days there was some speculation on other things that were going on about here in Chicago and me being somewhere else, and first and foremost, I'm excited about being here in Chicago," Quenneville said on a conference call. "I love the opportunity, I love the organization, I love where we're heading in the future and that's something I wanted to put to bed right from the outset."

Related: Mike Haviland Fired: Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Relieved Of Duties

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. And for more news and notes from around hockey, visit SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Mike Haviland Fired: Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Relieved Of Duties

The Blackhawks parted ways with Mike Haviland on Tuesday.

Blackhawks GM Expects Head Coach Joel Quenneville Back Next Season

There have been rumors that new Montreal Canadiens general manager -- and former Chicago Blackhawks assistant GM -- Marc Bergevin would love to make Blackhawks head coach Joel Quennville his new lead man in Montreal, but Hawks GM Stan Bowman told reporters that he expects Coach Q back in Chicago for the 2012-13 season, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune. Bowman said "I don't talk about rumors. I haven't and I don't want to start now," but he did respond in the affirmative when asked if he anticipated that Quennville will continue with the Hawks under his contract that runs through the 2013-14 season.

There have been persistent rumors that Coach Q and Hawks upper-management don't see eye-to-eye, which at least partially stems from talk that he was unhappy that director of player development Barry Smith got involved in an on-ice role during practices this season. Smith's role on-ice later ended during the playoffs.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Coach Q situation is that he guided the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 2010, so it's hard to think the Hawks would let him walk out the door without a fight.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Hawks, visit Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Patrick Kane At Cinco De Mayo, Will Party Forever

Blackhawks Offseason: Chicago Promotes Norm Maciver To Assistant GM

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago, the Chicago Blackhawks have moved to fill the void left when the Montreal Canadiens hired away assistant GM Marc Bergevin. Rogers reports the 'Hawks have promoted former director of player personal Norm Maciver to the assistant GM position:

"Norm has proven to be a valuable asset to our hockey operations over the past five years, so we are excited to be able to elevate him to this role," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said in a statement. "He has an excellent handle on the players within our organization, from recent draft picks to veterans, and a great eye for talent evaluating."

Bergevin joins a Montreal Canadiens organization that missed the playoffs for the first time in the five seasons after the team mustered only 78 points in the 2011-12 season. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, finished 4th in the Central Division despite an impressive 101 points total.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of the Hawks, visit Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.

Blackhawks' Marc Bergevin Named GM Of Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have hired key Chicago decision-maker Marc Bergevin to be their new GM.