The Blackhawks are on the verge of getting two key pieces back, and both Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram could be in the lineup again within the next few days.
Head coach Jeff Blashill said, per WGN’s Charlie Roumeliotis, that the pair are only a couple of days away from returning. After skating on their own yesterday, Kane and Byram joined the team for practice this morning, though they were still wearing non-contact jerseys.
Chicago could use the help. The club has stumbled through its first 18 games and sits at 4-13-1.
Kane, 38, has put up one goal and nine points in 15 games, which leaves him third on the team in scoring. The tough part has been the other end of the ice: he’s already sitting at a minus-15, the third-worst mark on the roster.
Byram’s season has also been slowed by injuries. The Blackhawks’ major offseason pickup has managed just one assist in six games and carries a minus-7 rating.
There was another bit of movement in Chicago, too. Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Blackhawks are bringing former Stanley Cup champion Mark Eaton onto the coaching staff.
The team didn’t specify his exact title, only that he’ll serve as a defensive coach. That fits a clear need, since Chicago has allowed the second-most goals against in the league and the fifth-most shots against.
In Dallas, the Stars made a roster move of their own by recalling defenseman Trey Taylor from AHL Texas. The 24-year-old has been a regular call-up lately, especially with Miro Heiskanen out due to injury. Taylor has appeared in three games for Dallas this season and has yet to record a point.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Search For A Spark As Losing Streak Keeps Dragging On
With the losses piling up, the Blackhawks turned to a familiar organizational move for a little jolt in net. Backup goaltender Arvid Sderblom was placed on waivers and then assigned to the Rockford IceHogs after clearing, while Drew Commesso was brought up from Rockford on Nov. 8 as Chicago looked for a way to steady things and reset the tone around the room.
The timing says plenty about where the team is right now, with captain Connor Bedard and others stressing the need for more competitiveness and momentum as the skid drags on. Commessos potential to give the group a different look has become part of the conversation, and for a team searching for any spark, even a change in the crease can feel like it carries more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Slump Has Put Kyle Davidson Under Real Pressure
Kyle Davidson is set to face the media in the wake of a 4-13-1 start that has left the Blackhawks searching for answers and, more importantly, direction. The early-season slide has intensified the spotlight on the front office, where every move now carries extra weight for a team still trying to balance patience with the urgency to improve.
The bigger question around the organization is what comes next in terms of roster construction, because the Blackhawks are being linked to trade discussions as they look for ways to shake up the group. There has also been chatter around possible veteran movement and future draft assets, which only adds to the sense that Chicago could be entering a more active phase of its rebuild, even if the exact shape of that approach is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Trade Push May Have Hit An Unexpected Wall
Kyle Davidson has been looking to add scoring wingers with some size to help ease the load on Connor Bedard, and Rickard Rakell has surfaced as one of the names tied to that search. The Penguins winger fits the kind of profile Chicago is said to be chasing, which is why his name has lingered around the rumor mill as the Blackhawks continue to explore ways to bolster the top six.
The wrinkle is that the path to a deal may not be as straightforward as it first appeared, and some of the chatter around the negotiations has already been called into question. With reports and roster-related speculation not all lining up cleanly, the Blackhawks' pursuit of a fit for Bedard may be running into more uncertainty than expected. [Read more 🡒]