With the Blackhawks still buried near the bottom of the NHL standings after 12 games, Kyle Davidson is already shopping for help. The market search appears to have a clear target, too: shoot-first wingers with size. NHL insider Frank Seravalli said on CHSN’s pregame show Tuesday that Davidson is actively looking for that type of forward, and the Blackhawks have already been tied to at least one name that fits the mold.
One of those rumored fits is Philadelphia’s Owen Tippett. Chicago Hockey Now reported that the Blackhawks have a specific need they’re trying to address, and Tippett has popped up in speculation as a possible answer.
The problem, according to the report, is that a deal with the Flyers would not be simple. Philadelphia is said to have interest in Frank Nazar or Oliver Moore, and that’s where things start to get tricky.
Another potential target in the rumor mix is Washington winger Ivan Miroshnichenko. The Capitals have given the 2022 first-round pick permission to seek a possible trade, and Davidson has already been linked to him as well. The question now is whether Miroshnichenko really makes sense for Chicago.
Back on the ice, the Blackhawks finally snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. The new third line of Moore, Nazar, and Patrick Kane clicked right away, and Spencer Knight got the win his play had been begging for. It was also enough to quiet things down, at least for a night.
There’s another notable wrinkle on the back end. Bowen Byram has joined the team for the two-game road trip that begins in Detroit, and the trip doubles as Chicago’s dad’s trip this season.
Byram wore a non-contact sweater during Wednesday’s optional practice, so a return against the Red Wings looks unlikely. The team should have a clearer read after the morning skate.
Thursday also brings Patrick Kane’s first trip back to Detroit since leaving the organization this summer and signing with Chicago. Kane said he isn’t sure how the Red Wings crowd will greet him, but he did make clear he appreciated his time in Motown. He also sits one assist away from 900 for his career.
Around the league, Connor McDavid added another page to the record book in Edmonton’s 4-0 win over Calgary. He extended his season-opening assist streak to 13 games, which is NHL history, while piling up two more assists. McDavid is now at 36 points in 13 games, with 8 goals and 28 assists.
The Flames had more bad news beyond the loss. Their four-game winning streak ended, and goalie Devin Cooley left early with an injury after Colton Dach crashed into him late in the first period. Cooley did not return after the intermission.
On the prospect front, Gavin McKenna logged his first multi-goal game in a Toronto loss, but Seattle spoiled the milestone. Brandon Montour scored with 33 seconds left to lift the Kraken to a 5-4 win over the Maple Leafs. McKenna now has 11 points in his first 15 NHL games, with 5 goals and 6 assists.
In Chicago-related trade chatter, defenseman Kevin Korchinski landed at No. 19 on Chris Johnston’s trade board 2.0. Johnston’s board is topped by Red Wings skaters Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson after Connor Hellebuyck’s trade to New Jersey.
Elsewhere, Scott Wheeler unveiled his preliminary top 64 prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft, with defenseman Landon DuPont still in a tier of his own and several others grouped below him in tier two.
Minnesota GM Bill Guerin also drew attention after sounding frustrated about the Quinn Hughes situation. Asked on a Minnesota sports talk show Wednesday about a contract extension, Guerin replied, “What should I say, please, please, please?” He said there is no update and noted the two sides haven’t negotiated in some time, even though he wants to sign Hughes.
And on the goalie market, Jordan Binnington is now the top option left after Connor Hellebuyck landed in New Jersey. With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, the Rangers could be a team to watch there.
As for Detroit, Dylan Larkin’s absence from Wednesday’s practice caused a stir, but it turned out to be nothing more than a maintenance day. He’s expected to play against the Blackhawks tonight.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Could Get Pulled Into A Pricey Young Winger Chase
A young winger with some upside is suddenly on the trade radar, and the Blackhawks have been mentioned among the teams in the mix. Washington is exploring options on Ivan Miroshnichenko, and his agent has been contacting multiple clubs, with interest said to be coming mostly from the Western Conference. For Chicago, it is the kind of conversation that fits a rebuilding timeline in theory, even if it immediately raises the question of how aggressive the front office wants to be for another player still early in his NHL path.
The wrinkle is the price. The Capitals are believed to want to move Miroshnichenko out of the Eastern Conference, and the early asking range being discussed is steep enough to make any interested team pause. If the Blackhawks stay involved, it would likely come down to how much they are willing to pay for potential versus patience, especially with other clubs circling and the bidding not sounding modest. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Blue Line Suddenly Faces A Problem Ahead Of Road Trip
A road trip can expose a thin blue line in a hurry, and the Blackhawks are suddenly staring at that possibility with two of their left-shot defensemen in question. Head coach Jeff Blashill said Alex Vlasic is ill and questionable for Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, a development that comes after he missed the morning skate and leaves Chicago juggling its back end before the trip really gets rolling.
Bowen Byrams situation only adds to the uncertainty. He remains sidelined with an upper-body injury and is also uncertain for the next game against the Boston Bruins, leaving the Blackhawks without much clarity on how their defense will look in the near term. For a team trying to get through a stretch on the road, the timing is far from ideal. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Have An Early Problem Kyle Davidson May Need To Fix
Through the first 12 games, the Blackhawks have looked like a team that can skate, but not always one that can consistently make life difficult on opponents. The numbers behind that impression are stark enough to raise an early concern: Chicago sits near the bottom of the league in both hits and blocked shots, a sign that the roster still lacks some of the grit and edge that tends to travel well over an 82-game season.
For a team trying to build a tougher identity without blowing up its plans, that leaves Kyle Davidson with a familiar kind of balancing act. The Blackhawks can hope for more bite from the players already in the room, but the article also points to possible outside help in Paul Cotter and Nick Seeler, two names that could add some needed physicality without forcing a major investment. [Read more 🡒]