Olympic Break Brings a Pause to NHL Action, But the Hockey World Keeps Spinning
The NHL may have hit the pause button for the Olympic break, but the broader hockey world is still buzzing-from the AHL to college rinks to the Olympic stage in Beijing. Let’s break down the top storylines from Friday, starting with some intriguing developments in Chicago.
Blackhawks Trade Detail Raises Eyebrows
A bit of a curveball landed in Chicago on Friday when Frank Seravalli reported that the first-round draft pick the Blackhawks received from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade is top-10 protected. That revelation sparked a wave of reaction among Blackhawks fans-many of whom were surprised this hadn’t come up sooner, especially considering how much draft capital has been a focus of the franchise’s rebuild.
Jay Zawaski of CHGO confirmed with the Blackhawks that the protection was always part of the deal, which does help clear the air. But it still raises the question: how did such a key detail fly under the radar for so long?
To be fair, when the trade was made, nobody expected the Panthers to be flirting with the lottery. Florida was seen as a contender, not a club that might cough up a top-10 pick.
But here we are. If the Panthers can shake off their pre-break struggles and climb the standings, this becomes a non-issue.
If not, Chicago might have to wait another year to cash in on that pick.
IceHogs Drop Costly Game Despite Promising Pairing
While the Blackhawks rest up, their AHL affiliate in Rockford is very much in the grind-and Friday night wasn’t kind to them. The IceHogs fell 5-2 at home to the Iowa Wild, a game that was tied 2-2 entering the third period. That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially considering Iowa is the only team in the Central Division with fewer points than Rockford.
There were some silver linings, though. Sam Rinzel returned to the lineup and was slotted on the top defensive pairing alongside Ethan Del Mastro.
The young duo showed flashes of what the future might look like, each assisting on both of Dominic Toninato’s goals. That kind of chemistry is something the organization will be watching closely.
Still, the loss stings. With 30 games left in the regular season, the IceHogs now sit six points behind the Milwaukee Admirals for the final playoff spot in the division. Every point matters from here on out.
Prospect Watch: Pridham Keeps Climbing
Jack Pridham continues to light it up in the OHL. The Blackhawks prospect scored his 32nd goal of the season and added an assist in the Kitchener Rangers’ 6-2 win over the Guelph Storm. That performance moved him into sole possession of third place in the league’s scoring race with 65 points.
Pridham’s offensive instincts and knack for finding the net are becoming hard to ignore. If he keeps this up, he’ll be knocking on the door of serious consideration for a roster spot down the line.
College Update: UMass Loses Nestrasil to Injury
UMass was without forward Vaclav Nestrasil on Friday night after he suffered an injury in Sunday’s game. According to Mark Divver, the setback kept him out of the lineup against UMass-Lowell. No word yet on the severity, but it’s a situation worth monitoring as the Minutemen push toward the postseason.
This Day in Blackhawks History: Hull Ties a Legend
February 7, 1971, was a milestone day for Bobby Hull. The Golden Jet scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, a tally that brought his career total to 544-tying him with Maurice “Rocket” Richard for the second-most goals in NHL history at the time. Tony Esposito was perfect in net, turning aside all 28 shots he faced.
That’s the kind of game that lives in franchise lore. Two Hall of Famers, one shutout, one historic goal.
Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call - February 7
A tip of the cap to a few former Hawks celebrating birthdays today:
- Tim Higgins
- Peter Bondra
- Richard Panik
NHL Notes: Legal Update and Olympic Turbulence
In off-ice news, felony charges have been dropped against Penn State forward Gavin McKenna. He still faces misdemeanor charges for assault and disorderly conduct, but prosecutors determined, after reviewing video evidence, that he did not act with intent to cause serious harm or with reckless disregard for human life.
Olympic Women’s Hockey Hits a Rough Patch
The women’s tournament at the Winter Olympics is underway, but it’s already been hit with some unexpected challenges-none of them related to on-ice performance.
Both the Swiss and Finnish teams have been dealing with norovirus outbreaks. The Swiss squad is currently in isolation as a precaution after one player tested positive, and Finland’s earlier outbreak already forced the postponement of their opener against Canada. Canada is scheduled to face Switzerland later today, but the situation remains fluid.
Team USA, meanwhile, got off to a strong start with a 5-1 win over Czechia on Thursday. Hayley Scamurra led the way with two goals in her second Olympic appearance. The Buffalo native had a solid showing in 2022, and she’s clearly picking up where she left off.
What’s Next
With the NHL on pause, all eyes turn to the Olympic tournament and the development leagues. For the Blackhawks, this break could be a blessing-time for rest, recovery, and reflection. But for the prospects grinding it out in Rockford and beyond, the work continues.
And for fans? Well, there’s still plenty of hockey to keep us warm.