The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Coyotes on Sunday night, mostly due to the Hawks’ decision to keep Colin Blackwell on the team after the NHL Trade Deadline.
Indeed, with two goals and an assist, Connor Bedard was outstanding. The show stealer was Blackwell’s hat trick.
With Clayton Keller’s second goal of the game 11 seconds into the second period, Arizona led 2-0 and it appeared that the Coyotes would win. A few minutes later, Blackwell’s first goal of the match knotted the score at two after Bedard’s 18th goal of the season sliced that lead in half.
After the Coyotes knotted the score at three goals apiece, Bedard’s assist to Tyler Johnson gave the Hawks a late-second-period lead. This was Bedard’s second goal of the game.
Everyone was waiting for Bedard to pull off his first career hat trick. Thirty-three seconds into the last frame, Blackwell added his second goal of the game to extend the Hawks’ lead. Blackwell joined him in that observation.
After Blackwell scored an empty net goal later in the game, the hats were brought onto the ice. With eight goals so far this season, Blackwell is four goals shy of tying a career-high.
Blackwell is making another argument with this game in an attempt to sign a new deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Blackwell’s contract expires this season, and he has pushed to stay.
Recently, Blackwell, Dickinson, and Joey Anderson have produced some quality work.
Recently, Blackwell, Dickinson, and Joey Anderson have produced some quality work.
Recently, Blackwell, Dickinson, and Joey Anderson have produced some quality work.Recently, Blackwell, Dickinson, and Joey Anderson have produced some quality work.
Even though the Blackhawks have a ton of promising forward prospects, some might not be ready for a few more seasons. Giving Blackwell a two-year bridge agreement until some of these prospects are ready hence cannot be detrimental. The Hawks awarded Nick Foligno and Dickinson that amount, even though Blackwell shouldn’t have to pay a cap hit exceeding $4 million.
Blackwell recovered from a terrible injury that sidelined him for the whole of 2023. He was having trouble prior to the injury. He has skated hard since coming back and has scored goals when needed.
For a few more seasons, the Hawks might benefit from having someone like Blackwell in the locker room, especially since the club will likely get younger as more and more young players develop. They require guidance, and Blackwell is the ideal guy to provide that with his consistent effort each night as those young prospects make their way through the NHL.
Zachary Sanford, Reese Johnson, and Mackenzie Entwistle are all younger, but Johnson and Entwistle deserve a raise in restricted free agency. Given the way they’ve been playing, it’s possible to be non-tendered. The Arizona Coyotes have previously waived Sanford, who is primarily an organizational depth piece.
Although both Lukas Reichel and Cole Guttman are in Rockford and may eventually replace Blackwell, they have both had very uneven NHL careers.
It makes much too much sense to add Blackwell to the experienced production and leadership team that already includes Petr Mrazek, Foligno, Dickinson, Seth Jones, and Connor Murphy. The six players have the ability to teach these young players the proper way to play and help head coach Luke Richardson instilling in them the work ethic he demands of them. But bringing Blackwell back must come at a cost that doesn’t exceed reasonable compensation.
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