Nathan MacKinnon Out (COVID) For Season Opener
The Chicago Blackhawks will open their season against the Colorado Avalanche, who will be without one of their best players.
Nathan MacKinnon tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed in COVID protocol by the Avs. He will reportedly miss at least the first game of the 2021-22 season. Joe Sakic told the media MacKinnon is asymptomatic and has not ruled out Saturday’s game (yet).
See if they can take advantage with McKinnon out
A good time for the Hawks to get off to a fast start. Refreshing that we will be close to full strength. Let’s get it going!
Hope he is ok, too bad. Certainly Avs will miss him.
Shouldn’t be an issue or an excuse. They’re still a big physical playoff bound hockey team. I want to see how Byram looks, want to see what the Hawks do with somebody like McDermid, want to see the new look “defensive” pieces that the Hawks acquired and see what this team can do.
Looks like the Hockey Gods are shining down on Hawks. Might be a sign of good fortunes to come!!
MacKinnon- is one special player
Too bad for MacKinnon, hope he’s ok. No doubt a break for the Hawks though.
Hawks start season with a proven NHL goalie in net… Lets see how it plays out…
Lets go Hawks !!!!!!
MAF– can really get hot for periods of time
But I thought Lankinen- was just as good or better in pre-season
Hawks are loaded in net- w/ Commesso/Soderblom/Morris/Subban- lots of potential there
I think that the Hawks skilled forwards can take advantage of that Avalanche defense. No Devin Toews tonight for them and they have not played many games with both Makar and Bynam in the lineup. Looking at their roster there is a big turnover there. They are the betting favorite for the Cup but I wouldn’t lay that $$$ down just yet.
Bluto agree goaltending looking more set than we’ve seen in years. Throw in Delia and Subban as depth this year, should be solid there.
If Jones shows he is a number 1 dman with a veteran group vs a green young corps, should be ready to bring it now and less being patient with youngsters for sure. Potential for alot of improvement is there.
Bottom 6, a different look as well, should provide some secondary scoring and probably have different looks throughout season until they settle on who plays and where. Will be a very solid group when the dust settles.
Top 6, with Kane and Debrincat carrying the offense, how long T. Johnson stays with them is anyones guess. If Dach not playing there, would like to see him play with Toews and Kubalik, slide over to C for Toews when he needs a game off. Be interesting to see how it plays out.
While the top 6 and top D pair questions will probably play the deciding role in how good this team really is this year and how limited their ceiiling is. A much improved bottom of the lineup, along with available depth should on flip side prevent the lows from being too bad.
Personally i think they will be a playoff team at the end of the year, having chemistry that matches their balance needs to happen though. Looking at schedule, 21 games until end of November, in the 25 point range would be a good position. Then a 32 game in 63 day stretch up to olympics break, probably the hardest part of their schedule, need to be in 60 point range at that point. A 29 game stretch to finish season after olympics looks pretty favorable on paper and a 40 points in 29 games there doesn’t look at all out of the question and put them comfortably in a playoff spot. Heres hoping.
Wonder if Nyr be interested in a Strome for Kravtsov deal. Ktavtsov ceiling may be a very good 2 way top 6 power forward. Have a Strome reunion for Rangers, who have said they were looking for a potentially top 6 player in return.
I won’t even wait for the Avalanche game to end. How many fans feel they’ve been fooled again?
It was ugly. So bad and hard to watch. Embarrassing. But did anyone else notice Colorado with 7 skaters on the ice when the breakout for that 3rd Avs goal broke out?!? The tv broadcast even went back and showed that play develop and none of them said anything about it!
JC, the Matt Nagy of hockey.