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Ben Pope

@benpopecst.bsky.social

2.5K followers 74 following 350 posts

Chicago Blackhawks beat reporter for the Sun-Times

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Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 5h

The Blackhawks will lean on Sam Rinzel as their #1 defenseman this season.

But they leaned too much last night in Florida. His 25:18 of ice time was excessive.

"We’ve got to dial that back. We lost those minutes a little bit."

New story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks will lean on Sam Rinzel as No. 1 defenseman this season, but they leaned too much Tuesday

Coach Jeff Blashill said he made a mistake letting Rinzel play more than 25 minutes in the season opener. But Rinzel is the kind of defenseman who wants to carry the load.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 1d

One major positive for the Blackhawks tonight:

Spencer Knight was excellent in his return to Florida. His glove especially was on-point.

"It wouldn’t have been that close without him."

Postgame notebook: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks notebook: Spencer Knight delivers stellar performance in return to Florida

The former Panthers goalie saved 34 of 37 shots by his former team Tuesday, giving the Hawks a chance even in a losing effort.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 1d

Jeff Blashill has talked about trying to minimize the Blackhawks' valleys and maximize their peaks this season.

Tonight, they encountered a few more valleys than peaks.

Postgame story after a 3-2 season-opening loss in Florida: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks encounter more valleys than peaks in season-opening loss to Panthers

The Hawks put forth a respectable effort in a daunting matchup Tuesday, but new coach Jeff Blashill identified plenty of learning moments in their 3-2 defeat.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 1d

There’s a wide gap between expectations and vibes for the Blackhawks entering today's season opener.

Outsiders expect them to be the NHL's worst team. But inside the locker room, there's a fresh energy.

"Now we’re in the fun years."

New story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks begin new season with genuine excitement for roller coaster ahead

There are 13 players 24 or younger on the Hawks' opening roster, and that youth has brought optimism and good vibes, if not higher external expectations.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 2d

So far, Jeff Blashill has avoided one of Luke Richardson’s fatal errors: mixing lines too much.

Aside from two injury-necessitated shuffles, the Hawks will deploy the same lines tomorrow that they practiced throughout camp.

New story:
chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Breaking down Blackhawks' forward lines, defense pairings for season opener at Panthers

Coach Jeff Blashill kept the Hawks' lines steady throughout training camp, but injuries to Landon Slaggert and Alex Vlasic have necessitated a few short-term shuffles entering the regular season.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 3d

Takeaways from the Blackhawks' preseason:
🔹Matt Grzelcyk got a contract because other young D struggled
🔹Frank Nazar can drive offense
🔹Penalty kill needs a grace period

New story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Four takeaways from Blackhawks preseason: Matt Grzelcyk gets contract, Frank Nazar drives offense

Grzelcyk, a training-camp tryout, signed a one-year contract to stick around for the Hawks' regular season, per reports. That happened largely because the young defensemen he was competing against str...

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 3d

The 2023 draft class — Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, Michkov — is turning out to be as good as expected.

But will any of them finally experience team success in 2025-26? That's one story I'll be following.

My 2025-26 NHL season preview:
chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

2025-26 NHL predictions: Connor Bedard and rest of 2023 draft class still waiting for team success

None of Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, Will Smith and Matvei Michkov — the top prospects in that loaded class — have tasted the playoffs yet, and they all face uphill climbs to do so this season...

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 4d

The Blackhawks haven’t changed too much about their 1-3-1 power play, which ranked 7th in the NHL last season.

But Frank Nazar in the bumper and Sam Rinzel as quarterback do add new elements.

New story breaking down the PP strategy: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Breaking down the Blackhawks' power-play strategy: Sam Rinzel, Frank Nazar add new elements

Rinzel (as the quarterback) and Nazar (in the bumper) are adjusting to new roles as the Hawks try to replicate their surprising — and perhaps unjustified — power-play success last season.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 4d

The Blackhawks weren't perfect in tonight's regular-season dress rehearsal, a 3-2 preseason loss to the Wild.

But they are encouraged about their rate of learning and growth.

Postgame notebook: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks show progress and flaws in regular-season dress rehearsal

The Hawks' 3-2 preseason loss Friday against the Wild, for which both teams dressed full NHL lineups, offered a sneak preview of what's to come next week and beyond.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 6d

Wyatt Kaiser and Artyom Levshunov are a locked-in defensive pairing for the Blackhawks.

Their styles complement each other, and they've also become friends.

"[Wyatt] understands Arty."

New story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Why Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser have become cemented Blackhawks defensive pairing

Kaiser has demonstrated an ability to understand Levshunov and anticipate his erratic decisions better than anyone else on the team.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 7d

Connor Bedard needs to create more space this season.

Speed, strength and especially vision will be the keys to doing so.

"It’s something that I think is probably my biggest skill, how I see the ice — especially with the puck."

New Blackhawks story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

How can the Blackhawks help Connor Bedard create more space this season?

Andre Burakovsky's puck transporting might help a little bit, but it's mostly going to fall on Bedard to utilize his vision and improved speed.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 7d

The Blackhawks sent Kevin Korchinski down to Rockford, then lost 3-1 to the Red Wings in their third preseason game today.

Notebook analyzing both of those things: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks' defensive roster battle tightens after Kevin Korchinski's AHL assignment

It's concerning how much less notable Korchinski getting cut from the Hawks' training-camp roster was this year than last year. The news came Tuesday before a 3-1 preseason loss to the Red Wings.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 8d

Alex Vlasic was wearing cut-resistant socks Sunday, but they weren't resistant enough to prevent a skate from slashing his leg.

"Maybe there’s a higher level [of resistance] we’ll go to."

That and more Blackhawks injury updates in this new story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks injury updates: Alex Vlasic probable for season opener after getting cut by skate

Vlasic should be in the lineup next Tuesday in Florida, just like Hawks veterans Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson — even though they both were affected by more macro-level health issues this past sum...

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 9d

It's crunch time for the Blackhawks on the NHL roster bubble.

It's likely Greene vs. Moore, four D battling for one spot, and a big question mark hanging over Lukas Reichel.

New story breaking down where things stand: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Where the Blackhawks' roster battles stand entering the last week of training camp

Four defensemen — prospects Ethan Del Mastro, Kevin Korchinski and Nolan Allan and veteran Matt Grzelcyk — could be competing for one NHL job, while the forward puzzle is even more cloudy.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 10d

Colton Dach has delivered 12 hits — including one extremely impactful one — in two preseason games.

"He has played to an identity."

A Blackhawks job looks very secure for him. New story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Colton Dach's physicality helping him secure Blackhawks job: 'He has played to an identity'

After two solid preseason appearances, the 22-year-old power forward seems even more locked into an NHL job than he already was.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 11d

Jeff Blashill has overhauled the Blackhawks' defensive systems, both 5v5 and PK.

They're aggressive, designed to reduce time stuck in the D-zone.

With help from Dickinson, Murphy, Kaiser and Vlasic, here's an explainer and breakdown of the systems: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Breaking down the Blackhawks' aggressive new defensive systems under Jeff Blashill

The Hawks' new coach has overhauled their tactics in their own zone, both at five-on-five and on the penalty kill, to dial up more pressure on the puck.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 11d

An example of the Blackhawks in a diamond PK formation when the puck is up top:

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 11d

An example of Blackhawks’ base zone 5v5 defense under Jeff Blashill, with all five guys in the puck quadrant:

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 12d

Drew Commesso: "I feel like I’m NHL-ready."

There's just one problem: the Blackhawks don't have a goalie roster spot for him right now.

What's his mindset? What's Blashill's message to him? New story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Drew Commesso believes he's NHL-ready, but no Blackhawks roster spot is available

Commesso, the Hawks' 23-year-old goalie prospect, finished the 2024-25 AHL season on a torrid run, only to see Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom both receive contract extensions this summer.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 13d

This summer, Alex Vlasic practiced napping.

"It’s a good life," he laughed.

That's part of his plan to better maintain his energy levels this season with better rest and recovery habits.

New Blackhawks story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

How Alex Vlasic plans to maintain his energy during another grueling Blackhawks season

The 24-year-old defenseman will handle another huge workload, so he's going to focus more on his rest and recovery habits.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 14d

Jeff Blashill's intense approach to Blackhawks training camp has been impressive.

But he must be careful not to over-work and over-tinker like Jeremy Colliton did during the disastrous camp of 2021.

New column: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Jeff Blashill shouldn't let intense Blackhawks training camp stray into Jeremy Colliton territory

Players have raved about the up-tempo pace of camp, but Blashill must be careful not to over-work or over-tinker with the Hawks to the extent Colliton did in the disastrous camp of 2021.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 14d

Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman and Dustin Wolf all signed 8-year extensions.

But Spencer Knight signed only a 3-year extension with the Blackhawks, bucking the trend and altering the NHL goalie market.

He explains why in here: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

How Spencer Knight's three-year Blackhawks contract alters the NHL goalie market

Knight bucked a trend by not signing maximum-term eight-year deal, but he believes this length still gives him "so much time to change and evolve."

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 15d

The last three years, Blackhawks preseason woes have foretold of regular-season struggles ahead.

So the 2025 preseason might actually tell us something — and tonight, a messy 3-2 loss in Detroit, wasn't a great start.

Postgame notebook: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks begin potentially meaningful preseason with messy loss to Red Wings

The Hawks' preseason woes the last three years have foretold of regular-season struggles ahead. Given that, their first exhibition game of 2025 wasn't a great sign.

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 16d

Kevin Korchinski walked a fine line this summer between adding strength and maintaining agility.

He settled at 198 pounds, just a few higher than last year.

Now, he's walking another fine line at Blackhawks training camp. New story explaining why: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Blackhawks want Kevin Korchinski to play to his strengths in defensive roster battle

Many young defensemen are vying for NHL roster spots, but none are more interesting than Korchinski. He's trying to find the right balances between offense and defense and between strength and agility...

chicago.suntimes.com

Ben Pope @benpopecst.bsky.social · 17d

Fair judgment of Kyle Davidson can finally begin this season.

For the first time, we'll all get able to assess with our own eyes how the fruits of the Blackhawks' rebuild — Davidson's cherished prospects — stack up against NHL competition.

New column: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/2...

Fair judgment of Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson can finally begin this season

Hawks fans will get to see the fruits of Davidson's rebuild with their own eyes on United Center ice, and they'll be able to evaluate those young players against NHL competition for the first time.

chicago.suntimes.com