And… Breathe.
After one of the more hectic offseasons we’ve seen in a while, it’s safe to say the storm has mostly passed. We saw GM Kyle Davidson revamp the Blackhawks’ roster by pairing veteran talent with young prospects, the departure of many former Chicago skaters, and of course, Connor Bedard. In the “dog days” of the offseason, however, there isn’t much in the world of hockey to get excited about. That doesn’t stop the avid fan, however, as he uses the break to look forward to October, when things pick up again.
With the Blackhawks seemingly on the upswing after a scorched-earth rebuild, there’s plenty to be excited about. The incoming prospect pool, led by draftee Connor Bedard, has no shortage of talent, and the team made enough offseason acquisitions to be giddy for Opening Night in October. On top of the new-look roster, Blackhawks fans can even look forward to a schedule chock-full of exciting matchups. Three games in particular stand out on the Blackhawks’ schedule as “must-watch”.
October 10 – at Pittsburgh Penguins
This one’s a no-brainer. The storylines to the matchup in Pittsburgh are practically limitless. Two of the most storied franchises in NHL history. Opening night. Bedard’s first NHL game. Will Bedard’s first faceoff (assuming he’s in the circle on opening night) be against his childhood idol Sidney Crosby? Wouldn’t want to miss that. It’s the first time the two teams will have seen each other since the second-to-last regular season game last year, when the Blackhawks effectively eliminated the Penguins from the postseason. This game is an easy pick, but TVs across Chicago will be tuned into the primetime national broadcast.
October 11 – at Boston Bruins
There’s truly a number of games that deserved to go in this slot. Bedard vs. McDavid in Edmonton. A possible Bedard-Fantilli bout in Columbus that could leave Blue Jackets fans with a sour taste in their mouths. But after a quick turnaround from an opening-night headliner, a few new arrivals are slated to play in an immediate revenge game. Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno, who were brought to Chicago just before the draft, should be on the ice when the Blackhawks travel to play the team that led the league in regular-season points last year. Chicago was lucky to get a 1-1 series split last year, but should be much better equipped to face the high-powered Bruins this time around. The nationally televised game between two original-six franchises should be a treat for fans of both sides.
October 21 – vs. Vegas Golden Knights
The Blackhawks open the season with five games on the road before returning to Chicago for the last home opener in the NHL, but the game will certainly be worth the wait. It’s a safe bet the United Center will be rocking – it’s Bedard’s first game there, and many fans’ first opportunity to see him in person. To put things over the top, they’ll welcome the defending Stanley Cup champions to the arena. Bedard vs. Jack Eichel in the faceoff circle to start the tilt doesn’t hurt, either.
The most enticing games for fans may be stacked at the beginning of the season, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of excitement anywhere else. With the Blackhawks’ recent roster shuffling, we’ll see plenty of reunions and revenge games throughout the year, and watching Connor Bedard in a Blackhawks sweater is a treat on its own.
