What happens with Lukas Reichel will be interesting to watch, plus why Chris O'Hearn was hired as vice president of hockey operations.

That being said, Connor Bedard really needs that elite winger or running mate to play in the top-6 and on the power play. That could be Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche if contract talks don't go the Avs' way.

The Chicago Blackhawks are already looking ahead to the March 7 trade deadline with some options to deal off their current roster. Two early candidates are forwards Ryan Donato and Taylor Hall.

The Chicago Blackhawks placed veteran forward Craig Smith on injured reserve on Thursday with a nagging back injury. Smith hasn't appeared in a game since he skated for more than 10 minutes during a 3-1 victory over Colorado on Jan.

Chicago Blackhawks practice was a few skaters light at Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday. Teuvo Teräväinen and Alec Martinez took maintenance days, and Jason Dickinson was listed out with an “illness” — not what you’d expect after he grabbed his right arm in pain after getting hit with a shot during Monday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Tickets for Sunday’s Hockey Fights Cancer game are available through Ticketmaster, and the first 10,000 fans to enter the United Center will receive a purple knit hat, courtesy of CIBC. Atrium doors will open at 3:30 p.m., with gates to the United Center to follow at 4:30 p.m.

The Chicago Blackhawks today announced that the team has recalled defenseman Ethan Del Mastro from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. The team has also placed forward Craig Smith (back) on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 8.

At the halfway point of the season, time to break down the season so far from top-line stars to budding prospects in Rockford and beyond.

This afternoon, they sent Wyatt Kaiser back to the IceHogs. This came after he participated in practice during the day. Chicago had eight defensemen on the roster with the addition of Del Mastro which is unheard of in the NHL.