To no surprise, the Chicago Cubs made a roster move with Cade Horton heading to the IL. It’s not the Jaxon Wiggins promotion some hoped for, but rather calling up lefthanded pitcher Riley Martin. Martin, 28, has been on the Cubs 40-man roster and got some playing time in Spring Training. The native of Salem, Illinois, and 2021 sixth-round pick out of Quincy University, has an interesting story and will now be getting ready to pitch in the Majors for the first time in his career.

The Cubs are calling up LHP Riley Martin, as @SchuckSports first reported.

He was set to go to pharmacy school six years ago, then the pandemic happened and he went from D2 to the Cubs.

Chronicled his story last spring:https://t.co/3g6W5UmBhi

— Andy Martínez (@amartinez_11) April 4, 2026

Martin joining the Cubs

Martin once had his eye on a career in pharmacy before the COVID-19 pandemic, but now he will join the Chicago Cubs to add pitching depth to the team. Since being drafted out of D2 ball, Martin has accumulated 282.2 innings in the Cubs system, pitching to a 3.76 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 13.1 K/9, and 5.7 BB/9. He’s spent the last two seasons in Iowa and is coming off a very good 2025 season with a 2.69 ERA and 1.2 WHIP in 47 appearances.

It’s worth noting he has only made three starts in his Minor League career. Though he made a start last Tuesday, pitching 3.0 innings and giving up one run. He has been getting more stretched out, so he can be used in a “swing” role alongside Colin Rea. Given his being on the 40-man roster and Wiggins’ professional experience still being fairly light, it’s clear why they went with Martin for now.

Martin is a fastball, curve, slider, and occasional change-up pitcher. The fastball and curve are his primary pitches, with his heater sitting in the low-mid 90s (93-94 MPH). His strikeout numbers throughout his MiLB career are very good (410 strikeouts in 282.2 IP), and he’s limited the homers (0.8 HR/9). A weakness that stands out is the walks (178 in 282.2 IP).

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Fireball pitcher Edward Cabrera raised many eyebrows on Monday night in his Chicago Cubs debut. The 27-year old righty pitched six shutout innings, giving up just one hit, walking one, and striking out five in the Cubs’ 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. He threw 80 pitches (49 strikes) before Craig Counsell put in Colin Rea to get the final nine outs. The lone Angels hit was a Nolan Schanuel single in the fourth inning, and he did not face anyone with multiple men on base.

Per the Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro, it was the largest home crowd Cabrera has ever pitched in front of. He was definitely pumped up in this one, and having that crowd behind him had to provide a rush.

https:///Twitter.com/MegMontemurro/status/2038818875685409158

Cabrera showed off his filthy stuff.

Cubs fans who had not watched a ton of Marlins games in the past got a taste of what kind of stuff Cabrera features. While the high 90s fastball is a nice weapon, the 90+ MPH changeups and hard breaking balls can really catch one’s attention. His high-octane changeup running down and in to righties resulted in several strikeouts on Monday night, as did the curve down and away.

Edward Cabrera, Filthy 92mph Changeup. pic.twitter.com/PbIEgmgyXl

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 31, 2026

It certainly helped Cabrera that the Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead early and kept adding on, putting less pressure on him. The Angels might not be projected to be a contender, but they came into Wrigley Field having scored 25 runs over their first four games, with Mike Trout looking like his old self. Worth noting that Cabrera recorded his first strikeout as a Cub with the curve against Trout.

Edward Cabrera’s first strikeout as a Cub is Mike Trout pic.twitter.com/vtdpeU2ldo

— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) March 30, 2026

All in all, it was a great debut for Cabrera. Could not ask for much more. The stuff has always been there, despite the inconsistencies with command and injuries over the years. Hopefully there are plenty more of those types of outings to come, and he’s healthy this season.

Ian Happ on Edward Cabrera: "The stuff is just nasty." pic.twitter.com/0rZ9GQHPHU

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 31, 2026

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Former Chicago Cubs outfielder and 14th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves, Jason Heyward, has officially retired. The man who made the famous rain delay speech in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series last played in a Major League game on May 23rd, 2025 with the San Diego Padres. He finishes a 16-year career with five Gold Gloves, a .255/.336/.408 slashline with 186 home runs and .744 OPS in 1,824 games.

Jason Heyward has officially retired, via a release today. 16 years, two rings, one rain delay speech.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 27, 2026

Heyward’s legacy on the North Side.

Heyward signed the biggest free agent contract in Cubs history in December, 2015. Coming off a very good season with the Cardinals, the Cubs won the bidding war to get the All Star outfielder. There is no debate that the offensive numbers Heyward posted in a Cubs uniform did not live up to the expectations of the $184 million deal. As a Cub, he hit .245/.323/.377 with a .700 OPS, 62 homers, and an 85 OPS+ in 744 games. He was eventually cut with money and years still owed after 2022.

With that said, Heyward was part of a World Series Cubs team and four Cubs postseason teams total. His defense was very good, winning two of his five Gold Gloves in Chicago, and he was a respected leader in the clubhouse. Even if the results were not there, the work ethic and respect were. Heyward carried himself with class and was a great asset to the community. Just a few years ago, he opened his baseball academy in Chicago.

As corny as it is, the rain delay speech will live in Cubs lore forever. Blowing a 5-1 and 6-3 lead and being in a delay before extra innings put the players, as Anthony Rizzo would say, in a “glass case of emotion.” Rallying the troops and winning in 10 innings proved to be huge in ending a 108-year drought. That was worth something. It’s fitting he retired and can celebrate the 10-year anniversary this season.

Happy retirement to Jason Heyward.

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It’s the dawn of a new Chicago Cubs season, with a clean slate and many possibilities ahead. Expectations are high with the sole goal of a World Series championship. If that wasn’t made clear enough, listen to what newcomer Alex Bregman has said to the media multiple times. There is no lack of confidence in that Cubs clubhouse heading into 2026.

Ownership opened the wallet, and President Jed Hoyer was very active this Winter to address holes and bolster the pitching staff. It’s all on the players to perform now.

Familiar Cubs vibes heading into 2026.

Any fan who has been around a while to witness the start of a Cubs season has felt a range of emotions. While the classic “This is the year!” slogan fueled the Cubs faithful for a century, deep down, there was an understanding that the team would likely be at the bottom of the standings by year’s end. Then came seasons like 2004, 2008, and 2016, where the expectations were “World Series or bust”. It’s safe to say the 2026 Cubs have as close to that “World Series or bust” feeling as they’ve had since they won it all a decade ago.

Like the three seasons mentioned above, the Cubs are coming off a playoff berth and have added notable pieces in the offseason. The additions of Bregman, Edward Cabrera, and several bullpen arms bring the belief that the squad that won 92 games and the Wild Card round last year can take another step. In 2015-2016, they added Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, and John Lackey to a young core that won 97 games and made it to the NLCS. One could say Pete Crow-Armstrong’s extension was that extra preseason vibe boost that they got when Dexter Fowler unexpectedly returned in 2016.

Are the overall feelings quite as strong as in 2016? Probably not. That doesn’t mean the 2026 Cubs cannot win it all, but the 2016 Cubs had all the stars aligned with no real weaknesses. They had slain the rival dragon Cardinals in 2015, while the Brewers have reigned over the current Cubs for years now. There was also no super team like the Dodgers to get through; the 16′ Cubs were clearly the favorite to win the NL pennant.

Expectations compared to recent years.

Over the last two seasons, projections have been bullish on the Cubs. Even last year, they were picked to win the NL Central after acquiring Kyle Tucker. With that said, prior to last year, the Cubs came off multiple 83-win seasons in 2023 and 2024 and had losing records in 2021 and 2022. People had not seen this regime succeed, and plenty criticized the Ricketts for not spending like a big-market team. This bred skepticism.

Now this regime has tasted postseason success, and the Cubs spent big money. It adds to the bullishness people have towards the team, now that they have seen they can be good enough to make the big dance.

The time for talk is over, and it’s time to play ball. There is potential for 2026 to be a special year for the Cubs, and hopefully, they deliver. Anything less than another postseason run would be very disappointing. They are not perfect and are not without their concerns, but they’re a talented group of guys who seem to have built a great culture and have their eyes on the prize.

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Two unsurprising news bits have come out regarding the Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster. The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney reports that Seiya Suzuki, dealing with the PCL injury, will not be ready for Opening Day and that veteran outfielder Michael Conforto will make the roster. Suzuki has not yet been placed on the IL, but Mooney believes he will be.

Seiya Suzuki, who’s dealing with a right knee injury, will not be ready for Opening Day, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. The club has not yet decided whether Suzuki will start the season on the injured list, but it appears to be trending in that direction.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 21, 2026

The Cubs are planning to add Michael Conforto to their Opening Day roster.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 21, 2026

Conforto in, Seiya out.

Despite the optimism from manager Craig Counsell last week, it seemed highly unlikely Suzuki would be ready for Opening Day. Counsell mentioned that Suzuki’s knee was swollen and that he was still hobbling a bit. This was with less than two weeks to go before the start of the season. The hope is that there are no setbacks, that Suzuki’s knee heals, and that he’s not gone longer than a 10-day IL stint, assuming he is placed on the IL. They will have until Wednesday to make that decision.

Conforto making the roster also felt like a safe bet. The 33-year old veteran slugger, coming off a rough year in Los Angeles (.199/.305/.333), was signed to a Minor League deal and is looking to bounce back. He’s two years removed from a 20 home run, .759 OPS season with the Giants in 2024. Conforto is not expected to have a huge role, but he gives the Cubs an experienced lefty bat with some pop and the ability to draw walks.  It’s worth noting that Conforto’s BB% was in the 84th percentile last year.

Even if Suzuki was healthy, Conforto had a solid shot to make the team out of camp. He can play right on days Matt Shaw is not out there, or pinch hit when needed. Time will tell if he has anything left in the tank and how long he sticks around. The rest of the roster will be coming together in the coming days.

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It’s hard to find a Cubs fan who does not love former World Series champion and ERA title-winning pitcher Kyle Hendricks. Fan voters inducted Hendricks into the Hall of Pretty Good this week, just months after he retired. A popular fan-created podcast and social media outlet, the Hall of Pretty Good honors baseball players who had exceptional careers, but were not quite Cooperstown-worthy.

Hendricks earned near-immortality in baseball with 94% of the 36,100 votes.

THE PROFESSOR IS IN

Kyle Hendricks received 94% of over 36,100 votes and is now officially inducted into the Hall of Pretty Good. pic.twitter.com/LsPzcoMuY2

— MLB Hall of Pretty Good (@hallofgoodpod) March 19, 2026

Hendricks is perfect for this honor.

If there is anyone who defines what it means to have an honor like this, it’s Hendricks. In 1,745 innings from 2014 to 2025, he posted a 3.79 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 3.97 FIP, 1,373 strikeouts, and 407 walks. Add on a 3.12 postseason ERA in 57.2 innings. His career-defining moment was his 7.1 inning gem against the Dodgers in the 2016 pennant clincher at Wrigley Field. For a guy drafted in the eighth round out of Dartmouth who relied on location and changing speeds, that’s a really nice decade-long run of pitching in the Majors.

On top of being a good pitcher, he’s a beloved person by fans and former teammates alike. As a player he was calm as a cucumber on the mound, and well spoken off of it. One would not know by his tone or demeanor if he was pitching a game in April or Game 7 of the World Series, which he started in 2016.

Even with his accomplishments, he always flew under the radar. His pitching style was never flashy, nor was he a big personality. Back in 2016 he pitched to an MLB-best 2.13 ERA in 190 innings, greatly exceeding expectations, but was part of a rotation with big names like Jon Lester, John Lackey, and the rising star Jake Arrieta. He went from a solid back-end starter to “The Professor” very quickly in Chicago, without getting the same fanfare as the big All-Star names nationally.

Future honors for Hendricks.

Although Hendricks is unlikely to reach the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Chicago Cubs will almost certainly enshrine him in their team Hall of Fame. His postseason accomplishments alone make a strong case, especially alongside his 3.68 ERA and 97 wins as a Cub. He currently ranks ninth in games started in franchise history, as well as 22nd in both innings pitched and wins.

In the end, it’s cool to see Hendricks get some love from the baseball community. He was and will always be one of the more underrated pitchers of the 2010s.

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After several days, the diagnosis for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is in. Per Bruce Levine, Seiya suffered a strained PCL on the slide into second in Japan’s WBC game against Venezuela. He had an MRI done on Monday after returning to Cubs camp. It has not yet been determined whether he will go on the IL, but manager Craig Counsell seems fairly optimistic.

Suzuki update -strained PCL. Unsure of IL right now

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 17, 2026

Counsell on Suzuki’s injury.

Immediately after Levine’s report, Counsell spoke to the media to give a full update. While he confirmed the strained PCL, Counsell mentioned that he will stick with baseball activities and not be shut down. He called the PCL strain “minor in nature,” and they will treat it over the next week, then determine whether he needs to go on the IL.

Seiya Suzuki has a minor PCL strain, per Craig Counsell.

Seiya will not be shut down, and will continue baseball activities as he can tolerate them. pic.twitter.com/T2Slsv9a9v

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 17, 2026

Counsell also confirmed that he is still limping slightly, likely due to swelling, but it’s been improving since he first returned on Monday. By next early week, we will know whether he will be moved to the IL.

This all seems like great news, all things considered. There was fear that it could be much worse. While a torn ACL did not seem likely, a more severe ligament sprain or a bone bruise could have kept him out longer. With that said, Suzuki and the Cubs are not out of the woods yet, as it has not been determined whether he will go on the IL. He could very well still, but not being immediately shut down is very good to hear.

If he’s on the IL for a shorter period, they need depth to manage. Never ideal, but not devastating if for a few weeks.

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With all of the Chicago Cubs starting pitchers back in camp, they’ll go through the final stretch of ramp-up before the season starts. Matthew Boyd was just named the Opening Day starter, with the rest of the rotation order to be set. One of the biggest question marks heading into the season is Shōta Imanaga. He will be in the rotation, likely somewhere between the 3-5 spot. The question is, can he rebound from late last year, and does he have a short leash?

Concerns remain in Spring Training as he’s given up four homers in 8.1 innings in Cactus League play. While giving up home runs in Spring is normally not a point of emphasis, given Arizona’s hitter-friendly environment and the fact that pitchers are just working back, it’s a particular concern for Imanaga. The flyball-heavy pitcher’s struggles late last season and in the postseason raised worries about a bad trend.

Imanaga could have a shorter leash.

It’s important to note that a short leash occurs if Imanaga struggles, though he might not. He’s shown he can pitch in this league, even with the flyballs and home runs. There was going to be some regression from 2024’s 2.91 ERA season, with 27 homers surrendered and a 45.5% flyball rate, but his command allowed him to be effective over his first 45 career starts (2.98 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 244 K vs. 45 BB). Flyballs will always be a part of his game; it’s limiting the damage. Getting the whiff rate back up will be important.

However, if there are early struggles, safety valves are available. Craig Counsell was not afraid to pull Imanaga from the rotation in October when he struggled. That was when they were short on starters and opted for bullpen games, too. The current Cubs staff can go in several directions, including pivoting to Colin Rea or Javier Assad. Neither is a dominant pitcher, and going a full season with them as starters isn’t ideal, but Rea was big last year in keeping the Cubs in games while others were down.

Not to mention the return of Justin Steele, hopefully in May or June. That creates more flexibility and a bit less pressure on the rotation, assuming everything is going well with Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon. A bonus for Imanaga is that the games at Wrigley Field before Steele’s return will likely have more favorable pitching conditions.

Imanaga’s 2026 outlook.

With a deep pitching staff that can hopefully stay effective and healthy, it takes some pressure off Imanaga. It’s really good for the Cubs if he can pitch closer to 2024, but he does not make or break the rotation. At this point in a fully healthy Cubs rotation, he’s probably the 4 or 5 starter.

He might be making $22 million in 2026, but it’s for one year. The Cubs are not obligated to make him a staple in the rotation long-term. If he needs to be moved to the pen because of struggles, and a rotation can be filled, they could do it. Hopefully, Imanaga can rebound. Even if he’s not 2024-level good, as long as he can be a solid mid-lower rotation pitcher, the Cubs will take it.

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Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard gave a “friendly” smirk to the crowd in Utah after scoring the overtime winner Thursday night. The Blackhawks 3-2 victory was the second consecutive overtime win, after Frank Nazar blasted the OT GWG against the Mammoth at the United Center on Monday. Bedard finished the game with one goal and one assist. 

The ascention of Bedard is happening before everyone’s eyes, and the likely future captain is showing it in every facet of the game. Thursday night’s game felt like another memorable chapter in that growth.

an instant classic pic.twitter.com/7PWsCPiBUc

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 13, 2026

Bedard putting Utah fans on notice.

The overtime goal was not the only instance in which Bedard stared down the crowd at The Delta Center. Earlier in the game, he assisted Tyler Bertuzzi’s game-tying goal early in the third period with an incredible pass to his fellow Assistant Captain at the doorstep. After Bertuzzi buried the puck into the back of the net, Bedard turned his head and gave a cold stare into the stands. This put people watching and covering the game on notice.

when someone says they prefer J.Dawgs over Portillos pic.twitter.com/kamtXvXjjV

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 13, 2026

As Bedard gave a nice smirk to the crlackedrtime goal, he did a bit of chirping as his teammates began to mob him on the boards. It’s worth noting that the two teams had gotten a bit chippy Monday night in Chicago, and this win completed the Blackhawks season sweep of the Mammoth. Neither Thursday’s nor Monday’s game had a shortage of drama.

After the game, the Blackhawks posted a brief clip on social media of the players heading back into the locker room, fired up, and Bedard giving a tongue gesture. One Chicago fan might remember Michael Jordan sticking his tongue out in Utah and many other places. These are the kinds of moments a young team remembers and hopefully builds on.

pic.twitter.com/74U3X8bGrF

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 13, 2026

A memorable night for Bedard.

While this was not statistically the best NHL game for Bedard, it’s one that he and Blackhawks fans will remember for a while. It helped further create a more no-nonsense, no-fear reputation for Bedard. He is not the kid who needs a lot of protection anymore.

One could think that a new rivalry with the Mammoth had been created, too. Their fans certainly won’t forget it. The clips of the staredown and chirping into the stands will be replayed on NHL outlets and social media many times.

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Cubs manager Craig Counsell reveals that the team’s pitching depth will be a bit banged up heading into the regular season. Per Cubs beat Bruce Levine, Counsell said both LHP Jordan Wicks and RHP Porter Hodge will start the season on the IL. Wick is dealing with radial nerve irritation in his pitching arm, and Hodge with a right elbow flexor strain. Both pitchers have spent the last few seasons dealing with various injuries.

Cubs pitchers Porter Hodge, LHP Jordan Wicks both will start the season on the IL. Wicks left arm nerve issue. Hodge right elbow flexor strain.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 8, 2026

What losing Wicks and Hodge means.

The Cubs have a very deep pitching staff in the organization, and that is what Wicks and Hodge were. Neither were in a position to have a major role come Opening Day. It’s possible one or both of them would not have even made the MLB roster out of the gate.

Hodge was a possibility for a reliever role heading into Spring Training, but he really struggled with command and execution in Cactus League action. He surrendered seven runs (31.50 ERA) and seven walks in 2.0 innings in Spring Training. He’s got two MiLB options, and the bullpen has plenty of veterans, so his likelihood of having a major role in the bullpen to start 2026 was quickly diminishing before the injury. The stuff is there, but the execution and staying healthy have lacked over the past season after a promising rookie year in 2024.

Wicks had the potential to be a swingman on the Opening Day roster, though he also has MiLB options left, and he could start his season in Iowa. Colin Rea and Javier Assad are the top go-to swigmen on the Cubs right now, and finding a spot for Wicks on that staff would probably have been a bit difficult anyway, barring other injuries. Last season, Wicks appeared in eight games, all in relief, and posted a 6.28 ERA and 1.7 WHIP.

Still plenty of pitching depth.

Losing depth is never ideal, but as previously mentioned, they still have plenty of arms to go to. One nice thing about Wicks was having another lefty, but the Cubs added Hoby Milner, re-signed Caleb Thielbar, and will have three lefty starters once Justin Steele returns. Then there’s the possibility of a six-man rotation plus Rea and Assad as swing men, assuming all the other starters are healthy and pitching well.

This is not to say neither Hodge nor Wicks will have a spot on the roster down the road. Guys get hurt, and teams have to dip deeper into their depth at some point over a 162-game season. They are just both currently further down the chart than others at the moment. It’s difficult to say whether either will ever become consistently reliable MLB pitchers, but once healthy, they will be part of the organization’s pitching depth until further notice.

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Sad news struck Chicago Blackhawks nation Saturday morning with the passing of former center Troy Murray. He was 63 years old and was fighting a long battle with cancer.

“Muzz” was drafted by the Blackhawks in 1980 in the third round, played 688 games in Chicago, and was part of the team’s broadcasting crew for over two decades. This past October, he was named an ambassador to the team.

We’ll miss you, “Muzz”

From all of us here at the Blackhawks, we extend our deepest condolences to Troy’s family and friends, our alumni and the many fans who loved him dearly

https://t.co/uSli2fiTDw pic.twitter.com/bEqGYq34ts

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 7, 2026

Remembering Troy Murray

Before Jonathan Toews wore #19, it was proudly worn by Murray. A native of Calgary, Canada, Murray had an exceptional NHL career spanning 15 years with the Blackhawks, Jets, Senators, Avalanche, and Penguins. He tallied 230 goals and 354 assists in 915 games played from 1981 to 1996. In his final season as an NHL player, he won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. Murray officially retired from playing after a stint with the Chicago Wolves in 1997, during which he played 81 games.

Known for being a very good defensive forward, Murray won the Selke Trophy in 1986 and got votes for the award in seven seasons. He came up clutch on several occasions as a Blackhawk, including scoring an overtime goal on April 2nd, 1989, in the season finale to send the Blackhawks to the playoffs. In his 688 games as a Blackhawk, he ranks 21st in goals in franchise history (197), 18th in assists (291), and 19th in points (488).

What many modern-day fans will remember him for is his work on Blackhawks broadcasts on both TV and radio. Having done broadcast work since 1998 with the Blackhawks, he started as a studio analyst, then as a color commentator with Pat Foley, and then spent over a decade on WGN radio with John Wiedeman. He and Wiedeman had the privilege of calling the dynasty on the radio from 2010 to 2015, providing memorable moments for fans alike. In recent years, Murray had to deal with his illness away from the booth for notable amounts of time, but he always kept fighting and worked when he could.

Murray’s legacy.

This season has been all about honoring the 100-year history of the Blackhawks, and Murray is a key part of that history.

Murray will be remembered by Blackhawks fans for a very long time. His impact as a player and as an in-game educator on the airwaves will have a lasting impact on multiple generations of hockey fans. As will his work as a steward to the community and organization. Not to mention his courage and positive attitude during his battle with cancer serve as an inspiration for fans everywhere.

YouTube has plenty of 720 radio calls from the dynasty; no better time than now to relive them.

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Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno has been traded to the Minnesota Wild, as first reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. The 38 year old center will get a chance to win a Stanley Cup in Minnesota with his brother. As Kaplan mentions, this is a “doing right by” move by Kyle Davidson for their captain. Foligno’s $4.5 million will all go to the Wild, with the Blackhawks getting future considerations from the Wild, per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

While this move can seem surprising at first, given he was the captain, it makes more sense once broken down and considering the Blackhawks’ future goals.

The Wild are trading for Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno, where he can play with his brother Marcus per sources.

This is Chicago doing their captain a solid to chase a Cup. No retention (Blackhawks don’t have retention spots left)

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) March 6, 2026

Nick Foligno traded to reunite with brother

Foligno served as a leader to this young group, including mentoring Connor Bedard. He scored 35 goals and 48 assists in 189 games in a Blackhawks sweater, while also helping protect the kids on the ice. In September of 2024, he was named the 36th captain in franchise history, the first since Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks opted to give the experienced veteran the “C” over Bedard at the time, who was just getting his feet wet in the NHL.

Head coach Jeff Blashill has given Bedard and now Tyler Bertuzzi an “A” for now. There is plenty of speculation that Bedard indeed will be the next captain, which could happen this offseason, but time will tell. It feels unlikely the Blackhawks will not have a captain next season, regardless.

https://x.com/BenPopeCST/status/2029963667626660079

Safe to say, Foligno served his time in Chicago very well and made an impact on the next generation of Blackhawks players. He has been in Chicago since Bedard made his NHL debut in 2023. Regardless of this deadline, Foligno was not going to be a Blackhawk next season as his contract was up, and he is nearing the end of his career. While losing a captain on a young team feels significant, the season is winding down, and it’s all about the future now. It was time for both parties to move on.

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After serving the Chicago Blackhawks blueline for nine seasons, Connor Murphy departs the Windy City after being dealt to the Edmonton Oilers. The Blackhawks will get a 2028 second round pick in return, while retaining $2.2 of his $4.4 million salary per Mark Spector. Murphy, 32, was the longest-tenured Blackhawk and was just acquired by the man who brought him to Chicago back in June 2017, Stan Bowman.

https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/2028606409185567214

Blackhawks say goodbye to Murphy.

Murphy was a very solid defenseman for a number of years. While he was never quite an All Star caliber player, he was a workhorse who gave the Blackhawks 547 games and 10697:36 of ice time. Those 547 games are the 12th most games played by a defenseman in franchise history. Over that time, he blocked 1,123 shots, delivered 1,077 hits, had 143 takeaways, scored 34 goals, and had 90 assists. He also had the honor of sporting the “A” on his chest.

Unfortunately for Murphy, he arrived in Chicago just after the dynasty ended. It’s easy to forget he was drafted by the then-Phoenix Coyotes 20th overall in the 2011 draft and played four years with them before being acquired in a trade for fan-favorite Niklas Hjalmarsson. He never got to play for a postseason crowd at the United Center, only a COVID-bubble playoff in 2020 with no fans at a neutral site.

The Oilers are clinging to third place in the Pacific Division in a playoff spot. It’s not a huge needle-mover, but it adds defensive depth and experience for the Oilers. Safe to say fans will wish him nothing but the best. As it’s been said many times, he served his time in Chicago; it was time to move on.

What this means for the Blackhawks.

Murphy was expected to be traded, but not expected to net a big return. Getting a second-rounder in 2028 is indeed not huge, but an okay bit of additional draft capital for the future. Retaining half the salary was probably compensation for getting the second-round, as opposed to a later one and trading away all of his salary.

The blueline will be filled with guys 24 or younger. Only Matt Grzelcyk is over 25 among active defenseman. Time will tell if he is traded or not. It will be all about seeing what likes of Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel, Alex Vlasic and Louis Crevier can do down the stretch.

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Cubs players, personnel, and present media witnessed a rare occurrence Monday morning: Craig Counsell at an elevated decibel level. Per ESPN beat Jesse Rogers, Counsell was “raising his voice” during baserunning drills. Rogers adds it was “deserved” based on his observations.

Worth noting the Cubs made some gaffes on the bases in Sunday’s game against the White Sox. Bad baserunning has been a theme all Spring beyond one game and practice. This also includes the infamous triple play the other week. This will need to (and should) be cleaned up before Opening Day.

Counsell bringing some heat to Chicago Cubs

It speaks volumes (pun intended) that, if Counsell giving it to his squad the way he did Monday was as noticeable to someone who covers a team as it was to someone who covers a team. While he will get in the face of an umpire occasionally, he’s not one to yell or get overly animated. His mellowness has drawn criticism at times, and one can argue whether it’s really deserved.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Craig Counsell raise his voice but he just gave it to his team during base running drills. (They deserved it)

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 2, 2026

Spring Training results don’t mean much, but getting the fundamentals down does. A veteran pitcher giving up runs while working on his stuff is not a big deal, unlike continuing to make basic fundamental mistakes. Counsell clearly felt he needed to send a message to his players and staff that it has to get cleaned up sooner rather than later.

Not worrying about the situation

While annoying, especially for Counsell, it’s not a time to be overly concerned about the Cubs baserunning.

In 2025 they were the third-best team in baseball in Base Running runs above average per FanGraphs (11.0). Three of their primary position players, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner, were in the 95^th percentile or higher in baserunning value last year per Statcast. Other veterans who don’t have the speed or agility to bring plus value on the bases should at least have the baseball I.Q. to avoid frequent misplays.

It’s not to say the Cubs haven’t had a handful of frustrating baserunning gaffes over the years. Sometimes they were on the players and other times on the coaches. Yes, having a handful of elite baserunners can mask some of the team’s bad gaffes on its advanced stat sheets. They still should be expected to be one of the better overall baserunning teams. Hopefully, the message was received.

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Cubs fans got a nice bit of good news Saturday when Justin Steele gave an important update on his UCL reconstruction surgery rehab via Twitter(X).

https://x.com/twitter/status/2027805243312935266

While Steele will not be ready to pitch on Opening Day, receiving official clearance to start full throwing activities from his surgeon is a monumental step toward his return. Come mid-April, it will mark a year since Steele was lost for the 2025 season with the UCL injury. It will still take some work for him to ramp up to get ready to pitch in an MLB game again. If all goes well, he can hopefully return sooner rather than later. Things were already pointing in a good direction prior to his clearence.

Important note: Steele is not currently on the 60-day IL; he was taken off it in November after the World Series. They could have re-added him to it this Spring but they have not to this point. It’s also worth noting the Cubs DFA’ed Ben Cowles when they added Shelby Miller to the roster and kept Steele off the 60-day IL and on the 40-man. Steele not going to the 60-day IL is important because it means there isn’t the required two-month time to be out before coming back if he indeed stays off it.

What’s next for Steele?

Expect Steele to first face live hitters in camp soon. He will not be thrust into Cactus League play right now. Assuming all continues to go well, he can work in extended Spring Training and then, once the season starts, probably get in some in-game work in the Minors before coming up. His progress at each step will dictate the exact timeline for everything.

The biggest priority is doing his rehab right and his returning when he is 100% ready. They have a set rotation in place even without him. Nevertheless, while the team’s pitching staff is deep, having Steele back will be a big boost. Depending on what Craig Counsell does, they could have three lefties in the rotation with Steele, Matthew Boyd, and Shota Imanaga if they go with a six-man rotation with Jameson Taillon and Cade Horton as the righties. Assuming everyone is healthy at the same time, obviously.

Knock on wood, hopefully things continue to progress as they have. Steele’s rehab, by all accounts, has gone very smoothly up to this point. While it was not a full Tommy John surgery, having UCL surgery and potentially back pitching in ~12-13 months would be good to see. Steele mentioned that this surgery was different from his UCL reconstruction back in 2017 in that it was less challenging.

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The NHL trade deadline is approaching fast and the Chicago Blackhawks will likely make a few moves. There are no expectations for blockbuster transactions, as they have no crippling cap deals to unload or high-value veterans to trade for mass draft capital. A series of smaller moves, garnering moderate returns at best, feels like the likely outcome.

Much of the roster is made up of young players or veterans with solidified spots on the team going forward. Thus, the speculative focus will on the handful of veterans on expiring deals.

Candidates for the Blackhawks to move.

The one who stands out the most is defenseman Connor Murphy, the longest-tenured Blackhawk, who is in the last year of his four-year deal ($4.4 million AAV). The 32-year old has 12 points with a -5 +/- and is averaging 16:30 of ice time a game this season. Contending teams will be looking for more blue line depth, and for what it’s worth, he’s been playing better recently. Murphy served his time in Chicago, but he’s not part of the team’s future plans.

The other veteran defenseman on the team on an expiring deal is Matt Grzelcyk. He’s been durable, playing in all 57 games so far. While not out of the question to move, one can argue that having him stick around as a vet among the young defensemen is worth more than what the Blackhawks would get in a trade. Especially if Murphy is dealt.

There are three veteran forwards on expiring deals: Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, Ilya Mikheyev, and Sam Lafferty. It’s hard to imagine the Blackhawks wanting to trade their captain and mentor to Connor Bedard. Unless Foligno wants one more chance at Stanley Cup glory and Kyle Davidson does right by him. Mikheyev has been a decent third-line forward, sporting 31 goals and 57 points in 132 games. He does have a modified NTC, and keeping him could be beneficial for the team’s development the rest of the season, but he’s still a possibility. The team has a handful of centers, and Dicksonson ($4,250,000 AAV) could easily be an odd man out.

Others on the Blackhawks roster

Don’t expect the Blackhawks to move the likes of Tyler Bertuzzi or Ryan Donato. Bertuzzi is under contract through 2027-2028 and currently leads the team in goals (25), while Donato was just extended through 2028-2029. They have solidified roles going forward.

Teuvo Teräväinen is under contract for another season. He’s posting “meh” numbers at best, making $5.4 million this year, and has had a recent injury. It would be a bit surprising if he got moved regardless. They signed him to be a stable forward presence. André Burakovsky is another vet under contract for another season who has also been pretty pedestrian since a good start (3 goals, 9 assists over his last 30 games) while making $5.5 million. Possible to get moved, but not necessarily high.

Strange things have happened, so there’s always potential for surprise. The odds of that just seem very low. The Blackhawks are past the point of tearing things down; it’s now about building on that foundation.

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Cubs camp will look a bit different for a few weeks as a handful of key players will soon join their World Baseball Classic teams. Among the many Cubs playing in the tournament are outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki. While centerfield for the Cubs is set with Crow-Armstrong, and Ian Happ in left, the rightfield and outfield depth spots are being evaluated this Spring.

For a handful of players sticking around camp, it’s an opportunity to give the coaches and front office a good look. This includes the multiple outfield candidates in camp. With Crow-Armstrong and Suzuki being absent, the various outfielders will get solid playing time in Cactus League action.

Giving outfield candidates a good look.

One of the bigger story lines this spring is where Matt Shaw will play defensively with Alex Bregman taking third. Shaw has already played right field this Spring, and he will continue to do so as that’s where he’ll play a sizeable chunk of time this season. Even if there was no WBC, that would have been the plan with him.

There’s also the matter of Kevin Alcantara, who does not have a solidified spot on the team right now. While there is a chance he can make the roster, he does have an option left, and it would not be surprising if he starts 2026 in Iowa. Still, it’s a good chance for him to get playing time in for Craig Counsell and company.

The Cubs are also evaluating some of the veteran depth they brought in. In camp are notable outfielders Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, and Chas McCormick as non-roster invitees. Not only will the Cubs be giving them a look, but it’s also good just to have able bodies out there to get through these Cactus League games while others are away. It seems likely that one of them will make the Opening Day roster as the 26th man, but it’s not guaranteed.

Other outfielders to watch.

There are a few other outfield options on the current 40-man roster, including utility man Tyler Austin and centerfielder Justin Dean.

Austin was signed to a big league deal a few months ago and can play first and corner outfield. His main role right now is a platoon option at first with Michael Busch, though he will be used sparingly as Busch will likely get more cracks at lefties than he did last year.

Dean is a 29-year old career MiLB player with 18 MLB games on his resume. The Cubs claimed him off waivers in January. His best asset is his speed. Dean was used last year as a late-game defensive outfielder and pinch runner with the Dodgers. Similar to what Terrance Gore and current Cubs coach Quintin Berry did while on the Cubs roster back in the day.

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Now that Moisés Ballesteros has made it to Cubs camp, manager Craig Counsell has shed light on the plan for the 22-year old prospect. Per Cubs beat Bruce Levine, Counsell says that Ballesteros will get reps at catcher and firstbase this Spring. Counsell also mentioned he will be starting his hitting and running at a slower pace.

https://x.com/MLBBruceLevine/status/2025638437681041460

Cubs giving potential DH defensive reps.

Ballesteros had been lauded for his hitting abilities in the Minors, sporting a career .289/.371/.457 slash in 466 MiLB games, not as much so for his defense. Despite catching 2,376.2 innings in the Minors, he was not ready to catch in the Majors last year. Reese McGuire took the second catcher duty, and Carson Kelly was pushed up to first after Miguel Amaya went down (twice). Ballesteros saw just six innings behind the plate in the 20 MLB games he played in.

Note that those six innings he caught were in game 162, when the Cubs had postseason seeding clinched. He also played 4.0 innings at first in the Majors last year, where he totaled 434.1 innings in the Minors.

If Ballesteros indeed makes the team, his primary position is still going be DH. Giving him reps could give the team more reliable depth at catcher and first base if needed. The two primary catchers are set with Amaya and Kelly, with Michael Busch at first and Tyler Austin being the backup/platoon. Even if Austin does not work out, it would not make sense to platoon the lefty Ballesteros with the lefty Busch outside of just giving Busch a breather. Either way, injuries happen, and building more depth is good. Plus, it adds more value to Ballesteros.

Ballesteros working his way back.

It’s frustrating and unfortunate that the Visa issues delayed Ballesteros from getting to camp. He might not be where the others are currently, but it’s still just mid-February. There does not seem to be much concern.

He will be a focal point this Spring, especially while many of his teammates are playing in the World Baseball Classic. DH is an important position, and his readiness will dictate the direction of the position at the start of the season.

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The Chicago Cubs will have no shortage of starting pitchers (assuming health) come Opening Day, but the question of who the ace of the staff will be still remains. Justin Steele would be the guy, but he will not be ready to pitch come March 26. Plus he will need to ramp up and shake off the rust once he returns.

Outside of Steele, the current rotation has several number one candidates, but there is currently no Carlos Zambrano, Jon Lester, or Jake Arrieta type shoo-in. Most of the Cubs’ healthy starters on paper are arguably considered 3-5 arms on other contending rotations. At least by more “traditional” standards, noting the dynamics of pitching staffs have evolved in recent years. So that’s a bit subjective.

Potential Cubs ace candidates.

When looking at an “ace candidate” right now, it’s primarily about who will start Opening Day. Who starts a postseason series is well down the road, assuming they get there. Based on history and/or abilities, the three arms that stand out are Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Edward Cabrera.

Boyd is coming off a career year, pitching to a 3.21 ERA, 1.1 WHIP, 3.65 FIP, 7.7 K/9, and 2.1 BB/9 in 179.2 innings (31 starts). Of the three names mentioned, he is the veteran who has pitched in over 1,000 innings and made 199 career starts. Horton displayed ace-like potential in his rookie 2025 season. Over his last 14 starts last year, he pitched to a 1.36 ERA, 2.96 FIP, and 64 strikeouts in 73 innings. Cabrera is an electric arm that ranked in the 87th percentile in fastball velocity (upper 90s MPH), while ranking between 70th and 80th percentile in chase, whiff, and strikeout rates.

Boyd likely has the upper hand right now, considering the experience. Durability across a season is a concern based on his injury history, and his strikeout rate last year was not huge. Projections are still pretty solid though, even coming off a career year at age 34. Horton feels like the highest ceiling, though the workload is a question. Marcels Projections (via Baseball-Reference) are fairly bullish on the 24-year old righty, projecting a 3.23 ERA with an 8.1 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 2026. Though just 117 innings pitched. It would be a bit more surprising to see Cabrera be the guy, but he’s got the stuff to be an ace.

Why not other Cubs starters?

While one cannot definitively rule out Shota Imanaga, he feels like a middle rotation guy going forward. He’s shown he can pitch well in the Majors, sporting a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 8.2 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 54 MLB starts. That said the weaknesses really showed in the later half of 2025. He’s a heavy flyball pitcher that gives up a lot of home runs; even in 2024 he surrendered 27 in 173.1 innings (58 in 318 innings total). He can generate whiffs with his repitor of pitches but he’s not overpowering. Worth noting the whiff rate last year was in the 44th percentile vs. being in the 72nd percentile in 2024.

This does not mean Imanaga cannot be an effective pitcher in 2026. It would just be hard to peg him as a 1 or 2 in a rotation right now.

Jameson Taillon has the most innings pitched of any starter on the staff (1,237), but he’s a lower to middle rotation type pitcher. He’s been a workhorse over the past few years, sporting a 3.43 ERA and only 81 walks over his last 385.2 innings pitched. He’s also given up his share of homers (101 over his past three seasons) while not having ace-like stuff that generates whiffs. Not a knock, he’s a good 3-4 starter who can be very effective while not dominant.

The rest of the pitching depth on the 40-man like Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks would serve as swing guys. Spring Training will paint a clearly picture on who will get pegged as the top dog in the rotation.

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An interesting nugget recently came out from The Athletic’s Jayson Stark in his annual spring preview survey. Stark added a few new questions to the 36 MLB personnel he surveys every spring; one asks who they feel are the most irreplaceable losses of the offseason. In other words, which former players will be the most missed by any team in baseball?

The leading vote getter (11) was Alex Bregman leaving the Red Sox to join the Cubs. The majority of this group of executives, coaches, and scouts felt that Boston losing Bregman was bigger than other notable departures, such as the Mets losing Pete Alonso (10 votes), the Cubs losing Kyle Tucker (six votes), and the Brewers losing Freddy Peralta (four votes), among many others.

Stark in his column made the point that, while Bregman is a very good player, his offensive production is not necessarily irreplaceable. It is a fair point. One could argue it’s harder to replace a 35-40 homer power bat like Alonso than Bregman’s 128 OPS+ last season. Heck, one can say a healthy Kyle Tucker is a more valuable offensive asset than Bregman. Still, there are solid reasons why Bregman got these votes.

Why was Bregman the leading vote getter?

It’s what Bregman brings as a teammate that the Red Sox will dearly miss, per the voters. One of the voters was quoted by Stark as saying the loss of Bregman is big, “because of everything he [Bregman] brings, even off the field.” Another voter pointed out that losing Bregman hurts the “young guys” on the Red Sox. Cubs fans got a sense of what kind of leader Bregman was in his opening presser; other top baseball minds are confirming that.

There is a lot to take away from these results. The one voter talking about the impact on young guys is notable, given that Bregman is taking Pete Crow-Armstrong under his wing. Other notable young players who could benefit from Bregman’s presence include Matt Shaw, Moisés Ballesteros, and Kevin Alcántara, whether it’s having someone to go to for baseball advice or just having another leader in the clubhouse.

Another voter saying, “Everything he brings” reads as both being a teammate and a player. Even if Bregman’s overall production can be replaced to some extent, he is such a well-rounded ballplayer that he provides a good balance of hitting and defense. He’s a guy who can slug while also making contact and getting on base, as well as a plus glove at third. Adding a great presence to those balanced skills makes for a very valuable asset.

Bregman made the Cubs one of the offseason’s biggest storylines.

Heading into the new year, the Cubs were once again hounded for not spending big. They made plenty of pitching moves for the bullpen, but saw several big fish go elsewhere. Signing Bregman and trading for Edward Cabrera within days of each other changed the narrative on the North Side. Even if Bregman was not the biggest free agent, he was among the top, and the Cubs got their flowers for making a “big market” move.

Even with Tucker’s departure, there is a lot of bullishness about the Cubs, and much of it is due to Bregman’s arrival. Had they not landed him or another notable position player, the feelings would be a bit different.

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Now that the Zac Gallen free agency saga is over, one can speculate whether the Chicago Cubs still pursue one more starting pitcher. The last of the free agents are going fairly quickly as Spring Training begins. As of Saturday, there is still a small handful of starting pitchers remaining on the market. Unless they make a surprise trade, the pickings are slim.

While adding another starter feels like a bit more of a luxury than a necessity, it’s understandable to want to add another arm. The Cubs rotation is solid for now, but with injury concerns for Edward Cabrera and Cade Horton, questions about how Shōta Imanaga will rebound, whether Matthew Boyd has the stamina to repeat 2025, and Justin Steele coming back from injury, having insurance is not the worst idea.

Who remains on the starting pitching market?

The biggest name remaining is Lucas Giolito. He spent the two years with the Red Sox, missing all of 2024 recovering from UCL surgery. Giolito also missed last year’s postseason due to an elbow injury. Last year he sported a 3.41 ERA, 1.3 WHIP, 4.17 FIP, 7.5 K/9, and 3.5 BB/9 in 26 starts. While his season was solid results-wise, some of the peripherals were not as pretty. His strikeout rate dipped 25.7% in 2023 to 19.7% last year, with his whiff rate in the 28th percentile, and an xERA of 5.06. Pretty understandable though, coming back from a major injury.

Giolito’s market value is around $20.4 million per Spotrac. Could he potentially be a solid enough veteran to eat innings and keep the Cubs in a game if healthy? Sure, but the recent injury history is concerning. He’s also more of a flyball pitcher, and the Cubs have plenty of those.

Other names on the market include Max Scherzer, Frankie Montas (injured), Tyler Anderson, Patrick Corbin, Zack Littell, Nestor Cortes (injured), Jon Gray, Germán Márquez, Wade Miley, and Marcus Stroman. One won’t find much here in terms of whiffs, at least not based on recent performances.

Scherzer is obviously a “big name,” but at age 41, durability won’t be there anymore. Littell is coming off a decent 3.81 ERA and 1.1 WHIP season in 32 starts. The peripherals are not amazing (4.88 FIP and 4.36 xERA), but he’s been durable the past few years, and the overall numbers are not awful, five-starter caliber stats. Anderson has also had recent success, being an All Star in 2022 and 2024. Last season he posted a 4.56 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 5.60 FIP, and 6.9 K/9 in 26 starts at age 35. Nothing really exciting there, but he’s made 110 starts since 2022 and has a solid track record.

Is the juice worth the squeeze?

Outside of Giolito’s market, most of these names would not cost much. Littell and Cortes are the only ones projected to earn over $10 million per Spotrac. What they’ll actually get, time will tell. Some could get as small as Minor League deals. With that said, the Cubs do not have to overreach if they do not feel necessary.

At this point, the market has moved past providing an abundance of needle-moving options. Maybe Giolito, Anderson, or Littell could provide a solid 4-5 starter/innings eater. Scherzer could bring that experience and “big game” mentality. Or a guy like Márquez could be an intriguing NRI type. Either way, there’s not much here that feels like the Cubs would badly miss out on if they stand pat.

If they do decide to add one of these guys, then it seems like the Cubs organization has done enough for people to entrust their pitching and defensive infrastructure to work with them. Even if things don’t always pan out.

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The Chicago Cubs added more pitching depth Tuesday by signing right-handed pitcher Kyle Wright to a Minor League deal, per Jon Heyman. Wright (30) last pitched in the Majors in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves, the team that drafted him 5th overall in 2017 out of Vanderbilt.

He’s had an up-and-down career, battling injuries and inconsistency. Over 281.1 career MLB innings, Wright sports a 4.45 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 4.50 FIP, 8.5 K/9, and 3.8 BB/9.

Kyle Wright to the Cubs. Minors deal with MLB camp invite. Wright is the majors’ last 20-game winner.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 10, 2026

Cubs bringing in another castoff in Wright.

Wright is joining his third organization since 2024. In October of 2023, the Braves announced he would miss all of 2024 due to shoulder surgery. He had only pitched in 31 innings that year and posted a 6.97 ERA and 1.8 WHIP, and was already having shoulder complications before the season had started. The Braves shortly thereafter traded Wright to the Kansas City Royals. In 2025, he was rehabbing with the Royals organization, but further shoulder and oblique issues set him back.

Since his debut in 2018, he only pitched in 40+ innings once in 2022. That year, he posted a 21-5 record with a 3.19 ERA, 1.2 WHIP, 3.58 FIP, 174 strikeouts, and 53 walks in 180.1 innings. While not making the All Star team, he finished 10th in Cy Young voting. It was far and away his most successful run in the Majors so far.

Over his MLB career, he has been a groundball pitcher, with a 53% groundball rate and a 27.6% flyball rate. He last featured a mid-90s fastball and sinker with a knuckle curve, changeup, and slider. In his 2022 season, his top two used pitches were his knuckle curve and sinker.

Expectations for Kyle Wright

Being a flier MiLB signing, there are no real solid expectations. The Cubs organization has found diamonds in the rough over the years, though not every lottery ticket is a winner. He will get a chance in Spring to give the Cubs a look and hopefully be healthy enough to make an impression.

It would not be surprising if he worked in a reliever role if he indeed shows enough to warrant serious roster consideration. If anything, the groundball rate is intriguing as the Cubs staff has been a flyball-heavy unit in recent years.

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On March 1st of last year, the Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Seth Jones and a fourth round pick to the Florida Panthers for Spencer Knight and a 2026 first round pick. Not only did it look like the Blackhawks got their future goaltender, but possibly another lottery pick in the upcoming draft. The Panthers’ pick is sitting at the 10th spot heading into the Olympic break.

Today, reports indicate that the Panthers’ pick is top-10 protected. Hockey insider Frank Seravalli initially reported it, only to be confirmed by The Athletic’s Blackhawks beat Scott Powers. First, the Chicago Bears get jipped by the Ian Cunningham saga, and now Blackhawks fans are scratching their heads nearly one year after the Jones deal. This condition was agreed upon by the two teams, but it was not made clear to the public.

The Florida Panthers' first-round pick is top-10 protected, as @frank_seravalli reported.

So what happens if the Panthers do pick that early? That and more about the Blackhawks' 2026 draft possibilities https://t.co/N224JzBCv9

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 6, 2026

What does this mean for the Blackhawks?

When it was unclear that Florida’s pick was not top-10 protected, the hope was simple: the Panthers lose as many games as possible this year. Now that it appears the pick is protected, the Panthers would not have to surrender their pick to the Blackhawks if they are in the top-10 lottery picking. Per Powers, a first round pick would go to the Blackhawks in 2027 if that were the case. The Blackahwks get Florida’s pick this year if it’s outside of the top-10 lottery pickings.

It’s worth noting that when the trade went down last year, hockey insider Pierre LeBrun initially reported a condition that the Panthers 2026 selection was going to the Blackhawks if they still had the pick. That was because of the Matthew Tkachuk trade with Calgary in 2022. So if the Panthers had a top-10 lottery pick in 2025 (which was conditional), their 2026 pick would have gone to Calgary and the 2027 pick to the Blackhawks.

This condition did not seem like a big deal, as it was pretty clear at that point that the Panthers were not going to be a top-10 lottery pick. Unless another deal was made before the draft, it seemed like the Blackhawks were simply getting a 2026 first rounder from Florida.

Chicago Blackhawks draft outlook going forward

Now, a Blackhawks fan can either root for the Panthers to win to get an inferior first round pick this year, or hope that the 2026-2027 Panthers lose as many games as possible to get a lottery pick from them in 2027. Powers confirmed the 2027 first rounder would have no protection.

Either way, it’s a pretty big change in what people thought could happen with the Blackhawks draft this year. The idea of having two lottery picks in the upcoming draft in a season in which the team’s youth movement is taking a step forward is pretty exciting. But, alas. Rooting for a lottery pick from the Panthers next season, while not impossible, feels like a Hail Mary hope for fans.

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Cubs fans on Twitter (X) collectively groaned Sunday afternoon when news broke that free agent slugger Eugenio Suárez signed with the Cincinnati Reds. It’s a one-year deal with a mutual option in 2027, per Jeff Passan. One of the last remaining notable bats on the market, Suárez (34), returns to the team he played for from 2015 to 2021, and where his reign of terror over the North Siders began.

Suárez is a career .266/.349/.540 hitter against the Cubs with 36 homers and 94 RBI in 132 games. Those homers and RBI are the most he has against any opponent; 16 of those homers came at Wrigley Field. It’s also worth noting he has 14 career multi-homer games, with three of them coming against the Cubs, two of them as a Red. Last season he hit five of his 49 homers (which tied a career-high) against the Cubs as a member of the Diamondbacks.

His power and past performance against the Cubs had many fans on board with the idea of acquiring Suárez at last year’s trade deadline. That dream ended with Seattle swooping in and acquiring him last July.

Dealing with the Cubs killer in Suárez again.

While not having reached the levels of Albert Pujols or Mike Schmidt, Suárez has always been a thorn in the sides of Cubs pitchers. He’s arguably the biggest, if not in the top three, of active Cubs killers. That is not to say he has not done damage against other teams, boasting 325 career home runs and .792 OPS in 12 years as an MLB player. He just particularly loves facing the boys in blue.

Suárez has holes in his swing; he’s struck out 139 times against Cubs pitching (second-most to any opponent), but he makes the most of the damage he does do. He can kill you with the long ball, but he can be bested. The key is keeping him in the park. Cubs fans who watched the team battle the Reds at Great American Ballpark from 2015 to 2021 know that’s a difficult task in that hitter-friendly ballpark.

The Reds are coming off an 83-win campaign in which they nabbed the last Wild Card spot. Their young rotation is very promising, but they lacked sufficient offensive firepower last season. This move definitely helps the Reds, who can compete for a playoff spot again. While the Brewers are still the Cubs’ biggest threat, the Reds are next in line in the NL Central.

At least Cubs fans will get to hear Pat Hughes pronounce “‘Aye-You-Hey-Knee-Oh’ Suárez” so eloquently on the radio broadcast more often.

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One of the biggest questions for the Cubs heading into Spring Training is who will claim the closer role to start the regular season. The Cubs have made a number of bullpen moves this offseason, though they did not shell out for a bona fide closer. Depth charts currently have Daniel Palencia, who recorded 22 saves last season. Whether he ends up in that spot on opening day is currently up in the air.

Can Palencia serve as the closer again?

Last year was a big jump for Palencia. He pitched to a 2.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 3.08 FIP, 10.4 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 in 52.2 innings. While not serving as the closer in October, he pitched to a 3.52 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in six postseason appearances.

He was spectacular in the first half last year, pitching to a 1.57 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and .160/.235/.261 slash against in 34.1 innings. However, things dipped in the second half, resulting in a 5.40 ERA, 1.6 WHIP, and .325/.373/.519 slash against over his final 21 appearances. Add on a shoulder injury in early-September, sidelining him for a few weeks.

In terms of stuff, Palencia has that electric fastball that can reach triple digits. His strikeout rate was in the 86th percentile per Statcast, which is very good. Meanwhile the whiff rate was in the 68th percentile, above average though not eye-popping. His command, which was a mess during his first two stints in the Majors, notably improved last year. A few areas that did not look good were the chase rate (34th percentile), average exit velocity (29th percentile), and hard-hit rate (2nd percentile).

ZiPS has Palencia at a 3.74 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 9.98 K/9, 3.74 BB/9 in 49 appearances. Not ideal closer numbers, but they are just projections. Overall, he had a good stretch last year where he looked like a legit closer, but the hard contact and struggles towards the end were troubling. Palencia is a top option, but not a shoo-in.

Other closer options for the Cubs.

One of the big arms the Cubs brought in was righty Hunter Harvey. He’s had injury issues in recent years, but he has good stuff and is effective when healthy. Since 2022, he’s pitched to a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 2.94 FIP, 2.3 BB/9, and 9.9 K/9 in 161.1 innings. Harvey’s fastball sits in the high-90s while mixing in a splitter, slider, and curve. It’s risky for sure, but there’s intrigue with his stuff and exceptional command.

While this might make some feel uneasy, Porter Hodge is still in the mix. An injury-riddled and inconsistent 2025 made his sophomore year in the Majors a forgettable one. He showed promise as a rookie in 2024, pitching to a 1.88 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 2.75 FIP, 10.9 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9 in 43 innings. The ability to get whiffs with a mid-to-high 90s fastball, sweeper, and slider has been seen. Command has been a bit of an issue, resulting in walks or hard hit balls on pitches that miss spots. That said, he is only 24, and his potential remains.

Other candidates could emerge in Spring ball. Whether it’s someone who gets repurposed, like Ben Brown, or another arm that’s either brought in or comes from within the organization. Recent track records of getting value from the likes of Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, Tyson Miller, Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather, Scott Effross, etc. show the Cubs can find effective high-leverage arms from anywhere.

Spring Training can give a better insight into what Craig Counsell has to work with. It could be one guy, or a committee again.

The post Chicago Cubs: Evaluating the closer situation for 2026 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Projection numbers are coming out for the 2026 season, including those from FanGraphs DC, Steamer, and THE BAT. An interesting Chicago Cubs player’s projected stats to look at are those of Michael Busch. He was one of, if not arguably the most productive Cub down the stretch in 2025 and is a key cog in the team’s future success.

What Michael Busch is projected to do in 2026.

Here is what each of the previously listed projection models gives regarding Busch’s performance this coming season:

FanGraphs DC (FGDC): .248/.334/.467, .801 OPS, 27 HR, 74 RBI, 124 wRC+, 24.7% strikeout rate, 10.4% walk rate in 138 games

Steamer: .248/.334/.467, .801 OPS, 23 HR, 63 RBI, 124 wRC+, 24.7% strikeout rate, 10.4% walk rate in 113 games

THE BAT: .242 /.324/.442, .766 OPS, 25 HR, 75 RBI, 114 wRC+, 25.4% strikeout rate, 9.6% walk rate in 140 games

Are these numbers too conservative? Or on the mark?

These models project similar outcomes, which one could consider slightly disappointing. None of these are bad stat lines, though it’s coming off last year’s .261/.343/.523, .866 OPS, 34 homer, and 140 wRC+ season (155 games).

Average, on-base, strikeout, and walk rates still seem within reason. Busch posting a .242-.248 average and .330 range OBP is not as big of a concern. His projected slash lines are on par with his career line (.248/.334/.467), as are the strikeout and walk rates (26.5% K and 10.2% BB) and wRC+ (124). Although he’s only played two full seasons at the MLB level, last year could be his ascention as a hitter. Busch’s career marks cover a smaller sample than those of a seasoned veteran like Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, or Ian Happ, so there’s not a larger sample of season trends for him.

With all of that said, the hope at the very least is to see a bit more in the slug and home run columns, as well as in games played. Which in turn would help those homer totals. Projected games played range from 113 to 140, noting that Busch played over 150 games in each of the past two seasons. Craig Counsell mentioned him being a regular at first during the Cubs Convention. Assuming health, it seems likely he play 150+ games.

Ideal numbers for Michael Busch in 2026.

Ideally Busch can hit the 30-homer mark and slug around .500 in 150 games again. Him posting around an .830 OPS and 130-140 wRC+ on top of 30 homers should not be out of the question. There’s no guarantee though, and if he is closer to what Steamer and FanGraphs DC say, those numbers are still fine. It would just be nice to see him build or maintain what he did last year.

For what it is worth, projections tend to be a bit more conservative. In an extreme case, Aaron Judge is projected to post a 172 wRC+ by Steamer, even though he’s posted a 200+ wRC+ in three of the past four seasons. It’s a more conservative number (for Judge), but certainly not out of the question.

Whether it’s a 125 wRC+ or 140, Busch will be one of the top productive sluggers in this Cubs lineup.

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Patrick Kane made history Wednesday night scoring his 500th career NHL goal, becoming the 50th player to accomplish that feat. Kane scored his 499th earlier in the evening in the Red Wings 5-1 victory over the Canucks. His milestone tally came on an empty net wrister with 3:53 left in the third period.

The 37-year old winger and future Hall of Famer scored 446 of his 500 goals with the Chicago Blackhawks.

SHOWTIME'S GOT 500 NHL GOALS pic.twitter.com/PQfeu7TTLk

— NHL (@NHL) January 9, 2026

Blackhawks fans still love Patrick Kane

Even if it makes some Blackhawks fans sick seeing him do it in a Red Wings jersey, there is still much love for Kane in Chicago. It’s just too bad that the milestone goal could not happen in a Blackhawks sweater at the United Center. Remember that his 400th career goal was scored in front of zero fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As expected, the Blackhawks social media team acknowledged the milestone of arguably the best player in franchise history.

showtime gets his 500th

congratulations @88PKane !! https://t.co/fLLaLbfrev

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 9, 2026

It’s hard to believe Kane last wore a Blackhawks sweater on February 22, 2023. He spent 19 games with the Rangers after being traded that year and has since played 152 games with Detroit, tallying 49 goals and 83 assists with the Wings. Even at an older age, he has shown he can still play solid hockey; he’s averaged 21 goals and 53 points over his last two full seasons.

Kane could have one more shot at glory if the Wings make the playoffs. He can add to his career 53 playoff goals and 138 playoff points.

Patrick Kane makes NHL history

Kane is often called the best American-born player in NHL history, or at least one of them with Mike Modano still having the goal edge (561). He is now one of six active players with 500 goals or more, including Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin, and John Tavares. All of those players made their NHL debuts between 2005 and 2008.

In terms of catching other Blackhawks greats, Kane is 13 goals away from catching Jeremy Roenick, 25 away from former teammate Marian Hossa, and 41 away from Stan Mikita. He has a ways to go to catch Bobby Hull, who scored 610 NHL goals.

No matter what sweater, Kane’s legacy lives forever in Chicago. Third-most goals in franchise history and a catalyst in three Stanley Cup championships will never be forgotten. He should retire as a Blackhawk when that day comes.

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Hall of Fame goaltender and Chicago Blackhawks legend Glenn Hall has passed away at the age of 94. The team made an official announcement Tuesday night, with chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz releasing a statement.

https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/2009086989677810045/photo/1

Remembering the career of Glenn Hall, aka “Mr Goalie.”

Hall was one of the greatest players to wear a Chicago Blackhawks sweater. Born on October 3rd, 1931 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Hall began his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1952. After a few brief stints between Detroit and Minors, he finally played a full season in 1955-1956, winning the Calder Trophy. In June 1957, the Blackhawks made a historic deal with their arch rivals acquring Hall and aging Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay for Bill Preston, Hank Bassen, Forbes Kennedy, and Johnny Wilson.

Hall would play 10 years in Chicago. He was hockey’s “iron man,” holding the record for 502 consecutive games played in goal, a streak that will never come close to being broken. As a player Hall helped pioneer the “butterfly” style of goaltending and is said to have thrown up before every game.

One of his greatest accomplishments was his contribution to the 1961 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. Sharing the ice with the likes of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, and Pierre Pilote, Hall played in every single contest that season and helped lead his team over his former Red Wings in six games to win the Cup.

Hall would end his final few years with the St. Louis Blues from 1967 to 1971. He finished with a 2.50 GAA, .918 save percentage, 84 shutouts, and 53,446:58 minutes played in 906 NHL games. He’s tied for 12th on the all-time goalie wins list with Jonathan Quick (407). Other hardware includes 11 All Star honors, three Vezina Trophies, and was the 1968 Conn Smythe winner despite the Blues losing effort in the finals.

He did all of this without wearing a mask or protective headgear of any kind.

Hall’s legacy in Chicago

Hall was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975. On November 20, 1988, he and the late Tony Esposito had their numbers retired at Chicago Stadium. Their banners hang at the United Center today. It’s been half a century since Hall suited up for the Blackhawks, and several generations never saw him play. However, the stories have lived on. One can still find the occasional Hall sweater being worn at the United Center.

In a season in which the Blackhawks are celebrating their storied past, the loss of Hall hits even harder. Recently, “The Originals” were celebrated by the Blackhawks, with Hall being one of them. The Blackhawks held a moment of silence for Hall on Tuesday night, alongside Hall of Famer Bob Pulford, who passed away earlier in the week.

https://x.com/CRoumeliotis/status/2009096496592060702

Rest in peace, Mr. Goalie.

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Connor Bedard was once again at the center of the hockey world as he recorded his second career hat trick in the Blackhawks’ 5-2 win over the Flames Tuesday night at the United Center. Bedard’s big night helped the Blackhawks improve to a six-game point streak. The team is in the midst of a lengthy homestand, and during his postgame interview with CHSN color man Darren Pang, Bedard commented on the crowds at the United Center during the past few games.

“I think the last three games have been probably the loudest of my career. We feed off that so much, we appreciate it.”

Blackhawks fans are restoring the roar at the Madhouse

Bedard is in his third year as a Blackhawk, and it speaks volumes when he mentions the last few home games being the loudest of his career. It’s no surprise the building is louder to the fans, considering the team is taking a big step forward. The growing enthusiasm for the young team is not going unnoticed by the players.

Saturday night against the Maple Leafs, a season high 20,489 showed up at the United Center and gave the barn a playoff-like atmosphere in their 3-2 win. While a Saturday game against an Original Six team with a special centennial ceremony commemorating “The Originals” is an attractive draw regardless, it was that raucous atmosphere that Bedard spoke about that is so special. There have been a handful of big ceremonies at the United Center in recent years, ending with dud on the ice and an anticlimactic atmosphere.

The later weekday games against non-rivals, like the one on Tuesday, are not selling out yet. Though the feeling is that the enthusiasm among the fanbase is growing quickly, and more sellout or close to selling out games at the Madhouse could be on the horizon. Maybe not 2009-2015 dynasty levels yet, but an increase. Even compared to earlier home games before this homestand, when they were drawing around 15-16K.

https://x.com/ByScottPowers/status/1990983033940255222

Blackhawks players are feeding off the fans

As mentioned, Bedard showed appreciation to the fans. Mentioning how the team “feeds” off the fans and each other. It’s been noticeable that the young Hawks are growing more confident by the game. Being a young, hungry squad and feeling this type of energy like they have not before has to aid that confidence, and they have made clear that that’s the case.

Call it cliché or corny, but human emotions are very real. Imagine being a 20-year-old playing the game you’ve known your whole life in front of a deafening crowd cheering you on. One can only comprehend how that must feel. It was the same case in 2007-2008 when Chicago began to take notice of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

It’s time to start spreading the news and get more people to the United Center and be even louder.

The post Connor Bedard sends subtle message to Blackhawks fans appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Connor Bedard had himself another impressive game Friday night, recording four points in the Chicago Blackhawks‘ 4-0 win in Calgary.

Bedard assisted on the first three Blackhawks goals before putting the cherry on top with a Patrick Kane-like goal late in the third period. Bedard, at the age of 20 years and 113 days, became the youngest player in the Blackhawks’ century-long history to reach 150 career points.

With that effort, Bedard enters Saturday with the second-most points in the NHL (22) behind 19-year-old San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini’s 23.

Bedard was taken first overall in the 2023 NHL draft, and Celebrini (19) was the first taken a year later.

Let's check in on the scoring race:

1. Macklin Celebrini – 23 points
2. Connor Bedard – 22 points

The future is now. pic.twitter.com/4RFRTr7hVd

— NHL (@NHL) November 8, 2025

Blackhawks and NHL fans have been put on notice

While it’s still early in the 2025-2026 season, fans are already looking at the NHL point leaders with intrigue as two of the league’s young stars are shining brightly. Both kids were as hyped as could be coming out of their respective drafts, and fans are getting a taste of what could be.

It’s tremendous for the Blackhawks and Sharks fanbases, who have both been in the midst of grueling rebuilds. Now the fruits of their organization’s labors seem to be blossoming.

For two decades, hockey fans have watched and debated between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, two legends whom Bedard and Celebrini have spent their entire lives following passionately. Could we be entering the next generation’s great player debate?

A Michael Jordan and LeBron James-like discussion?

While this is not to say either Bedard or Celebrini will finish their careers with quite the same numbers as Crosby or Ovechkin, they have the opportunity to be at the top of the league. This can and should be embraced by fans and media.

It can seem annoying to constantly debate two figures tirelessly.

The Michael Jordan and LeBron James debates have worn plenty of people out, and Chicago fans are currently driving themselves nuts being in the midst of comparing Caleb Williams to other young NFL quarterbacks.

One could argue this hockey discussion feels a bit different. There will always be those who try to flex their guy over the others, but this is great for the sport. There is a seemingly great amount of respect for both players.

Enough of the Bedard vs Celebrini arguments online. Both awesome. https://t.co/YEbCDTcx4m

— Tankathon.com (@tankathon) November 8, 2025

Bedard is putting the Blackhawks back on the map

Thanks to Bedard, and the contributions of others, the Blackhawks are making national headlines again (for good reasons). Even if the team does not quite keep pace with the record they have this year, there is absolutely a reason to tune into the games.

The same can be said for the Sharks, who just a few weeks ago had head coach Ryan Warsofsky talk about sacrificing one of his children for a win. Figuratively speaking, of course…

Enough of the Bedard vs Celebrini arguments online. Both awesome. https://t.co/YEbCDTcx4m

— Tankathon.com (@tankathon) November 8, 2025

This point race between Bedard and Celebrini could be really fun to follow this season. Maybe it’s not Mark McGuire vs. Sammy Sosa, but something for Blackhawks and hockey fans alike to watch with interest every night.

Hopefully, this will lead to some more sellout crowds at the United Center as the season goes on. It’s worth noting that on February 2nd, the Sharks come to Chicago to face the Blackhawks, which should draw national attention.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

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It has been a while since there was as noticeable a level of buzz around the Chicago Blackhawks as there was after their 8-3 thrashing of the St Louis Blues on Wednesday night. The Blackhawks were featured on TNT’s national broadcast as they took on their bitter rivals, who had taken control of the rivalry in recent years. After the win, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar joined the TNT postgame show. Bedard sent a strong message to the hockey world:

“We don’t want to win in three years. We want to win now.”

It’s a win now mentality for Connor Bedard & the Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/mUtN0UWiia

— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) October 16, 2025

A few simple words spoken in a chill tone, but they immediately stood out. This franchise reached the decade mark since its last title this past June and has spent the majority of the 2020s rebuilding. Bedard was selected first overall in the 2023 NHL draft, joining a franchise in full rebuild mode. In his first two seasons, the Blackhawks went 48-99-17 with 113 points.

While part of a greater plan, the losses have to be getting to the now 20-year-old Bedard. He’s done with it, as are the fans.

Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks are making a statement

It might not seem like much more than a player saying the right things on TV, but it’s hard to argue that it’s not genuine. Not only blessed with elite skills, but he’s also a fierce competitor, and the desire to win is clearly there. Bedard mentioned his team being “fast” and “competitive” in that segment on TNT. Not only is he speaking for himself, but for a team filled with other young players itching for glory.

https://x.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1978678449209303139

The value of this statement holds much weight, even if it doesn’t mean the Blackhawks will suddenly contend for a Stanley Cup this season. Rebuilding a team from the ground up requires more than just drafting young talent; it’s also about creating a winning culture. Successfully growing as a young team breeds confidence and the belief that they can compete with anyone. It’s no longer about what could be down the road for guys like Bedard; it’s about what they can be now.

Worth noting, these comments are in no way a shot at GM Kyle Davidson or his plan. Everyone, including Bedard, knows this is a long process. It’s also understood that this team will still lose a good number of games and have some rough patches this year. If anything, it shows that Davidson’s plan is starting to see the budding of the fruits of his labors. Bedard wasn’t insulting the plan; he is doing his part in moving it along.

Bedard is a voice for the team and the Blackhawks fans

Bedard speaks to a big city starving for championship-caliber sports again. Setting that tone goes a long way in getting the fans to buy in again. Ask any Chicago sports fan, and they’ll tell you they’ve had enough of teams rebuilding or retooling. Nobody wants to hear any more of “The next big thing is coming,” or “Just wait until two or three years from now.” The future needs to be now, and seeing that growth on and off the ice is how tomorrow becomes today.

and to all a goodnight pic.twitter.com/EckoMuW437

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 16, 2025

Wednesday night was one game, but the promise in a small sample is there. Hopefully, this ends up being the opening of a new, exciting book for the Chicago Blackhawks.

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June 15, 2015. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win their third Stanley Cup in six seasons, and sixth in franchise history. That joyous night at the United Center capped off what was arguably the best run by a Chicago Sports team outside of the Michael Jordan Bulls. While there was hope they could do it again soon with that core led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, it was not to be.

It’s now been a full decade since that last championship. Fans have gotten so used to saying, “The Blackhawks’ success within the past decade,” but now that has passed. There is a lot to put into perspective.

Chicago Blackhawks’ success plummeted fast after 2015

Make no mistake, winning a championship is incredibly hard, let alone three in six years. Add those Cup runs to the other playoff appearances where they went deep in 2009 and 2014, that’s so much extra hockey being played by those players who were part of several or all of those campaigns. With that said, the Blackhawks post-2015 have not come close to reaching that glory.

Their last two legit shots were in 2016 and 2017, but they lost in the first round both years to the Blues and Predators. It was especially painful in 2017 when the Blackhawks were the top seed in the West with 109 points and got swept. Their only other playoff appearance was in 2020 via the COVID bubble play-in round against the Oilers, only to lose to the Golden Knights in five games. That team had no chance at a deep run.

Overall, since the last Cup, the Blackhawks are 324-367-91 with 739 points and finished last in their division five times. They’ve had five different head coaches and will be on their sixth when the season begins with Jeff Blashill behind the bench. Recent down years have been rebuilding years, but it does not make it any more fun to endure.

Putting it all into perspective.

Let’s be real; Blackhawks fans (new and die-hard) were spoiled for 6-8 years. Watching generational hockey talents make a once irrelevant franchise into the hottest ticket in Chicago was more than most could ask for. It arguably made those following seasons when they either got extinguished fast in the playoffs or didn’t make it easier to tolerate.

Time keeps marching on, though, and those Cups are getting smaller in the rearview mirror with every passing moment. Young fans, even many teenagers now, have no recollection of those Cup runs. It’s a humble reminder of how fast time goes and how far removed we are now from the glory days. Safe to say those playoff games at the United Center are missed, and the fans who experienced it want to feel what they felt a decade-plus ago.

It’s even felt within Chicago sports lore; the team that was once the talk of the town saw recent notable events, including the firing of Luke Richardson and the hiring of Blashill, as seemingly mere footnotes in the news. The growth of the fanbase from the dynasty is still felt, as games are still well attended, but the local media coverage and the days of storefronts and homes decked with Blackhawks merch have not been anywhere near the same in a while.

Now the hope is for the future. With a lot of young talent on the team and coming up, hopefully, new memories will be created sooner rather than later. We don’t want to be talking about the last glory days being 20+ years ago.

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The release of the NHL Quarter-Century team has stirred up some conversations among Chicago Blackhawks fans. While Patrick Kane deservedly made the list, one name left off that feels like a big snub is Duncan Keith.

Keith played 17 seasons, 16 of them with the Blackhawks, and was a centerpiece of the 2010-2015 dynasty that brought three Stanley Cups to Chicago. He was named one of the top 100 greatest players in NHL history in 2017. His career comes back into focus with him not only being snubbed from the Quarter-Century team, but he could be the next Blackhawk to get his number retired based on his resume and eligibility.

Another guy in that mix is his former blue line counterpart, Brent Seabrook. Like Keith, he was a core piece of that run and played 15 years in Chicago and came up huge in playoff games. Keith and Seabrook led the Blackhawks defense together from 2005-2006 through 2019-2020.

One could ask, how do their legacies compare to each other in Chicago?

Evaluating the careers of both Chicago Blackhawks legends

Both men had phenomenal careers, and the Blackhawks don’t win those three cups in six seasons without either of them. Combined in Chicago, they posted 208 goals and 1,089 points in 2,306 regular season games in addition to 38 playoff goals and 145 playoff points. Keith is second on the Blackhawks all-time games played list (1,192) behind Stan Mikita, Seabrook is fourth (1,114). They were also teammates on the 2010 Canadian Olympic team, which won the Gold.

Absolutely no disrespect to Seabrook, but in terms of who was a better player, it was Keith. He was the winner of two Norris Trophies and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015. Keith is also top 30 in assists (540) by a defenseman in NHL history and top 40 in points (646) by a defenseman all-time. Since 2005, Keith has logged the fourth-most ice time by any NHL player (30,993:40). That is a Hall of Fame-worthy resume, and he’s arguably the second or third-best Blackhawks defenseman ever behind Chris Chelios and maybe Doug Wilson.

Make no mistake, Seabrook’s numbers were not shabby. His 464 points are sixth on the all-time Blackhawks defenseman list and is fourth in goals (103) among all Chicago blue liners. Having made an Olympic team, an All Star team, he got his flowers as a player. But do career awards and stats solidify both guys’ legacies?

Remembering their biggest playoff moments with the Chicago Blackhawks

Keith did so much to carry the team in 2015, scoring two game-winning goals in the first round against Nashville and the ultimate cup-winner in game 6 against the Lightning. He was the unanimous Conn Smythe winner, and few disagreed with that decision.

Seabrook was a huge contributor during the historic 2013 run. Everyone remembers where they were when Seabrook scored the overtime goal against the Detroit Red Wings in game 7 of the second round. Not only was that one of the best moments in Chicago Blackhawks history, but also one of the best in the century of Chicago sports. For years, the Blackhawks sat in the shadows as the Red Wings had all the glory, and that era of dominance more or less ended when Seabrook wristed that puck past Jimmy Howard.

It’s worth noting that Seabrook’s three career playoff overtime goals are tied for second in Blackhawks history with Jeremy Roenick, only trailing Kane. Another notable one he had was in game 4 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston to tie the series.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are celebrated in their own way.

In the end, both players are loved for their contributions. Keith was the overall better player, but Seabrook delivered some huge moments. One can weigh the two and decide who had the bigger legacy in Chicago, while acknowledging both were detrimental to the franchise, regardless of who they liked better.

Some can probably say they cannot pick one or the other, which is understandable. Both boast the legacy of being catalysts in a dynasty in a major market, and that will be remembered for a very long time. It was more than just two great players, it was a dynamic duo.

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The Chicago Blackhawks finished the season with the second-fewest points in the NHL, and while the final stretch showed some promise for the future, it was another tough year for the fans to witness. It had been reported that the television ratings are way down, in part due to the new CHSN’s unavailability on Xfinity, however, the fans still showed up to support the team in person.

Despite the record, the Blackhawks drew 743,407 at the United Center this season, averaging roughly 18,585 fans a game, per the data available on Hockey-Reference. The arena’s capacity for hockey is 20,243. Important to note that these numbers do not include the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, in which they drew 40,933, inflating their season average to 19,130 and totaling 784,340 fans for all 41 home games.

Yes, there were a few weekday games against non-big-name teams with plenty of unoccupied seats, but only 13 games drew under 18K this past season, with five under 17K and none less than 15K. Considering the circumstances, overall pretty darn good.

Blackhawks fans enjoying the experience at the United Center

It’s understandable why fans would be frustrated in having to pay extra to watch games on TV or have to buy an antenna, but the experience of a Blackhawks game is still worth the price of admission. Picking and choosing a game to go to was arguably more appealing than paying for an app to stream games for a team not built to win. If you’re going to watch a rebuilding team, might as well be part of the fun at the game, right?

The Blackhawks and the United Center have added more family-friendly amenities in recent years, which might not always be for the “old guard,” but they’re more incentives for people to bring their kids to a game. Not to mention other recently added amenities such as the atrium, better food choices, and more in-game entertainment.

Consider too that in the dead of winter in Chicago, football is over and there is not as much to do, going to a hockey game is a solid option for a night out. Much can be said about the Chicago Bulls experience too in the same building, which has also kept many people coming in lean years.

Compare now to the “old” days of Blackhawks hockey

Once upon a time, a Blackhawks team with this type of record would not be drawing near this. Early and mid-2000s, the United Center would have crowds of 10K with little to no energy in the stadium. Those days are long over, even if there are broadcasting woes. At least games are not being completely blacked out like they once were under Bill Wirtz.

The 2010s dynasty created more lasting interest in hockey in Chicago, even if it’s still nowhere near the level of baseball, football, or basketball. The interest in hockey among youth is much higher in the Chicagoland area now than it was 20-some years ago.

With all of this being said, the attendance will only improve and get closer to 2008-2018 if the team improves going forward. The Blackhawks have been in a full rebuild for several years now, and the fans are ready to see more competitive hockey again. They might be able to sustain solid attendance numbers, but it won’t get any better without results.

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One of Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson’s bigger offseason moves was bringing in veteran winger Tyler Bertuzzi on a four-year, $22 million deal. Bertuzzi, 30, is making $5.5 million AAV and is signed through the 2027-2028 season.

While his overall scoring numbers do not look horrific, 17 goals with 17 assists, equating to 34 total points, he has hit a massive goal scoring drought that is not ideal for a $5.5 million AAV player.

Scott Powers of the Athletic pointed out that after Saturday night’s game in Vancouver that Bertuzzi has not recorded a goal in his last 20 games. He also mentioned that the team is being outscored 16-6 with him on the ice in 5-on-5 over that span. His last goal was on January 20^th against the Carolina Hurricanes, basically two months ago. Since then, he’s recorded just seven points and no goals with a -12 +/-.

Tyler Bertuzzi hasn't scored in the last 20 games now. The Blackhawks have been outscored 16-6 with him on the ice at 5v5 in that time.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 16, 2025

Tyler Bertuzzi’s expectations with the Blackhawks

While not expected to be a star-like difference maker, the hope was to have a consistent physical winger who could post 20-25 goals and 40-50 points on the season in Bertuzzi. Point total expectation can be a bit tricky being on a non-contender, though Bertuzzi did post back-to-back 21 goal and 45+ point seasons in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 on some bad Detroit Red Wings teams.

As mentioned before, just looking at his goals and points numbers, he appears to be on pace for a typical Bertuzzi season. His 82-game average is roughly 23 goals, 29 assists, and 51 points; somewhat similar 82-game average production of a player like Brandon Saad. Tyler Bertuzzi can still get to or around those numbers by season’s end…if he gets back into gear. There are 15 games left this season.

What is interesting is that Bertuzzi has had some stretches this season with the Blackhawks where he’s been valuable. From mid-December through mid-January he had a 20-game stretch in which he posted 12 goals and five assists (17 points). That stretch has accounted for roughly 70% of Bertuzzi’s goals this season.

Can we call the Tyler Bertuzzi signing a bust?

Can Bertuzzi’s value be written off after this season? It’s tempting to say that the signing has been a bust so far, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out.

There are three seasons left on his deal and a trade (note he has a modified NTC) or contract buyout are the options to part ways. Lack of consistency could lead to Bertuzzi’s time in Chicago being cut short, and there’s also the concern over his stamina with past injuries taking a toll on him. That said, he should also not be completely thrown aside just yet after this bad stretch.

As frustrating as it’s been, ideally he gets back on track and can be a valuable asset in Chicago. It could also benefit him next season with better coaching, more consistent lines, and better talent around him. While he needs to produce more, it has not been the best situation to play in with a rebuilding team with constant line shuffling and an interim head coach from the AHL.

The post Blackhawks winger Tyler Bertuzzi hits massive goal scoring drought appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Reports confirm that the Chicago Blackhawks have traded defenseman Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick per hockey insider Frank Seravalli.

The Blackhawks didn’t have all of the leverage when they made the deal to trade the 30-year-old defensive star. Chicago was always going to have to decide between taking on some of Jones’ salary or giving up draft capital to complete a trade and hasten the team’s rebuild.

The Blackhawks are eating some of Jones’ contract.

Chicago will retain just $2.5 million for Jones over the next five seasons. Jones was signed through the 2029-2030 season at a $9.5 million AAV and was the highest-paid player on the team. According to puckpedia.com the Blackhawks now have $20,806,549 in cap space.

Trade details, per sources:

To #TimeToHunt:
D Seth Jones
2026 4th Round Pick

To #Blackhawks:
2026 1st Round Pick
G Spencer Knight#Blackhawks retain $2.5 million on Jones for next 5 seasons.

Pick slides to 2027 if Florida doesn’t have 2026.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 2, 2025

Trading Seth Jones is best for both sides

The dealing of Jones does not come as a surprise, considering it was made public that he was seeking a trade with the deadline looming. While Jones had his moments as a Blackhawk, including being named an NHL All-Star in 2022-2023, it had been up and down for him lately in Chicago and it seems like parting ways is best for both sides.

Jones was quoted by The Athletic saying, “I think my timeline might be different than Kyle [Davidson] and Norm’s [Maciver] and the Blackhawks.” He also added he wanted to play “meaningful” games going forward and that it was nothing personal against the Blackhawks organization.

This was essentially a divorce.

While Jones has had some rough moments this season, he still is not an overall bad player and still can be a good defenseman for the Panthers. It will help that he is playing on a legit team looking to defend their Stanley Cup title. The Blackhawks can focus further on youth and using the cap they cleared in the upcoming seasons.

How Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson fared in this deal

It seems like Davidson got himself a pretty nice deal for a contract that is pretty rough and a guy who wanted out. Having a team eat much of that 9.5 million AAV over the next five years for a 30-year-old defenseman is what stands out the most. The Blackhawks were not in cap trouble, but getting a nice hunk of that money off the books further helps future flexibility.

Having what is likely a late first-rounder and a young goaltender feels like a solid sweetener for the Blackhawks. Knight, 23, despite his youth has played in 80 NHL games (70 starts) and sports a career 2.76 GAA and .906 save percentage. At age 19 in 2021 he played in two playoff games and sported a .933 save percentage over both contests. Potential future goaltender? Now is the time to find out.

Even Pete Blackburn from the What Chaos! hockey podcast said, “Unreal work from the Blackhawks” on X. The overall opinion on the trade seems favorable to the Blackhawks considering the money and circumstances of Jones in Chicago.

One of Stan Bowman’s last big moves exits

With this move, another one of the few remaining veteran pieces from the Stan Bowman era departs. After Bowman acquired him back in 2021 in what seemed like a reasonable deal, he immediately gave Jones an eight-year, $76 million extension which even for a good player like Jones seemed ludicrous.

This was one of the last major moves he made before his dismissal in October of 2021 due to the 2010 sexual assault scandal.

There are a handful of players who were acquired by Bowman left on the team, but most were drafted or acquired towards the end of his tenure and have come up to the NHL over the past few years. Connor Murphy and Tuevo Teravainen are two notables on the team that were acquired by Bowman and played in the NHL long before his dismissal in 2021.

Onward Davidson and the Blackhawks go, as well as Jones. Good luck to him.

The post Chicago Blackhawks trade 5X All-Star in impressive deal appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Former NHL forward and current NHL on TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette has made hockey headlines with his critical analysis of Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard.

During the intermission of the Blackhawks game against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, Bissonnette on the TNT broadcast called Bedard’s play style, “pond hockey.”

He mentioned that while Bedard can and will put up points, he believes his lack of executing the “little details” is going to be a preventative factor in the Blackhawks’ success.

Connor Bedard dismissed TNT’s comments

The 19-year-old Bedard has brushed off the comments made by Bissonnette and others on his play saying that he does not watch the broadcasts and that he does not take criticism personally. He understands where he needs to improve. However, the Blackhawks social media team did not shy away from throwing counterpunches.

After their 6-2 win over the Predators Friday night, the Blackhawks social media team posted a stat and graphic of Bedard’s 22 points over his last 21 games and compared them to Bissonnette’s career 22 NHL points.

22 points in 21 games vs. 22 points in your NHL career

that's pond hockey baby pic.twitter.com/yk96PuvTd3

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 8, 2025

Was Bissonnette’s criticism of the Chicago Blackhawks star fair?

One might ask if Bissonnette deserved the shade after making what he thought was a valid analysis of Bedard’s play. After all, even if Bissonnette was not a star at the NHL level, he is still more talented and knowledgeable about the game than most. What seems less fair of his comments was not so much his breakdown of the tape, but how he framed his criticism.

Yes, there are areas Bedard needs to grow in. Especially with the “little details”, there are undeniably struggles still there.

Bissonnette pointed Bedard’s positioning on the ice during a sequence when he wanted the puck with Connor McDavid on him, a bad no-look pass that resulted in a turnover, taking a hooking penalty after the miscue, getting the puck poked away after getting out of the box, and a weaker pass that got picked off leading to an Oilers goal.

All valid things to break down on tape, but his “pond hockey” comments and saying how they will continue to lose games with him playing like that is where the disconnect occurs. Bedard is a 19-year-old kid in his second year in the NHL playing on a rebuilding team and so much is being put on him. He is not the primary reason they are losing games.

After his one goal and one assist night on Friday, he enters Saturday with 16 goals and 32 assists on the year.

TSN’s StatsCentre pointed out that Bedard over his first 121 NHL games trails just six centers all-time in points-per-game who were teenagers. This list includes Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Dale Hawerchuk, and Steve Yzerman. That is too good of company to have someone calling Bedard’s play, “pond hockey.”

Though goal scoring has been much tougher to come by thus far, Connor Bedard has produced points to a high degree for a teenaged player. Coming into tonight’s @NHLBlackhawks outing vs NSH, his career points per game through 121 NHL contests trails just 6 other teen centres here pic.twitter.com/kM81t0V5RY

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 8, 2025

Media and fans rallying around Connor Bedard

Clearly, this struck a nerve with Blackhawks fans. However, the comments are also being used in a fun and humorous way. Various Blackhawks and hockey outlets have been posting Bedard highlights, notably of his one-timer goal on Friday, and making “pond hockey” jokes and sarcastic headlines.

Some call back to Patrick Kane’s famous, “That’s hockey baby!” speech.

THAT’S POND HOCKEY BABY pic.twitter.com/xKySeaVd7Z

— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) February 8, 2025

Seems like this will be a trend when Bedard scores among fans and local media going forward. Weirdly, it’s helping rally a fanbase together that has been struggling to cling onto another season in the basement of the standings.

To Bissonnette’s credit, he on X expressed his admiration of Blackhawks fans’ passion when sticking up for their guy. He understands his analysis and criticism will get him criticized and he can take the heat. Regardless of how one might feel about his opinions, that is a professional way to handle things.

I respect the hell out of Blackhawks fans for having Bedard’s back in all this. The passion isn’t going unnoticed. Can’t wait till Chicago is back in the playoff mix and Connor is lighting the league on fire. In the meantime you can direct your frustration towards me. I can take…

— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) February 6, 2025

It is understandable to see why people feel the Blackhawks’ official account throwing shade at Bissonnette’s career stats was a bit over the top. It is also understandable to look at Bissonnette’s “pond hockey” comments as over the top as well.

At the end of the day, if Bissonnette and Bedard can take the heat, which is part of sports, then there is no real harm done. Bissonnette had his opinions and the Blackhawks defended their franchise face.

As mentioned before, Bissonnette might have created a new rallying cry for the Blackhawks faithful. That is something to motivate from.

The post Chicago Blackhawks defend Connor Bedard on social media from Bissonnette’s comments appeared first on ChiCitySports.

A Chicago Sun-Times poll suggests Chicago Blackhawks fans are not watching games on a regular bases

The rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, who as of the morning of Feb. 1 boast the second-fewest points in the league, seem to be having a television viewership problem.

This is according to a recent survey of Chicago fans on Social Media. On Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times ran their weekly “Polling Place” on X, surveying how often people watch the Blackhawks on TV regularly.

The results were pretty grim.

Poll No. 2: How many Blackhawks games have you watched this season?

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 30, 2025

To sum up, of the 1,527 people who voted in the poll only 16% said they watch regularly. A staggering 67.8% said they watch little or none at all. Everything else in between ranged from around ten games watched (9.3%) to half the games watched (6.9%).

The Blackhawks are roughly 60% through their season, while they have played a bit better lately with Connor Bedard posting 28 points over his last 28 games heading into Saturday, it’s hard to think viewership will improve much over the remainder of the season.

Many eyes of Blackhawks fans will at least be directed at tankathon.com, again.

What is turning the masses away from the Chicago Blackhawks?

It does not take much in-depth research to see what is going on. While there is a general understanding that the Blackhawks are in the middle of a rebuild, it’s harder to sell the investment of time and money into the current team to the more casual fans. The winning of the 2023 NHL Draft lottery to land Bedard did give the city a hype boost, but to no fault to Bedard, the “honeymoon” faded as the team kept losing.

It’s worth noting that even the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field against the Blues drew under 1 million viewers per Josh Lewis of Sports Media Watch. The event was such a big deal in 2009 with a young Chicago Blackhawks team on the rise back to relevancy with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, while this past year’s match at The Friendly Confines just kind of came and went.

The other big part of the equation is Chicagoland viewers having access to the new CHSN, which also hosts the Bulls and White Sox. There is still no deal with Xfinity, the largest cable provider in the Chicagoland area. It circles back to the product on the ice as paying for a subscription, cutting the cord, or even buying an antenna (which is ridiculous in 2025) is less appealing to many when the team isn’t winning.

Have all fans abandoned the Chicago Blackhawks?

With everything said about the television ratings, the fan attendance at games has not been as bad. While they are not quite selling out, they are drawing decent for a bottom-feeder. Sun-Times reporter Ben Pope has been tracking the crowds at the United Center, and they regularly range between 17-19K a game with a few outliers such as NFL Sundays when they draw around 15K.

Blackhawks attendance: 18,701

Hockey Fights Cancer theme helped draw fans despite the NFL conflict. Crowd pic and updated graph: pic.twitter.com/T3NH50Kcmw

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 27, 2025

The data collected by Hockey-Reference is slightly skewed because they held one game at Wrigley Field, but the Blackhawks are above the 95% capacity mark on the year in attendance. Consider what attendance once looked like in the mid-2000s when Bill Wirtz blacked-out home games on TV and the team was in the pits, it’s significantly better at the United Center now than in the days of Alexei Zhamnov wearing a Blackhawks sweater.

Casual fans and Blackhawks die-hards still seem to enjoy a night at the barn. Resale tickets are fairly cheap too, for people looking to take the family to a night at the United Center to watch a game with little meaning and can leave the game when they please.

As with every team, winning will bring fans back to the television screens. It certainly will help if the Xfinity deal with CHSN comes to fruition, but hockey fans in Chicago are significantly more fickle than Bears or Cubs fans when it comes to tuning in regardless. Hopefully next year there will be more of an incentive to watch with an improved Blackhawks team.

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