Tribute to Pat Foley
The voice of our franchise for 39 years. This one's for you, Pat. #FoleysFarewell pic.twitter.com/Z193V1Q8Yr
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 14, 2022
When thinking about the core pieces of my Blackhawks fandom, Foley was one of them. The dark ages in the late 1990s and early 2000s was sad for many reasons -- including a decade of futility -- but a few years without Foley's voice was up there for me as a major reason.
It's only fitting that as the player personnel goes through a rebuild so are other areas of the franchise including management and the broadcast crew. Foley is a part of that transition out. Yet, it's also fitting that the Hawks delivered him a W in his swan song.
y’all ever cry pt. 1,000 pic.twitter.com/nGaU9IiWbP
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 15, 2022
We hope you enjoyed the broadcast, we know you enjoyed the outcome. Goodnight, Chicago â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/yT4LXmtskP
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 15, 2022
Reese Johnson Re-Signing
More Reese 🬠pic.twitter.com/GUyVhLi1Ta
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 13, 2022
According to beat reporters, Reese Johnson replaces what left when Ryan Carpenter was shipped to Calgary at the trade deadline. For a few years, Carpenter was an affordable 4C who played with energy, grit, and sandpaper while being a reliable penalty killer.
A 4C who can kill penalties, Johnson is the same way but younger and cheaper as well as bringing more energy, grit, and sandpaper than Carpenter. He's a much better skater, too, and a solid leader on the bench and in the locker room.
Could Johnson upgrade his stock over the next two years to be more valuable to the Hawks and possibly attractive to other teams? Think bottom 6 forwards like Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow that contenders covet and will pay a pretty penny to obtain.
It's doubtful Johnson rises to that level but you never know. He at least can anchor a tough-as-nails 4th line. Assuming Sam Lafferty also re-signs, there's a high likelihood that next season's 4th line is comprised of Johnson centering Lafferty and MacKenzie Entwistle.
What about Jujhar Khaira? One would think he as well as Tyler Johnson and/or Brett Connolly are buyout candidates. One trade that could be worth exploring is sending Spokane-native Tyler Johnson to the Kraken for a late-round draft pick.
Work ethic + competitiveness are some of the things Reese brings to the table 👊 pic.twitter.com/w14UOtlnUp
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 13, 2022
Blackhawks Game Summary
Thursday Boxscore
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane Kurashev - Toews - Raddysh Lafferty - Reichel - Dach Katchouk - R Johnson - Entwistle
Stillman - S Jones McCabe - Regula Vlasic - de Haan
Lankinen Delia
Scratches: Borgstrom, T Johnson, Kubalik, Gustafsson, C Jones
1st Goal (1-0): Kane (Strome, DeBrincat) 2nd Goal (1-1): Meier (Hertl, Burns) 3rd Goal (2-1): Raddysh (S Jones, Kane) PP 4th Goal (2-2): Reedy (Nieto, Chmelevski) 5th Goal (3-2): de Haan (Kane, DeBrincat) 6th Goal (4-2): Strome (S Jones, DeBrincat) 7th Goal (4-3): Balcers (Couture, Karlsson) 8th Goal (4-4): Megna (Meier, Hertl) Shootout (5-4): DeBrincat
Blackhawks: * Toews (save) * Kane (save) * DeBrincat (goal)
Sharks: * Hertl (save) * Couture (save) * Karlsson (save)
SOG For/Against: 32/37 PP: 1-for-3 PK: 1-for-1 Faceoffs Won: 64%
FINAL: #Blackhawks 5, Sharks 4 (SO)
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 15, 2022
Shot attempts: 68-62 SJ
Shots on goal: 37-32 SJ
5-on-5 scoring chances: 28-21 SJ
5-on-5 high danger chances: 10-7 CHI pic.twitter.com/AV7ZlBfKdu
Blackhawks Notebook
Oh my Kaner 👀 #CloroxClutch pic.twitter.com/oEUcDCVi6L
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 15, 2022
--
IceHogs Notebook
Cap is BACK!
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 13, 2022
We have signed Captain @Mitchy1_0 to an extension for the 2022-23 season! #OhCaptainMyCaptainhttps://t.co/rJ12wmgTqH pic.twitter.com/ozFrqmOZCW
--
See you on the boards!
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago