sliding into training camp day 1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/zebt4xZal0
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 23, 2021
Here's a summary of newsworthy notes from Day 1 of Blackhawks training camp:
* Jonathan Toews returned to the ice after a year-long hiatus yet is still day to day and admitted that he at one point tested positive for COVID antibodies.
* Patrick Kane is still not fully healthy from an undisclosed injury but says he's optimistic about it not being a long-term issue.
* All players on the camp roster are completely vaccinated.
* Head coach Jeremy Colliton stated that there shouldn't be any speculation about a player's value based on whether they skated with Group A, B, or C yesterday as groups will get mixed in later days.
* Dylan Strome played left wing rather than center to start camp.
* Jalen Luypen sustained an injury to his left leg and had to leave the ice.
* Forward lines, D pairs, and goalies for Group A:
DeBrincat - Johnson - Kane Kubalik - Toews - Hagel Strome - Carpenter - Khaira Kurashev - Dach - Reichel
McCabe - S Jones Kalynuk - de Haan Stillman - Murphy Beaudin - C Jones
Fleury Lankinen
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Jonathan Toews
heeeeeere’s Jonny 😠pic.twitter.com/YOtLJfVn7N
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 23, 2021
"It feels really good to be back." pic.twitter.com/0UY1yKbOHK
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 24, 2021
On the one hand, this isn't a surprise given Toews' chronic inflammatory response syndrome and COVID struggles. Many guessed he wouldn't play a full season in 2021-22 anyway. On the other hand, the offseason hype train painted a different picture of a jacked athlete.
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Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane said the undisclosed injury that bothered him last season isn’t completely healed but he’s “optimistic… it won’t be an issue long term. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Kc2FHxtPP9
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 23, 2021
Stan Bowman on Patrick Kane's injury: "Without getting into specifics on it, it's something that a lot of players go through. I would say that that's not uncommon for players to have nagging-type things that come and go. ...
— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) September 23, 2021
This situation is similar to Brent Seabrook when he knew he had multiple ailments that were pretty serious and even debilitating yet he declined to get full treatment. Would that treatment have made a difference for him to have a more effective prolonged career?
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Lesson of the Day
Iso on Andrei Altybarmakyan pic.twitter.com/8CFEbomVLB
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 23, 2021
Alex Nylander in his first practice since missing last season pic.twitter.com/UAwAIAOsYV
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) September 23, 2021
In the Altybarmakian clip, he touched the pucks multiple times. Also of note is at the beginning of the drill when he was the furthest from the puck to start a scrum along the left boards but quickly blew by 4 players to get ahead of them and retrieved it in the right corner.
But in comparison, Nylander exhibited lack of pace as he stood back more waiting for the play to develop and come to him. The only time he touched the puck was at the end of the drill as it came to an end and all other players seemed to have collectively let up on the gas pedal.
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New Helmet Sponsor
We are proud to partner with @belletire as our official helmet sponsor! pic.twitter.com/N3uEXUXoBs
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 23, 2021
The United Airlines wordmark blended in seamlessly onto the home black helmet and white road helmet as it was simply white or black and was just the singular word United that was also reasonably sized. In addition, the word United could also double as an unofficial slogan.
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IceHogs Preseason
Preseason Action: @TheAHL preseason begins on Oct. 6 and we battle @IAWild in a pair of tune-ups on Oct. 7 & 8 in Coralville, IAhttps://t.co/LJkFEqe0BQ
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) September 23, 2021
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See you on the boards!