Taking on the Jets tonight pic.twitter.com/zG3wsf68rq

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 5, 2021

The Blackhawks travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets at 7:00pm CDT for a one-game road trip before another homestand against the Predators, Penguins, and Coyotes who are now the only winless team in the NHL.

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Roster Moves

ROSTER MOVES: The #Blackhawks have recalled defenseman Nicolas Beaudin from the Rockford IceHogs and assigned forward Reese Johnson to Rockford. pic.twitter.com/aTRjPUp5Js

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 4, 2021

As reported by Blackhawks news sites including the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, and NBC Sports Chicago, the reason for Nicolas Beaudin being recalled is because Riley Stillman as well as Jujhar Khaira are ineligible to travel to Canada due to COVID rules.

More specifically, entry into Canada requires being COVID free for at least 14 days. Both Stillman and Khaira are still within that window thus they are unable to fly to Winnipeg. Once the Hawks return home from the one-game road trip, expect Beaudin to be sent back down.

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Rockford Updates

Hogs on the Move: We have recalled D Cliff Watson from @IndyFuel and loaned D Jake LeGuerrier to Indyhttps://t.co/NncOzjXqJ4

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) November 4, 2021

Not that it matters at the end of the day as both are career minor leaguers but I'm a bit surprised by this move as Jacob LeGuerrier played with a fairly steady defense-first mentality. Cliff Watson wasn't horrible but also wasn't noticeably impactful either.

With Isaak Phillips in COVID protocol, Chad Krys still nursing a leg injury, Alec Regula likely to resume play after being out since training camp, and Beaudin with the big club, the IceHogs D pairs may look something like this for the pair of games this weekend:

Galvas - Mitchell
Stanton - Regula
Watson - Krutil

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Prospect Development

Can look at it multiple ways and maybe someday it will come back to bite them, but most of those deals look like video game trades that happen to land long-term key players. Convention is out the window in the name of winning now and it's entertaining as hell. Cup or bust.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) November 4, 2021

The above tweets are an interesting observation from NHL draft and prospects analyst Chris Peters. The trend he points out is reminiscent of critiques made about the Blackhawks perceived and real inability to retain and/or develop 1st round picks.

A similar critique is made about former 1st rounders who the Hawks pick up via free agency or trades as reclamation projects. How many have panned out and how many continue down the path of mediocrity with some making the trip all the way to bustville.

There are hits and misses historically with the Hawks and with any other team for that matter. Fingers get pointed at who is to blame for lack of prospect development: amateur scouts, player development staff, assistant coaches, the head coach, and/or the general manager?

With the organization under public scrutiny and much needed turnover happening with management, could this be a pivotal point where the Hawks rebuild to a first class franchise for draftees and players? Strength needs to improve in not just drafting but also development.

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Jeremy Colliton

Jeremy Colliton still seems very pissed.

He gave this semi-rant today — and when asked afterward if he was referring to Dylan Strome said, "Among others, yes." pic.twitter.com/DXofB82x9T

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 4, 2021

Here's a rant of my own to counter Jeremy Colliton's rant: at what point does he stop blaming the players and start making significant changes to how he coaches? It's a both/and and not an either/or in terms of whether players or coaches need to perform better.

It's good he's pressuring the players to improve but who's pressuring Colliton to improve? He professes to have proven methods but does he really? What track record does he have? He's not a coaching savant. His message is either getting stale or has already gone rotten.

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See you on the boards!

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