Tyler Cameron: DeBincat Signs and Blackhawks Hockey is BACK!
What a nice surprise to this morning. I got the notification on the walk to work that Alex DeBrincat had signed an extension to stay in Chicago for another 3 years after this season.

I also preview the Blackhawks first game of the season as well as the IceHogs season opener.

First!

Let’s get a W today!

Predictions:
Hawks win 4-3
Gustafsson scores the first goal of the season for the Hawks

Let's go Hawks! On vacation so will miss tonight's game. Have it dvr'd but am looking forward to catching some of the analysis in here and other places.

Thanks TC! Looking forward to your blogs this season and hopefully a more successful team to cover.

Good morning Hawks fans rise and shine. I'm so pumped hawks officially open their season today.


I predict Nylander scores his 1st goal
Hawks win today's game 4-1

I love the game takes place during the day. I'm working from home today, but I don't think I will be very productive this afternoon.

Hawks win 3-2
I'm going with Nylander for the first goal.
I'll say Kurashev scores first for the Hogs tonight.

I'm curious to see what Nylander can do.

Great blog, TC. I look forward to the season & more Rockford coverage. Toews scores the first for hawks & Highmore for the hogs.

Looks like Gilbert plays today

Hate the 1pm start on Friday

Today @ 7:54 AM ET
I love the game takes place during the day. I'm working from home today, but I don't think I will be very productive this afternoon.

Hawks win 3-2
I'm going with Nylander for the first goal.
I'll say Kurashev scores first for the Hogs tonight.

I'm in the same "Work from home" this afternoon. There is some "paperwork" I will be getting "done".

I'm taking the Hawks 4-1. Crawford steals the show in the first period and the Hawks get better as the game goes on. Kubalik scores twice in front of his family and friends.

Hate the 1pm start on Friday
- BetweenTheDots

Hate that the game is being played overseas. Who really is the audience, because it is not the fans of the 2 teams playing. Who is able to watch the game live?

I am able to watch the game so on that front I'm happy. However from a P.R move the Nhl dropped the ball on this one, they should have scheduled this game on Saturday when the opportunity for higher ratings.

1pm on a Friday was not a bright idea , especially if your flying both north American teams across the Atlantic to have this great opportunity .

That's my only gripe is bad scheduling for such a great opportunity lost

Looks like Gilbert plays today
- BetweenTheDots

I'm happy for Gilbert he shined in the preseason and his grit on the backend with a stay at home attitude is exactly what Chicago needs.

Predictions:
Hawks win 5-2
Kaner draws first blood for the 'Hawks.
Boq does so for the Rock.

And I'm pumped Prague gets an NHL game. Don't know anything about the culture there, but I would guess they fill up the joint, Friday night-style there.
European ice surface may be a factor favoring the Europian experienced players.

And I'm pumped Prague gets an NHL game. Don't know anything about the culture there, but I would guess they fill up the joint, Friday night-style there.
European ice surface may be a factor favoring the Europian experienced players.
- 35Tony0

Agree. The game is scheduled for Friday night there. It's not about the convenience of Chicago fans for this one game - they're marketing the game over there.

Woo-hoo first game of the season this afternoon and it's my day off.
Think the Hawks have improved but it's a tough division. With Lehner and a healthy Crawford I don't think they will miss the playoffs again.

Hawks win today 4-2
Saad gets first goal
Wedin first goal in Rockford (thought he would make the team)

Agree. The game is scheduled for Friday night there. It's not about the convenience of Chicago fans for this one game - they're marketing the game over there.
- mohel

Absolutely nothing good comes out of playing this game for the 2 franchises in this game. The players miss a pre-season game, the coaches have less time to work with the team in live-game situations. Why does it have to be a regular season game that is played there, why not a non important exhibition game if you want to sell the game there. On record, everyone is saying it is a great thing, but I bet off record the teams/players/coaches hate it.

Hallelujah - the drought is over!

I don't have a prediction on the Hawks game other than I will become more anxious the closer we get to puck drop.

The Icehogs are a very young team and could struggle against the older and more experienced AHL teams - which will be pretty much all of them. Young men learning how to play against mature men. But they have talent and should get better results as the season goes along.

Hate the 1pm start on Friday
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed, it’s worse than the 8am NFL games in London. And a season opener no less!

Hate that the game is being played overseas. Who really is the audience, because it is not the fans of the 2 teams playing. Who is able to watch the game live?
- powerenforcer

We’ll be at an Official BH bar in Mount Prospect. Come join us!

will the game be on a regulation NHL sheet or the bigger Euro ice surface?

Absolutely nothing good comes out of playing this game for the 2 franchises in this game. The players miss a pre-season game, the coaches have less time to work with the team in live-game situations. Why does it have to be a regular season game that is played there, why not a non important exhibition game if you want to sell the game there. On record, everyone is saying it is a great thing, but I bet off record the teams/players/coaches hate it.
- powerenforcer

Because they wanna show the stars, eh? The NFL plays games over there to increase interest over there. Regular season games.

We’ll be at an Official BH bar in Mount Prospect. Come join us!
- Assman22

Where?

The 19th (Hawks) and 21st (Flyers) best records in the NHL last year. Both figure to be just a little bit better this year.

We will see if there is more of a commitment to team D by the Hawks.

I would rather see Kubalik with Toews & Nylander, Kane with Strome and ADB, Shaw with Kampf (until Dach is ready to go) and Saad.

I feel sorry for Keith (or anyone else having Gus as a D partner). No way you can look good playing D with Gus.

The Seabs Maatta pairing should be interesting.

I wonder if Keith and Gilbert will be a PK pairing? (With Seabs and Maatta the other PK pairing.)

Crow vs Hart.

Philly 3 -1 over the Hawks