Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
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Chicago Blackhawks beat reporter for the @Suntimes. Northwestern alum. Raleigh native. @ThePHWA member. Email: [email protected]
Chicago, IL
Joined October 2015
Blackhawks assistant coach duties this season:.Vellucci and Peca: forwards.Vellucci: PP.Peca: PK.Sorensen: defensemen.Waite: goalies. More things we learned from my recent talk with Jeff Blashill:
chicago.suntimes.com
The Hawks' new coach will implement systems predicated on forwards backchecking hard, defensemen using their skating ability and the entire team having more of a shot-first mentality.
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Jeff Blashill has spent the summer getting to know his new players. Now he has a plan in mind already for Blackhawks training camp. "The first system we’ll implement will be our backchecking track.". New story:
chicago.suntimes.com
The Hawks' new coach will implement systems predicated on forwards backchecking hard, defensemen using their skating ability and the entire team having more of a shot-first mentality.
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The Blackhawks will celebrate their 2025-26 centennial season in four chapters, each spanning a month or two. They also have 17 giveaways planned, including seven bobbleheads. Details:
chicago.suntimes.com
There are seven bobblehead giveaway nights on the schedule, starting with Stan Mikita on Oct. 17.
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Yet again, the Blackhawks will enter camp without any obvious wingers for Connor Bedard. It'll be important to find two who work with him — and stick to them. I slotted Donato and Burakovsky in those spots in my lineup projection:
chicago.suntimes.com
The Hawks' youth movement will be in full force in 2025-26, and their defensive corps is almost entirely turned over at this point. But who will be Connor Bedard's linemates up front?
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The Blackhawks are going to be a young team this season, especially on defense. New story projecting what the lines and pairings might look like come Opening Night:
chicago.suntimes.com
The Hawks' youth movement will be in full force in 2025-26, and their defensive corps is almost entirely turned over at this point. But who will be Connor Bedard's linemates up front?
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RT @PuckReportNHL: Hockey Canada has invited 42 NHL players to orientation camp in preparation for the 2026 Italy Olympics:. 26 Forwards: B….
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One of Connor Bedard's offseason adjustments: Switching from a 70-flex stick to a 75-flex. "The more you can go up and feel comfortable, it helps with other things.". Faceoffs are one of those things. Full story on Bedard's summer, ICYMI:
chicago.suntimes.com
Bedard has worked on increasing his speed and adjusting to a 75-flex stick this summer at home in Vancouver.
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Connor Bedard and Jeff Blashill texted frequently during the Stanley Cup Final, discussing what the Blackhawks can learn from the Panthers. "Having the wherewithal to be in the right spots and be going hard, I think anyone can really do that.". Story:
chicago.suntimes.com
Bedard has worked on increasing his speed and adjusting to a 75-flex stick this summer at home in Vancouver.
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Connor Bedard is impatient for Blackhawks hockey. He wishes it was September already. But he also believes this long offseason is paying dividends for him, training-wise. "I feel like I’ve definitely increased [my speed].". New story:
chicago.suntimes.com
Bedard has worked on increasing his speed and adjusting to a 75-flex stick this summer at home in Vancouver.
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Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom took a step forward last season and then, today, got rewarded with a 2-year contract. "No matter what happened — win, loss, bad goal, big save — I was even-keel.". Story:
chicago.suntimes.com
Soderblom, who will back up Spencer Knight in 2025-26, will carry a $2.75 million salary-cap hit.
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RT @Suntimes: It’s time for this week’s “Polling Place.” Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Sunday's paper. Poll No. 1….
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Want to learn more about each of the Blackhawks’ three 2025 first-round picks? I’ve written feature stories on all three now:. Anton Frondell: Vaclav Nestrasil: Mason West:
chicago.suntimes.com
The 18-year-old power forward became the NHL's No. 3 overall pick after the Hawks gathered intel from former players Johnny Oduya and Marcus Kruger and watched Frondell transform his skating.
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RT @PuckPedia: 🔥Arbitration Hearing Dates. Kakko #SeaKraken July 25.Soderblom #Blackhawks July 28.Tsyplakov #Isles July 29.Samberg #NHLJets….
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Mason West drew football interest from 26 Division 1 schools before committing to Michigan State for hockey, but he has promised the Blackhawks he'll stick with this route. The story of his unique path so far:
chicago.suntimes.com
One of the many fascinating things about West, the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is how his football skills also make him a better player on the ice.
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Mason West's dual-sport stardom makes him a fascinating Blackhawks prospect. He sees hockey from a quarterback's perspective. "I think about it like, '1, 2, 3, 4,' as I’m looking at my reads. But he’s doing that instantaneously.". New feature story:
chicago.suntimes.com
One of the many fascinating things about West, the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is how his football skills also make him a better player on the ice.
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Relatively newsy mid-July week for the Blackhawks. Schedule release: Frondell signs but returning to Djurgarden: Crevier re-signs, plus Berezhnoy added to prospect pool:
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RT @Suntimes: It’s time for this week’s “Polling Place.” Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Sunday's paper. Poll No. 1….
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