In this Friday edition of Hawks Headlines, we take a look at one writer’s thoughts about Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, which Hawks players will be donning lighter equipment in coming days, and a Minnesota Wild player that all Blackhawks fans should be rooting for.
-We start out with Sam Fels, who has been an outspoken critic of many of Joel Quenneville’s decisions behind the Hawks’ bench. In this piece though, he says that there are still things that he likes about Quenneville’s approach, and it makes for an interesting and nuanced look at the Hawks’ head master. [Committed Indian]
-The Blackhawks have been really solid on the power play in recent weeks, and Tracey Myers does a good job examining why they’ve been finding more success on the man-advantage. [CSN Chicago]
-Speaking of recent successes, Tim Sassone has a piece detailing how it’s the Blackhawks’ veteran leaders that are doing the heavy lifting as the team continues to hold the top spot in the NHL. [Daily Herald]
-Six NHL players, including Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, will be wearing new Bauer equipment that includes a form-fitting body suit and pads. The company claims that the new products will “reinvent speed” and performance. [ESPN Chicago]
-Brandon Saad has shown some tremendous versatility and skill this season, and as Mark Lazerus reports, he is really hoping that those factors will lead to a spot on Team USA. [Chicago Sun-Times]
-Kind of a scary story involving Wild goaltender Josh Harding, who has been battling Multiple Sclerosis. Harding had to be placed on injured reserve to adjust to new medications that he is taking. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said that it “is not a major situation at all,” but Harding definitely could use some encouragement right now. [Chicago Tribune]
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-Finally, Patrick Sharp’s older daughter Madelynn got to skate at the United Center on Thursday as the Hawks held their annual Christmas party. The Blackhawks’ forward tweeted an awesome picture of his daughter sitting in his locker stall:
First day on skates...Blackhawks Christmas Party. pic.twitter.com/sKTXloxW0A — Patrick Sharp (@10PSharp) December 19, 2013
