New-look Blackhawks no match in opener for Blues in 5-2 loss

As they usually do before each opening of the season, the Blackhawks introduced the team to the crowd before puck drop.

There were cheers for the usual suspects: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane Jersey, Duncan Keith, etc.

But for many players there was little more than a polite applause and a "Woo" token.

You could forgive Hawks fans for not knowing how to react to a significant chunk of the roster to consider the Hawks dress six players with little or no NHL experience against the Blues rivals.

It’s time for the Blackhawks to give Mark McNeill his shot

When the Chicago Blackhawks moved away from the first round of the NHL Entry Draft 2011, they did so by adding two strong prospects to their farm system in Mark McNeill, picked at No. 18, and Phillip Danault, picked at No. 26 . McNeill entered the draft after a very impressive season for Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, recording 81 points in 70 games during the 2010-11 season.

As a forward-bodied with a hint of proven score, there were plenty of reasons for brass and fans alike Cheap Blackhawks Jersey be excited about its potential as someone the team could become a good player at the NHL level.

However, things have not gone well since most expect McNeill. In three seasons with Rockford IceHogs AHL, McNeill has failed to demonstrate the ability and potential that you might expect from a former first-round pick. He has not been bad by any means, but not at the level expected of a player with his pedigree.

Still, to his credit, McNeill has consistently improved its production to AHL level. It has posted back-to-back 20-goal seasons for pigs 40 points, and career highs of 25 goals and 28 points last season are presented in 64 contests. He also served as an alternate captain.

McNeill saw no NHL experience at all during his first two seasons in Rockford, however. When he was finally called up last season to make his debut in the NHL, it was just a season immediately preceding the All-Star Game before being sent back to pigs party.

Now that McNeill withdraws from the contract signing his fist NHL three years, he is now forced to pass through waivers in order to be assigned to Rockford this season. That means the Blackhawks are obliged to give him a shot at the big club, or they will risk losing him for nothing assigning Rockford. That seems pretty good motivation to give at least one type of your shot.

Chicago Blackhawks Morning Links- Fortin Is Still Here

Hello Chicago Blackhawks fans! The Chicago Blackhawks have more movements appearing on the list Monday, but the player who is always there is Alexandre Fortin who had a heck of a summer.

It is quite impressive to go from undrafted rookie, a player the Chicago Blackhawks training camp and preseason activities in the finals with at least one blow to the list of opening night, but is the kind of summer Alexandre Fortin is to have in 2016.

He even Joel Quenneville intriguing call Sunday evening after goal against the Detroit Red Wings, which was a movement of killer score the Chicago Blackhawks first goal of the game.

There are only two options for Fortin at this stage is to return to his junior team or make a list of the Chicago Blackhawks. Of course, the smart money to make him another look in a preseason game before being returned to his junior team, but stranger things have happened with Joel Quenneville and moves listed.

When looking forward left, Vincent Hinostroza has not really done much to impress this preseason so far and to be honest was Ryan Hartman so who knows what Coach Q is thinking at that time not more. The Hawks are going to need a secondary scoring and Fortin looks like he could predict that he will be doing .. I doubt it, but it's a great story this fall.

Canada taking Europe seriously in World Cup of Hockey final

When memories of the old days of Team Canada-Europe of hockey "rivalry", you must go back to your memory all the way back ... last Wednesday.

This is the only time the finalists for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which begins at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night (CBC, CBCSports.ca, CBC Sports app, 7:30 p.m. ET), met in the competition, Canada won the game easily 4-1.

How to watch the World Cup final hockey on CBC Sports
For evidence, Canada clashes with Team Europe does not have the rich history of Canada-United States, Canada, Russia or even Canada, Finland, the last fighters in World Cup hockey final in 2004. But there is no shortage of storylines.

"The hype can not be the same, but this is a final series," said Canadian forward Brad Marchand, who was euphoric after Monday signed eight years, $ 49 million US contract extension with the Bruins Boston. Équipe Canada chandail de hockey.

Marchand was tied for the lead of the tournament in goals scored with Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews teammates with three in four games.

Europe has had a Cinderella run at the World Cup of Hockey, but Canada is its midnight

TORONTO - The last team standing in the way of mastodon Canada won the Hockey World Cup was the fruit of the imagination of the NHL.

Oh, but they are for real, all right.

Team Europe faces shockingly Canada in the best of the last three after upsetting Sweden in the semifinals.

Flash back to September 11, when, after four periods of play preseason games, Europe was down 9-1 to North American children. Can you imagine the reaction of European players in this moment even if you had told them they would be in the final of the World Cup two weeks later?

World Cup of Hockey: Red-hot Bobrovsky stands in Canada's way

TORONTO - Best quote of the game Sergei Bobrovsky the World Cup of Hockey came from a colleague Nikita Zaitsev, who said that the Russian goalie is "the most important part of our team."

Worst quote could have come from the head coach is Bobrovský. Following Thursday's 21-save shutout against Finland, a win which qualified to the semifinals Russia, Oleg Znarok said, "It's a hockey game and he did block. All goalkeepers that - block shots."

Maybe something was lost in translation. Or maybe Znarok was so spoiled by watching the play Bobrovsky, have forgotten that most of the other goalkeepers do not usually spend the whole game standing on their heads to make the highlight reel saves.

Blocking shots? Technically, that's what 28-year-old Bobrovsky was doing. But you'd have to be blind not to realize the Columbus Blue Jackets are also doing much more for Russia.

Bobrovsky is why Russia, a team that is ahead, who do not like backcheck and defenders whose names you've probably never heard of, won the final four date with Canada.

It was Bobrovsky who robbed Connor McDavid in a breakaway in the 4-3 victory over North America on Monday. And it was Bobrovsky, who stopped every shot he faced in a 3-0 win against Finland on Thursday. And if Russia hopes to knock the host country on Saturday night, Bobrovsky must keep it up.

World Cup of Hockey: U.S. eliminated in loss to Canada

TORONTO - Patrick Kane was on the verge of tears when the final bell rang in another American defeat in Canada Hockey Jersey.

4-2 Wipeout US eliminated the hockey World Cup on Tuesday night, ending what was perhaps the best opportunity for this generation of players to win an international competition. Instead, US flamed out in two games, leaving disappointment, frustration and a lot of questions about program management.

For the US team, Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader was a minus-1 in 11:16 minutes of ice time. Livonia Ryan Kesler (Anaheim Ducks) was a minus-1 in 16:31 of ice time. Former Michigan Wolverines forward Max Pacioretty (Montreal Canadiens) was also a minus-1 in 11:34 TOI.

► The US group I just could not match the best