Scott Powers

Chicago

Senior Writer at The Athletic

Senior writer for @TheAthleticChi, covering the Chicago Blackhawks. Email: [email protected]

Articles

Blackhawks' coaching search, contract talks and more takeaways from locker clean-out day

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers |Mark Lazerus

CHICAGO - For a team that finished in 31st place, Thursday's exit interviews at Fifth Third Arena were decidedly upbeat. Closing the season on a 4-1-1 kick, with a bevy of young players leading the charge, has the Blackhawks feeling a lot better about themselves and the rebuild than they did at this point last season. "We feel like we're in a good spot moving forward," general manager Kyle Davidson said.
Five offseason questions for the Blackhawks and GM Kyle Davidson

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Mark Lazerus |Scott Powers

By points percentage, the Chicago Blackhawks just wrapped up their second-worst season of the modern era, bested (worsted?) only by last year's dismal campaign. They finished 31st in the league, same as last season. They were 31st in goals against per game and 26th in goals per game. There were two four-game losing streaks, four five-game losing streaks, and a seven-game losing streak. Head coach Luke Richardson was fired after 26 games.
Connor Bedard ready to 'attack' offseason after two goals in Blackhawks' season finale

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers

OTTAWA - Connor Bedard had time to come to terms with the Chicago Blackhawks' end-of-season fate. He's known for a while the Blackhawks weren't making the playoffs. While he hopes for a different fate going forward, he hasn't been wasting any time in planning to take advantage of the long offseason ahead. "Everyone wants to be in the playoffs, but the one thing for us young guys is we have a five-month summer," Bedard said before Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators.
Blackhawks pull off memorable comeback win in playoff-like atmosphere: 15 thoughts

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers

MONTREAL - Monday had the makings of a forgettable day for the Chicago Blackhawks. They could have used Ivan Demidov, who they passed on in last year's draft, making his NHL debut against anyone else. But instead there were 21,000 Montreal Canadiens fans chanting his name and creating a playoff-like buzz every time he stepped foot on the ice. When he scored his first NHL goal in the first period, the building felt like it did when the Blackhawks won their last Stanley Cup.
One week in Florida

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers

Ryan Donato will undoubtedly have his share of skeptics after nearly doubling his previous season-best goal total at age 29. They'll point to his shooting percentage of 17.4, also a career best and nearly 10 percentage points higher than last season. They'll say he's in a contract season. They'll use the Chicago Blackhawks' lowly place in the standings against him: Someone has to score the goals, right?
Center prospect Ryan Greene signs with Blackhawks after Frozen Four: Source

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers |Scott Wheeler

CHICAGO - Ryan Greene has watched as more and more players he's played alongside at Chicago Blackhawks development camps over the last few years have made their NHL debuts. Among them are Artyom Levshunov from the 2024 draft; Oliver Moore and Connor Bedard from the 2023 draft; and Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar and Sam Rinzel from Greene's 2022 draft class. "It's definitely pretty cool," Greene said recently.
Blackhawks prospect breakdown: How Aidan Thompson became a top college offensive player

1 week ago | dailyherald.com | Scott Powers

The Blackhawks on Saturday announced they have signed Aidan Thompson out of the University of Denver. They drafted him in the third round in 2022. AP Aidan Thompson could have easily gotten lost in the shuffle of the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects this season.
Sam Rinzel's sudden impact

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers

Don't count Chicago Blackhawks rookie defenseman Sam Rinzel among those surprised by his play in the first few weeks of his NHL career. "I wouldn't say surprised," Rinzel said recently. "I always knew I had the abilities to do it, whether I was skating in the summer back in that four-on-four league in Minny with some pro guys. I wouldn't say surprised."OK, maybe not surprised, but reassuring?
2024-25 end-of-season edition

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers

There's been a lot of change to the Chicago Blackhawks roster since our season-opening story on why their players wear their numbers. Of the 20 players who were in the Blackhawks lineup on Thursday, 10 didn't start the season with Chicago. Some were in AHL Rockford. Some were on other NHL teams. Some were in college. With so much change, it seemed worthwhile to provide an updated version of why everyone wears their number, in their own words. Connor Murphy, 5: There's a couple (of reasons).
Before NHL decision, Blackhawks prospect Ryan Greene chases Frozen Four dream

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Scott Powers

All of the reasons Ryan Greene decided to return to Boston University and wait to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks have worked out for him so far. He wanted to experience being a team co-captain. That's been rewarding for him. "I feel like it gives you a different perspective, like the team and how you have to approach the team, obviously a lot more responsibility," said Greene, a Blackhawks 2022 second-round pick.