Morning Chirps: Blackhawks lose another legend, 2027 Winter Classic announced

The Chicago Blackhawks have the day off after beating the St. Louis Blues 7-3 last night. They will host the Washington Capitals tomorrow night before traveling to Music City to take on the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Depth scoring was the name of the game as the Blackhawks got goals from seven different players to roll past the Blues on national television.

• Doing the CHGO Blackhawks Postgame Show is always more fun following a win!

• Connor Bedard spent the first intermission chatting with the TNT crew, and he still has the receipts from Paul Bissonette’s “pond hockey” comment made last year. Never let him forget!

• It’s been a rough week for the Blackhawks family. After Bob Pulford passed away on Monday, legendary goaltender Glenn Hall died on Wednesday. I’ll have more on Mr. Goalie and his unbreakable record later today.

• Teuvo Teravainen will be the Blackhawks' lone representative at next month’s Winter Olympics. Brian Germinaro stopped by to break down his role on Team Finland.

• Before the season, I don’t think anyone would have predicted what team Jeff Maroon has dead last on his first NHL Power Rankings of 2026.

• On this date in 2003, rookie goaltenders Michael Leighton and Zac Bierk dueled in a 0-0 tie between the Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes. This marked the time in NHL history when two goaltenders recorded their first career shutouts in the same game.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Jan. 8: Wally Hergesheimer, Steve Witiuk, and Jon Klemm.

NHL Chirps

• The NHL announced that the Utah Mammoth will host the 2027 Winter Classic. They will host the Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the football home of the University of Utah. The date for the game has not been announced yet, but when the Mammoth take the ice, they will be the 32nd NHL team to play in an outdoor game.

• While we are getting excited about Olympic hockey next month, there are still issues with the venue where the games will be played. According to a new report, the main hockey rink be finished on time, but the playing surface, practice facilities, and dressing rooms will be ready for the first games on Feb. 11. The ice surface and the seating capacity will both be smaller than originally planned. Nice work!

• Former Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek is back on injured reserve and leaving Monday’s game with yet another injury. The Anaheim Ducks recalled Ville Husso to take Mrazek’s roster spot.

• The Winnipeg Jets had some positive news on injured defenseman Hayden Fleury. He had to be stretchered off the ice on Tuesday after a rough ride into the boards, thanks to Vegas Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar. Fleury was released from the hospital after suffering a broken nose and bruised back. Head coach Scott Arneil said he will need further testing for a possible concussion. He was at the rink and visiting his teammates on Wednesday morning.

• The Buffalo Sabres announced the release of a new documentary on legendary goaltender Dominik Hasek. It will be available on Feb. 1, and I can’t wait to watch it!

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Jan. 8: Mac Colville, Ron Ellis, Marian Stastny, Garth Butcher, Darren Langdon, Trevor Lewis, William Karlsson, Max Comtois, Mavrik Bourque, and Seamus Casey.