Morning Chirps: Sabres make a change up top, Rantanen's villain run continues

The Chicago Blackhawks start their three-game Canadian road trip tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They will try to figure out how to create offense without their top star. Check back throughout the day for your full game preview and postgame thoughts.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Head coach Jeff Blashill gave an update on Connor Bedard’s status after the Blackhawks placed him on injured reserve. Get all the details from yesterday's practice, including Ethan Del Mastro’s recall, the plan for Laurent Brossoit, and Nick Foligno’s return.

• Frank and I discussed all of this and more on the latest episode of the Second Balcony. We also got into some of the Blackhawks’ top prospects and the upcoming World Junior Championship.

• Speaking of prospects, Nestor Quixtan gave us the latest on Roman Kantserov’s big season in Russia.

• On this date in 1964, Bobby Hull became the second player in franchise history to score 250 goals. He had a five-point night with two goals and three assists to lead the Blackhawks to a 7-5 win over the Boston Bruins.

• Six years later, the Blackhawks extended their unbeaten streak at the Chicago Stadium to 17 games (15-0-2) by thumping the St. Louis Blues 8-3. Stan Mikita scored four goals on his way to a five-point night, while Cliff Koroll set a team record with four assists in the second period.

• In 1973, Tony Esposito became the second goaltender to win 150 games in a Blackhawks uniform by beating the New York Rangers 6-1.

• In 1979, Darryl Sutter scored his first career NHL goal to help the Blackhawks to a 7-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Dec. 16: Bob Trapp.

NHL Chirps

• The biggest news on Monday was that the Buffalo Sabres fired general manager Kevyn Adams. They gave the gig to former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, who had been working for the Sabres as a senior advisor to Adams. The move didn’t come as a big surprise, as reports surfaced over the week that the team was considering a change. Since Adams was hired in 2020, the Sabres have had the worst record in the NHL, 260-343-88.

• Lukas Reichel cleared waivers and will head to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. According to Rick Dhaliwal, Reichel’s agent has been given permission to seek out a trade. Good thing he has recent experience with this.

• Chris Kreider returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time after he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks over the summer. During the first television timeout, they honored him with a great video tribute. He didn’t pick up any points in the Ducks’ 4-1 win. Mika Zibanejad was scratched for the Rangers as punishment for missing a team meeting.

• The Mikko Rantanen villain story continued last night. This time, he collided with Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The Vezina Trophy finalist left the game and did not return with an upper-body injury. Rantanen had a goal and an assist in the Dallas Stars’ 4-1 win.

• Don’t look now, but the Florida Panthers are just two points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff spot after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2. They have won five of their last six games, and should have Matthew Tkachuk back by the end of the month. Watch out!

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Dec. 16: Wayne Connelly, Eric Belanger, Mike Weber, and Mikkel Bodker.