Morning Chirps: Wyatt Kaiser update, Blackhawks selected for 'special event'

Tuesday was a surprisingly busy news day for the Chicago Blackhawks. They held an optional skate yesterday afternoon, but will hold their first official practice later this morning. Meanwhile, a goaltending prospect was hit with a severe banishment. We’ll also know the final four teams in the men’s tournament at the Winter Olympics by the end of the afternoon. Time to get you all caught up!

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks had most of their roster on the ice for their optional skate on Tuesday. Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser was absent as he’s still dealing with a lower-body injury suffered in the final game before the Olympic break against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Head coach Jeff Blashill did not have any specifics on his injury. He said Kaiser wouldn’t be ready to go coming out of the break, but expects him to return to the lineup in March.

• Blashill also revealed that Connor Bedard will start taking faceoffs again and will start playing a “true center role” starting against the Nashville Predators next week.

• According to Scott Powers of The Athletic, the Blackhawks have been selected to take part in a “yet-to-be-announced NHL special event.” They will have one fewer home game on their schedule next season as a result. Since they just hosted the Winter Classic last year, you can rule that out. The most likely scenario is a two-game trip to Europe as part of the NHL’s Global Series.

• Yesterday, I held another Blackhawks Q&A, where I answered your questions about Artyom Levshunov, the future leadership group, and the offseason plans.

• Rockford IceHogs goaltender Stanislav Berezhnoy was suspended for 20 games for violating the terms of the AHL/PHPA Performance Enhancing Substance Program. According to Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, the team learned of the suspension over the weekend, which explains why Drew Commesso started back-to-back days for the IceHogs. He’s already served one game and will be eligible to return on April 11.

"While Stanislav did not knowingly take a prohibited substance, we believe his positive test is a result of a supplement he was consuming at the time. Stanislav has taken full responsibility for the situation & the organization praises him for the maturity & accountability he has shown. The Blackhawks organization fully supports Stanislav and knows he will use this as an opportunity to grow as he continues his development."

Kyle Davidson

• IceHogs general manager Mark Bernard added his own comments during the team’s weekly media day.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Feb. 18: Bob Wilson, Ab McDonald, Jim Wiste, Kris King, Slater Koekkoek, and Taylor Raddysh.

NHL & Olympic Tweets

• The men’s Olympic tournament is down to the final eight teams. Yesterday, I previewed and made predictions for all four of today’s quarterfinal games. Who do you have moving on to the semifinals?

• Jimmy Murphy of RG Media is reporting that the Boston Bruins are one of multiple teams inquiring about St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. It is reported that the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and Utah Mammoth are also in the mix. Murphy says the Blues are looking for a return similar to what the Calgary Flames got for Rasmus Andersson.

• The Blackhawks weren’t the only team to return to the ice on Tuesday. The Anaheim Ducks were happy to see both Frank Vatrano and Leo Carlsson with their teammates. Carlsson had to skip the Olympics after surgery in January to repair a Morel-Lavallee lesion. If the Ducks are to have any chance of making the postseason, they will need their young, dynamic center down the stretch.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Feb. 18: Wally Kilrea, Tom Johnson, Dick Duff, Thomas Gradin, Andy Moog, Moe Lemay, Alexander Mogilny, Nik Antropov, Blake Comeau, Cody Hodgson, Martin Marincin, Ross Johnston, Jack Studnicka, David Spacek, and Oscar Fisker Molgaard.