The current NHL standings only tell one side of the Chicago Blackhawk story no the team won’t be in a playoff race this spring but there’s still a buzz inside the United Center Mar crowd of the Year here to see this one February is a month marked by Monumental
Returns Rising Stars old friends and NHL Legends intersect in the city all three call home go you know what we’re going to do it again tomorrow you got to bust your here counter badar’s jaw broken in a collision during a game in green non Jersey practice in a non play today we
As unsurprisingly even with a fractured jaw Connor Bard demonstrates unwavering resilience while not participating in this year’s All-Star Game due to his injury he is far from off the clock appearing in 10 events in only 48 hours so happy for you thank you yeah and quite an honor yeah it is it’s
Awesome appreciate it well you’re the start yeah Luc is going to give you the trophy it yeah and take care because funny yeah that is weird this year the double IHF handed out a new award the player of the year honor goes to the individuals who best exemplify skill determination team success and
Sporting character on and off the ice this year’s recipients are Bard and US Women’s National Team Member Hillary Knight thank you I’m glad I love you back soon hopefully yeah yeah yeah it’s been been a bit now so not too much longer I don’t think oh that’s
Fine with hardware and hand there are still a few more appearances on the docket for the youngest Allstar in NHL history Chicago black Conor uh yeah I I’ve got to be be around some guys a decent amount but obviously uh you know every time you get to it’s
It’s good yeah uh nothing exciting really just kind of hanging out um I’m a little tight in here a little tight me looking at it I’ve been able to skate and train for for almost the whole time what the thing tonight NY for who NY for you wouldn’t you wouldn’t know
You would not know I feel like you would know some of the ch you know Temple LS yeah you know the boots yeah going third kind of sucks I mean uh you know think about your walking me I couldn’t care less you’re done anything appreciate it got thank you very much Bart’s finally
Event of the weekend is the skills competition if healthy he might be the odds on favorite but this year he’ll have to settle for a surprise appearance as a passer fan turnout here has been been unbelievable and always a buzz around the city here for for hockey but
All the best players in the league coming in and doing their stuff I just wanted to be here and um you know it’s a great experience and it’s kind of something you always look forward to as a kid growing up so um been having fun you see Bieber fit pretty nasty I heard they can’t get get you out there I don’t know yeah see Tommy we can debate all we want about who’s the best skills but we’re going to find out tonight the skills competition continues from Toronto andl go get him con the first overall
Pick of the 2023 hry craft number 98 for the Chicago Blackhawks conter Bard you’re first for me yeah we’re up next it’s a pretty fun environment it’s just kind of ask about gear sticks or whatever fake shot backand bring it five you know like good drw and lining I love
That one you want to use my twig you got close with pelino yeah yeah he’s a great guy he slow pretty slow yeah yeah I like on I like shooting on oh really I hate it he I thought you might get down on a knee a little
More the first one was so hard scared the first I know I was like I wired the first one [Applause] of oh thanks it was good yeah it was pretty pretty fun what’s up sure you want it or no you already sign oh okay there you go back in Chicago the Whirlwind of
Media responsibilities continues this time with a trip to Wrigley Field whichever one I’ll go hat okay this a cool hat can I keep it yeah told about the restroom there and I was like the Blackhawks have been chosen to host a Winter Classic Game in
2025 to help break the news vard gets to test his skills as an actor sweet and action do you ever play baseball played tball okay yeah were you good I was a deud and then I gave it up you can only run one base yeah so if you hit a
Bomb you just got to stop want to give it a shot I’ll try perfect and then kind of jiggle this turn there that’s it going to take it off give it a little hit sick and Action Allstar games and winter Classics aren’t the only big nights ahead rewinding into September of 2023 Chris chellos finds out that his number seven will be forever hoisted in the United Center Rafters in an unrivaled Fashion on stage during The Encore of a Pearl Jam concert oh F does dad know like
What’s the deal dad does not know he called us in the car and I had to pretend like I didn’t know every answer to all the questions parking tickets I’m not a good liar so it’s a good thing the connection went out on the phone halfway to the city I
Think he thinks he would have to die to get it up there so he is going to go to heaven I think when this happens number seven is Chris the band and I are deeply honored to be the ones who get to tell you in front of all these fine
People that before Mr words passed it was one of his last wishes that you would be [Applause] honored chellos will become the ninth jersey retired for the Blackhawks fast forward to February the festivities for the night are in full swing at the United [Applause] Center and welcome to the grand opening
Of chell’s chili ready one 2 3 there it is 9192 we opened the chili bar so we didn’t really take you around too much with the boys a little bit but yeah the honestly the tiles the walls were red uh in the chili bar so they did an
Amazing job I mean the good news is I get to take it home when when they’re done with it unless it’s a big hit and we you know break some Sals and they keep the chili it was just a great place and and and a fun way to connect with
The city and the fans here okay I’m going to show you how you do it not tough stir a little bit now it drops build right you watching cheese onions jalapenos sour cream make it hot if you want but uh crackers each his own I’m going to be the first to try it
Yeah good as ever so if you give it any thought it what it’s going to be like a couple Sundays from now for the last four months since they announced it lot honest to God like a lot of sleepless nights you know mostly nervous about the speech what I’m going to say um
Hopefully it’ll just come out the way you want and um but again it’s like a I I don’t know if it’s a dream come true because it wasn’t my dream growing up as a kid and not even to play in the NHL but you know looking back and the thing
That is most impressive to me is that it’s in my hometown and that’s the dream come true you know to have my jersey retired in my hometown while not a HomeTown kid Bard has become a HomeTown favorite and the fans are itching to see him back on the
Ice it’s a tricky injury for the player because once that initial soreness and pain subsides you feel fine but that bone isn’t quite healed he’s our top scorer and that’s no small feat for an 18-year-old and so when any team loses their top scorer and top offensive
Threat it’s going to leave a hole and then when they come back it’s a big boost to the team he’s ready to go we felt that we can see it in him he knows what it is out there so he’s ready to uh face that tonight and we’re happy to have him back
We’re excited we’re ready to see him uh shine up there tonight hi again everyone John Wiman along with Troy Murray and Joe brand we’re all here at the United Center tonight with the Blackhawks take on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final meeting of this season and wouldn’t you
Know it Conor Bard is joining the Party [Applause] there’s no point in holding him back at this point and so I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere the fans will be excited and it’s a nice surprise for for everyone in ATT tenant tonight how about the news today that Conor Bard is back we weren’t expecting
It but boy it was awfully exciting when we found out when you’re watching him skate and you and you know that he’s been in the green sweater and and you know that it’s close and and then you find out that no it’s actually going to be tonight it is very exciting he’s
Missed it we’ve certainly missed Conor Bard and now he’s back in uniform [Applause] number8 [Applause] You want to win it to the inside and then I come from or you want to do the other one that’s pretty hard I’ll you got it cuz he’s going to whack it to the wall oh like a short Oney all right boys you look [Applause]
Good those JS I need you to like get a lot process first game but just win those one-onone Conor drops it off for Riley Smith who gets the puck backand score it was nearly broken up in the slot hey hey [Applause] hey who’s Puck at the line in by kinsky
To Pino butar right Circle put it in front the Score hey hey hey hey I feel a lot better with that the last two periods yeah yeah cuz you have such ability to draw guys to you right so you you come lower either if they don’t now you got ton of speed oh open net oh and a goal for the [Applause]
Penguins in a roller coaster of a rookie season Bard has handled high expectations injuries and the immediate demands required of an NHL Superstar now healthy and back in the lineup things are starting to feel a bit more routine there like bands that were just keeping my mouth like really tight for the first
Couple weeks and obviously you can’t really open your mouth so uh the smoothies and soups and stuff and that was a weird part but I think you get used to it and then uh when you’re able to eat it’s definitely pretty nice do you remember like what the first
Food was at first it was like all like soft stuff so like pastas and like I think oatmeal and like that sort of stuff and then once I was able to eat everything the first thing was like tacos or or something that I had the work ethic that has pushed him
Into the NHL Spotlight is on display daily at Fifth Third Arena yeah I thought you did a really good job last nighte holding on I just open up so much I thought we were too rushed until like the end of the second like cuz they come at you so
Hard and then you just like kind of whack [Applause] off good little good little stick battle in front there whacking at I was whack I was giving you a couple yeah it was nice [Applause] how you feeling VI my bad I up two two passes easy passes two passes [Applause]
Easy first month was you know it was awesome but it was weird for me I mean a lot of you know interviews and photos and and stuff so it’s just no no but it was uh it was different there but it all flew by and um you know I think the biggest thing
For me was just not not taking a moment moment for granted and um you know I feel like whatever 40 games in or whatever I am now I feel maybe more comfortable on the ice but but also off the ice just with the lifestyle and everything like that he’s elevated everyone else now
That he’s back on the roster he’s factored in on six of the eight goals the Blackhawks have scored he’s looked better on this side than before he got hurt Bard’s recent notable play adds even more excitement to a knight that has no shortage of star power against a bitter old
Rival pretty much as soon as they announced that his jersey was getting retired we bought third row tickets and we just waited and waited you know we feel like he’s ours he’s a Chicago guy even though he eventually went up to Detroit he still belongs to us his dream
Was to play for the Blackhawks to actually play and then be so great I think it’s amazing kind of like CIO you’ve got a legend coming back here playing for the Opposition and you can feel it’s not just another game tonight and it’s not just another weekend of hockey Dennis Rodman Eddie Veta the All Time guest Cindy Crawford what’s that you didn’t say Gretzky with Chris’s event with Kaner coming back with Bard back in the lineup there’s a lot to get excited
About I’ve never seen this many stars at one numbery time there he is don’t you go stealing my thunder what’s up caner S thank you hey Alex how you doing thank you good to see you guys see oh yeah oh yeah I’m Alex nice to meet
You what’s up Joe what’s Happ how are you good conations thank you this is unbelievable this is great today we proudly retire the jersey of one of the most iconic and enduring figures in Chicago Blackhawks history my going right in front right with me slide over slide over we’ll get rid
Of him and you don’t hit nothing Frankie Jesus Christ ladies and Gentlemen please welcome to the ice one of your own Chris chellos you nervous Frankie I don’t know I do this all the time [Applause] the day I was traded to Chicago was the greatest day of my life dream come true a team you grow up watching and all of a sudden I’m walking up those stairs the old stadium and I’m stepping on the ice I couldn’t be more proud to represent you Chicago
Blackhawks the city of Chicago as one of your own thank you everybody congratulations I waited long enough that’s over with I’ll see thanks good job proud of you man thank you couldn’t have done it without you that’s for sure our great you brought us all together that’s what I do right you’re
Right you do you bring everybody together family yeah hey congrats thank you very much yeah shut down that caner today I’ll let him steal my thunder exactly it’s a perfect storm you know kaner’s back Bard’s back from his injury you know the fans it’s electric this is
Going to be special in this game there’s a buzz what one of Chicago’s adopted Sons Patrick Kane makes an emotional and much anticipated return Chris cellio just knows everyone I mean not just hockey celebrities forgot a little bit stuff but whatever that was enough everything was perfect thank you thank you thank
You it is time for Patrick Kane’s video tribute as he makes his return to the United Center for the first time since his Blackhawks career ended just about one year [Applause] ago I hope it screws up this game to the line Seth Jones over to badar top of the left Circle he fires he’s gone Hawks take the lead with that lower hand a little lower that’s it that’s it that’s going to be way wide but it’s [Applause] okay Kane through center right did to rink it over the hawk line down the right wing with a tow drag and a shot I believe that hit blassic then a shot from the corner by debret he Scars From Below the goal line Alex D Bret how about some extra
Hockey he gains The Zone dropped off Jones Jones Shoot save rebound save all look out to break it head for Guess Who Patrick Kane he’s in he scores Patrick Kane on the ice he used to call home for 16 Seasons three different paths all leading to one home one born and bred
Eventually receiving the ultimate payoff one Heartbreaker but forever beloved by the city he still calls home and for the rookie a new city to grow in and develop with promise on the horizon all three are still making memories in their home Chicago
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