The Daily: What if ‘Hawks Add Macklin to Bedard; Luke Hughes Comparison

The Chicago Blackhawks turned around their franchise not all that long ago with a young Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane tandem. Could they do it again with a Connor Bedard and Celebrini Macklin twosome?

Macklin’s hype as the projected 2024 No. 1 NHL draft is spiking because Macklin has six points in two games for Canada at the World Junior Championships in Sweden. That includes Wednesday’s five-point game against over-matched Latvia.

Chicago Hockey Now’s Nate Brown has a down-to-earth, more realistic appraisal of the situation from the Blackhawks’ perspective. The headline of his piece is: “Lottery Teams Dream of Drafting Celebrini Macklin.”

Undoubtedly, fans of the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators and a few others have been thinking about the possibility of adding Macklin. The way the Red Wings have played lately, maybe their fans have thought about it.

By the way, Macklin, 17, has produced 10 goals and 25 points in 15 games for Boston University this season.

Fans will get another look at him playing for Canada today when it plays host country Sweden at 1:30 (NHL Network)

OK, Macklin! Celebrini dances through the neutral zone to set up Brayden Yager (PIT) to double Canada’s lead. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/k9dKnOcyW1

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) December 27, 2023

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Did you notice which hand Red Wings goalie Michael Hutchinson had his catching glove on? Detroit hasn’t had all that many netminders who wore the glove on the right hand. Bob Duff has story.
• Alex Lyon will play in net Friday against the Nashville Predators. But the team’s real emphasis will be on improving the team’s defensive play.
• Former Red Wings prospect Albin Grewe has a bad boy reputation in Swedish hockey.
• Can Michigan State freshman Trey Augustine challenge Sebastian Cossa for the status of top Detroit goalie prospect?

Red Wings Next Game

The Detroit team is home tonight to play the Nashville Predators, a team that has performed better than expected this season.  The Red Wings (16-15-4) are trying to escape from a 2-8-1 slump.  The Predators (19-16-0) are in a Western Conference wild card position. However, they had lost their last two games.  Goalie Juuse Saros is the backbone of Nashville’s team, but he gave up five goals on 19 shots in his last outing against the Carolina Hurricanes.  The Red Wings will have injured defensemen Olli Maatta and Jeff Petry back for this game.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Will the Boston Bruins give a shot to white-hot prospect Georgii Merkulov?  The smallish, entertaining forward has 10 goals and 18 points for the Providence Bruins over the past 12 games. Jimmy Murphy has the story.

Calgary: Former Calgary Flames player Nick Ritchie is facing possible league discipline for an on-ice tantrum in Finland’s top league.

Florida: Guess which Hall of Fame player worked out with the Florida Panthers on Thursday? Big hint: He is one of the most popular players in Panthers’ history.

New Jersey: Coach Lindy Ruff brought up the names of a couple of Hall of Fame players when looking for a comparison for Luke Hughes. New Jersey Devils 

Philadelphia: Columnist Sam Carchidi says the Philadelphia Flyers are worth losing sleep over.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski explains why the time is now for the Pittsburgh Penguins to make a run for the playoffs. The team is 5-1-1 in its past seven games.

San Jose: The San Jose Sharks are leading the NHL in man games lost to injury this season. Their record certainly reflects that truth.