Contract grade: Jim Nill and Jason Robertson kick the can down the road another year. With @shaynagoldman.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...

When it dawns on you that Doomsday and Dune 3 (Dunesday!) come out the weekend you're in Dusseldorf for two Blackhawks-Senators games:

NEW POWERS & LAZ: @marklazerus.bsky.social and I answer listeners' questions about the Blackhawks and more. Listen here: www.patreon.com/PowersandLaz...

New POWERS & LAZ: @scottpowers.bsky.social and I answer all your questions in our latest mailbag episode: www.patreon.com/posts/164457...

"The Hawk" was really dumb but in a fun kind of way. A very easy watch.

NEW: Connor Bedard reaffirms his commitment to Blackhawks with new contract. "Chicago is the only place I want to play." Takeaways with @scottpowers.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Count Connor Bedard among those hoping Patrick Kane returns to the Blackhawks this fall: Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Connor Bedard would love to see Patrick Kane back with the Blackhawks. Said it would give the team and the fans a huge jolt of energy. "Hopefully he decides to come back. It’d make us a way better team, he’s still an amazing player."

Connor Bedard: "I think Ian Cole landed the most cross-checks on me of anyone in my life; now he’s my teammate. We’re both going to go to war for each other. That’s the beautiful thing about hockey."

Did Connor Bedard leave anything on the table by not asking for more or seeking an offer sheet? "I’m very happy with the amount of money I’m making. It’s a lot."

Bedard on Bo Byram: "He’s gonna be one of the best D-men in the league. He’s always shown that. But you play behind Cale and Dahlin, it’s not easy to take their spots. … His motivation to prove that is unbelievable and his excitement to be with that is just great for the team."

Dumb American question: Why is the World Cup not a cup?

Well, this will be fun in a few minutes

Prediction? *stares at camera* SPAIN.

Twitter is down during a true monoculture event, which is the only time Twitter is any fun at all anymore. Very on the nose.

That free kick came at the 98th minute of a 90-minute match during four minutes of magic-mystery stoppage time. 🤯

Shakira is three years older than I am, lol.

Watched Lawrence of Arabia for the first time. Definitely lives up to the hype, at least visually. The crossing of the Nefud Desert was some of the most beautiful film imagery I've ever seen. Peter O'Toole was hammy as hell, tho. And his makeup was somehow more jarring than Alec Guiness' brownface.

NEW POWERS & LAZ: @marklazerus.bsky.social and I discuss Connor Bedard's contract extension with the Blackhawks. Listen here: www.patreon.com/PowersandLaz...

New POWERS & LAZ bonus episode: @scottpowers.bsky.social and I discuss Connor Bedard's new contract: www.patreon.com/posts/164221...

Inside Connor Bedard's negotiation with the Blackhawks, how the Leo Carlsson offer sheet affected things, and why Bedard backed off an earlier stance to go even shorter-term: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

NEW: Inside Connor Bedard's negotiation with the Blackhawks, how the Leo Carlsson offer sheet affected things, and why Bedard backed off an earlier stance to go even shorter-term: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

"Oh, were you planning to cook and eat this? I saw that it was tightly wrapped, aggressively covered and pinned down with heavy weights and assumed that meant I was supposed to eat it, not that you were trying to keep it away from me while you grilled your steak. My bad."

$15 million might seem like a lot of money for those stuck in the flat-cap mentality. But Connor Bedard's contract will age quite well as the cap continues to soar. I added some analysis to our story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

Connor Bedard signs a five-year deal with a $15-million cap hit.

Ten thoughts on the Blackhawks' schedule, story with @marklazerus.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Takeaways from the Blackhawks' 2026-27 schedule, with @scottpowers.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Blackhawks schedule:

The ent whose head is on fire so he dips his head in the onrushing water after the fall of Isengard is the best character in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Change my mind.

Just watched the last 25 minutes of the England-Argentina game on delay after picking up my kids. Incredible stuff from Argentina. Sorta reminded me of Finland vs. Canada men's hockey in Milan. Can't just sit back and wish the clock away.

“Isn’t it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president’s delusions?” The cowardice of these administration flunkies is breathtaking. Grow a spine, man.

Blackhawks most recent season openers: 2026: at Vegas 2025: at Florida 2024: at Utah 2023: at Pittsburgh 2022: at Colorado 2021: at Colorado 2021: at Tampa 2019: at Philly 2018: at Ottawa #ontheroadagain

The NHL offer-sheet system used to be BONKERS. So @downgoesbrown.bsky.social, @jkamckenzie.bsky.social and I created an alternate history in which that system still existed. Let's make some league-shaking trades. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

So is Spain basically the trap-era Devils? Dominant, and beautiful to its supporters and to purists, but soul-crushingly boring to the general populace?

Mason West was a top prospect even when he was splitting his training and attention with football. Now that he's hockey-only, he expects big things. @scottpowers.bsky.social with the story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

This home-run derby is awful so far. WAY too much down time between batters. WAY too much talking.

On today's episode of @TheAthletic Hockey Show with @shaynagoldman.bsky.social and me: – Connor Bedard's injury and contract – Patrick Kane's best fits – Leo Carlsson, Dylan Larkin, Jason Robertson and more – Checking in on the concern-o-meter Listen: pod.fo/e/448e95

Best “remove glasses to look at something unbelievable” in cinema history.

Ormund Hightower is the best new Thrones character in ages. What a glorious douchebag.

I'm halfway through reading The Odyssey (I must have read it in school, but I'm old and don't remember it), and this guy sure bangs a lot of goddesses while trying to get home to his wife. Also, he cries a lot. Like, A LOT.

The live-action Avatar series on Netflix isn't as bad as people say it is. But it *is* way too self-serious, and seems more interested in recreating the most beloved and memeable moments from the animated series than actually capturing its spirit (and whimsy!).

NEW POWERS & LAZ: @marklazerus.bsky.social and I discuss Connor Bedard's injury, what it means for the Blackhawks, Patrick Kane's possible return and more. Listen here: www.patreon.com/PowersandLaz...

It's coming hjem. 🇳🇴

New POWERS & LAZ: @scottpowers.bsky.social and I discuss Connor Bedard's injury and its impact, the possibility of Patrick Kane returning to Chicago, and more. Listen here: www.patreon.com/PowersandLaz...

Gotta say, I'm a big fan of the World Cup games being on during the daytime, even on weekdays. I'm sure it's done to accommodate European viewers, but it's also great for work-from-home North American sportswriters in their offseasons.

I'll say this about the Dundon Stanley Cup thing: The (presumably small but super vocal, like everything else on this site) number of Canes fans nakedly, desperately and angrily caping for the billionaire-bursting-with-main-character-energy is incredibly emblematic of our times.

What is the best free-agency fit for Patrick Kane? Blackhawks reunion or Sabres homecoming? @ByScottPowers, Mark Lazerus and I broke that down at The Athletic. Free to read:

Mbappe's unbelievable. He also reacted to very marginal contact like he got hit with a sledgehammer twice in about 15 seconds after the goal.

NEW: A homecoming could be looming for Patrick Kane. But which homecoming is a better fit: Chicago or Buffalo? @scottpowers.bsky.social, @matthewfairburn.bsky.social and I break it down: www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...