Blackhawks On Tap: Connor Bedard extends scoring streak, David Carle coaching option, Alec Martinez' return, and more

It's Friday. By the time you're reading this, the Chicago Blackhawks are just starting their Friday night game in Detroit, or you're reliving the glory days of Patrick Kane with a glass of Pink Bunny With a Chainsaw. Yes, that's a California beer, and it's damn good. 

Sincere thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the fires in the L.A. area.

The Los Angeles Kings provided some resources that you can find in the link provided.

As a Southern California resident myself, the impact is real.

A lot of people lost everything, and even though my family was affected, many in our community know people who were.

Throwing this resource here too.

Let's get into Blackhawks news items from this week. 

The Games

Excluding tonight's results, the Blackhawks got torn a new one against the New York Rangers on Jan. 6, losing 6-2. On Jan. 8, the Hawks somehow managed a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. This week sums up the Blackhawks' season. They somehow play good hockey against a vastly superior team and look heinous against a bad hockey team.

During those games, Connor Bedard extended his point streak to eight games. Bedard has scored 18 points in 15 games since interim head coach Anders Sorensen took the helm on December 5, 2024.

Connor is tied for 3rd with Eddie Olczyk and Bobby Hull for the most points scored by a teenager. 

The Blackhawks face the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 11.

Coach Carle

Rumblings have circulated about David Carle, the head coach of the University of Denver. Carle coached Team USA to consecutive gold medals at the World Junior Championships (2024 and 2025) and two national titles (2022 and 2024) with Denver. 

Why should a Blackhawks fan care about Carle? Ron Luce has a great piece on why David Carle makes sense as a potential candidate for the Blackhawks' next head coach.

Trade Talk

Trade talk is ramping up with the trade deadline slowly rearing its head (Mar. 7). Frank Seravalli has Taylor Hall ranked 3rd as a deadline target. I doubt he’ll get you a 1st round pick, but the Hawks can retain some of his salary; he has a $6 million AAV cap hit. Maybe sweeten the deal with the likes of Louis Crevier to get a bigger return, but I also ran the Blackhawks' rebuild into the ground in Franchise Mode. 

There might be more on what the Blackhawks can do on the trade deadline here at On Tap Sports.

Alec Martinez

Alec Martinez has been out since Dec. 7 after taking a weird bounce to the neck. Due to concerns about the severity of the injury and its effects, the injury has kept Martinez out for nearly a month, as reported by Ben Pope. 

Martinez was also out for 12 games in October and has one goal and three assists in 15 games. 

The impact Martinez has on the Blackhawks roster is that it gets more ice time for players like TJ Brodie, who haven't been great. Brodie has been on the ice for 13 goals for and 32 goals against at 5v5 and has a 46.88 expected goals percentage. 

I'm not saying that Alec Martinez is the savior of this team, but it would get less of whatever it is Brodie is doing on the ice. 

Kane and Toews

I am not reading into this, and neither should you. But if you miss Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane made some interesting comments regarding Toews' recent presence in the media.