Hockey classic bound for Wrigley?
There will be hockey on New Year's Day at Wrigley Field.
Even though the Blackhawks continue to say nothing, an announcement is expected next week at the team's first fan convention that the NHL's Outdoor Classic will be played Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field with the opponent being the Detroit Red Wings.
There was no comment from the Hawks or the NHL on Monday on yet another report claiming the outdoor game was coming to Wrigley Field.
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made the decision to give the game to the Hawks after a meeting last week with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and officials from the Hawks and the Cubs.
While it has been known for weeks that Chicago was going to host the next outdoor game, the Hawks made no secret of the fact they wanted to make the big-splash announcement at their July 18-20 fan convention.
This will be the NHL's third outdoor game. The first two took place in Buffalo and Edmonton.
The most recent game on Jan. 1 drew 71,217 to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Wrigley Field can hold in the neighborhood of 40,000, but the Hawks preferred the historical setting to playing at Soldier Field.
An NHL spokesman refused to confirm the game for Wrigley Field when contacted by the Daily Herald on Monday.
Muscling up: Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said last week he hoped to add a physical element on defense, and Monday he signed Matt Walker to a one-year contract.
The 6-foot-3, 213-pound Walker appeared in 43 games with the St. Louis Blues last season with 1 goal, 1 assist and 175 penalty minutes.
"Matt is a tough, hard-nosed, stay-at-home defenseman, and that's the type of player we needed," Tallon said. "He has a lot of grit and toughness. He wanted to come here in the worst way. He sees what we're doing."
Walker figures to earn a spot in the top six, particularly with James Wisniewski expected to miss the start of the season following right knee surgery to repair a torn ACL.
The Hawks had talked to Pittsburgh about defenseman Ryan Whitney, but the Penguins wanted a top-six forward in return and not Martin Havlat.
Rookies on display: The first scrimmage of the Hawks' annual rookie camp takes place today at approximately noon at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
The sessions run through Friday and are open to the public.
The Hawks are interested in getting their first look at No. 1 draft pick Kyle Beach, the 18-year-old power forward who has a chance to be on the opening-night roster.
New sponsor: The Hawks and Chicago Board Options Exchange have announced a multiyear agreement establishing CBOE as the "presenting sponsor" of the team.
"The Blackhawks are very proud to have the Chicago Board Options Exchange as our presenting partner," Hawks president John McDonough said.
"This exclusive sponsorship will maximize exposure for both the Blackhawks and for CBOE as the largest options exchange in the U.S."
As part of the sponsorship, two premier-location "CBOE seats," situated on the glass at center ice between the benches, will be auctioned for each home game.
Welcome party: The Hawks will have a news conference today at the United Center to introduce Brian Campbell, the prized free-agent defenseman signed last week.