Chicago Blackhawks NHL Draft 2026 Picks, Outlook

The Chicago Blackhawks (29-39-14) enter the 2026 NHL Draft with another premium selection as the organization continues building around one of the NHL’s youngest cores. Chicago finished near the bottom of the Western Conference standings during the 2025-26 season, positioning the franchise for another top-five pick after several years focused heavily on rebuilding through the draft.

Jun 25

Which Teams Made The ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs In 2026?

After the long road of the regular season, 16 teams remain in the hunt for the coveted Kelly Cup in the ECHL. The playoff field has been set and after running through the gauntlet of 72 games, the path only gets harder from here.

Apr 20

Meet The Chicago Blackhawks ECHL Affiliate, The Indy Fuel

Founded in 2014, the Indy Fuel are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. The Fuel had their best regular-season finish in 2024, placing second in the Central division, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Oct 7, 2025

Meet The New York Rangers' ECHL Affiliate, Bloomington Bison

The Bloomington Bison are the New York Rangers' ECHL affiliate and, along with the AHL team Hartford Wolf Pack, play an important role in keeping the New York Rangers stocked with the best talent possible.

Oct 1, 2025

Meet The Edmonton Oilers ECHL Affiliate, The Fort Wayne Komets

The Fort Wayne Komets are the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers and have won one Kelly Cup, bringing the hardware home in 2021, the same season as their AHL counterparts, the Bakersfield Condors.

Sep 26, 2025

Meet The Detroit Red Wings ECHL Affiliate, The Toledo Walleye

The ECHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings is the Toledo Walleye, one of the hottest teams in the ECHL. The Walleye fell to Trois Riveres in the Kelly Cup Finals, and it was their second appearance in the finals since 2022.

Sep 24, 2025

ECHL Hockey Returns For 2025-26 Season, See When Opening Night Is

The ECHL is set to start its 2025-26 season on Oct. 17 and will have a jam-packed opening weekend of action. Last season, Trois-Rivieres took down Toledo 4-1 to claim the Kelly Cup after dropping just five games in the entirety of the playoffs.

Sep 9, 2025

NHL Minor League Hockey Team Affiliates Breakdown

So what happens after an NHL team drafts a player?

Jun 10, 2025

ECHL Awards: Brandon Hawkins Named ECHL MVP For Second Straight Season

Brandon Hawkins is known as The Mayor around Toledo and odds are that if he really ever did run for office, he’d win in a landslide. That’s especially true after the Toledo Walleye’s veteran forward claimed the Warrior Hockey ECHL MVP Award for the second straight season.

Apr 18, 2025

ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs 2025 To Begin April 16: How To Watch, What To Know

The 2024-25 ECHL regular season has come to a close and it's time to get the second season underway. The Kelly Cup Playoffs will begin Wednesday, April 16 as the chase for the league's top prize is down to its 16 teams for the division semifinals.

Apr 14, 2025

ECHL Kelly Cup Playoff Chase Update: Spots Still Up For Grabs

The 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs field is getting closer to being set as we enter the final weeks of the regular season.

Apr 4, 2025

ECHL Holiday Break: Gifts Teams Could Really Use This Season

The ECHL’s holiday break is a tough time for coaches and a great time for players.

Dec 24, 2024

Surging Savannah Ghost Pirates Lead Five Key Storylines In ECHL So Far

ECHL teams have had four weekends of play, enough time for us to get a sense of interesting early storylines.

Nov 13, 2024

How To Succeed In The ECHL: Some Advice For Expansion Teams

The ECHL has two expansion teams this season – the Bloomington Bison and Tahoe Knight Monsters – with another on the way in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Oct 25, 2024

NHL Minor League Hockey Team Affiliate List 2024-2025

For the vast majority of players in the NHL, they're going to need a stop playing within the farm system of the club that either drafted or signed them. Some will get their start in the ECHL, the premier "AA" hockey circuit, while many will spends some time in the American Hockey League, the last step for most players before they realize their NHL dreams.

Sep 12, 2024