INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM: Blashill, Foligno, Bedard & Vlasic REACT to Chicago’s Trade Deadline Moves

We talked to players around this time a lot about the emotions and everything.

What is this time like for a coach just with the sure bittersweet in that way?

Yeah, I mean, you know, first off, I wish we were 10 points in the playoffs and you're,

you know, it's a little different animal.

I've kind of been on both sides of that.

And so, but that is what it is.

You develop relationships with players, you know, and in this case, actually, all three

guys that we've traded, they're all guys that I thought are great, great dudes.

People I really enjoyed being around, people that I think helped me to be a better coach.

You just learn from guys, really enjoyed my time with all of them.

So, you know, it's disappointing that you can't continue to hang together and keep

growing together and they were all real committed to the growth of this group.

With that said, you know, certainly happy for them to get the opportunity, especially,

you know, and especially in Murphy and Dickie's case, just because the age of which they're

at, you don't know how many opportunities you get for this and, you know, you get an

opportunity to go play for team that's going to back to back finals and I also think they're

excellent fits for the roles they're bringing into.

Is it hard to focus on the game, the day of the deadline?

Well, at the end of the day, it can't be.

I mean, I think part of what we have to do is compartmentalize emotions when you're a

coach and athlete, anybody, I guess, in any work that you have, if you want to do your

best, there's always stuff going on that isn't directly relevant to the task at hand.

You've got to find a way to just focus on the task at hand, you know, I was in Detroit

and we played Carolina, I remember, we traded Anthony Manta that day.

It was a hard trade for a lot of guys, but we went out and played a great game.

Like, it's not that you're not capable of doing that and we can't use it as a, as a

crutch.

Everybody's kind of going through the same boat.

Here, it's one thing to lose that there's their ability on the ice and the leadership

in the room, but these are just like grown ups with real life experience that a young

team is losing.

How does that affect the young guys?

Yeah, you know, that's true and they are just, they're guys who, you know, have lived

in the shoes of the young guys coming.

So they've been great, they've been great to have around.

They've been great role models.

I think it was something that I talked about was really important.

The good thing for us is we've had them around now for a good period of time.

So they got to, so the young guys in the room, depending on how many years they've been

here, I've had a chance to see the models that they are and how you, what type of pros

they are and what they do off the ice and maybe ask them about how to get a checking

account and all those kind of things that, you know, you got to figure out and they've

been available for those guys and so, you know, I think it's just part of it and hopefully

I'm sure they've had positive impacts in each one of our young guys' lives.

Do you expect some of those young guys to now take on a little bit more leadership

or do you see some of that happening on them?

Well, I think, you know, when you lose guys who are in leadership roles and guys that

are good players and what they bring to the table, there's Voids and those Voids have

to ultimately be filled and I'm confident we have guys that can fill those types of

Voids and, you know, in that includes leadership and, you know, I won't get into specific

this guy or that guy but I just think everybody, you know, within their own personality gets

and, you know, potentially thrust in a role where they are, have the opportunity to lead

a bit more and, you know, it's hard to, you're not going to necessarily always show that

leadership when somebody else is doing it and now when maybe, you know, we still have

great leaders in the veterans that we have as we sit here today, but some of those guys

are gone and some of the guys are going to fill the role.

Have you decided who will wear the other A, the Jason Vicki?

Yeah, no, I have not.

I'm not necessarily in a rush.

I think those are, you know, really important decisions and it was easy for me with Conor

because we had already gone through that process earlier in the year and I put it on him

for a period of time when I knew guys were going to be out for an extended period of time.

So, you know, just going through the process right now and kind of deciding what's the

best for our group this year and probably moving into the future.

Who's involved in that process?

Uh, no, no, I would never take information from as many people as I can, as I can talk

to about it and just kind of get as much information as I can from staff and everybody around

and just see what, what the thoughts are and then ultimately, you know, certainly myself

in concert with Kyle make those decisions, those are, you know, a lot of times organizational

decisions too.

They're not just about the team and so certainly Kyle and I discuss all those at the end,

but taking in the information from other people as well.

Has there been any discussions on Manchipani's world, what has it come to you?

Well, um, first off, you know, he gets an opportunity to have a clean slate here and, you

know, he's been a good player in this league, um, he'll get an opportunity to be a good

player here and, you know, he's what I, in a, in the city, I'd say that I know him in

an out, I don't think you ever do until you really coach somebody and that's the same

thing I told every guy that was in that room at the beginning of the year but what I've

known about him is he's been a guy who's got kind of that really, really good work at

that can speed so he's kind of a dog on a bone.

Um, I think that fits into how we want to play and he's got that with some offensive

touch and so that fits into how we want to play where he slots in with which line we'll

see as we go.

I don't know for sure if he's available tomorrow or not, uh, just working through, he'll

be in town, um, but he just got to work through the immigration stuff so I'm not sure on

that yet.

Yeah, yeah, you'll have to talk to Kyle and that so I'm not, uh, I'm not the best

ruler.

He's, um, Kaiser tracking for a long time.

Kaiser's tracking for tomorrow unless there was a setback today that I don't know about

I expect him to play tomorrow.

And I thought to provide him a little bit, is he okay here?

Well, he's got a, he's, he's got a, you know, uh, he, he should be okay but he's

working through something that he didn't, he's probably wondering why he didn't have

the day off, um, he will see on that tomorrow, you know, some of that will depend on, on Andrew's

eligibility and if, or not eligibility, but if he's, you know, got cleared through customs

ready to play or not.

So yeah, we'll see on that.

See we're, we're, we're terrifying and sad all those things.

I just need to get a playoff shot, but still, yeah, guys that were, good guys in here.

For sure.

While debated.

Um, no, I think that's exactly the word to use in this situation because, you know, for

a guy like Murph, it is better sweet because you love him and what he's meant to this

organization and the city and, and how he's come in and just been a, you know, a real great

ambassador for Blackhawks for probably a tough time and tough transition and he's always

kept his head up and, uh, and led the right way and so to see him get an opportunity with

a really good team is, is gratifying for us all and, and then you see what, you know, Jason

Dickens, he's meant to this group and, you know, that was a tough guy to lose just with

the way he's connected with every guy and, uh, how much he matters the way he led what

the minutes that he ate that were hard minutes and, and, and not so, uh, fun times here.

Um, you know, you're, you're thrilled for a guy like him to, that gets a chance to really

slot into an area that really makes a lot of sense and, okay, then the doctor, the young

player that gets an opportunity to go to a really good team and find his game and, um,

you know, this is the, this is a tough part of the season, right?

When you get down to it where you're not in, um, these are the emotions and feelings you

have where you lose some really good people and you don't want to be in this spot too many times

and I think that's probably the message that's been heard, the loudest, uh, the past few days

here from the group. I think they're, they're getting tired of being in this spot so hopefully

it's a motivating factor for, for years to come. Connor gets the, uh, for the rest of the season

and everything and, uh, he fed a front row seat to kind of watch him grow, you know, how it,

how it would have been like to just watch him continually grow into a leadership role and now

it's a letter to boot. Yeah, I think, I think you're just seeing the maturation of a 20-year-old,

22, 21-year-old that's going to be 21-year-old and, um, and, you know, the, the weight that he's

carried already at the young age and how he seemed to be able to handle that and especially this year,

I think he's just really comfortable who he is and what he means this team and on and off the ice.

So I think it's, uh, it's a no-brainer in all our eyes for how he's led us and what he does on

a nightly basis and daily basis in here. So it's exciting for him to get that opportunity and,

you know, it's, uh, it's going to be part of who he is. I mean, he's a, he's a leader of this team,

he's going to be a guy that this franchise stands on for a long time. So it's, uh, it's exciting that his,

his journey has started, um, you know, we need to see who else, you know, rises to the channel and

make a shift in here. Hopefully, uh, myself, Murph and Dickey, uh, have been screwed up too bad

and can make sure we hand it off for right now. Um, I walked up, have you, have you got any

information on your status? What are they? Yeah, I mean, uh, as of right now, obviously nothing's

changed. Uh, Kyle and I have talked and, um, you know, we're going through that process. I,

I'm, I'm, as of right now, Chicago Blackhawk. So I'm, I'm fully, you know, invested in what we're

doing, but have obviously had that honest conversation and we'll see where it goes. What is the

emotions like that when you have those conversations in the deadline still a day away? And it's tough actually.

Yeah, it's tough. Uh, you know, I, I've, I've made it no surprise how much I care about this group,

especially as a guy who's, he's led this group for a few years. It's, you know, you feel weird, uh,

when you have those, those harder conversations, but, um, you know, it's the reality of,

of where we're sitting, right? And then, you know, when you have expiring contracts or, uh,

the age of matter, or, you know, there's, there's, there's always a personal thing that you go through to

or you want to still compete in battle and win. Um, and so that's the, that's the fight that you have,

right? I believe in this group so much. Uh, it's been an absolute honor to, you know, be the captain

here. So I'm still fully committed to that until told otherwise. But, um, yeah, there's, there's

a competitor inside you too that wants to be playing musical games. Is it tougher to deal with

the deadline when you've got a game like five hours? Yeah, I always thought that was stupid, um,

personally. I just think it's such a distraction for everybody because regardless, you're watching

it no matter even if you're on the block or not. I just think it's a weird day and I don't know why

the league hasn't decided just to make it a practice day for everybody. Um, I think it would help a

lot of the teams travel. So I think it's a stupid thing that we play. I don't even for fans or,

or guys that make plans to have family and there's just so much that goes into that game. Um,

and I'm for seeing certain chances. So yeah, it's, it's a, it's a weird day. I mean, it's part of being

a pro, um, but I, I don't know why it has to be a game on that day and just make it a certain day

every year and go with it, you know. I still too early for me to reflect on that honestly. Um,

I'm still going through it, right? So, um, you know, I think the, the one thing is just how much

I care about this group. I think that's something that's probably even surprised me a little bit

in the short time about how much I've enjoyed being a Chicago Black Hawk and, and being here with

this team and seeing the growth and the maturation of a lot of guys and, and, and where we're trying to

get to. And I think it's a lot of that gives, you know, give a lot of credit to the players that are

here, but also the coaching staff that stepped in this year and then done a hell of a job and getting

going in the right direction. So, um, you know, it's, it'll, you know, something I'll look on and

probably have a better answer for you later on, but right now I'm just trying to worry about tomorrow's

game. You kind of alluded to this, but do you sense that there's a frustration in being with

positioning and where you guys are selling again? Yeah. Instead of welcoming people into the building,

you are saying goodbye to friends years. Big time. And I think because it hits home especially with

the guys that we lost this year, right? Over not to be, you know, rude, but over the past few years,

I think we were trying to sort out who wants to be here. And now it's every guy that really does

want to be here and make a difference, but the, the reality is there's other teams that really want

these players, you know, and this is what happens when you're not putting a position that the

organization has to make hard decisions and guys have to also make decisions for their careers,

right? So, it's the realization that if you're winning, if you're in the dance, you're adding,

you're excited. The emotions are high because you're looking to add and strengthen your group,

as opposed to losing some really good people that, you know, you know, matter and have

mattered for a long time. So, this is that one year where I think it's a wake-up call to a lot of

guys in here. Oh, this, this has got to get turned around quick and we got to be in a position

at 10 points in next year and how much more fun and exciting because of that.

Obviously, you're losing some nice talent, losing leadership, losing just a life experience,

growing ups with life experience. Yeah. What does that mean for a young team that, you know,

kind of on their own for you? Yeah, well, I would not take any advice from anyone in here.

The thing I would say, there's slim pickings of guys I'm going to. No, it's tough. Listen,

these are two of my really good friends, Tucker. I'm a great kid. You know, we got to know him

really well. Had him up in my house in the summer. Like, these are guys you care a lot about,

right? And this group cares a lot about not just myself. Like, they've ingrained themselves and

the guys that do ask any player in here, they look to every time they, you know, come in the room.

They're excited to see our face. It's weird to have them not in this room myself and for,

and then I've been doing this for 20 years. So it's a tough feeling, you know, you miss,

because especially the battles that we've gone through the past couple of years,

those guys were a big part of myself leaning on a lot of those guys and especially

the guys in this room looking to them for answers. You know, they've been like big brothers to those

guys. It's tough to see. But it's, you know, it's, it's the reality. I think I've had it in my

career where you wonder what's it could be like to lose this guy and then you realize, well,

there's more that I can give, right? And I think that's the message that these guys have to

understand is we as a group have to understand that there's more of yourself to give. These guys were

once in your position and had to figure out how to be good pros, how to be the guys that people look

to. So that's the journey that these guys are going to go on now. And it should be exciting for

them to know that they're a thought of in that regard and they're here to make the difference

of being a team that's struggled back, how it's going to be.

Yeah, I was, I guess it was really tough. Like, you know, like, Dickey, I've been with the whole

time. It's kind of like, no, I can't hold it brother to me. And, um, so much that's a lot of

time with. And, uh, so it's, it sucks. And, you know, it's part of what we do. But, um, yeah,

it sucks. And in Docker as well, someone, you know, that, you know, two weeks ago, uh, me,

him and greenie were on vacation talking about, you know, after when the calpher, go back and,

um, stuff like that. So, uh, you know, it's hard and, you know, obviously, Marif has a couple

of days. I feel like we, I talked about that already, but, um, you know, it's, it sucks for sure.

But then, when you're getting the, uh, for the rest of the season, just what is, what is happening to you?

I mean, you know, at some point, maybe it leads to more to see it at some point, but just to have

that letter. Uh, yeah, end of the day. It doesn't change anything I'm going to do, um, as a person,

as a player, uh, but obviously it's, uh, you know, good honor to be recognized with that and, um,

you know, I've been able to learn for a lot of, a lot of great guys in the last three years and, uh,

feel like I've grown a lot in a lot of ways. Um, you know, I'm obviously happy about that and, uh,

I want to keep, keep getting better on the athleticism in those ways.

Yeah, like I said, I'm not going to change anything about who I am. So, you know, I'm just going to

see myself and obviously, uh, you know, I feel like, you know, I do things that, um, have those qualities.

So, uh, just keep, keep being me kind of. No, I'm a terrible, I'm good at one thing and, uh, you know,

it's my job. So I'm lucky. Is there any, any uneasiness in the room you feel with the deadline

still tomorrow and still potentially more changing? I don't know about uneasy. I think,

you know, I personally don't think I'm getting dealt. So, um, you know, there's different,

different things for each each person, but, you know, like I talked about, um, you know,

it's a family and, uh, you guys, you're, you're with every single day. So, um,

you know, you're just, maybe a little nervous that, that guys are going to get moved, but, um,

you know, like I said, it's part of it and, you know, that's motivating, um, that this is the last

year that we're in a spot where we're moving guys that, that help us, you know, we move,

you know, a lot of, a lot of guys that help us swing games. So, um, that's a shitty feeling,

just try to not let that happen. Yeah, same for me. It's, uh, definitely pretty weird,

but, um, you know, obviously, a great honor and a cool opportunity for me to be here with,

with everything that, you know, this organization's been through, since I've been here. So, um,

yeah, it really, really grateful for my experience here and looking forward to the future.

You know, Dickinson and Murphy are obviously two guys who had a big presence in the

room and you guys that really looked, you guys looked up to. How does the dynamic change,

as this team gets considerably younger? Uh, we're, we're definitely going to have to,

yeah, guys are going to have to fill some roles. We're going to have to, you know, figure out who's

going to step up and, um, you know, whether that's being more vocal or just, you know, even, you know,

the way that Dickie and Murphy played the game, both very, uh, honorable and, uh, the way that they

played was, was a way to set the tone and be a leader. So, um, we're going to need some guys to step

up and do that, you know, I consider myself one of those guys that can potentially do that. So,

I think it's going to be a contribution from everybody in the locker room. When you're part of

a rebuilding team, how does the trade deadline time hit in here? Does it feel a little bit uneasy?

Like the unknown of still a couple of more hours to go? Yeah, absolutely. I think it's, uh,

it's kind of scary, you know, you don't want to lose any of your good buddies. You don't want to

get treated yourself. So, you're obviously, um, you know, the way that I figure out stuff is just

checking Instagram. So, the last couple days, I've just kind of been constantly refreshing my

page, making sure I'm not missing out. And, uh, yeah, it's, it's, it's definitely pretty nerve-wracking

to kind of not really know what could happen, you know, you have a group of brothers in here and

all of a sudden that can kind of just be, um, completely, you know, separated. So, it's, uh, yeah, it is scary.

I mean, I mean, I wouldn't say it's, it's frustrating, I think, um, you know, we all kind of knew

that this was part of the plan going forward. And, uh, if anything, it, it, like I kind of said

earlier, it is a little bit more sad just to kind of lose some of your buddies, potentially. Um,

but yeah, definitely. I mean, we talked about it as a team. We want to become a team where we're

not losing anybody. We're keeping the guys that we have in here because everybody's contributing.

And, um, you know, pushing that effort to make playoffs and potentially being a contender. So,

over the next couple of years, we hope to be, like you said, somebody that's, you know, a team that's

not selling and that, you know, potentially we're about, we could be buying and adding to our great

group in here. So, you know, are you getting the aid? I have no idea. And, don't play aside. No,

no, uh, we'll see. Yeah, I mean, I would be grateful and honored, but, uh, yeah, we'll see.