© Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY SportsChicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews
The Chicago Blackhawks made some transactions, moving Brent Seabrook to injured reserve while placing both Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews on long-term injured reserve. While Dach is expected to miss the entire season following wrist surgery, it wasn't clear how long Toews would be out with his reported illness. A move to LTIR means that the Blackhawks captain must miss at least ten games and 24 days, meaning he won't be back until February at the earliest.
Chicago looked completely outmatched Wednesday night, and though the Tampa Bay Lightning do that to a lot of teams, the Blackhawks don't have the luxury of avoiding them for the rest of the year as they battle in the new Central Division.
Without Toews and Dach in the lineup, Dylan Strome was asked to play more than 21 minutes for the Blackhawks, seeing heavy deployment on both the power play and penalty kill. Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane were each asked to do the same, logging more than 22 minutes each. For at least the next 10 games, it seems like Strome will be forced to carry a huge load for Chicago.
The Blackhawks are back in action against the Lightning Friday night before heading to Sunrise for a pair of games against the Florida Panthers.
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