Wyatt Kaiser gave Bobby Brink a rough shift Monday, laying a hard hit on him before the two dropped the gloves moments later.
"Wyatt Kaiser laid a hit on Bobby Brink earlier in the shift and then drops the gloves with him a few moments later. Good scrap," Charlie Roumeliotis reported.
That's a physical response from Brink, standing up for himself immediately after taking the hit rather than letting it slide.
Kaiser posted 17 points in 77 games last season for the Chicago Blackhawks, an established piece of the team's young defense corps.
Brink, now with the Minnesota Wild after splitting last season between Philadelphia and Minnesota, posted 30 points in 68 games between both stops.
He added 1 point in 4 playoff games with Minnesota as well, showing he found a real role after the mid-season move.
Chicago finished 29-39-14 last season, 31st overall, while Minnesota finished 46-24-12, seventh overall, a real gap in where these two organizations currently stand.
Why moments like this matter in September
A hit followed by a fight in a preseason game doesn't affect the standings, but it says something about how both players are approaching camp.
Kaiser's willingness to throw a physical hit fits the identity the Blackhawks have leaned on as they continue developing a young, rebuilding roster.
Brink answering immediately shows he isn't looking to back down in his new environment, even in a game that ultimately means nothing on paper.
These are exactly the kind of moments coaching staffs notice when evaluating compete level heading into final roster decisions.
Neither team's season hinges on this exhibition matchup, but for two players still establishing themselves at this level, showing up physically in September carries real weight with the people making lineup decisions.
Do preseason fights like this actually matter for a player's roster chances?
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