Happy Friday!

I wrote a column on Justin Fields and Ryan Poles and why the debate surrounding Chicago’s future under center lacked some important nuance in many places.

In the process, I asked myself: what would the Bears’ return for Fields look like if they A) decided to trade Fields or B) tried to trade the No. 1 pick because I believe much of the debate on Fields should hinge on the potential returns.

I was going to save it for a post or two on the site today, but I decided to try to answer those questions here for now. But first, let’s talk about the Blackhawks, who lost to the New York Rangers last night.

Blackhawks Outmatched by the Rangers in New York

Last night went about how you would have imagined if you’ve been paying attention to the Rangers at all — and the Blackhawks, for that matter.

New York had won seven of their last 10 contests entering last night’s game and playing like legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The Blackhawks are a M*A*S*H* unit right now and playing like anything but the contrary.

An early mistake by Connor Bedard went the other way for a Rangers goal, and before you knew it, it was two-to-zip New York after one period. Aside from a Colin Blackwell goal, the Blackhawks couldn’t muster anything up against the Rangers, who scored twice more in a 70-second span early in the third period.

Newcomer Jaycob Megna’s stretch pass in the second period helped start the rush that ended in Blackwell’s goal, and he was on the ice for five Chicago shots on net at even strength last night. Not a bad debut.

The NHL announced the representatives for all 32 teams who will participate in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto. It is no surprise that Connor Bedard has been selected to represent the Chicago Blackhawks. Bedard, who was the top overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for both November and December.

According to the Blackhawks, Bedard is the youngest player to participate in the even in league history.

Tab has more on last night’s loss to New York:

Best of BN

Here’s where the best stories of the previous day at Bleacher Nation will live for you to read in case you missed them yesterday. We’re busy, it happens!

Chicago Bears

• Fields has never beaten the Packers, and Sunday could be his final opportunity to do so in a Bears uniform. But let’s be realistic here: no matter what happens on Sunday in Green Bay, it won’t make much of a difference when it comes to the Bears quarterback conundrum this offseason. Nor should it. More on why I do not envy Ryan Poles’ current situation in my column on Thursday.

• I mentioned in yesterday’s newsletter that D.J. Moore’s exclusion from the Pro Bowl roster was a snub. Luis had a more glass-half-full outlook on Thursday, pointing out that the number of Bears players you could make a similar case for proves that the Bears roster is much better than their record would indicate.

Chicago Blackhawks

• As I mentioned, Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard is heading to the NHL All-Star Game!

• There’s some serious steam building to the rumors that the Winter Classic will return to Chicago next year. The Blackhawks hosted the Red Wings in the classic at Wrigley Field in 2009, a game that served as a coming-out party for Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Now, it appears to be Connor Bedard’s turn.

Chicago Bulls

• According to the Bulls’ latest official injury report on Thursday, Zach LaVine has been upgraded to questionable for their matchup with the Hornets tonight.

• The first returns for the voting for the NBA All-Star Game were announced on Thursday, and they featured on Chicago Bull DeMar DeRozan. Deebo is currently ninth among guards in the Eastern Conference with 175,233 votes.

Chicago Cubs

• Former Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader is heading to the New York Mets. Bader signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Mets, who are now focusing on shorter-term deals under the new president of baseball operations, David Stearns. The 29-year-old outfielder has an elite glove, and if he can get the bat going before the trade deadline, he could be a trade piece for the Mets.

• Brett has some interesting thoughts on Cody Bellinger that he put together on Thursday, and they’re worth your time if you haven’t seen ‘em yet.

What Does the Market for Justin Fields Look Like, and What Should the Bears Demand for the No. 1 Pick?

What can the Bears expect in return for Justin Fields if they trade him this offseason?

A quarterback with a knack for electric highlight reel-worthy plays and a sky-high ceiling but saddled with consistency issues related to his ability to pass the ball and navigate the pocket with efficiency is what the Bears are selling if they decide to explore what the market for Justin Fields looks like.

The answer to this question will ultimately hinge on desperation in the market. Some have said Fields could fetch the Bears as high as a second-round pick. Some have said the Bears would be lucky to net a third-round pick.