A Chicago Blackhawks prospect finally found the back of the net in Minneapolis! Additionally, a pair of college prospects will be joined by a talented teammate next season. Let’s start your Sunday off right with a fresh batch of Chirps!

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Blackhawks Chirps

The World Junior Summer Showcase wrapped up on Saturday with a pair of rivalry games. After Finland beat Sweden 3-1 in the early game, Team USA and Canada took to the ice. Canada rolled to a 6-2 win with goals from six different players, including Marek Vanacker. The Blackhawks’ 2024 first-round pick scored the opening goal of the contest, which was the only one scored by a Blackhawks’ prospect this week. He also picked up an assist on his Brantford Bulldogs teammate, Jake O’Brien’s goal to close out the scoring. Sacha Boisvert picked up an assist on Michael Hage’s third-period goal for his fourth helper of the showcase. A.J. Spellacy did not play for the United States.

Gail Kauchak of The Hockey Writers examines the Blackhawks’ balancing act between veterans and youngsters heading into the season.

On this date in 2020, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Blackhawks 6-3 to even up their Qualifying Round series 1-1. Connor McDavid was the hero with two goals in the first period. He finished off his hat trick with a power-play goal late in the second period. The Blackhawks got goals from Patrick Kane, Slater Koekkoek, and Olli Maatta.

NHL Chirps

The Toronto Maple Leafs avoided arbitration with Nicolas Robertson by signing him to a one-year, $1.825 million deal. He gets about $100,000 more than the midpoint of the salaries submitted by both sides. It’s a significant raise from the $875,000 he made last season. There will be no arbitration cases this summer in the NHL.

Former NHL winger Jakub Vrana will sign with Linköping HC in Sweden, per a report from Expressen’s Johan Svensson. The 29-year-old had 119 goals and 223 points in 406 career NHL games with the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Nashville Predators. He scored three goals and eight points during the Capitals’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2018.

Roger McQueen is the latest CHL player to make the switch to the NCAA. Per Mark Divver, the Anaheim Ducks prospect will commit to Providence College instead of returning to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The 10th overall pick will be teammates with Blackhawks prospects John Mustard and Julius Sumpf.

NHL Birthday Roll Call, Aug 3: Ryan Carter, Marcel Dionne, Mark Lamb, Jordan Leopold, Dominic Moore, Sandis Ozolins, and Shea Theodore.