One of the greatest Chicago Blackhawks players was honored by the Windy City on Friday. Plus, the Stanley Cup champs could be without one of their most prominent leaders to start the season, a former Blackhawk looking to stick in Steel City, and a Central Division rival brings back a depth forward. Here are your fresh Chirps for this Saturday morning!
Blackhawks Chirps
Per Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio, Chicago officially declared August 8 (8/8) “Patrick Kane Day” to honor the Blackhawks’ all-time great. Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins made the announcement during Kane’s inaugural community event at Johnny’s Icehouse West. Kane surprised the youth players in attendance with brand-new Bauer helmets and gloves, as well as signed pucks. It’s great to see him still involved in the community he called home for so many years.
We got a cute moment during the event when Archie DeBrincat and Patrick Kane III got a little spicy on the ice!
Gail Kauchak of The Hockey Writers gives us her five keys to a successful 2025-26 Blackhawks season.
If you’re worried that Wyatt Kaiser doesn’t have a new contract worked out yet, here he is playing Pickle Ball with Alex Vlasic, Frank Nazar, and Tommy Hawk.
On this date in 1979, the NHL Entry Draft was held in Montreal. The Colorado Rockies used the first overall pick to take defenseman Rob Ramage. Some other big names taken in the first round included Mike Foligno, Mike Gartner, Ray Bourque, and Michel Goulet. The Blackhawks took defenseman Keith Brown with the seventh overall pick, one pick ahead of Bourque going to the Boston Bruins. Brown played 812 games in Chicago over 14 seasons, scoring 64 goals and 330 points. Other notable members of this draft class included Billy Gardner (49th overall) and Doug Crossman (112th overall).
NHL Chirps
According to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is still debating whether to undergo surgery this summer to repair an abductor injury suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He acknowledged that surgery will require him to miss at least the first two months of the regular season. You’d think he’d try to have the surgery as soon as possible.
As Justin Guerriero of TribLive.com writes, former Blackhawks defenseman Caleb Jones is looking to stick with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 28-year-old says he’s had a lot of communication with the new coaching staff and is excited about the opportunity he’ll get. Jones’ top two seasons in terms of games played in the NHL came in Chicago. He appeared in only six NHL games for the Los Angeles Kings last season.
Per Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now, the Avalanche have re-signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. The 29-year-old had a career-best season in Colorado last year with 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games.
NHL Birthday Roll Call, August 9: Andy Brickley, Jim Johnson, Brett Hull, Rod Brind’Amour, and Shane O’Brien.