Less than one week remains until the 2026 NHL trade deadline, and the Chicago Blackhawks’ plans for their pending unrestricted free agents are becoming clearer with each passing day.
Elliotte Friedman shared an update on two of the Blackhawks’ trade chips leading up to the deadline during his latest episode of 32 Thoughts. As it turns out, there might be another surprise trade candidate available for the right price. More in the links for Chicago’s latest trade news going into the weekend.
Also in Blackhawks news, Marek Vanacker added to his OHL lead in goals, while Nick Lardis made his return for the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL.
Around the league, the price to do business with the St. Louis Blues has become clear, Steven Stamkos shuts down recent trade rumors, and an injury update on Tyler Seguin.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Recap, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: The Chicago Blackhawks continue their four-game road trip out of the Olympic break on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche. Hit the link for a preview of the matchup, the projected lineups, and everything to note before puck drops at 5:00 p.m. CT.
More CHN: To no surprise, Connor Murphy is available on the market ahead of the trade deadline. Elliotte Friedman confirmed as much during the most recent episode of 32 Thoughts. Friedman also provided an update on Ilya Mikheyev’s situation, as he and the Blackhawks have been unable to agree on a contract extension. Plus, teams are wondering about Kevin Korchinski’s availability.
More CHN: ICYMI, the Blackhawks dropped their first game back from the Olympic break 4-2 to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Connor Bedard played with a chip on his shoulder, but far too many other players in the lineup weren’t on their A-game.
In AHL news, Nick Lardis returned to the Rockford IceHogs lineup after missing last Sunday’s game. The IceHogs lost 4-1 to the Hershey Bears on Friday night, with Joey Anderson recording the lone goal. Rockford will look for some revenge in the back end of the back-to-back with the Bears on Saturday.
In OHL news, 2024 first-round pick Marek Vanacker scored his 42nd goal of the season in the Brantford Bulldogs 7-3 win over the Oshawa Generals. Vanacker now has a five-goal cushion for the league lead, with fellow Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham right on his tail in second place. Pridham failed to find the back of the net but did tally two assists in an 8-3 win for the Kitchener Rangers on Friday.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: The St. Louis Blues are willing to part ways with Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Justin Faulk, but it’s going to cost a hefty price. Here’s the latest on the Blues’ biggest bargaining chips at the deadline.
The Tennessean: Reports surfaced that Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos would only be willing to waive his no-movement clause for three specific teams. However, Stamkos cleared the air when he spoke with local media on Friday. Stamkos says there’s no chance he’ll be on the move.
NHL.com: Clayton Keller scored a goal and had two assists as the Utah Mammoth snapped the Minnesota Wild’s six-game winning streak on Friday. Lawson Crouse also added two goals. The Blackhawks are set to play the Mammoth on Sunday afternoon.
ESPN: The Dallas Stars have filed paperwork declaring that forward Tyler Seguin will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Dallas will now have an additional $9.85 million in salary cap space going into the trade deadline. Seguin last played on Dec. 2, when he suffered a torn ACL against the New York Rangers.
Boston Hockey Now: The Boston Bruins are one of the teams that could pry away one of the St. Louis Blues’ top players. BHN’s Jack Studley breaks down the latest trade rumors around the B’s with six days to go.
Sportsnet: Vincent Trocheck’s days are numbered with the New York Rangers, and three teams have emerged as frontrunners to land the veteran forward.
San Jose Hockey Now: The San Jose Sharks acquired Kiefer Sherwood ahead of the Olympic break, but there’s a chance his time with the team could come to an end in the next week. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Sharks could flip Sherwood for more assets if they cannot get him to sign an extension.
Philly Hockey Now: The stance of the Philadelphia Flyers at this year’s trade deadline remains unclear. Rasmus Ristolainen is the team’s top trade chip, but who else could get moved? Who could the Flyers target?
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