There will be plenty of reasons to get to Chicago Blackhawks games early this season! Additionally, a team legend is a fan of the new head coach, a prospect will be heading to college next year, and a bear nearly attacked a former player. Enjoy today’s entertaining Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

The Blackhawks released their promotional schedule for the upcoming season. The Centennial Season is broken up into four chapters: The Originals, The Madhouse, The Banner Years, and The Next Originals. Seven different bobbleheads will be given out: Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, Denis Savard, Chris Chelios, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, and Tommy Hawk. Player pin giveaways include Spencer Knight, Alex Vlasic, and Frank Nazar. Every Friday night home game will consist of an atrium giveaway, and a Hall of Fame Celebration night will be announced at a later date.

Blackhawks’ 2025 third-round pick Nathan Behm is the latest CHL player to head to the NCAA. He announced via his Instagram account that he will be attending Arizona State University for the 2026-27 season. He will return to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, where he scored 31 goals and 66 points last season.

Patrick Kane was on CHSN’s Blackhawks Breakaway Podcast, and one of the many topics discussed was what Jeff Blashill brings to the Blackhawks. Kane says he will hold players accountable and will be a perfect fit for the young core.

Bleacher Report shared a fun thread of the 10 best shootout performers in NHL history, and Blackhawks fans will recognize the player at No. 3.

Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Aug 6: Gerry Couture, Andreas Athanasiou, Henrik Borgstrom, and Alec Regula.

NHL Chirps

Former Blackhawks center Kirby Dach is still rehabbing his injured knee. Maxime Truman reported on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro that Dach will likely miss Montreal Canadiens training camp. He’s missed 129 games due to injury since arriving in Montreal three years ago.

The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Vitali Kravtsov to a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old winger was drafted ninth overall by the New York Rangers in 2018. He was traded to the Canucks in 2023 and scored a goal and two points in 16 games. He’s returning to Vancouver after spending the last two seasons in the KHL.

Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now caught up with former Red Wings European scout Christer Rockstrom, whose biggest claim to fame was discovering defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom.

Matt Higgins of Sportsnaut shares the crazy story of the Seattle Kraken’s mascot and former Blackhawk John Hayden being charged by a grizzly bear while filming a fly-fishing video.

The NHL released a very cool logo for the Stadium Series game of February 1 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins.

NHL Birthday Roll Call, Aug 6: Erik Condra, Christian Djoos, and Joshua Roy.