The Chicago Blackhawks’ top young star is showing off his skills while training with a Western Conference rival. There are still some possible trades to be made this summer, and two young centers’ names keep showing up in the rumor mill. Let’s start your work week off with some Chirps!
Blackhawks Chirps
We’ve gotten to the point of the NHL offseason where we are starved for any hockey highlights. Yesterday, we got footage of Connor Bedard training with San Jose Sharks young star Macklin Celebrini, and he pulled off this nasty backhand goal. Don’t worry, we are only 57 days away from the Blackhawks’ opening night!
Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times recently spoke with new Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill, who revealed the first of the “winning habits” he plans to implement from the first day of training camp. September cannot come soon enough…
On this date in 2007, the Blackhawks traded Radim Vrbata to the Phoenix Coyotes for Kevyn Adams. Vrbata had 27 goals and 75 points in his two seasons in Chicago. This was his first of three stints with the Coyotes. Adams, now the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, had two assists in 27 games for the Blackhawks, the final contests of his 10-season career.
In 2020, the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Blackhawks 4-1 in Game 1 of their First Round playoff series. After a scoreless first period in the Edmonton bubble, Shea Theodore and William Carrier struck less than two minutes apart in the middle frame. David Kampf’s shorthanded goal cut the deficit to one before the second intermission, but that was the only puck that got in behind Robin Lehner. Reilly Smith scored a pair of third-period goals to ice the game for the heavily favored Golden Knights.
Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, August 11: Jari Torkki, Marc Bergevin, Mike Vellucci, Jason Williams, and Martin St. Pierre.
NHL Chirps
San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng wrote how former Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev can refind his game with the Sharks this season.
Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now reports that the Red Wings are checking to see what the cost would be to acquire Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish. Hopefully, Kyle Davidson has made a similar phone call.
RG’s Jimmy Murphy is reporting that center Casey Mittelstadt is not in the Boston Bruins’ long-term plans and is available on the trade market. He added that the focal point in last March’s trade with the Colorado Avalanche for Charlie Coyle wasn’t Mittlestadt, but rather the signing rights to prospect Will Zellers.
Per Anton Panchenko of Championat, Jake Chelios will not be returning to the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons, formerly the Kunlun Red Star. The 34-year-old defenseman had played for the franchise since the 2019-20 season and is their all-time leader in games played.
On Sunday, the Avalanche revealed its 30th anniversary logo. Colorado Hockey Now’s Aarif Deen explains why August 10 was the perfect date to release the logo.
NHL Birthday Roll Call, August 11: Chuck Rayner, Floyd Curry, Larry Popein, Dave Shand, Ken Linseman, Aaron Miller, Lubomir Visnovsky, Alexander Kerfoot, and Cayden Primeau.