Chicago Blackhawks
Morning Chirps: Levshunov Scores, Miller Finally Traded

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action this afternoon as they wrap up a three-game road trip at the Florida Panthers. Friday night was an active evening for prospects across North America. The Rockford IceHogs continue to struggle against their biggest rivals. Plus, a trade we’ve been hearing about for weeks finally got done.
Blackhawks Chirps
- The NHL salary cap is going up quickly over the next three years. The league and the players’ association sent a memo on Friday that the cap ceiling is estimated at $95.5 million for the 2025-26 season, $104 million for 2026-27, and $113.5 million for 2027-28. Those are significant jumps from the $88 million ceiling. This is great news for the Blackhawks, who have never been afraid to spend to the cap’s limit. Mark Lazerus of The Athletic explained what the raise means for the Blackhawks’ future. Remember, the cap is going up for all 32 teams, not just the Blackhawks.
- In case you missed it yesterday, defenseman Connor Murphy is expected to return today. He hasn’t played since the Winter Classic on Dec 31, missing the last 13 games with a groin injury.
- It feels like we reserve this spot for Nick Lardis every morning. He scored two more goals and added an assist, bringing his season total to 44 goals and 76 points in 47 OHL games. Are you excited yet?
- In other prospects news, Alex Pharand scored his 16th goal of the season for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. In the college ranks, Ryan Greene had two primary assists in Boston University’s 7-2 win over New Hampshire. Finally, Sacha Boisvert recorded an assist in the University of North Dakota’s 4-3 shootout victory over St. Cloud State.
- On Feb 1, 1990, the Blackhawks set a franchise record by scoring five goals in 5:38 during a 7-4 win against the Los Angeles Kings. Duane Sutter, Dirk Graham, Doug Wilson, Mike Hudson, and Jocelyn Lemieux all scored between the 2:12 and 7:50 marks of the second period.
- Four years later, Ed Belfour shut out the Edmonton Oilers 7-0 to become the third goaltender in franchise history to win 150 games.
- On Feb 1, 2019, Patrick Kane scored two goals and recorded two assists during a 7-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres to give him 900 career points. He was the fifth-fastest American-born player to accomplish this feat in 873. He was also the youngest American to score 900 points, breaking the record set by Jeremy Roenick.
IceHogs Chirps
- If the IceHogs didn’t have to play the Chicago Wolves, they’d be much higher up in the AHL Central Division standings. They lost 3-2 on Friday to drop their season record to 2-5-1 against their interstate rival. Artyom Levshunov scored his third goal of the season. Dmitry Kuzmin, acquired for Isaak Phillips last month, had the primary assist for his first point with the IceHogs.
- Joey Anderson scored the other Rockford goal while on a third-period power play. Drew Commesso made 26 saves in the losing effort. Andreas Athanasiou recorded assists on both Rockford goals to give him 300 career professional points. The IceHogs will be back in action later tonight against the Milwaukee Admirals.
NHL Chirps
- The J.T. Miller drama is finally over in Vancouver, as the Canucks traded him to the New York Rangers. Miller, Erik Brannstrom, and Jackson Dorrington are heading to the Big Apple for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a protected 2025 first-round pick. If the pick is in the top 13 this year, it will become an unprotected pick in 2026. Miller was drafted 15th overall by the Rangers in 2011 and scored 172 points in 341 games. The Canucks are not retaining any of his salary, so the Rangers will carry his entire $8 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season. Miller has been a problem in the Canucks’ locker room, and now you add him to a locker room that has had issues all season long. This should be fun!
- The first-round pick from the Rangers didn’t last long in Vancouver, as it was sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Vinny Desharnais, Danton Heinen, and Melvin Fernstrom for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now says general manager Kyle Dubas did a good job acquiring a first-round pick and filling a need with a right-shot defenseman. Meanwhile, the Canucks are apparently trying to corner the market on Petterssons.
- It didn’t take Brandon Saad long to find a new home after his contract with the St. Louis Blues was terminated. He signed a one-year, $1.5 million prorated contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Hannah Kirkell of Vegas Hockey Now says Saad will be a welcome addition, as Cole Schwindt and William Karlsson are out with injuries.
- Another former Blackhawk has a new home as Adam Boqvist was claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders, as injuries have decimated their blue line. Russ Macias of New York Islanders Hockey Now explains why Boqvist will be a good fit in Patrick Roy’s system.