Morning Chirps: Ryan Greene Signs, Another Nick Lardis Hat Trick

The Chicago Blackhawks have added yet another recent draft pick to the mix as they play their final two games of the season. We’ll have a full preview of tonight’s tilt with the Montreal Canadiens later this morning. The Rockford IceHogs couldn’t go three-for-three on the weekend, but some other prospects continue to roll on the Ontario Hockey League.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks signed forward Ryan Greene to a three-year entry-level contract on Sunday, less than 24 hours after his college season ended. The 2022 second-round pick had 34 goals and 104 points in 118 NCAA games for Boston University. He is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Montreal.

• Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote why the Blackhawks will be ok with not winning the draft lottery this year.
• The Brantford Bulldogs rolled to a 2-0 series lead by beating the Oshawa Generals 8-5 on Sunday. Marek Vanacker scored the game’s opening goal before Nick Lardis netted a hat trick. This was Lardis’ second hat trick in the last three games. He has 11 goals in seven playoff games.

• On this date in 1992, Steve Larmer played in his 800th consecutive game, a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The milestone left Larmer third on the NHL’s all-time list behind Doug Jarvis (964) and Garry Unger (914) in consecutive games played. He never missed a game in his entire career with the Blackhawks.
• On April 14, 1980, Stan Mikita announced his retirement from the NHL. He scored 541 goals and 1,467 points in 1,396 games during his 22 seasons with the Blackhawks. He won two Hart Trophies and was a four-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in points. Mikita was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
• Exactly 14 years later, the Blackhawks played their final regular-season game at Chicago Stadium, losing 6-4 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

IceHogs Chirps

• After back-to-back wins over the Tucson Roadrunners, the IceHogs lost 2-1 to the first-place Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday. Kevin Lombardi scored the lone Rockford goal, with Taige Harding picking up his second assist on the play. Goaltender Mithell Weeks made 20 saves in the losing effort

• The recently-signed Aidan Thompson made his professional debut and was on the first line with veterans Cole Guttman and Gerry Mayhew. He and Guttman led the team with four shots on goal.

• The IceHogs will wrap up the regular season with home games against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday and Friday before one final contest at the Chicago Wolves on Saturday. They will play one of those two teams in the best-of-three play-in series.

NHL Chirps

• The Calgary Flames kept their postseason hopes alive by beating the San Jose Sharks 5-2. The Flames, Minnesota Wild, and Blues all play tomorrow. The Wild need one point against the Anaheim Ducks to clinch a Wild Card spot. If the Blues beat the Utah Hockey Club in regulation, they’re in, too. The Flames need to win their final two games against the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings combined with a Wild regulation loss, Blues loss, or non-regulation win to get in.
• In the East, the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Washington Capitals to keep their playoff chances alive. The Capitals’ loss clinched the President’s Trophy for the Winnipeg Jets. The Canadiens can secure the final Wild Card spot by beating the Blackhawks tonight.
• Former Blackhawks defenseman Calvin de Haan vented his frustration with his treatment by the New York Rangers. According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, de Haan said he is “just wasting time” as he took the ice for Sunday’s morning skate. The Rangers acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche in early March. After playing three games, de Haan has been a healthy scratch for the last 18 contests. The veteran blueliner later expanded his thoughts on his X account.