Morning Chirps: Wild Sign Top Prospect, Maple Leafs Force Game 7

The Chicago Blackhawks suddenly have a favorite for the head coaching job, while some of the best blueliners in recent memory headed to the Friendly Confines. The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been rather dull, but we will have at least one Game 7. It’s time for some Saturday Morning Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• Jeff Blashill has emerged as a serious candidate to become the next head coach of the Blackhawks. I mapped out what makes him so appealing to the front office.
• Three generations of Blackhawks defensemen showed up to support the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Connor Murphy, Duncan Keith, and Chris Chelios enjoyed a beautiful day at Wrigley Field as the Cubs beat the White Sox 11-3.

• On this date in 1995, the Toronto Maple Leafs forced a seventh game in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, beating the Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime. The Blackhawks erased a 4-1 deficit with goals from Denis Savard, Joe Murphy, and Brent Sutter before Randy Wood scored in overtime.
• On May 17, 2009, the Detroit Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 5-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Adam Burish and Kris Versteeg scored before the Red Wings finished the game with three unanswered goals.
• Six years later, the Blackhawks lost 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Brad Richards scored the lone Blackhawks goal.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 17: Daniel Gauthier, Jim Cummings, Mike Prokopec, and Lukas Reichel.

NHL Chirps

• The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking for Mike Sullivan’s replacement. According to Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now, Kyle Dubas has had several interviews with Jay Woodcroft, D.J. Smith, Dan Quinn, Jay Leach, and Mitch Love.
• The Minnesota Wild signed their top forward prospect, Danila Yurov, to his entry-level contract. He was a teammate of Blackhawks prospect Roman Kantserov with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL. The 24^th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft had 21 goals and 49 points during their 2023-24 championship season. Injuries limited Yurov to 46 games this past season.
• Former Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is looking to make a comeback. Per Tomas Ros, he’s planning on signing a one-year deal with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League and slowly getting back into game action. The 37-year-old forward hasn’t played since October 2023 after hip resurfacing surgery.
• TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that the Oilers are not expecting goaltender Calvin Pickard and defenseman Mattias Ekholm for the start of the Western Conference Finals. Still, they could return at some point in the series.
• Much like in 1995, the Maple Leafs fought off elimination and forced a Game 7 last night by beating the Florida Panthers 2-0. Toronto got third-period goals from Auston Matthews and Max Pacioretty, while Joseph Woll made 22 saves for his first postseason shutout. The Panthers went 0-for-4 on the power play, including two in the first half of the opening period. Game 7 will be back in Toronto on Sunday night.