Morning Chirps: A New GM in the Ranks, Western Conference Final Evened Up

After an extremely busy Thursday, Friday was quiet for the Chicago Blackhawks. Around the NHL, a new general manager is in the ranks, and we have an even series in the Western Conference Final. Let’s start the holiday weekend off with some fresh Chirps!

Blackhawks Chirps

• We continued our Blackhawks Draft Profiles for the third overall pick with Brampton Steelheads forward Porter Martone. He’s skilled and physical and could develop into a Tkachuk-esque player.
• In case you missed it, we got some great insight on new Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill from behind enemy lines.
• Don’t forget, there is early hockey this morning. The IIHF World Championship semifinals start at 7:20 a.m. CT. The first matchup features Frank Nazar, Alex Vlasic, and Team USA taking on Sweden, with Anders Sorensen behind the bench. Switzerland and Denmark face off at 11:20 a.m. CT.
• On this date in 2009, Jonathan Toews scored the lone goal in a 6-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Future Blackhawk Marian Hossa had two goals and an assist for Detroit.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 24: Lionel Conacher, Norm Locking, Dan Hinton, Jonathan Aitken, Artem Anisimov, Viktor Svedberg, and Pius Suter.

NHL Chirps

• The NHL announced that Kevin Cheveldayoff (Winnipeg Jets), Jim Nill (Dallas Stars), and Bill Zito (Florida Panthers) are the three finalists for this year’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. Nill has won this award the last two years, and is the favorite to become the first three-time winner.
• Speaking of general managers, the New York Islanders named Mathieu Darche theirs. Russ Macias of NYI Hockey Now says the way they made the announcement is very telling for future plans.
• According to John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor, Marc Bergevin will remain a senior advisor for the Los Angeles Kings after being a finalist for the Islanders’ job.
• The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun had an interesting interview with Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, during which they discussed potential expansion, the ongoing CBA extension talks, the league’s concussion protocol, and the current playoff format.
• Per Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final tonight. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour added that defenseman Sean Walker is “iffy.”
• The Edmonton Oilers evened the Western Conference Final at one win apiece with a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Unlike in Game 1, the Oilers avoided a third-period collapse and got the good version of Stuart Skinner. The shutout was Skinner’s third in his last four games, as his roller coaster of a postseason continues. He has yet to have a game with a save percentage between .835 and .999. Want another crazy stat? The Stars have allowed the first goal in 12 of their 15 playoff games. Game 3 will be in Edmonton tomorrow afternoon.