Morning Chirps: Two Blackhawks Named as Trade Targets, Oilers Roll Despite Key Injury

The Chicago Blackhawks coaching staff is taking form, with just one opening left. Plus, two Blackhawks are named as potential trade targets this summer. We are one step closer to getting a rematch for the Stanley Cup, while three teams continue their coaching search.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Jeff Blashill had an impressive introductory press conference on Tuesday. He’s excited to get started but knows it will take a lot of work, not just words, to build the Blackhawks into a winner.
• The Blackhawks officially announced the coaching staff for next season under Blashill. Anders Sorensen and Michael Peca will be assistant coaches. Additionally, goaltending coach Jimmy Waite, assistant coach/video coach Matt Meacham, and assistant video coach Adam Gill will all retain their roles. Blashill will add one more assistant to his staff.
• Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff put up his Top 20 trade targets for the offseason. The two Blackhawks named that other teams might be interested in acquiring were defenseman Connor Murphy (No. 8) and forward Lukas Reichel (No. 13).
• On this date in 1992, the Blackhawks lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Bryan Marchment tied the game up midway through the second period before Mario Lemieux scored two goals in less than three minutes.
• The Blackhawks kept their season alive on May 28, 2014, by beating the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. Ben Smith tied the game 1:17 into the third period before Michal Handzus sent the series back to Chicago two minutes into the second overtime. Patrick Kane recorded assists on four of the five goals, including the game-winner.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 28: Clarence Abel, Doug Hicks, and Todd Simpson.

NHL Chirps

• Tomas Tatar signed a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss National League. The 14-year NHL veteran scored 227 goals and 496 points in 927 games with the Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken.
• Now that Blashill is officially behind the Blackhawks’ bench, three teams are still looking for a head coach. One of those teams is the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now says the chatter indicates that Todd Nelson is the favorite to land the gig.
• Jimmy Murphy of RG Media says the Boston Bruins are already “talking money” with Jay Woodcroft. However, he admitted that Mitch Love and Marco Sturm are still in the mix for the job. Former Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson has reportedly been interviewed in Boston, too.
• Mitch Marner will be the top free agent prize this summer. The reports are flying about which teams are interested in him, and who Marner is interested in signing with. You can’t count out the Vegas Golden Knights whenever a big name is on the market. Hannah Kirkell of Vegas Hockey Now tells us why Marner does and doesn’t make sense for the Golden Knights.
• The Edmonton Oilers are one win away from a second straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final after beating the Dallas Stars 4-1 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Corey Perry all had two points as the Oilers scored two power-play and two empty-net goals. Zach Hyman left the game midway through the first period and did not return. He grabbed his right arm after being hit by Mason Marchment in the neutral zone. Head coach Kris Knoblauch said he will have an update on the injury later today.