Morning Chirps: Davidson Makes First Trade of the Summer, New Team Enters Toews Sweepstakes

Happy Saturday! Who’s excited about tonight’s pivotal Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final? It should be another classic. Before we get there, I’ve got a few quick Chirps to hold you over, including Kyle Davidson’s first offseason roster move.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Last night, the Blackhawks traded defenseman Victor Soderstrom to the Boston Bruins for blueliner Ryan Mast and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Soderstrom was part of last spring’s trade with Utah in which the Blackhawks inherited the contract of Shea Weber. Mast is a 6-foot-5, 221-pound defenseman who had five assists in 37 games with the Providence Bruins in the AHL.
• In case you missed it yesterday, check out our latest Blackhawks Q&A, where I answered your questions on the NHL Draft, Connor Bedard’s next contract, and much more.
• The Athletic’s Scott Powers spoke to Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar, who hopes his World Championship performance was a springboard to a huge 2025-26 season.
• On June 14, 1950, Ebbie Goodfellow was named the Blackhawks’ new head coach, replacing Charlie Conacher. He won just 30 games in his two seasons behind the bench.
• On this date in 1977, the Blackhawks selected Hall of Fame defenseman Doug Wilson. He was one of the best two-way defensemen of his generation, scoring 237 goals and 827 points over 14 seasons, and won the Norris Trophy in 1982. The Blackhawks also selected defenseman Jack O’Callahan in the sixth round. He was part of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic team before playing 303 games for the Blackhawks.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 14: Johnny Wilson, Geoff Powis, and Ryan Johnson.

NHL Chirps

• We’ve already heard that the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche are interested in former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. Still, according to Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, the Tampa Bay Lightning are also a potential suitor.
• On the same episode, Friedman said he’s heard that the Dallas Stars are dialing back on their efforts to trade Jason Robertson. He cited that the team was reeling from how their season ended and firing head coach Pete DeBoer, but now, cooler heads are prevailing.
• Andy Strickland confirmed what most of us have known for a while: Mitch Marner will be a free agent on July 1. Let the bidding war begin……
• Joe Smith and Michael Russo of The Athletic reported that the Marco Rossi situation got more complicated after the Minnesota Wild’s top free-agent target, Brock Nelson, re-signed with the Avalanche.