Morning Chirps: Peterka & Marner Rumors, Olympic Preliminary Rosters

Sunday was a slow news day across the world of hockey, with it being a travel day for the Stanley Cup Final. Once the Cup is handed out, possibly as early as Tuesday, the trade action should start to heat up, leading into the NHL Entry Draft on June 27 and 28. How involved will the Chicago Blackhawks be? That remains to be seen, but you can bet we’ll keep you updated as the news breaks.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the rising NHL salary cap only deepens Kyle Davidson’s belief in building from within.
• On this date in 1982, Orval Tessier was named the 26^th head coach in franchise history. He won the Jack Adams Award and led the Blackhawks to the Campbell Conference Final in his first season, where Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers swept them. After going down 0-2 in the series by a combined score of 16-6, Tessier told reporters that his players needed “heart transplants.” The team lost in the first round of the playoffs the following season, and he was fired 53 games into the 1984-85 season despite being in second place in the Norris Division.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 16: Gordie Fashoway, Frank Sullivan, Steve Larmer, and Pascal Pelletier.

NHL Chirps

• In the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Buffalo Sabres are listening to offers on JJ Peterka. If he isn’t traded, he is a candidate to receive an offer sheet this summer. Whether it’s a trade or an offer sheet, Davidson needs to be in on Peterka. The 23-year-old winger had 27 goals and 68 points last season and has scored 55 goals over the past two seasons.
• Friedman weighed in on the Mitch Marner rumors, saying his camp could be considering a shorter four-year deal. He also added that the Vegas Golden Knights are perhaps the “team to watch” when it comes to signing Marner. Don’t worry, that will change again today.
• Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey News says the Red Wings’ salary cap space will buy them less than fans think.
• Alan Greenberg of Florida Hockey Now says the Panthers have learned from their mistakes as they are on the cusp of their second straight Stanley Cup win.
• Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic says to count the Oilers out at your own peril. This team was down 3-0 last year and forced a Game 7, so they know how to stay alive. The biggest question heading into Game 6 is who will be their goaltender. Sunday was a travel day, but both teams will return to the ice today, so maybe we’ll get an idea of who it is: Calvin Pickard or Stuart Skinner.
• The 12 countries that have qualified for the 2026 Olympics will reveal the first six players on their rosters today. Those countries are Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.