Morning Chirps: Buyout Window Opens, Offseason Off to a Busy Start

The day after the Stanley Cup Final concluded turned out to be busy. The Chicago Blackhawks checked off a box from their offseason to-do list, a division rival made a trade, and a two-time Stanley Cup winner called it a career. Let’s get to Chripin’!

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks re-signed Ryan Donato to a four-year, $16 million contract extension yesterday. He was believed to have been offered a three-year, $12 million contract after the trade deadline, but he held out for another year of security. This deal benefits everybody. Donato gets four years, and the Blackhawks get him for less money than he would have likely gotten on the open market. Frank Servalli says this move does not change any plans heading into the summer.

• Many insiders feel that restricted free agents will be targeted more than ever this summer, by either offer sheets or trades. I looked at the three RFAs that make the most sense for the Blackhawks and how they could be acquired. Reminder: Use the promo code “Greg10” to receive $10 off a yearly membership, where you’ll get insider access and ad-free browsing across the entire National Hockey Now network.
• The NHL’s first buyout window opens at 4 p.m. CT today. Many expect Blackhawks defenseman T.J. Brodie to be part of the first batch of contract buyouts.
• The Rockford IceHogs signed forward Dillon Boucher to a one-year AHL contract. He was the captain of the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder last season and has 14 goals and 35 points in 151 ECHL games. He led the Thunder in penalty minutes over the last two seasons.
• Staying in Rockford, The Athletic’s Scott Powers tells us why the Blackhawks brought Jared Nightingale back into the organization to be the IceHogs’ head coach.
• On this date in 1995, Darryl Sutter stepped down as head coach after three seasons behind the Blackhawks’ bench. He had a record of 110-86-26 and was eventually replaced by Craig Hartsburg. Sutter decided to step away to spend time with his family, but returned to the coaching ranks for the San Jose Sharks in 1997.
• In 2013, the Blackhawks evened the Stanley Cup Final with a 6-5 overtime win over the Boston Bruins in Game 4. Michael Handzus started the scoring with a first-period shorthanded goal. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Marcus Kruger scored in the middle frame. Patrick Sharp’s power-play tally put the Blackhawks up a goal in the third period, but the lead only lasted 55 seconds. Brent Seabrook’s second overtime goal of the postseason sent the series back to Chicago tied 2-2.

NHL Chirps

• There is no rest for Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman. He has to work out a deal with restricted free agent defenseman Evan Bouchard, who will be due a raise. Also, Connor McDavid will be eligible for a contract extension on July 1, which he’d like to complete as soon as possible. According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Bowman is nearing an eight-year contract extension with forward Trent Frederic. While Frederic is a nice bottom-six option, who is clamoring to lock him up for eight years? Stan Bowman, baby!
• Bowman also needs to figure out his goaltenders, as they were the most significant reason they lost to the Florida Panthers for the second straight year. Elliotte Friedman reported on SN590 AM that it would be interesting to see if he is looking to go with someone to work in tandem with Stuart Skinner or two new netminders. The Blackhawks currently have three goaltenders on NHL contracts. Just sayin’….
• The Nashville Predators acquired forward Erik Haula from the New Jersey Devils for a 2025 fourth-round pick and defenseman Jeremy Hanzel. James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now points out that the Devils cleared out $3.15 million in salary cap space. They need to sign Luke Hughes to a new deal, as well as Cody Glass and goaltender Jake Allen.
• Nick Bonino retired after 15 seasons in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Predators, Minnesota Wild, Sharks, and New York Rangers. He is returning to the Penguins organization, where he won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2018, to join Dan Muse’s coaching staff. In 29 career games against the Blackhawks, Bonino had seven goals and 12 points.
• Per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, Claude Giroux and the Ottawa Senators have been in contract talks for several weeks. The 37-year-old forward has scored 71 goals and 193 points in his three seasons with the Senators, while providing crucial veteran leadership.