Morning Chirps: Richardson Gets a New Gig, Latest on Peterka, Marchessault, & Pettersson

Tuesday was another newsworthy day, as the Chicago Blackhawks have a new Hall of Famer, and their new 16-million-dollar man met the media. We have another day full of trade rumors and speculation, and a first-round draft pick is on the move. Let’s get to Chirpin!

Blackhawks Chirps

• Duncan Keith is part of the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class. Former Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara will also be inducted in November. They will join Marian Hossa and Jaromir Jagr, making four participants from the 2013 Stanley Cup Final in the Hockey Hall of Fame. How many players from that epic series will get inducted before it’s all said and done?
• Ryan Donato spoke to the Chicago media for the first time since signing his new four-year, $16 million contract. He assured us that his newfound security will not change the type of player he is.
• There is more smoke around the third overall pick. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reported that the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, and Pittsburgh Penguins have inquired about the Blackhawks’ pick. Not sure who the Rangers are dangling. The Sabres likely had discussions about a possible JJ Peterka trade. The Penguins are intriguing. They may be putting feelers out on Rickard Rakell. He’d be a great fit in Chicago, but he’s not worth the third overall pick. All these reports are likely moot, since it sounds like the Blackhawks are happy keeping the pick. Especially since Michael Misa might be back in play.
• Teams around the NHL have been releasing their preseason schedules. The Detroit Red Wings have a home-and-home series against the Blackhawks on their schedule: Sept. 23 at Detroit and Sept. 30 at the United Center.
• Former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson is now an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators. He replaces Todd Richards on Andrew Brunette’s staff.
• On June 25, 1979, the Quebec Nordiques gave the Blackhawks their first-round pick in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for not reclaiming forward Real Cloutier. The Blackhawks drafted Cloutier ninth overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft, but he decided to stay with the Nordiques in the World Hockey Association. When the WHA folded and Quebec joined the NHL, the Blackhawks still held Cloutier’s rights. Less than a year later, the Blackhawks used that pick to select future Hall of Famer Denis Savard.
• In 1999, the Atlanta Thrashers held their Expansion Draft, selecting one player from each franchise, except the Predators, who were coming off their expansion season. The Thrashers selected center Sylvain Cloutier off the Blackhawks’ roster. He never played for Atlanta in the NHL.
• In 2010, the Blackhawks selected Kevin Hayes with the 24^th overall pick of the NHL Entry Draft, but he never signed with the team. Other members of the 2010 draft class who have played in the NHL are Justin Holl, Stephen Johns, and Joakim Nordstrom.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 25: Ernie Dickens, Ken Hodge, Greg Millen, Doug Gilmour, Jordan Oesterle, Landon Slaggert, and Sam Rinzel.

NHL Chirps

• The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun doesn’t believe that the Vancouver Canucks will trade star forward Elias Pettersson this summer. The rumors haven’t died down yet, and the Blackhawks have been connected to Pettersson based on how badly they need an elite goal scorer.
• When Richardson gets to Nashville, he will have veteran forward Jonathan Marchessault on his bench. Per John Glennon of the Nashville Post, general manager Barry Trotz says there is no truth to the recent trade rumors about Marchessault.
• New York Islanders forward Matt Martin announced his retirement on Tuesday. He will remain with the organization as a special assistant to the new general manager, Mathieu Darche.
• Staying with the Islanders, Frank Seravalli reported that they’ve talked to the Sabres about a Noah Dobson for Peterka trade. However, Chris Johnston feels the Peterka drama might extend into the offseason, as he doesn’t get the sense that anything is imminent.
• The Rangers completed the J.T. Miller trade by sending the 12^th overall pick of this weekend’s draft to the Penguins. The pick was top-13 protected, but the other option was surrendering next year’s pick no matter what. Pittsburgh now has the 11^th and 12^th picks on Friday night.
• NHL Birthday Roll Call, June 25: Todd Reirdon, Robert Reichel, Glen Metropolit, Jhonas Enroth, Jaden Schwartz, Mikhail Sergachev, Alexey Toropchenko, Pyotr Kochetkov¸and Philip Broberg.