Morning Chirps: Blackhawks Make Three First-Round Draft Picks

Friday was a crazy day across the NHL, as teams made last-minute trades before the Entry Draft began in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks were busy making three first-round picks for the third time in the last four years. Let’s catch you up on all the hockey news as we get ready for Day 2 of the draft.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks started their busy day by releasing the Centennial jerseys they will wear on home ice during the 2025-26 season. They will feature gold trim around the Blackhawks crest and the back numbers, a Centennial shoulder patch, vintage lace-up collars, and an inside hem showcasing their six Stanley Cup championships.

• The Blackhawks selected Swedish center Anton Frondell with the third overall pick last night.
• We were unsure whether the Chicago Blackhawks would make their second pick in the first round at No. 25, but they used it to select Václav Nestrašil from the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
• The Blackhawks were not done, as for the second-straight year, they traded with the Carolina Hurricanes to get back into the first round. They used the 29^th overall pick to take Minnesota high school star Mason West.
• On this date in 1994, the Blackhawks selected Ethan Moreau with the 14^th overall pick of the NHL Entry Draft. He had 33 goals and 65 points in 213 games before he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 1999. Jean-Yves Leroux was taken in the second round, who scored 16 goals and 38 points in five seasons for the Blackhawks. The only other pick to play in the NHL was fourth-rounder Steve McLaren, who played six games for the St. Louis Blues.
• In 2003, the Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard with the first overall pick of the NHL Entry Draft. They used their second pick of the first round that night, 19^th overall, to draft Oliver Moore¸who made his NHL debut at the end of last season.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 28: George Gee.

NHL Chirps

• The biggest pre-draft trade saw the Montreal Canadiens acquire defenseman Noah Dobson, who signed an eight-year extension with a $9.5 million AAV, for the 16^th and 17^th picks in Friday’s draft and prospect Emil Heineman. Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now says the trade was smart business by the Canadiens.
• The Colorado Avalanche traded veteran forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets for prospect Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round pick, and a second-round pick in 2027. This move clears $7.75 million of salary cap space and adds a former second-round pick to their prospect pool.  
• Two big names were taken off the free agency board. John Tavares signed a four-year contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The deal is worth $17.52 million, with a salary cap hit of $4.38 million. Something, something, no state income tax.
• Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett is staying with the Florida Panthers. He signed an eight-year, $56 million contract extension on Friday.
• Work stoppages have been far too common in the Gary Bettman era, but there won’t be another one anytime soon. The NHL and NHLPA have agreed on a new four-year collective bargaining agreement.
• Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, Austin, TX, is interested in becoming an NHL expansion franchise. The Texas Stars of the AHL play in nearby Cedar Park, TX, and are in the top half of the league for attendance average since joining in 2009.