Morning Chirps: Blackhawks Trade Prospect, Marner Sign-and-Trade?

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone. We’ll get a quick two-day reprieve before free agency opens on Tuesday. The Chicago Blackhawks traded away the rights to an overseas prospect as they get ready to host the majority of their recent draft picks.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks added eight new prospects to the mix at the NHL Entry Draft this weekend. There was little doubt that they wanted to get bigger and tougher this year. Anton Frondell, the third overall pick, was the smallest player of the draft class at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds.
• Shortly after the draft concluded, the Blackhawks traded the signing rights of Ilya Safonov to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations. The 24-year-old center was a sixth-round pick in 2021, Stan Bowman’s final draft class. It felt that he would be in the Blackhawks’ plans after a breakout season in 2022-23. However, as his production fell and the prospect pool improved, there was no longer space for Safonov.
• Development Camp starts on Monday, so we’ll get a chance to meet the new draft class up close and personal, while checking in with some of the older prospects. Be sure you’re checking in all week.
• The Blackhawks pulled off one of the biggest trades in franchise history on this date in 1990. They acquired Chris Chelios from the Montreal Canadiens for Denis Savard. Chelios played in 664 games in his hometown, scoring 92 goals and 487 points with a plus-120 rating. He won the Norris Trophy in 1993 and 1996 and helped the Blackhawks reach the 1992 Stanley Cup Final. He remained with the team until he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in March of 1999. Savard was part of the Canadiens’ 1993 Stanley Cup win. He returned to Chicago as a free agent that offseason.
• In 1995, Craig Hartburg was named the 30^th head coach in franchise history on his 36^th birthday. He replaced Darryl Sutter, who resigned a few days earlier.
• Three years later, former captain Dirk Graham was named head coach, with Savard and Lorne Molleken added as his assistants. He only lasted 59 games behind the bench, going 16-36-8 before being replaced by Molleken.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 29: Ty Arbor, Theo Fleury, and Drew LeBlanc.

NHL Chirps

• For the most complete NHL Entry Draft review, check out Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, as he breaks down all 32 teams.
• The Ottawa Senators acquired defenseman Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings for third and sixth-round draft picks. It appears the Kings might also lose blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov to free agency. General manager Ken Holland told reporters that he does not expect to get a contract extension done before Tuesday.
• Former Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek is on the move again. He was traded with a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings to the Anaheim Ducks for goaltender John Gibson. It feels like the Ducks could have gotten more for Gibson at last season’s trade deadline. It’s also surprising that the Edmonton Oilers did not go all-in to acquire Gibson.
• Speaking of goalies, the St. Louis Blues signed Joel Hofer to a two-year, $6.8 million contract extension.
• According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs are working on a possible sign-and-trade deal for Mitch Marner. There have been varying reports on what the return might be, with Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague both being mentioned. A lot could have changed in this story since this Chirp was written and this post being published.
• Sounds like Vegas wants to be involved in everything, which is nothing new for them. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Buffalo Sabres are receiving considerable interest in defenseman Bowen Byram from the Canucks, Kings, and Golden Knights.
• Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin confirmed that defenseman Jonas Brodin underwent upper-body surgery a few weeks ago, and he’ll likely miss the beginning of the 2025-26 season.
• NHL Birthday Roll Call, June 29: Rick Smith, Brian Lawton, Mike Sillinger, and Matt Rempe.