Morning Chirps: Former Blackhawks on the Move, Olympics Official

We are still waiting for top free agent Nikolaj Ehlers to sign with a team. Will it be the Carolina Hurricanes? Or the Washington Capitals. Will the Tampa Bay Lightning swoop in? Perhaps we will find out later today.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Spencer Knight are all eligible for contract extensions, but don’t freak out if they don’t get signed before next season starts. They are all cornerstones of the rebuild and aren’t going anywhere.
• I was on the CHGO Blackhawks podcast yesterday, and we discussed the Blackhawks’ inactivity in free agency and what to expect for the upcoming season.

• Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times gives us reasons why we shouldn’t overlook 2024 third-round pick John Mustard.
• I want to send condolences to both Jay Zawaski and Mark Lazerus, who both lost their fathers in the last 48 hours. I am lucky to call them colleagues and friends.
• On this date in 1997, Bob Pulford announced his retirement as general manager after 20 years with the team. Bob Murray was named as his replacement. However, this was far from the last time he held that position. He had two more stints as Blackhawks’ general manager before stepping away for good in 2005.
• One year later, Murray signed future Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour. He scored 38 goals and 112 points in his 135 games with the team. He took over as captain after Chris Chelios was traded to the Detroit Red Wings.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, July 3: Cully Dahlstrom, Adrian Aucoin, and Dennis Rasmussen.

NHL Chirps

• Former Blackhawk Cole Guttman signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
• Pius Suter, another former Blackhawk, signed a two-year deal with the St. Louis Blues worth $8.25 million. He had 25 goals and 46 points in 81 games for the Vancouver Canucks last season.
• The Blues also waived defenseman Nick Leddy on standard waivers, meaning this move isn’t for the purpose of a contract buyout. He has one year left on his contract, which carries a $4 million cap hit, but only $3 million in actual salary.
• Elmer Soderblom, the younger brother of Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom, signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings worth $2.25 million. Detroit also inked veteran forward Mason Appleton to a two-year, $5.8 million contract.
• Gustav Nyquist is back in the Central Division. He signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Winnipeg Jets.
• The Colorado Avalanche signed 40-year-old blueliner Brent Burns to a one-year contract. He will earn a $1 million base salary, with the potential for up to an additional $2 million in performance bonuses. Burns is the last player left in the NHL who played in the league before the salary cap was implemented.
• The NHL is officially participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The NHL, NHLPA, International Ice Hockey Federation, and International Olympic Committee confirmed the participation of NHL players at the Olympic Games for the first time since 2014.
• NHL Birthday Roll Call, July 3: Ace Bailey, Dave Lewis, Jarmo Kekäläinen, Teppo Numminen, Teemu Selanne, Wade Belak, Antti Miettinen¸ and Anders Lee.