Morning Chirps: Brossoit returns to NHL, Dach injured again

The Chicago Blackhawks will be back on the practice ice today. They have a big week ahead of them with a home-and-home series against the Minnesota Wild before hosting the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

Blackhawks Chirps

• It remains to be seen if Sacha Boisvert will sign with the Blackhawks today. He is reportedly on his way to Chicago to ink his first professional contract, but may have been delayed by all the travel issues caused by Sunday’s storms across the country. Even if he does sign today, he has to wait until his visa paperwork is approved before he can participate with the team.

• Justin Lynch is wondering what we all are pondering: why does Andre Burakovsky have such a long leash on the top line?

• On this date in 1971, Keith Magnuson set an NHL record for the most penalty minutes in a season during a 6-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He was called for two minors, giving him 274 penalty minutes, breaking Howie Young’s record set during the 1961-62 season.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, March 16: Duane Sutter, Greg Johnson, Kim Johnsson, and Tyler Arnason.

NHL Chirps

• While we wait for Boisvert to sign, his Boston University teammate, Cole Hutson, inked his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals yesterday. The contract begins immediately, as he will join the NHL club. The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens’ star Lane Hutson, the blueliner had 24 goals and 80 points in his 74 games over two seasons with BU.

• Laurent Brossoit made his debut for the San Jose Sharks, making his first NHL start since April 18, 2024. Things didn’t go well for him as he allowed six goals on 23 shots in a 7-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks' loss, combined with the Seattle Kraken’s win, has them one point out of the last wild card spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Senators are now three points behind the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

• The Edmonton Oilers got Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back in the lineup for their 3-1 win over the Predators. However, the win came at a cost as Leon Draisaitl left with an injury after scoring a goal in the first period. There was no update on his status after the game. The Oilers are in third place in the Pacific Division, two points behind the first-place Anaheim Ducks.

• The Ducks kept pace by beating the Canadiens 4-3. Veteran John Carlson made his debut with the team, while Troy Terry had a goal and two assists in his return to the lineup after missing the last nine games. Mason McTavish was a healthy scratch for the Ducks. He has only two points in his last 12 games and has struggled in the first year of his six-year, $42 million contract. Could he become available on the trade market this summer?

• Early in the first period of that game, Canadiens forward Kirby Dach suffered an upper-body injury from a hit by Jeffrey Viel. The Dach brothers just cannot buy a break when it comes to their health.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, March 16: Roger Crozier, Brian Mullen, Jamie Rivers, Brian Willsie, Brandon Prust, Jiri Tlusty, Marshall Rifai, and Brady Martin.