Morning Chirps: Commesso signs new deal, preseason schedule released

Monday was a rather newsworthy day for the Chicago Blackhawks, with a contract extension signed (no, not that one!) and the preseason schedule being released. We’ll take that on the first Monday of July!

Blackhawks Chirps

• Elliotte Friedman had a lot of interesting tidbits on the season’s final episode of 32 Thoughts. While talking about the Blackhawks, he mentioned that it doesn’t sound like there is an offer sheet on the table for Connor Bedard. Friedman says there is a good relationship between Bedard and the organization, so even if he’s offered one, he won’t sign.

• Speaking of Bedard, there was no word on his injury, so take that however you want. His group is scheduled to return to practice today, so we’ll see if he’s out there.

• While considering what the leadership group will look like this season, Ryan McGregor wonders whether Bowen Byram will wear a letter in his first year with the Blackhawks.

• Jordan Greenway has been the overlooked part of the Byram trade with the Buffalo Sabres, so I mapped out what he will bring to the team. His stats don’t jump off the page, but he has a lot of what the Blackhawks lack.

• Drew Commesso signed a two-year contract extension yesterday that carries an $875,000 AAV. The interesting caveat to the deal is that the first year is a two-way contract and the second year is a one-way contract.

• The Blackhawks also announced their preseason schedule, with only four games this year:
  Saturday, Sept. 19 @ Minnesota Wild
  Monday, Sept. 21 vs Wild
  Thursday, Sept. 24 @ St. Louis Blues
  Saturday, Sept. 26 vs Blues

• On this date in 1954, Tommy Ivan was named general manager, taking over for Bill Tobin. He won three Stanley Cups as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings over the previous seven years. He held the position until 1977. With Ivan at the helm, the Blackhawks went to four Stanley Cup Finals, winning it all in 1961.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, July 7: Lynn Powis, Tony Hrkac, and Patrick Lalime.

NHL Chirps

• Late Monday night, Friedman reported that veteran forward Claude Giroux is returning to the Ottawa Senators. His numbers have been on a steady decline since scoring 35 goals in 2022-23, his first season with the Senators. In his four seasons with his hometown team, he has 85 goals and 242 points in 327 games.

• Regarding Pat Verbeek and the Anaheim Ducks’ offseason, Friedman said: “He has lost control, unfortunately for him, of the structure of his organization; who knows where this goes, but the Ducks might never be the same.” Yikes! He added that he might have to trade Chris Krieder, Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano if he matches Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet.

• The Calgary Flames signed Simon Nemec to a five-year, $36.25 million contract extension. They acquired the 22-year-old blueline just ahead of the draft for prospect Etienne Morin, a 2026 second-round pick, a top-10 protected 2027 first-round pick, and a top-10 protected 2028 first-round pick.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, July 7: Joe Sakic, Jordan Harris, and Jared Davidson.

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