Morning Chirps: Connor Bedard's breaking ankles, Hall of Famer's contract traded

Happy Saturday! Let’s start your weekend off with a fresh batch of Morning Chirps. The Chicago Blackhawks are ramping up for the start of training camp, as the rookies will hit the ice in less than a week. Friday was a newsworthy day across the National Hockey League as a future Hall of Famer was traded, a youngster is close to signing a new contract, and a veteran announced his retirement.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks announced the first induction class for the team’s Hall of Fame, and I wrote about how the fans and media got the vote 100% correct.

• Kaivo Hockey has been posting videos from Connor Bedard’s offseason training, getting us pumped up for the season. Their latest video shows Bedard making defenders fall over themselves trying to keep up. He looks like a man on a mission. Opening night cannot get here fast enough!

• If this profile from Bryan Bader of Hockey Prospecting doesn’t get you excited, make a doctor appointment!

• The Rockford IceHogs released their promotional schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Some of the giveaways include three different hats designed by local artists, two bobbleheads, t-shirts, and bucket hats. If you can get to the BMO Center for an IceHogs game this year, do it! It’s an excellent building for a hockey game, and you’re going to see plenty of future stars on the ice.

• On this date in 1972, Winnipeg hosted the third game of the Summit Series between the Soviet Union and Canada. Tony Esposito allowed four goals on 25 shots as the game finished in a 4-4 tie. Pat Stapleton, Stan Mikita, and Bill White all dressed for Canada, but did not find the scoresheet.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Sept. 6: Red Mitchell, Glen Sharpley, and Igor Korolev.

NHL Chirps

• All the “will they” or “won’t they” talk surrounding the trading of Carey Price’s contract came to an end yesterday. The Montreal Canadiens traded the final year of the future Hall of Fame goaltender’s deal to the San Jose Sharks for minor league defenseman Gannon Laroque. The Sharks will take on Price’s entire $10.5 salary cap hit, even though he will never put on the uniform. This trade gives the Canadiens plenty of salary cap room heading into the season. It also allows the Sharks to stay above the salary cap floor if they make any midseason move. Matthew Granville of Blades of Teal has the Sharks' perspective on the trade.

• Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Calgary Flames are signing restricted free agent Connor Zary to a three-year contract worth just under $3.775 million per season. Zary, who will be 24 by opening night, has 27 goals and 61 points through his first 117 NHL games.

• The New Jersey Devils got ready for training camp by inking four veterans to professional tryout contracts (PTO). The foursome includes former Devil Kevin Rooney, center Luke Glendening, and goaltenders Adam Scheel and Georgi Romanov.

• Center Derek Ryan told Bob Stauffer of 880 CHED that his NHL career has come to an end. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015 after a successful junior career with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. He finished his career with 82 goals and 209 points in 606 games with the Hurricanes, Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Sept. 6: Wayne Bianchin, Bill Root, and Brian Dumoulin.