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Morning Chirps: Frondell has a big Worlds debut, Canucks are closing in on a new head coach.

Anton Frondell and Arvid Soderblom make Chicago Blackhawks fans proud in Switzerland.
ByGreg Boysen|
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Apr 6, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Anton Frondell (16) warms up before the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Apr 6, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Anton Frondell (16) warms up before the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images | David Gonzales-Imagn Images

It was a big day for the Swedish Chicago Blackhawks at the IIHF World Junior Championship, the Western Conference Final looks to be closer than most thought, and a Western Conference rival is closing in on a new head coach. It’s time to Chirp!

Blackhawks Chirps

  • Justin Lynch pondered whether the Blackhawks can still have a top-tier penalty kill IF Ilya Mikheyev is not on the team next season (more on that in a minute).
  • Teuvo Teravainen found himself playing lower in the lineup at the end of the season, thus making Jordan Manning take a look at what his role might be next season.
  • It feels like every Blackhawks fan wants to see a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs for Matthew Knies this summer, but Nestor Quixtan says one proposed trade is not worth the price.
  • Scott Powers of The Athletic reported that the door may not be closed between the Blackhawks and Ilya Mikheyev. Jay Zawaski and I discussed this and a lot more on yesterday’s CHGO Blackhawks Podcast.

Anton Frondell made his World Championship debut and recorded two assists in Sweden’s 6-0 win over Slovenia. Arvid Soderblom made 16 saves to earn the shutout and his second win of the tournament.

  • Team USA beat Germany 4-3 in a shootout. Oliver Moore had two shots on goal, while Wyatt Kaiser was a scratch for the second time in three games.
  • On this date in 1956, the Blackhawks purchased the contract of forward Erik Nesterenko and goaltender Harry Lumley from the Maple Leafs for $40,000. Nesterenko scored 207 goals and 495 points in 1,013 career games for the Blackhawks and was part of the 1961 Stanley Cup team.
  • In 1995, the Blackhawks opened the Western Conference Semifinals with a 2-1 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks. Denis Savard scored in regulation before recording an assist on Joe Murphy’s overtime winner.
  • In 2010, Dustin Byfuglien’s overtime goal gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, taking a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Dave Bolland scored in the third period before setting up Big Buff’s game-winning goal.
  • In 2014, the Los Angeles Kings scored five third-period goals to beat the Blackhawks 6-2 and even the Western Conference Finals at one win apiece. They became only the second team in playoff history to win a game by at least four goals after trailing to start the third period. Jeff Carter was the main nemesis, netting a hat trick during the final stanza.
  • One year later, the Anaheim Ducks took a 2-1 series lead by beating the Blackhawks 2-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Patrick Kane had the lone goal for the Blackhawks.
  • Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 21: Pat Lundy, Reid Simpson, Todd White, and Craig Anderson.

NHL Chirps

  • Not many people picked the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Western Conference Final, but they jumped out to a 1-0 series lead by beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 last night. The Avalanche were without superstar defenseman Cale Makar, and the Golden Knights took full advantage of it. After Dylan Coghlan scored the first goal, Pavel Dorofeyev extended his goal streak to four games to double the lead late in the second period. After Brett Howden scored early in the third period, Valeri Nichushkin got the home team on the board. Captain Gabriel Landeskog scored a power-play goal with just over two minutes to play, but it was too little, too late. Nic Dowd iced the game with an empty-netter in the final minute. Vegas goaltender Carter Hart made 36 saves to earn the victory. Game 2 is on Friday night.
  • According to TSN’s Mike Johnson, the Vancouver Canucks have rejected an interview request for AHL head coach Manny Malhotra. It sure feels like Malhotra will get his first NHL gig behind the Canucks bench.
  • Jeff Marek speculated whether the San Jose Sharks might be interested in acquiring defenseman Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers. He wondered if they would offer up a young forward like Collin Graf to get a deal done. A trade like that would make sense for both sides.
  • The Buffalo Sabres gave head coach Lindy Ruff a two-year contract extension. This was a no-brainer after Ruff ended Buffalo’s 14-year playoff drought and got them into the second round for the first time since 2007.
  • According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, there will be no reunion between Anthony Mantha and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 31-year-old scored a career-high 33 goals and 64 points while playing on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
  • NHL Birthday Roll Call, May 21: Tommy Abelin, Roman Turek, Matt Hunwick, Kevin Rooney, Ryan Graves, John Marino, and Alex Barre-Boulet.
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