Morning Chirps: Frondell nets a pair, Blues scratch top forward

The Chicago Blackhawks are back at it tonight as they look for two wins in a row against the Calgary Flames. I’ll be back with a full game preview this afternoon and some late-night postgame thoughts, so be sure to check back in throughout the day.

Blackhawks Chirps

• As Todd Matthews pointed out, Spencer Knight has played so well that he should be considered an early-season Vezina Trophy candidate.

• October was a fun month for Blackhawks fans, with the team playing a fast and competitive brand of hockey. Jeff Maroon highlighted the top five goals of the season’s opening month.

• Roman Kantserov is off to a great start, leading the KHL in goals. There are many reasons to be excited about his arrival in Chicago, and the ability to score goals in many different ways is at the top of that list.

• The Blackhawks’ other top prospect playing in Europe this season, Anton Frondell, had a big day. He scored a pair of goals as Sweden throttled Slovakia 9-2 in a World Junior Championship tune-up game.

• Speaking of the World Juniors, Steven Ellis updated his projected roster for Team Canada over at Daily Faceoff. His projection has one Blackhawks prospect making the team, with two others in the running.

• Adam Gajan will get to spend his holidays in Switzerland. He is joining the United States Collegiate Selects roster for the Spengler Cup, which takes place from December 26 to 31. The goaltender is enjoying a tremendous sophomore season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, with an 8- 2- 0 record, 1.85 goals against average, and .917 save percentage.

• On this date in 1962, goaltender Glenn Hall made his 502nd consecutive start in a 3-3 tie with the Boston Bruins. After playing every minute of the previous 501 games, his streak ended when a back injury forced him to leave the game.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 7: Glenn Brydson, Butch Schaeffer, and Metro Prystai.

NHL Chirps

• The situation between the Toronto Maple Leafs and David Kampf continues to grow ugly. According to PuckPedia, the Maple Leafs have suspended the former Blackhawks center without pay for leaving the AHL’s Toronto Marlies while on assignment. Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Kampf is pushing back against having his contract terminated and prefers a trade.

• The St. Louis Blues are off to a miserable start. So much so that they scratched Jordan Kyrou last night. The move worked as they beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 behind Joel Hofer’s 28 saves.

• Ryan O’Reilly spoke candidly after the Nashville Predators’ 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The veteran center’s name has recently been surfacing in trade rumors and has been connected to the Edmonton Oilers.

• Canada revealed the jerseys that their men’s, women’s, and para hockey teams will wear at the 2026 Olympics and Paralympics in Milan, Italy.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 7: Jim Johnson, Ernie Hicke, Murray Wilson, Mike Commodore, and Hunter Shepard.