Morning Chirps: Blackhawks go to fight school, Makar injured

The Chicago Blackhawks are back at the United Center as they host Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets. We’ll have a full game preview with all the updates from today’s morning skate, before some postgame analysis later tonight. Until then, get caught up on a very busy night in the NHL.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The late Troy Murray will be part of the inaugural Blackhawks Hall of Fame class as a member of the Builder category. He will be inducted along with Duncan Keith, Steve Larmer, and the nine players whose numbers have been retired. The private ceremony will be held on Friday, April 10, with the inductees being honored during the following day’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

• While Monday was officially an off day, a handful of young Blackhawks got some lessons in how to fight. Blackhawks pro scout Wade Brookbank led the group of Alex Vlasic, Louis Crevier, Sam Rinzel, Ethan Del Mastro, Sacha Boisvert, and Landon Slaggert.

• I discussed both stories and recapped the four-game road trip yesterday with my buddy Jay Zawaski on the CHGO Blackhawks Podcast.

• Former Blackhawks forward Anders Bjork has been named the new head varsity hockey coach at Marquette University High School. Bjork spent his freshman year at MUSH, which is an all-boys Catholic school in Milwaukee.

• On this date in 1938, Cully Dahlstrom won the Calder Trophy after scoring 10 goals and 19 points during his rookie season. He was the second Calder winner in team history after Mike Karakas, the first American-born goaltender in NHL history, won it in 1936.

• In 1973, Stan Mikita became the second player in team history to score 400 career goals during a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

• In 1991, Ed Belfour set a new team record with his 43rd victory of the season by beating the Red Wings 5-1.

• In 1994, Jeremy Roencik scored twice in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals to become the first player in Blackhawks history to have three consecutive 100-point seasons.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, March 31: Steve Black and Bob Pulford.

NHL Chirps

• The Toronto Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving on Monday night. He was hired after the 2022-23 season, so he didn’t even make it through three full seasons. One of the interesting names to emerge as early replacement candidates is assistant general manager Brandon Pridham. He’s the father of Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham. So, Jack for Matthew Knies straight up this summer?

• The Maple Leafs had a game last night, too, against the Anaheim Ducks. They got their revenge on Radko Gudas, who injured Auston Matthews in their last meeting. The Ducks captain suffered a lower-body injury last Thursday, but made sure he was in the lineup to answer the bell. He had to fight Max Domi right after the opening faceoff, although he didn’t put up much of a fight.

• Sidney Crosby returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup last night. He recorded two assists in an 8-3 blowout of the New York Islanders to become the eighth player in NHL history to reach 1,100 assists.

• The Colorado Avalanche walloped the Calgary Flames 9-2, but lost Cale Makar to an apparent upper-body injury. The superstar defenseman was hit by Flames forward Adam Klapka late in the second period. He took two more shifts before the end of the frame, but did not return for the third period. Head coach Jared Bednar said they will know more today.

• Macklin Celebrini had two goals and an assist in the San Jose Sharks' 5-4 win over the St. Louis Blues to become the sixth teenager to have a 100-point season. He joins an impressive list that includes Crosby, Wayne Gretzky, Jimmy Carson, Mario Lemieux, and Dale Hawerchuk. Former Blackhawk Adam Gaudette scored the game-winning goal with only 21 seconds left in regulation to move within two points of a playoff spot.

• John Tortorella made his debut behind the bench for the Vegas Golden Knights. His new team beat one of his former teams, the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2. They are now one point behind the Edmonton Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, March 31: Gordie Howe, Bill Hicke, Gilles Gilbert, Gord Lane, Brad Marsh, Tom Barrasso, Pavel Bure, Michael Ryder, David Clarkson, Steve Bernier, Jani Hakanpaa, Kiefer Sherwood, Trever Moore, Connor Ingram, Taylor Ward, Jakob Chychrun, and Jonas Rondbjerg.