Morning Chirps: Lardis back to Rockford, Wild willing to pay big price for center

The Chicago Blackhawks are in the Twin Cities to take on the Minnesota Wild later tonight. You know the game day routine by now: start with your Morning Chirps, come back for your game preview, finish the night with your postgame wrap-up.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Monday was an eventful day at Blackhawks practice with Teuvo Teravainen returning, new lines, Andre Burakovsky moving down the lineup, and Nick Lardis skating as an extra. After teasing the move after practice, Nick Lardis was reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs. While he didn’t necessarily do anything to warrant the demotion, the move makes sense. He can go back to Rockford and play big minutes through the Olympic break. The Blackhawks will likely keep him down there through the March 6 trade deadline, so he’ll be eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

• Frank Nova and myself climbed back up the Second Balcony last night to discuss the current state of the Blackhawks.

• John Bloomer looked into his crystal ball to try to predict who will be the Blackhawks' No.1 defenseman when they return to glory.

• It’s the moms’ turn for a team-sponsored road trip this season, as they get the joy of visiting Minnesota and Pittsburgh in late January!

• On this date in 1960, Glenn Hall played in his 329th straight game, breaking Georges Vezina’s NHL record for the most consecutive games played by a goaltender. The Toronto Maple Leafs spoiled the record-breaking night by beating Hall and the Blackhawks 2-1.

• Two years later, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante asked officials to measure the height of the nets at the Chicago Stadium. They turned out to be two inches shorter than the regulation four-foot nets used in the NHL.

• In 1992, Brent Sutter scored his 300th career goal to help the Blackhawks beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 in overtime.

• In 1994, Michel Goulet scored a goal and recorded his 600th career assist on Joe Murphy’s third-period goal in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Jan. 27: Dave Manson.

NHL Chirps

• The New York Rangers made the first trade of their “retooling” by sending defenseman Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders for a 2026 third-round pick. The 31-year-old physical defenseman had three goals, eight points, 66 blocked shots, and 71 hits in 46 games this season.

• The Vancouver Canucks have already been active on the trade market this season, moving Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood. Evander Kane could be the next player to head out of town, as his agent has reportedly been given permission to seek a trade.

• According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Wild would be open to trading young goaltender Jesper Wallstedt “if the right deal comes along” for a top-six center.

• William Nylander’s middle finger caught on Sunday night’s TSN broadcast was a costly one. The NHL Department of Player Safety fined him $5,000. Per George Parros, "The gesture was shown live on-air during the game broadcast. This serves as a reminder that the code of conduct governing Players extends throughout the arena at NHL games and in public game situations."

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Jan. 27: Terry Harper, Jiri Bubla, Brian Engblom, Patrice Brisbois, Rhett Warrener, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Owen Pickering.