Morning Chirps: NHL trade deadline set, legendary Canadiens goaltender passes away

Before you begin your day full of football, get your hockey fix in with your Sunday Chirps. The National Hockey League has set the trade deadline for the upcoming season, while the hockey world mourns the loss of a legendary netminder. Plus, the game’s best player is not any closer to signing a contract extension.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) included a change to the agreement with the Canadian Hockey League that will allow one 19-year-old player to play in the American Hockey League. Recent reports have this change going into effect this season. If it does, it’s doubtful that the Blackhawks will take advantage of it, but I looked into two players who are candidates if they do.

• Numerous Blackhawks should benefit from the new coaching staff this season. Kyle Bokota feels that Tyler Bertuzzi will thrive under Jeff Blashill like he did when the duo was together in Detroit.

• Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times joined Brock Seguin for Daily Faceoff’s fantasy hockey preview of the Blackhawks. Don’t sleep on Pope’s fantasy tips; he’s quite the serious fantasy hockey owner.

• The Blackhawks released the videos of CEO Danny Wirtz calling Steve Larmer and Duncan Keith to let them know they will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in April.

• On this date in 1949, the Blackhawks purchased the contract of goaltender Frank Brimsek from the Boston Bruins. The future Hall of Famer played one season in Chicago and went 22-38-19 with a 3.49 goals-against average (GAA) and five shutouts.

• In 1988, Blackhawks goaltender Tony Esposito learned he was being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The following November, he was enshrined along with Guy Lafleur, Buddy O’Connor, Brad Park, Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider, and long-time linesman George Hayes.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Sept. 7: Baldy Nortcott, Larry Romanchych, and Tony Tanti.

NHL Chirps

• TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the NHL trade deadline is set for Friday, March 6.

• The hockey world is mourning the loss of an all-time great, as Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden passed away at 78. He wasn’t the most popular player in Chicago as he beat the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final in 1971 and 1973. His Hall of Fame career was just the beginning. After hanging up his skates, Dryden went on to become a lawyer, President of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a member of Canadian Parliament.

• Former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has his hands full with trying to sign Connor McDavid to a contract extension. Various reports over the past few weeks say the superstar is looking for a shorter-term deal, likely four years. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts that he believes a contract will not be signed by the start of the season. McDavid wants a commitment that the Edmonton Oilers will be Stanley Cup contenders for years to come before putting pen to paper.

• Evgeny Kuznetsov is looking to return to the NHL this season, but has yet to secure a deal. His agent, Shumi Babaev, told Sports Daily’s Mikhail Nyukhin that the veteran center has identified two teams he’ll sign with, but didn’t reveal who they are.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Sept. 7: Orland Kurtenbach, Jacques Lemaire, Chris Oddleifsson, Bryan Maxwell, Gino Odjick, Matt Cooke, Paul Mara, Eric Fehr, Andrew MacDonald, and Domenick Fensore.