Morning Chirps: Panthers make huge acquisition, Robertson update

The trade market is heating up before the start of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday. Hopefully, the Chicago Blackhawks will be involved in one of these deals soon. And if they are, we’ll have it covered for you.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Back in 2019, the Blackhawks had a chance to draft Bowen Byram with the third overall pick but chose Kirby Dach instead. Fast forward to 2026, and he could be available on the trade market. Acquiring him makes too much sense for the Blackhawks, if they can meet the asking price.

• Lost in the shuffle of a busy week, the Rockford IceHogs signed defenseman Lachlan Getz to a one-year AHL contract. The Northfield, IL native played one AHL game with the Springfield Thunderbirds last season after a four-year college career that saw him play for Boston University, Michigan Tech, and Holy Cross.

• On this date in 2002, general manager Mike Smith drafted one of the greatest defensemen in franchise history. After selecting Anton Babchuk in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, he used his second-round pick to take Duncan Keith out of Michigan State. He drafted Matt Ellison in the fourth round, who was later traded for Patrick Sharp. Smith also added James Wisniewski and Adam Burish in the later rounds.

• In 2013, the Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to take a 3-2 series lead. Patrick Kane led the offense with his eighth and ninth goals of the postseason, the second of which was the game-winner. Dave Bolland’s late empty net goal sealed the deal after Zdeno Chara got the Bruins to within a goal in the third period. Corey Crawford rebounded from a nightmare Game 4 with a 24-save performance.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 22: Matt Henderson.

NHL Chirps

• Over the weekend, we heard Jason Dickinson and the Edmonton Oilers were moving in a positive direction towards a contract extension. On Sunday, the two sides agreed to a five-year, $20 million deal. I couldn’t be happier for Dickinson getting some serious security. However, Stan Bowman never learns his lessons. The $4 million AAV is fine, but giving a soon-to-be 31-year-old center who has had problems staying in the lineup the last two seasons is not the most prudent of moves.

• The Seattle Kraken acquired Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers for the No. 25 overall pick in this week’s NHL Draft, plus a second-round pick next year. That is a bit of an overpayment for a forward with 27 goals in 156 games, but the Kraken must feel he has the potential to play up in their lineup. He will also be reunited with his University of Michigan teammate, Matty Beniers.

• This move felt like a chain reaction trade for the Panthers, and boy, was I right! As reported by Elliotte Friedman, they shipped the ninth overall pick and the 25th pick acquired from Seattle, along with a 2029 first-round pick and a second-rounder in 2030, to the Ottawa Senators for Brady Tkachuk. Now the Tkachuk brothers are together in Florida. Meanwhile, the Senators got a ton of draft capital, but trying to sell their fan base on trading their captain after two straight trips to the playoffs won't be easy.

• Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill recently appeared on the Baldy and Bruce Show. He said that the negotiations with Jason Robertson are going “good.” He added that neither side has set a deadline for a resolution and that he is optimistic a long-term agreement will be reached.

• The NHL’s coaching carousel could be getting ready to go into hyperdrive. According to Pierre LeBrun, Joel Quenneville (Ducks), Jared Bednar (Avalanche), Rick Bowness (Blue Jackets), John Hynes (Wild), Martin St. Louis (Canadiens), Andrew Brunette (Predators), and Ryan Warsofsky (Sharks) are all entering the final season of their respective contracts.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, June 22: Paul Stanton, Ilya Bryzgalov, Patrick Dwyer, Darrol Powe, and Lukas Dostal.

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