Morning Chirps: Blackhawks prospect signs AHL tryout, former assistant named Team USA head coach

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. Sacha Boisvert is expected to make his NHL debut tonight. We’ll have a full preview after today’s morning skate to get you updated on the lineup.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Ty Glenn gave us his first impressions of Anton Frodell after his NHL debut against the New York Islanders.

• For a more in-depth look at Frondell’s first game, enjoy this thread of what Jack Han saw on Tuesday. I highly recommend signing up for Jack’s Hockey Tactics Newsletter to become a smarter hockey fan.

• The Rockford IceHogs signed Jiri Felcman to a professional tryout contract yesterday. He will report to the AHL once his visa paperwork is approved. The 20-year-old Czech forward was taken by the Blackhawks in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the last four seasons playing in Switzerland. He had three goals and a career-high 20 points in the Swiss National League this past season, and won a bronze medal with Czechia at the World Junior Championship.

• On this date in 1961, Murray Balfour scored the eighth power-play overtime goal in Stanley Cup Playoff history to lead the Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Glenn Hall made 53 saves to earn the victory.

• In 1970, the Blackhawks blanked the Detroit Red Wings, as Tony Esposito recorded his 14th shutout on the campaign, breaking Harry Lumley’s record for most in a season.

• A decade later, in 1980, Esposito became the first goaltender in NHL history to have eight 30-win seasons, as the Blackhawks beat the Quebec Nordiques 7-3 for their first win in Quebec City.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll, March 26: Bob Hassard, Stewart Adams, Ulf Samuelsson, Luke Richardson, Michael Peca, Kent Simpson, Connor Murphy, and Laurent Dauphin.

NHL Chirps

• Former Buffalo Sabres head coach and Blackhawks assistant Don Granato has been named Team USA’s head coach for the IIHF World Championship. The United States is the defending gold medal winner. Ryan Warsofsky was the head coach for last year’s tournament, with the roster including Frank Nazar and Alex Vlasic.

• The Florida Panthers seem to invent a new injury every day. Now forward Anton Lundell will miss the next two to six weeks with a rib injury.

• Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is taking a personal leave of absence. He has already missed the last three games and will be out for at least one more. The team would not comment on the reason for his being away from the team.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, March 26: Barclay Plager, Trevor Kidd, Krys Barch, Jimmy Howard, Brady Skjei, Andrei Svechnikov, and Drew Helleson.