Morning Chirps: Savioe suspended, McKenna facing criminal charges

The Chicago Blackhawks are officially on their break for the Winter Olympics. They will be off until an optional practice on Feb. 17, with their first full-team practice the following day. They will return to game action on Feb. 26 against the Nashville Predators. There are seven games on the NHL schedule tonight before the rest of the league pauses. The Olympic tournament begins on Feb. 11 and ends with the gold medal game on Feb. 22.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The Blackhawks wanted to head into the Olympic break on a high note, but instead, they got a sour taste in their mouths. Check out my postgame thoughts about last night's disinterested loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

• Before the game, insider Frank Seravalli was on the CHSN pregame show. He reported that trade interest is picking up on defenseman Connor Murphy. He says the Blackhawks are hoping to get a second-round pick for the veteran blueliner, but the return could be in line with the third-round pick the New York Rangers recently got for Carson Soucy.

• Rockford IceHogs forward Samuel Savoie has been suspended for three games “as a consequence of his actions at the conclusion of a game at Manitoba on Feb. 1.” I didn’t see the game, and the only thing I could find was that he fired the puck into the Moose net after the final horn. Not sure how that is worth a three-game banishment, so there had to be more to it.

• On this date in 1948, Roy Conacher netted his first career hat trick to lead the Blackhawks to a 7-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Doug Bentley had a goal and four points on the night.

• In 1966, Stan Mikita was slashed in the head by Kent Douglas of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He returned for the rematch the following night, wearing a helmet for the first time in his career, and scored two goals in a 3-2 victory.

• A year later, Bobby Hull became the first player in franchise history to score 350 goals. He also recorded an assist in the Blackhawks 5-0 win over the Boston Bruins. Goaltender Denis Dejordy recorded his fifth career shutout to extend the team’s unbeaten streak to 11 games (9-0-2).

• In 1995, Bernie Nicholls found the back of the net four times for his 16th career hat trick and first with the Blackhawks. He finished with six points after picking up a pair of helpers in the Blackhawks' 9-4 blowout of the Vancouver Canucks.

• In 2019, the Blackhawks scored five third-period goals to beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-2. John Hayden, Dylan Strome, Patrick Kane, Drake Cagguila, and Dominik Kahun led the offensive onslaught during the final frame.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Feb. 5: Tomas Kopecky and Mike Hardman.

NHL Chirps

• Artemi Panarin finally has a new home, as the Rangers traded him to the Los Angeles Kings for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-round pick. The Kings quickly signed the 34-year-old winger to a two-year, $22 million contract extension. Rangers fans might be disappointed in the return, but all reports say the Kings were the only team he would accept a trade to. Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson was faced with this exact problem when trading Patrick Kane in 2023. When you have very little leverage, you have to do the best you can. I’m not sure what the Kings' long-term plan is. While Panarin is still a very good player, I don’t think he puts them over the top over the next two seasons.

• The other big news came out of State College, PA. According to reporting from Onward State, top 2026 NHL Draft prospect, Gavin McKenna, is facing charges, including one of felony aggravated assault that “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference.” These charges stem from an incident in downtown State College on Saturday, Jan. 31. The alleged assault left the unidentified victim with a broken jaw. Penn State released the following brief statement:

"We are aware that charges have been filed; however, as this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not have any further comment."

• The New Jersey Devils acquired Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick. Per Seravalli, the Blues will get the latest of the three fourth-round picks they currently own. The veteran center has six goals and seven points in 35 games this season.

• Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended by the NHL for 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. The former Blackhawks blueliner released this statement following the news:

• Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will be a flag bearer for Germany at today’s opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics. Bruins star David Pastrnak will have the same honor for Czechia. The duo becomes the second and third NHL players to serve as flag bearers after Zdeno Chara did it for Slovakia in 2014.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Feb. 5: Larry Hillman, Norm Dupont, Richard Matvichuk, Jan Hrdina, Christoph Schubert, Nicolas Roy, Noah Cates, Will Cuylle, and Simon Edvinsson.