Morning Chirps: Spellacy is a force, Blue Jackets finally trade disgruntled forward

It’s another game day for the Chicago Blackhawks! Be sure to check back in for a full game preview later this morning and a postgame recap with analysis and highlights after the final horn. Until then, get caught up on another big day at the World Junior Championship and a busy day around the National Hockey League.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Yesterday’s unusual practice was newsworthy, with Connor Bedard skating, an update on Frank Nazar, and new line combinations.

• Our countdown of the top 25 Blackhawks of the last quarter century continued with numbers 15-11 yesterday, which includes two defensemen, an underappreciated center, a two-time Blackhawk, and a championship rat.

• Roman Kantserov continues to roll in the KHL. He scored two goals and added two assists yesterday for his first four-point game of the season. He finished the game with eight shots on goal, giving him 20 shots on goal in his last three games. He leads Russia’s top league with 26 goals and has 12 multi-point games.

• Anton Frondell had his second multi-point game of the World Junior Championship. He scored a pair of goals in Sweden’s 8-1 blowout of Germany, as they improved 3-0-0 in group play. Frondell has three goals and five points in three games.

• Vlasclav Nestrasil didn’t pick up a point in Czechia’s 2-1 overtime win against Finland. However, St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jiricek had an all-time game-winner during the extra session.

• A.J. Spellacy had another big game to help the United States beat Slovakia 6-5 in a wild game. He got Team USA on the board with a shorthanded goal after they fell behind 2-0.

• Spellacy picked up the secondary assist on the second goal, but it is this sequence that should have Blackhawks fans the most excited. He is an absolute wrecking ball on the ice with size, speed, and physicality.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Dec. 30: Rob Scuderi.

NHL Chirps

• Yegor Chinakov was finally traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday. The former first-round pick was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins for winger Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick.

• Mathew Barzal will be in the lineup for the New York Islanders tonight at the United Center, after all. He was not suspended for his slash of Mason Marchment, but was fined $5,000 instead.

• The Carolina Hurricanes can’t find any luck when it comes to the long-term health of their goaltenders. On Monday, they placed Pyotr Kochetkov on injured reserve as he continues to deal with a hip injury that has bothered him all season. According to head coach Rod Brind’Amour, Kochetkov will finally undergo surgery and will be out for the rest of the year.

• Steven Stamkos has been on quite a heater for the Nashville Predators of late. He scored twice in the third period to beat the Utah Mammoth. He is now one goal away from 600 in his career. The game-winning goal was his sixth since Dec. 1, tying him for the most in one month in NHL history. Stamkos also became just the second player in team history to score the game-winning goal in four straight victories.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Dec. 30: Lester Patrick and Igor Shesterkin.