Morning Chirps: Toxic Predators, Svechnikov trade rumors squashed

It’s another gameday! The Chicago Blackhawks will try to end their three-game losing streak when they host the Minnesota Wild tonight. We’ll have all the coverage you’re used to today, with a preview and postgame thoughts, so stick with us!

Blackhawks Chirps

• As we hit the quarter point of the National Hockey League, three teams have started to take a good, hard look at their rosters and are considering changes. Do the Blackhawks actually want anyone from these clubs?

• Laurent Brossoit has been a man of mystery since signing with the Blackhawks. The veteran goaltender has been at practice the last few days and is nearing an NHL return. He recently chatted with Ben Pop of the Chicago Sun-Times about his road back from multiple injuries.

• Gail Kauchak of The Hockey Writers caught up with Teuvo Teravainen and talked to him about being the grizzled veteran of this Blackhawks team, a different role from his first go-round with the franchise.

• On this date in 1961, Gordie Howe became the first player in NHL history to play 1,000 games. Even though the Blackhawks held Mr. Hockey off the scoresheet, they still lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.

• Six years later, Stan Mikita recorded assists on a pair of Doug Mohns goals to lead the Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota North Stars. This was the first game of a 14-game assist streak for the Hall of Famer, breaking the former record of 11 games held by Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 26: Milt Brink and Bob Murray.

NHL Chirps

• Frank Seravalli gave a scathing report on the Nashville Predators, saying the environment around the team is the most toxic in the NHL. However, Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean spoke to general manager Barry Trotz, who called this report “not very accurate.” The Predators will be at the United Center on Friday.

• Elliotte Friedman reported that free agent defenseman Travis Dermott has fully recovered from offseason left shoulder surgery and is looking to resume his career. The former second-round draft pick has 16 goals and 62 points in 348 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Minnesota Wild.

• Over the weekend, there were reports that Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov was open to a trade earlier in the season. However, he denied those reports when speaking to the media on Tuesday.

• The St. Louis Blues released Milan Lucic from his American Hockey League tryout. He has one assist and a minus-7 rating in five games for the Springfield Thunderbirds. It’s hard to imagine teams are lining up to bring him in at this point.

• TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood has been added to Canada’s list for possible Olympic participation.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Nov. 26: Steve Bozek, Dave Hannan, Chris Osgood, Mathieu Darche, Keith Ballard, Brando Carlo, and Samuel Helenius.