Morning Chirps: Makar extension coming, Hellebuyck officially wants out of Winnipeg

August is the quietest month in the hockey world, but that isn’t stopping our Chicago Blackhawks content. Plus, a huge contract extension is on its way, and a star netminder is looking for a new team. Get caught up with your Friday Morning Chirps.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Brooke LoFurno is looking ahead to next season and how the Blackhawks may view Andrew Mangiapane’s value.

• Gail Kauchak breaks down Jeff Blashill’s “coach speak” and how it serves the Blackhawks.

• Best & Worst Week continues with Justin Lynch’s look at the best and worst teams in Blackhawks history.

• Meanwhile, Ryan Gagne gave us what he thought were the best wins and worst losses in team history.

• And, finally, our Blackhawks Numbers History series continued with Nos. 51-60.

• On yesterday’s CHGO Blackhawks podcast, we wondered if there are any roster moves that need to be made before the season starts and also discussed what it would take for the Blackhawks to be buyers at the trade deadline.

• On this date in 1965, Bill Mosienko was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame induction class along with Syd Howe, Marty Barry, Clint Benedict, Red Horner, Art Farrell, Jack Marshall, Blair Russell, Ernie Russell, Fred Scalon, Foster Hewitt, and Tommy Lockhart.

• In 1975, long-time teammates Pierre Pilote and Glenn Hall took their places in the Hockey Hall of Fame. They were inducted along with George Armstrong, Ace Bailey, Gordie Drillon, and William Jennings.

• In 2015, Al Arbour passed away at 82. Before becoming a Hall of Fame head coach and winning four straight Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders, he played 626 NHL games as a defenseman. 180 of those games came with the Blackhawks between 1958 and 1961. He was on the 1961 championship team before moving to the Toronto Maple Leafs and winning two more Stanley Cups in 1962 and 1963.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, Aug, 28: Tom Fitzgerald.

NHL Chirps

• Elliotte Friedman and Andy Strickland both reported Thursday morning that the Colorado Avalanche and Cale Makar are near a new contract extension. While there is no information on the contract value, it is expected to be a big number. I’m guessing it will be the first AAV in NHL history that starts with a 2. The biggest question is the contract length. Will he lock himself up long-term, or take a shorter deal to cash in again in a couple of years?

• Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck released a statement through his agent confirming that he did request a trade earlier this offseason. While he has a full no-movement clause, Chris Johnston reported that he is willing to waive it for a variety of teams, which will help in getting a deal done.

• The Vancouver Canucks signed goaltender Chris Driedger to a professional tryout contract (PTO). The 32-year-old spent last season in the KHL. He has 67 games of NHL experience, going 31-24-5 with a 2.45 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage, and five shutouts with the Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, and Seattle Kraken.

• The Edmonton Oilers hired Misha Donskov as a coaching consultant. Donskov is also the head coach for Canada’s national teams for the World Juniors and World Championship. He also served as an assistant coach at the most recent Olympic Games. This is not a full-time position, so he will still maintain his duties with Hockey Canada.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, Aug. 28: Andy Bathgate, Larry Giroux, Pierre Turgeon, Darby Hendrickson, and Abram Wiebe.

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