Morning Chirps: Two arbitration cases avoided, former Blackhawk retires

The hockey news might be slowing down, but the Morning Chirps keep on coming!

Blackhawks Chirps

• Cole Smith was an under-the-radar signing this summer, so here are five things to help you get to know the newest Blackhawks forward better.

• It’s “What If?” week at FanSided, and Ryan Gagne ponders what if the Blackhawks had kept the goaltending tandem of Ed Belfour and Dominik Hasek together.

• Frank Nova and I climbed back up into the Second Balcony to discuss everything that has been going on with the Blackhawks over the past couple of weeks.

• On this date in 1994, the Blackhawks signed Bernie Nicholls. He spent the next two seasons in Chicago, scoring 41 goals and 111 points in 107 games. He also had 21 points in 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

• In 1999, former Blackhawks forward Curt Fraser was named the first head coach in Atlanta Thrashers history. He was behind the bench for the first 279 games of their existence, going 64-168-46. He was fired 33 games into the 2002-03. General manager Don Waddell took over coaching duties for 10 games before hiring Bob Hartley.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, July 14: Don Morrison, Harold Phillipoff, Nathan Dempsey, and MacKenzie Entwistle.

NHL Chirps

• Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will have a familiar face with him in the front office. The team hired John Davidson as a senior advisor. He has over 20 years of front office experience, including working with Kekalainen for many years with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

• Staying in Buffalo, the Sabres will not go to arbitration with Peyton Krebs, as they inked the young forward to a four-year, $18 million contract. He had a career-high 12 goals and 39 points last season.

• The New York Rangers avoided arbitration with defenseman Braden Schneider by signing him to a one-year, $5.5 million contract. The 24-year-old played all 82 games last season, averaging a career-high 20:27 per game. He led the Rangers with 140 blocked shots and was third in hits with 163.

• The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Fabian Lysell to a one-year contract. He was acquired from the Boston Bruins for Ivan Ivan during the NHL Draft.

• The Winnipeg Jets signed Viggo Bjorck to his three-year entry-level contract. This was expected after he was released from his SHL contract last week,

• Former Blackhawks defenseman Jordan Oesterle announced his retirement after 12 professional seasons. He signed with the Blackhawks during the 2017 offseason, scoring five goals and 15 points in 55 games. The following summer, he was traded with Vinnie Hinostroza, Marián Hossa, and a third-round draft pick to the Arizona Coyotes for Jordan Maletta, Andrew Campbell, MacKenzie Entwistle, Marcus Kruger, and a fifth-round pick.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, July 14: Kevin McCarthy, Mike McPhee, Lubos Bartecko, Nikolai Kulemin, Josh Jooris, and John Gibson.

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