The NHL season could have its final game tonight, or we’ll get a winner-take-all showdown on Tuesday night. Before the puck drops on the big game, get caught up with all the news from around the world of hockey.
Blackhawks Chirps
- Our Ryan McGregor has been keeping tabs on Connor Bedard and his offseason training. He got to speak to the Blackhawks young star and what his goals are for the upcoming season.
- Speaking of Bedard, it sure sounds like the expectation is that he will start the season on a line with newcomer Roman Kantserov.
- On this date in 1977, the NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal. The Blackhawks used the sixth overall pick to select defenseman Doug Wilson from the Ottawa 67’s. He debuted the following season and became a staple on the Blackhawks blue line. The three-time All-Star won the Norris Trophy following the 1981-82 season after scoring a career-high 39 goals and 85 points. Wilson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.
- The Blackhawks also drafted blueliner Jack O’Callahan in the sixth round of the 1977 draft. He went on to be a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team before turning pro. He made his NHL debut in 1982 and played 303 games for the Blackhawks before being claimed by the New Jersey Devils in the 1987 Waiver Draft.
- Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 14: Johnny Wilson, Geoff Powis, Ebbie Goodfellow, and Ryan Johnson.
NHL Chirps
- As expected, Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson will miss Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final tonight. He left Game 5 in the second period after suffering a left arm/wrist injury from a hit by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker. Head coach John Totorella would not discuss his status if his team is able to force a seventh game. Either Relly Smith or former Blackhawk Brandon Saad will draw back into the lineup.
- Elliotte Friedman reported that one of the three teams on Dylan Larkin’s trade list, the Florida Panthers, has made an offer for the Detroit Red Wings captain. He didn’t have any details on what that offer was, but you have to think that the ninth overall pick in this month’s NHL Entry Draft is a part of it.
- Bruce Garrioch says that two league sources have told him that multiple teams have shown interest in Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk, including the Ottawa Senators. It would make sense if the Blackhawks are one of the other teams, as Kyle Davidson does his due diligence on the trade market.
- Luca Fantilli, the older brother of Adam, signed an AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers. The undrafted defenseman spent the last four seasons at the University of Michigan after serving as captain of the Chicago Steel. His senior year was his best offensive season with four goals and 17 points in 40 games.
- NHL Birthday Roll Call, June 14: Jack Adams, Hap Day, Parker MacDonald, Floyd Thompson, Rick Hampton, James Patrick, Eric Deshardins, Sami Kapanen, Steve Begin, Ryan Jones, Matt Read, Andrew Cogliano, Devante Smith-Pelly, Eric Robinson, and Parker Kelly.
