Morning Chirps: Update on Toews' future, Kantserov's contract clause

The Stanley Cup Final is back in action tonight as the Carolina Hurricanes look to even the series before it shifts to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, one of the greatest players in Chicago Blackhawks history might be calling it a career.

Blackhawks Chirps

• Oliver Moore caught the eye of Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk while they were linemates at the IIHF World Championship.

• Connor Bedard once named Mathew Barzal his dream linemate, and now he could be available for a trade this summer.

• Franklin Steele broke down the Blackhawks’ best-case scenario for the first two rounds of this month’s NHL Entry Draft.

• TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Jonathan Toews is expected to officially retire. He returned to the NHL after two full seasons away and played all 82 games for his hometown Winnipeg Jets. He had 11 goals and 29 points in what looks like the final season of his Hall of Fame career.

• Roman Kantserov gave an interview to Russian reporter Daria Tuboltseva. He gave plenty of insight on why he’s heading to Chicago, what he expects once he gets here, and how he’s preparing for the jump. He also revealed that his contract allows him to return to Russia if he doesn’t start the season with the Blackhawks, but I wouldn’t worry too much about that.

• Blackhawks prospect Parker Holmes was traded to the Sarnia Sting by the Brantford Bulldogs for a pair of OHL draft picks. The 2025 fourth-round pick had six goals and 17 points last season while providing a physical presence for the Bulldogs.

• On this date in 1963, Billy Reay replaced Rudy Pilous as head coach. He spent the next 13 seasons behind the bench, missing the playoffs only once and leading the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup Finals. He is still the franchise’s all-time leader for the most regular-season games coached (1,012) and wins (516). 

• In 1995, the Detroit Red Wings grabbed a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals by beating the Blackhawks 3-2. Goals by Chris Chelios and Tony Amonte had the Blackhawks up 2-1 heading into the third period. Doug Brown tied the game early in the frame before Kris Draper scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining.

• In 2010, the Philadelphia Flyers evened up the Stanley Cup Final with a 5-3 Game 4 victory. Patrick Sharp scored in the opening period, but the Blackhawks were down 3-1 at the first intermission. Dave Bolland and Brian Campbell scored in the third period to make things interesting before Jeff Carter’s empty-net goal put the game out of reach.

• In 2013, the Los Angeles Kings got on the board by beating the Blackhawks 3-1 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. Bryan Bickell scored the lone goal for the visitors.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, June 4: Brandon Manning.

• Jon Cooper won the Jack Adams Award. Surprisingly, this was the first time he won the coach of the year award in his great career. He beat out Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff for the honor.

• The Hockey News reported that the Vancouver Canucks are interested in Jessica Campbell, the former Seattle Kraken assistant. Elliotte Friedman said on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts that she could be in the running for the Abbotsford Canucks head coaching position.

• Former Stanley Cup winner Claude Julien is heading overseas. He’s been named the head coach of the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s National League.

• Mollie Walker of the New York Post reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs recently reached out to the New York Rangers about the availability of Vincent Trochek. With the uncertainty of Max Domi, the Maple Leafs are looking to add another center.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, June 4: Laurie Boschman, Nick Kypreos, Derian Hatcher, Wayne Primeau, Francois Beauchemin, Ian White, Matt Bartkowski, and Jonathan Huberdeau.