Morning Bag Skate: 7-31-18

BLACKHAWKS

**Kane eager to get Hawks back into playoffs (NHL.com)

**Ward ready to thrive in Chicago (The Daily Herald)

**NHL free agency: Hawks news, rumors, updates (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Wild sign Read to 1-year, 2-way contract (theScore)

**Preds re-sign Salmoaki to 2-year extension worth $1.5M (On The Forecheck)

**Preds T25U25: Rem Pitlick at No. 23 (On The Forecheck)

**Avs T25U25: Justus Annunen at No. 22 (Mile High Hockey)

NHL

**Rangers avoid arbitration with Hayes with 1-year, $5.175M deal (Blueshirt Banter)

**Breaking down Skjei’s contract extension (Blueshirt Banter)

**Iginla’s time with the Penguins was a missed opportunity (The Athletic)

**Alex Trebek thinks Kings’ play-by-play announcer could replace him on ‘Jeopardy’ (theScore)

**Byron’s contract makes him extremely valuable compared to his peers (Habs Eyes On the Prize)

**What does John Moore bring to the Bruins? (Stanley Cup of Chowder)

**Is Red Wings’ Larkin the ‘real deal’? (Winging It In Motown)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Islanders prospect Wahlstrom will play for Boston College next season (BC Interruption)