Morning Bag Skate: 8-4-19

Kirby Dach and Alexis Gravel (Canada) fell 5-3 to the United States. Earlier in the day, Antti Saarela (Finland) fell 6-3 to Sweden.

Elsewhere in Chicago sports, the Red Stars shut out the Utah Royals FC 2-0. Diamond DeShields had a double-double to lead the Sky past the Dream 87-75. Nemanja Nikolic scored in the 48th minute to lift the Fire over the Dynamo 1-0. Albert Almora Jr. hit a tiebreaking home run for the Cubs to beat the Brewers 4-1. The White Sox fell 3-2 to the Phillies.

On Sunday, the Cubs and White Sox both play.

(Photo: Doug Zmolek)

BLACKHAWKS

Inside the Alex Nylander trade: How Anders Sorensen gave Blackhawks exclusive insight (Chicago Sun-Times)

Photo gallery: Blackhawks prospect camp (SCH)

Top 25 Under 25: Community vote (SCH)

Top 25 Under 25: Eligible players (SCH)

Top 25 Under 25: Graduates, departed (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

The downfall of Paul Fenton: Inside the GM’s turbulent 14 months with the Wild (The Athletic)

Slipping pucks past Marty Turco made Nicholas Porco a Stars fan long before he was drafted by Dallas (The Athletic)

NHL

Sabres sign Linus Ullmark to 1-year, $1.325M deal (Die By The Blade)

Sabres avoid arbitration with Jake McCabe, agree to 2-year, $5.7M deal (Die By The Blade)

Analysis: Is there value in the Blue Jackets splitting up the Zach Werenski-Seth Jones pairing? (The Athletic)

HOCKEY WORLD

Luke Hughes following brothers Jack and Quinn on path to NHL (Sportsnet)