This is your daily thread to talk about the latest hockey news.
Former Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp turns 39 today.
BLACKHAWKS
Blackhawks sign center Carl Soderberg to one-year, $1 million deal (SCH)
Kirby Dach sustains fracture during World Juniors pre-tournament game (SCH)
Lazerus: Kirby Dach’s injury a disaster, but World Juniors was worth the risk (The Athletic)
Kirby Dach’s fractured wrist is another blow to Blackhawks’ forward lineup, youth movement (Sun-Times)
What Alex Nylander’s injury means for the Blackhawks (The Athletic)
Blackhawks 2021 schedule released: season opens Jan. 13 at Lightning (SCH)
Alex Nylander out 4-6 months after knee surgery (SCH)
Blackhawks’ new assistant GMs — Ryan Stewart, Mark Eaton, Kyle Davidson — bringing fresh voices to big roles (Sun-Times)
Defenseless and directionless: 10 Blackhawks causes for concern (The Athletic)
Goal scorers, goaltenders: 10 reasons the Blackhawks may be good this season (The Athletic)
CENTRAL DIVISION
Lightning Round: the Lightning front office is still not done with this offseason (Raw Charge)
Anthony Cirelli re-signed to a 3-year, $4.8 million AAV contract (Raw Charge)
Predators sign Erik Haula on another one-year contract (On the Forecheck)
Lightning re-sign defensemen Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta (Raw Charge)
Nikita Kucherov is officially out for the season (Raw Charge)
Mikael Granlund re-signs in Nashville on one-year bargain deal (On the Forecheck)
Yzerman gives updates on season preparation, expectations during media availability (Winging it in Motown)
Panthers re-sign goaltender Sam Montembeault (Litter Box Cats)
Taking a look at potential Hurricanes’ taxi squad members (Canes Country)
Unlike many NHL teams, Stars will open season with fans in stands (Defending Big D)
NHL
Oilers sign Koekkoek to one-year deal (TSN)
NHL believes it has approval to move forward in Canadian cities (TSN)
10 bold NHL predictions for 2021 (Sportsnet)
Ducks re-sign goalie Ryan Miller to one-year deal (Sportsnet)
Stepan traded to Senators by Coyotes (NHL)
O’Reilly named captain of Blues (NHL)
Sheary signs one-year contract with Capitals (NHL)
Medical protocols for 2021 season (NHL)
WORLD JUNIORS
US dominates Austria to earn first win at World Juniors (Sportsnet)
Cozens has six points as Canada routs shorthanded Germany (TSN)
Canada’s Schneider handed game misconduct (TSN)
Sweden beats Czech Republic to extend winning streak (TSN)
HOCKEY WORLD
Kovalchuk joins KHL’s Avangard Omsk (TSN)
“We knew we had to do better”: Sarah Nurse, Barbie and the future of Canadian hockey (The Athletic)