Morning Bag Skate: Blackhawks reportedly a finalist to sign Cody Franson

Chicago Blackhawks are reportedly a finalist to sign Cody Franson, according to multiple reports.

HAWKS

**Blackhawks, Oilers are finalists to sign Cody Franson, per report (SCH)

**How will Panarin trade impact Kane’s numbers? (SCH)

**Who will be the Blackhawks’ breakout player in 2017-18? (SCH)

**How will Panarin, other former Blackhawks do with their new teams? (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Eriksson Ek, Kunin head Wild roster for Traverse City tournament (Star Tribune)

**Exclusive Q&A: Stars' coach Hitchcock on Hanzal/Spezza logjam, carrying eight defensemen (Dallas Morning News)

**Blues defenseman Gunnarsson keeps focus on a new season (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

NHL

**NHL PTO tracker 2017: All of the tryout deals in one place (SBN)

**#NHLTopPlayers: Nos. 41-50 (NHL.com)

**Canucks GM: We're not trading Sedins (NHL.com)

**Panarin has points to prove with Blue Jackets (NHL.com)

**Red Wings sign defenseman Robbie Russo to 2-year extension (Winging It In Motown)

**Jagr ponders 2018 Winter Olympics if no NHL deal surfaces (PHT)

**Francois Allaire, goalie coach for Roy and Giguere, retires after 32 seasons (PHT)

HOCKEY WORLD

**USHL’s Central Illinois Flying Aces show off logos, jerseys (Pantagraph)

**Youth hockey player refuses to play for team because of ‘discriminatory’ Native American logo (SBN)

**Top 25 NHL prospects to follow in college hockey next season (SBN)