Morning Bag Skate: Niklas Hjalmarsson bought neighbor’s house then destroyed it for bigger yard

Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson is back in the news because he’s selling his Chicago-area home. In a story about listing his home it was noted that he bought his neighbor’s house then had it demolished to create a bigger backyard. Such a dad move.

HAWKS

**Hjalmarsson demolished his neighbor’s house to have a bigger yard (SCH)

**Hawks appear to be done making big moves this offseason (SCH)

**IceHogs should be a lot more fun next season (SCH)

**Goalie prospect Wouter Peeters prepared to take long road to Hawks (The Athletic)

**Finnish line: Markkanen, Jokiharju excited about futures in Chicago (Chicago Tribune)

**Rasmussen ‘fired up’ after leaving Hawks for new role with Ducks (CSN)

**NHL’s big new extensions reinforce Kane, Toews aren’t Hawks’ problem (SCH)

**Hawks stick to clearance section while free-agent shopping (SCH)

**Every Hawks trade, signing during 2017 offseason in one place (SCH)

CENTRAL DIVISION

**Where Preds’ new players fit in lineup (The Tennessean)

**Preds report card: Ryan Ellis (On The Forecheck)

**Preds report card: Mattias Ekholm (On The Forecheck)

**Jilted former Preds anthem singer: 'I don't want to have an association with the organization any longer' (The Tennessean)

**C'mon, Smashville, let's ease up on ex-Preds anthem singer (The Tennessean)

**90s Blues were hilarious (St. Louis GameTime)

**Pang secures new Blues deal, ‘overwhelmed’ by fan support (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Sooner, not later, for Blues' best prospects (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Blues launch search for anthem performers (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

**Wild turns attention to signing RFAs while looking beyond next season (Star Tribune)

**What is Hellebuyck’s role with Mason for Jets? (Arctic Ice Hockey)

**Stars sign Faksa to 3-year, $6.6 million extension (Defending Big D)

**Is Stars prospect Gurianov close to being NHL ready? (Defending Big D)

**Avalanche need to ditch passive rebuild strategy (Mile High Hockey)

NHL

**Every major NHL free agency signing (SBN)

**Hand-picking destinations for veterans on Stanley Cup chase (Puck Daddy)

**Lighting re-sign Johnson for 7 years $35 million (Raw Charge)

**Nassau, Suffolk legislatures want Isles to return to Coliseum (Newsday)

**Jokinen signs with Oilers on 1-year, $1.1 million deal (SBN)

**Oilers sign Yohann Auvitu to 1-year deal (Copper N Blue)

**Klein retires from NHL after 12 seasons (Blueshirt Banter)

**Harvard graduate Kerfoot could fill Rangers’ void at center (Blueshirt Banter)

**Raanta is ready for the No. 1 job with Coyotes (PHT)

**Is Rick Tocchet the right gamble for Arizona Coyotes? (Puck Daddy)

**Fred Brathwaite joins Islanders as goalie coach (Lighthouse Hockey)

**Between Galchenyuk, Drouin, who is better suited to play centre? (Sportsnet)

**McDonagh will be in Tavares’ position soon enough (New York Post)

HOCKEY WORLD

**Jacques Ysaye, creator of Whalers anthem 'Brass Bonanza,' dies at 94 (Puck Daddy)

**Mariucci Arena renamed '3M Arena at Mariucci' as Minnesota secures $11.2 million deal (Star Tribune)

**Kovalchuk says Olympics was one of main factors in return to KHL (PHT)

**Former Oilers forward Anton Lander signs with KHL’s Ak-Bars (PHT)