This is your daily thread to talk about the latest hockey news.
BLACKHAWKS
Why Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker has “a lot of untapped potential” (The Athletic)
Blackhawks fan survey 2025-26: Your thoughts on rebuild, direction, CHSN, much more (The Athletic)
Bedard hopes diligent offseason training leads to explosive third Blackhawks season (Sun-Times)
Reports: Blackhawks agree to terms with Arvid Soderblom on a two-year contract (SCH) (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
What I’m hearing about the Blackhawks: How committed is Mason West to hockey over football? (The Athletic)
Lazerus mailbag, Part I: Perils of tanking, costs of fandom and intrigue of Nick Lardis (The Athletic)
What are the Blackhawks getting in No. 66 overall pick Nathan Behm? (SCH)
Blackhawks fan survey: Are you as confident in the rebuild as Kyle Davidson is? (The Athletic)
Mason West plays hockey with quarterback’s perspective — because he is one (Sun-Times)
Blackhawks re-sign defenseman Louis Crevier (SCH) (Sun-Times)
Blackhawks sign Russian goalie Stanislav Berezhnoy (SCH)
Blackhawks release schedule for the 2025-26 regular season (SCH) (Sun-Times)
Blackhawks sign Anton Frondell to entry-level contract (SCH) (Sun-Times) (The Athletic) (Tribune)
Examining the ’24-25 seasons of the Blackhawks’ young blue-liners who’ll be on the ice even more in ’25-26 (SCH)
Roman Kantserov seeking to be consistently dominant (The Athletic)
Blackhawks to face banner-raising Panthers in NHL season opener (Sun-Times) (Tribune)
NHL NEWS
Samberg gets 3-year deal with Jets, avoids arbitration (NHL)
Pospisil gets 3-year contract with Flames (NHL)
Oilers GM Bowman “very encouraged” by early talks on McDavid extension (TSN)
Report: Wild, RFA Rossi haven’t talked since early June (TSN)
Struble gets 2-year deal with Canadiens, avoids arbitration (NHL)
Panthers GM Zito brings Cup to marine park (NHL)
Kreider expected to help “very optimistic” Ducks (NHL)
Sabres avoid arbitration with D Timmins (ESPN)
NHL says five players acquitted of sexual assault inelgible to play (TSN)
Blake signs 8-year, $45 million contract with Hurricanes (NHL)
Strome hopes Ovechkin is with Capitals beyond 2025-26 (NHL)
Best of the rest: Who’s left in NHL free agency? (ESPN)
Former Canadiens, Jets D Beaulieu announces retirement (TSN)
NHL players to again play in Shoulder Check Showcase (NHL)
Kakko gets 3-year deal with Kraken, avoids arbitration (NHL)
NHL, NHLPA to collaborate with Italy’s Lega Serie A ahead of Olympics (NHL)
Schaefer eager to play for Islanders, Roy this season (NHL)
HOCKEY WORLD
Column: The PWHL has a hiring problem (The Ice Garden)
Gwyneth Philips signs two-year contract extension (The Ice Garden)
Backstrom returning to Sweden to resume hockey career (NHL)
McKenna OK with pressure ahead of 2026 NHL Draft (NHL)
Players acquitted of all charges at London hockey trial (TSN) (Sportsnet) (ESPN) (The Athletic)
PWHL’s Fleet sign ex-AHL player Sparre as coach (ESPN) (The Ice Garden)