It’s DRAFT DAY! Calder Connor, Trades, Signings, Rumors, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Jun 28, 2024

It’s Draft Day, Blackhawks fans! I wrote about Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson speaking with the media before the NHL Awards last night and the start of the draft this evening. He said they front office has made up its collective mind on who they’ll be selecting at No. 2 overall. It still seems like the entire NHL landscape is waiting to hear the name called by the Blackhawks before the rest of the draft can jump off the rails and get crazy. But the trades and signings started to get after it on Thursday, so buckle up for a long Friday.

In the most DUH! moment of the summer, Connor Bedard was named the NHL’s rookie of the year. He’s the first Blackhawk to win the Calder Memorial Trophy since Artemi Panarin. Lots of social media side eye at the three third-place votes he received… Bedard also made the All-Rookie Team.

Your 2023-24 NHL All-Rookie Team, headlined by #Blackhawks phenom and 2024 Calder Memorial Trophy winner Connor Bedard pic.twitter.com/kWn0MTk22i
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) June 28, 2024

How’d Bedard look on the red carpet last night?

Look at the 007-caliber fit on this kid. Iconic. #Blackhawks future looks great on the red carpet.

pic.twitter.com/bLWP91l8Mc
— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) June 27, 2024

As promised, I shared my full ballot for the NHL Awards. Ben Pope shared his ballot via the Twitters last night as well.

How I Voted for the 2023-24 #NHLAwards #Blackhawks https://t.co/Jo0twFp6jq
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) June 28, 2024

We got a Thursday mock draft from Rachel Doerrie at ESPN. They have the Blackhawks taking Artyom Levshunov at No. 2, but acknowledge “The intel has me leaning toward Levshunov, but Ivan Demidov is the wild card. It doesn’t seem like Chicago’s brass know whom they are taking with certainty, either.” At No. 18, Doerrie has forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard coming to Chicago. As you undoubtedly know by now, I love that pick and like the player a great deal.

We got a Thursday mock draft from Kyle Woodlief at USA Today. He has the Blackhawks taking Ivan Demidov at No. 2 and, for some unknown and embarrassing reason, has the Hawks taking center (he says winger) Cole Beaudoin at No. 20 (the Blackhawks moved up 18 more than a month ago… c’mon Kyle!). Beaudoin is an interesting name; a big center who plays a strong defensive game.

The IceHogs keep re-signing guys on AHL deals to keep their roster with some support next year as the Blackhawks begin bringing along more prospects. Again: this is only going to limit opportunities for some other guys in the organization (or who were in the organization).

📰NEWS: IceHogs Re-Sign Ryan Gagnier And D.J. King to AHL Contracts

Read more 👉 https://t.co/TINmeRysf3 pic.twitter.com/9XfIUpHMbr
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) June 27, 2024

Reports started swirling last night that the Nashville Predators are going to lock-up goaltender Jusse Saros with a long-term extension with a cap number that comes with a smile — from Saros’ agent. A $7.74M cap hit would make Saros the fifth-highest paid active goaltender in the NHL in 2025-26… until Igor Shesterkin signs an extension.

This also raises the question about what the Preds are going to do with Yaroslav Askarov. He’s been working towards being the starter, but reports last night were that Nashville might be in the market for an NHL backup and keep Askarov in the AHL again. In a market desperate for goalies, the Preds might have a very powerful trade chip if Askarov doesn’t want to be in the minors again. Oh, and he’s one year away from being an RFA.

Juuse Saros wears … No. 74.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 28, 2024

After creating some cap space in their trade with the Blackhawks on Wednesday night, the Canucks started throwing money around on Thursday. Early in the afternoon they announced a four-year extension with forward Dakota Joshua. Later in the afternoon they announced a three-year deal with defenseman Tyler Myers.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with forward Tyler Myers on a three-year contract with a $3M AAV. pic.twitter.com/WFWm13QuEH— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 27, 2024

The Washington Capitals made a deal with Calgary, giving up only Colorado’s second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for forward Andrew Mangiapane. The Caps have made a few moves now to improve their team around Alex Ovechkin. The additions of Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mangiapane added a cool $14.3M to their cap for the 2024-25 season.

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Andrew Mangiapane from the Calgary Flames for a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (originally from Colorado).
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 28, 2024

One team to watch tonight could be the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have a high pick, a new general manager, (in theory) a new head coach and appear to be willing to do something dramatic to change things in Buckeyeland.

Good morning. Woke up to an interesting text from a source in Vegas.

“Could be an explosive day for #CBJ today.”

Fans, I suppose do what you have to do to prepare yourselves accordingly.— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) June 28, 2024

Finally, I’m with Eli on this one. I’m a fan of the player and he’s the kind of guy who is going to make the top 8-10 guys in your rotation better because they’ll know every practice this kid’s coming for their job if they leave the door open a crack. He can play.

Lowkey love this

Domask has had a long journey but smart player with good range who plays super hard. I’m sure Illini fans are happy. https://t.co/L0iNoVegYI— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) June 28, 2024

written by

Tab Bamford

Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is the author of two books about the Blackhawks: "100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab

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It’s DRAFT DAY! Calder Connor, Trades, Signings, Rumors, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

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