It’s the kind of late-August hockey chatter that keeps fans hanging on until the real thing comes back, and the latest notes around the league bring a little bit of everything: unsigned talent, a big trade fallout in Ottawa, and a possible Blackhawks presence on a soon-to-drop NHL Network list.
On the Blackhawks side, Brooke LoFurno took a look at Nick Lardis and the offensive expectations around his upcoming season, with bigger scoring ambitions pointed toward 2026-27. Ryan Gagne also went back through history to examine former first overall picks and what their track records might say about Connor Bedard’s chances of eventually lifting a Stanley Cup.
Elsewhere, the team’s jersey history got another run-through with a look at everyone who wore numbers 31-35, a batch that should especially appeal to anyone who loves Blackhawks goaltenders. And to wrap up Stadiums and Cities week, Maya Smith focused on one of the United Center’s best traditions: the national anthem.
The birthday list for Aug. 23 on the Blackhawks side includes Percy Traub and Igor Radulov.
Around the NHL, Eeli Tolvanen is still sitting among the top unsigned unrestricted free agents left on the board, which stands out this deep into the offseason. Rob Simpson of Pacific North Hockey reported that the 27-year-old right wing has had contract talks with multiple teams.
Tolvanen, a former first-round pick of the Nashville Predators, never found steady production in Nashville before being claimed off waivers by the Seattle Kraken in 2022. Since then, he’s scored 66 goals and totaled 135 points in 288 games with Seattle, but he still hasn’t landed a new deal.
In Ottawa, the post-Brady Tkachuk era is officially underway after the Senators traded their captain to the Florida Panthers, and Tim Stutzle spoke publicly about it for the first time during the European Media Tour.
"It's his decision. There's nothing we can do about it.
For me, he was always a great teammate and, obviously, a great hockey player, and we're going to miss him. He was always there for me.
But at the end of the day, we’ve got to move on. We're going to miss him as a hockey player, as a person, and as a leader, but it is what it is.
We're focused on what we have ahead of us and the team we have right now. So, wish him all the best."
There was also news out of the Sharks organization, where goaltender Yaroslav Korostelyov terminated his KHL contract and will join San Jose this season. The 2024 seventh-round pick is an unexpected addition, especially since he has never actually played in the KHL.
Last season, he spent all but one game in the MHL, Russia’s major junior league, and posted a 14-5-0 record with a .917 save percentage, 2.22 goals-against average, and five shutouts. The ECHL is expected to be his likely destination for the 2026-27 season.
And later tonight, NHL Network is set to unveil its Top 20 Centers Right Now list. A year ago, no Blackhawks made the cut, which leaves one obvious question now: does Connor Bedard crack the list this time around?
In Other News...
Alex Vlasic Just Raised Expectations For The Blackhawks Core
Alex Vlasic didnt leave much room for ambiguity about where the Blackhawks think this is headed. Coming off a stretch in which Chicago has missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, the 6-foot-6 defenseman framed the next step as something bigger than incremental progress, pointing to a team that has added veterans and rookies around its young core while trying to turn promise into something more immediate.
Vlasics own place in that picture only makes the message stronger. He led the Blackhawks in average ice time and blocked shots last season, which has made him one of the clearest barometers for how far the rebuild has come and how far it still has to go. The interesting part now is whether Chicago can make the standard feel real from the start, with expectations no longer centered on patience alone. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Need More Than A Strong Rookie Year From Artyom Levshunov
Artyom Levshunovs first year in the organization gave the Blackhawks a glimpse of why they made him the No. 2 overall pick, even if most of it came with the Rockford IceHogs. The 19-year-old split time between the AHL and NHL, picked up 24 points in 68 games, and showed enough to convince Chicago that the raw tools are there. Head coach Jeff Blashill said Levshunov made meaningful progress, but also made clear the defenseman is still very much in the development phase.
The next step matters because the Blackhawks are counting on this summer to sharpen the parts of Levshunovs game that need the most work. Skating and decision-making remain the main areas for improvement, and the focus now is on physical training and skill refinement before he gets back into the lineup. For a team trying to build a sturdier young blue line, the hope is that Levshunovs rookie season is only the beginning of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]