With opening night now fewer than two months out and training camp only a few weeks down the road, the offseason clock is really starting to move. That’s the backdrop for another round of Tuesday Morning Chirps, and this one leans heavily toward roster projections and front office reshuffling.
On the Blackhawks side, the team has already put out its promotion schedule for the coming season, and three stood out as the best of the bunch. Brooke LoFurno also took a forward-looking angle, turning her attention to 2026-27 and asking whether Tyler Bertuzzi can match the career-high production he put up last season.
Richard Jelinek focused on the organizational side of things, digging into what Mike Doneghey’s new role will actually involve and why he earned the promotion in the first place.
There was also a World Juniors update from The Athletic, which rolled out roster projections for Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia. Among Blackhawks prospects, only two made those projected rosters: Finnish defenseman Samu Alalauri and Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil. Mason West was not included on Team USA’s projected roster.
Elsewhere around the NHL, the New York Islanders added Evan Gold as an assistant general manager. His responsibilities will include serving as general manager of the club’s new AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Hammers, along with contract negotiations, roster strategy, professional and amateur scouting, and salary cap management. Gold’s résumé in Boston includes work on deals for Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and David Pastrnak.
The Toronto Maple Leafs also made a notable hire, bringing in Andy O’Brien as Vice President of Sport Performance. He’ll oversee strength and conditioning, sport science, sports nutrition, injury rehabilitation, and mental performance. O’Brien has built his reputation through years of work with Sidney Crosby and Tavares.
The Minnesota Wild joined the flurry of executive movement with several additions of their own. They hired Dan MacKinnon as assistant director of amateur scouting, Janik Beichler as a European amateur scout, and Elizabeth Hudson as executive assistant to the President/GM and hockey operations. The Wild also promoted former defenseman Alex Goligoski to player development coach.
In Other News...
Blackhawks Still Have Two Blue Line Decisions Left After Bedard Deal
With Connor Bedard now locked up on a five-year deal and Drew Commesso in place on a two-year extension, the Blackhawks have already checked off two of the biggest items on their long-term list. The next layer is on the blue line, where the organization still has some housekeeping to do before turning the page fully toward the 2026-27 season.
Two restricted free agents remain in the picture, and both are young defensemen whose paths through the NHL have not followed the same track. Chicago has time to sort out the terms, but these are the kinds of contracts that usually settle in quietly, reflecting development more than leverage as the club keeps building out its back end. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Scoring Race Could Look Very Different Than Fans Expect
The Blackhawks scoring picture for 2025-26 is already taking shape, and it may not follow the familiar script of simply handing the whole attack to Connor Bedard. After a season spent sorting through where the offense was coming from, the projection work around the lineup points to a more layered race at the top, with Bedard still central but not operating in a vacuum. Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi are part of that conversation too, and the goal totals and assist totals being floated for this group suggest Chicago could look more balanced than many fans might expect.
Connor Bedards offseason shoulder surgery adds another wrinkle to the early-season forecast, because the Blackhawks may have to open the year without their most obvious star driver. In his place, the offensive load could spread quickly, especially with Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram positioned to factor into the teams top scoring and power-play roles. For a club still trying to define its identity, the race for points might end up being less about one runaway leader and more about which names seize the biggest opening when the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]