A few familiar names are making the summer rounds as the NHL calendar keeps inching toward training camp in September. August is almost here, and with it comes that familiar sense that the offseason is starting to wind down.
One of the bigger Blackhawks notes came from Justin Lynch, who said Kyle Davidson finished a successful offseason by signing Patrick Kane. Jeremiah Lee also dug into why Kane chose to return to the Blackhawks.
There was also some action at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ontario, where the tournament opened Sunday with a pair of games. Mason West was in the lineup for Team USA Blue’s 4-1 loss to Finland, though he didn’t record a point. Finland’s 2026 draft pick Samu Alalauri did not play.
Duncan Keith is headed overseas for a special event later this summer. On Aug.
21, Zdeno Chara will host Zee’s Final Shift in his native Slovakia, a game that already features a loaded list of legendary players. Marian Hossa was among the first names announced because of his close friendship with Chara, and now Keith is joining the trip as well.
The roster also includes Jaromir Jagr, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Anze Kopitar, and Ray Bourque.
Teuvo Teravainen got his own summer moment with the Stanley Cup, joining former teammate Sebastian Aho for Aho’s day with the trophy in Oulu, Finland.
Found a familiar face in Oulu 🇫🇮👋 pic.twitter.com/NsR4XqC4Ng
- Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 26, 2026
Elsewhere on the Blackhawks birthday list for July 27: George Allen, Bob Hoffmeyer, and Andrew Desjardins.
Around the league, Evgenii Dadonov remains on the free agent market, but the signs are pointing toward the end of his NHL run. He scored once in 24 games for the New Jersey Devils last season and hasn’t drawn much interest this summer. Artur Khairullin reports the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons could be interested in the 37-year-old winger.
There’s also a trade rumor that got some pushback. After a report out of Russia suggested a Kirill Marchenko deal was close, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, who covers the Columbus Blue Jackets, responded by saying “nothing is happening” on the Marchenko trade front. Stay tuned.
In Edmonton, general manager Stan Bowman spent the summer trying to patch up his goaltending situation. Tristan Jarry is back for a full season after arriving from the Pittsburgh Penguins last year, Frederik Andersen was signed as a veteran addition, and Devon Levi was acquired in a trade.
The Athletic’s Alan Mitchell called Jarry Bowman’s “first choice to fix the position.” Jarry posted a .858 save percentage in 19 games for the Oilers, and with Levi no longer waivers-exempt, Edmonton may be stuck carrying three goalies - never a comfortable setup.
In Other News...
Patrick Kanes Return Suddenly Has Blackhawks Fans Dreaming Even Bigger
Patrick Kanes return to Chicago already gives the Blackhawks a dose of nostalgia and a real hockey boost, with the longtime franchise star back on a two-year deal and suddenly part of the conversation around Connor Bedards supporting cast. For a team still trying to climb out of a rebuild, adding Kane is about more than sentiment. It brings a familiar playmaker, a veteran voice and a reminder of how much high-end skill can change the mood around the organization.
The ripple effect has gone beyond Kane himself, because his recent podcast comments about Jonathan Toews have only added to the buzz. Toews retired after the 2022-23 season, but he has left the door open enough to keep speculation alive, and the idea of both former captains lending experience and leadership to a young roster is exactly the kind of storyline that can capture a fan base. For now, it is only a possibility, but it is the sort of possibility Blackhawks fans are already running with. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Leadership Twist Could Change How This Rebuild Is Viewed
A leadership decision around Connor Bedard has become one of the more interesting subplots of the Blackhawks rebuild, and it carries more weight than a simple title change. What was supposed to be a straightforward handoff to the franchise centerpiece now has a wrinkle, with the club weighing an announcement that could reshape how this next phase is framed and who is asked to set the tone in the room.
Patrick Kanes name has naturally re-entered the conversation because of what it would mean for Chicagos identity if the organization leans in that direction. Bedard remains the obvious long-term face of the team, but the possibility that he could step aside from the captaincy path adds a layer of intrigue to a rebuild already being watched closely, with a formal decision expected soon enough to settle the speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Face A Big Connor Bedard Question Kyle Davidson Can't Dodge
The Blackhawks have spent the offseason adding pieces and keeping their books flexible, which leaves Kyle Davidson with a familiar kind of opportunity: enough cap space and enough assets to chase another meaningful upgrade if the right player becomes available. One name now hovering around the conversation is Kirill Marchenko, a young winger whose situation in Columbus has drawn attention because of conflicting reports about whether he wants out.
For Chicago, the appeal is obvious. Marchenko would fit the age curve the organization has been building around, but landing him would not be simple, and it would almost certainly require a real commitment in both trade value and future salary. If the Blackhawks decide to push, the harder question may not be whether they want him, but which NHL-ready forwards they are willing to move to make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]