Today’s News Clips June 7, 2018 Chicago Sun-Times Patrick Kane, 6 other Blackhawks set to play in Chicago summer hockey league Satchel Price June 6, 2018 Several Blackhawks players will be taking part in a new summer hockey league coming to Chicago in July. The Chicago Pro Hockey League announced its inaugural eight-game exhibition season Wednesday with planned participants including Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Nick Schmaltz and many others. Over 80 players from the NHL, AHL and ECHL are expected to be play in the games at MB Ice Arena, the new practice facility that the Hawks opened in January, as well as a large number of top amateurs from top college programs, junior teams and AAA programs. Kane and DeBrincat are set to play on the same team, continuing their partnership from Team USA’s run at the 2018 World Championships. Brandon Saad, Tommy Wingels and Ryan Hartman will also be teammates again, along with former Hawks forward Brandon Bollig. “The CPHL is a great opportunity for our Chicago-based players to participate in high-level games to supplement their summer training programs,” said Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman as part of the announcement. “I’m thrilled to see so many Chicago Blackhawks’ players involved, and also thrilled that our local hockey fans will be able to visit our new practice facility and see some great summer hockey.” The first game of the weekly CPHL season will be July 11 and tickets will be a delightfully cheap $5 each. There will also be games on July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, and Aug. 22. A championship game will be held Aug. 23. Doors will open at MB Ice Arena for each contest at 5:30 p.m. Here’s a full list of expected NHL participants for the upcoming CPHL. The rosters are subject to change. For those of you who can’t wait until October to get your Chicago hockey fix, this may be a fun stopgap. 2018 CPHL NHL participants D Henri Jokiharju, Blackhawks D Jordan Oesterle, Blackhawks F Alex DeBrincat, Blackhawks F Brandon Saad, Blackhawks F Patrick Kane, Blackhawks F Vinnie Hinostroza, Blackhawks F Nick Schmaltz, Blackhawks F Alex Broadhurst, Blue Jackets F Anders Bjork, Bruins F Tommy Wingels, Bruins F Christian Dvorak, Coyotes F Christian Fischer, Coyotes F Nick Lappin, Devils D John Moore, Devils F Connor Carrick, Maple Leafs F Michael Mersch, Kings F Ryan Hartman, Predators D Jake McCabe, Sabres F Ryan Dzingel, Senators D Lou Belpedio, Wild The Athletic NHL Trade Big Board: 20 players who could be on the move this summer Craig Custance June 6, 2018 One GM described the trade action this way: Immediately after the season, there was a ton of talk. Disappointment from a regular season that didn’t end in success motivated action. Then it all went away. General managers went to the World Championships. They had organizational meetings. Some even went golfing. Now, it’s picking back up and will only heat up as the draft gets closer. “There’s certainly a lot of talk out there,” said one GM. “There are some high expectations.” With those expectations come pressure to improve. Factor in a rising cap and general managers have flexibility they might not have had in the recent years. In theory, it should make things interesting. “Activity, as far as communication and bouncing ideas off others, is (higher),” said an assistant GM. “Whether it manifests itself any more in getting deals done, I don’t know.” There’s a lot at play here. Vegas’ success might make owners less patient. Parity is at an all-time high. The availability of big names from the free agent Class of 2019 is another dynamic. And then there’s the Hurricanes. Everyone is talking about Carolina. Who is on the move? Let’s start here: 1. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators – Ottawa nearly dealt Karlsson at the trade deadline, with the Vegas Golden Knights pivoting to a Tomas Tatar deal in the final minutes after falling short of a major blockbuster that was expected to land them Karlsson. There will be no less interest in him during the offseason. There are two schools of thought here: Karlsson had more value at the trade deadline because teams could get a playoff run out of him or he maintains that value now because there will be more teams in the mix. All it takes is one team making a massive offer to get this thing done. The wild card could be if Karlsson believes that there will be a new ownership group in the picture, especially if it involves Daniel Alfredsson. But at his recent state of the union, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman shot down a possible Senators sale. “I can tell you for sure that the franchise is not for sale,” Bettman said. “Eugene Melnyk is committed to the Senators and is passionate about them.” Even with Bettman’s denial, there are those around the league who question whether or not Melnyk can afford to keep it going. It paints a bleak picture for Karlsson’s relationship with the Senators. “I’d be shocked if he re-signs with them,” said one NHL source. “What’s the hope? I would think he gets traded at the draft. His value isn’t going up.” 2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes – There is still hope and even a little optimism in the Coyotes front office that Ekman-Larsson is going to sign an extension. According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Ekman-Larsson is sitting on an eight-year offer from the Coyotes worth an average of $8.25 million per season. The question becomes how long do the Coyotes wait for the offer to be accepted? According to an NHL source, the Coyotes are eager for an answer in order to formulate a plan if it doesn’t happen. “They can’t let him walk for nothing,” said a Western Conference executive. Still, of the three prominent 2019 UFA defensemen, this executive saw Karlsson as the more likely trade candidate. “I think Drew Doughty stays, Ekman-Larsson might stay and Erik Karlsson is gone,” he said. 3. Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins – There’s not a better breakdown of where things stand with Kessel and the Penguins than what Josh Yohe already wrote. Read it if you haven’t. This is how it goes with Kessel. He’s going to produce. Teammates are going to love him. He’s going to drive his coach crazy. There’s certainly debate as to whether the Penguins will actually trade Kessel. One source suggested that a Kessel trade would give a strong indication as to the power Mike Sullivan wields in the organization. Another said it would just be Jim Rutherford being Jim Rutherford. “Jim is not going to sit around and bring the same team back,” said one source who knows him well. He suggested that a Kessel trade might even allow the Penguins to take a serious run at John Tavares. I know, the Penguins are pretty set at center. That’s the beauty of having a gunslinger and dealmaker like Rutherford as the GM. You can’t count anything out. 4. Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens – There’s been talk of a possible extension in Montreal lately but one source said that there has been nothing substantial done on that front. The more likely scenario is still a trade. But there’s pressure on Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin to get a big return, so teams making offers will have to make an offer for the 35-goal scoring Pacioretty and not the 17-goal scoring Pacioretty, or else it’s not getting done. “He’s not going to be traded for a second-round pick,” said one NHL source. “If he does get traded, it’s a big one for Bergevin.” 5-7. Jeff Skinner, Noah Hanifin and Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes Someone is going to get moved in Carolina. Maybe two players. It could be one of these three. Another source was asked who he thought would go and he mentioned Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask. The only consensus out there is that Carolina is doing SOMETHING. New owner Tom Dundon won’t have it any other way. “I’d be surprised if (the Hurricanes) don’t make at least a couple deals before the draft,” said an Eastern Conference executive. The perception is that Ron Francis was moved out because of inaction. If that’s the case, the new management group has very clear marching orders heading into the draft. There’s going to be some action, it’s only a matter of who gets moved out. 8. Ryan O’Reilly, Buffalo Sabres – The Sabres are getting calls on O’Reilly and that’s nothing new. His frustration after another losing season certainly caught the attention of executives outside of Buffalo. “He sounded defeated,” said a Western Conference executive. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s moved.” He’s going to generate interest. He has Hockey Canada pedigree. Players like playing with him. He’s a strong two-way centerman. The Sabres certainly don’t want to rush Casey Mittelstadt, so keeping O’Reilly around gives protection to the young centers in the lineup and pushes them down the depth chart a bit. That means it’s not automatic that he’s moved. “It would have to be the right deal,” said one source. 9. Rasmus Ristolainen, Sabres – He’s another player the Sabres are getting calls on and for good reason. He’s a 23-year-old right-shot defenseman who can play a ton.