NEWSLETTER
In case you missed it, the Tampa Bay Lightening are your 2021 Stanley Cup Champions. They took down the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, and Montreal Canadiens en route to their second consecutive title, which we dug way into earlier today (if you’re so inclined).
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win Back-To-Back Stanley Cupshttps://t.co/F7bEZbQXu0
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 8, 2021
In the meantime, we’ll dive right on into your regular Blackhawks Bullets.
• So now with the conclusion of the Stanley Cup, we have officially reached the NHL offseason for every team (we’ll have a detailed breakdown of the offseason schedule later this afternoon).
On behalf of the #Blackhawks and the rest of the league, I'd like to welcome the Habs and Lightning to the offseason. Be prepared to trade everyone starting tomorrow.
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 8, 2021
• Speaking of trades, news broke DURING last night’s Game Five that Vladimir Tarasenko is asking to be traded from the St. Louis Blues.
BREAKING: Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko requests a trade, per sources: Why he wants out, possible destinations and more https://t.co/OLnEuCtgsI #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 8, 2021
• Tarasenko, who is fifth in Blues franchise history in goals and tenth in franchise history in points, is citing the team’s handling of his shoulder injuries and surgeries as why he wants out of the organization. He holds a $7.5M AAV cap hit over the final two seasons of his current deal with the Blues and has a full no-trade clause.
• In Blackhawks-land, also asking for a trade this offseason is defenseman Duncan Keith. He wants to go to a team in the Pacific Northwest region and the Edmonton Oilers have emerged as the front-runners for the two-time Norris Trophy winner and future Hall of Famer.
— Charlie The Bacon Guy (@CZtheBaconGuy) July 8, 2021
• Thank you, Charlie The Bacon Guy, for unlocking the geo-locked content from TSN, even if it is sideways. TSN’s Darren Dreger reporting that the Oilers and Blackhawks are still in a back-and-forth situation on the trade.
• The Blackhawks are not going to give Keith away for nothing. The Oilers, you would think, will not overpay for Keith at his full cap hit ($5.538M). So at some point, maybe soon, we’ll likely hear of a deal with the Blackhawks sending Keith to Edmonton while retaining somewhere between 30-50% of his salary, and in return getting a mid-level draft pick and/or prospect from Edmonton. That’s my guess at this point.
• The Seattle Expansion Draft is two weeks away with the NHL Entry Draft just two days later. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for NHL front offices and one of the most public. Stan Bowman is going to be in front of the media very soon. And it’s going to be rough.
There would normally be at least 4-5 Bowman press conferences during this period. It's the busiest, most public-facing time of the year for every GM. He's not going to be able to ignore this issue. And even if he repeatedly declines comment, that will overshadow all the news.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) July 7, 2021
• Unless the Blackhawks make a move within the front office in connection to the lawsuits and allegations against the team, Bowman is going to be front and center and will be asked difficult questions. To which he will likely have a prepared non-statement, statement for.
• It’s going to get worse for him and the club before it gets better.
• That will do it for today. Hope you enjoy your Thursday!
