IceHogs Make Gust Signing Official, Thoughts on the Flames-Panthers Blockbuster, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

There were some trades in the NHL yesterday, including a blockbuster that involved a pair of wingers coming off of 100-point seasons late last night. Let’s get into some local stuff before we discuss the big news from elsewhere this morning.

  • The Rockford IceHogs made the signing of Orland Park, IL native David Gust official on Friday. Gust, 28, helped the Chicago Wolves win a Calder Cup last season, logging 36 points (16G, 20A) in 64 games with the IceHogs’ in-state rival.
  • https://twitter.com/goicehogs/status/1550497753649889281?s=20&t=pv2DorbDPlbn5cqVNZtyaw

  • Gust signed a one-year deal with the IceHogs and has spent the last two seasons with the Wolves. Guts played his college hockey at Ohio State and has spent time in the USHL and the AHL during his pro career. A two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019 brought him to the Wolves, but Gust has yet to make his way to the NHL and is on an AHL deal in Rockford.
  • The IceHogs dropped their 2022-23 schedule recently:
  • https://twitter.com/goicehogs/status/1550880448376700935?s=20&t=pv2DorbDPlbn5cqVNZtyaw

  • The Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers swung a blockbuster deal late last night that will send Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-rounder to the Panthers with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schmidt, and a conditional 2025 first-round draft pick heading back to Calgary.
  • According to Elliotte Friedman, the Panthers and Tkachuk already have a contract extension in place that will run for five years at an AAV of $9.5 million. This trade makes you wonder what the added value the Blackhawks might have been able to get in the Alex DeBrincat trade had DeBrincat been willing to sign an extension with Ottawa immediately.
  • My initial reaction was that Florida overpaid a little bit in this one. Still, the more I think about it this morning, I don’t think it was a bad deal for the Panthers, who add an elite 24-year-old winger coming off a 104-point season for the next five years at the expense of two potential rental players, a prospect, and a conditional future first-rounder.
  • Huberdeau was exceptional last season, scoring a career-best 115 points for the Panthers, but he’s heading into the final season of his contract with a $5.9 million cap hit at 30 years old. The Panthers’ former third-overall pick in the NHL Draft will be a UFA and due for a raise if he has a season like he did last year, but extending him at a cap hit north of $6 million ahead of his age-31 season is risky business. The Panthers essentially brought in a younger left-handed shooting left-winger who is also coming off a career-best 100-point season at a cap him just a few million more for the next half-decade.
  • On the other hand, Calgary gets a very talented veteran to take Tkachuk’s spot, but there’s no guarantee that Huberdeau will re-sign with Calgary as a UFA next summer. I actually doubt it happens; he’ll; he’ll want to go somewhere and win. Calgary isn’t that, and the Flames, who seem to be hitting a bit of a reset here with the loss of Johnny Gaudreau and now Tkachuk, can rest their books when Huberdeau’s deal expires.
  • Like Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar will be a UFA after the season, and his $3.2 million cap hit will likely not be Calgary’s concern beyond this season. I ultimately feel like both sides got what they needed in this deal. Calgary took two expiring contracts that total $9.15 million off of Florida’s hands, and Florida gets Tkachuk for the next five seasons at a nearly identical cost that they just opened up in the trade. Calgary gets a prospect, future cap freedom, and a future first.
  • Cole Schwindt is a B prospect drafted in the third round of the 2019 draft by Florida, coming off of a 40-point season with the Charlotte Checkers (the Panthers AHL affiliate).
  • One last thought on this trade, one that adds some value to the return for Calgary: I’m sure there will be no shortage of contenders looking to add a pair of veteran performers like Huberdeau and Weegar, and I’m sure Calgary will be plenty willing to listen and flip them to add more future assets. Keep an eye on that front.
  • All right, on to another trade from yesterday. Columbus sent Oliver Bjorkstrand to Seattle in exchange for a 2023 third-rounder and a 2023 fourth-rounder.
  • Bjorkstrand scored 57 points for the Blue Jackets last season and is entering the second season of a five-year deal signed with Columbus ahead of the 2021-22 season. The 5×5 deal for the right-handed winger will cost Seattle $5.4 this season and each of the next three seasons.
  • With the cap space cleared in the Bjorkstrand deal, Columbus extended Patrick Laine.
  • The Bulls’ front office should kick the tires on Jared Vanderbilt if Minnesota is willing to trade him.
  • Bears rookies report to training camp today, but one rookie still without a contract will be missing.
  • That’s it for today!
  • written by

    Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

    more blackhawks news

    What Picks Do the Chicago Blackhawks Own in the 2024 NHL Draft?

    How about a quick refresher on which picks the Chicago Blackhawks own in the 2024 NHL Draft? Sure, why not. Here's the Blackhawks' round-by-round breakdown of the picks they own with how they acquired each pick, or what the Hawks...

    San Jose Sharks Fire Head Coach David Quinn

    When you finish with the worst record in the NHL, it's hard to keep your job. Even when the front office strips your roster to the bare bones, apparently. And on Wednesday, David Quinn found out the San Jose Sharks...

    Bedsy on ‘Shoresy’, Rockford Adds Two, Hayes Next? Cap Overages, Save of the Year, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    If you haven't watched Shoresy yet, it's worth your time if you enjoy some good hockey-related programming. They're lighting the lamp for their third season at the end of May and their new trailer is loaded with Connor Bedard references....

    What are the Blackhawks’ Options to Improve in Net Next Season?

    When Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson met with the media to close the 2023-24 season over this past weekend, one of the subjects that came up was goaltending. Petr Mrazek was very good this season -- he was arguably the...

    Rooting Interest, Vlasic Wants to Stay, Championship DNA, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    A quick reminder for Blackhawks fans as we watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs: there are a few teams we're all probably rooting against. Not necessarily because we don't like the team or the players, but because it would help the...

    WATCH: Hurricanes Provide Latest Example That Playoff Hockey Is Just The Greatest

    12 hours later and I'm still scrolling the internet watching replays of Jordan Martinook's game-winner for the Hurricanes last night. The Hurricanes and Islanders game was just another example of why the Stanley Cup Playoffs are so damn awesome. In...

    Blackhawks Perspectives: Players Talk About Learning from Losses, Wanting to Win, More

    On Saturday, a dozen Blackhawks players spoke with the media about a wide range of topics as they closed the books on the 2023-24 season. From personal performance assessments to team consistency, a lot was covered. And each player had...

    Buffalo Sabres Hire Lindy Ruff as Head Coach… Again

    Did somebody throw a couple bucks in the juke box and hit the theme song from "Welcome Back, Kotter"? Because Lindy Ruff is the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres -- again. https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/1782517265956573577 Ruff, 64, was the head coach of...

    Calder Cup Playoffs, IceHogs Debuts, Goalies, College Prospects, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    Hey, you know what's fun? Playoff hockey. And you know who's playing playoff hockey this week? The Rockford IceHogs! They played their final game of the 2023-24 regular season last night and won it in fabulously dramatic fashion on a...

    Who Are Some Potential Free Agent “Identity” Forward Targets for the Blackhawks??

    The 2023-24 regular season is in the books. The Blackhawks are coming off a historically bad season that was filled with significant injuries to players who had high hopes coming into the season. When general manager Kyle Davidson spoke with...

    Latest News

    Yankees vs. Athletics Probable Starting Pitchers – April 25

    The Oakland Athletics (9-16) and the New York Yankees (17-8) square off at Yankee Stadium on Thursday at 7:05 PM ET.The probable starters are Nestor Cortes Jr. (1-1) for the Yankees and Alex Wood (0-2) for the Athletics.Yankees vs. Athletics...

    Nuggets at Lakers Odds, LeBron and Jokic Props, and More for Tonight

    The Denver Nuggets hold a 2-0 lead over the Lakers as their series continues tonight. Check out the odds for the game along with some props for LeBron James and Nikola Jokic as the NBA playoffs roll on. Nuggets at...

    Latest 2024 NFL Draft Specials, Top Props, and More For the First Round Tonight

    As the 2024 NFL Draft unfolds tonight, the sports betting landscape is buzzing with anticipation. Fans and bettors alike are gearing up for one of the most exciting events in the football calendar, with a plethora of draft specials, prop...

    What is a Spread Bet? Understanding the Popular Bet Type

    One of the most popular bets in all of sports betting is the spread. What is it? A spread bet is a wager on the margin of victory in a game. Let's dive into the popular bet type and break...

    2024 Kansas City Chiefs Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits Including Receiver and Tackle

    What does one back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs team do the next year in the NFL Draft? It’s highly speculated that they will fill their pass-catching holes with an elite wide receiver, or possibly bolster the offensive line...

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – April 25, 2024

    In a Thursday NBA playoff schedule that includes three competitive matchups, the Denver Nuggets versus the Los Angeles Lakers is a game to see.Searching for NBA player prop bets for today's games? This article features NBA player props for every...

    Do the Cubs Have a Scoring-Late Problem?

    Once a month since August of 2016, my friends and I get together for "Supper Club." It's like book club, but instead of reading books, we go to a different restaurant in the city. Last night, we hit our 77th...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Brazilian-Japanese Pitcher Daniel Missaki Out of Mexican League

    That's a geographic mouthful right there, and it underscores what an interesting signing this is. Stray signings throughout the year are not uncommon, particularly as injuries accumulate down on the farm and the Chicago Cubs have the ability to take...

    Happy NFL Draft Day! (And Other Bears Bullets)

    Today is the day we've been waiting for since the NFL regular season ended. It's NFL Draft Day! The Chicago Bears have the first pick. Unless something unexpected happens, it'll be USC quarterback Caleb Williams getting the nod. Now that...

    Dodgers vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 25, 2024

    After a four-hit game last time out, Will Smith leads the Los Angeles Dodgers (15-11) as -197 favorites against the Washington Nationals (10-13). Action gets underway from Nationals Park at 4:05 PM ET on Thursday, live on MLB Network.Los Angeles'...

    more blackhawks news