Oh (For) Canada, Michigan Problems, Luypen Signs, Montreal’s Intriguing Hire, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

So how’s your MLB Trade Deadline week starting? If you’re following our #BNBlogathon on Twitter and here on the site, you’ll know that the Cubs getting busy is just a background to our own Brett Taylor raising a lot of money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. But the Blackhawks haven’t stayed quiet, so let’s talk some puck.

  • The Blackhawks had six players in Canada’s evaluation camp for the upcoming World Juniors. None of them made the final 25-man roster.
  • An investigation into the men’s hockey program at the University of Michigan produced a 70-page report that is damning of the coaching staff. It could have an impact on the immediate future of the Blackhawks, with first-rounder Frank Nazar planning to play there this coming season.
  • The story broke on Monday, and the Blackhawks made it official on Tuesday morning. Chicago has signed forward prospect Jalen Luypen to a three-year, entry-level contract.
  • A very happy Blackhawks birthday to Tony Amonte. We wonder… between Amonte and Patrick Sharp, is there a number in Blackhawks history that featured better hair than No. 10?
  • A somewhat minor nugget in this story from The Athletic caught my eye. Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin outlined a number of newsworthy items from Montreal, including some discussion about Kirby Dach’s next contract. But that isn’t what I care about; Dach’s gone. I’ve moved on. You should, too.
  • Montreal has hired Albie O’Connell and Billy Ryan to run the Habs’ US scouting operations. And O’Connell’s name caught my eye because he was most recently the head coach at Boston University.
  • BU announced at the end of March that O’Connell wasn’t returning as the head coach of their men’s hockey program. The past season didn’t go as well as many would have liked at BU, but they are still considered a top program.
  • Why do I care about BU hockey? The Blackhawks will have two prospects — goaltender Drew Commesso and forward Ryan Greene — at BU this coming season. Commesso played for O’Connell for two seasons. Greene will be a freshman this coming year.
  • On May 9, Jay Pandolfo was announced as the new head coach at BU. Many expect Commesso to turn pro after his upcoming junior season. We’ll see how the coaching change impacts this season in Boston for the Terriers.
  • Finally, a continued thank you to everyone who has supported this year’s #BNBlogathon. There’s still time before the MLB Trade Deadline this evening to contribute.
  • written by

    Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is the author of two books about the Blackhawks: "100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab

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