The Chicago Blackhawks prospects were in town earlier this month for development camp, and we got a look at what they did. Additionally, one of their top prospects will not be returning to the States later this summer. Plus, we got an update on one of the best players in the Central Division and what his next contract might look like.

Blackhawks Chirps

Blackhawks top draft pick Anton Frondell will no longer be taking part in the World Junior Summer Showcase. He will stay in Sweden to prepare for his upcoming SHL season, rather than making the trip to Minneapolis. Skipping the Showcase won’t affect his standing with Team Sweden; he is a lock to play in this year’s tournament. The Blackhawks will have plenty of representation at the Showcase with Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker taking part for Canada, and A.J. Spellacy on Team USA.

Check out NBI Hockey’s deep dive on the 2025-26 Blackhawks, featuring yours truly. Please hit the like button and subscribe while you’re watching.

The newest episode of Every Shift is out with a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 development camp.

Don’t forget to submit your question for the next Blackhawks Q&A!

On this date in 1952, the Blackhawks purchased the contract of Detroit Red Wings’ star Sid Abel. After scoring 183 goals and 463 points in 570 games in Detroit, the future Hall of Famer played in just 42 games over the next two seasons, where he served as head coach while jumping over the boards. He was the last full-time player/coach in NHL history. He coached the Blackhawks through the end of the 1953-54 season before returning to the Motor City in 1957.

In 2008, the Blackhawks and Red Wings came together at Wrigley Field to make a joint announcement with the Chicago Cubs and the NHL. The parties revealed that the 2009 Winter Classic would be played at the historic baseball stadium on Jan. 1, 2009. This was the second Winter Classic and third outdoor game in league history.

Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, July 22: Gerry Desjardins and Mike McNeill.

NHL Chirps

Following the lead of Gavin McKenna, Philadelphia Flyers’ top draft pick Porter Martone is leaving the CHL for the NCAA. The sixth overall pick will play at Michigan State University in the fall.

Goaltender Jack Ivankovic, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round last month, will get to take on Martone in Big 10 action. He committed to the University of Michigan on Monday.

The Athletic’s Michael Russo was on the Daily Faceoff Rundown to discuss where Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild stand. He reported that the two sides are not close to a new contract extension and are “taking a breather.” Russo is confident a deal will get done and that Kaprizov will surpass Leon Draisaitl as the highest-paid winger in the league.  

Former Rockford IceHogs defenseman T.J. Brennan is moving from Switzerland to Austria. He signed a new contract with HK Olimpija Ljubljana, the lone Slovenian club in Austria’s ICEHL.

Team Canada announced its coaching staff for the 2026 Winter Olympics. They won’t make any changes to the staff that won the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.  Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning) will serve as head coach, alongside Bruce Cassidy (Vegas Golden Knights), Pete DeBoer, Rick Tocchet (Flyers), and Misha Donskov, as assistants.

NHL Birthday Roll Call, July 22: Leo Labine, Sergei Zubov, Dmitri Kalinin, Kevin Fiala, Jason Robertson, and Marc Gatcomb.