The Chicago Blackhawks have already made a major change in leadership, hiring former Detroit Red Wings head coach and Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Jeff Blashill as their new full-time head coach.
He replaced Anders Sorenson, who was the interim head coach following the termination of Luke Richardson, but will remain on Blashill's staff as an assistant.
While the Blackhawks are expected to make moves in free agency, they've already swung a trade by acquiring Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for former 1st round Red Wings pick Joeph Veleno.
Are they on the verge of making another trade? Per Oilers reporter Jim Matheson, it looks like forward Lukas Reichel could soon be on his way to Edmonton from Chicago, and also cites the chance to play with fellow German Leon Draisaitl.
I keep thinking Oilers GM Stan Bowman is calling Hawks to get winger Lukas Reichel. Bowman drafted him in first round in 2020 and he would be akin to trading for Podkolzin last summer when he was treading water. Plus Reichel is German and might work on team with Draisaitl.