Frank Nazar inks a massive seven-year extension with Chicago, betting big on the kid who's already flashed elite potential behind Connor Bedard. The 21-year-old rookie piled up 26 points in 53 games last season, earning top-six minutes and a spot on the second line with vets like Bertuzzi and Teravainen. Blackhawks brass sees him as the two-way spark that lightens Bedard's load, but whispers from the front office hint at the risks of locking him up after just 56 NHL games.

The league delivers another installment of its signature oddities, the kind that make you wonder if hockey's scripted by a mad genius in a dimly lit war room. From prospect scandals that echo the darkest Bertuzzi days to hits that skate right up to Department of Player Safety's red line, these stories remind everyone why this sport thrives on chaos. Front offices huddle as the Olympic break looms, knowing one bizarre twist can rewrite draft boards or trade deadlines.