Blackhawks acquire a league-leading goal scorer in Nashville: Connor Bedard finally has a linemate incoming

"I'll make that decision next year. Right now, I'm focused on helping Metallurg. We have a great team and great opportunities here. But of course, if the chance comes, I'd really like to test myself over there."

"It's nice to feel that kind of trust. This season, I was also named an assistant captain - the third one, but still, it means a lot. I need to live up to that trust. Playing on the first line well, I'm comfortable both at center and on the wing. I think my skill set allows that. I just need to improve a bit on faceoffs and in the defensive zone."

"Of course I follow [Connor] Bedard. They're a young team in a rebuild, but they're doing quite well. As for our communication, it's normal, professional. They know I'm in the last year of my contract, and I can feel they're showing more interest now. We have calls roughly every 10 games, go over clips, and discuss areas to improve. Still, the systems in our leagues are very different, so we mostly talk about individual skills.

They invited me [to the development camp], but I turned it down because I was in full preparation mode for the season. And there wasn't even ice at their camp-I went last year, and it was only gym work. So it didn't make much sense to go again."