2 out of 3 ain't bad... The 11-12 Blackhawks!

GRADEN · Post #1 » by **GRADEN** » Fri May 13, 2011 5:11 am

Thought it'd be fun to look at our potential 2011-12 roster. Now of course there will be some trades, signings, and departures so let's just take a good look at what "should" be our main contingent of players for next season.

Coach Q has an outstanding mix of youth and experience coming back and a now battled tested prime of his career #1 goalie.

Per the playoffs:

LW Patrick Sharp (29) - Viktor Stalberg (25) - Bryan Bickell (25) - Ben Smith (22)
C Jonathan Toews (23) - Dave Bolland (24) - Marcus Kruger (20) - Ryan Johnson (34)
RW Patrick Kane (22) - Marian Hossa (32) - Troy Brouwer (25) - Michael Frolik (23)

LW John Scott (28)
C Jake Dowell (26) - C Jeff Taffe (30)
RW Tomas Kopecky (29) - Fernando Pisani (34)

D Duncan Keith (27) - Niklas Hjalmarsson (23) - Chris Campoli (26) - Jordan Hendry (27)
D Brent Seabrook (26) - Brian Campbell (32) - Nick Leddy (20) - Jassen Cullimore (38)

D Garnet Exelby (29)

G Corey Crawford (26) - Marty Turco (35)

Prospects:

LW Kyle Beach (21) - A super talented power forward with a knack for the net, 2011 call up.
LW Brandon Bollig (24) - Great size and will fight... Not an offensive player in any sense.
LW Dan Delisle (20) - Big but not physical at all, needs to do work at Minn first... A project.
LW Kevin Hayes (19) - More talented brother, but has to prove it at BC first... Project.
LW Rob Klinkhammer (24) - Solid winger, likely career minor leaguer who plateau'd.
LW Philippe Paradis (20) - 1st rounder with size, physical ability, and hard shot. Project.
LW Ludvig Rensfeldt (19) - Talented tall swed that can score, needs seasoning.
LW-C Jeremy Morin (20) - High level prospect with scorer's mentality.. Future Hawk.

C Joakim Nordstrom (19) - Talented swed with a long road ahead of him in europe, needs lbs.
C Mathis Olimb (25) - Small Oslo centermen that is likely better in europe.
C Mirko Hoefflin (18) - Undersized center, but a super talent with the puck. 3-4 years.
C Evan Brophey (24) - A steady centerman, likely only called upon for injury replacement.
C Chris DiDomenico (22) - Small, only plus traits are excellent face off centerman and pk work.
C Rob Flick (20) - Good sized center player known for his fighting... A project.
C Brandon Pirri (20) - Light framed, but is a wizard with the puck. A pure talent right now.
C Nathan Davis (25) - Oft-injuried but is a good draw-center and has great determination.
C David Gilbert (20) - Good puck control and skating ability, but still years away.
C/F Byron Froese (20) - Tough minded checking forward / center, 2-3 years away.

RW Jimmy Hayes (21) - Huge forward that is a crease player and that will be his niche.
RW Igor Makarov (23) - A good skater... An NHL talent that may stick in Russia instead.

D Braden Birch (21) - Tall pp defenseman. Smart and has some tools, but not overly skilled.
D Brian Connelly (24) - Small average skilled d-man likely career minor leaguer.
D Simon Danis-Pepin (23) - Dude is 6'7! Not fast and still a major project though. Trade bait.
D Joe Gleason (21) - 5'9 D-man that has alot of heart and good scoring knack.. A long shot
D Justin Holl (19) - At Minn now, has great skill and could be a nice player in 2-3 years.
D Stephen Johns (19) - Size to pair with leadership and great base skills. Future Hawk.
D Shawn Lalonde (21) - Groomed to be a call up, but he just isn't clicking. Looks the part..
D Joe Lavin (21) - Good sized blue liner that can skate well and has a nice quick shot.
D Nick Mattson (19) - Skates well and positions perfectly but does not have a nasty streak.
D Dylan Olsen (20) - Also at Minn.. Kid has it all; size, skill, and poise. Future Hawk.
D Paul Phillips (19) - In Denver, from Illinois. Average size / skill and needs time; project.
D Ryan Stanton (21) - I'm high on him; good size and can hit. Plays mean D, good glue BL'r.
D Jonathan Carlsson (22) - Good sized defenseman that lacks a physical edge. Plus wrister.
D Ivan Vishnevskiy (23) - Over-rated. Well traveled smallish O-Dman. Has skills, not physical.

G Mac Carruth (19) - Winterhawks (CHL).. Playing really well in playoffs but still needs 2 years.
G Alec Richards (23) - Huge butterfly goalie that is used to winning. Backup potential.
G Alexander Salak (24) - A super athlete that has enormous talent, but not sound. Refinement
G Kent Simpson (19) - Still raw with shifting but has winners track and could be a hawk in years
G Hannu Toivonen (26) - Average production after stellar Bruins start. Minor leaguer.

GRADEN · Post #2 » by **GRADEN** » Fri May 13, 2011 5:40 am

Just looking at the roster it looks like Kopecky or Brouwer should go. Kopecky had a career high in the regular season and is a nice 3rd line winger for another team... Or Brouwer coming off of shoulder surgery and looking like he plateau'd as a 15-20 goal scorer but still young could fetch a nice prospect or pick. Point is that Kane-Hossa-Frolik look to have those top 3 spots locked up for awhile and we should get something for them now because their PT will go down. In the draft, we have to get 1 or 2 scrappy hard nosed right wingers to build our prospect depth.

Obviously with Toews and Bolland we have one of the top 1-2 centerman punches in the league for some time to come. Add in Kruger (I told you so!) as just an insane talent and our future is bright. Morin looks ready at an early age to get a call and Pirri is just a pure talent that is fun to watch. Brophey could be a decent TOI eater if injuries occur but not a keeper in anyway that I see.

Our skill level across the board on the left side looks very impressive for today and tomorrow.

Our blue liners look steady but some call ups and try outs to rest our top 2 lines is a must. Hjalmarsson didn't impress after getting bid over by 2 great teams. He took a step back but is still young. Guys like Lalonde and Stanton should get early calls to see where they fit. Olsen and Johns are definitly the elite prospects here but they may be a little further out.

We should draft another goalie for sure. I like Salak and Simpson but the rest is really shaky. Salak is not a positionly sound goalie and may be too much of a wild card for coach Q. Maybe give him a start and see what he is made of but his talent won't be enough in the top league. Simpson isn't ready (very young) though I like him as a hawk in time. Richards may get the shot out of curiousity on how his size will do in the NHL. More than likely we will again try and get a 20-25 start backup veteran for cheap and see what flys.

Sharpy?? Tough call on this guy. He is such a huge part of this team, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to lock up a big deal right? Thoughts....

GRADEN · Post #3 » by **GRADEN** » Fri May 13, 2011 6:01 pm

My mistake... Kopecky is a UFA not a RFA so I believe we should just let him go. Let these guys go as well; Cullimore (retire), Turco (same), Pisani, Exelby, Taffe, and Toivonen. Hendry is a tough call as is RJ so I'd say 1 year deals for both of them would be nice. Hendry still has good 4th line value and Johnson seems like a great teammate and 4th line addition.

RFAs....

Brouwer: Surgery for him... Tough tough call here.
Campoli: Good addition to our team; 1-2 year deal for a 3rd line D-man
Crawford: Must lock him up to 3-5 years asap
Dowell: Good depth, may be worth a 1-2 year deal
Frolik: Lock him up 3-4 years
Stalberg: Same as Frolik; 2 important guys for us moving forward
Brophey: Not important, let walk
Richards and Salak: 2 backup potentials... Chose one; Go with Salak

Let Connelly, Olimb, Klinkhammer, and Vishnevsky ride

Comes back to Sharp again..... His value will NEVER be higher. He will enter his final year and we could get at least a 1st rounder for him. Who knows maybe we get a Boston draw (Seguin) and get really lucky out of a trade. Huet comes off the books after next as well so we should be freed up a little more after this off season. Our main guys are all locked up minus CC right now so maybe letting him go is the right move???

For the offseason I'd say as long as we lock up Crawford, Stalberg, and Frolik then I'm ok.

WEFFPIM · Post #4 » by **WEFFPIM** » Thu May 19, 2011 5:47 pm

You absolutely have to keep Sharp around, and Boston is absolutely not getting rid of Seguin. But Crawford is the priority this offseason.

Finding a taker for Brian Campbell should be high on the priority list as well.

WEFFPIM · Post #5 » by **WEFFPIM** » Thu May 19, 2011 7:37 pm

And just like that:

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Corey Crawford on a three-year contract.

Crawford, 26, paced rookie goaltenders with 33 wins (33-18-6), tied for rookie lead with four shutouts and ranked eighth among National Hockey League netminders with a 2.30 goals-against-average during the 2010-11 regular-season. He also led all NHL rookies with a .927 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA in seven Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm ... L|CHI|home

GRADEN · Post #6 » by **GRADEN** » Mon May 23, 2011 6:09 am

I'm 2 for 2!!!

Crawford gets the 3 year deal I thought he would and they just chose to sign Salak. This could very well be our 1-2 next season. So long Alec Richards.

Never said anything about getting Seguin or them trading him. Said we could get lucky like the Bruins "with Seguin".... Refering of course to when they traded a talented offensive player to a team before a season for a future 1st... It ended up being #2 and Seguin. I mean I understand Phil Kessel is a very good player but they gave up the entire farm for him and they still are awful. Bruins get another high pick (9) this year from them and they are in the final 4 this year. Just stupid.

Point being; we have so many players tied up for years and years now and ON PAPER it makes sense to not give it to him at 30. IF they could move campbell then maybe, but have you really looked at our prospects on LW????? It's insane. Morin could step right in and get 35-45 points as a rook.

Great news to have our goalies lined up though!!!

WEFFPIM · Post #7 » by **WEFFPIM** » Tue May 24, 2011 5:11 pm

Hawks working on a deal with Frolik

Post #8 » by **TNBT** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:13 pm

WEFFPIM wrote:And just like that:

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Corey Crawford on a three-year contract.

Crawford, 26, paced rookie goaltenders with 33 wins (33-18-6), tied for rookie lead with four shutouts and ranked eighth among National Hockey League netminders with a 2.30 goals-against-average during the 2010-11 regular-season. He also led all NHL rookies with a .927 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA in seven Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm ... L|CHI|home

That's great news. He got his chance last season and he ran with it. I'm looking forward to seeing how good he will be next year.

GRADEN · Post #9 » by **GRADEN** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:45 pm

I wonder now if Rostislav Olesz fits in, if anywhere? Thoughts? Dude, was a major prospect in 04.... But that was a long time ago now and he really hasn't produced

Post #10 » by **TNBT** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 8:19 am

Ahhh, the OIesz question... personally I think he's a bust. He must have some level of talent and/or potential to have been drafted as high as he was, so I guess (if he's still on the roster come the start of the season), then we have to just hope that a change in team lights a bit of a fire under him and makes him get off his ass.

The only reason we traded for him though, in my opinion, was just to dump Campbell's salary. Personally I can see him being traded, burried in the minors or being bought-out before the season starts. Ideally he'll come good and be a really good player for us as I said, but the more realistic result is him getting given the ass and moved on to some other team.

GRADEN · Post #11 » by **GRADEN** » Mon Jul 4, 2011 7:55 pm

To update: (geez a big update!)

What may be our lines in 11-12?

LW Sharp - Brunette - Frolik - Mayers
C Toews - Bolland - McLean - Kruger
RW Kane - Hossa - Stahlberg - Carcillo

D Keith - Montador - Hjalmarsson - Campoli
D Seabrook - Leddy - O'Donnell - Olsen

G Crawford - Salak

Updates: Goodbye to Jake Dowell (DAL)

Something like this?? Seems like the thinking of Q and Bowman to me.... I like McLean alot... good 3rd line center signing!! Buys Marcus a year or 2

Post #12 » by **TNBT** » Thu Jul 7, 2011 2:42 pm

I like those lines that you posted, but I'm not sure about McLean. I don't really know anything about him, so I can't comment on where he fits in. I just like the look of Kruger on the 3rd line.

GRADEN · Post #13 » by **GRADEN** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:02 am

yea I like those lines too, good mix of young and experience there... and mclean will be your new favorite 3rd liner hawk im telling ya! great pick up with him back in the league.

VS just signed a 2year deal!!!! We HAD to sign him and did, that was critical. Guy has outstanding top 1% in the league type of speed.... Great talent, needs to get nasty

Post #14 » by **TNBT** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:49 am

GRADEN wrote:To update: (geez a big update!)

What may be our lines in 11-12?

LW Sharp - Brunette - Frolik - Mayers
C Toews - Bolland - McLean - Kruger
RW Kane - Hossa - Stahlberg - Carcillo

D Keith - Montador - Hjalmarsson - Campoli
D Seabrook - Leddy - O'Donnell - Olsen

G Crawford - Salak

Updates: Goodbye to Jake Dowell (DAL)

Something like this?? Seems like the thinking of Q and Bowman to me.... I like McLean alot... good 3rd line center signing!! Buys Marcus a year or 2

Just realized you forgot Bickell. I think he'd get the 3rd line RW spot over Stahlberg.

GRADEN · Post #15 » by **GRADEN** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:32 pm

i know bicks is there... just thought with all the new vets in that he is the odd man out to begin with but will obviously get ice time during the season as will ben smith (really like his hustle)....

It's kinda odd right now though... Our depth on the blue line used to be our strength and now it kinda scares me. Olsen isn't quite ready and behind the 8 listed we don't have a whole lot if an injury or 2 happens.... Keith needs less ice time this reg season too ya know.

I'd try and trade or sign another vet dman before tc..

GRADEN · Post #16 » by **GRADEN** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:39 pm

just re-read my first 2 posts.... I was spot on with our off season someone should hire me

. DREAM JOB!!

I think my assestments of the prospects are dead on too. Stephen Johns is beyond exciting as a 19 year old to me, I think he is our future blue line star in the next era of hawks to come up (say 3 years from now). Also Morin should get tons of opps this season to show his stuff and be a top 2-3 line player in 12-13 at 21-22. Kid has all the moves and spaces well in attack mode.

GRADEN · Post #17 » by **GRADEN** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:52 am

just re-signed frolik to 3/7!!! nice nice nice

my entire outlook on summer came out exactly true,,,, are they reading this????

i said trade brow/kop.. they did that

sign stal, frolik, salak, and cc... they did that

we need to check more.... they signed those guys

someone hire me!!!

Post #18 » by **TNBT** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:16 pm

Nice job. I'm really liking the look of this team now.

GRADEN · Post #19 » by **GRADEN** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:05 pm

We just lost Campoli to free agency.... While not an earth ending loss it is still a 3rd-4th line blue line loss for a team that has NOOOOOO depth at the position. We HAVE to sign a vet or 2 (likely) to help with ice time for both our leaders like Keith and Seebs and also for any young guys whom need practice tutors like Leddy and /or Olsen. We are in trouble because we will simply not have the team to go the distance without dman depth I'm telling ya.

Also points out just how important Bolland is... A hard nosed defensive and offensive 2nd line center. Keeps dump-ins occuring and makes 1 on 1 battles always in our favor when he is on the ice. I know this game and I'm telling everyone who will listen to Davie Bolland is in our top 3 of most important Hawks... I'd go Toews - CC - Bolland - Keith when I really think about it.

GRADEN · Post #20 » by **GRADEN** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:57 am

also like to point out the loses (which most missed) of Evan Brophey, Jeff Taffe, and Garnet Exelby.... All were expendable and not huge gears in the machine but our ready to play depth takes a step back.

Re-signed Alec Richards (a bit of a surprise to me), David Meckler, and Rob Klinkhammer...

Meckler is a winger whom excited alot of people by tearing up the OHL in 1 season with the knights when he was 20 and has since had 3 very average seasons in the AHL and most had simmered on this average across the board prospect.

Gotta look at it as just depth I suppose as well as Richards as having a goalie at the lower levels and backup what if scenario guy. Klink is a fighter but still a project in terms of a skilled hockey player to me...

All hoe-hum moves but worth noting to make sure everyone is up to date...

Who the heck is going to be on the 3/4 blue lines???? Sign some one already SB!