Today is the day for some real hockey again. FINALLY!
The Hawks will kicking things off vs. Detroit tonight at 7 pm.
Here is CHI's full schedule:
I touched on a few key storylines in a
blog last week but also wanted to add my top 5 things I will be watching for over the next 5 days.
First, as a recap, here is the roster:
As per ChicagoBlackhawks.com: Sept. 3 Update: Sean Joslin, Nick Kossoff and Cole Purboo have been added to the Traverse City roster, while Luke Bignell, Nico Daws and Sean Element will no longer be attending.
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Tough break for Bignell, Daws and Element as the Hawks forgot to send in the paperwork so those 3 players were not eligible to attend. Chicago really needs to get better at "paperwork".
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Top 5 Questions
Will Dach Dominate?
Kirby Dach should stand out in a good way in this tournament. Just like Alex DeBrincat before him – who lit it up a few years ago – I'm excited to see what Dach can do.
I'm not as focused on the number of points that he puts up but rather how his 200-foot game looks. Of course, I expect him to get on the scoresheet frequently but want to see him lead the way in all situations as well.
I believe the Hawks will set him up for success with a couple of great linemates. I predicted him to be with Kurashev and Entwistle but that's merely a guess. We'll find out more today.
Can Boqvist Play Defence?
We all know Boqvist is a flashy, offensive dude, however, I think we're all wondering how far his defence has come along over the last year.
I expect him to play a lot so we will get a great look at how he handles the attack off the rush and how he plays in his own end. I suspect he will play with Beaudin or Gilbert.
Is Brandon Hagel for Real?
Hagel was one of the bright spots at the prospect developmental camp. Can he keep it going?
The highly skilled winger has a great feisty side to him as well. If he performs well in Traverse City, he could find himself on the inside track to sneak onto the Hawks opening night roster in the bottom 6/extra forward or at least put himself in a great position to be one of the first call ups from Rockford.
How Quickly Can the Baby Hawks Gel?
In such a quick tournament with limited practice time, the team that tends to win this thing is the group that gels the quickest.
Obviously, overall skill can prevail – which the Rangers might win solely on that (their team is STACKED!) but if CHI can find some early chemistry, it will go a long way.
Some of these players have played together in the AHL – which will help – but if Derek King and Co. can find the right mix in his lineup this team could be fun to watch.
If anything, this tournament will serve as a great bonding session for King's IceHogs as the Hawks have a potential 14 players that could be on the same team in the AHL this season.
Who is the Surprise of the Tournament?
There are also surprises in this tournament as each player is fighting for attention and show off to the brass.
Will it be a guy like newly drafted Michal Teply? 24-year old Dylan McLaughlin? Or does Chad Krys steal the show on the backend?
The top picks and prospects need to look like the best players, but always fun to watch a dark horse come out of nowhere to impress.
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What are the storylines you'll be watching for in Traverse City?
See ya out there!
TC
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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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