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Youth and Innovation – Part 2

June 25, 2020, 8:55 AM ET [188 Comments]
Tyler Cameron
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


First off, congratulations to Marian Hossa!

I will have an in-depth blog next week when I'm back from the cottage, but here were my initial thoughts I shared on Twitter:



Also, congrats to former Blackhawks dman, Doug Wilson for finally getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

I will discuss both and more next week.

Moving on... for those who didn't catch it on Monday, I am off this week as I snuck away for a little vacation.

The wifi is not very good there, so I have asked Theo (aka AEL_Fox) to guest write a couple of blogs for me this week to help out.

I loved Theo's last article and like this one even more. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Theo, over to you…

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The previous blog began the conversation on a movement toward youth and innovation within the Blackhawks organization focusing on management and community engagement. This blog is the second half of the conversation as we take a look at the players and on-ice play.

A reference point is the Chicago Sun-Times article by Ben Pope where he shared how Bowman is waiting until the offseason for a "reshaping of the team" by innovating and trying new things.

Specifically, Bowman aims to stop with "supplementing their aging core with equally aging free agents." What does that mean? Well, the opposite of aging is going young.

Backing up the Sun-Times piece is another recent article by Carter Baum , who writes for the Blackhawks website, that described leveraging the growth of younger players to complement the veterans once play resumes.

Baum shared that this extended break due to the pandemic "has served as a mini offseason for [the younger players] and their development. Physically and mentally, they're essentially getting ready for a new year after digesting the opening six months."

He also quoted Colliton to illustrate this point:

"They're going to be a few months older now and had a chance to settle into their year and reflect on it and I think they're going to come back with even more motivation and jam to take that next step in their development, and that's only going to help our team."

With an unprecedented hiatus that could be longer than a regular offseason, the youngsters have time for more natural maturation, i.e. adding muscle and weight, enhancing conditioning regimens, and learning from game tape.

Every other NHL team will be in the same situation, of course, so then it may boil down to whose youngsters grew the most to take their development and contributions to the next level.

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A primary reason why relying more on the youth moving forward is more viable today than in recent seasons is because the prospect pipeline is much stronger.

They are ready to play upon recall: keeping up with the play, committing to defense, and contributing in small ways even if in a role that isn't their ceiling yet.

Not only that, prospects seem to be growing expeditiously and being ready to compete. Dach, Boqvist, Beaudin, and Hagel all made their debut with less than a season at Rockford.

Contrast this with the Ted Dent era of the farm team when prospects just simply didn't develop well enough to even warrant a recall or they struggled mightily if they were called up.

Regardless of this positive trend, there must be balance making sure a prospect is in the right environment to develop (NHL, minors, juniors, college, or Europe) and is ripened at an appropriate pace.

Prospects should still earn their call up. For example, while I think Boqvist acquitted himself decently, I would argue Carlsson deserved to be up first before him.

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VETERAN D-MEN

Even though there are valuable free agent defensemen available this offseason like Pietrangelo, Krug, Barrie, Vatanen, Tanev, and Brodie, there is no room given the veterans on the team and the need to save space for budding youngsters.

Unless there is a total shake-up of the roster, Keith and Seabrook are retiring as Blackhawks as they're in their upper 30's. Keith at least has more tread on the tire than Seabrook.

de Haan, Maatta, and Murphy all become UFAs at the same time in 2022. While they're still in their mid/late 20's, they're also not spring chickens either.

Any of these veterans could be traded, of course, but the reason to trade them should be to open up spots for the vaunted D prospect depth, not to take on more veterans.

Why not upgrade from one veteran to another? A consideration is that for every veteran on the team, that's one less spot for a prospect who is ready to be an impact NHL player.

Furthermore, veterans who are worth adding to the lineup will cost an appreciable amount against the cap which then may impede re-signing teammates coming off of ELCs.

YOUNG D-MEN


So who will the Hawks rely on if pursuing veterans in free agency (or trade) is not part of the blueprint?

Boqvist is essentially a lock to make the team next season as he has committed to sharpening his defense while teasing with his offensive dynamism.

Carlsson has nothing else to prove in the AHL and should be up with the Hawks as long as there's space. If he's in Rockford again, he's their #1.

Beaudin is creeping up fast after an unelegantly impressive NHL debut (i.e. calm and steady). However, it wouldn't hurt for him to at least start with the Hogs if not play another full season in the minors.

Mitchell has the potential to jump from the NCAA to the NHL but there may not be room at the inn. Seasoning in the AHL isn't the worst thing for him if need be.

Gilbert is ready to go as an injury call-up and has the most NHL games under his belt out of the youth group.

Krys is inching his way toward a cup of coffee before making a stronger push in 2021.

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VETERAN FORWARDS


As the lineup currently stands, the youth at forward would be the ones bolded:

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
Nylander - Dach - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Shaw
Caggiula - Kampf - Carpenter
Smith

Like Keith and Seabrook, Toews and Kane are expected to be career-long Blackhawks. Yet, 19 and 88 could potentially play another decade while 2 and 7 are already on the back nine.

Shaw is an injury concern and may not factor in the Blackhawks future once he's in his 30's (he's 28). His family and long-term health matter more at this point.

Caggiula (26) may have a relatively longer shelf life than Shaw but I can't see him being a long-term option given his injury history.

Carpenter and Smith are placeholders with the former more valuable, durable, and versatile than the latter.

Kampf isn't a veteran at 25 but he's also not part of the youth movement that gets fans excited. He's effective but boring.

Saad is an interesting case. At 27, he still could perform at a high level into his early/mid 30's as far as 200-foot play with speed and being at least a 20/20 offensive contributor.

The question is whether the Hawks want to re-sign him. My vote is to retain his services as a part of the veteran core with Toews and Kane.

So if Toews, Kane, and Saad are your veterans up front, build around them as the other aforementioned veterans "age out" so to speak.

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YOUNG FORWARDS


Dach, DeBrincat, and Kubalik are locks in my book. Potential new franchise center in Dach and two wingers who can be perennial 35-40 goal scorers.

Strome and Nylander are worth developing, IMO, but do have you clamoring for more. Surround them with the right linemates and they could really flourish.

That leaves openings to replace Shaw, Caggiula, Kampf, Carpenter, and Smith.

Highmore and Hagel are carbon copies of each other with their speed, fearlessness, tenacity, and defensive awareness. Hagel has a higher offensive ceiling in comparison.

Entwistle is a stellar 4C in the making with his size, physicality, and attention to defense with enough skill to win draws and chip in timely goals. Have him center Highmore and Hagel.

Sikura is an option for 3rd line winger but he has competition in not only Hagel but also Kurashev and Quenneville.

Barratt, Altbarmakyan, and Teply aren't ready now but could be knocking on the door in a few years.

Fortin improved dramatically this season at Rockford and is also a youthful option as a bottom 6 spark plug if the Hawks re-sign him.

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GOALIES

Going younger in net is a tall task. A common perspective is that a contender should have either an experienced goalie like Crawford, Quick, or Rask.

However, there are instances when a youngster emerges as the #1 in short order like Binnington, Vasilevskiy, or Hellebuyck.

In all honesty, the Hawks don't have that luxury of an instant hero in their system at this point in time.

If Crawford decides to not re-sign, then this is where a veteran would still be worth pursuing in free agency, even if as a placeholder for a season or two.

After that, it's about stockpiling lottery tickets in the system to unearth at least one goalie (if not two) who can state their case to be a reliable fixture in Chicago's goalie tandem.

I don't believe Subban, Delia, Lankinen, and Tomkins are ready to be NHL starters but one could impress enough to hold down the backup role.

For next season, my preference is to retain Subban as the backup, then let the other three be the trio again in Rockford so they can push one another. Let the cream rise to the top.

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ON-ICE PLAY


Innovation in terms of trying creative strategies may be pivotal so that the Hawks become less predictable and more difficult to defend or score on.

On offense, how can the defensemen swiftly and efficiently move the puck up ice? And how can the forwards sustain pressure and avoid constant one-and-dones?

On defense, how can the forwards consistently support the D-men? And how can the team lock it down to protect their goalie and prevent goals like it was always Game 7?

On the power play, how can the units keep constant motion of themselves and the puck to get the other team to expose passing and shooting lanes? And how can the units rely less on set plays and vary shot generation?

On the penalty kill, how can the units play a tight formation while challenging the puck handler? And how can the killers convert more SHG attempts, Saad, especially?

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What are your thoughts on the youth movement and ways for the team to improve their play on the ice? Look forward to reading your posts!
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