In a different era not too long ago, I would have been excited to add Mattias Janmark and Lucas Wallmark to the roster as they would have nicely complemented the elite forwards in Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Sharp.
Both Swedes are intelligent, defensively wired forwards who skate well and do the little things to help teams win. Janmark tends to play wing while Wallmark is above 50% at the dot as a pivot. While not flashy, they both compete across all 200 feet. Think former Blackhawks and fellow countrymen Marcus Kruger and Joakim Nordstrom.
Similarly, I would have been excited to have Nikita Zadorov join the blueline as needed depth during the latest Cup runs. Adding him to the 3rd pair -- with his hard hitting and physical play -- would have made that last defensive duo impactful during a time when the top 4 of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Johnny Oduya were relied upon heavily.
Today, though, the additions of Janmark, Wallmark, and Zadorov hit differently. There has initially been an odd funky feeling rather than one of immediate exuberance.
Why is that?
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During the most recent dark age of Blackhawks hockey, each offseason there seemed to be a revolving door of European players who quite simply were unforgettable either because their play was unspectacular or their presence on the team was so short lived.
Remember names like Denis Arkhipov, Milan Bartovic, Michal Grosek, Michael Holmqvist, Josef Marha, and Ville Nieminen? Even if you did, you may have repressed memories of them playing in a Blackhawks sweater.
Interestingly, some of them like Arkhipov, Bartovic, Holmqvist, and Marha played only a season or two before heading overseas to finish their careers in Europe. At least for Grosek and Nieminen, they had some staying power in the NHL to be mercenaries who hopped from team to team.
Regardless, I do have a gut wrenching feeling that Janmark, Wallmark, and Zadorov could be the 2020s versions of these unremarkable Blackhawks alumni. That’s the foul stench I smell.
Yet, another part of me is surprisingly excited for some new blood injected into the lineup as part of this rebuilding effort that is leaning towards more and more youth.
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Casting aside the circumstances, I am putting on my cautiously optimistic hat and considering Janmark, Wallmark, and Zadorov with an open mind.
Why is that?
Zadorov is a blueliner who I have always liked for his physicality and have had him on my wish list for some reason. So, maybe I am excited to finally see him go from wish list to roster.
Even though he has been criticized for hitting too much to the point of taking himself out of the play, I honestly don’t see that as the footage I have viewed of Zadorov’s hits show him rejoining the play immediately after leveling an opponent.
As a strictly defensive defenseman who is another heavy hitter on the back end beyond Connor Murphy, I have high hopes that Zadorov emerges as an impact player for the Hawks.
The question with Zadorov, though, is whether he is consistently reliable to defend the Chicago zone as a shutdown defender who can nullify the other team’s best players as he claims he can do. Also, what pair is he best suited: 2nd pair or 3rd pair?
Am I just as excited for Janmark and Wallmark?
While neither player was ever one I coveted, I do look forward to seeing them be difference makers as role players who bring elements of what the Blackhawks need more of -- specifically more three-zone hustle, defensive awareness, and heads-up cerebral play in all situations.
Janmark and Wallmark are the type of players you can give hard hats to and know they will get to work, lay it all on the ice with an honest effort, and do what is asked of them.
They are not without their faults as Janmark and Wallmark are offensive deserts. While they can chip in scoring here and there, they are likely topping out at 30 points in a strong year but more realistically landing around the 20-25 range.
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Given the trend towards youth that the franchise wants to commit to and given that Janmark, Wallmark, and Zadorov are in their mid-to-late 20s, are they considered part of the youthful corps or as supplemental teammates anticipated to do the heavy lifting so the youngsters can shine?
Each of Janmark, Wallmark, and Zadorov are signed on for just the 2020-21 season so it seems safe to assume that they fit in the latter category.
Could any of them shatter expectations and earn a contract extension?
Sure. However, that still would not change the fact that they would be regarded more as experienced players to support the youth like Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik, Alex Nylander, and Matthew Highmore up front and Adam Boqvist, Lucas Carlsson, Nicolas Beaudin, and Ian Mitchell in the rear.
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My spidey sense is tingling and telling me that Janmark, Wallmark, and Zadorov may be joined soon with other newbies as additional trades may be on the horizon.
I would at least expect trades to free up space for Janmark and Wallmark because right now, I really don't know where they play without letting some forwards go.
Here is a look at the forward lines as they stand today without factoring in Janmark and Wallmark:
DeBrincat - Toews - Kubalik
Nylander - Dach - Kane
Suter - Strome - Shaw
Highmore - Kampf - Carpenter
Pius Suter isn't automatic but Stan Bowman gave him high praise and stated the expectation for him to be in the Blackhawks lineup this season, just like he said about Dominik Kubalik during the last offseason.
Then on the blueline, here is the personnel as it stands today but this time inserting Zadorov in the spot vacated by Olli Maatta:
Keith - Murphy
Zadorov - Boqvist
de Haan - Seabrook
If there are more trades queuing up, the questions become who leaves and where do you play the new guys all while ensuring that every player on the roster is slotted properly.
Let’s wait for the dust to settle first then see where the chips lay and start piecing together a coherent lineup from there.
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See you on the boards!
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