Today’s blog features a readers mailbag to help cap off a synchronously unforgettable and forgettable 2020. Thank you to those who submitted questions! Let’s hop to it.
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Question from powerenforcer:
Would it benefit the Chicago organization if the Rockford IceHogs games were televised in the Chicago market, so fans can get a chance to see some of the future? Being in Chicago, it is frustrating that we get to see the Wolves play, but for many years those players have been the future for other teams.
Yes, that would be a welcome opportunity for Blackhawks fans specifically and hockey fans in general. Many hockey fans will watch just about any game -- especially nowadays -- if it’s accessible.
What’s more is the fact that the Hawks top minor league affiliate is local, 90 miles westward on the I-90. Chicago fans cheer for teams further than Rockford like the Fighting Illini and Fighting Irish.
The likelihood of NBC Sports Chicago or WGN carrying Hogs games wouldn't be high so perhaps the Hogs could find a home on a low-powered channel like WCIU (CW) or WPWR (My 50 Chicago).
Who knows, maybe president Jaime Faulkner’s team in business ops will find value in this and bring this to fruition.
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Questions from Chunk:
1) If, god forbid, the Hawks are actually competitive and in playoff position do you think the FO gets trigger happy and makes TDL moves to try and put them over the top for a playoff run? I know there was a lot of talk about the youth movement and building a sustainable team, but I wonder if the draw of playoff success is too much for them to take.
Honestly, no. I think this newly reset Blackhawks administration will be resolute in staying the course with what they are saying publicly in countless interviews and press releases.
When the messaging is clearly articulated and decisions made to date reflect their goals, I feel more confident that the team will remain on track with a steady methodical approach.
2) Considering the first premise, do you think they should make moves to be competitive in the PO's? Considering the "core's" age and utility, should they just put the plan on hold if they catch lightning in a bottle?
Based on how I have interpreted management’s messaging, decisions moving forward won’t be centered on the core players and their proverbial window. They are no longer the priority; the youth is.
If the Hawks are jockeying for the playoffs during the nitty gritty part of the season, then any trades should be forward thinking and not short-sighted on just earning a postseason berth.
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Question from scottak:
Colliton has been called a ‘developmental’ coach by some, good with bringing out the best with the young players. However, I just don’t see it. What do you think? Here are some examples:
Kubalik – good year, and JC could get credit, although he couldn’t figure out where to play him the 1st part of the season, and ‘press boxed’ him early
Dach – certainly got better during the year, but most of his growth was during the COVID break. Does JC get credit for that?
Nylander – If he improved, I must have missed it
DeBrincat – Suffered from a low shooting percentage, but most would say he was worse under JC
Strome – no improvement there
Kampf – he is what he is, so give JC whatever credit he deserves
Highmore – tbd
Boqvist – he didn’t get any better during the season, and his playoffs were atrocious
Your argument is fair as to whether the success of young players can be attributed to Jeremy Colliton and any shortcomings due to an inability to live up to his reputation as a developmental coach.
My take is the Hawks should have kept Colliton as Hogs head coach which is where living up to his reputation was more apparent. He, Derek King, and Sheldon Brookbank had a good thing going.
A reason why Colliton thrived in the AHL was because his sole job was to develop the youth. Now in the NHL, his job is to rebuild the team from the foundation up which includes high-end veterans.
That foundation includes not just bringing along rookies but also imprinting a revitalized playing style and attitude. On the latter part, Colliton is preaching work ethic and competitiveness.
Then on the former part, perpetual replenishment of youth is necessary to build a sustainable model that isn’t top heavy with an elite core surrounded by a mediocre supporting cast.
Instead, the goal is to have a continual influx of talent so that the newbies, young veterans, and grizzled warriors are always on the same page philosophically and generate consistent effort.
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Question from darren:
Any trade rumors for the Hawks?
The only rumored trade I have been aware of entails trading Dylan Strome to the Golden Knights for Alex Tuch and a prospect. The prospect is supposedly the main stumbling block.
Chicago wants a high-end prospect but Vegas is offering up a mid-range or low-end one. If this rumor is true, good on Stan Bowman to not cave. Wait for teams to give up premium futures.
Another roadblock to this trade could be Strome’s lack of a contract. The AAV and term could be additional factors that dictate the caliber of prospect the Hawks get.
If the Hawks can leverage the trade to gain a blue-chip pivot like Peyton Krebs or Brendan Brisson, then wait it out. Winger Jack Dugan or rearguard Kaedan Korczak may not be bad either.
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Questions from HawkintheD:
1) If not the Hawks, who is the youngest team in the league?
The only hockey website that has an up-to-date comparison of average ages for NHL teams is
Elite Prospects.
The Hawks are actually in the middle third in the league at 14th youngest. Here is the list from 1-13 starting with the youngest:
1. Rangers, 25.44
2. Senators, 25.88
3. Flyers, 26.08
4. Hurricanes, 26.26
5. Kings, 26.33
6. Devils, 26.47
7. Avalanche, 26.71
8. Coyotes, 26.79
9. Canadiens, 26.83
10. Sabres, 26.96
11. Panthers, 27.00
12. Flames, 27.09
13. Blue Jackets, 27.12
14. Blackhawks, 27.26
The Capitals, Stars, and Lightning are the three oldest teams. Surprisingly, the Red Wings clock in as fourth oldest.
As a caveat, this age ranking may not be accurate due to roster sizes not being equalized as they range from 17 players to 27 players.
Also, the Hawks roster doesn't include Ian Mitchell (21) and Lucas Carlsson (23) but includes John Quenneville (24), Nick Seeler (27), and Zack Smith (32) as well as new guys Nikita Zadorov (25), Lucas Wallmark (25), Mattias Janmark (28), and Brandon Pirri (29).
The Hawks roster -- which lists 23 players -- also includes three goalies. Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia are each 26 while Kevin Lankinen is 25.
2) Ian Mitchell and Pius Suter (esp Suter) seem to be destined to see regular NHL playing time this season and I could see Carlsson and Hagel getting some too? Any dark horses you see getting a cup of coffee?
The dark horses I see at defense are Nicolas Beaudin, Wyatt Kalynuk, and Alec Regula.
Beaudin looked smooth and composed in his NHL debut but it was just one game. Kalynuk has been talked up as near NHL ready. Regula made the RTP roster in the Edmonton bubble out of juniors.
However, the three of them are better off honing their craft more in the AHL and aim for spots next year. Cups of coffee aren’t out of the question, though, for any of them later this upcoming season.
I feel Chad Krys deserves a chance as much as these three but he’s getting pushed down the depth chart and unfairly left behind. Like Dylan Sikura, he may need to make the NHL via another franchise.
At forward, the dark horses are Philipp Kurashev, MacKenzie Entwistle, and Tim Soderlund.
Kurashev looked poised and subtly smooth during his loan back home in Switzerland. Entwistle has shown he can play the physical pro game. Soderlund regained confidence on his Swedish loan.
Yet, like Beaudin, Kalynuk, and Regula, it is more beneficial for these three forwards to marinate more in Rockford, earn possible cups of coffee this season, and gun for spots in Chicago next year.
3) Finally, any predictions on trades during the season? To me deHaan would seem the likeliest headed to a new address but maybe they look at trading Murphy if Seabs has taken a gulp from the Fountain of Youth and Mitchell looks ready while Boqvist takes another step.
Calvin de Haan is good as gone by either the trade deadline or next offseason. The expected return would be a draft pick. His health status and productivity will dictate the pick’s round.
Of the core, Duncan Keith is the one I would expect to demand a trade first if his relationship with Colliton sours. Their relationship isn’t particularly on good footing to begin with.
After Keith, Brent Seabrook could also request a trade if he feels Colliton isn’t deploying him enough or appropriately. Seabrook has alluded to wanting to go elsewhere if this is the case.
Keith would be easiest to trade while Seabrook would be difficult. The return would be different, too, i.e. a draft pick plus prospect for Keith versus another bad contract or scraps for Seabrook.
I could see Connor Murphy and Nikita Zadorov retained longer term. One or both could also be exposed in July’s expansion draft so that’s a scenario to keep in mind, too.
Alex Nylander is in a “make it or break it” season as he’s in the final year of his ELC. His current stock isn’t high and will get even lower if he continues to stagnate.
So it’s a risk to trade him now and a risk to trade him later. Trading now risks him finally emerging to hit potential but trading later could result in minimal returns if he’s still flatlining.
Like de Haan, Ryan Carpenter is also good as gone. Carpenter has some veteran value but isn’t a building block for the future so it’s best to trade him a year early before his contract expires.
Between the Marks Brothers, I would venture to say Mattias Janmark is traded for futures while Lucas Wallmark is retained. Wallmark is a few years younger and a better all-around player.
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Questions from StLBravesFan:
1) How long do you think it will be until the Wirtz’ give in to the inevitable and change the name of the team?
Not sure on the exact timeline but my gut is the Blackhawks will be the last of the pro sports teams in the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB to make the change. The Cleveland Indians are obviously next which leaves the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Blackhawks of course.
The pressure that the Hawks will get as being the only pro sports team left with a Native American moniker will be too much which may not be worth the public relations nightmare no matter how keeping the name is justified.
In other words, management can make justification all it wants but both the reality will grow more intensely poignant and the optics will just get unbearably worse over time.
2) Do you think the Blackhawks will be the last team to make the change?
Yes because the franchise has already committed a lot of time and resources to justify and educate and has recently double downed to continue doing so.
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Questions from DarthKane:
1) Which rookie has the best chance to make the team this season (and actually play)?
Pius Suter up front and Ian Mitchell on the back end.
Similar to Dominik Kahun and Dominik Kubalik before him, Suter was all but guaranteed a spot as Bowman “expects him to be on he Hawks roster” (paraphrasing).
Ditto for Mitchell. The fact that the Hawks wanted him to go pro last year shows how highly he’s valued as not just a prospect but also a rookie who can make an immediate impact.
Honorable mentions go to Lucas Carlsson and Brandon Hagel.
I’ve stated this many times but Carlsson has nothing left to prove in the AHL after being the Hogs top two-way defender for the past few seasons. He’s ready for the NHL.
Ever since signing with the Hawks in 2018, Hagel’s star keeps rising at each phase of his development. He’s a wicked blend of offensive spark plug, fearless agitator, and reliable defender.
2) Which prospect do you think could surprise fans the most?
Even though he’s at least three years away from knocking on the NHL door, Wyatt Kaiser is at the top of the list. As a freshman, he’s been UMD’s top D-man reliable in all zones and situations.
Kaiser’s defense is near flawless managing gaps well with pro-caliber skating. In the other end, he’s calm and smart at the point with excellent vision, puck movement, passing, and shot release.
Honorable mentions go to Josiah Slavin and Landon Slaggert.
Slavin is turning it up as a sophomore at Colorado College after a ho-hum freshman year going from bottom 6 to top line. He uses his size well. Think Blake Coleman as an NHL comparable.
Many think Slaggert was lucky to make the U.S. WJC team but he’s proving at Notre Dame and now Team USA that competitive squads need players like him: relentless grinder with offensive jam.
3) Which goalie do you see emerging as the #1?
Subban is who I would predict as the starter. He has work horse written all over him and will battle with good technique and a competitive spirit. Additionally, Subban rarely gets rattled.
Delia, though, may be the more popular pick. When he’s on his game, he’s unbeatable with swagger to boot. But just as quickly, he can be porous including softies. High highs and low lows.
4) If none of the 3 goalies emerge as the #1, who could Stan realistically trade for?
Best guesses are David Rittich, Alexandar Georgiev, Linus Ullmark (why not go after another Marks Brother), or one of the Columbus goalies Joonas Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins.
All of them are in their mid-20s and their best years may still be ahead of them. But that’s the kicker: what are their best years projected to be and are any of them worth the investment.
In terms of who the Hawks would have to trade to land any of them, it obviously varies by trade partner and their respective cap situations.
My hope is the Hawks steer clear of Darcy Kuemper or other goalies already in their 30s.
5) Will Stan make any moves once the season starts? He’s mentioned that he wants to take advantage of other teams’ salary cap woes and once Smith goes on LTIR he’ll have room to do that.
The probability of in-season trades before the trade deadline is high. See above for possible trades that could go down at some point between now and next offseason.
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Question from rayk1006:
Do you know what happened to Slava Demin? Did he transfer which takes effect next year maybe? DU brought in a few transfers and he may have been squeezed out even though Mitchell is gone to the Blackhawks.
Slava Demin is still at the University of Denver. He's been healthy scratched many times already as a junior after starting every game during his freshman and sophomore years.
His coaches state it's his lack of consistency which is odd to see as a third year NCAA player. One would think his consistency improves over time, not worsens. Something to keep an eye on.
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Question from rpeters01:
Not sure where the reader mailbag stands but my request is for an update of the overall AHL status?
The AHL is still scheduled to begin its season on February 5. However, with the NHL plans announced, the AHL is supposedly having conversations if and how its plans may change.
Intentions to play need to be made by early January. It’s unclear whether that means intentions by the league and/or by each team.
For instance, the ECHL league play is already underway but many teams have opted out.
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See you on the boards!
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