Next Game vs Predators
The Blackhawks and Predators are scheduled to battle tonight but it remains to be seen if the Nashville organization will be further impacted by COVID. This would also be the Preds second game in as many nights as they beat the Avalanche 5-2 yesterday.
One thing to consider is the fact that the AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals are already decimated in order to help the parent club field a team. If any more Predators players go into COVID protocol, there's only so much that the farm team can provide healthy bodies.
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Taxi Squad
If the NHL reinstitutes the taxi squad feature from last season, here's a preliminary stab at who the Blackhawks could consider as candidates to compose that cohort. Assuming last year's rules are the same, a taxi squad must have 4-6 players including a minimum of one goalie.
* Collin Delia makes sense to be the goalie as he has NHL experience and wouldn't necessarily have stunted development being the emergency 3rd string while Arvid Soderblom and Cale Morris are the Rockford duo.
* Brett Connolly could remain with the Hawks and play when necessary so that Henrik Borgstrom can get reinserted into the top 9 once he's healthy again while Dylan Strome can continue to play top 6.
* Alex Nylander should get recalled sooner or later to see if his new-found compete level in the AHL translates to the NHL before management decides on whether to re-sign him, trade him, or let him walk.
* Kurtis Gabriel seems like a shoo-in to be taxi squad fodder as he really shouldn't be a starter by taking away Jujhar Khaira's spot yet he does have NHL experience to play on an as-needed basis.
* Reese Johnson could be perfect for the taxi squad once his clavicle is healed as he does provide value to the Hawks if his TOI is sheltered but it's not a bad idea either to have him develop more in Rockford.
* Tyler Johnson is on LTIR for 3 months so he's a possibility for the spring stretch run as the regular season winds down but management may want him in the starting lineup given his salary and talent.
* Mike Hardman and Josiah Slavin are possibilities for the taxi squad but they're both better off getting regular minutes; if they're going to sit, may as well have them start in Rockford instead.
* MacKenzie Entwistle is in the same boat but he's further along in his development than Hardman and Slavin to the point where he's pretty much solidified his spot in the Hawks starting lineup.
* Erik Gustafsson has been playing much better defensively this season but he could have a seat in the taxi so that Riley Stillman and Caleb Jones can play regularly along with the veterans on D.
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IceHogs Updates
The IceHogs are in Austin, Texas to take on the Dallas Stars AHL affiliate by the same name for games tonight and on Saturday. Look for Lukas Reichel, Dylan McLaughlin, Jakub Galvas, and Arvid Soderblom to make their returns to the Rockford starting lineup.
Getting Galvas back deepens the IceHogs blueline as he's capable of being in the top 4 along with Ian Mitchell, Wyatt Kalynuk, and Nicolas Beaudin. The 3rd pair should ideally be Isaak Phillips with Alec Regula yet veteran Ryan Stanton tends to start every game.
Before going into concussion protocol, Galvas was proving to be the Hogs most reliable defender. He plays smart, fundamentally sound hockey in all zones, is constantly proactive at puck pursuit, and makes quick exits to flip the ice either with passing or with his feet.
The looping shuttle that Chad Yetman has been on between Rockford and Indianapolis could be chalked up to the uncertainty of forwards like Reichel and McLaughlin. Both are fortunately healthy to play again so having Yetman as depth isn't necessary anymore.
As for Morris, he too was the odd one out in a numbers game with Soderblom also returning from injury. While Soderblom was in concussion protocol, Morris backed up Delia. Now Delia becomes the backup again while Soderblom steps into the starter role again.
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World Junior Championships
Michael Krutil is now confirmed to represent his native Czech Republic in the upcoming World Junior Championships. He will first need to serve a 2-game suspension that he was tabbed with after boarding Team Canada forward and Hurricanes prospect Ryan Suzuki in last year's tourney.
The Blackhawks prospects going to the WJC in Edmonton are now Krutil for the Czech Republic as well as Drew Commesso, Wyatt Kaiser, and Landon Slaggert for the United States. Connor Kelley didn't make the cut for Team USA while Reichel won't play for Team Germany.
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