Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago, TSN Hockey
Marc-Andre Fleury summed it up perfectly: "Oh boy..."
Yesterday was an off day for the Blackhawks as they ended the preseason schedule on Saturday and are preparing for the regular season opener on Wednesday versus the Avalanche in Denver. Yet, Sunday became rather eventful with waivers, a reassignment, and alleged return of an ex.
Prior to these latest transactions, the Hawks were at 28 players on the roster and need to cut 5 more to get to the maximum of 23 by the NHL deadline of 5:00pm EDT today. Andrew Shaw's contract is one to watch as a potential trade asset as the team engages in salary cap gymnastics.
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Delia & Subban
As expected, Collin Delia and Malcolm Subban were waived yesterday and neither have cleared nor have been claimed at time of print. If they clear, the IceHogs have decisions to make as they would increase their goalie cohort to 5 with Arvid Soderblom, Cale Morris, and Tom Aubrun.
The logical alternative would be to assign Morris and/or Aubrun to the Blackhawks ECHL affiliate Indy Fuel. Both Morris and Aubrun are on AHL contracts. This would leave the netminders on NHL deals -- Delia, Subban, and Soderblom -- to form a 3-goalie rotation in Rockford.
However, could there by interest from other teams to sign at least one of Delia or Subban? Some teams could be looking to deepen their goalie ranks while others could be looking for a short-term or even long-term replacement after one of their own suffered a preseason injury.
Retaining at least one of Delia or Subban may be necessary so there's a 3rd string and a 4th string (Soderblom) in the off chance that Fleury and Kevin Lankinen both get sidelined due to injuries or illness. Keeping both Delia and Subban isn't out of the question either.
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Alex Nylander
Assuming Alex Nylander to Rockford is genuinely for development and not a paper transaction, this is exactly how the Blackhawks need to manage their youngsters: if they're not showing well in the NHL, return them to the minors for as much seasoning is needed until truly ready.
That lesson evaded the Hawks either by design or by happenstance with the failed experiments of Henri Jokiharju and Adam Boqvist. Jokiharju made the roster out of his first training camp but pouted when sent to the AHL. Boqvist started in the AHL but was recalled a year too early.
Similarly, having Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin in the NHL didn't work out for them or the team last year. To be fair, the pandemic forced virtually all teams to play rookies when they really weren't ready so this wasn't an issue isolated to just the Hawks.
For Nylander, it helped that he was deemed waiver exempt due to not playing any of last season and thus the Hawks avoided losing him for nothing. The options now are have him develop more in the AHL, play him in the NHL, keep him on the NHL roster but scratch him, or trade him.
If they are to ship out Nylander, who would want him? The Coyotes are rumored to be interested but was that only if they could claim him on waivers for free? Now that he's waiver exempt, would the Coyotes be willing to trade either a draft pick or a prospect to the Hawks?
With the Hawks already up against the cap, it's preferable to not take on a new contract and especially for a player who isn't waiver exempt. If a draft pick is the return, a 3rd or 4th rounder may be reasonable. But if a prospect, a B-level one or reclamation project may be viable.
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Erik Gustafsson
Putting Delia and Subban on waivers and reassigning Nylander were predictable decisions as the Hawks work to reduce the roster to 23 by 5:00pm EDT. Reportedly signing offensively inclined but defensively deficient blueliner Erik Gustafsson was far from anticipated.
Gustafsson is as one-trick of a pony as could possibly be. He's gifted at generating offense and can be lights out on the power play. His play without and away from the puck is atrocious and hasn't improved one iota since departing Chicago back at the 2020 trade deadline.
While Gustafsson is viewed as a PP specialist, he would be joining a Hawks team with a man advantage that may already be relatively strong. The PK is where the Hawks are struggling not to mention team defense being an Achilles' heel for several years even when he was with them.
So is there a need or fit for Gustafsson on the Hawks? Head coach Jeremy Colliton stresses hard work and compete level. Does Gustafsson contribute either, particularly in the defensive end? Is there enough or any redeemable qualities that Colliton still likes in him?
One reason to bring in a veteran D-man makes sense after Wyatt Kalynuk then Caleb Jones went down with injuries that will keep them out for up to 6 weeks. Mitchell could be in the 6th spot but so could Jakub Galvas if his demotion over the weekend was merely a paper transaction.
McCabe - S Jones
Stillman - Murphy
de Haan - Mitchell/Galvas
Gustafsson
Is it okay for Gustafsson to be on the team as a healthy scratch and suit up only when needed? Whether a veteran D-man is brought in to either be a starter or a spare, why not get a more qualified one with experience to actually thrive with what their title implies: defend.
On the waiver wire in recent days were experienced blueliners like Thomas Hickey, John Moore, and Michal Kempny. The difference between players like them and Gustafsson is -- while they may not be as good as they were in their prime -- they at least know how to play defense.
It's all water under the bridge now. In order for Gustafsson to pull his weight and be a reliable contributor for the Hawks is if he can commit more to playing responsibly in his own end whether taking regular shifts or playing sheltered minutes.
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Readers' Poll
Click here to participate in a readers' poll to submit your predictions for the 2021-22 Blackhawks season! Poll results will be published on Wednesday's blog just in time for opening night.
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