One-way contract just mean a player is paid the same in the AHL as they are in the NHL. Hayden is past the waiver-exemption period as well, though, but he still technically can go to the AHL if they waive him. His pay is just the same regardless.
- L_B_R

According to Cap Friendly Hayden is still exempt from waivers.

I hope I’m wrong about Hayden, but I don’t think he’ll be a regular contributor this season. Maybe he will be in the 19/20 season.

Hillman is different than the other d-men in the Hawks pipeline that are getting all the attention (Boqvist, Jokiharju, Mitchell, Krys). Like you said, he’s more of a stay-at-home type of defenseman. I liked what we saw from him during his cup of coffee with the Hawks at the end of the season. I don’t think both Hillman and Jokiharju start the season on the Hawks, but they should end it together.

Of all the rookies that could make the team this year I’m most looking forward to seeing Sikura and Hillman.
- DarthKane

Great way to put it. Of the two, Jokiharju is likely the one to start with the Hawks with Hillman getting recalled later so that both of them end the season on the roster.

Unless any of the current rostered D-men get traded or injured, there's currently no space for both Jokiharju and Hillman anyway. Even if one of them makes the team out of camp and assuming the Hawks don't go with 8 defenders like last year, one of Rutta or Gustafsson is likely the odd man out and needs to be moved to make room.

https://twitter.com/travi...tatus/1030465304441188353

Quite interesting to see teams like Chicago, Edmonton, and both New York teams up at the top of the list, considering the fact that they all vastly underachieved compared to the prior season.

https://twitter.com/travi...tatus/1030465304441188353

Quite interesting to see teams like Chicago, Edmonton, and both New York teams up at the top of the list, considering the fact that they all vastly underachieved compared to the prior season.
- TommyHawk

Interesting there may be hope yet ..

Although I have mixed feelings about whether he should develop one more year or get the experience "trial by fire" style in the NHL, my gut feeling is that Jokiharju makes the roster and will be paired up with Manning to have a veteran defensive defenseman protecting him in more ways than one.

Keith - Murphy
Gustafsson - Seabrook
Manning - Jokiharju
Rutta

Murphy slides to LD if Rutta slots in for either Gustafsson or Manning.
- AEL_Fox

I am with on this again AEL! I think he should start in Rockford as it is a natural progression from Major Jrs. If he can more than hold his own, ie D zone, board battles and hopefully dominate offensively, then I would say call him up. But many factors are contributing here, how the Hawks are doing, injuries to d men, play of d men, Q and staff confidence in him, etc. Either way he should NOT go back to Major Juniors?

Justin, this may be a spoiler for your next blog or two, but I have a feeling that Hillman will make the team as well. Like I do about Jokiharju making the team out of camp, I have mixed feelings about Hillman doing the same thinking that he should at least start the year in Rockford then be a call up later once he gets more pro experience at the AHL level. However, another stated in the last blog that Hillman may be this year's TVR (i.e. a prospect who Q loves and will want him in the lineup) and I kinda agree with that perspective.
- AEL_Fox

Same scenario for Hillman (as for the Joker) although depends on need as he is big, strong D d man and also he has played against older and bigger and stronger guys at DU. His cup of coffee last year was a good showing!

To me, they could have an all world blue line corps top to bottom, but if they don't fix the lack of physical play from the top six to keep the play alive in the O zone and win NZ battles, it is still going to be odd man break-a-palooza.
- Return of the Roar

100% agreed here! Like you aptly mentioned, it the 50/50 puck battles that need to be won and forecheck hits, at bare minimum, the intimidation factor of hits. Also F 3 much be much smarter and both weakside and strongside D's as well

Random observation, but of all the recent draft picks not counting Russian prospects like Kayumov and Altybarmakyan who are under KHL contract which precludes them from participating in NHL camps, 2017 draft pick Parker Foo did not attend last month's prospect camp. Was he injured?

Foo is still Hawks property and I don't think they would've given up on him that quickly. I know the Hawks eventually let Roy Radke go, but that was after a few years.

Parker's older brother Spencer plays for the Flames and had a decent debut in the few games he played. Spencer may be a good 3rd liner for the Flames.
- AEL_Fox

Don't know much about Parker but have seen Spencer many time at Union College and he and Vecchione (Flyers farm) dominated. So if Parker is anything like Spencer Hawks will be happy.

I can see what you described as a possible path for Hillman.

Sikura, too, although of all the prospects, I think he has the most potential to make the team and stick. He's 23, played all 4 years in college getting better each season, so he's not underbaked (undersized, yes, but so is DeBrincat). In his brief debut, Sikura showed he can skate with the pros, contribute, and not be a liability.

Like Hillman, I can see Sikura being a Q favorite as well.
- AEL_Fox

You have seen me taut in many posts and IMHO if Dylan plays like he can and suppose to, he should make the team out of training camp. BUT if the Hawks play him, he should be on a line where his linemates (at least one also D man too) can think and play like him.

With Jokiharju going back to Portland is not an option. He's reached where he needs to at that level. There's talk that he cannot go to Rockford, but there doesn't appear to be too much concern that that wouldn't be an option for Stan to send him down.

Players under 20 on September 15, who have played for a major junior team, can not play for an AHL team. It's part of the transfer agreement between the NHL, AHL, & CHL. I'm confused about what would make Jokiharju an exception?

Players under 20 on September 15, who have played for a major junior team, can not play for an AHL team. It's part of the transfer agreement between the NHL, AHL, & CHL. I'm confused about what would make Jokiharju an exception?
- Antilles

Great catch and you are absolutely correct! So it is 10 game with the Hawks then decision time....either stay or back to Portland! So given this situation he stays and watched carefully but he has to play some.

Players under 20 on September 15, who have played for a major junior team, can not play for an AHL team. It's part of the transfer agreement between the NHL, AHL, & CHL. I'm confused about what would make Jokiharju an exception?
- Antilles

I think they’re trying to claim that he was only LOANED to the Portland team by his Finnish team - therefore, never really being the “property” of a CHL franchise, he can go to the AHL this season.

Don’t know whether that has yet been adjudicated or not.

Players under 20 on September 15, who have played for a major junior team, can not play for an AHL team. It's part of the transfer agreement between the NHL, AHL, & CHL. I'm confused about what would make Jokiharju an exception?
- Antilles

There have been a couple reports that Portland’s wouldn’t not fight the Hawks if they wanted to send him to the AHL. Also there was some question on if he was considered “on loan” from Europe which apparently alters the agreement somehow.

There have been a couple reports that Portland’s wouldn’t not fight the Hawks if they wanted to send him to the AHL. Also there was some question on if he was considered “on loan” from Europe which apparently alters the agreement somehow.
- Chunk

If they rule that he was playing in Portland on loan from Europe, then there's no issue. However, I think that the CHL as a whole would hate to see Portland just let him go to the AHL, as it could be very bad for their league.

On a completely different subject: Wiz let us know he had his mock draft for next year up, and he has the Hawks picking Spencer Knight, a goalie, with the 11th pick. A different version two days earlier had Knight going in the third round. Aside from the fact that the Hawks are really picking Jack Hughes #1, we obviously don't know where teams will be picking, but my question is what happened over the course of 2 days to make Knight jump up 2 rounds?

If they rule that he was playing in Portland on loan from Europe, then there's no issue. However, I think that the CHL as a whole would hate to see Portland just let him go to the AHL, as it could be very bad for their league.
- tvetter

I don't know about that as perhaps NHL teams may just stop allowing their euros from playing in theCHL if they are going to fight to keep them.Would Chicago have allowed Boqvist to go to London if they thought London may try to take control of his future?

I don't know about that as perhaps NHL teams may just stop allowing their euros from playing in theCHL if they are going to fight to keep them.Would Chicago have allowed Boqvist to go to London if they thought London may try to take control of his future?
- eagle50

I'm specifically talking about players that aren't from Europe. In this case, I believe that they will rule Jokiharu is there on loan. However, if they don't, and Portland just lets him go to Rockford, I don't think the CHL will be happy.

I'm specifically talking about players that aren't from Europe. In this case, I believe that they will rule Jokiharu is there on loan. However, if they don't, and Portland just lets him go to Rockford, I don't think the CHL will be happy.
- tvetter

Perhaps when they say Portland won't fight it they really mean that the league won't as I would think that it does come down to the league and not the team.

I think they’re trying to claim that he was only LOANED to the Portland team by his Finnish team - therefore, never really being the “property” of a CHL franchise, he can go to the AHL this season.

Don’t know whether that has yet been adjudicated or not.
- StLBravesFan

Ah, ok that makes sense. Thanks.

Haven't gotten the new Hockey News fantasy guide since they haven't hit the bookstores in my area yet but have been flipping through past ones. In the one previewing the 2016-17 season, there's an annual section where they project top prospects who they are expecting to make it big in the NHL and go out 4 years out.

For 2019-20, they projected these prospects to make it big:

Klim Kostin
Andrei Svechnikov
Casey Mittelstadt
Timothy Liljegren
and...

Jake Wise

Take that FWIW. Good company to be in but these projections often don't pan out.

Haven't gotten the new Hockey News fantasy guide since they haven't hit the bookstores in my area yet but have been flipping through past ones. In the one previewing the 2016-17 season, there's an annual section where they project top prospects who they are expecting to make it big in the NHL and go out 4 years out.

For 2019-20, they projected these prospects to make it big:

Klim Kostin
Andrei Svechnikov
Casey Mittelstadt
Timothy Liljegren
and...

Jake Wise

Take that FWIW. Good company to be in but these projections often don't pan out.
- AEL_Fox

For this past season, THN projected Pierre-Luc DuBois, Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Kyle Connor, Nolan Patrick, and Brock Boeser to make an impact.

For this coming season, THN is projecting Logan Brown, Kiefer Bellows, Maxime Comtois, Kailer Yamamoto, and Kristian Vesalainen.

Keep in mind that these projections are from two summers ago.

For this past season, THN projected Pierre-Luc DuBois, Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Kyle Connor, Nolan Patrick, and Brock Boeser to make an impact.

For this coming season, THN is projecting Logan Brown, Kiefer Bellows, Maxime Comtois, Kailer Yamamoto, and Kristian Vesalainen.

Keep in mind that these projections are from two summers ago.
- AEL_Fox

Then last summer's edition projected Keller, Boeser, Patrick, Hischier, Eriksson Ek, and DeBrincat to break out in 2017-18.

For this coming season, projection included Vilardi, Svechnikov, Veleno, Heiskanen, Steel, and McLeod.

THN had Mittelstadt, Dahlin, and Zadina breaking out in 2019-20 although I would think they do so this year. Wahlstrom was projected for 2020-21.

Again, these are projections made a year ago.

I think they’re trying to claim that he was only LOANED to the Portland team by his Finnish team - therefore, never really being the “property” of a CHL franchise, he can go to the AHL this season.

Don’t know whether that has yet been adjudicated or not.
- StLBravesFan

This.

Stan didn't even seem to know the answer 100% when asked last however, I think they're confident that Joki was on loan and it's either NHL or AHL.

If, in the event it's eother NHL or Portland... I think he sticks with the Hawks and learns on the job.

He's too good for WHL and maybe not quite NHL ready just yet, but would be better with the Blackhawks for his development IMO.

Yes.

This.

Stan didn't even seem to know the answer 100% when asked last however, I think they're confident that Joki was on loan and it's either NHL or AHL.

If, in the event it's eother NHL or Portland... I think he sticks with the Hawks and learns on the job.

He's too good for WHL and maybe not quite NHL ready just yet, but would be better with the Blackhawks for his development IMO.
- Justin Lowe

I fully expect Jokiharju to start the season in Chicago and stay with the team. He may not be a superstar but he’ll be a contributor and continue to develop. Hillman will likely start in Rockford but I expect he’ll be called up before the trade deadline. I don’t see Rutta finishing the season in Chicago.