Nice job Ogi... I’m impressed with the level of sarcasm exhibited there!
- DarthKane

Thank you Master Darth.

The #blackhawks prospect tournament roster finally announced.

Check it here: https://nhl.bamcontent.co...8666/binary-file/file.pdf

The #blackhawks prospect tournament roster finally announced.

Check it here: https://nhl.bamcontent.co...8666/binary-file/file.pdf
- Justin Lowe

Does anyone have a schedule or link to the schedule if its available. i seem to remember the games were streamed last year with no announcers?

The #blackhawks prospect tournament roster finally announced.

Check it here: https://nhl.bamcontent.co...8666/binary-file/file.pdf
- Justin Lowe

This defence the #Blackhawks are sending to Traverse City is very encouraging for the future... they should stand up as one of the better units in the entire tournament:

Boqvist
Jokiharju
Beaudin
Hillman
Gilbert
Lucas Carlsson
Tuulola
Ryczek

This defence the #Blackhawks are sending to Traverse City is very encouraging for the future... they should stand up as one of the better units in the entire tournament:

Boqvist
Jokiharju
Beaudin
Hillman
Gilbert
Lucas Carlsson
Tuulola
Ryczek
- Justin Lowe

Also, great to see guys like Lankinen, Kahun and Nilsson going so we can get a look at them.

Does anyone have a schedule or link to the schedule if its available. i seem to remember the games were streamed last year with no announcers?
- glennjpawlak22

Don't think it's listed yet. I believe the games will be streamed on the team sites.

This defence the #Blackhawks are sending to Traverse City is very encouraging for the future... they should stand up as one of the better units in the entire tournament:

Boqvist
Jokiharju
Beaudin
Hillman
Gilbert
Lucas Carlsson
Tuulola
Ryczek
- Justin Lowe

I remain stoked to see what Hillman will do this season. Boqvist, Beaudin, Krys and Mitchell all have a certain set of skills. What Hillman offers is different than this group but it's needed just as much. Jokiharju is somewhere in between the two.

This defence the #Blackhawks are sending to Traverse City is very encouraging for the future... they should stand up as one of the better units in the entire tournament:

Boqvist
Jokiharju
Beaudin
Hillman
Gilbert
Lucas Carlsson
Tuulola
Ryczek
- Justin Lowe

The defense looks good, but the forwards are a little lack luster outside of Sikura and Kahun. Like, I'm happy to see if Fortin is going to put it together or if Edjsell can skate with better prospects, but it's kind of a meh group compared to some other teams prospects that are going.

Also, the Hawks have invited a guy named Shaw Boomhower to camp:

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/268365/shaw-boomhower

What a hockey handle that is.

Funny thing is he's from Belleville, Ontario... the hometown as Andrew Shaw.

Right? Because everyone knows that if we had a real coach (not some future hall of famer), and a real GM (not some papas boy accountant) that we’d still be a contender.

Instead we have an aging core with bloated contracts given to players for such mundane achievements as winning Stanley Cups and Conn Smythe trophies.

Now because we’ve been drafting in the bottom quarter of the draft for a decade, we don’t even have top 5 farm system...losers.

Nice going Stan & Q. Hopefully this is the last season we have to put up with your shenanigans.
- Ogilthorpe2

Nicely laid out sarcasm..love it!

The defense looks good, but the forwards are a little lack luster outside of Sikura and Kahun. Like, I'm happy to see if Fortin is going to put it together or if Edjsell can skate with better prospects, but it's kind of a meh group compared to some other teams prospects that are going.
- L_B_R

Agreed.

I think they hope Entwhistle turns into something and they still have some faith in Nathan Noel (Matthew Highmore's best buddy) this year if he can stay healthy.

The ironic part of those 2 names... they are the ONLY right-handed shots of all 14 forwards.

Remember, I've mentioned that the Hawks are light on their NHL rostered righties... well apparently they have a gap their in their system.

Also, the Hawks have invited a guy named Shaw Boomhower to camp:

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/268365/shaw-boomhower

What a hockey handle that is.

Funny thing is he's from Belleville, Ontario... the hometown as Andrew Shaw.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks for sharing the rookie info. That is a great name. Now they just need to sign Klinkhammer again and they can play together.

The defense looks good, but the forwards are a little lack luster outside of Sikura and Kahun. Like, I'm happy to see if Fortin is going to put it together or if Edjsell can skate with better prospects, but it's kind of a meh group compared to some other teams prospects that are going.
- L_B_R

I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the defensive prospects traded for a forward prospect eventually.

Also, the Hawks have invited a guy named Shaw Boomhower to camp:

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/268365/shaw-boomhower

What a hockey handle that is.

Funny thing is he's from Belleville, Ontario... the hometown as Andrew Shaw.
- Justin Lowe

Best hockey handle? This guy:

Hayden Hawkey

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=170299

Best hockey handle? This guy:

Hayden Hawkey

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=170299
- DarthKane

HA. That's a good one too.

I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the defensive prospects traded for a forward prospect eventually.
- DarthKane

I think that's the plan.

It's a great position to be in. Look at Carolina, Anaheim and Nashville as examples of loading up on a plethora of defenceman and then having options to move them.

Especially with having a strong pipeline of RHD at that.

I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the defensive prospects traded for a forward prospect eventually.
- DarthKane

the Nashville model huh

I think Highmore will be in the mix for a bottom 6 spot and amongst the last cuts. Don't think he makes the team out of camp but will be one of the first call ups.

As far as Highmore or Ejdsell, I feel Highmore has the edge given his relentless motor and two-way play. I'd put Kampf in that same boat as Highmore.

Prospects like Bondra and Knott need to start making some noise. They're being leapfrogged getting lower and lower on the depth chart in the process. I'm not high on either of them to begin with, but at least for their sake they need to stand out more and impress.

Also, the Hawks have invited a guy named Shaw Boomhower to camp:

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/268365/shaw-boomhower

What a hockey handle that is.

Funny thing is he's from Belleville, Ontario... the hometown as Andrew Shaw.
- Justin Lowe

Mike Myers always got a kick out of saying Beaukeboom.

Personally, I have no idea what to expect (and probably most of us here don't either if they are being honest with themselves). There are just so many variables this year. Hopefully, the team they field will be fun to watch, if slightly unpredictable from night to night.

Lots of IFs to start this year, and I think Highmore could make the opening night roster. I hope we can get a take from Quenville, once camp starts and how he might pair these players on the lines. Highmore has a good "200 ft game", which usually means fourth line checker. Highmore likes to shoot the puck ... good thing ... so maybe he could earn a spot on third line, and have a playmaker on this line, since he like to shoot.

Hawks don't have enough power forwards on the team, needed for net front presence and for a big body needed to protect the puck when cycling around the net. Saad - Anisimov - Hayden - Ejdsell are the biggest forwards on the roster. Probably the best strategy would be not to put two of these guys on the same line together. I could see Ejdsell and Anisimov looking like two slugs on a line together. Playmakers would be Schmaltz - Sikura -Kahun. Kane and Debrinkat are both ... playmakers and finishers, more so Kane. Breaking it down this way, what do you think the lines could be ? I know Quenville has kicked the tires on possible Saad-Schmaltz- Kane line but what does that do to balance the rest of the lines ?

You know what... I've played around with so many options of line combinations because the Hawks have holes and uncertainties on every line - forward and defence.

All I can say is that I was re-watching Highmore's game vs. Boston on March 10th last year (where he scored his first goal) and Q had a line of Debrincat-Schmaltz-Hayden out there and they looked great.

Schmaltz with his speed, the Cat with his threat on offence and Hayden played bodyguard. More than that actually... Hayden looked like a legitimate power forward in that game and even scored a nice goal off the rush (oh and had a fight).

I'm not advocating that as a line, I'm just saying, there are a lot of options.

So much so that I have another blog series coming up about interesting line combinations for L1, L2, L3 and L4.

Stay tuned for that.
- Justin Lowe

That's what Q said!

I think Highmore will be in the mix for a bottom 6 spot and amongst the last cuts. Don't think he makes the team out of camp but will be one of the first call ups.

As far as Highmore or Ejdsell, I feel Highmore has the edge given his relentless motor and two-way play. I'd put Kampf in that same boat as Highmore.
- AEL_Fox

I have a feeling Kampf is gonna be a staple of the bottom 6 and PK. He could end up playing some wing, but he could center a line and do well. If he ends up playing C and Kruger does as well, it would probably help the Hawks have solid 2 way play down the middle.

To me, Highmore kind of gets lumped together with Kampf and possibly Kahun, as they are more bottom-6 guys that can play center and wing who have enough speed/skill to be spot started in top-6 roles if necessary. I doubt there's room on the roster for all three of them because they're kind of redundant. Maybe two of them make the team but I would be surprised if all three of them are on the team at the same time unless it's due to injury replacement.