Yes, I could see Entwistle, Barratt, and Soderlund being either an outstanding 3rd line or 4th line depending on the Hawks roster depth when that time arrives in a few years especially if middle 6 forward prospects like Wise, Kurashev, and Hagel pan out. Slavin and Hakkarainen may also be prospects worth watching for the bottom 6.

Then there's also seeing how Sikura and Kahun develop and what roles they will ultimately play. Both are definitely top 9 in my book so it's a question of top 6 or middle 6. Same with Perlini and Caggiul but think they are clearly bottom 6.

I guess there's also Fortin and Ejdsell but I'm not high on either of them. Happy to have either or both prove me wrong.
- AEL_Fox

Part of the reason many Hawk fans become so disillusioned with the team/management/players is because of the unrealistic expectations of the team's prospects. The biggest step in any player's career, in any sport, is taking the final step and making big team. Of Entwistle, Barratt, Soderlund, Kurashev, Slavin and Hakkarainen it's probable only one or two ever make it and entirely possible none ever make the team. Temper your expectations and enjoy the progress of the prospects or you will be very disappointed. There's an adage here in Canada, a prospect and a $1.60 get you a small Tim Hortons coffee.

Eddie good when not with foley and the bromance
- Scott1977

And Pierre screaming over the top to be heard...

And Pierre screaming over the top to be heard...
- riozzo

My dad says Pierre stays in the glass, because Eddie and Doc would throw crap at him if he was in the booth with them.

Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz (lower-body injury) may be headed to IR; could be out a while. The hits keep coming to this Coyotes roster.
- walleyeb1

Zona fans gonna lurve when Schmaltz comes back and he is even more contact averse than ever coming off a LBI

if i recall, we pulled even with the Canucks 3-3 and lost in OT?
- glennjpawlak22

Yep. Sharp nearly won it in OT. I always remember that game because I missed it due to the birth of my daughter.

Hawks were out of gas from the run to make the playoffs and I think it was the blindside hit on Seabrook by Raffi Torres that got the Hawks going. I remember Duncan Keith specifically looked like he was on a mission to beat the Canucks after that one.

Zona fans gonna lurve when Schmaltz comes back and he is even more contact averse than ever coming off a LBI
- Stan_Bowman

Your just mad he is taller than you.

Yep. Sharp nearly won it in OT. I always remember that game because I missed it due to the birth of my daughter.

Hawks were out of gas from the run to make the playoffs and I think it was the blindside hit on Seabrook by Raffi Torres that got the Hawks going. I remember Duncan Keith specifically looked like he was on a mission to beat the Canucks after that one.
- breadbag

Toews scored a terrific goal in the last minute or so of game 7 regulation to get it to OT.

In the OT, Sharp with the PP feed in his "office" from Toews (next to Luongo) - shot it right into Luongo's crest. I recall Luongo moving to get in position for Sharp's shot just as Toews was passing it to him - I've wondered what would have happened if Toews had hesitated or faked a pass and just shoved it in past Luongo.

But I may be mis-remembering that last part.

Toews scored a terrific goal in the last minute or so of game 7 regulation to get it to OT.

In the OT, Sharp with the PP feed in his "office" from Toews (next to Luongo) - shot it right into Luongo's crest. I recall Luongo moving to get in position for Sharp's shot just as Toews was passing it to him - I've wondered what would have happened if Toews had hesitated or faked a pass and just shoved it in past Luongo.

But I may be mis-remembering that last part.
- StLBravesFan

Not only was it a goal in the last minute, I recall it was a shorty too.

Not only was it a goal in the last minute, I recall it was a shorty too.
- Popsghostly

Right, he made the huge individual effort. That was a crazy series. I hope we can get back to the playoffs before too long. It's so much more fun.

Since the rejuvenation began 11 years ago, I'm not sure there's a team in the league with as good an injury record as the Blackhawks.

Very few in such a dangerous sport - and none (that I can recall) that affected any seasonal (regular or tournament) results.
- StLBravesFan

Crawford's concussion last season pretty much did in the Hawks. This second one last month has me very concerned for his future, both on and off the ice.

Right, he made the huge individual effort. That was a crazy series. I hope we can get back to the playoffs before too long. It's so much more fun.
- breadbag

Me too.

Just imagine though, if we had won that game, we would not get to see the city of Vancouver make an ass of itself while it destroyed and burned itself down after the collapse against the Bruins later in June.

Since the rejuvenation began 11 years ago, I'm not sure there's a team in the league with as good an injury record as the Blackhawks.

Very few in such a dangerous sport - and none (that I can recall) that affected any seasonal (regular or tournament) results.
- StLBravesFan

Kane, broke collarbone
Brian Campbell, also broken collarbone?
Toews concussion
CC concussion

Same here. Having some stay-at-home defenders would be nice. Agree that Hillman is physical and makes simple, smart plays. Carlsson is similar as well but is willing to join the rush and has more offensive upside in comparison.

Future blueline will need some defensive defensemen and I see Carlsson, Hillman, and possibly even Gilbert as a part of the mix to go along with Murphy and Dahlstrom. Can't keep all of them so take the best 2-3 and trade the others for future assets that can help shore up other areas of need (or have them serve as Hog leaders and keep around for emergency call-ups).
- AEL_Fox

You do realize that not all of these dmen are going to be nhl players right? That goes for Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell too.

Right, he made the huge individual effort. That was a crazy series. I hope we can get back to the playoffs before too long. It's so much more fun.
- breadbag

Your daughter got us far in that series, but she didn't finish. Our young prospects need to chip-in and finish. Every bread person has a job to do, even the wee little slices. Haha.

Part of the reason many Hawk fans become so disillusioned with the team/management/players is because of the unrealistic expectations of the team's prospects. The biggest step in any player's career, in any sport, is taking the final step and making big team. Of Entwistle, Barratt, Soderlund, Kurashev, Slavin and Hakkarainen it's probable only one or two ever make it and entirely possible none ever make the team. Temper your expectations and enjoy the progress of the prospects or you will be very disappointed. There's an adage here in Canada, a prospect and a $1.60 get you a small Tim Hortons coffee.
- paulr

Exactly, finally someone else says it.

AEL, concerning a previous post of yours where you said that the Hawks could still be on the hook for Garrisons salary...I don't think that is how it works...if the contract is terminated, then the Hawks don't owe anything. No contract = no salary.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Thanks to you and others for clarifying the salary part of Garrison's waiver situation.

Part of the reason many Hawk fans become so disillusioned with the team/management/players is because of the unrealistic expectations of the team's prospects. The biggest step in any player's career, in any sport, is taking the final step and making big team. Of Entwistle, Barratt, Soderlund, Kurashev, Slavin and Hakkarainen it's probable only one or two ever make it and entirely possible none ever make the team. Temper your expectations and enjoy the progress of the prospects or you will be very disappointed. There's an adage here in Canada, a prospect and a $1.60 get you a small Tim Hortons coffee.
- paulr

Yeah, I know my expectations of prospects tends to run high which can lead to me getting my hopes up. Reading up about prospects and projecting possible outcomes for the team is fun for me, even if unrealistic to one degree or other, especially during seasons like this when the Hawks are at the bottom of the standings.

I do my best to temper those expectations over time as I see them develop in the minors. If a prospect flops, I don't lose sleep over it since I have my hopes high for so many of them! Like you said, only a few will actually pan out and I end up being satisfied with whoever does emerge.

You do realize that not all of these dmen are going to be nhl players right? That goes for Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell too.
- GPHawksfan

Yes I do realize that and do try to make that point (i.e. not all prospects will make it) in my posts whenever I can. I could be more clear in the future but that reality is not past me.

Crawford's concussion last season pretty much did in the Hawks. This second one last month has me very concerned for his future, both on and off the ice.
- Davewn

Hawks weren’t going anywhere ladt year anyways - wouldn’t have made the playoffs even with Crawford. Worse team than this year, considering how bad Toews, Saad, Keith were.

Kane, broke collarbone
Brian Campbell, also broken collarbone?
Toews concussion
CC concussion
- scottak

First two - won Cup - Kane’s injury let them get Vermette.

Wasn’t Toews concussion in the Arizona loss season?

Last one - wouldn’t have made the tournament anyways.

Either NBC paid a lot more money, or WGN's ratings on their games now can't attract enough advertisers to stay in the game.

Sad, but just as well - there are NO Chicago sports broadcast journalists who give a crap and/or know enough about hockey anyway.

There are no new Jim Wests or Vince Lloyds of the world on the horizon.

EDIT: a buddy of mine with friends in the press says the shift in broadcast rights is being prompted by the Cubs' desire to have a YES-like network similar to the Yankmes. YES gets $44.95/month for their "core plan", which means playoffs are extra. They partnered with Sling for a $20/month add-on.

Pay per view TV. Didn't Einhorn already prove that to be a bad model in our market??
- Return of the Roar

I guess you're excluding: Eddie Olczyk? John Weideman? Troy Murphy? Jamal Mayers? Adam Burish? I think all five of these guys are knowledgeable and excellent. Too bad the same can't be said for Foley and Konroyd.

Yes I do realize that and do try to make that point (i.e. not all prospects will make it) in my posts whenever I can. I could be more clear in the future but that reality is not past me.
- AEL_Fox

I guess my post wasn't directed only at you, a lot of people on here have unrealistic expectations for these prospects. The reality is maybe one prospect per draft has any kind of a meaningful nhl career

I guess my post wasn't directed only at you, a lot of people on here have unrealistic expectations for these prospects. The reality is maybe one prospect per draft has any kind of a meaningful nhl career
- GPHawksfan

No worries. I don't mind the banter and feedback whether directed at me or in general. Helps me refine my posts and keep me learning about others' perspectives.

I was looking at the Hawks drafts ever since Roenick's draft year and the success rate is pretty paltry as you pointed out. Some years were complete busts altogether. The best years so far are likely 2011 (Danault, Clendening, Saad, Shaw - McNeill went #1), 2004 (Bolland, Bickell, Brouwer - Barker went #1), and 2003 (Seabrook, Crawford, Byfuglien).

The more recent drafts could harvest the same amount as these years but, yes, remains to be seen.

Part of the reason many Hawk fans become so disillusioned with the team/management/players is because of the unrealistic expectations of the team's prospects. The biggest step in any player's career, in any sport, is taking the final step and making big team. Of Entwistle, Barratt, Soderlund, Kurashev, Slavin and Hakkarainen it's probable only one or two ever make it and entirely possible none ever make the team. Temper your expectations and enjoy the progress of the prospects or you will be very disappointed. There's an adage here in Canada, a prospect and a $1.60 get you a small Tim Hortons coffee.
- paulr

Agree 100%. How many "prospects" have teams like the Maple Leafs alone ruined by force feeding kids into their lineup before their daddies showed them how to shave. (Gary Nylund, Jim Benning, Luke Schenn just to name a very few).

The salary cap has changed many things, a lot of them not for the better. Selecting a kid at 18 doesn't mean he is ready to play at 20 or even 22 in the NHL. Unfortunately most NHL teams can't wait much longer than that and the greedy agents are even less patient because they have promised the kid and the parents stardom and wealth.

Give me an old grey beard like Ron Hainsey for a year or 2 instead or rushing kids like Bovqist or Mitchell before they are physically ready or prepared mentally for the NHL grind.

No worries. I don't mind the banter and feedback whether directed at me or in general. Helps me refine my posts and keep me learning about others' perspectives.

I was looking at the Hawks drafts ever since Roenick's draft year and the success rate is pretty paltry as you pointed out. Some years were complete busts altogether. The best years so far are likely 2011 (Danault, Clendening, Saad, Shaw - McNeill went #1), 2004 (Bolland, Bickell, Brouwer - Barker went #1), and 2003 (Seabrook, Crawford, Byfuglien).

The more recent drafts could harvest the same amount as these years but, yes, remains to be seen.
- AEL_Fox

It's not just the Hawks. It's true of all teams. There are some exceptions a team will have a great draft year like the year when Montreal drafted Pacioretty, Subban and Ryan McDonough in the same draft year. Those are rare though.