Theo Fox: Trick-or-Treat, Part 2
Part two of a Trick-or-Treat special highlighting what excites me (treats) about the upcoming season for the Blackhawks. Part one yesterday highlighted what scares me (tricks) about 2020-21.

First

I'd be one sad kid if these were my Halloween treats lol. Seriously tho this is about all there is to look forward to. I'm a little more optimistic than most on the goalie situation and less so on the skater prospects. I think any goalie would have trouble behind this squad but maybe 1 of the 3 take charge. I think the biggest treat we can hope for are moves that pleasantly surprise us. There has to be many more moves coming. This roster makes no sense as of now. Hey at least it's somewhat exciting to see what happens.

Like todays better than yesterdays

Count me in on the Hagel Entwhistle Highmore 4th line right now.

Kurashev's development will be interesting, if he can move into that 3C role, it makes Strome dispensable.

Of course that assumes Toews wants to stay.

Good stuff Theo.

I'd be surprised with Dach if there was a "sophomore slump". His numbers during the regular season last year were pretty modest as they eased him into the lineup.

The playoffs proved not to be too big of a moment and he was able to raise his level of play.

The learning curve for this kid just doesn't appear too steep and not only does he seem determined to keep growing his game but has the tools to do so.

He scored most of his goals in close last season and started getting time on the PP in front of the goalie. I don't think it's a stretch to see him being close to a PPG player next season, especially getting PP time and likely second line minutes possibly playing with Kane and maybe DeBrincat or gulp...Nylander.

What I'm looking for from him is improvement at the dot and being more stingy with the puck vs. the pass first, deferential mentality he had as a rookie (which is understandable).

A lot of that comes from confidence and he said one of the things he was committed to doing in the offseason was working on his shot, so I have no doubt he will.

Good stuff Theo.

I'd be surprised with Dach if there was a "sophomore slump". His numbers during the regular season last year were pretty modest as they eased him into the lineup.

The playoffs proved not to be too big of a moment and he was able to raise his level of play.

The learning curve for this kid just doesn't appear too steep and not only does he seem determined to keep growing his game but has the tools to do so.

He scored most of his goals in close last season and started getting time on the PP in front of the goalie. I don't think it's a stretch to see him being close to a PPG player next season, especially getting PP time and likely second line minutes possibly playing with Kane and maybe DeBrincat or gulp...Nylander.

What I'm looking for from him is improvement at the dot and being more stingy with the puck vs. the pass first, deferential mentality he had as a rookie (which is understandable).

A lot of that comes from confidence and he said one of the things he was committed to doing in the offseason was working on his shot, so I have no doubt he will.
- HawkintheD

I’m also looking for better decision making when carrying the puck into the ozone.

Too often he would try to carry it in between or around two opponents when it looked like he should pass it off or dump it.

Another treat that we've taken for granted is watching Kane carry a line and put up close to 100 pts in a season. He is the main reason that I don't want to miss any regular season games. His intellect, instinct and creativity is hall-of-fame and from another planet. We are lucky that we have three more years of his play to watch while the rest of the team is struggling to get back to playoff form.

Theo...you are awesome man! Keep up the frequent and quality posts, a little something to keep us involved during these bleak Hawk times...

Now, to your points:
1. Dach - The "Real Deal". Dach won't be an "elite" scorer, but will be solid. He works hard all over the ice, and should use his great post-season as a springboard to a Top six slotting by season's end. If we are going "Youth-movement"....don't be shy about it. Dach should be a Top six and let him develop as one.

2. The 3 goalies. NONE will be our starter in 5 years. Don't know where the starter will be coming from, but I have no faith that ANY of these 3 are an NHL quality starter going forward. The search should be on-going....

3. Suter. A good addition, because we need his "type". As a scorer, I see him closer to Kahun than to Kubalik. Hope I am wrong, and that he can contribute more offensively...I just think he will settle in as a 3rd line grinder, maybe 15-20 goal type. With his good work ethic, that is still good, and needed on this team. Just not big scorer like kubalik.

4. I see this as a static year. Not much will be transformed. We will STILL have the core-4. We will sprinkle youth throughout, but will finish bottom 3-6 in the league. It will take 2-3 years before we see any REAL transition...

5. The final quarter of the year we will be miles outta a playoff spot. It is then you will see the call-ups of lotsa guys from the farm. The Entwhistles, Kurachevs and such should all be getting a look at that time. Hopefully a vet or two can be dealt then as well.


Love our youth....hope last part of the season we see many (most) of them get some time in the "show" and that management can get a feel of who we will move ahead with, and who we can move for needed pieces (ie a goalie, forward prospaects).


Nice blog Theo....really enjoyed it!

Theo, great post
Really would like to see that 4th line down the road.
My question is where do you see Nylander fitting in?And what do the Hawks view him as? A scorer? player maker? a grinder ? Going forward I just don't where he fits in with Suter, and 2 FA SIGNINGS?

My other opinion is by trade deadline some D will be moving on, by my count we have 14 between Chicago and Rochford plus AHL D signings.

Keep up the good work!!!!

I think Cam morrison is going to suprise. 6-3 214 and has gotten better every year and is young as college UFA's go. as a point of REF he is 1 1/2 years younger then wyatt Kalynuk the other big UFA we have. He is a solid straight line skater for his Im thinking a poor mans brandon SAAD. I think he is going to be better then barrett. and entwhiste.

Anyone notice that Tyler Bertuzzi got $3.5 mil. in arbitration? He has Brandon Saad numbers the last couple of years. Maybe the Hawks were lucky to even get Zadorov for him. I know with COVID we are in a "new normal", but do you think Saad would have accepted a $4 mil. offer from the Hawks to extend?

I think Cam morrison is going to suprise. 6-3 214 and has gotten better every year and is young as college UFA's go. as a point of REF he is 1 1/2 years younger then wyatt Kalynuk the other big UFA we have. He is a solid straight line skater for his Im thinking a poor mans brandon SAAD. I think he is going to be better then barrett. and entwhiste.

Man, we are getting poorer since Saad was supposed to be a poor man's Hossa (which he wasn't).

I think Cam morrison is going to suprise. 6-3 214 and has gotten better every year and is young as college UFA's go. as a point of REF he is 1 1/2 years younger then wyatt Kalynuk the other big UFA we have. He is a solid straight line skater for his Im thinking a poor mans brandon SAAD. I think he is going to be better then barrett. and entwhiste.
- kmw4631

I'm looking forward to seeing what Kalynuk can do. I'll admit that I don't know much about the kid, but he seems like an intriguing prospect (albeit a longshot) based on what I've read.

Anyone notice that Tyler Bertuzzi got $3.5 mil. in arbitration? He has Brandon Saad numbers the last couple of years. Maybe the Hawks were lucky to even get Zadorov for him. I know with COVID we are in a "new normal", but do you think Saad would have accepted a $4 mil. offer from the Hawks to extend?
- LAHawk

I think the prospect of re-signing Saad factored into the Hawks' decision to trade him. for $4 million I would have kept Saad, however this is Saad's last chance at a big money deal so I don't hold it against him if he wanted more.

I think Cam morrison is going to suprise. 6-3 214 and has gotten better every year and is young as college UFA's go. as a point of REF he is 1 1/2 years younger then wyatt Kalynuk the other big UFA we have. He is a solid straight line skater for his Im thinking a poor mans brandon SAAD. I think he is going to be better then barrett. and entwhiste.
- kmw4631

I'll play Eeyore today. About the same size and NCAA stats as John Hayden.

I think the prospect of re-signing Saad factored into the Hawks' decision to trade him. for $4 million I would have kept Saad, however this is Saad's last chance at a big money deal so I don't hold it against him if he wanted more.
- DarthKane

I think his current 6x6 is about as good as he's going to get in this market (and the one that is likely to exist next spring).

I'm looking at no better than $5 per for I don't know how many years. Hawks could have resigned him.

Just MHO, of course.

Man, we are getting poorer since Saad was supposed to be a poor man's Hossa (which he wasn't).
- CanOCorn

the issue with SAAD is he has not added anything to his game in 5 years. he is a good straight line skater and can get goals 5 vs 5 but is not a good passer and is not shifty or great hands. my hope for Morrison is he can be 15-20 goal 5 vs 5 scorer on the 3rd and 4th lines. SAAD is a really good 2nd to 3rd line wing on a ST contender. if he is your 2nd best wing you are a lottery team.

the one thing I give stan credit for between suter, waytt, and cam we had the best free agent RFA class in the league. to get 3 prospects that would slot in your top 15 ranking in 1 year is pretty solid.

I think the prospect of re-signing Saad factored into the Hawks' decision to trade him. for $4 million I would have kept Saad, however this is Saad's last chance at a big money deal so I don't hold it against him if he wanted more.
- DarthKane

With the flat CAP and teams already up against it, it's highly unlikely Saad gets anywhere near $6M per year.

I think his current 6x6 is about as good as he's going to get in this market (and the one that is likely to exist next spring).

I'm looking at no better than $5 per for I don't know how many years. Hawks could have resigned him.

Just MHO, of course.
- StLBravesFan

If Bertuzzi is worth $3.75, is Saad even worth $5 mil.?

The treat may be that Pius Suter has a little Shawzie in him...

If Bertuzzi is worth $3.75, is Saad even worth $5 mil.?
- LAHawk

Considering Saad was awarded when he was 2.5 years younger, coming off .65 PPG in the playoffs the last two seasons (nearly .85 PPG in one of them), is much better defensively, plays on the PK, and with better 5v5 offensive production this past season (Bertuzz took a step back there to under .5 PPG)... yeah, Saad was worth that amount in a non-cap stagnant world.

However, Saad won't be worth it on his next contract depending on the term, with or without the cap situation. If it's more than 3 years, he's likely going to see an age related decline before the end like most players.

He is a much better skater than Hayden.

Edit: Referring to the post comparing Morrison to Hayden. Quotes not working.

Man, we are getting poorer since Saad was supposed to be a poor man's Hossa (which he wasn't).
- CanOCorn

No one should be compared to Hossa - it's never accurate and always going to lead to disappointment.

The treat may be that Pius Suter has a little Shawzie in him...
- wiz1901

Wiz - Suter has more offensive instinct/skill than Kahun no?

Unfortunately there is only one Hossa, best free agent signing in Chicago sports history, Lester is in the conversation as well.