Theo Fox: The Murky Depth
A look at how the Carl Soderberg signing, uncertain status of Dylan Strome, and injuries to Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander impact the Blackhawks roster as training camp approaches.

Still bummed about Dach but I think there will be plenty of storylines this season...some good some not so much.

Sign Strome and keep him. I know - it takes two to make a signing (three if you include the agent) - but Strome has very little leverage - even with Dach out - and still has a lot of “show me” to do as a second (or even third) line pivot.

But he’s the only young center in the system to be anywhere near that status.

Put Lankinen in Rockfish - he needs to play - Tompkins is the only other signed goalie (Capfriendly) - taxi squad him.

How long does Seabrook keep smiling through the pain of being a 6/7 (mostly 7?) blue-liner? Is there a good place for Shaw after signing the “tre kroner”?

Nice blog Theo!

A couple things to consider:

1) Taxi squad players are subject to pass through waivers. This potentially will affect who ends up there and if a 2-way contract can go there instead of an NHL contract (ie. Smith on active roster and Hagel on taxi) then we may see that.

2) NHL is allowing teams to go with 20 players on active roster (vs. the required 22) due to the taxi squad to save on cap space and overall salary paid out to players. I think the Hawks have too many NHL contracts for this to play a big factor, but maybe a guy like Carlsson sits in the taxi squad while guys like Seeler or Lindholm end up in Rockford because he’s a 2-way contract and can come and go with ease and the other two don’t have much of a future in Chicago.

—

I believe I’m correct with these rules and stipulations. Someone correct me if I’m not but last I heard these were the rules.

Just something to think about as we look at how the Hawks may utilize their roster this year.

Pens’ co-owner Ron Burkle had purchased Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch for $22MM.

I’m sure there’s a witty line for that - someone else is going to have to come up with it.

Other news of interest probably only to me:

Lawry’s - in the old McCormick mansion on Ontario - is closing permanently this week. A Super Bowl Sunday tradition for us and some friends (not much is open on that bizarre new “holiday”).

And my long time barber - Pino Cisternino - is closing his place in Highland Park. I’ve been having him cut my hair for over 30 years.

(See - told you - of interest only to me.)

Merry Xmas and all the best in 2021 Theo. Thank you for a nice write up this morning on some of the possibilities. I believe the biggest question marks will be how good is Pius Suter and is he ready for top six or ready for the nhl in general. If he is as good as projected it might be an idea to play him with Kane in particular to give him the best chance to succeed. Strome needs to show much more be be the number 2 center. For me he lacks intensity and is more suited as a pp specialist. I hope I am wrong. Ideally Toews, Dach and Strome would be 1,2,3 down the middle. I am not too broken up about the loss of Nylander who I would move on from anyway despite his skill set because he has almost zero intangibles going for him. The goaltending is going to be tested no matter who is in there but if it turns out the team is losing games due to this area something will have to give in a hurry. I think Varlamov and Fleury could be available by the end of January once Lehner proves healthy and Sorokin shows he is ready. That being said those two teams may want to keep these guys due the back to back heavy schedule. Can't wait to see what really goes down

Thorough analysis Theo. About the only thing you didn't cover is the possibility of either Shaw or Smith, or both, being on LTIR to start the season. I wonder if the Hawks already know something about them and had Soderberg on their radar before the Nylander and Dach injuries. Maybe the Hawks still have another move in mind to offset the absence of 92 and 77.

Stepan to Ottawa for a second rounder? I do like Soderberg to Chicago for $1 mil. Much much better (Stepan has one year left at $6.5 mil.) . Soderberg has had better stats the last couple of years. I am not a fancy stat guy so maybe someone can weigh in on that and burst my bubble.

Suter - Toews - Kubalik
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Janmark - Wallmark - Shaw
Hagel - Kampf - Highmore

This may work nicely if Suter is ready, but Soderberg would ideally be your #3 center maybe dropping Hagel out ?? Soderberg could also fill #2 center till Dach returns as he is solid player at both ends of the rink and could work short term. Fun times.

Sign Strome and keep him. I know - it takes two to make a signing (three if you include the agent) - but Strome has very little leverage - even with Dach out - and still has a lot of “show me” to do as a second (or even third) line pivot.

But he’s the only young center in the system to be anywhere near that status.

Put Lankinen in Rockfish - he needs to play - Tompkins is the only other signed goalie (Capfriendly) - taxi squad him.

How long does Seabrook keep smiling through the pain of being a 6/7 (mostly 7?) blue-liner? Is there a good place for Shaw after signing the “tre kroner”?
- StLBravesFan

At least for now. Like some have mentioned, maybe the injury last year slowed his growth but I don't think they should give up on him yet and when Toews becomes a 3C (I know, technically he is already) there's your top 3 C's.

Sign Strome and keep him. I know - it takes two to make a signing (three if you include the agent) - but Strome has very little leverage - even with Dach out - and still has a lot of “show me” to do as a second (or even third) line pivot.

But he’s the only young center in the system to be anywhere near that status.

Put Lankinen in Rockfish - he needs to play - Tompkins is the only other signed goalie (Capfriendly) - taxi squad him.

How long does Seabrook keep smiling through the pain of being a 6/7 (mostly 7?) blue-liner? Is there a good place for Shaw after signing the “tre kroner”?
- StLBravesFan

At least for now. Like some have mentioned, maybe the injury last year slowed his growth but I don't think they should give up on him yet and when Toews becomes a 3C (I know, technically he is already) there's your top 3 C's.

Stepan to Ottawa for a second rounder? I do like Soderberg to Chicago for $1 mil. Much much better (Stepan has one year left at $6.5 mil.) . Soderberg has had better stats the last couple of years. I am not a fancy stat guy so maybe someone can weigh in on that and burst my bubble.
- LAHawk

I won't burst your bubble, lol. Not big on fancy stats personally and prefer the eye test. Soderberg has always been a steady nhl player for me but Stepan has never impressed me. His skill set is undeniable but he lacks compete, lacks emotion, is often injured and on the soft side. For one year deals Soderberg is a great addition to the Hawks. The Ottawa move is questionable as Stepan and his stay is likely just one shortened season till he hits free agency and likely retires early.

At least for now. Like some have mentioned, maybe the injury last year slowed his growth but I don't think they should give up on him yet and when Toews becomes a 3C (I know, technically he is already) there's your top 3 C's.
- HawkintheD

If Strome ever becomes a Toews I will eat my hat. Toews is still at top six center and there is no way Strome will ever have a Toews pedigree imo. Toews brings far more than goals and assists and is a true leader in every sense.

At least for now. Like some have mentioned, maybe the injury last year slowed his growth but I don't think they should give up on him yet and when Toews becomes a 3C (I know, technically he is already) there's your top 3 C's.
- HawkintheD

We'll see about Toews, I'm really curious because i believe he has embraced the vegan diet that many world athletes swear by. Last 2 years he's produced better point per game bases than he has the previous 6 or 7 years. He might have added a few more very productive years to his career if the vegan diet does actually bring out the best in an athlete.

I believe Montgomery, Bears, has embraced this same diet over the summer and it seems to be working for him, plus Mash being inserted in the lineup has helped everyone.

If Strome ever becomes a Toews I will eat my hat. Toews is still at top six center and there is no way Strome will ever have a Toews pedigree imo. Toews brings far more than goals and assists and is a true leader in every sense.
- joegreif17

Sorry, should have red footed that for you. Anyone who would ever compare Strome to Toews besides Darth, has had an excess of Christmas cheer.

We'll see about Toews, I'm really curious because i believe he has embraced the vegan diet that many world athletes swear by. Last 2 years he's produced better point per game bases than he has the previous 6 or 7 years. He might have added a few more very productive years to his career if the vegan diet does actually bring out the best in an athlete.

I believe Montgomery, Bears, has embraced this same diet over the summer and it seems to be working for him, plus Mash being inserted in the lineup has helped everyone.
- BetweenTheDots

Mustipher? Hoping Montgomery continues his recent trend and should be able to vs a Jags D giving up about a buck fifty on the ground.

The run blocking has been so much better of late and rolling Trubisky out, letting him run and simplifying the game for him a bit seems to have helped as well.

We actually get the game on here today since the Lions were on (more off really) yesterday.

Was totally kidding about Toews. He'll never live up to the $10.5M deal in terms of pure production but he's still a 1C and sorry but winning costs ya. Not pointing that out to you but some people just seem to never get that.

Oldest guy here and you still have hair. Good on you.

I agree. Shaw, Suter, Strome, Smith are wild cards. Colliton usually tries new EU free agents on lower lines (Kahun, Kubalik). Also Shaw and Toews have some history. So I think Suter does not start on the top line. If they sign Strome, reuniting him with ADB and Kane makes sense. But if they do not click right away you could see Soderberg center that line. The three new Swedes together makes sense and the line could have a great name. (Karl - Marx squared)(and yes I know Carl spells his name with a C and there is no X in Janmark or Wallmark). Suter, Kampf and Highmore would be an energy line. Maybe Kampf could find some offense playing with speedy wingers that have some offensive skills and are great on the forecheck.

Shaw - Toews - Kubalik
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Janmark – Wallmark – Soderberg
Suter - Kampf - Highmore
Carpenter/Smith

Oldest guy here and you still have hair. Good on you.
- 6628

Sign Strome and keep him. I know - it takes two to make a signing (three if you include the agent) - but Strome has very little leverage - even with Dach out - and still has a lot of “show me” to do as a second (or even third) line pivot.

But he’s the only young center in the system to be anywhere near that status.

Put Lankinen in Rockfish - he needs to play - Tompkins is the only other signed goalie (Capfriendly) - taxi squad him.

How long does Seabrook keep smiling through the pain of being a 6/7 (mostly 7?) blue-liner? Is there a good place for Shaw after signing the “tre kroner”?
- StLBravesFan

1 year @ $874,125 and if Strome doesn’t like it he can sit out until he accepts it.

Mustipher? Hoping Montgomery continues his recent trend and should be able to vs a Jags D giving up about a buck fifty on the ground.

The run blocking has been so much better of late and rolling Trubisky out, letting him run and simplifying the game for him a bit seems to have helped as well.

We actually get the game on here today since the Lions were on (more off really) yesterday.

Was totally kidding about Toews. He'll never live up to the $10.5M deal in terms of pure production but he's still a 1C and sorry but winning costs ya. Not pointing that out to you but some people just seem to never get that.
- HawkintheD

Yes Mustipher. So much better since.

Correction I don't think Toews is doing the Vegan thing but he's really paying attention to nutrition, and has for the past few years.

I know game changer gets some criticism but Monty looks great and difficult to bring down

My initial reaction to the Soderburg signing was one of betrayal and disappointment. I felt it showed Stan's proclaimed "youth movement" to be nothing more than bullsh!t. But then as the day went along and I read opinions from a few others I started to mellow and my brain re-engaged and wrestled control away from my emotions - I've come around to think it's not such a bad thing and not proof Stan was lying about the youth movement.

The main thing that swung my thinking was Soderburg being brought in to provide defensive stability which should allow the young players, especially the young d-men, to play in a more structured playing style versus a "hair on fire" chaotic scramble. That's always been the preferred formula for a youth movement - having enough veteran players in the lineup to ensure the young players grow in the right environment versus too many young players devolving into a rat hockey game.

So, the obvious negative is that the minutes Soderburg gets are minutes Hagel doesn't get - but the minutes Soderburg gets are minutes Boqvist, Mitchell and other young players get to learn how to play in a more structured system than the otherwise chaotic fire drill we saw too often last season.

1 year @ $874,125 and if Strome doesn’t like it he can sit out until he accepts it.
- DarthKane

You think they can afford the $125?

Suter - Toews - Kubalik
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Janmark - Wallmark - Shaw
Hagel - Kampf - Highmore

This may work nicely if Suter is ready, but Soderberg would ideally be your #3 center maybe dropping Hagel out ?? Soderberg could also fill #2 center till Dach returns as he is solid player at both ends of the rink and could work short term. Fun times.
- joegreif17

Suter - Toews - Kubalik
DeBrincat - Wallmark - Kane
Soderberg - Strome - Shaw
Janmark - Kampf - Highmore
Carpenter
LTIR: Smith

Keith - Mitchell
De Haan - Murphy
Zadorov - Boqvist
Seabrook (will still play regularly when Mitchell and Boqvist are given a night off)

Lankinen
Subban

1 year @ $874,125 and if Strome doesn’t like it he can sit out until he accepts it.
- DarthKane

I think Strome signs for 1 year but thinking they’ll make him happy(ish) with a AAV of 2.5-3M.

I know Strome doesn’t have a ton of leverage but remember, he does has a fancy new agent that will be trying to work his magic and convince Stan to sign his client for a lot more than his QO.