The NHL teams with AHL affiliates opting out will have the opportunity to have their players temporarily re-assigned to other teams.

The only one I know of confirmed so far are the Blues prospects (Springfield) being re-assigned to the Utica Comets (Canucks).

We'll see about the other 2 teams (Panthers and Predators). Hoping that the Hogs don't have to share with the Predators.
- Theo Fox

So the league is working as a team to further develop players, that's good to hear.

They can be re-assigned to other AHL teams. See my response to tvetter above for some details.
- Theo Fox

This is not a good situation but at least there wIll be minor league hockey. Didn't know if too many teams would opt out.

Also want to point out a positive in what is described as a throw away year for Blackhawk hockey

We have many prospects and quite honestly the deepest best collection ever in Blackhawk history

When you see a prospect having a bad game - like Askarov tonight - be glad we have a good level of compete and plenty of veterans to help shield our rookies when they have bad moments.

This is not a good situation but at least there wIll be minor league hockey. Didn't know if too many teams would opt out.

Also want to point out a positive in what is described as a throw away year for Blackhawk hockey

We have many prospects and quite honestly the deepest best collection ever in Blackhawk history

When you see a prospect having a bad game - like Askarov tonight - be glad we have a good level of compete and plenty of veterans to help shield our rookies when they have bad moments.
- jhawk59

Askarov has not been a game changer but would say the young Russian team has not done him any favors out shot 3 to 1 in the 1st 4 min PP . He did stone Cozens on a PS .And as a Canadian I am thrilled to have all Canadian officials for every game .Not really kind of embarrassing

This is not a good situation but at least there wIll be minor league hockey. Didn't know if too many teams would opt out.

Also want to point out a positive in what is described as a throw away year for Blackhawk hockey

We have many prospects and quite honestly the deepest best collection ever in Blackhawk history

When you see a prospect having a bad game - like Askarov tonight - be glad we have a good level of compete and plenty of veterans to help shield our rookies when they have bad moments.
- jhawk59

The depth of bottom-6 / bottom-pairing defensemen is pretty good, I think - lots of average future NHL skaters.

Other than Dach, Strome, Nylander, Kubalik, AdB (and the consensus here is negative on two of those five) - where in the system is top-6 prospect talent?

The top-level potential on the blue line is better - but who is the possible #1 / Norris finalist in that group?

Has anyone identified the top-shelf goalie?

Think about the system in 2008 - Toews, Kane, Keith at the top - add in Sharp, Ladd, Byfuglien, Crawford....

I don’t see anything similar in the current prospect pool.

The depth of bottom-6 / bottom-pairing defensemen is pretty good, I think - lots of average future NHL skaters.

Other than Dach, Strome, Nylander, Kubalik, AdB (and the consensus here is negative on two of those five) - where in the system is top-6 prospect talent?

The top-level potential on the blue line is better - but who is the possible #1 / Norris finalist in that group?

Has anyone identified the top-shelf goalie?

Think about the system in 2008 - Toews, Kane, Keith at the top - add in Sharp, Ladd, Byfuglien, Crawford....

I don’t see anything similar in the current prospect pool.
- StLBravesFan

Sharp and Ladd were trades. The rest were acquired by being bad for a while. You want the rebuild done in one year?

The depth of bottom-6 / bottom-pairing defensemen is pretty good, I think - lots of average future NHL skaters.

Other than Dach, Strome, Nylander, Kubalik, AdB (and the consensus here is negative on two of those five) - where in the system is top-6 prospect talent?

The top-level potential on the blue line is better - but who is the possible #1 / Norris finalist in that group?

Has anyone identified the top-shelf goalie?

Think about the system in 2008 - Toews, Kane, Keith at the top - add in Sharp, Ladd, Byfuglien, Crawford....

I don’t see anything similar in the current prospect pool.
- StLBravesFan

Other then Kane and Toews I don't remember any of the others jumping off the page . Dach is a blue chipper hopefully Boqvist will rebound after his way to early debut DBC and Strome could be come a big time pair Mitchell Altybarmakyan Hagel Soderland Entwistle Highmore could all be good players

We’ll get used to it.

I don’t find the helmets as jarring as it will be on the sweaters - coming soon, to an NHL-team near you.
- StLBravesFan

I will never get used to it, and might even stop watching.

I will never get used to it, and might even stop watching.
- Ogilthorpe2

There's always football and the NBA!!!

There's always football and the NBA!!!
- mohel

My sources told me NBA players will be required to get sponsors tattooed on their arms.

My sources told me NBA players will be required to get sponsors tattooed on their arms.
- paulr

Well, I do trust your sources. My question is....is there room on the arm?

There's always football and the NBA!!!
- mohel

I’ve already quit those leagues, but then you know that. Shockingly, after less than one season I found I didn’t miss either.

Hockey was my last vestige of sanity...if it goes south, I might just give up sports altogether.

Oldduffmans man crush is choking when it matters most again.
- GPHawksfan

Oldduffman has gone to Home Depot to pick up a case of Gorilla Tape for the kid so he can wrap about 3 rolls around his blocker and stick since he can't hold onto it on his own.

One guy is the 11th pick overall, the other one a 7th rounder shot in the dark. I know who looks better to me.

Well, I do trust your sources. My question is....is there room on the arm?
- mohel

That’s where wheat germ, protein shakes and dumbbells come in.

I’ve already quit those leagues, but then you know that. Shockingly, after less than one season I found I didn’t miss either.

Hockey was my last vestige of sanity...if it goes south, I might just give up sports altogether.
- Ogilthorpe2

My interest in the NBA waned over several years, propelled by stars getting together and forming super-teams. I wasn't protesting, just uninterested. Same with the NFL, although I remain far more interested in that than in the NBA. But, I watch fewer games now and pay little attention when not watching a game. It is far easier to stop watching than I thought possible.

Oldduffman has gone to Home Depot to pick up a case of Gorilla Tape for the kid so he can wrap about 3 rolls around his blocker and stick since he can't hold onto it on his own.

One guy is the 11th pick overall, the other one a 7th rounder shot in the dark. I know who looks better to me.
- RickJ

First round goalie = mistake
First round Russian = mistake
First Round Russian Goalie = Epic Mistake

Oldduffman has gone to Home Depot to pick up a case of Gorilla Tape for the kid so he can wrap about 3 rolls around his blocker and stick since he can't hold onto it on his own.

One guy is the 11th pick overall, the other one a 7th rounder shot in the dark. I know who looks better to me.
- RickJ

Like I said earlier I don't think he got a lot of help . Outshot 3 to 1 in the 1st . Askarov will be in the NHL in two or three years .And the 7th rounder will be a gym coach .

Like I said earlier I don't think he got a lot of help . Outshot 3 to 1 in the 1st . Askarov will be in the NHL in two or three years .And the 7th rounder will be a gym coach .
- oldduffman

Askarov will be IN the NHL no matter what, because players drafted that high will always get every opportunity to prove that their being picked wasn’t a mistake. Time will tell, but he’s going to need to be significantly more than just an average NHL starter to justify that pick.

Like I said earlier I don't think he got a lot of help . Outshot 3 to 1 in the 1st . Askarov will be in the NHL in two or three years .And the 7th rounder will be a gym coach .
- oldduffman

One thing about goalies - when they are teenagers you really never know who is going to develop into a top big leaguer.

Supposedly Askarov has already had 4 coaches this year which can't help.

Levi is playing behind an awesome defence, but a .975 save % is still impressive. He is very economical moving around in that crease. Askarov is not.

The depth of bottom-6 / bottom-pairing defensemen is pretty good, I think - lots of average future NHL skaters.

Other than Dach, Strome, Nylander, Kubalik, AdB (and the consensus here is negative on two of those five) - where in the system is top-6 prospect talent?

The top-level potential on the blue line is better - but who is the possible #1 / Norris finalist in that group?

Has anyone identified the top-shelf goalie?

Think about the system in 2008 - Toews, Kane, Keith at the top - add in Sharp, Ladd, Byfuglien, Crawford....

I don’t see anything similar in the current prospect pool.
- StLBravesFan

Byfglien, Bolland, Versteeg, Eager. Brouwer and Bickell behind them.

One thing about goalies - when they are teenagers you really never know who is going to develop into a top big leaguer.

Supposedly Askarov has already had 4 coaches this year which can't help.

Levi is playing behind an awesome defence, but a .975 save % is still impressive. He is very economical moving around in that crease. Askarov is not.
- RickJ

Which is why you never waste a first round pick on one.

Which is why you never waste a first round pick on one.
- Ogilthorpe2

Could make the argument that isn't really the best rule to follow - Carey Price, MA Fleury, Tukka Rask, Vasilevsky - a few Stanley Cups and Olympic Golds among that group.

But then there is that long list of Al Montoya, Hannu Toivonen, Leland Irving, Tom McCollum, Pascal Leclaire etc, etc that never amounted to much.

One thing about goalies - when they are teenagers you really never know who is going to develop into a top big leaguer.

Supposedly Askarov has already had 4 coaches this year which can't help.

Levi is playing behind an awesome defence, but a .975 save % is still impressive. He is very economical moving around in that crease. Askarov is not.
- RickJ

Askarov will learn that pure ability is not enough to be successful. Turning pro then he will discover consistency is based upon more than ability. No one should expect a goaltender to step into a starting role immediately after his NHL draft. The success of Sorokin should be a wake up call for Askarov. I would wager that Sorokin does well as a rookie this season. He has a coach and system as a NYI probably helps him more than most if not all NHL teams. Yet Sorokin benefits from a couple or so years development since drafted. Askarov should have some things figured out after a couple of seasons. I am curious, though, does anyone recall all time top NHL goaltenders whom had a left glove catching hand?

Askarov will learn that pure ability is not enough to be successful. Turning pro then he will discover consistency is based upon more than ability. No one should expect a goaltender to step into a starting role immediately after his NHL draft. The success of Sorokin should be a wake up call for Askarov. I would wager that Sorokin does well as a rookie this season. He has a coach and system as a NYI probably helps him more than most if not all NHL teams. Yet Sorokin benefits from a couple or so years development since drafted. Askarov should have some things figured out after a couple of seasons. I am curious, though, does anyone recall all time top NHL goaltenders whom had a left glove catching hand?
- jhawk59

Grant Fuhr, Roger Crozier come to mind.

Askarov will learn that pure ability is not enough to be successful. Turning pro then he will discover consistency is based upon more than ability. No one should expect a goaltender to step into a starting role immediately after his NHL draft. The success of Sorokin should be a wake up call for Askarov. I would wager that Sorokin does well as a rookie this season. He has a coach and system as a NYI probably helps him more than most if not all NHL teams. Yet Sorokin benefits from a couple or so years development since drafted. Askarov should have some things figured out after a couple of seasons. I am curious, though, does anyone recall all time top NHL goaltenders whom had a left glove catching hand?
- jhawk59

I think you meant to say right glove catching hand, besides the ones already mentioned, Tony O also caught right handed.

Askarov will be IN the NHL no matter what, because players drafted that high will always get every opportunity to prove that their being picked wasn’t a mistake. Time will tell, but he’s going to need to be significantly more than just an average NHL starter to justify that pick.
- Ogilthorpe2

Askarov is already a standout in the K as a teenager . He just needs the structure of playing with a team .The Russian defense is very young and left him out to dry a few times tonight .