One thing I noticed is that Theo has a few guys as Top 3 potential, nobody is listed as having Top Pair potential. This is why we have Seth Jones.

One thing I noticed is that Theo has a few guys as Top 3 potential, nobody is listed as having Top Pair potential. This is why we have Seth Jones.
- mohel

Stirring the pot as usual I see. 🥸

EXCELLENT WRITE UP THEO !

When the Hawks won their last cup in 2015, they did it with basically four defensemen, struggling to find pair of bottom pair defensemen. It would be really good if Hawks can build a defensive core of six dependable defensemen. Offensively flashy is nice, but rather have guys that are dependable in their own end first and foremost. Offensively they have to be able to head man the puck out of their own end effectively and capable of hard and accurate shot from point and pinch in when safe to do so. Hopefully, they can find a bunch like that from this crop of young players

The Hawks re-signed Mackenzie Entwistle to a 2 year, 1 way, deal at $800,000 AAV. Entwistle had 1 year left on his current deal at ~ $812,000.
- DarthKane

EXCELLENT WRITE UP THEO !

When the Hawks won their last cup in 2015, they did it with basically four defensemen, struggling to find pair of bottom pair defensemen. It would be really good if Hawks can build a defensive core of six dependable defensemen. Offensively flashy is nice, but rather have guys that are dependable in their own end first and foremost. Offensively they have to be able to head man the puck out of their own end effectively and capable of hard and accurate shot from point and pinch in when safe to do so. Hopefully, they can find a bunch like that from this crop of young players
- chuckdahammer

I’ll add they can move the puck out of their end quickly, efficiently and accurately.

- Rota's Rooter

Thunder fingers. Let’s hope the Blackhawks Entwhistle brings some thunder along the boards.

Stirring the pot as usual I see. 🥸
- paulr

Wouldn’t have it any other way….

Thunder fingers. Let’s hope the Blackhawks Entwhistle brings some thunder along the boards.
- paulr

I will be extremely disappointed if his hockey nickname is not "The Ox".

Thunder fingers. Let’s hope the Blackhawks Entwhistle brings some thunder along the boards.
- paulr

Except he is using a pick in that clip.

I’ll add they can move the puck out of their end quickly, efficiently and accurately.
- paulr

I would just be happy with no turnovers in the defensive zone.

One thing I noticed is that Theo has a few guys as Top 3 potential, nobody is listed as having Top Pair potential. This is why we have Seth Jones.
- mohel

The need for an elite top pair is debatable, if the other 4 are good enough. 6 really solid guys playing well together works. Pitt won without an upper echelon top pair. I’d be happy with three workman like Hjalmarsson/Oduya type pairings.

Except he is using a pick in that clip.
- powerenforcer

JFC!

I would just be happy with no turnovers in the defensive zone.
- LAHawk

That’ll work

JFC!

- Rota's Rooter

Bettman posted this Gif to make you think Entwhistle wasn’t using a pick. It’s all part of a larger conspiracy. Am I right PE?

JFC!

- Rota's Rooter

That is more like it.

https://youtu.be/VlatIadhPCA

One thing I noticed is that Theo has a few guys as Top 3 potential, nobody is listed as having Top Pair potential. This is why we have Seth Jones.
- mohel

I noticed it I got your back! Rockford and our system looks like it's made up of Oduyas at best and Svedbergs at worst. Haven't seen Keith and Seabrook yet.

https://youtu.be/VlatIadhPCA
- paulr

Nice, that never gets old. Hopefully they’ll be able to climb that mountain again a time or two before I’m six feet under.

Nice, that never gets old. Hopefully they’ll be able to climb that mountain again a time or two before I’m six feet under.
- Angotti

Up until about 2007 I never thought the Hawks would be a contender in my lifetime let alone a triple cup winner. We saw the best period of Blackhawks hockey ever. One more cup would be the ultimate.

Another thorough write-up. Great stuff.

The strength of our team. Hawks have done a good job building a nice pipeline of young D-men.
I like the potential of Vlasic, although 2-3 years away,,,,I like that he is different than the rest, and the Hawks NEED that defensive responsibility behind the blueline to compliment Mitchel, Beaudin, Jones, etc. In 3 years time those 4 have the potential to be a real solid TOP 4 behind the blueline.

Beaudin and Mitchell could BOTH use a full year of grooming before being Hawks, but I would guess both end up playing a number of games with the BIG club for 2 reasons. 1. They likely show well in AHL and earn a spot as the year progresses....and 2. The more likely scenerio where a couple of injuries make it essential that these guys move up. No doubt, the future looks better on the blueline than it has in eons.
- hawk35

I also like having Vlasic and now 2021 draftees Allan, Harding, and Del Mastro in the pipeline as defensive defensemen who can be groomed as shutdown types.

Vlasic and Allan have top 4 material. Del Mastro could push for a role there, too, but I'd be happy if he was the defensive anchor on the 3rd pair. Harding has a 3rd pair ceiling, IMO, even though he was drafted before Del Mastro.

Agree with your view that Mitchell and Beaudin may not be in Rockford the entire season for the reasons you shared, particularly inevitable injuries, illness, COVID protocol, etc.

I’d really love to see Regula put it all together this season in the A. Would like to see these pairings consistently:
Kalynuk/Mitchell
Beaudin/Regula

Imo, Regula is a slow learner (not short bus slow) and if paired w/ Beaudin consistently then I think you’ll see a lot of progression over the season. Similar to how he progressed mightily when paired with Boq in London for most of the season. Some guys just take longer for it to click but he has the NHL body/IQ to make it imo.

Excited to see Kalynuk/Mitchell with top minutes.
- Assman22

In an end-of-season review, Hogs head coach Derek King commented that Regula needs to push the pace more saying that he's not necessarily lazy or lacks compete but is just very laid back in general as far as personality.

In Rockford games where Regula stood out, it was because he pushed the pace consistently. He has a great skill package but that lack of pace is what could keep him from the NHL.

Thanks, Theo.
It's great you are keeping us up to speed with the prospect season.
I'm hoping to find time to view some Icehog games to see the work in progress.
- 35Tony0

Hogs games are pretty fun to watch because it's less about the winning and losing but more about keying in on the prospects to see how they are doing individually.

Great write up Theo!

Will be interesting to see how all the young dmen develop. I'm hoping to see Kalynuk up with the big club to start the season, but if deHaan isn't traded, he'll probably start the season in RFD.

That wouldn't be a bad thing either and like you mention, along with Mitchell, he'd be getting top minutes. Beudin is another guy who should get big minutes and I like that the Hogs roster looks like it will consist of all prospects.
- HawkintheD

The Hogs D corps is predominantly prospects with veterans in Ryan Stanton, Dmitry Osipov, and Cliff Watson. The starting 6 could easily be all prospects: Mitchell, Beaudin, Krys, Galvas, Regula, Phillips, Krutil.

While I don't mind Stanton getting ice time, I hope Osipov and Watson are used sparingly or demoted to Indy. They're career minor leaguers and really weren't necessary signings (one is fine but definitely not both especially with Stanton as the leader).

Thanks Theo - Looks like there are many prospects who slot in the same positions. Most likely one or more will get traded (just because you can't play them all). It will be interesting to see who the team trades.
- powerenforcer

That is very true and accurate. It's actually a good thing to have more prospects than you need assuming they each develop well. Trade the excess for assets that fill other needs.

Chad krys is 23 I think you have him rated to high. I dont see him ever being a NHL player.
- kmw4631

To be fair, Kalynuk is older at 24 and Krys missed most of last season. He's also had others ahead of him on the depth chart so it's natural for him to have a longer timeline to the NHL. Last season's injury compounds that timeline.

There were many times in 2019-20 when Krys was much better than Beaudin when they were both rookies in Rockford. Beaudin definitely has a higher ceiling but right now, he's not necessarily light years ahead of Krys.