Theo Fox: Knight Errantry Highlighting the Blackhawks vs Golden Knights game tonight and an update on prospect Michael Krutil.

Plus, a summary of the IceHogs vs Wolves game which included Lukas Reichel's 4-point night, Collin Delia's shutout, and Brandon Pirri's return.

Thanks for the Rockford review Theo. It's too bad most of the best D prospects are up with the Hawks right now.

At what point do we start hearing that Reichel is better than Dach?

It's interesting that they are almost complete opposites. Dach has the bigger frame, but less development time, and the development he had wasn't even at the AHL level. Reichel is a smaller frame, but has played against men the past 3 years. Should be fun to watch.

Thanks Theo, love your Rockford reviews. While many here including myself would like to see Reichel stay in the A the rest of the year, I have a feeling that they will bring him up soon, they’ll do anything to put fans in stands. I like Rocky and what he has done for the Hawks, but without a doubt, he’s a businessman first.

Thanks Theo, love your Rockford reviews. While many here including myself would like to see Reichel stay in the A the rest of the year, I have a feeling that they will bring him up soon, they’ll do anything to put fans in stands. I like Rocky and what he has done for the Hawks, but without a doubt, he’s a businessman first.
- Angotti

I’m fine rewarding Reichel with a taste of the NHL later in the season, but I too hope he spends most of the rest of the year in RFD. Nothing good can come of an extended stay around this train wreck. Leave him in Rockford, and send Dach down to join him.

Agree what is the projection of rechiel center or wing in the nhl?

Dach at best will just an average center in NHL playing in the 3rd line-up. The kid has poor hockey iq and no juice to his game...

They'd have less only players meetings if they collectively concentrated and gave their all to play defense and be on the right side of the puck. I guess it takes losing so many games in a row to maybe figure out again

Agree what is the projection of rechiel center or wing in the nhl?
- Scott1977

You are looking at your new 1C Scott!

You are looking at your new 1C Scott!
- Chunk

Ok so the rebuild that should be coming rechiel dach dcat Jones should be so called core then. Still say dach will end up being a winger down the line and imo will better as a winger than a center. Hawks need to move on from towes and Kane. But will upper management embrace a full build is the question?

A copy and paste from yesterday's blog by Rick. Rick doesn't post enough but as usual his posts carry a lot of weight and for this reader I always read em at least twice to make sure I got it...... Post more often, Rick!

Lets just be clear about 2 things - 1) the NHL entry draft is a crapshoot once the top 5, maybe 10 players are off the board. 2) repeated misses in the draft can and usually lead to management types and their scouts being dismissed.

To keep this brief, why don't we select just 2 players from a long list of Blackhawk draftees who are either still in the minors, not with the team anymore or out of hockey completely.

Chad Krys - you know what Dmen were drafted the Hawks selected Mr. Krys? Samuel Girard, Ryan Lindgren, Filip Hronek and some guy named Adam Fox. He may be that guy who won the Norris last year. And speaking of golatenders, Krys was even chosen ahead of Carter Hart. So what happened to Chad Krys after the draft? - he was developed into a minor leaguer and then dumped in trade for little or no return.

Adam Boqvist - drafted ahead of Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, K'Andre Miller, Rasmus Sandin, Alexander Romanov among others. Rushed to pro hockey from junior too soon, rushed to the NHL before he was physically ready and before his pro game developed. And to top it off, was then used as trade capital along with a #1 pick that might cost the Hawks the price of a superstar player in this year's draft, not to mention the massive contract salary and commitment to Seth Jones which then became the benchmark for all #1 Dmen needing new contracts.

Those are just 2 players, I can name more : Adam Clendening, Justin Holl, Carl Dahlstrom, Michael Paliotta, Dillon Fournier. These were all players chosen somewhere 35-70th overall who never even threatened an NHL roster spot. So why would anybody think Ian Mitchell or Nicholas Beaudin will become NHL players at any point?

Ultimately this is on Bowman's resume and the blame rests with him and all the minions beneath him. Scouting and identification of future NHL'ers requires more than reading down the roster list of the U.S. Development team.

RickJ

First off. I’m from St. Louis. I hate your team. Rivalry runs deep, since 87 or so

I really like flowers pads. Old school as heck. Good to see that again.

What’s the word out of Chicago, are you sellers now?

First off. I’m from St. Louis. I hate your team. Rivalry runs deep, since 87 or so

I really like flowers pads. Old school as heck. Good to see that again.

What’s the word out of Chicago, are you sellers now?
- BluesDroogie

Only hated the hockey team from St Louis since 1967. Had beer accidentally spilled on me in The Arena, The Checkerdome and all iterations of what is now known as The Enterprise Center. (Pretty sure St Louis has a drinking problem, eye/hand coordination-wise)
Only Mr Obvious can accurately answer your question!

First off. I’m from St. Louis. I hate your team. Rivalry runs deep, since 87 or so

I really like flowers pads. Old school as heck. Good to see that again.

What’s the word out of Chicago, are you sellers now?
- BluesDroogie

I would say yes what st. Louis need that hawks have which is not much?

First off. I’m from St. Louis. I hate your team. Rivalry runs deep, since 87 or so

I really like flowers pads. Old school as heck. Good to see that again.

What’s the word out of Chicago, are you sellers now?
- BluesDroogie

Well, I’m from Chicago and I hate your team. That being said, my prediction is that either the Avs or the Blows will come out of the west. Hawks will do some selling, but they won’t blow it all up.

First off. I’m from St. Louis. I hate your team. Rivalry runs deep, since 87 or so

I really like flowers pads. Old school as heck. Good to see that again.

What’s the word out of Chicago, are you sellers now?
- BluesDroogie

Yes, the Blackhawks will be sellers. There's an article in the Athletic Chicago today stating that Davidson is not married at all to any of Bowman's reclamation projects.

The Nylander trade is one example of that. Strome to a certain extent but he was on the block before Bowman departed.

Yes, the Blackhawks will be sellers. There's an article in the Athletic Chicago today stating that Davidson is not married at all to any of Bowman's reclamation projects.

The Nylander trade is one example of that. Strome to a certain extent but he was on the block before Bowman departed.
- Theo Fox

Theo when does Davidson realize the season is a wash and starts moving pieces strome dehann kubalik fleury etc.. also have that conversation with Kane and towes about possibly being traded to a contender. Imo if he hasn't should start exploring what he could get and if a full rebuild is approved by the wirtz's.

Yes, the Blackhawks will be sellers. There's an article in the Athletic Chicago today stating that Davidson is not married at all to any of Bowman's reclamation projects.

The Nylander trade is one example of that. Strome to a certain extent but he was on the block before Bowman departed.
- Theo Fox

Theo when does Davidson realize the season is a wash and starts moving pieces strome dehann kubalik fleury etc.. also have that conversation with Kane and towes about possibly being traded to a contender. Imo if he hasn't should start exploring what he could get and if a full rebuild is approved by the wirtz's.

Yes, the Blackhawks will be sellers. There's an article in the Athletic Chicago today stating that Davidson is not married at all to any of Bowman's reclamation projects.

The Nylander trade is one example of that. Strome to a certain extent but he was on the block before Bowman departed.
- Theo Fox

Theo when does Davidson realize the season is a wash and starts moving pieces strome dehann kubalik fleury etc.. also have that conversation with Kane and towes about possibly being traded to a contender. Imo if he hasn't should start exploring what he could get and if a full rebuild is approved by the wirtz's.

Ok so the rebuild that should be coming rechiel dach dcat Jones should be so called core then. Still say dach will end up being a winger down the line and imo will better as a winger than a center. Hawks need to move on from towes and Kane. But will upper management embrace a full build is the question?
- Scott1977

I would not be surprised if Toews was resigned to a say $6Mx3, or something in that area, I would be okay with that. Toews can then center the third line like some have proposed for the last ten years. In my opinion Kane will want out, and I would be okay with that as well, he’s earned that. Let him chase some scoring records on a better team, and then the Hawks can get some young assets back to help out the new core.

I would not be surprised if Toews was resigned to a say $6Mx3, or something in that area, I would be okay with that. Toews can then center the third line like some have proposed for the last ten years. In my opinion Kane will want out, and I would be okay with that as well, he’s earned that. Let him chase some scoring records on a better team, and then the Hawks can get some young assets back to help out the new core.
- Angotti

One thing about Kane to the Rangers. The Rangers have quite a bit of playoff ready physicality to protect him. Another, he likely puts them over the top.
That being said, if he wants play his career as a Blackhawk, I'm more than ok with that.

Theo when does Davidson realize the season is a wash and starts moving pieces strome dehann kubalik fleury etc.. also have that conversation with Kane and towes about possibly being traded to a contender. Imo if he hasn't should start exploring what he could get and if a full rebuild is approved by the wirtz's.
- Scott1977

Seems certain that Davidson isn't going to wait until the TDL to start making trades. He's already made some trades in shipping out Krys and Nylander for 4th liner/13th forwards who are likely not on the Hawks next season.

Some trades may be closer to the TDL as contenders get desperate to enhance their rosters for the stretch run but I would expect some deals this month and next.

And when the bigger fish get moved out, that's when favorable draft picks start coming back into Chicago's allotment.

They'd have less only players meetings if they collectively concentrated and gave their all to play defense and be on the right side of the puck. I guess it takes losing so many games in a row to maybe figure out again
- BetweenTheDots

The problem has always been, and remains, Colliton's system.

Agree what is the projection of rechiel center or wing in the nhl?
- Scott1977

He's a projected Duster.

I’m fine rewarding Reichel with a taste of the NHL later in the season, but I too hope he spends most of the rest of the year in RFD. Nothing good can come of an extended stay around this train wreck. Leave him in Rockford, and send Dach down to join him.
- Ogilthorpe2

I don't see the value in bringing Reichel into this dumpster fire. Let him enjoy success in the AHL for a full season then give him a change to make the team next season.

Seems certain that Davidson isn't going to wait until the TDL to start making trades. He's already made some trades in shipping out Krys and Nylander for 4th liner/13th forwards who are likely not on the Hawks next season.

Some trades may be closer to the TDL as contenders get desperate to enhance their rosters for the stretch run but I would expect some deals this month and next.

And when the bigger fish get moved out, that's when favorable draft picks start coming back into Chicago's allotment.
- Theo Fox

So who would these big fish be that are going to get moved out and yield the Hawks a bevy of picks and/or top prospects?

By my count, the Hawks only have 5 good NHL players on their roster (ADB, Kane, Toews, Fleury, S.Jones). 6 if you want to count Tyler Johnson.

In no way can I include Connor Murphy, DeHaan, Kubalik in the "big fish" category.

The player deletions are more likely to be Carpenter, Gustafsson, Strome and a couple of other stiffs. Who in total might net the Hawks a couple of 5 thru 7th round picks.

I can see Lankinen moved to Edmonton since they are desperate, might get a 3rd rounder in return for him.