I think if KK comes into camp the same guy he was at the end of the season, then I think he gets sent down. If he shows growth over last year, it's likely he stays with the team and plays regularly. Hopefully he's been studying Josi like was mentioned at the end of the season, or heck even watching what Vlasic does.
- Chunk

Yes agree 100% with that. Or if he has a rough first 10 games he'll get sent down and justifiably so.

Korchinski wore #14 before. I don't like that number for a d-man but if it makes him feel better then it's great.

Levshunov normally wears #5, but that's taken until Murphy gets the boot. 55 is still good though.

I wondered if Martinez would take #23, forcing Kurashev to find a new number. In the past Kurashev wore 71 which is also not available.

Reichel wore #73 for Germany, I think a change/fresh start is good for him. The only other Blackhawk to wear 73 was Brandon Pirri in 2021.
- DarthKane

FWIW:

Jaylen Luypen - #43
Ludwinski - #90
Hayes - #92 (Bernie Nicholls!!)

Where's Wiz did he forget to set his alarm clock?
- rpeters01

Usually up by 10 am

They're important but they not more importanter than anything else. Ultimately results matter.

If I go to a restaurant I'll probably tolerate not great service if the food is tremendous. But it sure is nice when everything aligns. Service great, ambiance good (I can hear the people I'm with talking), and food tasty.

The fancy stuff basically validates and should align with results (goals, assists, team success) and the eye test (player positioning, engagement in game, communication with teammates, ect.). In big Arty's case it looks like it does.

It shouldn't be used to reach though. Like oh wow this guy drove a poop load of play (high cf and relative cf) and had a bunch of assists. But doesn't score many goals and has a huge ratio of secondary assists and all he does on the ice is skate it over the blue line then fire the puck on net. Maybe not an effective player but probably looks decent on paper and a casual onlooker would wonder why they're not taking the next step.

Someone like Jonathan Toews on the other hand, drives lots of play, scores lots of goals and used to eat guys alive below the goal line when you watched the game.

Long winded way of saying the numbers by themself are not necessarily instructive but when combined with other factors it can help separate an effective player from a dominant one.
- fattybeef

Preaching to the choir here. I use the fancies mostly to qualify things that I can see with my eyes. I don't necessarily even understand all of them, and by their nature, statistics are a bit rigid in that there is very little if any room for context. They try by adding in more statistics, but it's never prefect.

FWIW:

Jaylen Luypen - #43
Ludwinski - #90
Hayes - #92 (Bernie Nicholls!!)
- Chunk

I’ve always liked numbers in the 90s. The 70s (the number range, not the decade) is starting to grow on me.

I don't know, there was a point there in the interview where it sure sounded like he was saying KK was kind of forced to be there, and sure sounded like he would like him in Rockford this year.

I might be reading into it, as I'm firmly in the over develop camp, but thought that's what i heard.
- vabeachbear

What caught my ear was KD going thru the names of D prospects that will battle for an NHL spot and said, not quite as an afterthought but still, even a Del Mastro or Allen might make the squad.

Struck me funny to name those two guys last and that "even" they could make the roster.

He moves like Drew Doughty I said it when he was drafted.
- rpeters01

Been awhile since a young Doughty patrolled NHL ice but yep, lotta similarities between Lev and Doughty, skating/movement being one of them.

I'd take that 'even' (even ... can make the roster) to be based on that they had limited to no NHL games last season (I think one had a couple, and the other none), and not really much more than that.

They could have sent him back to the WHL and just let him rack up points. I think after a full season in the NHL it's probably his spot to lose.

Plus I can't think of a drafted player who went to the AHL after a full season in the NHL and had any success. And I mean like a full season not splitting time.

Rafalski and Giardono kinda took the road less traveled but they were both underrated. Martin St Louis was also undrafted and took a while to get going.

Kris Russel was a third round pick that played +60 games twice then got sent down for 14 after that.

Derrick Pouliot was a first rounder that once played 60 NHL games for two years went to the AHL and faded into obscurity.

Could not find a player drafted in the first round that went to the NHL first, played +60 games, and then got dropped to the AHL team. There just isn't a comparable. Aside from some guys who were just not good players from the start.

Timothy Liljegren is kinda close. Not a very high bar there. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, dunno who that is but started in AHL then NHL then AHL then whatever.

It just doesn't seem like a plausible path for him to go to the AHL, especially since there isn't a comparable.
- fattybeef

I get it, wasn't making a comment on exactly what they should do, more listening to KD, and interpreting what he said. I still think he at a minimum hinted at it. Maybe that was just to light a fire under him or make sure he working hard and comes to camp ready to fight for a position.

Which is right after Olesz's! #retire85
- DarthKane

Is that before they retire both 13 and 36 for Alexei Zhamnov?

Been awhile since a young Doughty patrolled NHL ice but yep, lotta similarities between Lev and Doughty, skating/movement being one of them.
- Mr Ricochet

Pretty sure his comment here was in my response to Rinzel

Scott Powers
@ByScottPowers
Lukas Reichel changing his number from 27 to 73 was done out of respect for Jeremy Roenick's Hall of Fame election, but it's not connected to an impending jersey retirement, per a team source. Sounds like they haven't ruled out retiring Roenick's number, but it's not imminent.

Which is right after Olesz's! #retire85
- DarthKane

Peter Regin comes before them.

Will Murphy have to give up number 5 when they retire Runblad?

Scott Powers
@ByScottPowers
Lukas Reichel changing his number from 27 to 73 was done out of respect for Jeremy Roenick's Hall of Fame election, but it's not connected to an impending jersey retirement, per a team source. Sounds like they haven't ruled out retiring Roenick's number, but it's not imminent.
- breadbag

They should rule it out.

They should rule it out.
- Ogilthorpe2

It's not happening. Jeremy Roenick burned every bridge in this town after he was traded. He told other players around the league not to sign here, and blasted the ownership and management every change he got.

One thing I had heard years ago, it was Roenick who told Keith Tkachuk not to sign here. There were a few times the Blackhawks wanted to, he took what he was told to heart.

Now to be fair, Dollar Bill Wirtz and the yes men he had working for him then didn't exactly do his reputation as an a$$hole any favors, lol!!!

If any numbers need to go up from the pre 2010 Stanley Cup teams, my money is on #28 for Steve Larmer, and #24 for Doug Wilson.

And I thought Wilson's was coming after it was announced he is battling an illness.

I know that when Tkachuk was with the Jets, the Hawks offersheeted him when he was an RFA, but the Jets matched it.

Was there a time after that?

Personally, all I see with Reichel is a kid changing his number, because 27 has been a little snake-bitten for him, so why not.

It's not happening. Jeremy Roenick burned every bridge in this town after he was traded. He told other players around the league not to sign here, and blasted the ownership and management every change he got.

One thing I had heard years ago, it was Roenick who told Keith Tkachuk not to sign here. There were a few times the Blackhawks wanted to, he took what he was told to heart.

Now to be fair, Dollar Bill Wirtz and the yes men he had working for him then didn't exactly do his reputation as an a$$hole any favors, lol!!!

If any numbers need to go up from the pre 2010 Stanley Cup teams, my money is on #28 for Steve Larmer, and #24 for Doug Wilson.

And I thought Wilson's was coming after it was announced he is battling an illness.
- dahawks8819

1.) Tkachuk did sign here, but the offer sheet was matched
2.) Burned bridges are one thing, more importantly, he just isn’t worthy of the (silly) “honor”.

It's not happening. Jeremy Roenick burned every bridge in this town after he was traded. He told other players around the league not to sign here, and blasted the ownership and management every change he got.

One thing I had heard years ago, it was Roenick who told Keith Tkachuk not to sign here. There were a few times the Blackhawks wanted to, he took what he was told to heart.

Now to be fair, Dollar Bill Wirtz and the yes men he had working for him then didn't exactly do his reputation as an a$$hole any favors, lol!!!

If any numbers need to go up from the pre 2010 Stanley Cup teams, my money is on #28 for Steve Larmer, and #24 for Doug Wilson.

And I thought Wilson's was coming after it was announced he is battling an illness.
- dahawks8819

Didn’t Chelios burn bridges when he left? Worked out OK in the end anyway. Bobby Hull signing with the WHA was probably the ultimate middle finger to Wirtz’s. He has a statue.

1.) Tkachuk did sign here, but the offer sheet was matched
2.) Burned bridges are one thing, more importantly, he just isn’t worthy of the (silly) “honor”.
- Ogilthorpe2

Hey Ogi, how are you doing.

Honour the player, not the number. Designate an area in the area where the sweater or banner of a special player can be hung. Include the number but don’t retire it. I can see not using a certain number for a while too but recirculate it after a period of time has passed.

Hey Ogi, how are you doing.

Honour the player, not the number. Designate an area in the area where the sweater or banner of a special player can be hung. Include the number but don’t retire it. I can see not using a certain number for a while too but recirculate it after a period of time has passed.
- paulr

Very good idea.

https://capwages.com/

Well that didn't take long, hahaha

It appears as though Askarov wants out of Nashville. Should the Hawks kick the tires?

It appears as though Askarov wants out of Nashville. Should the Hawks kick the tires?
- LFS

I’m sure if KD thinks he’s a potential fit he’ll investigate.

It appears as though Askarov wants out of Nashville. Should the Hawks kick the tires?
- LFS

Yes see what asking price is and go from there. If to high then move on.