Tyler Cameron: Hawks lose again + Rockford IceHogs update
The Blackhawks lose once again. Stop me if you've heard this before.

Another stinker game that was overshadowed by the Marc Crawford news, as well as the fact the Hawks didn't have enough players to fill an actual lineup.

Here are a few updates + a Rockford IceHogs check in.

Jeremy Colliton: "We've got a good enough team to put a run together, but it's got to happen now." #Blackhawks


appreciate the optimistic assessment of his team...but this team is not capable of 12-3-2 type of run..not at full strength and not in this division...

with this team any 1-2 week stretch of winning is/will be followed by an equally bad streak...

Tyler - outstanding blog again...

Care to take a stab at the future of the coaching staff and/or front office in a follow up blog

Its probably on your 'To Do List'

Great schtuff, TC & Theo!

It might not be the best for the hawks now, but I look forward to the future of a lot of those names. Glad the forwards & goaltenders are being stockpiled (even though most forwards were bottom 6 projections.)

I always liked Fortin, so I'm very happy to hear he's getting it. I hated labeling him as Stalberg.

if that's hawks lineup going forward in the upcoming years geez not promising imo bunch of 4th liners and fringe nhl players. Hopefully I'm wrong with some of the players. Tyler at what point does rockey and mcduff step in and fire either bowman or J.C. with the current roster and the players looking like its the first time they ever played hockey does not look like the playoffs are going to happen?

Curious to know how Zack Smith has looked? Decent?

Thanks to Fox for the Rockford update.

Fox said: Keep in mind that some of the prospects who project to be NHL players may ply their trade in another franchise as it is inevitable for there to not be enough room on the Hawks roster or they don't fit what the Hawks need at that particular point in time. This may be the fate of players like John Quenneville, Ian McCoshen, Joni Tuulola, and either Carlsson or Gilbert (perhaps even both).

I notice that Dylan Sikura is not on this list of skaters who may be moved: is that just an oversight, or does the Blackhawk brass want to keep him - do they see a future for him here in Chicago?

Great schtuff, TC & Theo!

It might not be the best for the hawks now, but I look forward to the future of a lot of those names. Glad the forwards & goaltenders are being stockpiled (even though most forwards were bottom 6 projections.)

I always liked Fortin, so I'm very happy to hear he's getting it. I hated labeling him as Stalberg.
- I Am The Breadman

Fortin and Tomkins have been the nice surprises thus far in Rockford as both seem to be turning the corner from bust to potential NHL depth player.

That opportunity may not necessarily be with the Blackhawks but at least there's growing hope for their own personal futures.

Except for his contract, Zach Smith has provided exactly what the Hawks acquired him for. He has been an excellent 4th line player/penalty killer and physical presence.

Can someone explain to me, with The Drake on LTIR, why are they out of cap space to call up a player? Or did I hear something wrong during the game yesterday, they had to play short handed because they have no cap space.

if that's hawks lineup going forward in the upcoming years geez not promising imo bunch of 4th liners and fringe nhl players. Hopefully I'm wrong with some of the players. Tyler at what point does rockey and mcduff step in and fire either bowman or J.C. with the current roster and the players looking like its the first time they ever played hockey does not look like the playoffs are going to happen?
- Scott1977

One thing to keep in mind as the blog only covered players on the Hogs roster, not all prospects within the extended system.

So there is middle 6 potential with forwards like Barratt, Wise, and Teply. No sure fire 1st liners, though.

On the blueline, there's top 4 potential in Vlasic and Regula and 3rd pair potential with Moberg. And of course the aforementioned Mitchell who has top pair potential.

Except for his contract, Zach Smith has provided exactly what the Hawks acquired him for. He has been an excellent 4th line player/penalty killer and physical presence.
- LAHawk

Good to hear: on the other side, Anisimov has been nothing but terrible. Slow as molasses. Decent boardwork but not much else. Injury prone as well

Good to hear: on the other side, Anisimov has been nothing but terrible. Slow as molasses. Decent boardwork but not much else. Injury prone as well
- AlexBoucher

That was the board complaint about Anisimov last year, until the trade for Smith, then he became a third line all-star, and how could we trade him?

Looks like we got the market cornered on future 3rd and 4th line forwards. My question is who will be in top 6 a year or two down the road.

Kane, Dach, Debrincat probably

Strome, Nylander questionable

Saad if still on the team?

Toews in name only if he doesn't get off the snide

We can always hope for Lefreniere or Byfield.

Can someone explain to me, with The Drake on LTIR, why are they out of cap space to call up a player? Or did I hear something wrong during the game yesterday, they had to play short handed because they have no cap space.
- powerenforcer

They had Keith, Shaw and Lehner sitting out but their salaries still going against the cap. After recalling Lankinen as a back up goalie and applying his salary to the cap, they didn't have enough cap space to bring in another forward to replace Shaw

Edit Strome also out last night and his salary counts against the cap too.

That was the board complaint about Anisimov last year, until the trade for Smith, then he became a third line all-star, and how could we trade him?
- LAHawk

Yeah I actually had hope he could be a fixture in the top 6...soooooo wrong. I don't even know how he has still gotten back in the lineup. He gets eaten up

This team needs an enema.

One thing to keep in mind as the blog only covered players on the Hogs roster, not all prospects within the extended system.

So there is middle 6 potential with forwards like Barratt, Wise, and Teply. No sure fire 1st liners, though.

On the blueline, there's top 4 potential in Vlasic and Regula and 3rd pair potential with Moberg. And of course the aforementioned Mitchell who has top pair potential.
- AEL_Fox

Good point just frustrated like everyone else how poorly this season turned out so far.

Good point just frustrated like everyone else how poorly this season turned out so far.
- Scott1977

No matter what team it is, your best players have to play like the best players. Only Kane and I would argue Crow have met that standard so far this year.

They had Keith, Shaw and Lehner sitting out but their salaries still going against the cap. After recalling Lankinen as a back up goalie and applying his salary to the cap, they didn't have enough cap space to bring in another forward to replace Shaw

Edit Strome also out last night and his salary counts against the cap too.
- boilermaker100

Thanks, I understand now.

Except for his contract, Zach Smith has provided exactly what the Hawks acquired him for. He has been an excellent 4th line player/penalty killer and physical presence.
- LAHawk

He sucked when the Hawks had Smith on the PK

Where was his physical play last night vs STL? Zero push from a guy that should have played with bite.

Smith is far from excellent

But I do agree, he was exactly what they wanted. 1m in savings

We suck

Devils fire coach John Hynes

Jeremy Colliton: "We've got a good enough team to put a run together, but it's got to happen now." #Blackhawks


appreciate the optimistic assessment of his team...but this team is not capable of 12-3-2 type of run..not at full strength and not in this division...

with this team any 1-2 week stretch of winning is/will be followed by an equally bad streak...

With the brutal schedule and injuries this team currently has, there is little to no chance they go on a run in the next 10-15 games. I would love to have it happen, but it just doesn't seem likely. This is probably a team destined to fold the tent at the trade deadline and move out any non-core pieces worth something (i.e. Keith, Smith, Caggiula, Gus, Crow?).

Upper management won't be happy and it may spell the end for Bowman, and also possibly Colliton, but what can you do, this team is now sowing the reaping they did between 2009-2015. It sucks, but in a cap world, unless you make perfect moves which the Hawks did not with specific contracts and trades, contenders will inevitably become bottom feeders again (i.e. see Los Angeles, Anaheim, New Jersey, NY Rangers, Ottawa, Detroit, all teams who played in the final 4 the last 8-10 years.)

Thanks to Fox for the Rockford update.

Fox said: Keep in mind that some of the prospects who project to be NHL players may ply their trade in another franchise as it is inevitable for there to not be enough room on the Hawks roster or they don't fit what the Hawks need at that particular point in time. This may be the fate of players like John Quenneville, Ian McCoshen, Joni Tuulola, and either Carlsson or Gilbert (perhaps even both).

I notice that Dylan Sikura is not on this list of skaters who may be moved: is that just an oversight, or does the Blackhawk brass want to keep him - do they see a future for him here in Chicago?
- StLBravesFan

While there seems to be a rumor that the Hawks have soured on Sikura and I know some on these boards don't particularly care for him, I for one see him as being a good fit for the big club so that's why I didn't place him in that list of current prospects who will find work elsewhere.

Playing for another team could still be in Sikura's future, but again, I think his 200 foot game, vision, hockey IQ, skill, and persistent motor can be valuable to the Hawks whether later this season or next one.