Tyler Cameron: Blackhawks sign some guys not named Ian Mitchell I wanted to give you my thoughts on some actual news that has been happening in Chicago during this pandemic.

On Thursday, April 2nd the Blackhawks announced 4 signings. Let's take a look.

Maybe Foley is tempted to call the new Russian AA in play -by- play. But there is Anisimov too.

Oh the lighter side of the news for us hockey fans

Of course when play resumes how often do we play Ottawa and our AA may actually be prepping in Rockford

Tyler Cameron: Blackhawks sign some guys not named Ian Mitchell
I wanted to give you my thoughts on some actual news that has been happening in Chicago during this pandemic.

On Thursday, April 2nd the Blackhawks announced 4 signings. Let's take a look.
- Tyler Cameron

I wasn't the biggest Highmore fan but he's won me over. I think he's a very good contributor to the bottom 3. In the previous blog somebody said bottom 6 guys are easy to find. That is true, but finding guys who excel and embrace the defensive role is something else. The Hawks have 3 of these type in Carpenter, Kampf and Highmore. They're not quite the Kruger, Frolik, Bolland caliber but they're solid.

Also... I think the new AA signed a 2 year deal not 3.

Tyler Cameron: Blackhawks sign some guys not named Ian Mitchell
I wanted to give you my thoughts on some actual news that has been happening in Chicago during this pandemic.

On Thursday, April 2nd the Blackhawks announced 4 signings. Let's take a look.
- Tyler Cameron

Glad to see the Hawks still making moves. I sure hope Mitchell signs with the Blackhawks.

I wasn't the biggest Highmore fan but he's won me over. I think he's a very good contributor to the bottom 3. In the previous blog somebody said bottom 6 guys are easy to find. That is true, but finding guys who excel and embrace the defensive role is something else. The Hawks have 3 of these type in Carpenter, Kampf and Highmore. They're not quite the Kruger, Frolik, Bolland caliber but they're solid.

Also... I think the new AA signed a 2 year deal not 3.
- DarthKane

I've always been a big fan of him & I'm really happy.

Also, no the three you listed aren't at the highest caliber, but it is still good & annoying to play against.

Thanks for the updates, Tyler. Hope all is well in the Cameron household.

Although he showed some hustle in the July prospect camps, From didn't seem to make an impression on Hawks brass. Not a big loss but hope he finds a chance with another organization.

It'll be interesting to see if they also part ways with Gravel. Can't have enough lottery tickets in the goalie pool but his stock dipped considerably this season.

Thanks for the updates, Tyler. Hope all is well in the Cameron household.

Although he showed some hustle in the July prospect camps, From didn't seem to make an impression on Hawks brass. Not a big loss but hope he finds a chance with another organization.

It'll be interesting to see if they also part ways with Gravel. Can't have enough lottery tickets in the goalie pool but his stock dipped considerably this season.
- AEL_Fox

That a shame about Gravel ,what happened to him .I was excited for him ,after watching his Memorial Cup run . It always a roll of the dice with young players ,even more so with goalies ..

I wasn't the biggest Highmore fan but he's won me over. I think he's a very good contributor to the bottom 3. In the previous blog somebody said bottom 6 guys are easy to find. That is true, but finding guys who excel and embrace the defensive role is something else. The Hawks have 3 of these type in Carpenter, Kampf and Highmore. They're not quite the Kruger, Frolik, Bolland caliber but they're solid.

Also... I think the new AA signed a 2 year deal not 3.
- DarthKane

Kampf is ok, but I could see him getting replaced by Hagel next season. I know it was just the one game but the puck seemed to find him a lot.

Definitely think that Highmore worked his way on to the team this past season and he and Carpenter should be 2/3's of that 4th line whenever play resumes.

Can someone explain the one way / two contract?

Can someone explain the one way / two contract?
- mike7076

Very simple actually. On a one-way contract a player gets paid the same amount regardless if he is in the NHL or the AHL.

On a two-way contract, a player gets paid one amount if on the "Big team" and a lesser amount if demoted to the "Farm team"

i.e. $2,000,000 Player on a one-way gets 2 million WHEREVER he plays.
a $2,000,000 player on a two-way will have a lesser amount also specified ($850,000, as an example) that he will receive if sent down.

Hope that helps.


edit:
I looked at the Highmore contract.

Year 1 is a two-way. 750k if plays with Hawks, 450k if in AHL
Year 2 is 700 k...but one-way. He will get 700 k whether he plays in NHL or AHL.

Kampf is ok, but I could see him getting replaced by Hagel next season. I know it was just the one game but the puck seemed to find him a lot.

Definitely think that Highmore worked his way on to the team this past season and he and Carpenter should be 2/3's of that 4th line whenever play resumes.
- HawkintheD

I haven't seen enough of Hagel to comfortable make a decision on him, but you could be right. I agree that Carpenter and Highmore will be the drivers on the 4th line, unless JC decides to use them on the 2nd line.

I haven't seen enough of Hagel to comfortable make a decision on him, but you could be right. I agree that Carpenter and Highmore will be the drivers on the 4th line, unless JC decides to use them on the 2nd line.
- DarthKane

Carpenter saw time there so you never know. Strome and Dinky move to 4th line grinder roles?

On a completely different note, was reading a story on Butkus and Sayers in the Herald this morning and about how they never played in a playoff game. Can't imagine that with 19 and 88 but then the Hawks had other players around them unlike the Bears.

Anyway, here's the excerpt:

In 1967, the Bears lost to the Packers 13-10 and 17-13, and had they won either game, they would have tied Green Bay for the division title. The 13-10 loss in Week 2 at Lambeau Field was a head-scratcher.

The Bears forced 8 turnovers, Bart Starr threw 5 interceptions and the Bears still lost on a late field goal. Bears quarterbacks Larry Rakestraw and Jack Concannon combined to complete 5 of 12 passes for 23 yards and an interception that day. Ouch.

Hell, even Mitch isn't Larry Rakestraw and Jack Concannon bad...though I suspect he'll be gripping a clipboard whenever football does resume play.

Carpenter saw time there so you never know. Strome and Dinky move to 4th line grinder roles?

On a completely different note, was reading a story on Butkus and Sayers in the Herald this morning and about how they never played in a playoff game. Can't imagine that with 19 and 88 but then the Hawks had other players around them unlike the Bears.

Anyway, here's the excerpt:

In 1967, the Bears lost to the Packers 13-10 and 17-13, and had they won either game, they would have tied Green Bay for the division title. The 13-10 loss in Week 2 at Lambeau Field was a head-scratcher.

The Bears forced 8 turnovers, Bart Starr threw 5 interceptions and the Bears still lost on a late field goal. Bears quarterbacks Larry Rakestraw and Jack Concannon combined to complete 5 of 12 passes for 23 yards and an interception that day. Ouch.

Hell, even Mitch isn't Larry Rakestraw and Jack Concannon bad...though I suspect he'll be gripping a clipboard whenever football does resume play.
- HawkintheD

Whole different game back then. Rules favored the running game and with Sayers playing with two good knees why would you want to throw the ball?

I wasn't the biggest Highmore fan but he's won me over. I think he's a very good contributor to the bottom 3. In the previous blog somebody said bottom 6 guys are easy to find. That is true, but finding guys who excel and embrace the defensive role is something else. The Hawks have 3 of these type in Carpenter, Kampf and Highmore. They're not quite the Kruger, Frolik, Bolland caliber but they're solid.

Also... I think the new AA signed a 2 year deal not 3.
- DarthKane

Thanks for catching that, DK!

Updating that now.

Whole different game back then. Rules favored the running game and with Sayers playing with two good knees why would you want to throw the ball?
- Beaver-Warrior

Was alive then but still soling myself so didn't see that one. Though when I did start following, it was definitely more of a running league.

Still highlights the bad that has largely been Bear QB play for pretty much forever. Maybe they'd have won that game if they'd thrown the ball a dozen less times.

Thanks for the updates, Tyler. Hope all is well in the Cameron household.

Although he showed some hustle in the July prospect camps, From didn't seem to make an impression on Hawks brass. Not a big loss but hope he finds a chance with another organization.

It'll be interesting to see if they also part ways with Gravel. Can't have enough lottery tickets in the goalie pool but his stock dipped considerably this season.
- AEL_Fox

All is well, sir! How are things on your end?

Yeah I didn't think From would be with the organization long-term. As you mentioned, Hawks brass didn't seem overly impressed with him.

Gravel is someone I am interested in as well in regards to how CHI makes that decision.

I think you resign him and the ECHL might be a nice transition for him.

Then you have Lankinen/Delia (assuming one of them are up in the NHL) + Tomkins in the AHL.

Then Gravel as insurance in Indy and a possible wild card in Ivan Nalimov - however, he may never come back overseas.

Carpenter saw time there so you never know. Strome and Dinky move to 4th line grinder roles?

On a completely different note, was reading a story on Butkus and Sayers in the Herald this morning and about how they never played in a playoff game. Can't imagine that with 19 and 88 but then the Hawks had other players around them unlike the Bears.

Anyway, here's the excerpt:

In 1967, the Bears lost to the Packers 13-10 and 17-13, and had they won either game, they would have tied Green Bay for the division title. The 13-10 loss in Week 2 at Lambeau Field was a head-scratcher.

The Bears forced 8 turnovers, Bart Starr threw 5 interceptions and the Bears still lost on a late field goal. Bears quarterbacks Larry Rakestraw and Jack Concannon combined to complete 5 of 12 passes for 23 yards and an interception that day. Ouch.

Hell, even Mitch isn't Larry Rakestraw and Jack Concannon bad...though I suspect he'll be gripping a clipboard whenever football does resume play.
- HawkintheD

And how naive are you??????

And how naive are you??????
- vabeachbear

Considerably so. Can’t tell if you’re Darthing me there but if not, I don’t think it’s a reach to see them handing the reins over to Foles.

Pace has swung and missed pretty mightily with his first round picks so far, but the fact they moved on from Floyd and traded for Foles who appears to be a fit in this offense kind of speaks volumes.

I’m sure they still want Mitch to get it at some point but as it’s been written...I think they were watching the same thing we all were last season.

It seems like when the Hawks identify a 3rd or 4th line player they have a way of taking away all of their offensive potential. Look at Kruger and Kampf. I am not saying they had top 6 offensive talent, but it seems like their offensive contribution continued to deteriorate over time. I am not sure if that is the coaching or the player. I hope that does not happen to Highmore, Hagel, Entwistle, etc...

If you look at other players in previous years that played 3rd and 4th line roles they continued to be an offensive threat. (Frolik, Bolland, Shaw, Bickell, Versteeg, Ladd all spent some time playing in a bottom 6 roll)

K4 -Koekkoek
A4 - Altybarmakyan

I wasn't the biggest Highmore fan but he's won me over. I think he's a very good contributor to the bottom 3. In the previous blog somebody said bottom 6 guys are easy to find. That is true, but finding guys who excel and embrace the defensive role is something else. The Hawks have 3 of these type in Carpenter, Kampf and Highmore. They're not quite the Kruger, Frolik, Bolland caliber but they're solid.

Also... I think the new AA signed a 2 year deal not 3.
- DarthKane

Caggiula can play top 6. But it would be nice to have him in the bottom 6. A 4th line of Carp, Highmore, Caggiula is pretty decent. I am losing my enthusiasm for Kampf. He can win faceoffs and play on the PK. But 5v5 he is awful offensively. He might be better as a winger on the 4th that can take faceoffs and kill penalties. He does not drive enough offense to play center.

Caggiula can play top 6. But it would be nice to have him in the bottom 6. A 4th line of Carp, Highmore, Caggiula is pretty decent. I am losing my enthusiasm for Kampf. He can win faceoffs and play on the PK. But 5v5 he is awful offensively. He might be better as a winger on the 4th that can take faceoffs and kill penalties. He does not drive enough offense to play center.
- -Doh-

I don't think Kampf should be driving offense at all, but that's on JC for using him and Carpenter in more offensive type of roles.

Carpenter, Highmore and The Drake would be a great 4th line, have they actually played together much?

Ok Tyler, explain this.

https://www.tmz.com/photo...1b0843658a5e5a43c65e66e9/

Ok Tyler, explain this.

https://www.tmz.com/photo...1b0843658a5e5a43c65e66e9/
- boilermaker100

For shame, Tyler!

In other news,

@Account4hockey
Elliotte Friedman on WGR550 Thursday on Dylan Strome: "He's available." "I don't think the cost is particularly prohibitive".

and when someone questioned the weird timing of this:

@Account4hockey
Last week one of the hosts asked him to see if Strome was available because he thinks he would be a good fit for Buffalo. So this week he answered after calling around.

I don't think Kampf should be driving offense at all, but that's on JC for using him and Carpenter in more offensive type of roles.

Carpenter, Highmore and The Drake would be a great 4th line, have they actually played together much?
- DarthKane

"Driving offense" may not be the right term. Generating a scoring chance once in a while or maintaining puck possession in the offensive zone is what I was alluding to. Kampf barely does either of these.

I do not think Caggiula, Carp and Highmore have played together (at least not much).