Theo Fox: Minor Adjustments A look at how the Blackhawks plan to revamp the minor league system so that the AHL affiliate IceHogs are consistently contending for the Calder Cup.

McLaughlin is gone, officially?

I have questioned his upside to you a few times, Theo. He appears to have the preresiquite skill, speed, experience and is not intimidated so at least has earned a look in training camp. The assumption seems to be, just a bit short to be an NHL player

The only thing short is shortsightedness on behalf of KD. You had nothing to loose and at least for a while a third line two way center.

Theo you described his effectiveness on a few occasions Maybe he will surface elsewhere as teams nowadays need bargain basement fill In players


If McLaughlin has a weakness, I am not aware of it.

Be honest. How many times did you type Philip and have to correct it? 🤣

Thanks for the new post read Theo! Lots of good points. I think it may have been on the interview posted to the Hawks website that Sorensen said that he was going to have a conversation about playing style/scheme, and that they would be mirroring it. KD said something about it as well.

The way I read them signing all of these AHL/NHL vets was that they were going to let the guys that should stay in junior, do so.

McLaughlin is gone, officially?

I have questioned his upside to you a few times, Theo. He appears to have the preresiquite skill, speed, experience and is not intimidated so at least has earned a look in training camp. The assumption seems to be, just a bit short to be an NHL player

The only thing short is shortsightedness on behalf of KD. You had nothing to loose and at least for a while a third line two way center.

Theo you described his effectiveness on a few occasions Maybe he will surface elsewhere as teams nowadays need bargain basement fill In players


If McLaughlin has a weakness, I am not aware of it.

jhawk59

McLaughlin is 27 years old he is forever a minor league player. St. Louis signed him to a 2 way contract. I am sure he is just a veteran presence for the Blues farm team.

Now the BOD can pine for another 27 year old Dylan (Sikura) as to why the Hawks don't give him a chance. Blues also signed Highmore to the same contract as McLaughlin.

McLaughlin is gone, officially?

I have questioned his upside to you a few times, Theo. He appears to have the preresiquite skill, speed, experience and is not intimidated so at least has earned a look in training camp. The assumption seems to be, just a bit short to be an NHL player

The only thing short is shortsightedness on behalf of KD. You had nothing to loose and at least for a while a third line two way center.

Theo you described his effectiveness on a few occasions Maybe he will surface elsewhere as teams nowadays need bargain basement fill In players


If McLaughlin has a weakness, I am not aware of it.
- jhawk59

Not sure, but maybe they are getting close on the max numbers of contracts allowed and felt the need to make room

Not sure, but maybe they are getting close on the max numbers of contracts allowed and felt the need to make room
- 6628

Dylan Sikura = Dylan McLaughlin. Same contracts for both. Sikura is the better player. Unless the Hawks are hit with a rash of injuries, neither is (or would) going to see the ice in an NHL game this year.

McLaughlin is gone, officially?

I have questioned his upside to you a few times, Theo. He appears to have the preresiquite skill, speed, experience and is not intimidated so at least has earned a look in training camp. The assumption seems to be, just a bit short to be an NHL player

The only thing short is shortsightedness on behalf of KD. You had nothing to loose and at least for a while a third line two way center.

Theo you described his effectiveness on a few occasions Maybe he will surface elsewhere as teams nowadays need bargain basement fill In players


If McLaughlin has a weakness, I am not aware of it.
- jhawk59

He signed a two way contract for $750,000 with the Blues two weeks ago. It takes two parties to sign a contract. Maybe he wanted a change of scenery. Their AHL team is in Massachusetts. He is from NY. So closer to home.

Having the farm team compete deep into spring every year could certainly be beneficial. You want the kids playing in meaningful games whenever possible. I just hope they don’t ever allow winning at the AHL level to interfere with the development of the youth. Don’t want them getting so caught up in a playoff race that career AHL guys are playing while the future of the Hawks watch from the press box.

Having the farm team compete deep into spring every year could certainly be beneficial. You want the kids playing in meaningful games whenever possible. I just hope they don’t ever allow winning at the AHL level to interfere with the development of the youth. Don’t want them getting so caught up in a playoff race that career AHL guys are playing while the future of the Hawks watch from the press box.
- Ogilthorpe2

Watch Sorensen's interview on the team site. It does not sound like that will be an issue at all. One of the main reasons he was retained was because of the growth seen in the prospects.

Players on AHL contracts can be demoted to ECHL. So the Hawks have some flexibility with players on AHL contracts. Signing older AHL players should allow prospects to stay in juniors or college if needed. But if the Hogs need the space they can send career AHL’ers down to the ECHL. I think.

Watch Sorensen's interview on the team site. It does not sound like that will be an issue at all. One of the main reasons he was retained was because of the growth seen in the prospects.
- Chunk

Hopefully that's something we continue to see. It didn't really happen much if at all when Dent was coach. King seemed to be good at teaching guys how to be pros, but it would be great to see Hawk prospects actually get developed at the farm club.

Hopefully that's something we continue to see. It didn't really happen much if at all when Dent was coach. King seemed to be good at teaching guys how to be pros, but it would be great to see Hawk prospects actually get developed at the farm club.
- HawkintheD

I'm particularly interested to see how far Mitchell has come. it seemed like he took full advantage of the playing time and understood what he was supposed to accomplish in RFD.

From what I’ve read on the Athletic he was the number one D in Rockford. Another year of prime time minutes with some call ups to the pros should be pretty exciting. My only gripe with him is that the hawks wanted him to join Rockford after his sophomore year in college but he opted to return to Denver for another year. So he’s 23 already and hasn’t cracked the NHL full time, I know it’s not a big deal at all but the window for pro athletes’s primes starts to close at age 29. Yes D take longer to develop and can have solid careers into their early thirties, I’m just hoping he stays before our penchant for trading young talent kicks in again.

From what I’ve read on the Athletic he was the number one D in Rockford. Another year of prime time minutes with some call ups to the pros should be pretty exciting. My only gripe with him is that the hawks wanted him to join Rockford after his sophomore year in college but he opted to return to Denver for another year. So he’s 23 already and hasn’t cracked the NHL full time, I know it’s not a big deal at all but the window for pro athletes’s primes starts to close at age 29. Yes D take longer to develop and can have solid careers into their early thirties, I’m just hoping he stays before our penchant for trading young talent kicks in again.
- ObeseOprah

Yeah, it will be interesting to see if KD thinks he fits the new Hawks mold of player. I would think so, but you never know. I do believe that we will see a notable number of prospects included in some deals as we go along here. I just really liked that he plays a more complete game.

What Davidson needs to be careful of, however, is making sure the success of the Hogs during the regular and post seasons can be substantially attributed to contributions from the youngsters and not be overly reliant on the elder skatesmen.

Theo, very good point and a mistake I’ve seen on other minor league teams in the past. Having journeymen veterans who understand and play a mistake free game to win isn’t the point, developing and providing experience for youngsters who are hopefully the future of the Blackhawks is. The veteran presence is important and perhaps vital to developing the “kids” but they shouldn’t impact that development.

Watch Sorensen's interview on the team site. It does not sound like that will be an issue at all. One of the main reasons he was retained was because of the growth seen in the prospects.
- Chunk

Since I keep referencing it here...

https://www.nhl.com/black...ic/t-277437096/c-12180995

Good players don’t spend a lot of time (if any) in the AHL. Its either a place holder for a loaded NHL roster or where hopes and dreams go to die.

Wonder if a few posters on here that anointed Dylan Sikura as a top 9 lock are going to fess up and apologize to the board.

I know I was ripped to shreds questioning whether Sikura was an NHL player..... guess what he isn't one.

Good players don’t spend a lot of time (if any) in the AHL. Its either a place holder for a loaded NHL roster or where hopes and dreams go to die.
- fattybeef

Agreed. There exceptions for late bloomers but most don't spend more than a year in the NHL. Especially forwards.

Wonder if a few posters on here that anointed Dylan Sikura as a top 9 lock are going to fess up and apologize to the board.

I know I was ripped to shreds questioning whether Sikura was an NHL player..... guess what he isn't one.


- bhawks2241

Yeah, well…a broken clock is right twice a day.

Good players don’t spend a lot of time (if any) in the AHL. Its either a place holder for a loaded NHL roster or where hopes and dreams go to die.
- fattybeef

You mean great players don’t spend much time(if any)in the AHL. Good players actually need to percolate in the A for a bit, especially Dmen. By the way, Duncan Keith spent two years in the AHL.

Wonder if a few posters on here that anointed Dylan Sikura as a top 9 lock are going to fess up and apologize to the board.

I know I was ripped to shreds questioning whether Sikura was an NHL player..... guess what he isn't one.


- bhawks2241

We should’ve realized the jig was up when Dylan Sikura was our one and only hope years ago. ‘If this college overachiever from the 6th round or whatever joins us and saves the team, the dynasty can continue!’

When your hopes and dreams hinge on a fringe NHL player, your team is on the way out. Lesson learned. Now I’ll go back to lamenting that Wyatt Kalynuk is the next Duncan Keith.

Good players don’t spend a lot of time (if any) in the AHL. Its either a place holder for a loaded NHL roster or where hopes and dreams go to die.
- fattybeef

Except for Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Corey Crawford, and about half the league.

I think it’s fair to say that most elite players don’t spend much time in the AHL, but there are a lot of “good” players who put in the work on the Junior Circuit.

Training camp should be interesting. We'll see what the defenseman gurus Richardson and Dean think of the existing crop of veterans and youngsters, how they adapt to the zone defense, and who makes the team.

Could be a make or break season for Mitchell. Hopefully he shows something and makes the team. If not he may fall off the depth chart like Beaudin and Kalynuk did last year.

Except for Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Corey Crawford, and about half the league.

I think it’s fair to say that most elite players don’t spend much time in the AHL, but there are a lot of “good” players who put in the work on the Junior Circuit.
- Ogilthorpe2

Mason Marchment (even spent time in the ECHL), Carter Verhegge (also spent time in the E), Gaudreau, etc. etc. spent significant time in the A. Like you said, not elite, but definitely top 9 players on an NHL squad.

Also as more and more players come from pro leagues overseas (Kubalik, Kahun, Suter), the level of play is at the AHL or slightly below, so these players are getting their apprentaship there as opposed to a North American minor league