Blackhawks Acquire Bouchard, Regin
The Blackhawks have reportedly acquired forwards Peter Regin and Pierre-Marc Bouchard from the New York Islanders in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2014 Draft. The Islanders have reportedly retained half of the salaries of both players.
Bouchard and center Brandon Pirri have both been assigned to Rockford on Thursday night.
Bouchard, 29, was loaned to Bridgeport of the AHL on December 10. He posted four goals and five assists in 28 games with the Isles this year.
He was the eighth overall pick in the 2002 Draft, and had spent his entire career in the Minnesota organization before signing a one-year, $2M deal with the Islanders for the 2013-14 campaign. He established a career high with 63 points in 2007-08, but was limited to only 96 combined games over the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons because of injuries.
Regin, 27, is playing out a one-year contract with a $750,000 cap hit. He has two goals and five assists in 44 games. Regin has won only 41.5 percent of his faceoffs this season. He was a third round pick by Ottawa in 2004.
Stan Bowman acquires center depth for a late Draft pick. News at 11.
Michael handzus 2.0
Of Note: the Islanders rank 25th in the NHL in team Corsi For % at 48.4%. Regin’s Corsi For % was second on the Islanders at 51.8%. By comparison, the Blackhawks rank 2nd in the NHL in team Corsi For % at 55.8%.
Beginning of the end for Pirri…
Worth mentioning: the Hawks had multiple picks in the fourth round of the 2014 Draft. One of the three picks they received from Toronto for Dave Bolland was a 2014 fourth.
Theres more to come,
Trust in Bowman.
Ole “left field” Stan strikes again. Has he ever made a trade that didn’t come out of left field? I have no idea if either of these guys will contribute but for a 4th rounder it’s not like it cost much. If anything, it might grease the skids for future trades with the Islanders and if there are organizations that might get fleeced now and then – the Islanders are in that group. So maybe it’s a nothing now move for the future.
Regardless, it doesn’t look good for Pirri. The Olympic freeze is tomorrow afternoon – will he survive as a Hawk until then? The plot thickens.
I have no idea what to make of this trade. They are both on one way deals. Very curious.
“I have no idea why they made this trade.”
The Hawks just acquired two players for 50% off and have already shipped one to Rockford (Bouchard). Regin has been a positive possession player on a bad team this year. The cap hit for both incoming players is under $1.4M.
This is a low-cost insurance policy and a one-way ticket out of town for Pirri. The more pressing question now is whether Pirri is moved before the Olympics or after…
Regin is a good depth bottom 6 guy & is fast at 200lbs. Played on a defensive Ottawa team for his years.
His cap hit is only 375.
I thought Pirri was out of options. Can’t another team claim him, if they want him before he gets assigned?
My general take on the trade is this. I am amazed what Stan Bowman often acquires for draft picks. He uses one draft pick in this instance to collect two players with some serious NHL experience. He did the same with Oduya and what everyone thought to be a washed up Handzus. I like the moves for this fact…we are doing something different. We all see the revolving door at 2nd Line center and how things just don’t click for a majority of the games the Hawks play. When the 2nd Line plays well, the Hawks make it very tough on the opposition. Bowman effectively gets 2 different players Q can try at 2C (and rotate with Zus). Additionally, this is a rest of the season gamble and in no way impacts the future…except for Pirri…who for all intents and purposes is done as a Blackhawk.
Perhaps the one knock is this: We hear about organizational depth and from a lot more knowledgeable people than I; we seem to have it. Yet we can’t fix a problem that has been occurring for 4 years…However, I believe the Hawks think TT is the 2C for the future. Additionally, I am in favor of adding new blood to Championship Teams. Without any turnover, there is no one “hungry” for their first cup. Its strange, but maybe the Hawks can rally around Regin if he shows up, works hard, and plays hard to use him as the bridge to that extra gear needed to win. I firmly believe that Zus rallied the Hawks in some small way last year…
Haha the sporting news “Stan Bowman is good at his job”
http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2014-02-06/nhl-trade-rumors-thomas-vanek-andy-macdonald-blackhawks-peter-regin-pm-bouchard?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
This is a wait and see move. It gives flexibility to the lineup that was missing. As to organizational depth, it’s still young as far as I see. We can win this year with the right mix. Tab hit it on the head, insurance this year, no long term commitment, no big cap hit. What player wouldn’t put out maximum effort once they hit the Hawk locker room with leaders like Toews, Hossa, and the rest. We can only hope Regin elevates his game now that he is joining a winner.
Too bad for Pirri but he wasn’t gonna crack Qs lineup so hopefully he can find a spot somewhere and be productive.
AJ – Great story,
It’s a great time to be a Hawks fan!!
Seems like a “gift” from the Isles… perhaps SB/Isles will be doing some more dealing soon… 37,11 + D man for Frans??? I can dream… can’t I???
Don’t really know much about Regin,,, Bouchard has been injured/underachieved…
Can anyone speak to their skating abilities?
AJ- The part not in that story… “Garth Snow is bad at his job”. lol
This was a very good deal for the hawks. Bouchard, as I see it, is Bickell insurance. If Bicks needs to shut it down at any point and let his knees heal, Bouchard is his replacement. Regin is a nice player who can fit into a possession role and be in the “dont overuse Zus” rotation. And we got this for nothing… as Tab said, this is one of the pick from the Bolland trade, and we aren’t paying for them at full price… Win-Win!
I do agree this would signify the end for Pirri and probably either Smith or Morin while they are at it. Both are RFAs and “both” wouldn’t be in the long-term plan. Their value was as depth for this year. But we just added to veteran players to fill their depth roles. 1 probably stays around (most likely Smith since that 16/52/28 line has been good), the other probably packaged with Pirri (and Kostka if it was up to me).
TT scores 2 more assists yesterday vs. #3 team in Liiga…
.92-ppg for the year… and well over 1.5ppg since Gold +the addition of Nagy (true NHL’er) + new coach!!!
as Phillip Phillips would say- 37 is “Gone-Gone-Gone”
Teams are already calling for Pirri. Hopefully they can start a mini bidding war and turn him for a decent pick.
Why is Kostka still a Blackhawk?
Hopefully it’s the Hawks 4th rounder rather than the Leafs since they should pick 14 spots ahead of them… but I guess come the 4th round it’s more of a crap-shoot anyway.
Wall- Reign is a good skater and large. I’m sure he’ll be more effective than Handzus while skating next to Kane.
Regin must feel like he won the lottery big-time. He goes from one of the worst organizations in the league to the best. I have to believe we will see his absolute best effort since this will be a high profile opportunity for a guy on an expiring contract. All the scouting reports I read are consistent in that he is a very good skater and two way player. I’ve got to believe he will get a quality chance to show he is a faster, more skilled version of Zus. I feel bad for Pirri although I can’t say I am surprised. I am hard pressed to see who is going to trade for him before the deadline – certainly not a playoff team. My guess is he needs to help Rockford make the AHL playoffs and then be dealt in the off-season. My take on this move is that SB is confident in the make-up of the team and is expecting Regin to take advantage of a great chance rather than trying to plug in a higher profile player that might mess with the chemistry. Hard to argue with the approach. Amazing how little we gave up. I wonder what the initial offer from SB was…
There is a reason why Stan has 2 championships in 4 years and I don’t. I’m confident in his ability but still very curious? Does this mean less minutes for Zus? I would assume Pirri is OUT? Bouchard is the throw in? He was a guy w a lot talent that has been hurt. He’s not a bad player when he plays.
Wait and see for this fan. I got think other moves are coming.
SSHM- More moves will definitely come.
Right now I look at the “ideal” roster like this.
10/19/81
20/65/88
52/16/28
29/Regin/23 (I list them as the 4th since thats what Q is using them as) lol
This leaves Zus/Bouchard on the bench. Bouchard is direct insurance for 29. and Zus rotates in with Regin from time to time and provides leadership. That also pushes Pirri and 1 of BB/Kostka off the entire NHL roster. Since they are both FA’s the move would probably be to deal Pirri and Kostka to a team that may have a need for a 3C of the future and a 6th/7th Dman. Deal them both for say a 3rd and 7th. or as a part of a larger package… somthing… or deal them 2 separate deals… what about other FA’s to be… (Smith/Morin)… Does smith get dealt while his stock is probably as high as it will ever be…? You wouldn’t usually deal a guy who is doing everything you ask of him, but if you can deal Pirri and Smith in a package for Nielsen or say Moulson, it would atleast be considered because Bouchard can now fill smith’s role.
The front office manunverability is endless… all for a 4th round pick and just over a $1Mil cap… that is why we trust bowman. Regardless of the impact to Zus’s minutes ore Pirri’s spot, etc… on paper this deal was a no brainer for Bowman.
Q will figure out how to utilize everyone effectivelly come May and that is important thing. It may come with a bump or two, but im my opinion there is nothing to wait on for this deal… it was a win!
I would switch 16 and 65 but that’s just me.
Its impossible at this point to comment on the “effects” of the deal as we simply don’t know…on the surface its a good move by Bowman because he just picked up 2 more serviceable NHL’ers for half their regular price, and all it cost was one of our 4th round picks…
What are the immediate effects? Well, Pirri is gone and that’s good news for Brandon…he’s a talented kid who has EARNED his right to play in the NHL…and I have no doubt he will do well for another organization (just like Jimmy Hayes and Dylan Olsen). But for us, it means that our 2 “extra” centres are Zus and Regin and I’m not sure this is an improvement…Regin is a better skater than Pirri, for certain, he’s somewhat responsible defensively, but has shown little offensive prowess, and is terrible at the draw…he is good on the puck, so perhaps that is what Bowman/Q say in him as a potential to centre the 2nd line…but IMO, this is NO sure fire answer…
So if you take a step back and look at this move from a bigger perspective, I think that Peter and others are right…there are more changes to come…and it may not be in the form of a trade…at this point, by fundamentally “getting rid” of Pirri, the Hawks are all in with TT as a 2nd centre option, and I think they are going to do it THIS SEASON…so to that end, Regin is likely a stop gap or fail safe for TT’s arrival and subsequent play. There is no doubt that TT has hit another gear not only in his play, but in his confidence…can he sustain a 16 win playoff season??? No one knows…but this would give Q both Regin and Zus as replacements…
The key here in the short term is that Regin PLAYS…Zus cannot be allowed to go back to 2nd line centre every night…that will simply put us back where we were…remember, the Hawks recent resurgence to prominence can with Zus being taken off the 2nd line and off the roster as a regular skater…there is a powerful correlation…
So, let’s sit back and see what happens…Regin was great at puck possession on a team that wasn’t…so that has to count for something…but the key right now is TT…if he stays healthy and productive I think he will be taking a one way flight to Chicago come April…and you can’t fault Bowman on this for “treatment” of Pirri…TT is a player at another level than Brandon Pirri, and thus Pirri had no future here past the rest of this season…
Tim/AJ…IMO there’s no way we can move Kruger at this point…the 4th line is flying with Bollig on it…if Kruger moves up, there’s no guarantee this continues…the 4th line is hugely valuable to the Hawks success right now and Kruger is its axle.
Greetings from Isles country…
Bouchard has been an incredible disappointment for the Isles this season. He was penciled in as the winger to support JT but that never panned out. He is fast along the boards but produced nothing and was a defensive liability.
Regin is defensively sound, faster than average but is a north-south skater. He is far from a playmaker nor is he a sniper. Good as a 3rd line/press box center.
Disappointed that we couldn’t get more, but neither of these guys had a future on the island. I can see that you Hawks fans are excited about the added depth, but trust me, they won’t add much to your roster.
Thanks Gowhale…
Gowhale probably has things right. I think that SB made a move on the cheap and risks little if anything. Maybe Bouchard helps the younger guys in Rockford. Maybe Regin gets a spark from the change of scenery. Maybe Regin has what Q needs to rest some bodies down the stretch. I will be surprised if either is on the playoff roster…..barring a bottom 6 LT injury.
wall, smh. P.P. really? i had you pegged more along the lines of Paul Rodgers singing Gone Gone Gone, in 79 with Bad Co.! …but i will admit idk the PP ed. Modern day version of Paul/BCo here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0MIRzpJaj4
Gowhale in the house! Thanks for info. No offense, and I was dismayed at the news, but nobody has a future on the Island now, good luck though. Ive always liked the Isles and N.C. The playoffs are always better if the NYI represent! Any thoughts on their struggles at NC last 2-3 yrs or so?
Appreciate Gowhales perspective but I don’t think anyone expects Regin to be a sniper. Look no further than Zus or Oduya to find guys that had no future with their respective teams yet did pretty well with a change of scenery. Just sayin I trust SB’s evaluation a bit more than Garth Snow’s.
Sr. brad – interesting take that this could mean we see TT later this year. Still don’t thing he can handle the physical toll but certainly would be fun to watch. If he ended up as a Black Ace during the playoffs does it have any impact on his entry level deal?
5pm Central – 3 hours after the Olympic break trade freeze (I think) – has come and gone so unless there are trades in the league office that haven’t been announced yet – the biggest trade in the last 24 hours is two scrubs for a 4th rounder … sheesh!
The good news is the other contenders didn’t improve, at least not yet.
Pirri can’t skate and has no two way game. He’s going to be a bit player in the NHL. Let him go score 20 goals while otherwise being a liability for a bottom feeder team. His loss will never come back to bite on a perennial Cup contender. Jimmy Hayes and Olsen are two similar players who will never come back to bite and will never become vital parts of a true perennial playoff club. Sr Brad’s Parrot can tell us to the contrary all he wants.
Regin is an interesting pickup. He can skate and he can play defense. Does nothing offensively or in terms of quarterbacking a line, but a nice fit nonetheless.
One game too early to make a judgement on Regin but he looked OK, won 3 out of 6 faceoffs, blocked a couple shots. We’ll see.
RyanDale: If you want a taste of how Isles fans are feeling these days swing over to islanderspointblank.com and read the comments. The rebuild has been going on for 8 years. Fans are mostly pissed. Crappy teams start with the owner, who, as the whole hockey world knows, has handed out some ridiculous contracts and hires suspect GM’s. Charles Wang rewards loyalty to him regardless of job performance. The scouting department is reduced to one full-time employee, ONE! I could keep going, but I know long-time hawks fans can relate to the results of bad vs. good ownership, you’ve been at both ends of the spectrum in the past 20 years.
As to the NVMC, absolutely the BEST building to watch a game…not a bad seat in the house, low ceilings and LOUD. I was at game 3 last year vs PIT, and the press wasn’t kidding when they said it was the loudest place they’d ever been to. Also, one of the few rinks with a true tailgating atmosphere. Very blue collar fanbase, lots of fun. Cons…The concourse is a dump, it takes 20 minutes to get a beer or hit the head, the location sucks (the only venue in the NYC metro without mass-transit access), and the backstage area is very inconvenient for all game ops/hockey ops staff (I know because my wife worked for the team for years). The history there is amazing, but the move to Barclays was a long time coming. The corrupt politicians in Nassau County couldn’t get their act together for 25 years. I am very worried though about the move to Brooklyn, much of the teams tradition will be lost. Plus, Barclays has many obstructed view seats and a horseshoe seating configuration. From what I’m told though, it will be just as loud as Nassau (when the team is performing, of course).
Best of luck Hawks fans in all your continued success. Kick the hell out Roy and Colorado for me!