Blackhawks Acquire Slater Koekkoek From Lightning
The Blackhawks cut some more dead weight off the roster on Friday afternoon.
Chicago acquired defenseman Slater Koekkoek and a 5th round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Jan Rutta and a 7th round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Koekkoek, 24, has a $865,000 cap hit and will be an RFA at the end of the season. Listed at 6-2 and 194 pounds, Koekkoek was the tenth overall pick by Tampa in the 2012 NHL Draft. He’s a left-handed shot.
Tampa has never figured out what to make of Koekkoek, who has appeared in only 85 NHL games in his career. He has scored five goals with nine assists in his career; he has one point – a goal – this season with Tampa.
Koekkoek was an intriguing prospect heading into the 2012 NHL Draft. After he was selected by the Lightning, Dan Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting, told the Tampa Bay Times that “Koekkoek would have been a top-10 prospect had he not missed five months last season because of a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.”
Rutta, 28, has a $2.25M cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Bringing him back this season never worked out with the organization’s “depth” on the blue line; we’ve seen over the past month that Carl Dahlstrom should have been in the lineup all along but the Hawks opted to sign excess veterans in Brandon Manning (traded to Edmonton) and Brandon Davidson while bringing back Rutta.
I like it. Good luck to Jan.
Fresh start for both. Maybe Koekoek finally finds some love. He isn’t totally inexperienced so a better chance for him to get up to speed quickly and not be overwhelmed. Make or break time in his career.
Zero downside to this deal. Is he going to Rockford or Chicago? If he goes to Chicago then somebody had to go correct?
It sounds like both teams are attempting to take a guy with some upside who didn’t pan out with the other organization and hope they can turn him into a player. No apparent risk for either side, but you have to wonder what Tampa saw in Ruuta to take on the salary differential.
The Hawks’ pick traded to TB will be in the first 5-10 picks in the 7th round and TB’s pick traded to the Hawks will be in the last few picks of the 5th round – so essentially the Hawks move up in the draft about 35-40 spots. Not a bad return for a player who had no future with the Hawks. If Koekkoek turns out to be something – all the better.
Rutta’s contract was just this season so it’s just about 50% of Rutta’s $2.25M cap hit through the end of the season – not a big burden for them cap-wise.
Wrap, thats the thing we have loads of cap space to add Bread Man. So much that we can easily fit another good player like Stralman and still have enough for elc raises.
Like Tab posted, were not keeping everyone when it comes to the 23man, in 2yrs, when were deep again.
MORRISON
January 11, 2019 at 3:28 pm
People thought we were stuck with Manning, enormous, caphit for another yr after this yr. Bowman will make the necessary moves to be able to add Who we want.
MORRISON
January 11, 2019 at 3:43 pm
Debrincat is a lock but I am not saving, when we add Panarin/similiar and Stralman/similiar because we have to give Schmaltz a raise to 6m.
Theres no holding back this summer and next summer, to get ‘the’ guys we want and have been waitting for. We ll make it work.
Jordy, thats interesting because only one yr who cares about caphit but their a top 3 team (really top team again and since Blackhawks dynasty team 2015). So since they havent won anything yet, having the best roster 3 yrs now and being a top 3 team again this yr why wouldnt they max the salary cap to try to win a Cup.
ER, yea at first I thought that good we get a 5th round pick for swtiching players. Thats good. Then realized what you said, its only/really a 1st pick in 6th round for a 7th, so not that good.
Still better to have higher pick though. Because that last pick in 5th round could be bundled with another pick/something to trade up for a better 5th or even a 4th, so now were talking about getting a pick as good as Wingels deadline trade/pick form this.
What Jordy said is wired, why in the H would TAM add salary when they should be using entire cap sapce to make roster as good as they can, because they havnt won anything yet. Though they prob win Cup this yr, and not because they have best record because their a top 3 team and should have won already in 2016.
Also how do not show up to play in game 6 and 7 in playoffs, wow. TAM wow.
Apparently, the kid has a world of offensive talent. His D needs work…as does his confidence. If that can get straightened out, we have a fantastic young talent that should add to an improving D.
Bowman did what he did the last couple yrs that people didnt like. Ok so what. We had to trade assets to have roster depth for Stanley Cups. Really 4 in 6 yrs. How ever you look at it, it was a Dynasty in the salary cap era.
Now that created a gap for having good draft picks. And we still got some good players picking from where we did each yr/that many yrs there and using 1st picks to get that quality depth to achieve a dynasty.
Now were finnaly seeing having every 1st draft picks with the procpests, thats why the bulk 9/10 prospects are in juniors now. Thats the extent of the gap.
With new team system, different style players work better then others (8 or 17) and Bowman is not only getting rid of the ‘untradeable’ horrendous contracts of 23 and 44. Hes also gathering good players that were drafted by other teams that could fit in here now with the new systems style.
To get Cagilua and a 5th pick for Manning and Rutta.
and go and do something like this, and totally redeeeeeem yourself.
Any thoughts on the possiblity of converting Koekkoek to a winger?
Thank you Tab for purging the vile posts.
ER hits on how the Hawks won this trade. Ruuta had no future with the Hawks. Assuming Koekkoek doesn’t make the team, at least we move up 35-40 spots in the draft. Small wins like this can add up. Caggiula may be more than a small win.
By the way, Mark Giangreco mentioned this trade tonight because he found Koekkoek’s name amusing.
Tree, not sure hes good at OFF. Hes good at D and fast with size.
Good trade by Stan. Expiring contract for futures. Not sure Slater will amount to much. He was passed by Dotchin and Cernak in Tampa.
A few years ago, Tampa coach Jon Cooper dressed 7 defensemen in the playoffs and would send SK out there when he needed offense.
Let’s see if Colliton can coach him up.
Keep in mind, there really is nobody in Rockford on the cusp of being an NHL regular. Raddysh might be worth a look. Carlsson is a first year AHL player who is succeeding. But Koekkoek is ahead of both of them in terms of development. Let’s see if a change of scenery. Love that we got a 5th rounder.
So did a little analysis since we are clearing some of this cap space. So if you took the 5 players above and below panarin in points right now it would probably cost around 6-7(6.875) million a year.
Malkin 49 9.5 Million
Stone 48 7.35 Million
Giroux 48 8.2 Million
Aho 48 Guess 7 Million
Brad Marchand 48 6.125 Million
Panarin 47
Huberdeau 47 5.9 Million
Backstrom 45 6.7 Million
Barkov 44 5.9 Million
Skinner 43 5.725 Million
Atkinson 43 5.875 Million
With this (and more to come) we have two 4th and three 5th picks. This is going to be a monster draft for the Blackhawks, when we need it.
When were deep in 2yrs, were going to look back at these 17 18 and 19 drafts. We got a lot of good players, quality depth players from 5th round last time we were deep. Krugs Shaw
We do have some raises to players like Debrincat (prime yrs Sharpy replacement).
Were looking at 20-21m in cap space with 50 on ltir.
Good for Rutta – got a chance for Cup as Kempny did last year…
Not sure where/if Koekkoek will fit into Blackhawks plans. Good opportunity for Rutta as Bolts will likely l9se a couple of ufa Dmen this summer too.
Moving up in the draft worth trade alone though.
See where it was reported that Jokiharju was practicing on leftside yesterday. A move that could allow Colliton to pair him with Seabrook this year and maybe make some room on rightside next year.
I think EDMAN and CRAIG NIGRELLI’s posts sum it up about the “new guy”. He seems like a promising player who has never found a spot. It sounds like a decent move with Colliton and his described track record of being able to get more out of young/unproven talent. The team needs depth now and into the future, and if new guy pans out he can either play or be used in trade packages that help the team.
Go Blackhawks!!!!!
Just love seeing those orange, black and yellow, NY blue, cobolt blue jerseys. That feeling you get every time you see those jerseys and relive and feel what it felt like to win the Stanley Cup beating those teams.
Everytime I see those jerseys, just does to you, the rest of our lives.
Considering Bowman likely had to take a contract to get the deal done, Bolts 49 under contract, Koekkoek probably a good option to take a flyer on.
Looks like Blackhawks have a few prospects to make a decision on, or will be ufas thus summer.
Ryczek Hfx most likely to be signed.
J. Dahllstrom Europe
Beau Starrett Ncaa
Frederik Olofsson Ncaa
Jack Ramsey Ncaa
Liam Coughlin Ncaa
Don’t see any one else, but there may be.
Nordgren still not back with Finnish team. Soderlund switched back to his old shl team from the leagues top team. An assist in a couple of games since.
Kayumov still suspended. Shalunov seems to have picked up his offense since touring Europe with a Russian team he had 3a in 6 games with them. Altybarmakyan has shown a bit of offense lately.
Galvas a couple of assists since returning from wjc to his team. Laavinen has been loaned to 3 different Finnish league teams, so not sure whas up. Nalimov back in Khl and Peeters wuth a 2nd tier league Finnush team.
Keep posting info on juniors, since theres not much left in AHL. The good ones are already here, now, and we have lots and lots of high end and good players in juniors level now. They do not all pan out, though several of them will.
Good to know every amount of info on Prospects. Since this is the most important and exciting time because of another reload. This will be our 4th.
Difference is this reload is more like 2009, as it was half of the 23man assembled then and this time to. (after 14 and after 15 we sort of kept most/only cap casualties)
Whats exciting about this reload is its full of blue chip players. Players of these sorts we havnt been allowed to draft, by achieving a dynasty, since 2004-2008. So load up on picks and prospects and good drafts from other teams that need a new identity. Were on our way.
Blackhawks are acquiring former #1 picks like Sauron was acquiring rings.
I wonder if this was part of Bowman’s plan all along in signing guys like Rutta and Manning as placeholders he could trade when his guys are ready. Q had a reputation for not liking young players, (which I think was unfair) and I think these guys were supposed to make Q feel better about the number of young guys on his roster. The problem was Rutta and Manning couldn’t play and Q got tired of dealing with reclamation projects.
But be that as it may, Bowman has done a nice job of clearing out his mistakes in exchange for guys with potential. What is the net result? It does two things.
First off it buys him time with his bosses. The key word with all of the guys that he brought in is potential. They won’t be expected to produce right now, so if it gives Bowman room to breathe while his stud defenseman develop in the system. If these guys actually reach the potential of a top 10 pick, he just got this team talent it sorely needs. If not, it leads to my second point…
Second, it fixes his mistakes. The worst thing that happens is that this move is a wash and it only cost half of Rutta’s salary this year. He turned an undrafted free agent into a former first round pick. If it doesn’t pan out, than all it cost him was half a year of Ruttas salary to see if the draft pick has anything. Not the end of the world in the grand scheme of things.
This is Bowman at his finest, trading away dead weight for other teams failed prospects. If Stan find’s one diamond in the rough it’s worth it. Not holding my breath though, but there it is.
Another interesting comp that the new guy Koekkoek has is to Gustafsson. Good offensively needs work on defense. Does this move make it more likely the Hawks trade Gus at the deadline for picks/prospects? If Bowman could turn Gus into another #1 pick this year, he could have two years in a row of a top ten pick and a late round pick,
Forget Sauron, it’s like Bowman is acquiring first round picks like Parallax was acquiring Green Lantern Rings.
http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_medium/4/48145/1857609-4275178245_0ff80e6e51.jpg
Miroslav the concept of signing cheap reclamnation type fas and flipping them for prospects mid season has been done by baseball teams who are in rebuild-reload mode alot. It actually makes alot of sense until you are ready to contend to do that.
Moneyball.
Ian- how many points has Kaliyev put up since Entwistle got traded?
Kaliyev– is a beast!!!!!!!!!!
Wall think its 6g 3a in 5games and an assist through 2 periods tonite.
After watching Boqvist today there is no doubt he has great offensive upside-but I hope he gets stronger and keeps his head up in the NHL.
Didnt think he looked that good that game. Do not get to see every game for London, so sure he must have lots of good games and some not from time to time.
Expecting high end play all the time from the Four Horsemen.
We need forwards not more AHL dmen!!!
Watching Kahun try to skate is funny! Toews stuck with thisn guy all season!!!
Saad Toews CAT
Kahujn a 4th line player at best!!! Don’t get it!
So Perlini out and Strome has not played the last 10 mintes! Wow, thx Stan!
Doesnt matter right now.
They call 15 for hold when their guy is in front of net. Then let them get away with hold/interference on 19, 19 taken down in front of net-when a pass is coming to him.
That play right there has us taking shots for 2min and maybe PP goal to put game away 4-2. Instead they got to get a little momentum during 3rd period and get more shots then us.
Still nice to outplay them, even though they had more shot in 3rd, without having a full roster.
Thanks again for the rational check-in, Hull. Love the insight.
WoW. OT we had Dalstrom Kahun Kampf….3 AHL players…What is Kahun doing on the ice? Seriously!!! JC is another dummy! 2 NHL bodies for Schmaltz and those two guys can’t play a regular shift ahead of the rest of the AHLers tonight.
KUNITZ KRUGER HAYDEN KAMPF KAHUN are not NHLers. This love affair with KAHUN is ridiculous. He cannot skate! Wobbkes around like a Pee Wee ! Please, enough already.
SAAD TOEWS DEBRINCAT
PERLINI ANISIMOV KANE
KAMPF STROME CAGE
KAHUN KRUGER HAYDEN
Wow, how weak is the bottom six?: Strome never wins any battles for his size. Floats around scareed to compete. He is sooooooooo slow. Kahun should be back in the German league, can’t skate, brutal style, and toooooo small and light, Hayden is a nothing, a body who is ECHL calibre, Kruger is done, needs to hang it up just like KUNITZ who can come with his Chicago wife to watch games from the stands in the future, Cage can skate, has bite, can’t score and too small but ok.
FIRE BOWMAN please!!!!
Oh yeah, the same sickness has struck JC, playing dmen on the opposite sides like JOKI who struggles on the left side beacuse he shoots right! Why?
Benching Perlini to make Kunitz and Hayden play is pretty funny, right Stan Bowman.
Feel for the great KANE! One man team! NO KANE, NO PAIN, NO TEAM, NO WINS!
Thx DALE TALLON!
Perlini on the 2nd line… lol
TAB, make a strong statement instead of hiding behind nonsense. So, Kahun is a NHLer, right? We drafted 4 dmen who our GM thinks are superstars so we trade for another one in TAMPA?
Oh, and Strome is a legit NHLer? He will get traded or a free agent very soon.
Kahun has played right wing all season with Toews? Think about that for a moment. I think or maybve I am wrong but you probably skate faster than Kahun and Strome?
“make a strong statement instead of hiding behind nonsense” – Do as I say, not as I do is apparently Hull’s approach this evening
“Oh, and Strome is a legit NHLer?”
this is where I stopped reading for the night. Thanks, Hull.
And Tab, you like SAAD playing alongside Kampf and Cagg? Lots of power there?? Ask JC?
Oh yeah, ask Stan if he watched Panarin’s OT tonight! Or has he watched Danault skate and play hockey this year?
Keep DeBrincat away from Saad. Saad has no hands, is a mediocre passer and can’t finish. Put D-Cat with Kane. That skilled combo would be fun to watch.