Blackhawks Fall To Rangers, Trade Winds Swirl Around Nick Leddy
The Blackhawks lost to the Rangers in a length shootout on Friday night, but the talk around the club is more about who won’t be wearing the Indian head when the season begins next week than it is about the preseason finale.
When coach Joel Quenneville was asked specifically about defenseman Nick Leddy being part of the team when the regular season opens, his responses were short.
“We’ll see,” he said.
“Organizationally, we have to see what’s going on,” he added later.
Leddy didn’t play in the game at Madison Square Garden, but Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported Friday that as many as seven teams have expressed an interest in Leddy. TSN’s Bob McKenzie noted a week ago that the Hawks have been shopping Leddy all summer, but had been asking teams to take Kris Versteeg in any deal.
With the deadline to get under the cap now less than a week away (5 pm ET on Oct. 7), the time has come to make decisions as an organization. And all signs are pointing to Leddy being on the move soon.
On the ice, Corey Crawford played well and the Hawks finally scored a power play goal, but the Hawks lost in a nine-round shootout. Patrick Kane scored the power play goal and then was the middle man on a gorgeous Saad-to-Kane-to-Shaw sequence that ended with Andrew Shaw putting the Blackhawks on top 2-1 late in the second period.
Martin St. Louis and Ryan Malone scored the two goals in regulation for the Rangers.
Teuvo Teravainen won five of eight faceoffs, put a team-high four shots on net and collected the second assist on Kane’s power play tally. Teravainen skated 20:16 in the game.
One defenseman who hopes to be in the mix for the NHL roster is Klas Dahlbeck, was was recalled from Rockford for the game on Friday. He played another good game, his third preseason contest for the NHL club, skating 22:35 with two hits and one blocked shot.
Dahlbeck skated with Brent Seabrook, and they each skated a team-high 1:33 short-handed in the game. Chicago’s penalty kill was perfect on two opportunities.
Trevor van Riemsdyk also skated over 20 minutes in the game (20:39) and looked good for most of the night again. He was credited with one blocked shot and one hit on the night. The question over the next four days is whether he did enough to earn the final spot on the crowded blue line ahead of veterans Kyle Cumiskey and David Rundblad.
Cumiskey skated 17:58 in the game and blocked one shot. Rundblad skated 16:26, the lowest number on the Hawks’ blue line, and was credited with two blocked shots and two hits.
Daniel Carcillo, who was a late addition to the roster, did manage to get into a fight.
Now the waiting game begins.
I wish they would hold on to Leddy and deal Oduya, but I understand the tight cap constraints for the future. Leddy just has soooo much upside. I think people forget he’s only 23 and already entering his 5th season.
What do you guys think is more important for the Hawks:
1. Oduya short term chasing the cup
or
2. Leddy long term improvement (while still a solid dman, albeit not an Oduya shutdown type)
Seeing Runblad and Cumiskey as the third pairing didn’t instill any confidence in me tonight. They constantly looked overmatched in their own zone. While I think both are capable NHL dmen, I don’t think those two should ever be paired together. Along with Leddy, they all have similar skill sets that tend to be more offensive. I would rather see TvR make it than Cumiskey, but I don’t know if Bowman would risk 26 through waivers.
Big NO to Carbomb in the lineup!
10-19-81
20-91-88
29-65-23
11-16-28
With 12 as an extra and 86 a bus ride away
Also,
Thank God Kevin Hayes didn’t score the GW in the shootout.
Clear that Bowman and Q want an enforcer as 13th forward. At least to start the year. I’ll trust a GM with the pedigree of Bowman and a 700 win coach who owns 2 Cups and could find new employment from a dozen teams in half a day.
What I’m not happy about is a 3rd pairing of Runblad and Cumiesky. That has awful written all over it. One or both need to go. Crawford NEEDS Dahlbeck or Johns blueline presence on this team asap.
Me thinks even with Leddy gone we see a couple roster moves that surprise. I’m not sure Raanta or Morin start the season in Chicago.
@ Rufus, why do you think Morin or Raanta aren’t on the roster? Both come cheap and have a good upside it wouldn’t make sense to not take advantage of what they bring to the table.
As for Leddy I understand the move, I can also make a similar case for moving Oduya instead. It was clearly going to be one of the two. Everyone including myself wanted Brad Richards or that 2nd line center well this is the price someone on the blue line has to be moved. So the question is move a key piece this season (Oduya) or a key piece for next season (Leddy)? Hopefully Stan can get some nice prospects in return.
With good D prospects next seasons Hawks will most likely have 3 new blueliners for 15-16. Even if its Oduya that stays his contract is only good for this year, Rosy at this stage is a spare part and will definitely not be resigned and if its Leddy gone that’s half of your blue line gone by next year.
Times are changing on the West Side!
Hayes did not impress me tonight. He appears slow like his bro. I don’t feel as bad about him leaving.
We have a lot of dmen. Beyond Leddy, I believe there will be a surprise move. Wouldn’t be surprised if Rundblad or Cumiskey is packaged someplace.
Shootouts are nice to watch, but not for determining the standings. Teuvo’s hands are very impressive. I don’t know about him making the team out of camp, but I cannot see him not finishing the year in Chicago. Saad is Little Hossa and Teuvo is Little Kane.
Oduya is a better and more important hockey player to the Hawks versus Leddy in 2014-15. Plus Oduya will be gone when he becomes a free agent next summer. The Hjalmarsson-Oduys combo has flat out been excellent for Chicago. Clendening will be a better fit over Leddy eventually.
But what the Hawks NEED Ina defense is a blueliner. Not this Runblad or Cumiesky crap. I love Johns and he fits the Bill beautifully. But if not Johns to start the season than Dalbeck. Sorry but TVR is a lousy fit too. I like the kid but for the life of me don’t underatand how he is better than Clendening or Johns right now. I’m trying hard to see what is so special about TVR but don’t see it.
Perhaps StanBow is looking for the most value back in picks and/or prospects. He’ll get that for Leddy especially if they believe Adam Clendening is ready to take his spot, as he has some of the same features to his game with more of an edge.
TT- makes the Hawks PP and Shoot out %’s (SO wins) go Up Instantly!!!!!
20/65/88 is better than 20/19/88
TT gets in a lot of Passing lanes and gets his stick on the puck A lot!!!
won’t see it– but is best team Hawks can field -imo
86/19/81 TT’s IQ needs to be matched- and 81/19 can match it
20/65/88
29/91/10
28/16/11 stick RasMOOSEn in there as 13th
trade 23 and 8, LTIR 32
leaves Hawks w/ room to buy rental late season
There is almost no doubt the hawks find any old hockey injury for Roszival. He will have some sort of elbow or wrist or shoulder surgery and be gone until March. Leddy will be traded for draft picks. The 2015 is deep and the hawks already have 2 second rounders, so in Stan I trust on acquiring picks.
So the bottom pair from last year is likely gone. For the life of me I can’t understand the rundblad deal. I think he or Cumiskey go on waivers. TVR makes it and I have to believe at this point dahlbeck is ready.
Raanta not starting the season in Chicago, Rufus? Are you serious?
As I see TT finishing the year with the Hawks, I see two of the Clendening, Dahlbeck, Johns trio finishing here as well. All three will enjoy time with the Hawks this year. I have been waiting for Johns since they drafted him. A 230lb banger is what we need to clear the front of the net. Right now the only one that does that is Seabs. I disagree with a lot of the comments about #7 being traded for cap relief next year. He does not get enough credit for his value to the team. We have plenty of offense, I believe Dahlbeck and Johns make us stronger defensively and we need to improve our GAA. Clendening is the dman PP man we are looking for that will make us forget the name Leddy. Lord Stanley, we are coming for you.
If SB can trade Rosival for say…..nothing, I think Rosy would allow it. Rosy is a hockey player and wants to play. I think given the choice between accepting an “obscure” injury and the LTIR or playing/mentoring on a young team, he would chose the latter.
I too would keep Leddy over Oduya. Oduya is gone after this season with no return, so get something for him now. Leddy is an RFA so there are possibilities for him to attract value later.
Cumiskey definitely had positional challenges yesterday. There is a reason he is 27 y/o with only 132 NHL games under his belt. We need to call Tallon and exchange him for a draft pick.
Dbeck- is the safest choice… just doesn’t make many mistakes (also least flashy/upside similar to a Hammer (but I don’t know if he skates as well-yet))
TvR- made his 1st 2 big/noticable mistakes… one the Puck bounced over stick at blue line- led to 2 on 1 for NY ( not entirely his fault)… the other one he was stripped at his blue line skating into 2-3 Rangers.
TT- Is better ready and makes the Hawks better now… but I think Hawks will put him in AHL… To add to my TT/IQ comment from earlier… I think TT/91 would actually play very well together… Problem is they are both C’s, they see and make slot passes that other guys don’t see/make/or are ready for!
Morin- could be a casualty form 13 signing… or at least- will watch plenty of games from Pressbox unless another forward (23 ?) is moved
Another Observation- according to the Hawk’s site… it appears almost every player on the Hawks Lost/cut weight this off season… the 2 players (I noticed) that actually added weight… Leddy and TT
wts- 8 has a boat load of potential… but at the end of the day… that IS the Cap.
so Hawks really- trying to get slimmer/faster???
Cant lose LEDDY and this is really not an Oduya or Rozy conversation. Leddy still has a big upside and if coached and mentored and trusted he has a real big upside. Our Defense in general is okay, Oduya and Hammer always take on the topline of the opponents so Keith and Seabrook have a little less pressure on them. LEddy could be awesome on the powerplay once HAWKS learn the basics of a power play, 99% of the time our players are out of scoring position, too far out and take long shots NOT ONE TIMERS. Anyway Hawks have a lot of DEAD weight they can get ride of and LEDDY IS not one of them.
So carcillo just took the morin/tt/useful hockey player roster spot.
What we need is a big strong physical defense man, right now we have no one. That crease in front of Cory is crowded all the time. NO one at the gate cleaning it up. At times Seabrook plays that role right now EVEY new defensemen looks like the last? Same size and same lack of heavy hitting and physical presence. Not sure who it is but he’s not on the Hawks now or in the prospects. Leddy sadly fits that size, shape and profile of typical Hawks Defense men.
It was pretty exciting to watch Kane and TT work on the powerplay. TT is a dynamic player in that his ice sense, quick hands, and skill set are way above most players. He will be a force to be reckoned with. Wall you are correct in your assessment of TT’s defense as well. The kid takes playing two way hockey seriously. He will light it up someday. The Saad-Shaw-Kane combo looked great last night too. Booman and RTF, I agree with much of what you say about the d-men. I strongly believe the Hawks defensive group needs to get physically larger and tougher. Consequently, Cumiskey is a guy I don’t think solves anything.
Please don’t sign car bomb!!!
Lets Go Hawks!
Dave,
Raanta would save .200, the 3rd backtoback is 8wks into season so Raanta would be back up for what would be his 3rd game on the 8th wk… If we needed to for the cap, its a good idea & Raanta could play everygame during the 8 wks. I do not think he meant for the whole season.
Mike,
that makes sense if your looking for better return but 27 is more valuable/important right now for team defense. I think we can get similar value back in 8 now or later… Sometimes its better to have a better roster then trade high. I do understand what your saying & agree but we want better roster possible for each yr.
26 & 5, take off eh.
Wall,
Teravainen can play on right with your lines. 10/86 switchable. That would be sweet line 10-91-29.
The only way any of this circus makes any sense is if Versteeg is packaged with Leddy, which explains why this deal is taking so long…SB has been waiting for the first team to blink and take Steeger as well. The Hawks can no longer play games with Morin and stunt his development…he and Shaw were our 2 best forwards through TC and preseason. As for CBomb, Stupid…Q is a dinosaur and he repeatedly shows it. All anyone has to do is close their eyes and think back to the last time CBomb was here…penalties, defensive lapses, suspensions, injuries, stupid hockey…but 3 years later at the point beyond his due date, all that is going to change…yeah…
Mo- another “Best” line-up:
10/19/81
20/65/88
29/91/86
28/16/MOOSE — this would actually be a Great checking line with ability at every spot
13
It looks like Q still does not trust 11– so move him with Leddy
23 can get traded too… or be given half season to take the spot of TT
If 23 traded w/ 8 and Mo… leaves SB som gun powder for late season rentals
Would be sweet if Hawks can get Lazar from Sens in the Leddy deal!!!
As for this Raanta talk, Leighton is a sieve and Darling finally showed his “weakness” in the Hogs first pre season game, his 5 hole, which can be a problem for tall goalies. Rannta is the backup. It would be nice for Darling to get a game or two in Chicago this season, but Rannta needs to play to work out his positional kinks…
Wall,
yea we have to do something and if were not going to use 11 enough and we can get a really good prospect. It does make sense. The Moose could be a sleeping giant, just hanging out right now.
Srbrad,
Raanta is the backup sure, just someone was asking why would he be in ahl to start season. Would it help him to get 8wks in all ahl games then comeup for rest of season. Our 3rd backtoback isint until that 8th wk. or would it not make any diff. & just keep him up all throughout.
Once Teravainen is playing fulltime, thats 11 dang good guys.
Trade hopes if 8 is moved…
Isles-
Leddy + Mo and or other prospect for this Anders Lee kid… big Center, who can score, w/ FO’s and is older – Notre Dame… supposed to be strong on Boards/tough on puck, skates well…