Blackhawks Recall Darling, Send Raanta to Rockford
After announcing that Peter Regin had been sent to Rockford and Joakim Nordstrom recalled, the Blackhawks made another roster move on Saturday evening.
The Hawks recalled goaltender Scott Darling from Rockford and assigned goaltender Antti Raanta to the IceHogs.
Darling, 25, was good in his time with the NHL club earlier this season. In three games with Chiacgo, Darling posted a a .933 save percentage and a 1.98 goals against average, winning two of his three games. He has been dominant since joining the IceHogs, posting a 5-1-0 record in six games with the IceHogs. Darling currently ranks fifth in the AHL with a 1.79 goals-against average and sixth with a .939 save percentage.
Raanta, 25, hasn’t been bad with the Blackhawks this season but he hasn’t been in a game in three weeks. He has the same .933 save percentage as Darling and his 2.03 goals against average is better than a 1-2-0 record would indicate, but he hasn’t appeared in a game since a 3-2 loss on Oct. 25 in St. Louis.
Darling’s cap hit is only $570,000, almost $200,000 less than Raanta ($750,000). The swap of netminders will give the Hawks some cap flexibility to accommodate the recall of Nordstrom so the team can carry 13 forwards on the upcoming Circus Trip.
Is this a Cap move?
No, it’s not a cap move. Raanta hasn’t seen a game in over three weeks plain and simple And darling needed a break
Yes, this is a cap move.
and Yes, this is a move made from the need for Raanta to get reps.
ICYMI, the cap-strapped Hawks are ready to bring Carcillo back into the lineup, so they sent Regin down earlier on Saturday. They then recalled Nordstrom to be the 13th forward for at least Sunday, and I think it’s safe to assume the team would like to have 13 for most/all of the Circus Trip. The $170k cap difference between Raanta & Darling helps the team afford to carry those 13 forwards for the next couple weeks.
That said, Raanta needs to get on the ice. Better to kick off the rust somewhere that doesn’t potentially cost the NHL clubs points if he craps the best in his first trip out in over three weeks…
Whats been smart is we have been banking deadline capspace by having a 22man roster when we could/can. We know we call anyone up if we need. When Shooter is back we can keep on adding to it at that rate.
Tab- you are correct… in addition, the added benefit is… if Sasquatch plays really well…the Hawks will have 3 goalies to chose from= a possible trade chip… and you know I for one would love to see the Hawks dump $6M… of Course Darling would have to play a few games and prove as worthy as he did in his first few… But I could see it happening!!!
Trade most likely would happen in off season… but with injuries-???
Wall, I’m still not ready to throw in the towel or suggest anything drastic but assuming that things continue at this pace and for whatever reason a majority of the team looks flat, I can see a move happening to “shake things up” around the all star break or a little before.
I don’t think that there should be any sense of desperation right now but in a months time? Will be interesting to see if the ship is righted.
Even if it is the “yips” sometimes a slap in the face or bucket of cold water is the only way to get back in line.
I can actually see the Hawks alternating Raanta and Darling. Both players need reps. Neither will get many behind Crawford. So alternate call ups to get both reps down in Rockford.
Also have to wonder if this is a precursor to a bigger roster move. Shake the team up. Either via trade or call up. It may mean nothing. It may mean a lot. But its very interesting at the least
Ernie, this (33/31) clears the way, capspace wise, for any FW to come up. Seeing that the defensive FW have been the ones up (yes, they are the more exp.) I am not sure if we see 15 or 86 anytime soon, unless there is a trade. Interms of a surprise trade to shake things up That way. When we were 7-6-1 we should have been 9-2-3 based on play. So yea in the first 10-15 games that’s not cool/deserving. If were 20-20 at 40games that would be unacceptable.
Bowman is very patient/gets all out the our prospects and maybe goes too far with some but that way we always get/know before we trade someone. Bowman has built an calvary around Johnny Wayne (Toews) and has the luxury to do this with the prospects because we have so many. Whats nice about having so many good prospects is because there not all going to be able to be on our roster, so some of the guys are to be included in trades.
What can be done to shake the coach up?
The only coaching change I’d advocate is Kitchen. I don’t really have a reason why. Never liked the hiring. He hasn’t really done much on his own away from Q. Quenneville has his faults. We all do. His stubbornness will be his eventual downfall. That eventuality isnt here yet however. Him and Thibodeau need to take a class about how to manage your assets a little better.
Clueless types who continually blame the coach for everything, like 61, don’t know the game.
Darlings red pads have to go! They are hideous!