Blackhawks Recall Stephen Johns, Antti Raanta
The Blackhawks made a couple roster moves on Monday afternoon.
Antti Raanta was brought back to the NHL club after starting for the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday, earning a victory for the Hawks’ AHL affiliate. Chicago also recalled defenseman Stephen Johns.
Forward Joakim Nordstrom and netminder Scott Darling were sent to Rockford.
VERY happy to see Johns get a chance. I really like everything about his game. And the potential he has to be a blueliner for the Hawks….a MUCH needed blueliner. Bummed that Nordstrom was sent back down because I FAR prefer his game versus Morin. Oh well.
Not Little John
Linebacker on skates. Eager to see how he does. It does look like Raanta and Darling may alternate starts in Rockford. Which is probably a smart move. Kind of surprised he was only there for one game though. I still haven’t heard what TVR’s injury is
I applaud the decision to bring up Stephen Johns. I hope he gets some decent minutes to show his ilk. I don’t know about Brennan or Pokka, but Johns is big and physical. Since drafted, I have read about his physical play and bone jarring hits. My understanding is he is defense first, but that he also has some offense to his game. It is very exciting that I will actually be able to finally see him play. I sure hope he lives up to all the pub I’ve read since drafted. Best wishes to TVR. I sure hope it wasn’t anything to do with his injury last year.
It am sorry to hear the disappointment expressed here by some that have seen Clendening play. After all the hype about our defensive prospects, everyone seemed to leap frog Brennan and Pokka above our prospects when they were acquired. I am not quite sure what that says about our prospects, but it would appear to indicate we received a good return for Leddy.
Tried to sell my two tix for the game against the Stars, but couldn’t even yield face value (after stubhub’s fee) for them. Ended up going and enjoying one of the best games the Hawks played this year. Shaw’s scrap was a HOCKEY FIGHT. Wow!!! It was nice to hear Chelsea’s Dagger all evening.
Go Hawks…
Ernie, why does it look like Raanta and Darling will alternate starts in Rockford?
On these roster moves … hmmm … I’d wait until Wed. to see who they actually take on the trip. This shuffling sounds like a little salary cap maneuvering to me.
Johns- based on what I saw from
Johns- based on what I saw in pre-season and Prospect Camp was a DISTANT 2nd to TvR… And I am a Johns fan… BUT he made several mistakes – big enough for me to notice… TvR was almost error less-imo…
I was really pulling for Pokka or TJ… BUT I am guessing Q doesn’t want someone he didn’t get to coach/watch in Camp!!!
Is Cden close to becoming the next Pirri???
OK not alternating starts. But each guy needs minutes and neither will get many up here. Being able to recall both of them, I wouldn’t be surprised if that call up trend continues.
To bad for TvR/Hawks… the kid looked Great for 1st 15 games – straight to the NHL!!!
Not many guys do that…
Hope it’s not an ACL
Johns plays a different more physical game. He’s been known to go out of his way to hit. In prospect and training camp I can see Johns doing that trying to impress the staff. Regardless, we’ve got physicality now. Something we’ve all been clamoring for.
I don’t think Clendening is the next Pirri. Perhaps the next Leddy. But that’s next year. Someone that can put up points but won’t ever be moved off that third pairing. And who’s defense will keep Q’s leash short.
Doubting Johns stays. Him + Antti got the Hawks 30k from the cap before they LTIR TvR. And if you’re paying attention, that gives the Hawks slightly more cap space to work with.
I was surprised when Johns was brought up too. Maybe it was a move for Cap purposes but I don’t understand how that can be seeing as Johns cap hit of $800K is higher than all the other d-men in Rockford except Pokka. So it seems like it has to be a d-man and if it isn’t Johns or Pokka – how did bringing Johns up help the Cap situation? They don’t play until Thursday so it’s not like they couldn’t have put TvR on LTIR and waited a day or two to bring up the real d-man they want to take on the Circus trip. It doesn’t make sense to me unless Johns is the guy going on the Circus trip with them.
JS, if they’re looking to save a few shekels why not just Nordstrom and Darling down and recall only Raanta? Why have Johns on the roster for a day or two when he isn’t needed? They would have saved even more.
I didn’t think putting TvR on Ltir saved the hawks any cap room. It merely allows them to spend 69.925 rather than 69. At least that’s what I gathered from capgeeks explanation.
ER- the way that LTIR works is it takes your current team cap and adds the cap hit of the person being LTIR’d. So with Johns it put them about 37k under the cap. Once they LTIR TvR, TvR’s Cap Hit is added to the current payroll and they have that room to work with over the cap.
These numbers aren’t exact but it’s an example. If the Cap is 70 million. Hawks are 50k under that cap. When they LTIR TvR, the new cap for the Hawks is 69,950,000 + his salary of 1,000,000. So the new cap would be 70,950,000.
Basically, because of the way they worked this, it gives them an additional 900k on top of the Salary Cap. Now the Hawks can send down Johns and bring up two players and still be cap compliant.
I really don’t think the Johns call up was just to manipulate LTIR. Maybe I’m wrong. But I think he’ll at least get into a game. Or maybe that’s just my hope. I enjoy seeing the kids come up and play. Plus he would bring some needed nastiness.
JS- in your scenario of LTIR kicking in and then sending Johns down and calling up 2 players. Which 2 do you call up? And for that matter, do we see Raanta go back down and Darling back up?
I hear thru the ticket holder grapevine tonight that TVR tore his ACL and is done for the year. Surgery is set for a couple days from now when the knee stabilizes a bit and the swelling goes down. Which the kid the best on the road to recovery. He showed that he can play in this league and be a quality enough defenseman.
Ernie – the thing is it gives them the flexibility to pretty much add any two people from Rockford. My guess is it will be either Cuminskey (I hope not) or Dahlbeck, plus a Nordstrom. But with that additional money that person could be Carey or TT.
I hope it’s not an ACL-he was hurt blocking the shot from the point?? Was it the shot or did he hurt it after that? That would be the ultimate bad break.
JS, thanks for the explanation. I didn’t realize that and now it makes more sense, although it seems like cheating and the NHL has already proven they will seek to impose damages on teams that are using loopholes to skirt the spirit of a rule – so hopefully this “captastic” idea won’t come back to bite them.
I am not an expert in sports injuries or anything medical, but watching the replay several times, it looks like TvR was injured blocking a shot/hit with the puck – can that *really* tear his ACL? Boston’s Greg Campbell suffered a broken fibula blocking a Malkin shot last year, but that wasn’t a tear.
Anyway, we all hope that TvR isn’t in much pain and the recovery is quick and complete. Go Hawks!!
I didn’t get to see the game. But I thought I read it was his left leg that it hit. Which if memory serves me correctly, is the same one he broke a season before last. Im no doctor and I don’t know if he needed surgery ala stamkos. But it makes you wonder if something might be related
JS, that’s right. Johns has the highest caphit under .837 to get as close to the cap as possible before we ltir somebody.
(the only way to get closer to cap is, if there is not a requirement to have 2 goalies on the 23man at all times (which I am not sure about) we could have kept Raanta on Rockfords and ‘recalled’ Carey .925 & Brisebois .655 = 1.580, which would have us at .007 below cap just for the ltir purposes)(that would give us 30k more then we got)(if there is a 2 goalie requirement, then forget what you just read)
Even before the ltir thing, we could bring up any FW (above .837) from Rockford by doing the 33/31 shuffle for that game.
If they decide they want someone who can carry the mail out of the defensive zone ala Leddy, Cumiskey not Cuminskey is the guy. If they want someone steady who adds a bit of physical element, Dahlbeck. And Nordstrom for good measure because they’d have enough room.
I’d imagine they’d announce all this either late today or tomorrow, including TVR’s injury. Looking at the replay like many of you, it seems pretty clear he goes down immediately after getting hit by the shot … which would lead to speculation about a broken bone or fracture. Hopefully not a knee tear. Either way it’s a shame.
It’s pretty standard, ER. Boston and Philly do it every year with Savard and Pronger. I’m sure there are other teams I can’t think of doing the same thing.
Why would the Hawks “jack” with Johns by bringing him up for cap reasons & then send him down…..? He’d be missing playing time as well…..
The better explanation is he’s going on the trip & he was brought up to start participating in practice with his new teammates……
Yes…..? No…..?
Joey- Rockford doesn’t play until Friday. And I’m pretty sure all it would take is a phone call to Johns to say, “Hey, we are putting you on the 23 man roster for salary cap purposes, but you aren’t going to come to the team.”
Hell, he might actually play, I don’t think he will, but maybe! I’ve been wrong a time or two.
Cumiskey has only appeared in 10 of 16 games for the Hogs, and didn’t play their last game against Texas. I don’t know if its injury,illness or scratch.
And Johns back to Rocford. Definitely some cap wheeling and dealing going on. I’d expect to see McNeill for the trip given his recent production. Guess this isn’t the last move for today though…
Too bad for TVR. Hopefully it’s not a serious as an ACL and he can recover for the second half of the season. He’s been a revelation during the first 18 games. Really enjoyed watching him make the leap to a bonafide NHL defenseman.
Chev- McNeill was injured Sat.– did not play Sunday… I don’t know how serious
Really hope- it’s TJ/or Pokka
Wall just a few days ago you said you were looking at Pokka longer out in terms of a recall, now you want him now, what gives? Like I’ve said multiple times, he’s only played ten games in North America, I’m thinking he’s not ready yet, he is still getting acclimated. Is Dahlbeck yesterday’s newspaper already? (not saying I don’t like Pokka, I like him a lot)
Cumiskey has been a little dinged up, not sure if he is good to go yet. Dent wasn’t sure. They expect McNeill back on the ice shortly and he could play perhaps (emphasis perhaps) by Rockford’s games this weekend.
Told you guys last year to stop considering Clendening a prospect. He is not the next Pirri, Pirri will have a pro career. He is the next Brian Connelly.
@ Hereismike – so the next Brian Connelly just got recalled from Rockford…