Blackhawks Sign Matej Chalupa
On Friday morning the Blackhawks announced they have agreed to terms with forward Matej Chalupa on a two-year contract that has a $925k AAV and begins with the 2020-21 season.
Chalupa, who turns 22 on July 26, spent most of last season HK Hradec Kralove of the Czech Republic League. He scored seven goals with 17 assists in 50 games.
During the 2017-18 season he was a teammate of current Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik with Plzen HC.
He is listed at 6-0 and 171 pounds and is a left-handed shot.
Why does “Elite Prospects” have him listed at 6’2” and 194 lbs? Good size for a forward- especially if he is tough in the puck!
Sounds like a good potential for bottom 6, fast, good skillset, not scared to play in tough areas and plays a good game defensively. Hopefully after a little time in Rfd. we get a look at him on a callup.
@Ian: you are the contract guy so answer me this. How does the fact that all teams have huge contract obligations reconcile with the fact that there is a very strong likelihood that in-person game attendance for the foreseeable future will be much diminished or even non-existent. I don’t pay much attention to the business issues, but when costs are largely fixed and revenue falls off a cliff that strikes me as a bit of an issue.
Jordy the TV deals are biggest source of revenue for Nhl, that’s pushing the playoffs in the summer issue.
Not exactly sure but in Ahl players get paid based on a $47,8oo minimum salary, pro rated by number of games on the roster. So if they don’t play not sure how or if they get paid until they do. If no live gate, Ahl may not play unless subsidized by Nhl affiliates to do so, until people can attend.
Players on Ahl contracts i meant, not Nhl contracts.
6’2 190 good size. Free lotto ticket. I’m sure somebody will come up bitching about this.
Chalupa. Queue my giggle fit. Now I want to go to Taco Bell. This guy needs to sign an endorsement deal with them.
OMG, same old same old… 7 goals and 17 assists in 50 games in the Cech league and he has potential? Potential of what? Does this management have a clue? What is this guy bringing? Certainly not talent! And another free agent undrafted low scoring European player? In would rather draft well, hey there is an idea? Draft Canadian platyers who score goals in the CHL than a 21 year old who scores 7 goals a season? Another non skilled player like Kampf!!! JOKE
Once again, fire Bowman, please. Waste a time!
I was alarmed that Bowman is still making personnel decisions.Why do I get a queasy feeling that the boy wonder Wirtz is going to be the team President and the Bowman family will still be in charge.
Didn’t take long. Hull bitching go figure. Canadien players like Knott and Noel we need more of them.
Such a clown.
So complaining about European scouting??? Hilarious.
Some of the euro guys are good some are ok. Be good if this guy is good and on a line with 8.
Our euro scouts make up for one good player every time we get a good one.
Bickering over hockey issues, great to see again.
I didn’t mind him.
I got it! He gets an assist chalupas half off. Goal free chalupa with purchase. 2 goals two free with two items purchase. Hat trick three free with nachos bell grande purchase.
Very obscure signing. I can only imagine Pat Foley and Eddie O laughing about Chalupa when he touches the puck.
Tim. I was told last week that Stan Bowman’s job is safe. Don’t shoot the messenger that’s what I was told.
Also, with revenue falling, this is a horrible time for Dylan Strome to be an RFA.
There’s no way, Wirtz is going to dole out big contracts with no guarantee of fans in the stands paying $12 bucks for a 16 ounce beer etc.
Strome is behind Kubalik in line. Demand for a 55 point Center who is only 23 should be high. That’s why a draft in October works better for the Hawks. More trade possibilities with teams with a bunch of picks like Ottawa.
Clown? Are you talking about the Gm and coach? Make an intelligent comment! Drafting Canadian or American or European players who actually have talent is the message..,read between the lines if you can. So, if you are scouting this player who scored 7 goals in 50 games in a CZECH at the age of 21, you believe there is potential to pay him 925, 000? Comment on the real clowns who are drafting poorly because all Bowman show deseperation because he drafts poorly after the 1st round which everyone already has a list of those players. He sign splayers like Wedin, Holm, Ruuta, blah blah blah… He was successful with Panarin because Panarin was on the NATIONAL TEAM for Russia and was an all star in the KHL…that is a good gamble the facts don’t lie. The rest is garbage.
MF92 didn’t take long for you to have nothing to say. Let’s see when Strome is traded for a 3rd round pick or a minor league player what you will say. Schmaltz for who again?
It will be nice for the vets to see the playoffs even though the GM & coach do not deserve to be there. And that includes other teams like the HABS.
Look out for the Rangers and Panarin magic.
Oh almost forgot, I guess we need to watch Carpenter play again. Yikes!
Be safe and stay healthy Chicago. And lastly, RIP George Floyd. Sad, sad story…once again….2020.
Be nice if every draft pick or european signing became a superstar but then comes time to leave fantasyland. If a future role support player can be found by this type of signing on a minimum contract great, if not nothing to lose giving him a look. He is only 21, Panarin as good as he turned out, couldn’t get a Nhl offer until he was 24 and finally had a breakout year in Khl, so don’t write him off.
As a 22 year old for comparison, Panarin had a 11g and 7a, imagine the garbage posted about him if he was signed today after that season.
Imagine still bitching about this signing. We get it you don’t like bowman and the boy blunder.
Going to be fun when they replace both guys and you still bitch about those moves.
6
Signing Chalupa for 2 years is a really good move. Hawks will have time to see him play with Rockford and see if he can bring something to the team
And iff its not there type of players they can move him whenever they want like they did with Kempny .
Not a big risk and not expensive.
I wonder if he can play now against the Oilers?
Probably not …
I am for every euro player we have found for elc caphits or for reg caphits/worthy. Because just about every one we got has been really good, good, or good enough to trade. Bread Man is a good example of a gradn slam just one thats not two way HHNl deep worhty. Supoerstar yes.
Until our eruo scouts start bringing duds 90% of the time. Keep them coming every yr because 90% of who we get from euro are good or really good and worst case tradable/releaseable.
This is how you get HHNL deep in salary cap era when you cant keep everyone at once.
Check out Best and Worst Teams at Finding NHL Player’s from the Draft.
“Hockey Prospects – DobberProspects”
Hull is correct Chicago’s drafting in the last 10 years has been clearly below average.
Picking between 26-30 5 of 7 yrs in a row might put a dent in that.
Besides trading Buckaroo wonder how we stack up agasint it for the last 4 yrs picking were the top 10 farms pick from.
Those euro scouts make up for some by getting good players for free from there.
Anyways we need to draft better so these good players we get from euro are the difference makers for being deep.
Hull65 I’m watching the replay of the Stanley Cup finals against the Bruins. Tell me again Shaw is a fourth line player. Yeah hes hurt and yeah two first round picks was much considering Shaw isn’t even playing. Hope hes 100% for the Oiler series.
Ian, did I ead that right there not starting the gmaes until july 1?
A healthy, enough, 65 44 and that makes a big difference. Still not where we want to be and where were going to in a couple yrs.
I think the miss interpret is that 36 and 65 played 4th line with Krugs after we got Hands and Vermette at deadline. We were that deep.
65 and 36 were the 3rd line centers the whole season those yrs. Same with Bicks or Sharpy.
Anyways we need to draft good and need this top 10 skill draft player. We cant afford a 17-22 pick.
Watching Hull shit on Hawks European scouting is like watching flat Earthers trying to prove everyone else wrong.
P.S. I’m also in the fire Bowman camp, but for sane reasons.
With 4 picks in the first 80 spots in upcoming draft, quite likely a goalie and couple of forwards will be taken with them. Some risk reward options will be available, the type Bowman likes, who it appears whether we like or not will be running the draft. Getting it right and finding the future between the pipes, plus at least 1 impact forward could be huge in a few years.
Mo looks like late July or early August before games start and 2010 Chalupa with contract announced officially won’t be eligible before start of next season to play.
If startup lines similar to when shutdown happened, then Strome and Kane playing together and were looking ok. Maybe something like:
12 19 20
92 17 88
91 77 8
39 64 22
With players like Hagel, Kurashev, Entwistle, Quenneville, Fortin and D. Sikura available.
On backend may see something like:
2 27
44 5
6 68
With Carlsson, Seeler, Beaudin and Gilbert available. Delia, Subban, Lankinen and Tomkins would all be available behind Crawford if needed. Should somewhere in the ballpark unless they change things up in mini camp when it resumes.
Make that 36 not 39 on 4th line.
Ian, we can do that in this draft with the picks we already have. thats including not having the picks used for 65. Now like Craig said were trading lots of players at draft so we ll get more then that.
Whoever said draft should be after playoffs even if playoffs are during the fall like baseball. Yea as messed up as it is to have 5 mths off then playoffs? how in the F can you have a draft in the middle of the season. thats more stupid then 5 mhs off right before playoffs.
It would be better to play two short seasons with 40 games each then go into playoffs naturally. This really is a not even an * its like a worlds tournament really.
That stuff cracks me up. Thats my intentions when I say things sometimes its not for disrespect/unclassy.
Seeing that 65 reminds me of how proud of Bicks and Shawzer in 2013. Man am proud of what 29 did for the Blackhawks. What a guy.
Mo be great if as Craig says players who aren’t future are able to be moved for picks. Can’t understand how you address conditional picks issue without having a clear picture on where teams are picking for sure, anyways. Not just lottery picks but lower round picks where conditions on playoff performance impact what the pick is.
Kamph and Carpenter on the same line for a playoff series can’t happen.Its a dead line that will be exploited defensively by the Oilers speed and offensively has no hope of generating anything.
Were going to be way better off with a top 5/10 pick this draft then 16-22 nd pick. Which makes a huge difference in young core and being top team again.
Its way more important to get this 4th and next yrs draft 5th top 5 skill draft player then it is to get playoff experience. This is actually a way to do it and still get our deserved top 5/10 draft player.
One way to beat EDM though is PK and those guys are good at it. Otherwise then that yea.
I want 4 or 5 top 5/10 skill draft players and we can do that, counting 12, with one this draft and next yr. Thats 5. Way better then 2.
Tim W, thing is if you don’t have your best pk players available to go against Oilers pp, they will dominate too much there. Both are really 4th liners at best, have to give somewhere, bend but don’t break about the best option available. Maybe will see other players roll in and out on that line.
@Morrison
There is no guarantee of a top 5-10 pick being an elite difference maker. On the other hand, there’s been plenty of star/solid players that have been drafted in middle-late first round over the years. Look at Pastrnak. He was the 25th overall pick.
Yea your right but I would rather have the first option of every player picked between 5-25 range. So we can get our guy who we want.
I do not want to be stuck with 22nd pick and not have a chance at a better player. Teuvo we got at 19 but how often does that happen.
Plus if we trade a good player at deadline for a 1st pick it would be that 16-30 pick so my thinking is I would rather have the top 5/10 pick and a pick between 16-30 from the deadline trade.
I want both. More merryier maybe.
I guess I see it as were terrible right now/last few yrs and we have this once and only chance at loading up with top 5/10 draft players. I just want as many as possible all at once. The more the moar could be elite. We could get lucky with a Teuvo Pastrinack but lets do that when were a top team again. Right now we suck and need as many top 5/10 draft players as we can get our hands on.
Morrison… You are totally correct….Picking in top 10 gives the hawks a lot better chance of landing a better player than picking 15 – 25.
How could this even be up for debate?
Yes, Shaw is a great 4th line player that moved up at times when someone was hurt. The bottom 6 was Stalberg, Saad, Shaw, Bolland, Frolic, and Kruger in 2013. In the order of talent who was best then and now?
1. Saad, 2.Frolic, 3.Bolland, 4.Stalberg 5. Shaw and 6. Kruger.
11 goals in 90 games for our new Czech signing who has also played in the CZECH2 & CZECH3 divisions the last 2-3 years.
Panarin played in the KHL which is a much better league. Kubalik was drafted in the NHL by Mike Futa. Yeah he did well so far……a late bloomer who gets to play with Kane and Toews. Hopefully he keeps it up and then gets traded like Panarin. But obviously, he is not the great breadman!
Right again Tim, Kampf and Carpenter cannot play on the same line…in fact Carpenter cannot play period. Actually, they should not play at all because the Hawks are not winning the Cup this year or any time soon. Thus, I would give Bowman’s “prized” prospects like Kurashev and Entwhistle ice time instead. Use this tournament to see what you have. AND THEN FIRE THE COACH AND GM.
Be safe Chicago! RIP George Floyd….Black Lives Matter!
Tim, both Kampf and Carpenter are decent defensively. Kampf brings speed to keep up or at least keep close to the Oilers. They are our 2 best faceoff men (minus Toews) and it’s always nice to not give Oilers top lines a free possession. I don’t mind them in a 4th line checking role. Obviously not going to generate a lot but that’s fine, most 4th lines don’t and aren’t expected to.
My lines:
8 19 20
91/65 77 88
12 17 65/91
64 22 92
If all available:
2 5 (strongest top pairing we can make)
44 27 (dehaan stay at home cover for boq)
6 Carlsson/68 (if Boq struggles, swap with 6)
I might be forgetting a forward. Haven’t thought much on hockey in a while so nlt so fresh.
Like our chances against Oilers actually. No pressure on our guys. Lots to gain not much to lose plus we have a rested Kane Toews Keith Crawford that all have history of raising their games and being playoff studs. Find a way to contain Mcjesus and Drai somehow. Easier said than done though.
Belat3d apologies Stef and other front line workers. My research does not agree apparently with what you are experiencing so be it. We will agree to disagree but no offense was intended and yes people should cheer for health workers everyday not just at 7pm in times they believe are crises. As to Days, I think you misunderstood what side I was on but no worries. Give me liberty or give me death and give us another Cup or thrilling Cup run at least would be great too. Go Hawks!
And Hull, Black lives don’t matter — ALL lives matter. Singling out groups is just exacerbating the problem. Don’t see colors when you look at people, don’t see age, don’t see religion, don’t see gender. It’s all illusions anyway. There is only 1 real minority. The individual. Make laws to protect the individual and you protect everyone. #LoveOverFear #OneGoal #WeAreAllOne #WWG1WGA
Darren…. You are Right
Thx
Dude Shawzer was 3rd line center the entire yr in 2013. 29 65 29
he only went to 4th line in 2015 when we got 80 and had a top 6 FW Sharpy playing 3rd line with 10 80 86. Balance and stacking the 4th line checking line with a player of 36 and 65 quality.
29 65 25
Well said Jonathan Toews! Beautiful statement about George Floyd! Leader as always.
Couldnt be an easier path to conference finals then we have with this NFL bi playoffs. EDM DAL are decent teams and are prob two of the weakest in conference. We should beat both with roster as currently contructed. Injuries players healthy. Still this is worst thing for us as we deserve a top 5/10 pick with our record from the 82 games.
Anything else is chicken shht.
Toews had an incredible post on Instagram today. What a great captain, ambassador for the NHL and for North America. #Blacklivesmatter
@darren, all lives are NOT at risk of police brutality.
Nice to see that Toews is the face of hockey like Tiger is for golf.
The face.
Captain of the only dynasty in 20 yrs.
@tab – I’m sorry you have to moderate this. I imagine you do not want to run a political blog.
@darren – I do not mean to belittle you or your views in any way. I believe you have good intentions.
BLM thanks for speaking up.
Stape and Morrison, From https://dobberprospects.com/best-and-worst-teams-at-finding-nhl-players-from-the-draft/
This is the third and final article about the topic of finding NHL players from NHL Drafts. I have been going through a span of 10 years – from the year 2000 to 2009
Charlau thx, interesting 4 of the most successful teams, Bolts, Caps, Bruins and Blackhawks grouped together in lower half. Be interested to see how the last 10 years compare. If you hada stat comparable to war in baseball, that would help with your superstar vs 4th line comparison.
Don’t usually post politics here but give a shoutout for Toews on his leadership on the racism issues.
@ CHARLA Not sure if you are trying to tell me that picking higher is not important or that Blackhawks drafting has not been good?
This is the article that I mentioned that people on this site should check out.
Political statement – you are warned.
JT – You get a special thanks for your willingness to put yourself out there where it isn’t safe to be these days. As part of the generation currently shitting the bed while trying to run this country – I say thank you. There is hope that when my generation finally gets run out of office (which can’t be soon enough) that something good can happen to our country. We will need leaders like you to step up.
Stape, think Charlau was just noting that the DobberProspects draft analysis was for 00-09, not of the last 10 years. so a time when Bowman was not so involved in the draft.
re the analysis, would be interesting to see how many of the games were played with the drafting team. it really doesn’t matter if a team drafts really good players if they end up playing for someone else.
Funnyhawk, the work Charlau did was about which teams drafted the best, what you are asking about is development, which is a whole different conversation. Development needs to have a breakdown where teams are at, rebuilding and time to be patient with picks vs win now and making decisions that picks and prospects are used to compliment that need. What that chart does show that finding some key players deep in the draft can have a huge impact vs a higher success rate of picks 1st and later.
Also think its for that we did not have top 10 picks in last 10 yrs/other then recently.
That during 200-2009 we had top 10 picks every yr basically.
So not a Bowman only thing here.
Thing I see is that top 10 picks make a duffernce and a big one whren you look at how may more quality players we got from 2000-2009 then 2010-2017 because of having top 10 picks.
Top 10 picks are way netter then picking 22-30 every yr that decade.
Mo not saying i don’t want high a pick as possible, but look a5 1st rd picks from oo-09.
2000 10th Mikhail Yakubov, 11th Vorbiev
2001 9th Ruutu, 29th Adam Munro
2002 21st Adam Babchuk
2003 14th Seabrook
2o04 3rd Barker
2005 7th Skille
2006 3rd Toews
2007 1st Kane
2008 11th Kyle Beach
2009 28th Dylan Olsen
So except for 19 and 88, the top 10 picks had little or no value and Seabrook really only other 1st rnder to contribute to cup run.
I am not the writer of the article. I’m only a reader.
@ FUNKYHAWK, like this : https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/index.html
Ian, your right on that though another thing to think about for that decade and this decade is Bowman didnt draft those misses from 2000-2009 and he didnt draft the sure fire 19 88 generational players.
Tallon & who ever was GM before could not have done any worse then he did for those top 10 picks that decade.
That Bowman is a far better drafter then tallon and other before.
Overall finding good player in other rounds is key and a must to some point that though like you said top 10 picks are huge you just cant pick the misses like Tallon and other did before him.
Drafted from 2015 on, currently under a Nhl contract to Blackhawks. Too soon to say how many Nhl games yet tho.
Fwds: Dach, Debrincat, Kurashev, Barrett, Teply, Altybarmakyan, Soderlund and Hakkarainen. Dmen: Boqvist, Mitchell, Carlsson, Beaudin, Gilbert, Krys and Tuulola. 3 or 4 more fwds to go with 77 and 12 possible to be nhl players. The future of the blueline is in development of those players 3 or 4 become nhlers is needed. Still some in system developing could be added from these drafts yet.
From 2010-2014 drafts Saad, Shaw, Sikura and Tomkins. Saad may be only one there who will impact Nhl roster going forward. Of course Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook and Crawford 2009 and prior to drafts.
Need next couple to be very good drafts to really energize the pipeline.
Thinking everyone here making a good point an this stuff.
Yea lets hammer the draft and get a good one guys.
It starts with these drafts few yrs and these now.
Lets go now get out there and stick em.
Add in some acquired younger talent from outside draft:
Kubalik, Strome, Cagguila, Hagel, Entwistle, Nylander and maybe Chalupa here up front. With Murphy Koekkoek, Regula on blueline, plus others to come likely a solid base is forming. A clearer picture of future in goal be good.
Elcs next year be from upcoming draft for higher end players, Moberg who impressed this year in Whl as fwd and dman, is a big 6’3″ 215 lb kid who has some mobility and offense. May get an elc after another year in juniors and see if he can be a Nhler in a couple of years. Saarela and Wise are 2 players who will because of roster turnover get a bigger role with their teams and have a chance to maybe create some conversation next season if they are going to make it to bigs.
Wonder if Nalimov gets moved in off season if a goalie for future in 1st round or 2 or 3 in upcoming draft.
We got to put oursleves into position to be ready to add ufa and trades for some good players to. We didnt draft that entire dynasty group.
10 32 51 82 81 11 27 32 67 26 80 91 other
That way when we have the builk from the draft those very good ufa players will want to come and choose to play with our guys like 11 81 91 and others did.
Yeah baybaaaay!
Depending on what direction that the Management situation goes in ,I would be surprised if Caggiula, Nylander,Strome,Entwistle or Koekkoek are part of the Hawks organization beyond next year.
Sure. Not sure how good Enwhistle can be.
Figuring we will add a very good top 4 Defensemen a top 6 FW and a few roles players. We only need to have 3 top 4 Defensemen and 5ish top 6 FW from the draft. Maybe less then that, you know what I mean. So were looking good from that stand point.
I think we need to adjust and switch up certain players and bring in with different style then them to get the kind we want and are missing.
We know this.
Good thing we have a base to go from and were adding to that draft wise this draft and maybe next draft to. Then we ll be bringing it and up and coming like COL is now. On the verge.
We wont have any of the ‘temp’ ufas once we need and ar eready to add those kind of ufas. We can ditch some/or ltir any that can be for the cap going down and staying flat for 3 yrs. That could be good for us for now and then. Squeeze some good players from the top teams.
Can see Seattle Sasquatch benefiting from this flat cap as well.
Hard to say about those guys TimW, the organization seems to like Entwistle’s potential and mature attitude toward being a 4th line shutdown guy, so he could win a spot for a few years. Nylander definitely make or break year. Cagguila if he resigns this year could be around awhile. Koekkoek put up good numbers in 3rd pairing role, but numbers work against him. Strome if they don’t see him as part of the future, move him now, Leafs cap strapped, need a 3rd center and have an access of good young wingers, be a perfect trade partner if caphit were to work out.
From what I’ve been told Stan’s job is safe. So factor that in to the fact Nylander scored 10 goals this year and the Hawks believe he has top 6 upside. Add that, he plays much better when he is with Kane, somewhat like Schmaltz did. As long as his trajectory is upward, he’s staying.
Slater K is a legitimate #6 defenseman who actually is getting better. The more games he plays, the more confident he gets and he’s inexpensive. I’m not sure they jettison him.
Caggiula has passion beyond belief. The concussions are a concern. Toews loves him. That counts. He’s inexpensive as well. No reason to dump him if we are not saving money. Give him a qualifying offer and that will be the Hawks offer.
Strome. Hmmm. I don’t want the Hawks to trade him. HOWEVER, if his contract demands are unreasonable, you have to.
Number one. Revenue is way down. No fans in buildings, no concessions. Layoffs of employees, none of this bodes well for a guy looking for a new contract.
The good news for the Hawks is, the draft will take place in late October.
Strome can be moved there for coveted draft picks. Preferably he takes a team friendly 2 year bridge deal.
Craig you think there is any chance Bowman takes advantage of ltir likely available to start year. Then signs Strome to a 1 year deal, then flips him to say Leafs for a Kappanen or other cap strapped team and retains up to a couple million in salary. If moving expiring contracts like Saad and Smith are the plan, most likely Maatta too, will take care of returning ltir when it happens.
Like you guys are saying some of these guys are fine, as 6th Defensemen/other. Thats all they need to be and if they get better to get there like 92 fine or for the 6th Defensemen we need that role filled when were deep. So keep whoever for now like your saying and if not do it later. These guys are not blocking anyone because unless we have a full roster, HHNL deep, we still need a 6th. Unless its a better 6th, do it then.
It will be fine/the way its done-got to be and as the young wavers come through and take there spots there will only be so many let. Then get some really good ufas/trades and if a KK is not the 6th then we ll need to get another KK then anyways.
Know what your saying that just clear, that, board sure/no need to now and it will sort itself out for the good as we go.
Cagiluga is a beauty. I have a heart/passion for the Blackhawks like he does, know what it feels like to be positive and get out there and stick em.
Is that a thing now draft in the OCT. I didnt know/hear. If that is better for us then we need it. Do we know if that shht about 1 lottery was just talk like Sharpy says.
Is the draft the same and 3 ping pong balls.
Morrison. Canadian media are reporting the Stanley Cup will likely be won in the first week in October, with the draft and free agency period to take place after that.
Ian, on Strome. With the Wirtzs bringing in less revenue and Kubalik being priority number 1 when it comes to RFAs, Strome needs to have a great series against Edmonton.
With Toews, Kane, Saad, DeBrincat all making big money in 2021, and Kubalik about to get a raise, Strome does not have a ton of leverage, especially with Dach on the cusp of becoming a 2nd line Center.
I think the Hawks will offer Strome a 2 year bridge deal and if he refuses, they will likely deal him at the late October draft. So the timing works in the Hawks favor.
See what he does against Edmonton. See what his contract ask, is and go from there.
Yeah could very well go that route Craig, just thinking with Barrett and Kurashev there is 3C options and Strome doesn’t have top 9 winger potential and could be an opportunity to add a talented winger.
No doubt Nylander, Strome, Kane is one of the lines that start out against Oilers. With Kubalik-Saad and Cat- Cagguila maybe other top 9 wing combos. Then your pk specialists on 4th line.
May have Dach play 3C to start next year until the point when Barrett or Kurashev more ready to fill that spot, then have Dach more ready for a top 6 role then too and tdl moves to make room if needed, that makes sense too.
Thats kind of like what we did in 2015 with the pizza line being punished together and then they became a good line on there own. 23 91 88
Which allowed us to load the 3rd line better with players like 10 86 and then add a 80 kind of player.
So we have the new Shawzer kind of player with Barratt and Kurachev is sort of like 86. The pieces are already here/we have them.
Just get some more and keep adding to young wave. Then its all about a couple really good ufas/trade players and were ready right about when the young wave is ready to make a huge impact on the team.
Ian. I think you are correct that Dach is a #3 Center next year. However, if the next season starts in 2021, management might see him as ready for a 2nd line Center role.
Keep in mind, Colliton loves Kampf and Carpenter is an ideal 4Th line Center.
So the odd man out with 1st round value might be Strome.
Am l missing something here. Strome is an average player. If I can get a late 1st or high 2nd round draft pick, I’ll take it. Also Nylander does not have the emotional stamina, inner drive, passion to be a success at the Nhl level. I know as Blackhawk fans we would like all the players to reach their full potential, but for Nylander, I don’t see it. For a majority of players it is a false hope. I hope I am wrong on both Stome and Nylander based on the fact that they are so young.
Craig i would have no problem with Kampf and Carpenter as 3rd and 4th Cs until a long term no. 3 is ready to be recalled from Rfd., to start next year, actually believe that is a very real possibility. Some people woukdn’t be happy but if Strome moved and Dach is put in a top 6 role, that may happen if Strome brings a good return in the fall. I like the idea of a talented proven young winger who may be expendable vs risk on a draft pick that may or may not work out.
Playball i think with a year left on his elc, Nylander likely gets next year to show he is progressing after an up and down year this season. Although somebody in his position who is obviously not playing near 100% effort on alot of shifts is hard to cut slack for.
Think thats peoples biggest problem is both of them as 3rd 4th center. Like someone just said Carpenter is fine as a 4th center.
Be good if they both can do a 4th line checking line like 16 67 did. 64 has some speed could he be like a Frozal and Krugs.
Everybody else will sort out on its own. We have the time to do that while young wave is getting established.
Going out on a limb here but Nylander will be a piece of the puzzle that we will need. We need a player that at any given time can light it up let’s say for a 10 game stretch. It will happen when other teams put all their best shut down players on our elite offense. Then when they switch some to Nylander it will open up our elite again.
About heart, yes it looks like at times it’s missing. I believe that the more it is asked for to show more it will come. Also having family in the business it will pick up a bit due to them telling him to do so more. Also I believe that being in the Chicago organization brings out more than being in the Buffalo organization. Original 6.
JR that’s where this return to playoff format can be a big plus. These young will get to show how much intensity they can bring in a playoff format. Hopefullly Nylander steps it up and shows he is not just in perpetual preseason mode.