Brandon Saad Makes Blackhawks Opening Night Roster
On Thursday morning, the Blackhawks made a few roster moves in preparation for the season beginning on Saturday.
Forwards Brandon Pirri and Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Ryan Stanton were sent back to Rockford. The Hawks roster now stands at 24 players, with Steve Montador expected to be placed on IR shortly.
That means Brandon Saad will be with the Blackhawks in Los Angeles; Brandon Bollig will be there as well. Will one/both/neither of them dress? We’ll see in two days.
Every report or article I have read lately talks Pirri up as though he’s ready for the show, why does he not get an opportunity?
I know. I’d take Pirri over Kruger anytime anywhere.
sorry guys…. Pirri is not ready for the show… at least not w/ Hawks…
IMO- he needs to play w/ 2 bigger more physical good players (which Hawks are short on)… the only way he would be ok is if he played w/ Hoss and Toews!
Better shooter than Kruger- But Kruger is better skater, checker, in position, D….
As I said in previous posts… Saad has some serious speed/stride and Good IQ… hard to overlook. Would love to see him w/ Stalberg or on PK…
Pirri is deserving a 15, 20 game stint with the hawks. To let a player with his talent not get a decent shot at it is beond me. Yes he is not big but he has a lot of hockey smarts. True, he needs some size on his line but so does Kane. Put him with Hossa and a good left winger and he will be a center who will surprise a lot of you. As for Bolig, send him back to rockford. We do not need 2 goons on the team. 400+ minutes in the box from 2 guys is ridiculous.
Pirri is a RFA after the 2013-2014 season, the same year Bolland is a UFA. That is best chance for Pirri to crack the roster is 2 years from now. If Bolland continues with injury issues and Kruger doesn’t evolve, Pirri will then probably being signed to a cap friendly contract to be the 2C, with bolland in the 3C (if he is even resigned… because in 2 years the though would be Danualt and McNeil will get looks) and Kruger will be fighting for 4C.
Long term i think Danualt end up on the wing with lines like this in 2014
Saad/Toews/Kane
Sharp/Pirri/Hossa
Danault/Kruger/Shaw
Teuvo/McNeil/Hayes
Bollig/Morin as undressed roster spots to fill in.
Carbomb, Bickell, and Stalberg are all cap casualties that will be wanting more than what they are worth when we have all the youth that we have. Trade Stalberg this year if needed before his contract is up for a pick… same with Carcillo next year.
Tim G- no way Tuevo plays on 4th line for half year or more…. best Prospect!!! Could help team right now especially on PP.
Pirri is trade bait or 4th line guy!
Hawks should keep one or both Bicks and Stals ( only real good seasons from both will hurt that Cap- ability!) Hopefully Stals.
I agree that Teuvo will probably force his way into the Hawks’ top six… but many people said that about Morin 2 years ago. We also have to remember that the Hawks’ top six has five spots locked-up right now, and most of us think Saad has the goods to be a top-six LW.
What made the 2009-10 Blackhawks great was the roster had 10 or 11 guys that were capable of being top-six performers in the NHL. Hopefully we’re seeing organizational depth building so that’s true again in the not-too-distant future.
re: Pirri – He’s in a tough spot w/ the Blackhawks because he really projects best as a 2C, but the Hawks are clearly not ready to give him that role in the NHL. It might be Oct 2013 when he finally gets a shot at that role, and it might not ever be in Chicago. I do think there’s a really good NHL future for Pirri, but the circumstances of the Blackhawks’ depth might make him more valuable in a trade than on the ice.
Pirri back in rfd. Kid can’t get a chance. Hawks are making a major goof. Bollig stayes???? I don’t get it. I still think the fans much prefer a high potential kid like Pirri over a maybe 5 to 8 pt. a season goon spending 200 or even 300+ minutes in the box. Shaw and Car. will spend enough time there. By the way, Rockford won 3 to 1 tonight. Pirri scored 2 including the game winner was the 1st. star of the game. Oh well!!