Carl Dahlstöm and Joni Tuulola Assigned To Rockford
On Tuesday afternoon the Blackhawks announced that defensemen Joni Tuulola and Carl Dahlstöm have been assigned to Rockford.
This brings the training camp roster to 31 – including teenagers Adam Boqvist and Henri Jokiharju.
Interesting 8 d left besides the ir ones, would seem one of Boqvist goes to London, Davidson released from pto or Jokiharju doesn’t stay wuth team.
1st PP unit at practice today – Schmaltz/Toews/Kane/DeBrincat AND Boqvist. Holee Kapolee! I’m stoked to see that tonight. Hopefully Detroit takes a bunch of penalties.
Q has said he prefers 13F/7D but I can see him keeping 8D for a week or so to give Boqvist some regular season games before sending him to London. So a couple veteran d-men have to sit out for a handful of games – no big deal.
Course, if Q wants to keep 14 forwards out of camp that shoots down the 8D option.
Either way – the excitement is ramping up.
What’s exciting is Boqvist just turned 18 a month ago.
It will be fun to watch the young dmen.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Davidson released from pto and a decision on Boqvist 9 games in. Either he stays or recall Tuulola or Dahlstrom.
Under that scenario Ian I wonder if Davidson continues to outplay Manning (and they want to keep Boquist up) would they waive Manning
I still think they send Boquist to London after pre-season unless he really lights it up this week
Tuulola > Manning but optics of Stan punting his big signing would not be good.
Yea, that’s my main thought for the good prospects.
Boqvist is really a top pick in next yrs draft.
The Four Horsemen cant get established soon enough.
I think were looking good once these guys get established.
Wow the goaltending still sucks without CC and Manning is barely a 7th D man if that
Keith and Seabrook looked like it was their first game of the year and it was (I think)
Boquist on the PP – hell yeah!!
I think you got to put Saad back with 8 – 88
try AA with 40 and 95
4th line Krugs Johnson Kampf
Well OK then.
First the positive: Power Play. That is all.
Next, the extenuating circumstances excuse: I believe that was the first game for Keith, Seabrook and Rutta. And they played like it, Absolutely abysmal. Their rust had rust. They certainly weren’t ready for their forecheck and the speed of AA – not our AA – their AA.
Now for some of the bad – no extenuating circumstances to use for an excuse: the goaltending. YEESH! Yes the team defense sucked but there were some very weak goals given up tonight. Bad defense and bad goaltending equals 8 goals against.
I think I may need to get into the habit of chanting “it’s a rebuilding year” to help myself get through what very likely will be a lot of bad defense and bad goaltending type games. At least until CC comes back. Hopefully.
It’s a “development” year for sure, likely for Jeremy Colliton as well. Excellent teacher. Young guys play hard for him. Communicates a clear message : we want to have the puck, we want to play in their zone, we want to be relentless in pursuit of the puck, when we don’t have it. We want defensemen who step “up” while defending, not backing in.
When asked why he doesn’t play DeBrincat and Kane together, Q’s nonsensical answer was they both need to have the puck so there wouldn’t be enough puck to go around. What BS. DCat doesn’t “need the puck” more than Panarin when he played with Kane. DCat is the best sniper on the team with the exception of Kane and he is the ideal winger to play opposite Kane. But … for some reason Q doesn’t see it that way so fist he tries Saad who will never be mistaken for a sniper and now he’s moved Schmaltz out of his supposed natural position to be Kane’s winger. We’ll see how it works but if this is indeed a rebuilding year (and it is whether Q knows it or not) – then shouldn’t Schmaltz play the position he is supposed to play in future seasons. I won’t be surprised if he tries Kunitz as Kane’s winger before he considers the most obvious choice – anything and everything to keep DCat out of that role so he can prove he knows better then everyone when constructing a lineup.
DCat-Anisimov-Kane
Saad-Toews-Kahun
Sikura-Schmaltz-Fortin
Johnson-Kruger-Hayden
Cut Kunitz, send Kampf and Highmore down and have Martinsen as the 13th forward to swap in for certain opponents.
Can we take a mulligan on the Ward signing ?
Shootouts games may be the norm this year. Kzhun continued to solidify his spot. If Sikura gets some time in Rockford, Highmore doing it all, winning faceoffs, physical play, scoring a goal may have just won a spot on the opening night roster. Let’s see Delia and hope he looks like a goalie. Boqvist had a tougher night but responded well, still in the equation.
Gonna have to have shoot outs at the OK Corral a plenty this year if we’re gonna get any wins. My reasoning that I liked Lehner in net instead of Ward was age, speed and was accustomed to poor play in front of him. Bonus was he would have cost less too. Now at least I know how it feels to be a Sox fan.
Seabrook and Jokiharju play with Keith and Gus in first 2 pairs. If Boqvist plays his way in thats a bonus, if not Forsling and Murphy when back as other pair. Manning and Davidson ( who has a crazy but not sustainable amount of shots vs shots against ratio) fight for no. 7 if a spot at all. Hopefully Delia can continue to emerge between pipes.
It’s going to be a long year. Saw a couple of bright spots but again the back three-goalie and 2 D, will make this team struggle to win unless they score 4+ in a given night.
Q kept a straight face when he said he wasn’t sure if it was possible for Crow to start the year. Gulp!
Boqvist gave up a goal when Kane had a turnover at the offensive blueline, and he didn’t play the puck carrier very well or have gap control, got his stick knocked out of his hands, creating a 3 on 1 for the Wings with the one defender having no stick. He shows a lot of good instincts and has a nice shot and I think he will be a star in time, but the fact they are taking a hard look at him now, when he obviously does not have the strength to compete at the NHL level, says a lot about how much this blue line corps will suck this year.
Is there a worse NHL defenseman than Manning? Teams are going to love playing us this year.
As excited as we are about some of the depth guys taking a step forward, Johnson and Kampf are, big picture, below average NHL players, even for bottom 6 forwards. We are just giddy that the aren’t bad enough to HAVE to send to the AHL.
Instead of Johnson I meant Highmore in that last paragraph…but you can lump him in there too.
Since training camp started it has been a 3 horse race for bottom-6 “utility infielder” C/W between Kampf, Highmore and Johnson, at least for me. They have all showed well in their audition for that role and they have all spent time in the lead in my estimation. I guess that means there’s not much to pick between them. All have earned a spot but it wouldn’t be a travesty if they were sent down either. Right now if I had to choose it would be Johnson.
Did anyone notice Edjsell last night? He may be on a boat back to Sweden as we speak.
We did, it’s a one yr contract.
ER, I think Q means that debincat is so good with puck management and starting the play or making better decisions to continue the play, that he wants him on a different line. He’s that good at doing that.
Noonan, that might be the best thing for the team, getting another high end top pick. And that we know and expect it, so there’s no hard feelings or bitching or whining about it during the 82 games. We’re reloading and adding another top 10 prospect might be better for these yrs coming up that we’re a top 3 team again. Need Crow to be ok or get someone for those yrs.
Power play showed good puck movement last night imo. God knows, they had enough chances to practice in a game situation. Schmaltz continues to amaze with deft takeaway stick/hand skills. Saad on off wing? Why is this a benefit to the team?Ward was really pretty terrible. Need Crow badly or season is gonna hurt. Manning is not the answer and neither is Kunitz. Band aids without much adhesive.
Ho,hum pre-season. Tip of the cap to that many Hawks fans willing to pay big bucks to watch.
Let’s Go Hawks!
RF should have a nice team this year.