Frozen Four: Blackhawks Well Represented In NCAA Tournament
The Blackhawks will be interested and watching when the NCAA hockey tournament begins later this week.
In the East bracket, defenseman Dennis Gilbert will lead top-see Notre Dame against Michigan Tech.
In the Midwest backet, defensemen Ian Mitchell and Blake Hillman will lead Denver against Evan Barratt and Penn State.
In the Northeast bracket, the Hawks will have prospects in both games.
Defenseman Chad Krys will lead Boston University against forward Beau Starrett and top seeded Cornell.
Forward Dylan Sikura, who is a fan vote finalist for the Hobey Baker, will lead Northeastern against Michigan.
While there doesn’t seem to be much in Rockford right now, the College prospects are encouraging.
I also am not excited about anyone at Rockford, or at any of the other Hawks minor league affiliates for that matter. IMO, these college guys are the best players in the pipeline. (Perhaps I am overlooking some player who is doing really well in the lower minors.)
Btw, curious that I have not heard any good news recently about former Hawk wunderkind, Gustav Forsling. Will he be another trivia question a few years from now?
When its over, sign those three goalies!!!
The Hawks really need Northeastern to lose this weekend, we will see right away if Sikura is coming for the last 5 or so games with the Hawks.
If Northeastern wins two and makes it to the Frozen Four, the Hawks season would be over. Perhaps he would join Rockford in the playoffs if the Hogs make it.
I’d just assume there be no drama, Northeastern gets eliminated and Sikura signs with tha Hawks. Would rather see Chad Krys and BU make the Frozen Four.
Speaking of Rockford-T. Sikura has 17 goals and is +15 ( realize he is one of the few players to be there all year and is 25) He has some size as well. Is he in any way legit as a late developing prospect or is it 100% tied into his brother?
Anyways his brother must appreciate that one team is giving Tyler the chance to show what he is/has.
If burning Sikura’s 1st year elc is really the what is wanted, then they would have to beat the winner of Notre Dame’s bracket in semis. If not still time after semi to sign and play a game to do burn it. If it ends as 2 year elc starting next season, it will most likely include ability to access a lot of the 2.8m per year bonuses availabke to be had. That could end up giving him more money in year 2 than a 2nd contract would depending on how his rookie season goes. So signing this season in lieu of bonuses ala Hayden be a big help.
Rockford’s playoff roster already finalized so can’t be added to playoff roster after signing.
I think Snuggerud is the one guy in Rockford (along with Forsling) that has a chance to develop into something for the Hawks. He will need another year or two of development, but he has a chance to make it. His trajectory at Omaha was really positive, and he went pro after his junior year. But he has run into some injury problems this year. With a healthy year of development next year, he could be poised to be a solid depth guy for the Hawks, with a higher ceiling than Dahlstrom.
Graham Knott has been a big disappointment and is probably a bust (9pts in 62 gms). The shine has come off of Fortin, who is fast but can’t score (3 goals in 47 games). Everyone else looks like a tweener (Clendening, Johnson, Kero) or downright sucks.
Hereismike… I agree with most of your “Rockford scouting”… and Knott has been underwhelming… wts- Knott- was a DUD after Hawks picked him… and Made huge strides the next year… so perhaps- he is slow to pickup new systems or Hogs are grooming him for a specific checking Role???
Knott- Chances are he is the next Beech/McNeil bust… BUT- to his credit… as mentioned, he made Huge strides from age 18 to age 19 year in CHL.
Evan Barratt- is a kid to watch… having solid year for Freshman… and everything I read on the kid… says- overachiever type… like a Shaw- in that regard
I am excited about Barratt too. As someone mentioned, all of the top guys we have it seems are in college, Sikura, Barratt, Gilbert, Krys, Mitchell, Hilman.
I’ve seen enough of Beau Starrett to be really underwhelmed. He has size and that’s all. Starting back to prospect camp when Schmaltz was clearly (along with Hino and Hayden) the top player in camp, and during a break in play at the end of a period, Starrett jumped Schmaltz and started fighting him. Michael Paliotta jumped off the bench and stepped in and fought Starrett for Schmaltz. Starrett lost me right then and there.
Some of the rookies were milling around signing stuff for fans after. I asked Schmaltz what he said to Paliotta as they skated off the ice. He laughed and told me he said, ‘Thanks!’
Does anyone know why Forsling hasn’t played in last several Rockford games? Is he injured or a healthy scratch?
Great clip that went viral a few weeks ago of Barratt in penalty box calling out Minnesota d-man for being a crybaby, then getting out of box and flattening him, then scoring goal — all on same shift. I couldn’t find full clip or would have posted, but if you google him you can find it in pieces in various tweets.
I saw that clip….it was highly entertaining. He seems like an aggressive, cocky guy, something we need. On the other hand, I thought the goal was a really weak goal for that goalie to give up. It was right under the crossbar, but not too hard and from pretty far away.
Anyway the kid seems like a character, in the best tradition of Adam Burish, Shaw, Hartman. It helps to have that disturber on your team.
That’s the Penn State guy. Did you see him irritate that MSU or was it MINN player then came out of the box and nailed him.
He Hanson brothers ‘ed him.
I like this guy.
Jordy I posted the links in a thread here the day it happened. Do not remember the day but its on one of the threads here. Ck sch., then scroll threads here.
http://committedindians.com/blackhawks-recall-matthew-highmore/
Love how after he does it for awhile, he looks over and taps penalty box time guy on shoulder like check this out.