I chatted recently with my friend Brad Gardner, who is doing a great job covering the Blackhawks' prospects for hockeysfuture.com.

JJ: How's my sleeper pick from this year's draft, Dan Delisle, doing?

BG: Delisle has gotten steady ice time as a freshman, appearing in 14 out of 18 games for Minnesota-Duluth, most of that time as fourth line center. Just one assist for Delisle so far but Duluth has still been one of the better offenses in the WCHA. An adjustment was to be expected, I think, and Delisle could ultimately benefit from being brought along slowly in Duluth. He can hopefully round out his game this year and learn to use his 6'4 frame against stronger competition.

JJ: OK, a question on a lot of Hawk fans' minds: Dylan Olsen?

BG: Olsen is at the opposite end of the Minnesota-Duluth depth chart. A top-four defenseman for the Bulldogs, he's earned shifts in all situations. He has yet to score his first goal but nine assists still have him tied for the team lead in scoring among defensemen. Considering the Bulldogs' blue line is quite young, his ability to step right into a big role has really helped the team. He'll also get a shot at making Canada's WJC squad this year as one of the NCAA invitees. He may be a long shot with all of the talent at Canada's disposal on defense, but could provide a little more grit than some of the other candidates.

JJ: There are divided opinions on Kyle Beach. How's he doing?

BG: He's now with his third junior team, but he seems to have a knack for endearing himself to another WHL fan base that used to root against him. Statistically, Beach has found a lot of success in Spokane playing alongside Flames prospect Mitch Wahl. Beach has 23 goals through 29 games, and his 0.79 goals per game number is much improved from his career 0.45 goals per game average. Along with a stingy defense, the Chiefs' first line has carried the team to second in the WHL's US Division. I think it was frustrating for many that Beach was too young for the AHL this season, but a little jump in goal scoring and top line minutes on a contending team are still positive signs. Maybe most encouraging is the absence of off-ice behavior reports.

JJ: After he whipped Wild prospect Tyler Cuma in a preseason fight, Shawn Lalonde, who can also really skate and pass the puck, became another one of my faves. What's the lowdown on him?

BG: With P.K. Subban joining the AHL this year, Lalonde became the unquestioned leader on the Belleville blue line. He responded by playing at a point per game pace as he sits tied for the team lead in points despite being limited by a shoulder injury for a few games. THe's got has eight goals and 18 assists on the year. Despite his statistical success, Lalonde's Bulls team has been near the bottom of the OHL all season. Lalonde will also get a shot to play for Canada's WJC squad after getting an invite to the try-outs. Not a ton of international experience for Lalonde but still an outside shot to crack the roster.

JJ: OK, I think goaltending is a real weakness in the system. But a lot of people, myself included, have been impressed with the free agent Dale Tallon signed from Yale, Alec Richards.

BG: Richards began his 'Hawks career in the ECHL with Toledo. For much of the season he has split starts with Red Wings' prospect Jordan Pearce. Richards' numbers aren't quite spectacular but his 3.29 goals against and 0.895 save percentage are significantly better than his counterpart's. He also made three appearances with Rockford already with even better results - allowing only two goals per start with a 0.929 save percentage and two wins. Rockford has been riding Joe Fallon of late. Fallon has continued his steady play while Corey Crawford is on the shelf by sustaining a solid 2.53 goals against and 0.916 save percentage.

JJ: I saw 2009 2nd round pick C Brandon Pirri at Prospects' Camp and as advertised, he can really skate and and handle the puck.

BG: It's been a strong start for Pirri as he ranks second in scoring for Rensselaer with seven goals and 11 assists through 19 games. He gets a ton of powerplay time in a role I would describe as 'purely offensive.' Puck skill and playmaking ability are his strengths and he has been allowed to play to those strengths. Pirri especially causes problems with the extra ice during the man advantage. He's only 18, but he's one of the 'Hawks smallest prospects at 160 lbs and will need to add some strength to his 6'0 frame. Still, it is a great sign for Pirri that he has sustained production after making the jump to ECAC hockey this year.

JJ: Ok, what about the rest of the group, any highlights?

BG: Billy Sweatt, Marcus Kruger, and Byron Froese are among the other prospects who have made a real impact on the scoresheet for their respective teams. Sweatt his having a career-year statiscally while hanging among the NCAA's leading scorers. Froese continues to produce as the Silvertips top-line center. Kruger has cooled off some since having the hottest start of any player in the Swedish Elite League. He remains top 10 in the league in points.

Igor Makarov was traded from SKA St Petersburg to Dynamo Moscow 26 games into the season. Makarov has had trouble getting ice time as St Petersburg has always been comfortable with the veterans at the top of the line-up. Perhaps this is also an indication that the team didn't expect Makarov to re-sign after the season.

(JJ's note: the Hawks' 2010 cap situation and the above news leads me to believe Makarov will be in North America next year and very possibly on the Haws' roster. Makarov is fast, gritty and has some skill. He plays more of a North American style than most Russians do. In my opinion, he fits the Scotty Bowman mold quite well.)

A HALF APOLOGY:

I blogged recently on some issues I saw with another blogger's trade rumor, specifically that the Hawks had decided to essentially keep Kris Versteeg and deal Patrick Sharp.

While I still think it's far too simple to state it as a choice between Versteeg and Sharp, I have heard from one source that Sharp is on the block. However, in addition to all the reasons I've stated that the Hawks would want to keep Sharp, I also don't know how accurate/reliable the source of this tip is. I have been told, they are "dead on at times, off at other times."

Further, until Dave Bolland's healthy return is virtually guaranteed (or not), which is at least 4-6 weeks away, it seems highly implausible that the Blackhawks would deal Sharp, their de facto 2nd line center, unless, at the very least, another top 6 center could be acquired. The salary logistics of such a move might work, and might not.

Regardless, I still believe that who ultimately gets traded (including possibly Sharp), and when, will have a lot to do with what is offered at that time for a given player or players.

The leading candidates to be dealt would have to be: Versteeg, Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien and Cam Barker (if not Brian Campbell), because of their minimum $3 million per year salaries and the fact that each is essentially a depth player on the talent rich Blackhawks.

In other words, the Blackhawks could deal any combination of these players and not more significantly damage themselves versus trading some other combination of these players. In the end, they will lose a couple of good young players, and hopefully, the return in trade or their depth at the NHL and prospect levels can eventually compensate for it.

JJ

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