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Bloggers And Media Hype TT, Not The Hawks

August 25, 2014, 1:12 PM ET [534 Comments]
John Jaeckel
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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Surely, a sign the Apocalypse is nigh. I am about to give the Hawk marketing machine some back-handed credit.

In the case of highly touted and hyped Finnish rookie forward Teuvo Teravainen, it is not the usual suspects who are over-building expectations. It’s the media, fans and the hybrid of the two—bloggers—who are to blame.

This blog is nothing more than an outgrowth of an argument I’ve put forth on my message board the last couple of days: Teravainen, although he is purportedly up to 176 pounds through offseason conditioning (and eating a lot of herring no doubt), really has no job in Chicago right now.

Nor should he.

No disrespect, but there’s a blog out just this morning stating five reasons Teravainen should play the full season in Chicago.

Here are five seasons he shouldn’t.

1) Officially, the NHL is a men’s league. He’s 19. And his 176 pounds I’m sure is somewhere between damp and soaking wet.
2) He’s played 8 pro games in North America, as in between 7 and 9.
3) As stated above, he has no job in Chicago at his projected NHL role
4) Let’s let him prove he’s better than Mark McNeill, Philip Danault and others before just saying he is—with 8 games in North America under his belt. In all likelihood, at least as an offensive player, he is. But, what’s the rush?
5) This should be a very good team, even without the great TT.

These are not the 2004 Blackhawks of Igor Korolev and Pavel “Prehistoric Spongebob” Vorobiev. This is a team that was 1B for the Stanley Cup this past season, after winning it convincingly the year before.

Presently, barring a trade that becomes less likely as the days peel off the calendar toward October 1, Chicago’s Top 6 looks set: Jonathan Toews and Brad Richards at center, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane at right wing, Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad at left wing. Actually, this could be the best top 6 the Hawks have ever had.

As in, ever. Especially if Richards can catch as little lightning in a bottle with Kane and Saad.

Yes, Sharp could still be dealt before the season starts, but all indications are that deal isn’t happening.

And so some have defaulted to the notion that Teravainen will play in the bottom 6. But that runs contrary to everything the Hawks do with developing talent. If a prospect doesn’t have a role in his projected NHL capacity, then he will stay in the minors.

Teravainen is pretty much a pure finesse player: a playmaker/scorer. Not a defensive center, a checker or an energy player.

While the Ryan Kesler Drama dragged on this summer (and yes, folks, the Hawks were strong bidders), many scoffed: why “overpay” for Kesler when TT is gonna be the 2C anyway?

Well, when Kesler’s landing in Anaheim made that point moot, the Hawks almost immediately went out and signed Richards. So, certainly, the Hawks themselves did not have Teravainen penciled in at 2C.

Don’t get me wrong. Teravainen will be in Chicago soon, playing in NHL regular season games. How many this year, and whether at wing or at center, remains to be seen.

The investment in Richards is short term, a chance for him to resurrect a dying career, or one last swan song. The Hawks are likely rolling the dice a bit. Either they believe—as I’ve been told—Richards will be re-energized by getting out from under the expectations of a huge contract in the media fish bowl of New York, or they’re hoping Teravainen will be “ready” by this Spring, to assume the serious work of a number two center on a Cup contending club.

My guess is, the Hawks feel confident Richards buys them a full year and playoffs and allows Teravainen to ferment in Rockford, with some occasional shuttles to Chicago.

As it should be.


All for now,


JJ


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