John Jaeckel: Quick Hits: Trouba, Fortin, WCH, More

Good Morning.....First !

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 2m2 minutes ago
#Blackhawks sign Alexandre Fortin to a 3-year contract. He's been a scoring machine at prospect camp and the first days of training camp.

Good news signing Fortin. Love sleeper stories like that. I assume that means a shot at the nhl roster as he is too young for going to AHL. Likely stole a roster spot from the likes of Motte, Hinostroza, Smaltz etc. His scoring touch warranted the Hawks taking the gamble, can teach skating, defending etc., but scoring sense you have or you don't.

Good post JJ, high level young d-men don't come cheap, no way we could pay the sticker price. Hawks have more glaring holes to fill this year than worrying about messing with the d core.

And no sooner does JJ mention this as a possibility and it's a done deal. Way to go JJ!!

Good post JJ, high level young d-men don't come cheap, no way we could pay the sticker price. Hawks have more glaring holes to fill this year than worrying about messing with the d core.
- BlackhawkDown

Agreed. And doubt the Jets trade him to a division rival at all let alone at a reasonable price.

What is Fortin's wing preference or can he play both sides?

What is Fortin's wing preference or can he play both sides?
- BlackhawkDown

According to Elite Prospects, he's a C/LW

And no sooner does JJ mention this as a possibility and it's a done deal. Way to go JJ!!
- FourOrr

Thanks Four, but that was a slam dunk.

That's always a plus if you can play center/wing. Wing transitions are a bit easier for centers as opposed to a wing going to center. If this adds scoring depth to the third line and if possible, one of the top two lines, then this is great news for Chicago. Hopefully he is not contact adverse. I haven't seen much to make that judgement.

Thanks for the updates JJ

Thanks Four, but that was a slam dunk.
- John Jaeckel

Lightning in a bottle? Fingers crossed.

JJ,

After seeing Kempny playing a significant role for the Czech Republic can you give some of your thoughts on how me might transition to the Hawks this year?

Just an observation -- not a projection that he'd be able to do this at the NHL level -- but at every camp and tourney that he's been at with the Hawks, Fortin seems to score in bunches. Not just a goal here and a goal there, but two in a game. He could be a "feast or famine" scorer which isn't necessarily a total negative if he plays consistently in other aspects of the game, especially away from the puck.

Good news signing Fortin. Love sleeper stories like that. I assume that means a shot at the nhl roster as he is too young for going to AHL. Likely stole a roster spot from the likes of Motte, Hinostroza, Smaltz etc. His scoring touch warranted the Hawks taking the gamble, can teach skating, defending etc., but scoring sense you have or you don't.
- BlackhawkDown

They can assign him back to his junior team, too. That's probably the most likely thing to happen tbh.

Fortin can't play in the AHL this season, so he'll either be with the #Blackhawks or be re-assigned to his junior team.@NHLBlackhawks

— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) September 25, 2016

Anyone know what jersey number our new rookie phenom is going to wear?

Fortin has been wearing 82 but wears 24 in juniors. Abbott is 24 in camp.

DK. Interesting the pickle that Chevy finds himself in) (with Trouba. He took Byfuglien, Ladd, Dano, Frolik from us in Stans salary cap sell off, so I do not feel sorry for him in the least bit.
- Omahawk

yeah, this is more related to wanting to play more minutes situations on the RIGHT not LEFT side, than just being over-paid,

EVEN if the Hawks offered their first rounder TvR, Pokka, and Rosy, Trouba wouldn't be a happy hawk as the right side third pairing.
From the Hawk management perspective, he allows you to trade off one of your big three down the road (NOT now) and actually have a really fine up n comer to develop for the next decade....

Chevy's gonna have to think hard and bite, because I don't think he wants a forward in return, so even though you will read about the Oilers and others salivating, there is a bigger chance he goes to a team whose GM he is familiar with and who has a defenseman he IS willing to discard. (Roadmap: Marc Bergevin and Nathan Beaulieu)

If I am Chevy, maybe I start looking for a BIG multi-player trade that yields a facelift all around....

The rule of thumb is, if Gretzky got traded than anyone can get traded...

So with that said, Chi-fans, is there anyway the Hawks trade Kane for something that they currently do not have? Like, would Kane be traded in next few years for a top goalie? Another D to replace Keith? Hot prospects? Hard to imagine but dangle and name like Kane I'm sure you can ask for anything?

In player development any thing can happen...
you take a Nathan Noel and he becomes your Andrew Shaw replacement.

You add a youngster forward (midget or giant) and with guided coaching and the players around him, you get a developing scorer.

Last night the there was plenty of Ivan Telegin love in the Russia-Canada game commentary...
The NHL Thrasher 4th rd draft pick is probably getting paid well in Russia after his unsuccessful first contract with the Jets.
He was part of the 2009 Draft class (Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Ryan OReilly, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Vladimir Tarasenko , Charlie Coyle,Jaden Schwartz, Justin Faulk , Jeff Skinner, Ryan Johansen, Cam Fowler, Nick Bjugstad, Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, Alex Petrovic, Teemu Puikkinen, Ryan Spooner, Riley Sheahan, Austin  Watson , Stephen Johns etc.)

I just pulled my 2009 mock and I had him selected 49th overall (Ahead of Kevin Hayes, and Tom Kuehnhackl )

It is nice to go back and look at what you think:

Los Angeles Kings
No. 49 - Ivan Telegin - 6-foot-0.5, 185, LhC-RW, Saginaw (OHL)
Big physical winger who has begin to fill out to a size much more suitable to his non- typical Russian play style. He will probably end up as a power winger and not centre where he has seen much duty, unless it is in a role as a physical checking line centre. He makes up with power and push for not having the high skill levels attributed to Russian prospects, although he does have good skills, not superb ones. He is a three zone dedicated player, powerful battling in both the attack zone and defensive zone, due to his strong balanced skating. Doesn't score with dazzling hands. It is that he is strong in the box and disrupts and scores goals there when parked in front of the net.

The rule of thumb is, if Gretzky got traded than anyone can get traded...

So with that said, Chi-fans, is there anyway the Hawks trade Kane for something that they currently do not have? Like, would Kane be traded in next few years for a top goalie? Another D to replace Keith? Hot prospects? Hard to imagine but dangle and name like Kane I'm sure you can ask for anything?
- Leniwm1

Kane and Keith both have full NMC with too many years left on them for either to waive to potenitally/likely lose them. Something they didn't have to worry about with Gretzky.

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN 1h1 hour ago
Fortin will play for his Quebec league team this season. #Blackhawks

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN 1h1 hour ago
Fortin will play for his Quebec league team this season. #Blackhawks
- BlackhawkDown

Which is prolly better in the long run for him. Still a very smart move by Stan to sign him. Kid has skill.

Thank you Europe.

As much as I like Krugs and Hammer the Sedins and Karlsson can kiss my.......