Custom Build (blackhawks)

blackhawks

Custom Build

By Theo Fox

Mar 26, 2022 • 12:01 pm

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Although nebulous, that general timeline is to be expected. However, what has been debatable is who exactly amongst the players and prospects should be part of the rebuild. It's obvious that Brandon Hagel and Marc-Andre Fleury are not as they were both shipped out in the past week by the trade deadline for high-end futures.

This week there has also been considerable discussion in the news cycle and blogosphere about whether the last vestiges of the historic core -- namely Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane -- should be or will be part of the rebuild. Bottom line, they control their own destiny as they each have no movement clauses in their contracts.

In a rebuild, a prevailing perspective is that it's paramount for a franchise to accumulate as many futures as possible and have impact players in place once the team is ready to contend on a regular basis again. With that in mind, Toews and Kane may no longer fit the narrative of a rebuild for different reasons.

Jonathan Toews

When considering Toews' situation, he's on the back 9 of his career and may be closer to ending his round and retiring at the clubhouse than moving on from the 9th hole to the 10th hole. Health issues abound for him. Apparently so does his ability -- or inability -- to embrace a rebuild and his place in that process.

Additionally, Toews wouldn't garner back top-flight talent in return if he did agree to be traded. This isn't to say he's worthless but he's not going to gain back a 1st round pick or blue-chip prospect on his own. Salary retention would help and so would taking back a bad contract to ease the trade partner's salary cap.

Patrick Kane

In Kane's case, he's proving that playing at an elite level isn't in the rearview mirror. How long can he keep this up, though, as he's bound to slow down at some point? Or can he sustain an all-star performance into his late 30's and even into his 40's? Once the Hawks are contenders again, will it still be Showtime or a lesser version?

As opposed to Toews, Kane would attract an attractive return if he were to waive so he can go to a team of his choice. Especially when considering his transcendent play for much of this season, Kane should bring back at least one 1st round pick, at least one top prospect, and at least one rostered player who is in his prime.

Seth Jones

Then there's Seth Jones who is signed to a long-term 8-year contract at $9.5M AAV that hasn't kicked in yet. It was Bowman who signed him to this lucrative deal yet Davidson has expressed that he's not necessarily wedded to any particular players on the current roster. Would Davidson look to trade him before the new deal starts?

All teams need a #1 defenseman. Jones is the #1 for the Hawks right now and will be for a few seasons. But will he be playing at a #1 level once the rebuild is bearing fruit as far as growth into a perennial contender? Some even argue that his level of play isn't worthy of being considered a true #1 for any team -- contender or not.

Bowman gave up a boatload of favorable assets to the Blue Jackets to bring Jones into the fold. Davidson may not get a similar boatload if he were to send Jones packing after just one season in Chicago but adding a sweetener may help to get more beneficial futures in the system whether 1st and 2nd rounders and/or NHL-projectible prospects.

Alex DeBrincat

Alex DeBrincat is an immediate yes for being one to consider to be part of the rebuild. DeBrincat is a shoo-in in that regard. However, he also has a price like Hagel where Davidson wouldn't be shy to sign on the dotted line if there's a suitor who is willing to put down an offer that no GM in the league would refuse.

Kirby Dach

Another yes for the rebuild is Kirby Dach. Sure, he has his detractors already projecting him to be nothing more than a 3rd liner or even as a bust as a former 3rd overall pick. But there are enough flashes of brilliance along with his pedigree -- pre and post draft -- to indicate he's just scratching the surface and bound to burst through.

Dylan Strome

The biggest conundrum is Dylan Strome. The 25-year old may have finally turned the corner to live up to his billing when drafted in the top 3 back in 2015. If his resurgence isn't a mirage, he could be one to build around. Yet, at the same time, he's one to bring back worthwhile assets in a trade if Davidson is able to sell high on him.

The Elder Skatesmen

Calvin de Haan and Erik Gustafsson should be goners this summer in one way or another. If Davidson feels the need to retain one of them, make sure it's de Haan and on a cheap one-year deal only. As for Connor Murphy and Jake McCabe, they're fine for now to provide veteran experience on the blueline but they're not rebuilding pieces either.

If Davidson can trade both Murphy and McCabe at any point during their current deals -- and not necessarily at the same time -- then that needs to be done. The keys are getting back assets that fit what Davidson needs for the rebuild and staggering their departures so they align with when the young D in Rockford are ready to graduate.

Even if Dominik Kubalik is re-signed this offseason, it won't be for the long term. Look for him to be moved either in the summer or by the 2023 trade deadline. If it's the latter, pray that he has a bounce-back season returning him to the 25-30 goal range to boost his stock. But if not, you're looking at a 4th rounder or later in exchange.

The Newest Hawks

New guys Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, and Sam Lafferty are -- at varying levels -- asserting themselves literally and figuratively to claim their spots in the rebuild. One could argue that Davidson wouldn't have asked for them in trades he made if he didn't think they would be valuable cogs in his vision for elevating the franchise.

Let's take a look at Cup-era comparables for this trio. Raddysh may not have his wheels but he has an offensive set of skills reminiscent of Patrick Sharp. Katchouk can play a competitive heavy style and chip in 10-15 goals like Andrew Ladd. Lafferty has an aggressive demeanor and disruptive speed similar to Ben Eager.

The Rest of the Roster

As far as the rest of Chicago's current roster, forwards Henrik Borgstrom, Philipp Kurashev, and MacKenzie Entwistle are okay for now but have a ways to go to prove that they deserve to be fixtures in the rebuild and into the contention phase. The same goes for blueliners Riley Stillman and Caleb Jones. Ditto for goalie Kevin Lankinen.

Rockford Hopefuls

When looking at the IceHogs, only a handful are worth the investment as sure-fire members of the rebuild. The definites are Lukas Reichel, Ian Mitchell, and Jakub Galvas. Reichel is a can't-miss all-situation top 6 forward while Mitchell and Galvas may have what it takes to log top 4 minutes for the D corps at even strength and on special teams.

The maybes are Michal Teply and Andrei Altybarmakian. Teply's stock is rising sharply this season as he continues his development as a power forward. And though he's not as skilled as Hagel, Altybarmakian hustles every shift, hunts down pucks, and creates space for teammates. He's a fighter, too, in more ways than one.

Alex Vlasic is also in this bunch even though he's presently on the Chicago roster but could spend considerable time on the Rockford roster next season. He may be the best of the cohort of towering rearguards drafted in recent years. This list also consists of Louis Crevier, Ethan Del Mastro, and Taige Harding.

Pipeline Potential

It's too early to say for certain which prospects not yet in Chicago or Rockford will be destined for not just starting roles on future Blackhawks rosters but also permanent roles as impact players who will be key contributors in successive playoff berths and deep runs in the postseason. Here are a few prospects to keep an eye on:

* Colton Dach * Landon Slaggert * Nolan Allan * Wyatt Kaiser * Drew Commesso

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Blackhawks Notebook

* The Florida roadie continues to kick off April with a Friday tilt versus Hagel and the Lightning before a 5-game homestand commences. Oddly, the final month of the season has only 2 divisional foes on the schedule (Coyotes twice and Predators once).

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IceHogs Game Summary

Friday Boxscore

Hardman - Slavin - Connolly Reichel - McLaughlin - Altybarmakian Barratt - Busdeker - Morrison Osipov - Gicewicz - Gabriel

Phillips - I Mitchell Kalynuk - Regula Stanton - Galvas

Soderblom Gillam

1st Goal (1-0): Connolly (Regula, Reichel) 2nd Goal (1-1): Beckman (Chaffee, Turgeon) 3rd Goal (1-2): Chaffee (Addison, Rossi) PP 4th Goal (1-3): Gervais (Addison) 5th Goal (2-3): Barratt (Phillips) 6th Goal (2-4): Rau (Shaw) 7th Goal (3-4): Barratt (McLaughlin, Galvas) 8th Goal (4-4): Connolly (Reichel, McLaughlin) 9th Goal (4-5): Chaffee (unassisted) OT

SOG For/Against: 31/48 PP: 0-for-3 PK: 2-for-4

Highlights

IceHogs Notebook

* Brett Connolly has had a hot stick in Rockford of late with 6 goals and an assist in the last 4 games which could amp his worth if the Hawks are aiming to move him this summer. Otherwise, look for the Hawks to possibly buy him out along with perhaps Tyler Johnson.

* Evan Barratt had previously gone cold with only one goal in his previous 6 games but collected a pair last night to reach double-digits for the first time in just his second pro season. He's on pace to double his rookie point total of 14 but at the same PPG clip.

* Dylan McLaughlin hadn't played in over a month (February 20) but exited concussion protocol a few days ago. Returning to his usual role as a top 6 center, he picked up where he left off registering 2 assists last night to increase his career-high in points (27)

* Arvid Soderblom has hit a cold stretch in his first pro season in North America as he's given up at least 3 goals in 7 of the past 8 games including 5 twice and 4 once. Prior to this span, he was a brick wall giving up 2 goals or less in 8 of his previous 10 games.

* The Hogs are back at it again this evening as they square off with the Milwaukee Admirals at home in Rockford.

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See you on the boards!

Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago

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