1⃣9⃣ pic.twitter.com/mWX7rekqLd
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 30, 2021
Here's a summary of newsworthy notes from Day 7 of Blackhawks training camp:
* Jalen Luypen and Ethan Del Mastro were cut from camp and will return to their junior teams with the Edmonton Oil Kings and Mississauga Steelheads, respectively.
* The camp roster is now reduced from 63 to 61 total players which leaves the Hawks still needing to shed quite a bit more pounds (or kilos for the majority of humanity on the metric system) in order to get down to fighting weight.
* Colton Dach returned to practice yesterday after sustaining a shoulder injury earlier in camp.
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Projected Lineup
Colliton just told the guys this group is playing tomorrow:
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 30, 2021
DeBrincat-Tyler Johnson-Kane
Hagel-Toews-Reichel
Nylander-Carpenter-Strome
Hardman/Reese Johnson/Pour/Osipov
McCabe-Seth Jones
Caleb Jones-De Haan
Stillman-Galvas
Allan-Mitchell
Fleury
Delia
Regardless, a few thoughts on the starting lineup:
* The 1st line of Tyler Johnson centering Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane is likely what the top line will be to start the regular season.
* The 2nd line is almost for certain to feature Jonathan Toews as the center -- barring health setbacks -- with possible winger candidates in Brandon Hagel, Lukas Reichel, Philipp Kurashev, and Dominik Kubalik.
* The 3rd line of Alex Nylander and Dylan Strome flanking Ryan Carpenter is scary and not in a good way with the center playing a line too high and the wingers having subpar compete levels that don't match what Colliton expects.
* The 4th line of Reese Johnson surrounded by Mike Hardman and Jakub Pour may be surprisingly effective if they keep it simple with a heavy, industrious style dotted with physicality and timely hits.
* Dmitri Osipov really has no business being in a preseason game for the varsity club and should be amongst the next round of cuts.
* Like the 1st line, the top D pair of Seth Jones and Jack McCabe could very well be what you see on opening night of the regular season.
* Assuming good health, Calvin de Haan is bound to play on the 2nd D pair with Connor Murphy or possibly swapping spots with McCabe.
* Caleb Jones, Riley Stillman, and Jakub Galvas are essentially competing for the 5/6/7 spots along with Wyatt Kalynuk.
* Ian Mitchell could be in the mix for one of the last spots on the blueline but as much marination time in Rockford may do him a world of good in the long term.
* Even if Nolan Allan flexes his defensive muscles with a steady performance, he's best off returning to juniors to log big minutes back with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL.
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Lesson of the Day
Collin Delia and Marc-Andre Fleury are the two goaltenders with the main group today. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/UtcIty5n5O
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 24, 2021
Will Delia have the same treatment as Soderblom before him, i.e. not get a lick of playing time? It's natural for each goalie to desire being in the game and prove themselves worthy of the starting role. But is it necessarily a bad thing that the backup may not get to play?
Part of being a backup is having the mental fortitude to know that you are exactly that -- a backup -- which means being a team player and staying mentally prepared because being called upon at any point in the game due to an injury to the starter is bound to happen.
On being a team player, that's not being silent on the bench but rather being a cheerleader, an extra pair of eyes to bark out heads-up comments during game play, and even opening the bench door for teammates coming off their shifts especially if they're gassed.
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See you on the boards!