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Blackhawk GM Stan Bowman pulled the trigger yesterday on a deal with the Islanders that is bringing two small, but skilled forwards to the Chicago or in exchange for a 4th round draft pick.
So now Peter Regin, one of a few Danish players in the NHL and talented, yet injury prone Pierre-Marc Bouchard join the Blackhawks—and Brandon Pirri is sent back to Rockford yet again. Bouchard is going to Rockford for now as well.
I had a rumor last Spring that Bowman had been in pursuit of C Franz Nielsen. Bowman instead came up with a couple of Nielsen LItes: Regin and Bouchard.
I can’t provide much on Regin, beyond the fact that he skates well, had a couple of decent seasons in Ottawa, and is an anemic 41% in the faceoff dot. But Bouchard, a former top 10 draft pick, has some skill in his hands and could blossom with the right linemates in Chicago—assuming he can stay healthy. He has had concussion issues in the past.
What does all this mean? It means Bowman and Coach Joel Quenneville recognize that their team needs more veterans for any kind of legitimate Stanley Cup push.
As for Pirri, I am hearing that multiple teams have inquired with the Hawks about him. I am also hearing the Hawks may have made a run at Islander defenseman Andrew MacDonald.
The Hawk lineup tonight in Phoenix should look something like this, with both Johnny Oduya (lower body injury) and Patrick Kane (death in the family) out again tonight.
Sharp-Toews-Hossa Versteeg-Regin-Saad Bickell-Handzus-Shaw Bollig-Kruger-Smith
Keith-Seabrook Hjalmarsson-Rozsival Leddy-Brookbank
Crawford
Mike Smith is in net for Phoenix tonight, game time is 8 Central.
All for now,
JJ