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Sometimes no news is good news.
When you lost in the Western Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup Winner, no news is probably not good news. I mean, if you want to get better, well, you have to go out and do something to get better.
But it appears that's all the Hawks will provide you with this summer. What I just heard from a good source is the Hawks are finding the asking price too high on viable 2C candidates like Ryan Kesler and Jason Spezza.
They "don't want to move anyone from the core."
So, predictably, the front office is already hinting that 170 pound Finnish forward Teuvo Teravainen might be the answer to what ails ya, but the question remains:
The Hawks were weak at center in April. They just lost a 55% face-off guy (Michal Handzus). And the 20 year old Teravainen wasn't good enough in the eyes of the coaching staff to help in April and May. So why should anyone think he will be in October? Especially when some hockey people aren't sure if Teravainen's eventual position in the NHL isn't right wing.
Heard this one before?
Maybe, sure, maybe, he would benefit from "on the job" training as Brandon Saad did at a similar age in 2012-13. But Saad was more physically mature and played left wing, not the more challenging center.
All that said, lacking a big surprise, I think your 2C will be, yet again a committee of converted wings and 4th or 3rd line centers being asked to play "up."
The Hawks will "add" something, at the very least to replace Handzus. And don't be too terribly surprised if it isn't a reclamation project and former Red Wing named Ville Leino.
Yawn.
But the core, that was just good enough to get through three rounds of playoffs on heart, spit and baling wire, will be intact.
The new commercials will soon be shot. Ready . . . and . . . action!
Interesting times, indeed.
If I hear something a bit more exciting, or anything worth telling, I'll pass it along.
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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