While the Blackhawks have tonight's concluding contest of the current series versus the Stars, there are critical personnel decisions called to attention stemming from yesterday's news.
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Game Day
Game 14, February 9:
Blackhawks @ Stars
7:30pm CST
Records:
Blackhawks, 5-4-4, 14 Pts
Stars, 5-2-2, 12 Pts
Season Series:
1-0-0
Power Play:
Blackhawks, 15-41, 36.6%
Stars, 14-38, 36.8%
Penalty Kill:
Blackhawks, 37-45, 82.2%
Stars, 31-39, 79.5%
With Alexander Radulov likely out for a second game in a row, 2018 1st rounder Ty Dellandrea should slot in again to take his spot in the Dallas lineup. Expect Jake Oettinger in net, too.
With Malcolm Subban as Sunday's starter, expect Kevin Lankinen to get the shoulder tap for tonight's game unless the coaches decide to grant Collin Delia his first start since January 17.
The last game was the first time that Delia suited up since his last start in Miami. Could he be the backup again or does Subban regain that role as he did whenever he wasn't starting?
On special teams, the Hawks and Stars are tenths of a percentage point apart from one another along with the Leafs and Caps for the best power play. Washington is first at 37.0%
The Chicago penalty kill continues to surge after beginning in the bottom third of the NHL due to the 0-3-1 season-opening Florida road trip. The Hawks are now 11th on the penalty kill.
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COVID-19 Protocol List
With Adam Boqvist back on the active roster, that leaves Lucas Wallmark and Ryan Carpenter remaining on the NHL COVID-19 Protocol List. No status reports on either Wallmark or Carpenter.
Boqvist's return leads to the question of whether he should matriculate back into the starting lineup as soon as feasible or be reassigned to Rockford for further development instead.
If Boqvist starts again on the Hawks blueline, there are the subsequent questions of which defenseman sits or should the lineup go back to the unpopular 11F/7D format.
Boqvist on a 6D Blueline
Even though they still make rookie mistakes and have a growth curve to traverse, fellow youngsters Ian Mitchell and Nicolas Beaudin have been playing steady in the early going.
Would Mitchell or Beaudin sit in order for Boqvist to get back into games? If so, would Boqvist sub in exclusively for Mitchell or Beaudin? Or would there be a platoon with this trio?
Another scenario is starting to give a veteran like Calvin de Haan maintenance days here and there which would provide the chance to have Mitchell, Beaudin, and Boqvist all playing.
There could also be a veteran rotation to keep them fresh with games just about every other day. Would it benefit Duncan Keith, Connor Murphy, and Nikita Zadorov to also get games off?
In a 6D format, a possibility is maintaining the veterans as starters then do a platoon of Mitchell, Beaudin, and Boqvist at least during the first half of the season.
Then, in the latter part of the season, consider resting the veterans and play all three youngsters. Trade deadline deals of a veteran or two could also make that switch automatic.
Boqvist on a 7D Blueline
Although not a popular format, rolling with 7D wouldn't require any of the veterans or either Mitchell or Beaudin to sit. There are two concerns, though, with this format.
One concern is having 7D as a long-term lineup strategy. Doing it for a brief period of time is palatable. However, doing it for a significant portion of the season may not be ideal.
On the one hand, Mitchell, Beaudin, and Boqvist would get playing time even if reduced to 9-10 minutes each per game. Going with two of them means they each could see a rise to 15 minutes.
But on the other hand, does 7D get confusing to the players especially when enacting a defensive scheme that is still troublesome with just 6D? And does 7D hinder partner chemistry?
A second concern is how would the Hawks work in Lucas Carlsson who is another promising young blueliner. Then there's getting Madison Bowey or even Anton Lindholm into a game or two.
Boqvist in Rockford
When Boqvist was recalled to the Hawks last season, he was neither ready yet for the promotion nor the most qualified of the Rockford defenders. Carlsson was by far the best candidate.
Before getting sidelined on the COVID protocol list, Boqvist continued to struggle this season despite a few glimmers of brightness to his future on the Chicago backline.
In comparison, Mitchell, Beaudin, and Carlsson have been able to hold their own in the NHL. Growing pains exist for them, of course, but they have been swimming more than sinking.
Boqvist could stand to gain more confidence and development in his overall game by playing top minutes in the AHL whether for a defined stint or for the rest of the season.
Something to keep in mind is that if Boqvist does get sent down, he may not be the first one in line to be recalled if the Hawks need another rearguard. Enter Wyatt Kalynuk.
Kalynuk had an impressive AHL debut on Saturday with a goal and assist to go along with his superb skating, sublime mail-carrying ability, and consistent defensive awareness.
If he builds off of his first game and moves through the growth curve in short order, it wouldn't be a surprise by any means to see Kalynuk back with the Hawks and making his NHL debut.
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Crippled Core
Brent Seabrook
(The following quotes are courtesy of
Ben Pope’s recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times.)
"It happened like a day or two before [camp last month]," [general manager Stan] Bowman said. "We had some groups of guys skating leading into camp, getting ready before the season began, and that’s when it happened. It’s unfortunate because I know he had worked hard in the offseason to be ready.
"If you have a knee or a shoulder injury, like [winger Alex] Nylander’s [knee] injury, we know exactly how long it’s going to take for him to rehab and be ready," Bowman said. "This is just different. I don’t have an idea on when he’s going to be back with us."
With Brent Seabrook's status for the season being a looming concern, it opens Pandora's Box of what the Hawks do with him moving forward whether he eventually plays or never does again.
In the case of the former, does he go straight to the taxi squad or move to the active roster as likely bench depth playing once in a while rather than be his accustomed starting role.
Then in the case of the latter, the Hawks would place Seabrook on LTIR pending medical clearance to do so. There would be cap implications that may be favorable but could have nuances, too.
There is the idea thrown around that Seabrook should be a player/coach especially if he is out indefinitely and perhaps permanently. Would he be open to being an informal coach?
Assuming he does, Seabrook could help bridge the gap between fellow veterans like Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane with their contemporary and current assistant coach Sheldon Brookbank.
Brookbank may not have had an illustrious career but as that saying goes, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." Maybe this is the case for Brookbank despite his coaching inexperience.
It could be argued that Seabrook has a higher defensive acumen than Brookbank so would that translate into being a better coach? Then again, why not employ and learn from both of them?
Brian Campbell is another Blackhawks alumnus who patrolled the blueline and has been charged to work with the D prospects whether in Rockford or in other leagues like the NCAA and juniors.
Brookbank was a defensive defenseman while Campbell was an offensive defenseman. Seabrook was the best of both worlds. By that simple logic, learning from Seabrook seems like a plus.
Yet, it can't be assumed that Seabrook even wants to coach whether now or after he is officially retired. He could prefer to spend retirement with family or pursue other roles in hockey.
Jonathan Toews
The status of captain Jonathan Toews is still unknown. He was placed on LTIR at the start of the season. LTIR is defined as a span of 10-24 days. The 24th day lapsed on February 6.
Does Toews remain on LTIR? Is he eligible to be upgraded to IR? Or is there a possibility that he is ready to join the team in practices or at least off-ice workouts on his own?
It would be expected that news on his status should be publicly available this week and help answer these questions. Regardless, full details of his condition may remain undisclosed.
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Rockford Updates
Today's afternoon match with the Chicago Wolves (Blues is the first of two rescheduled games on the docket for the IceHogs.
The postponed games against the Cleveland Monsters from this past weekend have been rescheduled to February 22 and 23.
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See you on the boards!
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