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Training Camp: Day 8

January 12, 2021, 4:17 AM ET [116 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Updates and commentary on Blackhawks training camp cuts, waiver wire, potential active roster, taxi squad candidates, and preliminary IceHogs lineup.

Also, a few observations and reflections from the eighth day of training camp which still included prospects being sent to Rockford and juniors.

Note: Observations and reflections based on video clips shared on social media by Scott Powers of the Athletic and Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago.

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In & Out

Nikita Zadorov returned to the ice after being out since Wednesday with a minor groin injury that isn't expected to be a serious ailment.

Evan Barratt made his training camp debut joining teammates on the ice for drills. He is amongst the cuts of prospects who will play for the Hogs.

Brent Seabrook is still not fit to play and there is no stated reason yet why. The likelihood of him starting the season on the active roster seems slim.

Carl Soderberg won't be available through at least the 4-game road trip kicking off the season, at least according to head coach Jeremy Colliton.

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Rockford Bound

There is little surprise with the group of prospects being sent to Rockford after the Hawks trimmed the training camp roster as opening night draws closer.

At least for now until Rockford hosts its own training camp, Michal Teply is likely heading to the minors to start his pro career as a top 6 scoring winger.

There may still be the option, though, for Teply to return for his second year in juniors with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL. But which is better for his development?

The WHL hasn't set a start date yet for the season but is committing to a 24-game season. The AHL starts on February 5 for 32 games. Can 8 games make a difference?

In addition to the ten prospects cut and bound for Rockford, prospects Michael Krutil and Cale Morris were also released from camp for different reasons.

Krutil is not under contract so he will start his development in juniors with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL joining fellow 2020 Czech draftee Pavel Novak (Wild).

Morris is on an AHL contract and will be the Hogs backup goalie unless he falters and other minor league tender and free agent signee Tom Aubrun takes his spot.

Aubrun is presently with the Hawks ECHL affiliate Indy Fuel. So far this season he has a 2-1-0 record, 3.92 GAA, and .870 save percentage in 3 starts.

Zack Smith cleared waivers at the start of camp but no formal announcement has been made about whether he has accepted reassignment to Rockford.

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In the Mix

Not counting the players who were sent through waivers (see next section below), there are a handful of players still in the mix to snag a few open spots:

* Philipp Kurashev
* Brandon Pirri
* Nicolas Beaudin
* Lucas Carlsson
* Wyatt Kalynuk
* Collin Delia
* Kevin Lankinen

There are 2-3 forward spots and 1-2 blueline spots available assuming the Hawks carry 14 forwards and 7 defensemen plus a pair of goalies for 23 total players.

The other combination, of course, would be 13 forwards and 8 defensemen as well as the standard goalie duo with the 3rd string netminder on the taxi squad.

If there will be 14 forwards, Kurashev and Pirri are virtual locks to make the team even with Soderberg returning. This may be the ideal scenario.

However, if the Hawks opt for 13 forwards, the best option would be to keep Kurashev on the active roster and send Pirri to the taxi squad.

There's risk of losing Pirri on waivers while Kurashev is waiver exempt. However, Kurashev as a prospect needs to play games. Pirri is older so just practicing until needed may be fine.

As for D-men, the competition is stiff with less spots up for grabs. Carlsson has relative seniority and paid his dues in the AHL the prior two seasons.

Yet, Beaudin and Kalynuk have been rather impressive in camp with excellent skating, steady defense, offensive activation, and composure in all zones.

Then there is the goalie battle. Malcolm Subban is arguably a given to be on the Hawks roster as the starter or backup with either Delia or Lankinen as his partner.

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On Waivers

The following players were waived yesterday:

* John Quenneville
* Anton Lindholm
* Nick Seeler
* Matt Tomkins

If they pass through without getting claimed, they are likely being placed on the taxi squad. It is possible one, some, or all go to the AHL but to what end?

Quenneville has had the most call ups of the current crop of prospects including playing in the postseason bubble in Edmonton back in August.

As a player who really has no long-term future with the Hawks, Lindholm may be serviceable as a temporary injury or illness replacement for the big club.

Seeler could be buried in the AHL but he is not worth sacrificing a spot for a prospect needing ice time. Also, Seeler may not be a positive veteran influence.

While Tomkins is the 4th string goalie in the organization, it is better off having the 3rd string -- whether Delia or Lankinen -- play in actual games as the Hogs starter.

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Lines & Pairs

This lineup could realistically be the active roster when rosters are due to the league office by 5:00pm EST today. LTIR changes can be made by Wednesday.

The missing piece is the 23rd player who is likely to be Kurashev until Soderberg arrives in Chicago, then Pirri could be moved to the taxi squad.

Not so fast, though, as Pirri has been one of the more surprising players in camp. He is clearly a shooter now with an ability to get open and unleash a wicked one timer.

Pirri has also retained his playmaking ability that he broke into the pros with as an assist machine leading him to be the all-time point producer in Hogs history.

Additionally, the order in which the lines are listed could get rearranged with the Pius Suter line being the 2nd and the Lucas Wallmark line being the 3rd.

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2nd Power Play Unit

There are a few things to note about the Hawks 2nd power play unit, specifically Pirri's shooting prowess, Suter's versatility, and Dominik Kubalik's role.

As mentioned above, Pirri has evolved into a goal scorer giving the Hawks two trigger men on PP2 with him and Kubalik being the primary shooting options.

It would behoove the coaching staff to capitalize on Kubalik's lethal shot that he can snipe from all over the zone so having him rove is ideal rather than having him park in the slot.

In the clip showing PP2 at work, what stands out is Suter's balance of winning battles behind the net then popping into the slot for chances to clean up the garbage.

One key to a successful power play is motion by the players to keep the other team on its heels and open up passing and shooting lanes for optimal scoring chances.

Duncan Keith knows how to walk the line, Wallmark wins board battles, Pirri finds seams to shoot from, and both Kubalik and Suter thrive at roving.

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Mirror the Opponent, Redux


This set of clips revisits a focal point from a few blogs ago with defensemen mirroring the motion, speed, and direction of the puck carrier to neutralize offensive drives.

Kalynuk executes mirroring perfectly against both Barratt and Kurashev by pacing with each of them at each stride then making a well-timed poke check to kill the play.

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Hogs Lineup

With the camp cuts, the Hogs lineup is starting to take form. Here is a preliminary look at what the starting lineup could look like when the AHL begins next month.

Forwards

Hagel - Entwistle - Altybarmakian
Teply - B Morrison - C Morrison
Soderlund - Johnson - Barratt
Chalupa - Hakkarainen - Yetman
Smith

Spare forwards (on AHL contracts)
LW: Garrett Mitchell, Mitch Fossier, Riley McKay
C: Dylan McLaughlin, Mathew Thompson
RW: D.J. Busdeker, Gabriel Gagne, Chris Wilkie

This assumes Kurashev is with the parent club but he becomes the 1C if he is amongst the last cuts. His chances of making the Hawks is pretty high at this point.

Defensemen

Krys - Franson
Kalynuk - Regula
Osipov - Ryczek

If Beaudin or Carlsson doesn't make the cut for the Hawks, then everyone at LD get bumped down a notch to accommodate and bolster the blueline depth.

Goalies

Delia or Lankinen
Morris

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See you on the boards!

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