TVR, Boqvist, Jokiharju, Gustav Forsling, Gus, Leddy, Rutta, Beaudin, Kempny, Mitchell
- -Doh-

Except you have in the pipeline (under contract) now:

Korchinski, Vlasic, del Maestro, Allan, Kaiser, Roos. That is not including Phillips, Regula, Galvas. All except for Roos are younger.

Ben Pope is basically laying the groundwork for Mitchell not being a Blackhawk:

Defenseman Ian Mitchell might be running out of time to prove himself to the Blackhawks.

Mitchell was reinserted into the Hawks’ lineup for a 5-0 loss Monday to the Avalanche because coach Luke Richardson wants to ease rookie Wyatt Kaiser — who played over Mitchell on Saturday — into the NHL slowly.

But with Kaiser settling in and fellow defenseman Andreas Englund set to return soon from injury, Mitchell’s opportunities might be scarce during the final weeks of the season. And in even worse news, he struggled mightily during his critical opportunity Monday.


Kurtis MacDermid banked in the Avalanche’s first goal off Mitchell’s shin, Denis Malgin and Valeri Nichushkin exploited Mitchell on a give-and-go goal to double the lead in the second period and Malgin sliced in front of a flat-footed Mitchell to knock in the Avalanche’s fifth goal late.

“He had a tough battle,” Richardson said. “It’s always tough coming in and out of the lineup, but that’s just pro hockey. You have to be ready when you get your chance. He was a little tentative and stepped back on a couple goals where he’s close to his man. He’s just got to step into that man and play the body.”

Mitchell entered the game with an ugly 35.9% scoring-chance ratio at five-on-five in 29 games this season, second-worst on the team. He finished the day no better off, with the Avalanche generating an 11-4 advantage during his shifts.

The Hawks have a decision to make regarding Mitchell, 24, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. He isn’t making a convincing case at the moment for another contract, although he is still relatively young.
- LAHawk

I think Mitchell's days are numbered as a Blackhawk. KD seems to like bigger D men that have more compete and he doesn't really fit that profile. I think Galvas is in the same boat.

Except you have in the pipeline (under contract) now:

Korchinski, Vlasic, del Maestro, Allan, Kaiser, Roos. That is not including Phillips, Regula, Galvas. All except for Roos are younger.
- LAHawk

Expiring contracts include Galvas, Regula, and Mitchell. Also expiring are Caleb, Tinordi, and Englund. How many get extended?

Expiring contracts include Galvas, Regula, and Mitchell. Also expiring are Caleb, Tinordi, and Englund. How many get extended?
- 333inthe3rd

Tinordi, C. Jones and Englund.

Who know how much C. Jones will get, but the other 2 could be easily buried if Vlasic, and Kaiser both make it next year. Actually since the Hawks don't have a cap problem, you could bury C. Jones also if need be.

TVR, Boqvist, Jokiharju, Gustav Forsling, Gus, Leddy, Rutta, Beaudin, Kempny, Mitchell
- -Doh-

Alex, the question is, "Who are defensemen that went on to have NHL careers somewhere other than Chicago"?

Except you have in the pipeline (under contract) now:

Korchinski, Vlasic, del Maestro, Allan, Kaiser, Roos. That is not including Phillips, Regula, Galvas. All except for Roos are younger.
- LAHawk

I'm not for or against Mitchell. That said, he only has around 70 NHL games played. Caleb appears to be finally turning the corner, he's around 200 NHL games. The difference is the equivalent of 2 full NHL seasons.

Just looked it up, Caleb 205 NHL games, Mitchell 77 NHL games.

Alex, the question is, "Who are defensemen that went on to have NHL careers somewhere other than Chicago"?
- scottak

In all honesty, besides the Mitchell hype when the Hawks had almost zero prospects, has Mitchell's play when he has gotten a chance warrant an NHL spot? Kaiser in his one game showed more poise and upside than Mitchell has the last 2 seasons.

I'm not for or against Mitchell. That said, he only has around 70 NHL games played. Caleb appears to be finally turning the corner, he's around 200 NHL games. The difference is the equivalent of 2 full NHL seasons.
- scottak

Richardson's quote said it the best

“It’s always tough coming in and out of the lineup, but that’s just pro hockey. You have to be ready when you get your chance. He was a little tentative and stepped back on a couple goals where he’s close to his man. He’s just got to step into that man and play the body.”

That is as much criticism/frustration I have heard out of Richardson this year. Meaning, we tell him what he needs to work on but we don't see him improve/implement when he plays the games.

And you have to earn your ice time, just not have it given to you.

Richardson's quote said it the best

“It’s always tough coming in and out of the lineup, but that’s just pro hockey. You have to be ready when you get your chance. He was a little tentative and stepped back on a couple goals where he’s close to his man. He’s just got to step into that man and play the body.”

That is as much criticism/frustration I have heard out of Richardson this year. Meaning, we tell him what he needs to work on but we don't see him improve/implement when he plays the games.

And you have to earn your ice time, just not have it given to you.
- LAHawk

If they think the guys they have in the pipeline will be better, plus the guys they draft this year, they probably need to send him away. But 70 games is too soon to give up on him. I'd rather see him playing every day than Zaitzev.

Mitchell turned 24 at the beginning of the year. By when do they usually "know" if a defenseman is going to make it in the NHL? And what does management see in the pipeline that would make them more or less patient with Mitchell? We throw around a lot of the same names on here, but what are the expectations on them versus Mitchell? And obviously this conversation could change significantly after the draft.
- 333inthe3rd

The "same names" and draft have nothing to do with how good Mitchell is which by now appears to be figured out.

Here's part of an Athletic article about the Hawks is pursuit of collegian free agent Hunter McKown of Colorado College.

The Blackhawks can promise college and European free agents something that not all NHL teams can right now.

That’s opportunity.

It’s not the end all for such free agents, but it’s usually a major piece of what they’re looking for. Teams are limited to what they can offer in entry-level contracts, so playing time, especially at the NHL level, is valuable. The windows for these types of players to prove themselves aren’t always wide, so they’re searching for organizations that are in need of their skill set and can provide a path to the NHL sooner than later.

The Blackhawks had success with this strategy in years past, especially with European free agents. Players like Artemi Panarin, Dominik Kubalik and Pius Suter were sold on that opportunity and turned it into future NHL contracts. It certainly appears to have worked out too for Cole Guttman, who signed as a college free agent after last season and broke into the NHL this season.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has a number of forward prospects coming down the pipeline and will have even more after the upcoming drafts, so he isn’t going to pursue too many of these kinds of free agents. But he will pursue some, as long as they make sense, such as Guttman.

Which brings us to Colorado College junior forward Hunter McKown. With his collegiate season ending on Saturday, he’s now entertaining NHL offers, and the Blackhawks are expected to be in the mix for him.

McKown doesn’t fit the prototype of forward Davidson has been after mostly so far. McKown doesn’t have superb speed or skating ability. But what he does possess — an elite shot and offensive skill — the Blackhawks don’t have a whole lot of among their forward prospects.

As The Athletic’s Corey Pronman recently wrote of McKown, “The skill and scoring touch will be worth a team taking a gamble on.” And that perfectly describes the Blackhawks’ situation. With where they are in their rebuild, they can take a chance on a player like McKown and even give him NHL games this season by burning the first year of his contract. At worst, McKown is with the Rockford IceHogs for the next few seasons. At best, he’s probably a middle-six forward who plays a key power-play role.

Let’s dive further into what McKown brings to the table.

McKown’s shooting ability is what makes him so desirable. He delivers a massive right-handed shot from his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame. He’s tied for seventh in college hockey with 21 goals. He’s especially dangerous on the power play and leads the country with 14 power-play goals. Colorado College wasn’t much of an offensive team the past two seasons, but McKown still found ways to score and led the Tigers in goals the last two seasons.

Whether the rest of McKown’s game is transferable to pro hockey is where the question marks come in. He has the size and isn’t a terrible skater. His hockey sense is noticeable and can make plays. It’s one of those things where you probably don’t know for sure until he gets that chance. Guttman had some knocks on him, and he looks like he’s going to prove his skeptics wrong. McKown could be the same.

McKown is expected to have other NHL suitors as well. It’s been known for some time he’d be turning pro after his season. It wouldn’t be surprising if his decision came quickly, too. College free agents who have a chance to play NHL games at the end of the season often try to make that happen.
- boilermaker100

What irked me about this scouting article by Powers, is he uses the Hawks as his lead to a player they have little interest in. This may are a guy they think nk can be a transition player, but maybe they have a different opinion?

It just seems wonky.

In all honesty, besides the Mitchell hype when the Hawks had almost zero prospects, has Mitchell's play when he has gotten a chance warrant an NHL spot? Kaiser in his one game showed more poise and upside than Mitchell has the last 2 seasons.
- LAHawk

Yeah, Mitchell has had some good moments but they come with bad ones, to.

Iam more interested in how almost the entire board gets an opinion of various players every year, who are simply too slow, to poor in ability and or judgement and that becomes the standard opinion UNTIL the good parts show (as if the player(s) SUDDENLY IMPROVED.

I might give the Dylan Strome improvement in Washington some substance, but he is still the player who played in Chicago that was hated, unworthy, slow, etc.

Now Caleb is better?

I think they found a coach who can use the guys he has well, and has them playing to their strength with fun in competitive in mind too.

Let's let go with the notion that any of us can garnish a proper opinion of an individual in a team game where the team is bare bones building...

Expiring contracts include Galvas, Regula, and Mitchell. Also expiring are Caleb, Tinordi, and Englund. How many get extended?
- 333inthe3rd

three

I think you can probably officially eliminate us from the last overall / first best chance of 25% unless Columbus and Mike Hutchinson become Goliath.

I think the Blackhawk schedule probably sees the first from last.

I just pulled up my final seven round 2023 NHL mock and compared it with the Athletic’s article about divergent opinions of the draftable players, and I stand in the middle with almost all the forwards, but I have Jayden Perron at #62 later then they do, and the Russian Daniil But as a later pick, as I did with many Russians but the stat one, Michkov deserves his loft rank.

It will be a tough decision if the select second...

Yeah, Mitchell has had some good moments but they come with bad ones, to.

Iam more interested in how almost the entire board gets an opinion of various players every year, who are simply too slow, to poor in ability and or judgement and that becomes the standard opinion UNTIL the good parts show (as if the player(s) SUDDENLY IMPROVED.

I might give the Dylan Strome improvement in Washington some substance, but he is still the player who played in Chicago that was hated, unworthy, slow, etc.

Now Caleb is better?

I think they found a coach who can use the guys he has well, and has them playing to their strength with fun in competitive in mind too.

Let's let go with the notion that any of us can garnish a proper opinion of an individual in a team game where the team is bare bones building...
- wiz1901

I'm all for giving guys a chance, nothing wrong with them signing Ian and having him play in Rockford.

I do wonder if they are going to do the same to Kaiser as they did Vlasic, let him play partially at the end of the year in the NHL then get a full year of seasoning in the Rock?

While Kaiser played decent in his first game, let’s not forget that Mitchell actually played decent as well when he first came up. He was more effective in 20/21 than he has been this year. Obviously the Hawks coaching staff sees Mitchell a heck of a lot more than I do, so they are more aware of his deficiencies than I am, but I’d like to see them give him an opportunity to play multiple games in a row, then sit him down for a couple, what’s there to lose? Also, not sure what percentage of NHL defensemen play their offside and are actually effective, and I don’t think that’s helping him either. Just my $0.02. Please note that their defensive prospects are not as deep on the right side at all, so I could see Mitchell being extended.

Maybe we should give Kaiser at least one more game before coming to a conclusion, eh?

I mean, the BOD (in a strange non-BOD POV) was pretty sure Mitchell was gonna be a real player, too.

Edit - looks like I copied off Lou! Sorry, mi amigo.

I think you can probably officially eliminate us from the last overall / first best chance of 25% unless Columbus and Mike Hutchinson become Goliath.

I think the Blackhawk schedule probably sees the first from last.

I just pulled up my final seven round 2023 NHL mock and compared it with the Athletic’s article about divergent opinions of the draftable players, and I stand in the middle with almost all the forwards, but I have Jayden Perron at #62 later then they do, and the Russian Daniil But as a later pick, as I did with many Russians but the stat one, Michkov deserves his loft rank.

It will be a tough decision if the select second...
- wiz1901

I think Michkov "falls" to at least #3 but probably even to #4 and that's where the tough decision comes for a franchise. If it's a tanking franchise is the risk worth taking? If it's a franchise that isn't as barren in the pipeline, one that jumps from 10thish to #4 in the lottery, they can probably absorb the risk and take Michkov at #3 or #4.

I could easily see it go Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson as the first 3 picks and then the decision might get really tough due to the risk of taking Michkov.

As far as the Hawks my way too early guess is their order is Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson then the tough decision comes if they take Michkov at 4 or go the safer route with a lesser talent they are sure will play for them.

Maybe we should give Kaiser at least one more game before coming to a conclusion, eh?



- mohel

As much as I liked everything I saw from Kaiser in his only NHL game I agree with you. The sample size is tiny.

But, it wasn't just one or two things that stood out in that game. Kid showed quite a bit from his skating, reads, board play, slot coverage/engagement, decisive play, poise, angles/leverage, hands. ...... Even so the sample is miniscule but IMO fair to be really excited.

While Kaiser played decent in his first game, let’s not forget that Mitchell actually played decent as well when he first came up. He was more effective in 20/21 than he has been this year. Obviously the Hawks coaching staff sees Mitchell a heck of a lot more than I do, so they are more aware of his deficiencies than I am, but I’d like to see them give him an opportunity to play multiple games in a row, then sit him down for a couple, what’s there to lose? Also, not sure what percentage of NHL defensemen play their offside and are actually effective, and I don’t think that’s helping him either. Just my $0.02. Please note that their defensive prospects are not as deep on the right side at all, so I could see Mitchell being extended.
- Angotti

I mentioned above during the game the Hawks were not doing Mitchell any favors by 1) pairing him with Zaitsev and 2) Playing him on his offside. When he gets into another game, it will be interested to see how he is deployed. But I also believe IMO the coaching staff has made their decision on Mitchell as to what he is. And Richardson and Dean have seen and coached enough NHL defenseman that they know what they are looking for in a defenseman.

I do wonder if they are going to do the same to Kaiser as they did Vlasic, let him play partially at the end of the year in the NHL then get a full year of seasoning in the Rock?
- BetweenTheDots

From what we've seen from KD and crew if I had to bet a dollar today I'd say yes, they start Kaiser off at RKF next yr. They've shown excellent patience and seem to err on the side of caution with prospects.

I like it, especially with Dmen. ...... Still think the Dman favorites to start with the Hawks next yr are Vlasic, Phillips and probably Roos but depending on Korchinski's camp he may make the big roster and get the Shane Wright treatment/path.

Math is gonna come into play with D prospects it seems starting next yr......... Edit: And I think the math and sheer number of D prospects will probably play into any decisions concerning Mitchell.

I think Michkov "falls" to at least #3 but probably even to #4 and that's where the tough decision comes for a franchise. If it's a tanking franchise is the risk worth taking? If it's a franchise that isn't as barren in the pipeline, one that jumps from 10thish to #4 in the lottery, they can probably absorb the risk and take Michkov at #3 or #4.

I could easily see it go Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson as the first 3 picks and then the decision might get really tough due to the risk of taking Michkov.

As far as the Hawks my way too early guess is their order is Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson then the tough decision comes if they take Michkov at 4 or go the safer route with a lesser talent they are sure will play for them.
- Mr Ricochet

What do you think if the Hawks are choosing fourth? Take Michkov with all of the upside and downside he brings, or take the next in the draft order? Or trade that pick?

What do you think if the Hawks are choosing fourth? Take Michkov with all of the upside and downside he brings, or take the next in the draft order? Or trade that pick?
- paulr

Paul, right now I'm paralyzed as to what to do if Michkov is on the board for the Hawks at 4-5-6, or anywhere really outside of the top 3 picks ...... A franchise like the Hawks or SJ just can not miss in this draft.

What I keep looking for is a report that someone spoke to the Michkov camp for an idea what he and his camp are thinking. I'd assume some reporter will try and dig up some scoop.

Today I just can't answer the question what I'd like the Hawks to do if Michkov is available to the Hawks at #4 or later.