Justin Lowe: Blackhawks All-Prospect Team – Updated On December 3rd I started a blog that I promised to update. The theme of said blog was looking at all of the Hawks prospects in the pipeline and making All-Start teams of sorts.

What I have laid out below are the best-of-the-best Blackhawks prospects that aren't on the official NHL roster.

Funny to see a prospect team with Rutta on it. Ha.

Good write up.

Who do you think is the next prospect to get a contract? Also, here is my Mailbag question, with Anthony Louis ever play in the NHL? I'm not optimistic.

Edit: I guess we should start calling you TC instead of JL. This isn't a thing where you'll have a new name every year is it?

Justin Lowe: Blackhawks All-Prospect Team – Updated
On December 3rd I started a blog that I promised to update. The theme of said blog was looking at all of the Hawks prospects in the pipeline and making All-Start teams of sorts.

What I have laid out below are the best-of-the-best Blackhawks prospects that aren't on the official NHL roster.
- Justin Lowe

Great write up, TC. Now I got to get use to that.

I'm excited for goalie Gravel. I wouldn't mind, years down the road, Delia and Gravel.

I'm glad Rutta is helping Rock, he wasn't doing much for us. That's awesome to hear Kane reaching out to Schmaltz, I know that trade hurt Kane. Especially after Q leaving. It was like the hits just kept on coming.

I'm ready to see Kurashev and Barratt, those 2 are the top of my watch list. Bowman said he wants to sign Kurashev.

..carrying over from last blog:

You're entitled to your opinion but so am I and although I readily admit Keith isn't a true #1 d-man anymore because both his defensive and offensive play have declined from a few years ago - he is still skates well and is a pretty good defender. He would be a solid upgrade as a top-4 defender on most Cup contending teams - including Toronto. Play him 5v5 and PK and he improves Toronto's chances to win the Cup.

I don't think Keith would command a 1st and a prospect because he's 35 with 4 years remaining but I don't think it's unreasonable to think he would net a good young player in return, especially given the cap situation Toronto will be facing this summer.
- EbonyRaptor

Even if you don't consider Keith a #1 anymore, he is most definitely a top pairing D-man on most teams, especially for those looking to solidify their back end. Sure, teams like the Sharks, Preds and a few other deep Defensive teams don't slot him in the top pair, but they aren't looking to trade for D. Teams like TOR, COL and others are specifically looking for D.

Regardless of age a top pairing D man is a top pairing d-man. Take a look at the salaries and ages. Suter, Byfuglien, Giordano, Burns, Boychuck are all 33 or older and have higher, some significantly, cap hits than Keith. Keith is one of the lower paid top pairing D in the league.

If you trade him you are getting a "sure thing" prospect and a low first / high second round pick, or a High first round pick and a "solid" prospect.

Change noted, great job TC!!!

..
Even if you don't consider Keith a #1 anymore, he is most definitely a top pairing D-man on most teams, especially for those looking to solidify their back end. Sure, teams like the Sharks, Preds and a few other deep Defensive teams don't slot him in the top pair, but they aren't looking to trade for D. Teams like TOR, COL and others are specifically looking for D.

Regardless of age a top pairing D man is a top pairing d-man. Take a look at the salaries and ages. Suter, Byfuglien, Giordano, Burns, Boychuck are all 33 or older and have higher, some significantly, cap hits than Keith. Keith is one of the lower paid top pairing D in the league.

If you trade him you are getting a "sure thing" prospect and a low first / high second round pick, or a High first round pick and a "solid" prospect.
- TheTrob

Again - opinions. I could be wrong. So could you. So could both of us.

With Nash retiring from hockey today, do you think that Crow is taking a long look at his career and future and may decide the same thing?
So long JL, welcome TC.

Based on Breadman's question about where Dahlstrom ranked last year on the Second City Hockey Top 25 Under 25 list, I updated the list to include where each player ranked last time.

25, Kayumov (15)
24, Hayden (11)
23, Hagel (NR)
22, Soderlund (20)
21, Hillman (18)

20, Carlsson (14)
19, Forsling (6)
18, Nordgren (24)
17, Krys (13)
16, Dahlstrom (23)


https://www.secondcityhoc...brandon-hagel-john-hayden

https://www.secondcityhoc...-chad-krys-lucas-carlsson

Continuing from the last blog, where taylor brought up the 13 million, and someone was asking what regular signings the Hawks would need to do with that $13 mil.

Correct me if I am wrong Taylor, but I believe he got that figure from a post of mine where I broke down the RFA's that need to be signed and came up with a figure for cap space the Hawks will have next season. But there are three things that you have to remember with that figure:

1) the $13 mil was after the signing of the RFA's, and the hawks would need to sign about 3-4 players after said signings/call ups to fill out their roster, IIRC

2) I was being very conservative with my estimates, could be as high as $15 mil depending on what they give the RFA's

3) it is assuming an $82 mil cap. It could end up higher, I think as much as 85, but I'm doubtful it goes up the max.

If Anisimov, Saad, Keith, or Seabrook are moved, there is more cap space if they replace them with players with lower cap hits. I think a Panarin type of player could very easily be signed this offseason depending on what other moves the Hawks make. And I agree with the poster that said this isn't a rebuild, so I believe the Hawks would be looking to sign said big free agent this offseason to help complete their roster and get back to competing for the cup.

And of course the biggest caveat is that I could have made some errors in my calculations, so please correct me if I am wrong anywhere.

Based on Breadman's question about where Dahlstrom ranked last year on the Second City Hockey Top 25 Under 25 list, I updated the list to include where each player ranked last time.

25, Kayumov (15)
24, Hayden (11)
23, Hagel (NR)
22, Soderlund (20)
21, Hillman (18)

20, Carlsson (14)
19, Forsling (6)
18, Nordgren (24)
17, Krys (13)
16, Dahlstrom (23)


https://www.secondcityhoc...brandon-hagel-john-hayden

https://www.secondcityhoc...-chad-krys-lucas-carlsson
- AEL_Fox

AEL, putting in the work! That's awesome, thank you! Forsling's rating change is blowing me away.

AEL, putting in the work! That's awesome, thank you! Forsling's rating change is blowing me away.
- I Am The Breadman

Thankfully I didn't have to do much digging. SCH had the last ranking already listed in their two recent articles! Still effort, just not as much.

I always wondered if guys had to use their real name when blogging for Hockey Buzz. So do they? Unless there is a specific circumstance such as yours JL/TC?

Anyway, love your blog posts. Always down to earth and even keeled, with a bit of optimism, just like me!

I definitely can't get enough Hawks talk! Ever since 2009 my hockey addiction has been growing and growing. Wish I had figured it out as a kid and actually played.

Thanks for the great blogs, and thank you to all of the other posters on here who I have learned a lot from over the past 6 or so years I have been reading here.

Continuing from the last blog, where taylor brought up the 13 million, and someone was asking what regular signings the Hawks would need to do with that $13 mil.

Correct me if I am wrong Taylor, but I believe he got that figure from a post of mine where I broke down the RFA's that need to be signed and came up with a figure for cap space the Hawks will have next season. But there are three things that you have to remember with that figure:

1) the $13 mil was after the signing of the RFA's, and the hawks would need to sign about 3-4 players after said signings/call ups to fill out their roster, IIRC

2) I was being very conservative with my estimates, could be as high as $15 mil depending on what they give the RFA's

3) it is assuming an $82 mil cap. It could end up higher, I think as much as 85, but I'm doubtful it goes up the max.

If Anisimov, Saad, Keith, or Seabrook are moved, there is more cap space if they replace them with players with lower cap hits. I think a Panarin type of player could very easily be signed this offseason depending on what other moves the Hawks make. And I agree with the poster that said this isn't a rebuild, so I believe the Hawks would be looking to sign said big free agent this offseason to help complete their roster and get back to competing for the cup.

And of course the biggest caveat is that I could have made some errors in my calculations, so please correct me if I am wrong anywhere.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

We need copyright buttons.

Again - opinions. I could be wrong. So could you. So could both of us.
- EbonyRaptor

Yup....as they say opinions are like A - holes, everyone has one.

Opinions can be wrong, or like us they can be correct

Thankfully I didn't have to do much digging. SCH had the last ranking already listed in their two recent articles! Still effort, just not as much.
- AEL_Fox

You're always modest.

Questions for the thing:

1. 36 games left. Over or under if set at 75 to finish year? They're at 40 now.

2. How good is Patrick Kane and can he extend his career like Martin St Louis?

3. Do you play with free agency or burn one more year? Or what are the circumstances where you spend this summer if there are any?

4. Duncan Keith looks abhorrent. Age or attitude?

Historically top 6 forwards and top 4 defensemen in the NHL did not spend much time in the AHL. There are exceptions, but we really need to count on the Non-Rockford cast of characters to be our future headliners.

Historically top 6 forwards and top 4 defensemen in the NHL did not spend much time in the AHL. There are exceptions, but we really need to count on the Non-Rockford cast of characters to be our future headliners.
- -Doh-

Yeah, besides Sikura, none of the other Hog forwards are likely not part of a long term solution. Emergency call ups, yes, but not part of a new core. That new core will come from the non-Rockford prospects.

And while Carlsson and Hillman have potential to make the Hawks within a few years, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, and Galvas are >>> than those 2 + Raddysh and Rutta.

If the Rockford prospects played against the non-Rockford prospects, who would win? The non-Rockford prospects are more talented and have more potential but the Hogs at least have played together, i.e. same coach, same structure, same systems.

Please stop listing Jordan Schroeder as prospect. lol. He is a never was.

Historically top 6 forwards and top 4 defensemen in the NHL did not spend much time in the AHL. There are exceptions, but we really need to count on the Non-Rockford cast of characters to be our future headliners.
- -Doh-

Patrick Sharp 3 seasons but he only did 2 years of college.

Keith 2 seasons of AHL after two seasons of college.

Seabs straight to NHL pretty much.

I think the super good tier one guys generally speaking are so good they start in the NHL.

Some second tier but important players like Sharp may be later bloomers.

Thank you for not mentioning the Russian training camp one year wonder..

I think most of you know this, but for those who don’t, my name isn’t actually Justin Lowe. It’s....

So that's how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan felt when they learned Padme was Queen Amidala!

Funny to see a prospect team with Rutta on it. Ha.

Good write up.

Who do you think is the next prospect to get a contract? Also, here is my Mailbag question, with Anthony Louis ever play in the NHL? I'm not optimistic.

Edit: I guess we should start calling you TC instead of JL. This isn't a thing where you'll have a new name every year is it?
- breadbag

ha. I know. He's in Rockford and I wasn't going to put him on there but he has been good.


I've told the guys to add your Louis question to the podcast.

ha. No. I'm TC for life.

Please stop listing Jordan Schroeder as prospect. lol. He is a never was.
- Elbows15

Ha. I know. There's not much in Rockford right now. Need Matthew Highmore to get healthy to take his spot.

Funny some think AA is injury prone. He' missed 5 games his first year, 18 games (broken leg I believe) in year 2, and 10 games last year. Besides the broken leg, he hasn't missed much for a hockey player.