Tyler Cameron: Youth and Innovation – Part 2
First off, congratulations to Marian Hossa!

Now, moving on to Theo's next edition of Youth and Innovation.

This blog is the second half of the conversation as we take a look at the players and on-ice play.

First

de Haan, Maatta, and Murphy all become UFAs at the same time in 2022. While they're still in their mid/late 30's, they're also not spring chickens either.

I assume you mean “mid/late 20s” - this coming from a 75 year old, but hard to understand skaters at their ages being too old even with a major youth movement going on. However good we think they are or aren’t, each certainly should have 5 more years of production left at their current productive levels.

To take a negative view, I don’t think any of the sports are going to complete whatever season they’re all trying to start in August - there will be infections at most if not all of the camps, and the leagues will wind up shutting down again “out of an abundance of caution” (and bad publicity) - maybe not to restart until an effective vaccine is widely available. What affect would an “offseason” of 9 months to a year have on the rookies and vets?

Great job Theo and hopefully Ty is enjoying some well deserved away time. Cheers!

Have enjoyed these last two blogs a lot and am interested to see how Stan continues to re-shape the roster.

As you allude to, I would think most of that would come from within their own system or perhaps through a trade or two.

I like the direction and think there is cause for some optimism in the n at future. May not result in a Cup but could see them competing in a couple years, maybe sooner depending on how some of these guys develop.

I’m not first, but I will second the analysis you [Theo] provided at the end of the last blog. I was particularly interested in your evaluation of Drysdale.

Now for some banter about dmen whom do not want to be stuck in quicksand and play their way out of town

The team really should try their darnedest to retain Murphy for two seasons. Beside Carlsson in Murphy you have a physical checker on defense as they complement the offensive style puck movers already aboard or soon arriving for good.

I noticed that Koekkoek was skating early in the return to practice/workouts. Special K needs to be special if he wants to stick around in Chicago - in the NHL as it will likely be sometime next season or once expansion happens

A youthful veteran already is Koekkoek and it is the challenge from many kids plus his professional experience which he must use as a springboard. He probably could become better; better however may be just enough to be depth for another team.

With Maata he is now more a placeholder or an option should one of the kids be deemed to benefit from a tad more AHL seasoning. Maata does not endear himself to fans with his slow skating but actually he is not a bad dman whom fills a third pair as a descent player and even when pressed can survive in a second pair.

Both Maata and Koekkoek help qualify as members of dman available for expansion team selection. Both should realize that they cannot slide with poor play since this will necessitate a youngster getting a shot in their stead.

I seriously question whether Gilbert could become anything above a third pair and some muscle role as needed. I know that Theo will keep us informed of Gilbert’s progress.

There should be no surprise when both Beaudin and Kyrs continue to develop. I really believe that Tuuola could catch on somewhere after another solid AHL season. He is in a numbers game with Chicago

And Rogula is an intriguing talent but MuST not be rushed.

The sooner Seabrook can play the soonest a Koekkoek or Maata might depart (but not both/I would hypothesize due to the Seattle expansion fodder).

We can think of our defense going forward with youth. In defense of the.... well....the defensemen Is certainly a theme as kids may have their moments. But three pairs of strong puck movers is what I suggest Bowman has planned or strategized for as a backbone to augment the team’s success.

yOU GUYS SHOULD PUT DEBRINCAT BACK ON THE RIGHT WING AND NOT THE LEFT.

With a projected stagnant cap it's going to be interesting to see how they go about this transition to youth. I think every team in the league is going to try this to some degree.

I don't see any blockbuster or wholesale trades to move out players. I don't think they would get enough value from those and it just may not be possible with movement clauses and some of those salaries.

I see more of a methodical series of minor or innocuous moves that we see as insignificant but, in the long run accomplish the goal.

Should be fun whether it's Stanley calling the shots or someone else.

Thanks Theo - Do you believe Rockford has the correct coaches in place to build a solid organization?

I don’t think having Subban as our back up is a good idea. At this point in Crawford’s career it would be overly optimistic to consider him a 60+ game starter. At best the hawks are a bubble team so having a marginal backup like Subban playing 25-30 games is... less then ideal.

de Haan, Maatta, and Murphy all become UFAs at the same time in 2022. While they're still in their mid/late 30's, they're also not spring chickens either.

I assume you mean “mid/late 20s” - this coming from a 75 year old, but hard to understand skaters at their ages being too old even with a major youth movement going on. However good we think they are or aren’t, each certainly should have 5 more years of production left at their current productive levels.

To take a negative view, I don’t think any of the sports are going to complete whatever season they’re all trying to start in August - there will be infections at most if not all of the camps, and the leagues will wind up shutting down again “out of an abundance of caution” (and bad publicity) - maybe not to restart until an effective vaccine is widely available. What affect would an “offseason” of 9 months to a year have on the rookies and vets?
- StLBravesFan

Thanks for catching that typo! Didn't mean to instantly age de Haan, Maatta, and Murphy another 10 years.

I believe they all have considerable tread left on their tires, particularly Murphy who seems to be hitting his prime.

Not sure if Maatta will have a prime period as he may have peaked early but may just have a steady, unheralded career.

de Haan is the most concerning with his shoulder injuries. When healthy, though, he's a pretty good defensive defenseman.

Great job Theo and hopefully Ty is enjoying some well deserved away time. Cheers!

Have enjoyed these last two blogs a lot and am interested to see how Stan continues to re-shape the roster.

As you allude to, I would think most of that would come from within their own system or perhaps through a trade or two.

I like the direction and think there is cause for some optimism in the n at future. May not result in a Cup but could see them competing in a couple years, maybe sooner depending on how some of these guys develop.
- HawkintheD

Thanks, D!

What you shared sounds on point, i.e. grow from within with trades that hopefully make sense.

Not blockbusters but perhaps either "tinkering around the edges" trades or 1-for-1 hockey trades of the Nylander-Jokiharju variety.

With a projected stagnant cap it's going to be interesting to see how they go about this transition to youth. I think every team in the league is going to try this to some degree.

I don't see any blockbuster or wholesale trades to move out players. I don't think they would get enough value from those and it just may not be possible with movement clauses and some of those salaries.

I see more of a methodical series of minor or innocuous moves that we see as insignificant but, in the long run accomplish the goal.

Should be fun whether it's Stanley calling the shots or someone else.
- Rota's Rooter

You hit the nail on the head for a few significant reasons for why teams may gravitate toward building internally, i.e. stagnant cap (or maybe even a lower one) and a market where player valuation is going to be off kilter one way or another.

I didn't touch upon these reasons in the blog or else the already long entry would have been much longer. Thank you for raising them!

Thanks Theo - Do you believe Rockford has the correct coaches in place to build a solid organization?
- powerenforcer

You're welcome, PE!

For now, yes. Colliton would have been ideal but King is doing a good job.

I wasn't too impressed by King at first and was hoping he would just be an interim head coach but he's grown on me as he does develop the little things pretty well.

In partticular, King stresses how to be a pro on and off the ice.

Compared to a LOT of teams, the Hawks are in a very good position. Teams with the stagnant cap who already have cap troubles (Tampa Bay, Vegas, Florida, Toronto Pittsburgh, Arizona, and even St. Louis is going to have to dump salary if they want to keep Pieterangelo) are going to have to make some one sided trades (for marginal players or draft picks), to fit themselves under the cap.

I don’t think having Subban as our back up is a good idea. At this point in Crawford’s career it would be overly optimistic to consider him a 60+ game starter. At best the hawks are a bubble team so having a marginal backup like Subban playing 25-30 games is... less then ideal.
- BMoreHawks

Perhaps. There could be better options on the market.

As others have shared before, there was an article by Second City Hockey before the shut down that also shared advanced stats on Subban thriving when he plays more.

That isn't an argument to annoint him starter but having him play 30 games may actually work in his favor and aid his development.

You're welcome, PE! For now, yes. Colliton would have been ideal but King is doing a good job.

I wasn't too impressed by King at first and was hoping he would just be an interim head coach but he's grown on me as he does develop the little things pretty well.

In partticular, King stresses how to be a pro on and off the ice.
- AEL_Fox

I loved the comment "we need to coach the junior out of them". I agree that King is a good option for the farm team. I can remember where I read it, but he recently said that his goal is primarily player development and secondarily winning.

I think you are seeing some of the positive results of King's work when you see the young guys come up and they are not completely lost defensively. Hagel, Highmore, Sikura, Beaudin, Boqvist, and Gilbert have all shown to be at least competent defensively. There will always be mistakes, but there always seems to be a lot of effort and defensive consciousness.

Compared to a LOT of teams, the Hawks are in a very good position. Teams with the stagnant cap who already have cap troubles (Tampa Bay, Vegas, Florida, Toronto Pittsburgh, Arizona, and even St. Louis is going to have to dump salary if they want to keep Pieterangelo) are going to have to make some one sided trades (for marginal players or draft picks), to fit themselves under the cap.
- LAHawk

The problem for them is going to be that there are less and less teams that not only have the space to take on contracts, but the money as well. Ottawa operates on a budget because they have to not because they want to don't they?

It will be very interesting to see what the new contracts look like for the higher priced players. Shorter term, lower dollar amount, etc.

The Athletic has a good article about the Blackhawks use use of Native American imagery.

While the Hawks logo and name isn’t on the same level as Washington (NFL) and Cleveland (MLB) it’s still subject to the same debate. As much as some people may not like it, I would expect the Hawks to at least change their logo. My guess is that the Hawks keep their name and a version of their secondary logo. It will certainly be interesting to see how this unfolds.

Another good article Theo. (Side note to Tyler, Hurry back from cottage before you lose the job. LOL)

Couple of comments....
Regarding Maatta, deHaan and Murphy, there's a good chance you'll lose one of them in the expansion draft after the 20/21 season, which would open up a spot for a Beaudin or Mitchell.

Regarding F prospects, hopefully Chalupa, the recent Euro signing, will be in the mix in a year or two. And if the Hawks retain the 9th spot in the draft, another good F could be added to the list.

The problem for them is going to be that there are less and less teams that not only have the space to take on contracts, but the money as well. Ottawa operates on a budget because they have to not because they want to don't they?

It will be very interesting to see what the new contracts look like for the higher priced players. Shorter term, lower dollar amount, etc.
- Chunk

Agree about future contracts, especially if the cap stats flat. Which brings up the question of Saad. Many people think it would be worthwhile to sign, but what for amount and term. In the pre Covid world, he would be worth 6.5 to 7.5M for 4 to 6 years? Now maybe 4M is the new 6.5M.

Compared to a LOT of teams, the Hawks are in a very good position. Teams with the stagnant cap who already have cap troubles (Tampa Bay, Vegas, Florida, Toronto Pittsburgh, Arizona, and even St. Louis is going to have to dump salary if they want to keep Pieterangelo) are going to have to make some one sided trades (for marginal players or draft picks), to fit themselves under the cap.
- LAHawk

You're right. There is going to be quite a few teams who's long-term plan is going to be fu-barred if the cap is reduced or stays flat.

Hawks are certainly in a better position now then they were a few years ago regarding the cap.

Whoever the GM is should get an attaboy.

Perhaps. There could be better options on the market.

As others have shared before, there was an article by Second City Hockey before the shut down that also shared advanced stats on Subban thriving when he plays more.

That isn't an argument to annoint him starter but having him play 30 games may actually work in his favor and aid his development.
- AEL_Fox

Subban is an interesting pick-up. The Hawks since Crawford has taken over as #1 has had great success with finding back-up goaltenders (Emery, Raanta, Darling). This is from MyNHLdraftsight scouting report on Subban in his draft year

The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K., Malcolm Subban went against the family mould of blueliners and became a goaltender. He may be smaller than most netminders in Canadian junior hockey but he uses his smaller stature to his advantage. Subban has really solid technique that includes quick feet and agile positioning. He squeezes tight in the butterfly and he uses his lower centre of gravity to pull the puck into his body. He has stellar reflexes which makes his glove hand very fast. Subban moves from post to post with fluidity and he watches the play closely. However, he does need to improve on watching the play while being screened as he tends to stand in his crease without trying to look around the player in front of him. Most goals that go in on him are ones that go high since he is a smaller goalie. He also needs to work some more on his rebound control as he gives out big rebounds on a consistent basis.

Sounds very much like a Crawford clone. Wonder how much he could improve just watching Crawford in games and practice habits, and what Waite can do with him.

Have only seen Lankinen in the Tourney that Finland won, so don't know about his upside. Unless Delia made a significant improvement on his technique, I do not think of him as an NHL goaltender. He reminds me of Mike Palmatter and his career sub .900 save percentage.

Nice write up Theo, trying to get all your thoughts out in a few blogs, haha. I do agree gots to go young hopefully Mitchell and Boqvist will become main stays as RD for years to come

yOU GUYS SHOULD PUT DEBRINCAT BACK ON THE RIGHT WING AND NOT THE LEFT.
- cu45161

He has been a primarily left wing since his first season with the Erie Otters...huh?

I loved the comment "we need to coach the junior out of them". I agree that King is a good option for the farm team. I can remember where I read it, but he recently said that his goal is primarily player development and secondarily winning.

I think you are seeing some of the positive results of King's work when you see the young guys come up and they are not completely lost defensively. Hagel, Highmore, Sikura, Beaudin, Boqvist, and Gilbert have all shown to be at least competent defensively. There will always be mistakes, but there always seems to be a lot of effort and defensive consciousness.
- Chunk

I recall reading that about King's coaching mentality as well, i.e. player development is priority #1, then winning. That's a lot easier to stomach at the minor league level.

A winning culture can still exist within a team even if the standings paint a different picture. The way King and Sikura (Tyler) lead as head coach and captain is key.

Strong support systems, positive reinforcement, and healthy development of pro athletes and human beings are just as important.

State of the art facilities, equipment, and technology can also be factors but may need to be relied upon less as the pandemic hurts revenue streams.