Theo Fox: Goldilocks Zone
A look at how certain factors may be impacting the development timelines for Blackhawks prospects and whether a select few (Reichel, Slaggert, Vlasic, Kaiser, Commesso) can make a quantum leap.

Astronomy terminology in a hockey blog...love it Theo! First time for everything.

Thank you, Theo.
Great read. It is so nice to learn of positive developments from the draft side of the ledger. With Seattle soon to add 20+ major league hockey players, there will be room for new talent league-wide. And I'm definitely ok with the 'Hawks getting the best of them!

Hey Theo! You mentioned Dach spent some time in RFD. Was he allowed to do a conditioning stint there after getting injured in the TC Prospects Tourney?

Can't recall, but he didn't get into any actual games there or did he?

Hey Theo! You mentioned Dach spent some time in RFD. Was he allowed to do a conditioning stint there after getting injured in the TC Prospects Tourney?

Can't recall, but he didn't get into any actual games there or did he?
- HawkintheD

3 games, 0+0=0, -1

Astronomy terminology in a hockey blog...love it Theo! First time for everything.
- HawkintheD

I always thought of you as more of an astrology guy...

Theo Fox: Goldilocks Zone
A look at how certain factors may be impacting the development timelines for Blackhawks prospects and whether a select few (Reichel, Slaggert, Vlasic, Kaiser, Commesso) can make a quantum leap.
- Theo Fox

Great write-up Theo. I really enjoy the regular check-in with the prospects, I think the Hawks have a couple guys who could be regular contributors in the pipeline. Reichel is leading players under 21 in the DEL, by a wide margin. His progress has been excellent and lets hope it continues.

We might as well get this out of the way and start with the inevitable, Commesso will go the full 4 years at BU then sign as a free agent with the Rangers.

Great insight, Theo. You know the GM's in professional sports leagues have ideas, what if scenarios churning as the season progresses. And then during summer break the process repeats with a possible update.

What if Reichel is ready for the next challenge sooner than expected. What if Vlasic or Slaggert want to turn pro early.

Even acclaimed prospects, though, often need to gain an additional year to work on things. On the ice and in the weight room.

The player I am focusing on here is Kalynuk

Having thought about how he was able to make the taxi squad and given his scouting report, the notion that he is close to ready to challenge for an NHL job is fairly accurate

Well fairly accurate seems a poor choice, a bad adjective but it really does make sense in his case

I really do believe he is either good or descent in many aspects of the game. Sure he could use AHL time for development. And the strength issue is always an issue too since additional strength is necessary when moving to professional level.

OK, now is the part I would like your input. As well anyone whom has watched Kalynuk this season is welcome to chime in

Exactly in what ways does Kalynuk need to improve upon vis -a -vis defensive coverage. He is a larger size, taller and weighs (I think) more than Mitchell and Beaudin. Kalynuk is not really going to. be checking an opposing forward with body checks often but he is willing to battle in a scrum for the puck?.

Whereas Beaudin tries to use his body to impede, Kalynuk is able and willing to be more physical?

Kalynuk is an offensive mail carrier, smart, sets up and moves around on Pp. Skates well. Not necessarily above average, but pretty good in many aspects;- he has collegiate experience - originally a 2016 draft - and is close to NHL ready. That is the scuttlebut I have heard. I lack specific information as to his defensive game , though, so I will try to watch him at Rockford and look to this board for a review

He is the best puck carrier on the team already AHL - NHL.

the athletic had the TOP UFA out there and Damir K from KHL was one and Arvid Soderblom was 8. also there are a few NCAA players that could be UFA's. that would need to wait till august. I think both would make sense. lack of goalie depth in the ORG and teh success we have had with Euro UFA's. the knock on Damir is for his size he does not have a high end top gear and Arvid is solid in most ways but is not the most athletic goalie side to side.

Good read Theo on this next wave of prospects that are 2,3, or 4 years out. Hopefully they continue to develop at the Europe/college level, stay injury free, and be able to contribute in the NHL.

IMO the Hawks still could use another top forward and a #1 D going forward. I don't see any in the pipeline.

The way the hawks are playing so far this season, looks like their pick won't be in the top ten so there is no guarantee they find a stud in the next draft. Besides there are stories out there that the 2021 entry draft won't take place until the summer of 2022 and whoever is picked may be a year behind development.

Other ways to obtain a top forward in the coming years...

- Continue to mine the undrafted European players (hats off to their Euro scouting department BTW).

- Sign a top free agent, maybe after the Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook contracts expire and cap space is available.

- Make a trade similar to the one that brought Patrick Sharp to town. Stan tried with the Joki for Nylander trade which looks like it isn't going to pan out. Maybe he again tries wrangle some top forward prospect form another team using the young depth he is developing.

Good read Theo on this next wave of prospects that are 2,3, or 4 years out. Hopefully they continue to develop at the Europe/college level, stay injury free, and be able to contribute in the NHL.

IMO the Hawks still could use another top forward and a #1 D going forward. I don't see any in the pipeline.

The way the hawks are playing so far this season, looks like their pick won't be in the top ten so there is no guarantee they find a stud in the next draft. Besides there are stories out there that the 2021 entry draft won't take place until the summer of 2022 and whoever is picked may be a year behind development.

Other ways to obtain a top forward in the coming years...

- Continue to mine the undrafted European players (hats off to their Euro scouting department BTW).

- Sign a top free agent, maybe after the Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook contracts expire and cap space is available.

- Make a trade similar to the one that brought Patrick Sharp to town. Stan tried with the Joki for Nylander trade which looks like it isn't going to pan out. Maybe he again tries wrangle some top forward prospect form another team using the young depth he is developing.
- boilermaker100

Agree on the bolded, especially at forward. The D pipeline looks good to me; they have a good shot at 4 #2's, and that'll work.

anyone catch NHL radio this AM - interview with an ex-flyer from the 80s i believe - Gerry ...well he was talking about something he had which is called Chronic Fatigue Syndrom...he would have 10 bad days, then 1 good day....always tired, eventually it turned around, but took a while. sounds like something the captain may be experiencing

I recall vabeach raving about Ian when he played in college, he has been such a pleasant surprise, not va but Ian to be clear, now i hear Elbows singing the praises of Kaiser, of course we will have to endure the will he sign won't he sign period, so i have to say when he's ready to take the leap hopefully with us looking forward to seeing him in the future.

the athletic had the TOP UFA out there and Damir K from KHL was one and Arvid Soderblom was 8. also there are a few NCAA players that could be UFA's. that would need to wait till august. I think both would make sense. lack of goalie depth in the ORG and teh success we have had with Euro UFA's. the knock on Damir is for his size he does not have a high end top gear and Arvid is solid in most ways but is not the most athletic goalie side to side.
- kmw4631

I don't know if this guy is going to fit in or Stanley trades his rights.

https://www.prohockeyrumo...is-career-in-the-u-s.html

2013 cap: $70.2
2015 cap: $69

*it dropped to 64.3 in 2014 with the new CBA.

Kane and Toews contracts didn't kick in until after the 2015 cup.

So in 2013 they were 17.8% of the cap, 2015 they were 18.2%

The argument is that if 88/19 didn't take bridge deals they wouldn't have the cups in 13, 15. They Hawks needed every drop of the cap in each year to win the cup. depending on how you extrapolate their contracts without a bridge they take somewhere between 3-6M more out of the cap than what they actually did. Without that cash, they don't get guys like Richards (FA), Handzus (acquired for a pick), retained Bickell, and likely a number of other moves.

This is the point. Hockey is a team sport, and no matter how good an individual player is, he shouldn't be taking up more than, let's say 8%-9% of the cap (whatever). When you have two players getting 25% of the cap, the team suffers. And when a player insists on getting an outsized share and then team can't compete, that player should have to lie in the bed he made, not whine about winning and try to get traded.

Having a small amount of players contributing such a large percentage of the cap makes it extremely difficult, bordering on impossible, to put together a winning team. No one player is bigger than the team.

This is the point. Hockey is a team sport, and no matter how good an individual player is, he shouldn't be taking up more than, let's say 8%-9% of the cap (whatever). When you have two players getting 25% of the cap, the team suffers. And when a player insists on getting an outsized share and then team can't compete, that player should have to lie in the bed he made, not whine about winning and try to get traded.

Having a small amount of players contributing such a large percentage of the cap makes it extremely difficult, bordering on impossible, to put together a winning team. No one player is bigger than the team.
- tazer_and_diet

Then why is 99 retired by all teams?

Then why is 99 retired by all teams?
- powerenforcer

I'm confused about the point you are trying to make. Are you saying that if Gretzky had played under a salary cap, he should get paid so much that they couldn't build a cup contending team around him?

Then why is 99 retired by all teams?
- powerenforcer

I started watching hockey because of 99. I was living in LA when the Kings made the big trade. Before that, I never paid much attention to the NHL. It's pretty clear that he put the game on the map in the warmer climates. If he played his entire career with the Oilers, it's less likely that 99 gets retired league wide.

I'm confused about the point you are trying to make. Are you saying that if Gretzky had played under a salary cap, he should get paid so much that they couldn't build a cup contending team around him?
- tazer_and_diet

It's a simple point. No player is bigger than the team (or the league). Your words, not mine.

It's a simple point. No player is bigger than the team (or the league). Your words, not mine.
- powerenforcer

You may have missed his point. He was talking about balance within the salary cap, not honoring greats.

The cap makes it tough, but most teams that win are imbalanced to a degree. It is just tough to maintain a position as Cup contender.

Glenn-----22
Yes, interesting discussion on Sirius with Garry Galley about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Said during the worst of it he walked up a flight of stairs and his legs were burning like he had been out on the ice for a 3 minutes shift. Ran into a doctor in New York who was treating a marathon runner with the same problem. Had good things to say about how Rick Bowness his coach took a was very sympathetic in helping him thru it. Maybe that is what Tazer is experiencing.

Something is wrong g in Edmonton after Toronto shut them out twice. And bringing in two #1 draft dmen kids Bouchard and Broberg is not the answer although it might help - who then is omitted.

McDavid, Draisalti, Yamomoto, Nugent Hopkins, Puljarvi and a veteran coach. I realize that the defense is not good but shut out twice and by Toronto!

Hey Theo! You mentioned Dach spent some time in RFD. Was he allowed to do a conditioning stint there after getting injured in the TC Prospects Tourney?

Can't recall, but he didn't get into any actual games there or did he?
- HawkintheD

Dach was dominate in the two inter - team practices scrimmages and it was the Russian pre-touranmant game where he broke it.

NO games in the actual tourney.

Dach never stopped his training after the "Cup run."


I heard it is six weeks, but, we will see...

Something is wrong g in Edmonton after Toronto shut them out twice. And bringing in two #1 draft dmen kids Bouchard and Broberg is not the answer although it might help - who then is omitted.

McDavid, Draisalti, Yamomoto, Nugent Hopkins, Puljarvi and a veteran coach. I realize the defrnse.en are not good but shut out twice and by Toronto!
- jhawk59

Find a way to neutralize McDavid and Draisaitl and you stop the Oilers. A weak Blackhawk team did it last season. McDavid and Draisaitl notwithstanding Edmonton are not a good hockey team. As I said yesterday I fully expect McDavid and possibly Draisaitl to ask for trades.

I agree with you. If you pay player large sum of money, that takes up significant cap space, you still need to surround those players with some quality players = cap space trouble. One can build a contending team by paying their core guys 7 to o million then others r to t. The sharks had slew of good players and contender for years using that model. They made mistake if paying Karlson 11 million, and now they are sunk.