Theo Fox: Winging It A look at Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman's recent comments about centers playing on the wing and what that means for Dylan Strome and other pivots on the team.

Let’s say Toews and Dach (if they are healthy) are your top two centers to start the season. Johnson is probably your 3c because of his is effectiveness at the dot. You have others with an outside chance of breaking camp as 2c or 3c (Borgstrum, Gaudette, Kurashev, Reichel, Strome). But they are not really great candidates for 4c. Khaira could be a 4c, but he is not very good at the dot (which is important as a 4c). Entwistle probably needs more time at Rockford. That probably means Carpenter is your 4c unless you make another move. I am thinking Stan moves Strome either for a true 4c or he moves Strome for a pick or a prospect and signs a true 4c with the cap space he gets from trading Strome. As mentioned by Theo yesterday, there still are a few UFA centers out there that might sign at a reasonable price.

I would like to see McCabe wearing #44. Memories man!

Strome was firing at all cylinders playing with De Brincat. For whatever reason Colliton decided to split them. He is simply a bad coach who seems stubborn and cocky. Moreover he does’nt seem to have any system at all.

Give Johnson #99. There is absolutely no reason that number needs to be "retired' by every team. Another Bettman failure.

Chicago has put together a very exciting team this year , good luck! The Fans deserve it.

Hoping Carpenter and Strome are wearing different uniforms when the season starts.

Entwistle could probably use another year in RFD but if it means not having Carpenter as 4C I'm ok with that.

If a kid plays major junior hockey in Canada he’s no longer eligible to play college hockey. If he plays minor junior, what used to known as junior B, what Harding now plays in, he is still eligible to play college. If the USHL is like Major Junior in that it prevents college eligibility, and if he’s looking to go to college,maybe that’s why Harding is not interested in playing in the USHL?
paulr

Paul, I want to use the absolute fewest words possible to explain NCAA eligibility cuz the whole Jr thing can be very confusing. ... Simply said if a kid plays 1 minute of Major Junior (aka CHL aka QMJHL/OHL/WHL) or pro he loses NCAA eligibility. Playing even 1 minute of practice with a pro team or Major Junior team a kid can't play NCAA hockey.

In fact the USHL by far, by far, is the #1 feeder to NCAA hockey. So indeed Harding can play USHL, the highest level possible at the Jr level in the world and still maintain NCAA eligibility.

Harding, at soon to be 20 yrs old has chosen to play in the AJHL (one of many Jr A leagues up in Canada) next yr which is 4 levels down from the highest level of Jrs in North America.

https://thejuniorhockeyne...aa-d-1-players-come-from/

For years, we at TJHN have been telling players and parent not to compare “leagues” There are good, and not so good teams in every league. But for purposes of this discussion, these are the top “leagues” and groups of “leagues” producing NCAA Division One players.

The USHL (Tier 1) 35.3% of all NCAA D-1 Players

The BCHL (Jr A) 16.3%

The NAHL (Tier II) 14%

Combined Tier III and US Prep School 12.6%

Combined remaining Canada Junior Leagues A and B. 18.6%

15.2% are coming from US High School, Midget AAA, USA Hockey NTDP, and other sources.

These numbers make it very clear that the USHL is the top NCAA producer and that no other leagues are remotely close.

Give Johnson #99. There is absolutely no reason that number needs to be "retired' by every team. Another Bettman failure.
- powerenforcer

Stupidest. Comment. Ever.

Stupidest. Comment. Ever.
- wreckage

In the "non-wreckage" category?

Harding, at soon to be 20 yrs old has chosen to play in the AJHL (one of many Jr A leagues up in Canada) next yr which is 4 levels down from the highest level of Jrs in North America.
- Mr Ricochet

Going NCAA in 2022

Harding, a 6-foot-7 defenseman, was drafted in the third round (91st overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks. He has spent the previous two seasons with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL, where he has amassed six goals and 13 assists in 62 games played. The St. Albert, Alberta native will arrive in Providence in the fall of 2022.

Khaira was an odd pickup to me as we have plenty of guys in that mold already in the fold. But the fukc do I know. #asf

Stupidest. Comment. Ever.
- wreckage

Please explain. What did Wayne do for the Chicago franchise?

When you do not have an answer for that, then ask yourself this question....What did the Chicago franchise do for Wayne?

I rest my case.....

Please explain. What did Wayne do for the Chicago franchise?

When you do not have an answer for that, then ask yourself this question....What did the Chicago franchise do for Wayne?

I rest my case.....
- powerenforcer

He's a troll, PE.

He's a troll, PE.
- mohel

thanks for the intel.

Stupidest. Comment. Ever.
- wreckage

You are as clumsy as you are stupid....

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said Monday captain Jonathan Toews remains without an exact timeline for return, though the team remains hopeful he will play this season.

Wonder if Stan will have him on LTIR to start the season, that way he can save Shaw's LTIR for after day 1? Toews hasn't been cleared by a Dr. to play as far as I know.

Just wanted to add to the Taige hopeful alert that I have seen him literally take care of business in the area around the blue paint where he towers over to opposing players trying to set up there and can "make contact three stooges style and then move them away.
His feet are not bad.
He is hockey smart.

I dunno what the upside is but trading future for a shot to draft him seems a decent strategy.
If your scouting staffs sees a guy there on your list you think should be gone, you get aggressive and let the further development begin...

Give Johnson #99. There is absolutely no reason that number needs to be "retired' by every team. Another Bettman failure.
- powerenforcer

Hey PE. I rarely agree 100% with anyone or anything. However, this is the most true statement that I've seen on these boards.

Just wanted to add to the Taige hopeful alert that I have seen him literally take care of business in the area around the blue paint where he towers over to opposing players trying to set up there and can "make contact three stooges style and then move them away.
His feet are not bad.
He is hockey smart.

I dunno what the upside is but trading future for a shot to draft him seems a decent strategy.
If your scouting staffs sees a guy there on your list you think should be gone, you get aggressive and let the further development begin...
- wiz1901

How does a guy that tall avoid hitting guys in the head?

How does a guy that tall avoid hitting guys in the head?
- mohel

He doesn't. Wiz said it was three stooges style. I do think the pliers to the nose might be a bit much on the ice though.

Give Johnson #99. There is absolutely no reason that number needs to be "retired' by every team. Another Bettman failure.
- powerenforcer

There is no need for any number to be retired by any team ever. It’s a silly tradition. Just give him #9 and be done with it.

Please explain. What did Wayne do for the Chicago franchise?

When you do not have an answer for that, then ask yourself this question....What did the Chicago franchise do for Wayne?

I rest my case.....
- powerenforcer

We're not talking "Jackie Robinson" here. WGAF about a retired Oilers #. Tons of football teams still wearing #34 and #51.

Stupidest. Comment. Ever.
- wreckage

Thanks again for your contribution to this site.

If a kid plays major junior hockey in Canada he’s no longer eligible to play college hockey. If he plays minor junior, what used to known as junior B, what Harding now plays in, he is still eligible to play college. If the USHL is like Major Junior in that it prevents college eligibility, and if he’s looking to go to college,maybe that’s why Harding is not interested in playing in the USHL?
paulr

Paul, I want to use the absolute fewest words possible to explain NCAA eligibility cuz the whole Jr thing can be very confusing. ... Simply said if a kid plays 1 minute of Major Junior (aka CHL aka QMJHL/OHL/WHL) or pro he loses NCAA eligibility. Playing even 1 minute of practice with a pro team or Major Junior team a kid can't play NCAA hockey.

In fact the USHL by far, by far, is the #1 feeder to NCAA hockey. So indeed Harding can play USHL, the highest level possible at the Jr level in the world and still maintain NCAA eligibility.

Harding, at soon to be 20 yrs old has chosen to play in the AJHL (one of many Jr A leagues up in Canada) next yr which is 4 levels down from the highest level of Jrs in North America.

https://thejuniorhockeyne...aa-d-1-players-come-from/

For years, we at TJHN have been telling players and parent not to compare “leagues” There are good, and not so good teams in every league. But for purposes of this discussion, these are the top “leagues” and groups of “leagues” producing NCAA Division One players.

The USHL (Tier 1) 35.3% of all NCAA D-1 Players

The BCHL (Jr A) 16.3%

The NAHL (Tier II) 14%

Combined Tier III and US Prep School 12.6%

Combined remaining Canada Junior Leagues A and B. 18.6%

15.2% are coming from US High School, Midget AAA, USA Hockey NTDP, and other sources.

These numbers make it very clear that the USHL is the top NCAA producer and that no other leagues are remotely close.
- Mr Ricochet

Rico, good stuff, thanks for the clarification.