Theo Fox: Pending Appeal An early look at pending Blackhawks free agents and what could be in store by the trade deadline and offseason.

Plus, updates on the taxi squad, IceHogs roster decimation, NHL COVID protocol, and the WJC cancelation.

How is Soderstrom behind Delia? Boggles the mind. And first or something like that.

Thanks Theo for churning out these almost daily articles to keep us entertained during the "pause". And extra credit for doing all this during the Holiday season.

Regarding contract renewals I don't think Dach will get nowhere close to the $4M upper end you suggest. Strome only got 2 years @ $3M after putting up more productive numbers throughout his ELC. $2.5M, $3M tops x 3 years would be reasonable IMO.

Helluva blog, Theo. A one stop for NHL, minor leagues, NCAA, amateur and international hockey! Nicely done.

Interesting that Nylander has not gotten a call up having played under King for a fair amount of games. ........ Wonder what a head of hockey ops would think???

You're just trolling me now Theo.

Dylan Strome has played a much more assertive game of late so that's eye catching. What's working against him is he's not piling up points despite his excellent vision and sleek passing. Even if he really turns it up here on out, he's still likely traded to recoup a decent asset.

Helluva blog, Theo. A one stop for NHL, minor leagues, NCAA, amateur and international hockey! Nicely done.

Interesting that Nylander has not gotten a call up having played under King for a fair amount of games. ........ Wonder what a head of hockey ops would think???
- Mr Ricochet

I would guess that they would think he is playing pretty well in the minors and gaining more confidence in that knee. Let him play most of the year down there with as many minutes as possible and we can resign him as an RFA at the end of the year if he stays on progression.

He'll likely get a couple of games at the end of the year.

I wouldn't commit to 3 years for Kubalik at any price.

Hawks hired a new pro scout recently

https://www.cbc.ca/sports...ndigenous-women-1.6300417

https://chicago.suntimes....sure-potential-derek-king

Sounds like Kirby is actually being to hard on himself?

He’s his worst critic,” King said. “He’s hard on himself and takes a lot of pride in his game, which sometimes [is] hard to find in a young player. Sometimes I forget, and a lot of people forget, how [young] he is. He’s just a kid.

“It’s not like it’s an overnight thing, but it’s not going to be three or four years down the road until he figures it out. He’s figuring it out now and he’s just got to hone [his game] now. I like the way he’s going.”

Hawks hired a new pro scout recently

https://www.cbc.ca/sports...ndigenous-women-1.6300417
- LAHawk

Thanks for the link, LA. Congrats to this young lady. Hopefully the only criteria the Hawks used was qualifications. If she can scout/evaluate as an NHL scout the Hawks also get a women and indigenous one too. ..... Lotta boxes checked and good PR as well.

Thanks for the link, LA. Congrats to this young lady. Hopefully the only criteria the Hawks used was qualifications. If she can scout/evaluate as an NHL scout the Hawks also get a women and indigenous one too. ..... Lotta boxes checked and good PR as well.
- Mr Ricochet

Interesting to me she is a "pro" scout who still is scouting jrs. Difference is she is scouting players that were already drafted. I didn't know those scouting at a jr. game are so specialized into draft eligible players and those already drafted.

Interesting to me she is a "pro" scout who still is scouting jrs. Difference is she is scouting players that were already drafted. I didn't know those scouting at a jr. game are so specialized into draft eligible players and those already drafted.
- LAHawk

Likely with an eye toward identifying those areas where a draftee needs improvement/specialized training?

Interesting to me she is a "pro" scout who still is scouting jrs. Difference is she is scouting players that were already drafted. I didn't know those scouting at a jr. game are so specialized into draft eligible players and those already drafted.
- LAHawk

I see a lotta scouts going to jrs games. I rarely bother them unless I have a specific question. Was at a Steel game maybe 7ish yrs ago and an NHL scout wearing a coat with a tiny Bruins logo was standing a couple feet from me so we started talking.

I asked who's catching your eye. He said I'm here to watch one single player, just one. I wanna see if he blows his nose what he does with the tissue, if a coach talks to him does he turn his head to look at him, his body language, whether he's the 1st, 8th or 17th coming onto the ice after a period, everything he does on and off the ice...... He never told me who the player was he was watching.

Point is I think it depends on the time of yr that a scout is at an arena to do. The game I'm talking about was late in the yr and guessing Boston was watching a kid on their whittled down draft list.

Steel were playing the Indy Ice and in the coming draft Boston took Sean Kuraly who was a player for the Ice.

Now I'd guess if this was the 2nd week of the season this scout would have had a list of kids to watch as well as letting the game come to him to discover kids not on his/Boston's radar. ........ I can and will get an answer to your question as far as scouts specializing. Good question but my experience talking to scouts they are there for different reasons at different times.

I'd add this. I do take a legal pad to games with me and jot things down but when the NTDP U-18's come thru Chicago you're looking at a team with maybe 6-7-8 1st rd picks and a total of 15+ kids on the ice that will get drafted that upcoming draft.

I've found that to be simply overwhelming to scout. There is just too much talent to take in what 15-20 players are doing and then write up an accurate report. My guess is organIzations send multiple scouts to a NTDP game and give each scout a few kids to focus on and write a report about.

Now a franchise could send just 1 scout to see Cale Makar in the AJHL cuz the league only gets a handful of players drafted per yr....... So again my guess is it depends on the circumstances including what time of yr, how much talent will be on the ice, the franchises trust in a particular scout, if it's a goalie they're scouting (specialization) to name a few.

Great question and observation, LA . I should know this but have never asked a scout or GM. I will and get back to you on this.

Delia has more nhl experience

Thanks Theo for churning out these almost daily articles to keep us entertained during the "pause". And extra credit for doing all this during the Holiday season.

Regarding contract renewals I don't think Dach will get nowhere close to the $4M upper end you suggest. Strome only got 2 years @ $3M after putting up more productive numbers throughout his ELC. $2.5M, $3M tops x 3 years would be reasonable IMO.
- boilermaker100

You may be right on Dach getting less salary on the next contract. I'm sure I was off with a few other salary estimates for other pending free agents, too.

For Dach, a $3x3 seems reasonable but could also see $3x2 to give him a shorter timeline to prove his worth so he can cash in on a larger deal sooner.

I would guess that they would think he is playing pretty well in the minors and gaining more confidence in that knee. Let him play most of the year down there with as many minutes as possible and we can resign him as an RFA at the end of the year if he stays on progression.

He'll likely get a couple of games at the end of the year.
- Chunk

Guessing that Nylander will get a call up in February or March prior to the TDL to see what if his growth translates to the NHL. That should give management more perspective on whether to re-sign him or trade him.

How is Soderstrom behind Delia? Boggles the mind. And first or something like that.
- wizardofi

IMO, Soderblom is still ahead of Delia but they don't want to rush Soderblom while giving Delia some NHL reps if needed in case of an emergency.

Delia could still be a serviceable backup in the NHL but Soderblom has greater potential and is worth investing in if the Hawks have to select one or the other.

Delia has more nhl experience
- Scott1977

Yes, Delia has more NHL experience as of today. Let Soderblom continue to develop at the appropriate level (AHL) then get him his NHL reps in due course.

Interesting to me she is a "pro" scout who still is scouting jrs. Difference is she is scouting players that were already drafted. I didn't know those scouting at a jr. game are so specialized into draft eligible players and those already drafted.
- LAHawk

How hard can "Pro Scout" be?

Chicago: stop Kane and DeBrincat, wait for Jones, Murphy and Gus to make a mistake.

How hard can "Pro Scout" be?

Chicago: stop Kane and DeBrincat, wait for Jones, Murphy and Gus to make a mistake.
- rpeters01

Won't have to wait long

This time off can only help Toews and especially Kane. He has not been himself and it shows in his play. When was the last time you saw him lose a puck on a breakaway? His passing has been not what we are accustomed to. Could his wrists be bothering him? Hopefully they both come back stronger.

This time off can only help Toews and especially Kane. He has not been himself and it shows in his play. When was the last time you saw him lose a puck on a breakaway? His passing has been not what we are accustomed to. Could his wrists be bothering him? Hopefully they both come back stronger.
- bjphawkfan

I read somewhere that Kane said he was going to use the extended time to try and work on his shot a bit more.

I think for Toews, it just gives him a break to try and get his body back. I don't think he was playing all that bad. He's creating good chances and helping his line mates. I'll admit he's not up to his standard, but I don't think he's horrible. One big problem for him (not uncommon among our centers) is that his shot numbers are notably down. He's normally well over 2 per game. He's at about 1.75 right now.

Yes, Delia has more NHL experience as of today. Let Soderblom continue to develop at the appropriate level (AHL) then get him his NHL reps in due course.
- Theo Fox

Agreed

Now just announced that Khaira & Borgstrom cleared and could play Saturday. Dominoes effect on roster, taxi squad, etc al. With players on covid protocol in Rockford someone could go to Rockford on a conditional 1-2 game stint if Rockford games are not cancelled

Also I would be disappointed and looking to understand rational if Wise is not signed. He knows some if the current Bkackhawjs and woukd make a good fit on and off ice. I believe you indicated that he may project ahead of Kurachev. Any update on Crevier particularly if he has gained strength?

Agreed

Now just announced that Khaira & Borgstrom cleared and could play Saturday. Dominoes effect on roster, taxi squad, etc al. With players on covid protocol in Rockford someone could go to Rockford on a conditional 1-2 game stint if Rockford games are not cancelled

Also I would be disappointed and looking to understand rational if Wise is not signed. He knows some if the current Bkackhawjs and woukd make a good fit on and off ice. I believe you indicated that he may project ahead of Kurachev. Any update on Crevier particularly if he has gained strength?
- jhawk59

He hasn't been a very good college player

Agreed

Now just announced that Khaira & Borgstrom cleared and could play Saturday. Dominoes effect on roster, taxi squad, etc al. With players on covid protocol in Rockford someone could go to Rockford on a conditional 1-2 game stint if Rockford games are not cancelled

Also I would be disappointed and looking to understand rational if Wise is not signed. He knows some if the current Bkackhawjs and woukd make a good fit on and off ice. I believe you indicated that he may project ahead of Kurachev. Any update on Crevier particularly if he has gained strength?
- jhawk59

imo once covo issues get better trades will becoming. So how long does Davidson wait to pull the trigger or is there trades already in place around the league and are waiting.