Theo Fox: Veteran Benefits A look at the role of veteran leadership on the Blackhawks as they rebuild through a youth movement toward future perennial Stanley Cup contention.

Where's Darth with his "Trade them all" meme?

Thank you, Theo.
In my most optimistic view, the 'Hawks return to contention with Kane and Toews as elder skatesmen.*
Some of this year's and next year's draftees have to make the big time very quickly and some already drafted need to make big progress into NHL caliber players.
And the right goalie or two appear or develop.

* in this scenario, their next contracts are a consideration and I cannot see a next Kane contract being for less dollars. Toews next contract?

The veterans have not improved the play of the youngsters. The problem is the skill level of the youngsters. No veteran can make a young player can skate faster… shoot more accurately.. thats on the player. Clean house.

Through 4 games, Riley Nash is the only TB player with a positive Corsi (from Natural Stat Trick 5v5).

A few of the others:

Hagel 38.66%
Paul 40.63%
Stamkos 38.52%
Killorn 37.69%

Does it end tonight?

The veterans have not improved the play of the youngsters. The problem is the skill level of the youngsters. No veteran can make a young player can skate faster… shoot more accurately.. thats on the player. Clean house.
- LFS

Yes but also no.

Both Strome and Debrincat have done a lot of work with Patrick Kane in the off season.

Certainly Debrincat is going to do the work no matter what but that was probably beneficial for someone like Strome to see how hard someone like Kane worked.

If "new" veteran replacement leadership is introduced outside from, it should

a) come with additional draft picks to take on those leaders contracts.

b) the GM and staff better have more insight into these veteran's attitudes/leadership qualities than the do their draft candidates.

c) these vets should have strong journeyman games with offensive savvy besides strong character, and defensive attributes along with quickness they are sayingtheri draft selections will have.

So far the past half dozen years of trades contained "take back vets with Cap hits their team's wanted off the books...and most were unable to instill their "strengths" in the Blackhawk youth, because they didn't score, or contribute well enough to play on regular lines.

And in his most recent interviews didn't Tazer say he now is real to be the mentor ? Because he is not going to get pawned off to the Bruins with Bergeron returning.

Thanks Theo - I would love to get Seabrook back to this organization at some point. I think when you talk about veteran leadership, he is that. I know his playing days are behind him, but I would love to see him as an on-ice coach for Rockford at least, maybe he can bring to the team some of the things Yawney brought to him when he was a young player.
But another thing about veteran leadership you didn't really touch on (maybe it is in a future blog) is the coach. I think a coach needs to allow the veterans to "set examples" on the ice. Maybe JC didn't have the full respect of the players, so that is why it looks like the veterans did not help in improving the young guys. I don't play professional sports so I do not know the dynamics of it all, but I think if some guys are disconnected in some way it is hard to bring them back in.

I am in agreement with Kaner's comments the other day that rebuilds don't need to take 5+ years. I can never get on board with the idea of completely gutting the team in the name of the rebuild. The lottery effectively makes tanking by design a perilous risk.

We are going to be bad for a good long while, but I am not going to be glued to my seat to watch a team that has no hope of winning games against the top 1/3 of the league. I need to be entertained. I admit it. I want to see Kane and ADB and Strome together next year, because they are really good together and a good coach can still develop the entire group of forwards.

Plus, you need real pros to bring the kids along. That's where Toews and Lafferty and McCabe and SJones come in. Leadership among players is of massive importance. And losing these big salaries could make hitting the cap floor problematic; what a dumb problem to create.

There also needs to be a stop gap in the goaltending until Commesso or Stauber are ready. So why not try and see if you can get MAF to sign for two years (if he actually liked being a Blackhawk). He could probably play anywhere on a two year deal and still get to #2 on the all time wins list. He was fun to have around and we need guys like that in the locker room. Or take a flyer on Eric Comrie. He's even a bit younger than Lankinen .

It's summer and rose tinted glasses are back in fashion.

Bergeron to sign with the Bruins for one year, one less place to trade Strome.

Connolly, if around, can play on the big team too and bring a veteran presence. I understand he worked well with the kids in Rockford last year. I don't think his full cap hit will be an issue.

Connolly, if around, can play on the big team too and bring a veteran presence. I understand he worked well with the kids in Rockford last year. I don't think his full cap hit will be an issue.
- boilermaker100

I can see Connolly taking Carpenter spot as the 12th-13th forward.

Thanks Theo - I would love to get Seabrook back to this organization at some point. I think when you talk about veteran leadership, he is that. I know his playing days are behind him, but I would love to see him as an on-ice coach for Rockford at least, maybe he can bring to the team some of the things Yawney brought to him when he was a young player.
But another thing about veteran leadership you didn't really touch on (maybe it is in a future blog) is the coach. I think a coach needs to allow the veterans to "set examples" on the ice. Maybe JC didn't have the full respect of the players, so that is why it looks like the veterans did not help in improving the young guys. I don't play professional sports so I do not know the dynamics of it all, but I think if some guys are disconnected in some way it is hard to bring them back in.
- powerenforcer

Assuming he’d be interested Hosea is another that may be beneficial in some capacity.

Assuming he’d be interested Hosea is another that may be beneficial in some capacity.
- paulr

Yes good call.

Richardson is being hired as the Blackhawks new head coach. Frank Seravalli reported it

Richardson is being hired as the Blackhawks new head coach. Frank Seravalli reported it
- GPHawksfan

It’ll be interesting to see how he does. I’m happy the Hawks didn’t go the regurgitated old boys club.

It’ll be interesting to see how he does. I’m happy the Hawks didn’t go the regurgitated old boys club.
- paulr

Me too. He coached Montreal well in the playoffs last year when Julien was out. He's paid his dues too.

It’ll be interesting to see how he does. I’m happy the Hawks didn’t go the regurgitated old boys club.
- paulr

The Montreal defenseman were very high on him.

Charlie Roumeliotis
@CRoumeliotis
#Blackhawks are expected to name Luke Richardson their next head coach, sources confirm to
@NBCSChicago
.

First on it:
@frank_seravalli
8:40 AM · Jun 24, 2022·TweetDeck

I am in agreement with Kaner's comments the other day that rebuilds don't need to take 5+ years. I can never get on board with the idea of completely gutting the team in the name of the rebuild. The lottery effectively makes tanking by design a perilous risk.

We are going to be bad for a good long while, but I am not going to be glued to my seat to watch a team that has no hope of winning games against the top 1/3 of the league. I need to be entertained. I admit it. I want to see Kane and ADB and Strome together next year, because they are really good together and a good coach can still develop the entire group of forwards.

Plus, you need real pros to bring the kids along. That's where Toews and Lafferty and McCabe and SJones come in. Leadership among players is of massive importance. And losing these big salaries could make hitting the cap floor problematic; what a dumb problem to create.

There also needs to be a stop gap in the goaltending until Commesso or Stauber are ready. So why not try and see if you can get MAF to sign for two years (if he actually liked being a Blackhawk). He could probably play anywhere on a two year deal and still get to #2 on the all time wins list. He was fun to have around and we need guys like that in the locker room. Or take a flyer on Eric Comrie. He's even a bit younger than Lankinen .

It's summer and rose tinted glasses are back in fashion.
- GreenJeans

Its at least 3 maybe 4 years.

Say the Hawks take Cooley with the number 2 pick if they get it. He will play at least one year of college so isn't a NHL player until 2023-2024. Takes most players 2-3 full seasons to start hitting their stride. So 2025-2026 at the earliest.

Any other mid tier picks are going to go to a few years in college or maybe the AHL and they're fillers that you don't see for 4-6 years.

Then you move to next year and say they get a top 3 pick that contributes straight away. Again they're probably not going to hit their stride until a few years in so that player is looking at 2025-2026 in terms of being a real solid contributor.

Then they have those mid tier picks that are 4-6 years down the road. Maybe 3 for a late first round or very good second round pick. Again lining up with 2025-2026 or 2026-2027.

And that is for them to start trending up. Maybe they are sniffing an 8 spot in 2025-2026 depending on the goaltending situation. But realistically 2026-2027 is ideally when you would see a noticeable upward trend and 2027-2028 back in the playoffs consistently with the new core. And even that assumes they draft perfectly with their first rounders and find some really solid players in the later rounds.

Maybe they draft perfectly and are back sooner but I don't see that happening. If they wanted to do that they would have taken someone from the Tampa, Carolina or Colorado org since they seem to have a pretty good handle on finding value and not biffing top 10 picks.

Its at least a 5 year project especially if they want to reload with young high end talent to start the next 10-15 year cycle of fun hockey.

I can see Connolly taking Carpenter spot as the 12th-13th forward.
- LAHawk

I.believe I heard that his skating is slower now
Remaining healthy another issue

Richardson should be good at devising a scheme for slow defenseman. He sure had that in Montreal.

Weber
Petry
Edmundson
Kulak
Chariot
Mete.

They also had Gusto for their playoff run. Wonder if he gets signed as the seventh defenseman

I.believe I heard that his skating is slower now
Remaining healthy another issue
- jhawk59

Can't be slower than Pat Maroon

Its at least 3 maybe 4 years.

Say the Hawks take Cooley with the number 2 pick if they get it. He will play at least one year of college so isn't a NHL player until 2023-2024. Takes most players 2-3 full seasons to start hitting their stride. So 2025-2026 at the earliest.

Any other mid tier picks are going to go to a few years in college or maybe the AHL and they're fillers that you don't see for 4-6 years.

Then you move to next year and say they get a top 3 pick that contributes straight away. Again they're probably not going to hit their stride until a few years in so that player is looking at 2025-2026 in terms of being a real solid contributor.

Then they have those mid tier picks that are 4-6 years down the road. Maybe 3 for a late first round or very good second round pick. Again lining up with 2025-2026 or 2026-2027.

And that is for them to start trending up. Maybe they are sniffing an 8 spot in 2025-2026 depending on the goaltending situation. But realistically 2026-2027 is ideally when you would see a noticeable upward trend and 2027-2028 back in the playoffs consistently with the new core. And even that assumes they draft perfectly with their first rounders and find some really solid players in the later rounds.

Maybe they draft perfectly and are back sooner but I don't see that happening. If they wanted to do that they would have taken someone from the Tampa, Carolina or Colorado org since they seem to have a pretty good handle on finding value and not biffing top 10 picks.

Its at least a 5 year project especially if they want to reload with young high end talent to start the next 10-15 year cycle of fun hockey.
- fattybeef

While I agree with your analysis about the development of draft choices. I am hopeful and expecting that the dmen prospects currently bespoke in hockeybuzz shall start to impact next season. I imagine they would become axteam strength Retaining Murphy until next trade deadline probably does help.with dmen development. McCabe needs to show better. He might

Brnging Richardson aboard is a good move; he will be a good instructor for dmen and sounds like a good choice

Richardson should be good at devising a scheme for slow defenseman. He sure had that in Montreal.
F
Weber
Petry
Edmundson
Kulak
Chariot
Mete.

They also had Gusto for their playoff run. Wonder if he gets signed as the seventh defenseman

- LAHawk

I’m hoping he can get a guy like Mitchell and any up and coming young defensemen to raise their games as well as instill a system the team can grow into.