Your Chicago Blackhawks offseason thread

ZOMBIE@CTESPN

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The way players are on the move in sports I stopped buying jerseys a long time ago. I like the tshirts with players numbers and names they are cheap to replace
 

MassHavoc

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I won't buy them. And I don't think other people should go out of their way to buy them, but some people just don't know which I can't really fault them for, bandwagon or not. I honestly don't really see the appeal of buying Jerseys in general. I would much rather buy high quality hooded sweatshirt or something that I can wear whenever I want. And lastly is a knockoff any worse than the offical shit they put out in pink or other non team colors that have some trendy bastardized version of the logo on it? I've seen some really bad officially licensed gear.
 

LordKOTL

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Kruger by most notable evaluations was one of the very best Hawks forwards during the playoffs... funny to think otherwise.

But through the actual season his injuries are limiting him and it does seem the hard D minutes and hits he takes all the time to make plays pile up. Just like Bolland it might not be a few more years out after being a Hawk that he can keep physically fit enough to play.

But the bottom 6 always had a stable line when he played.

I'm just seeing this offseason so oddly focused that people in same breathe complain the prospects need to play but are upset there aren't more vets in spots

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The thing about the playoffs was, quite frankly, everyone sucked. Saying Kruger was one of the better guys is a feather in his cap but doesn't really say much. He just wasn't sucking as badly as Toews or Keith--both of whom sucked like Monica Lewinski at a white house Christmas dinner. So, IMHO, it's hard to use these playoffs as a good litmus test over how good players were. It would be like comparing whether a brand-new-top-of-the-line Mustang and a brand-new-top-of-the-line Camaro is faster...when both are missing half of their sparkplugs.

The main issue with Kruger is that he lost his wizardry at the dot--which made him very superfluous especially at 3M AAV. Had he been better at the dot there would have been a very strong, compelling reason to keep him. With him just being a PK/D specialist (as well as O ballast for Hossa), we could find someone cheaper that does the same.

Question for the CCS crowd: what do you guys think about this? Got some feedback that was far from positive on this article I wrote. Had a brief Twitter chat with BHP but I was curious what others thought.

Blackhawks fans: it's time to ditch your knockoff sweaters

(Shameless self-promotion, I know, and I apologize)
The last replica I got was a CCM one back when Arkhipov wore 19. So I'm not really in the market for one. HOWEVER, with the extortionate prices of replica sweaters nowadays, I can see why people go for them. I don't pay them much mind unless they are strikingly horrible--like not even worth the cost it took to ship it over to the US horrible.

If something is slightly off--as in you really have to look to see what is off, but was 4x cheaper, that should be a lesson for the NHL merchandising department that they have to drop there prices.
 

ytsejam

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Tribune had article about Debrincat Friday I think.
Is this kid something like Theo Fleury 2.0?
Minus the crackhead, titty bar brawling, and mascot attacking tendencies?
 

Tater

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...lackhawks-haugh-spt-0721-20170720-column.html

[h=1]Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat relishes challenge of meeting expectations[/h]

Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat talks about his development and chances to make the team next season. (Chris Hine/Chicago Tribune)




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David HaughContact ReporterChicago Tribune


After watching helplessly as Alex DeBrincat encountered yet another on-ice skirmish, an exasperated Jen Santos wondered why opponents consistently picked on the Erie Otters' leading scorer.
So Santos, who along with husband Ron served as DeBrincat's billet family the last two seasons in Erie, pulled aside teammate Dylan Strome, who also lived in their home.
"And Dylan just laughed,'' Jen recalled in a phone interview. "He said, 'It's because Alex started it. Alex is always starting it.'''
The memory brought a smile of affirmation to DeBrincat's face Thursday before the last day of Blackhawks prospect camp. DeBrincat takes as much pride in getting under players' skins as he does putting pucks in the net. The camp roster lists DeBrincat at 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds, but they must have removed the chip on his shoulder before weighing him.
"I have one, kind of,'' DeBrincat acknowledged. "My thing is, I play bigger than I am so I wasn't going to let anybody push me around. People started knowing that. I like being in the scrums and the dirty areas.''
Around the Santos house, they measured DeBrincat's determination a different way.
"We used to kid him that he's 5-7 but plays like he's 6-7,'' Ron Santos said. "Throw a punch and Alex will throw one back. Slash him, he'll slash back. He's not going to back down.''
He's only going to get bigger in Chicago with that attitude.
In the Year of the Prospect for our city's sports teams, DeBrincat deserves to be the Hawk most likely to face exaggerated expectations. He is to the Hawks what Yoan Moncada is the White Sox, what Mitchell Trubisky is to the Bears and what Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber were to the Cubs; the ballyhooed, budding star whose development schedule can spark a debate in living rooms and barrooms all over town. Plug in the 19-year-old left-winger immediately or bring him along slower at Rockford? Play DeBrincat alongside Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews?
Opportunity exists on a Hawks team in flux, particularly for an offensive-minded puck magician with an innate ability who can make an impact in today's NHL like other speedy and skilled smallish players have.
"There still is a size factor in the game but I think I can do as much as the next guy,'' DeBrincat said. "For me, it's not a problem. But, to everyone else, it seems like a concern.''
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Photos from the Blackhawks' prospect camp at Johnny's Ice House on July 17, 2017.


Goalies should be especially worried. After scoring a whopping 65 goals in 63 games and being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Ontario Hockey League, DeBrincat accepts he remains a long shot to make the Hawks roster at training camp. But DeBrincat didn't go from playing high school hockey at Lake Forest Academy three years ago to having the Hawks select him with the 39th overall choice of the 2016 NHL draft by thinking small.


"Last year at training camp I was pretty nervous even knowing I wasn't going to make the team because I wanted to make an impact This year I'm excited because I know what to expect,'' said DeBrincat, the top American goal scorer in OHL history with 167 in three seasons. "I'll go into camp trying to make the Hawks and, if not, Rockford is a great place for me to develop too.''
History says hockey destiny will find DeBrincat, who an OHL scout discovered at Lake Forest Academy while looking at a defenseman. The native of Farmington Hills, Mich., landed with the Otters, where he played alongside Coyotes center Strome — DeBrincat's closest friend — for three seasons and Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who just signed a $100 million contract, for one. All three remain buddies, bonded by their Erie experience.


"Connor would do everything at top speed and it helped me to play with someone that fast. Dylan, while not as fast, was just as smart and helped me find areas that were open,'' DeBrincat said. "Those guys helped me evolve and mature. I picked up anything I could. I also saw how they weathered the storm in handling all the attention.''
Obviously, DeBrincat learned well. In a 30-minute conversation, the confident teenager displayed a mixture of humility and humor that will come in handy as his profile expands in one of the NHL's brightest markets.


He praised the sacrifices of his parents David and Tracey and the example of his brother, Andrew, a senior defenseman at American International University. He recalled his first hockey memory, a glove save on a breakaway back when he was a goalie. He revealed his name is really pronounced "De-brin-kit.'' He shared his love for roller hockey, country music and sushi, and how he can't sleep in past 8 a.m. anymore because of his commitment to conditioning. He sheepishly admitted being a Red Wings fan growing up and idolizing Steve Yzerman and Pavel Datsyuk, allegiances that made attending high school in Hawks country interesting.
"I didn't really like the Hawks too much when I was at Lake Forest,'' DeBrincat said. "But it's easy to change your mind when you're drafted by such a great organization that's giving you a chance to make your dreams come true.''
The reality? DeBrincat is causing a stir again — and he started it.
dhaugh@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @DavidHaugh
 

Raskolnikov

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yeah...Debricat is pure gamer.

Prospect camp has come and gone, and mostly there was some long term hope shown on D, with 2015, 2016, and 2017 defensive picks showing well, showing competency.

Debricat was considered mildly disappointing during the week, but come scrimmage time asserted himself as a step above. He didn't show much but then had another gear for gameplay.
 

ClydeLee

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DE Brin Kit.... hmm more Paneek or By-fug-li-en nonsense that gets shut away.

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Raskolnikov

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Or maybe a new Shaw? :thinking: :)

did Shaw weigh 165?

He has some Shaw in him for sure. They should trade either Hino or Debricat in my opinion. With Kaner its hard to play both of them. Its probably Hino's last shot in that roll this year, and then Debricat will get his opportunities unless he lights up the AHL or can't be kept off the scoreboard in training camp/pre-season. But Hino can light up the AHL too. Means nothing until you do it at NHL when you weigh 165. For every Tyler Johnson or Aarviddson or Shaw there are 20 busts whose bodies can't take it even though they have the skill. These guys seem to be making it with the new rules, but they don't last real long.

Perhaps that is why the Hawks have an army of them in the wings. Louis, Hino, Jurco, Debricat and more.
 

LordKOTL

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did Shaw weigh 165?

He has some Shaw in him for sure. They should trade either Hino or Debricat in my opinion. With Kaner its hard to play both of them. Its probably Hino's last shot in that roll this year, and then Debricat will get his opportunities unless he lights up the AHL or can't be kept off the scoreboard in training camp/pre-season. But Hino can light up the AHL too. Means nothing until you do it at NHL when you weigh 165. For every Tyler Johnson or Aarviddson or Shaw there are 20 busts whose bodies can't take it even though they have the skill. These guys seem to be making it with the new rules, but they don't last real long.

Perhaps that is why the Hawks have an army of them in the wings. Louis, Hino, Jurco, Debricat and more.

I figure between Hino and Kero one of them will be traded by the end of the year--unless Schmaltz continues to be worse-than-Bolland at the dot.
 

ClydeLee

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I thought Hino may still be waiver exempt, he's still on his elc, so I don't see why that would happen when he can go up and down still and he's not some still former 2nd rounder those around the league will be into so much like pirri, morin, & j. Hayes were.

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LordKOTL

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I thought Hino may still be waiver exempt, he's still on his elc, so I don't see why that would happen when he can go up and down still and he's not some still former 2nd rounder those around the league will be into so much like pirri, morin, & j. Hayes were.

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True. Hino is. Kero isn't though. I figure if we're hellbent on Schmaltz at center, we got one extra center and Kero, at 750k for 2 years, would probably be snapped off of waivers.

Having center options is nice, but we got a lot in the system: Debrincat, Highmore, Noel, Dauphin, & Johnson--not to mention guys like Hayden, Fortin, and Louis who are pegged as a center and a winger. Even if a few of then move to wing, I figure one of those two--probably Kero, might be tradebait this season.
 

Raskolnikov

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We could use a break like Butcher after Hayes and co.

The Avs messed that up with Roy not wanting him so I don't feel bad.

Gus, Sved, Pokka, Forsling, Kempny, probably Rozy holds onto #6 D-man. 2 of those guys still need to step up. I wouldn't be surprised if Butcher could step into that mix and just take a job on the Blackhawks, as hopeful as I am.
 

Raskolnikov

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Oestorle and Rutta also will challenge all those youngins to even make the team.
 

ClydeLee

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I don't think butcher is much of a great likely NHL prospect, most of the big offensive number D outta college take time, well most always do but he's a poor skater.

2 years ago the big sweepstakes was Mike Reilly and he has hardly been even decent the bits of NHL he played for the Wild so far.

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MassHavoc

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Well... at least we don't have to put up with any insane posters right now...
 

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