Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp's Most Intriguing Battles
Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith (2) controls the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at United Center. Blackhawks won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Blackhawks training camp is underway, and there’s plenty to be interested in
Today marked the opening session of the Chicago Blackhawks preseason training camp. Pierre-Cedric Labrie scored the first goal, assisted by Jake Dowell. In five days, the Blackhawks will play their first preseason game, at home against Pittsburgh.
The quickest bit of news to come from the first day of camp at Johnny’s IceHouse West was that defenseman Duncan Keith was not in attendance.
The former Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe winner skipped the World Cup of Hockey to further recover from knee surgery he had last season, and there was speculation he’d miss the start of the Blackhawks’ regular season due to that same thing.
But Blackhawks fans could breathe a sigh of relief later in the day, as Keith took the ice for the team’s last skate.
So what else is there to talk about with training camp?
When we’re not concerned with injuries or when Patrick Kane is going to arrive at camp, we have to be looking at close battles. The Blackhawks’ roster is far from set heading into the 2016-17 season.
Among the issues are deciding who will flank Jonathan Toews on the top line, filling out the bottom six and figuring out the back end of the defense. So today, we’re going to take a look at options in all those areas.
Jan 21, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Top-line contenders
We have to start this conversation with Marian Hossa. He played alongside Toews for most of the previous season, and coach Joel Quenneville may be content with settling for comfort on the top line to start the season.
The main issue here is Hossa struggled to keep up on the top line last season. From a defensive forward standpoint, he’s still solid enough. But offensively, he’s a step behind and likely to only lose ground moving forward.
Other primary options on the top line who have been brought up are Nick Schmaltz and Richard Panik. Schmaltz is the youngster just out of college who’d offer a ton of playmaking potential and good speed alongside Toews. However, it’s no certainty he’d immediately adjust from the jump between college and NHL action.
Panik impressed during a short stint on the top line during the 2016 postseason. He’s a power forward who has no problem crashing the crease and getting dirty goals. However, he was in the AHL during the previous season as well. There’s no guarantee he can replicate what he did in his short run last season during an 82-plus game season.
Outside shots to grab a spot on the top line, in my estimation, would be Ryan Hartman and Mark McNeill. Hartman projects as more of a bottom-six guy, but Q might like to use an Andrew Shaw-like player on the top line. In that case, Hartman is the closest comparison the Blackhawks have.
McNeill may seem like an odd pick, considering the Blackhawks don’t seem totally sold on him as NHL capable. However, if he has a really strong training camp, he could supplant Hossa on the top-line right wing. He also a power forward who can create some of his own scoring chances, and he needs more of an opportunity to shine (or fail) at the NHL level.
Feb 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dennis Rasmussen (70) celebrates scoring a goal during the third period against the Washington Capitals at the United Center. Chicago won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Bottom-six candidates
This field is much larger for the Blackhawks. Marcus Kruger is the only guarantee in this group, and there are plenty of options to join him.
If Hossa is supplanted on the top line, he’d easily be part of the bottom six. Andrew Desjardins is close to a lock, but strong performances by some youngsters in training camp could lead to a surprise start in the AHL. Panik is also an option here if he doesn’t crack the top line.
At least one of Brandon Mashinter or Jordin Tootoo will be on the opening night roster, regardless of what they do in camp. Dennis Rasmussen could also make the roster based on his knowledge of the Blackhawks’ system.
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So what about guys who weren’t with the team last season, or who were there a short amount of time? Let’s talk about Hartman, Vincent Hinostroza, Tanner Kero, Tyler Motte and Kyle Baun.
Hartman, should he not fill Q’s desired Shaw role on the top line, is an easy fit for the bottom six. He offers a little more talent than Shaw did, as he can create plays at a slightly greater rate than Shaw. This is primarily because he’s a bit of a better puck handler than Shaw.
Hinostroza and Kero got short looks with the team last season and didn’t do a lot offensively. Kero projects as more of a defensive center, something the Blackhawks probably don’t need two of on the bottom six. They really need offense instead.
Hinostroza is kind of an unknown quantity. He was quickly pushed back to the AHL after a couple bad games with the Blackhawks. So a good training camp could push him back into Q’s good graces.
Motte is another young guy coming out of college, and someone who has been suggested as a potential top-line talent as well. For starters, if he’s with the NHL team off the bat, I think it’d be good to have him take on weaker competition and provide some offensive strength to the bottom six. Motte is a speedy playmaker, something the Blackhawks’ bottom six hasn’t seen a lot of outside Teuvo Teravainen.
Baun … I don’t want him around the team, but Q seems to have a soft spot for him. Baun cracked the opening night roster last season even though he wasn’t remotely ready for NHL action. After two games, he was banished to the AHL, where he also struggled. However, like with Hinostroza, a good training camp for Baun could sway Q.
Jan 26, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Trevor Van Riemsdyk (57) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Back-end defense options
This is an interesting battle as well. Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brian Campbell are shoo-in options. I think Michal Kempny is a shoo-in as well, though not everyone agrees. He was brought over from the KHL, and I highly doubt the Blackhawks would do that with a player if they just wanted to send him to the AHL.
So that leaves one spot left. And while it may not seem important who fills that spot, the Blackhawks have shown in recent seasons defensive depth is absolutely critical throughout a Stanley Cup run.
The obvious options for this spot are Trevor van Riemsdyk, Erik Gustafsson, Michal Rozsival and Viktor Svedberg. TVR seems highly likely to get the call barring an absolutely awful training camp. He had a miserable sophomore season, doesn’t move particularly well and takes poor lines on plays. But Q loves him, and TVR offers some offensive and shot-blocking upside.
Gustafsson is the young gun who started strong offensively from the blue line last season but had holes poked in his defensive abilities as the season went on. AHL seasoning may be a good option for him right now.
Rozsival is the old guy who keeps returning. He can hardly move, but knows the Blackhawks’ system and how to play stay-at-home defense. He’ll probably be the seventh man. Svedberg, meanwhile, moves about as well as Rozsival but somehow isn’t as good defensively. More AHL seasoning is required for him as well.
Ville Pokka has an outside shot at cracking the roster, coming off his World Cup of Hockey appearance with Finland. But he didn’t look great in that showing, and he hasn’t looked great defensively at the AHL level.
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