Chicago Blackhawks

[Shake]

I thought the canucks might be in on him.
Hawks need some depth on defense though.
Wonder if he would be paired with Leddy?

no, they'll pair Monty with Hjalmarsson

[Shake]

The Blackhawks made a splash on the first day of free agency, signing five players, while living up to offseason promises of getting bigger and finding more grit.

In the process the Hawks got older as well.

Wingers Jamal Mayers, 36, and Andrew Brunette, 37, along with defenseman Sean O'Donnell, 39, and center Brett McLean, 32, all agreed to one year deals Friday. Daniel Carcillo, 26, is the youngest player the Hawks signed Friday, also agreeing to a one-year deal.

Nothing sexy but gives us some grit, depth and toughness.

[Shake]

from NHL.com

Mark McNeill
NHL Central Scouting: “He’s a right-handed center, which is good to have. He’s really composed and has a real pro-style game. He has a nice touch, can dish, and has nice, soft passes. His on-ice awareness is very good and he’s paid attention to detail at both ends of the rink. He has good defensive-zone coverage as well as being offensive at the other end. All around I think he’s got a real solid game. I think his offensive game will improve the older he gets and the more confident he gets. I think he’ll be a better offensive player than he’s showing right now. He’s good at both ends of the rink. He comes down low and helps out defensively.”

Prince Albert GM Bruno Campese: “He’s one of those kids that has the ability to do so many different things, he’s got so much upside to him. He’s a powerful skater and has great hockey sense. He’s got very good basic skills and he’s got the ability to be a real tough person to play against. He’s got the mental capabilities to understand the game as well ... I really believe he has all the attributes. He’s got certain gifts that other players just don’t have. That really bodes well for playing in the NHL.”

Red Line Report: “Shows good positioning at both ends of the ice and always makes himself available as an outlet for teammates. Uses his size to establish and hold position around the slot, but we’d like to see him initiate contact more often and play a more aggressive physical game—somewhat soft. Great offensive zone awareness along with very good creativity and soft hands for a big man. Strong on his stick and tough to separate from the puck. Gets back defensively to help out. Wins a high percentage of his faceoffs. Effective on both special teams.”

Hockeysfuture.com: “If there is a true power forward among the top WHL prospects, it’s most certainly Mark McNeill. When he is at his best, his presence makes opponents tentative. In 70 games this season, McNeill scored 32 times and added 49 assists. He had a taste of playoff activity this season, as the Raiders pushed the highly touted Saskatoon Blades to six games in the first round. McNeill, from Edmonton, Alberta, has been an offensive catalyst in Prince Albert.”

The Hockey News: “With a frame that screams pro, scouts are excited about how strong Mark McNeill can get. Truth is, the young pivot may not even know his own strength right now. But the Prince Albert Raiders star is a smart kid who fast-tracked through high school and was responsible enough as a forward to be trusted with point duties on the first power-play unit. So he’ll figure it out pretty quickly. Hockey sense and composure allowed him to take on that point man role, but McNeill’s best assets are still based on physical aspects. A gym rat who doesn’t take shortcuts when he trains, McNeill played right wing last year, so he’s an adaptable forward and has excellent vision.”

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Philip Danault

Victoriaville (QMJHL) head coach Yanick Jean: “He’s a tremendous worker. He’s dedicated to the game, but now he’s taking more and more leadership and it’s contagious. He has the admiration of every single one of his teammates just on how hard he works. He’ll bring work ethic, dedication and leadership. His passion for the game is unique because he’s the most passionate kid I’ve ever coached. He plays with pride; he’s not the type of kid who thinks he’s better than the next guy, but he challenges himself to be as good if not better.”

Red Line Report: “Had a great second half and playoffs after being shifted back to his natural center position. Has the complete trust of his coaches, who play him on both special teams units and in all tight situations. Though he possesses fine offensive gifts and a non-stop motor, it’s tough to project what role he fills at the next level. In the Q, he’s noticeable every shift and does enough to be a versatile contributor. Cuts to open ice and uses his motor and speed to separate from defenders heading to net. Instinctively identifies and exploits open lanes in the offensive zone. Finishes his chances and also moves the puck to the open man at the right time. Gives an honest effort every shift. But is small and lacks the frame to put on significant muscle mass. Is easily ridden off the puck even at the junior level.”

Hockeysfuture.com: “For a team looking for character and leadership, they need to look no further than Philippe Danault. After a mid-season trade saw Philip-Michael Devos, the captain of the Victoriaville Tigres dealt, the team quickly named the 17-year-old Danault as their new leader.

"Playing in his second year with the Tigres, Danault has improved dramatically thanks to his hard work both on and off the ice. More importantly, when the playoffs rolled around, Danault stepped his game up even more. A key contributor when the Tigres upset the higher-ranked Acadie-Bathurst Titan in a four-game sweep in the first round, Danault also scored two goals, including the game-winner in the only game that the Tigres won in the second round. While this might not sound like much of an achievement, it is worth noting that Victoriaville faced the powerhouse Saint John Sea Dogs as a second round opponent and this was the only game they lost in the post season prior to the league finals. Overall, Danault posted five goals and 15 points in nine playoff games.

"A leader both on and off the ice, Danault’s effort level can never be questioned. Whether it’s scoring a goal, finishing a check or killing a penalty, he plays an all-weather, two-way game. Though he might not be naturally skilled enough to be a scoring forward at the next level, his work ethic should guarantee a future in the NHL.”

The Hockey News: “Some scouts have compared Phillip Danault to 2010 third-rounder Michael Bournival, a fellow QMJHL player who was a late Canadian cut for the WJC. Neither projects to be a top scorer, but they are lauded for their work ethic and character. Danault and top prospect Sean Couturier tied for second in the QMJHL with eight shorthanded points, which is a testament to his ability to excel at both ends of the ice. A member of Canada’s gold-medal team at the Ivan Hlinka tournament, Danault plays an inspired game, but has to get stronger if he wants that style to translate to the NHL level.”

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[Shake]

ADAM CLENDENING, D, Boston University

NHL Central Scouting: “Clendening (jumps) out at you playing on the power play with his high level of finesse and skill. He is an excellent skater and hard to pin down when forechecking. He has a very good shot from the point. He is also very adequate in his own zone.”

Red Line Report: “Plays with an abundance of confidence, using his superb stickhandling and passing to start the transition game. Offensively very smart and gifted—has a great snap shot and deft passing skills. One of the best power play quarterbacks in the entire draft. His vision from the point is great, and he uses a low shot/slap pass for tips while patiently walking the blue line laterally to create lanes. Defensively he was a mess most of the year. Rampant turnovers and a lack of defensive zone awareness are problems—he is way too casual in his puckhandling around the net and allows opposing forwards to camp out around the crease. Does play with a bit of whippy, hard edge, though, and is nasty with the stick.”

Hockeysfuture.com: “Clendening is an offensive defenseman blessed with superb puck-moving ability and on-ice vision. His excellent puck skills are one reason why many scouts are so high on Clendening. He can see plays develop and follows them quite well. He can also be found frequently jumping into plays too. Clendening’s ability to move the puck and patience with it makes him an ideal quarterback on the power play. He makes very good decisions with the puck and distributes the puck very well. Clendening can also control the tempo of the game from the blue line. He is an excellent skater with good speed that can keep up with many of the faster opposing forwards. He also transitions quite well too. One area where Clendening will need to improve is keeping his feet moving more consistently. While he is known for his offensive prowess, Clendening is also solid defensively. He doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game and plays with a good deal of intensity. However, Clendening could stand to utilize his intensity and grit more to the benefit of his team. He possesses a very good shot and can get pucks to the net. As his rookie season at Boston University went along, one area that Clendening showed noticeable improvement in was the quality of shots he was taking."

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BRANDON SAAD, LW, Saginaw (OHL)
NHL Central Scouting: “Brandon has very good speed and agility and that makes him dangerous, he’s solid on his skates and fights through checks very well. He plays a solid two-way game and is very responsible defensively.”

Red Line Report: “Top-end talent had a very inconsistent year in his Major Junior debut. At times was a dominating force who controlled the play nearly every shift, but too often was a passenger and ended up being a disappointing underachiever in our eyes. Has every tool in the shed with size/strength, hockey sense and puck skills. Has a rocket shot with a pro-caliber release, and soft hands to feather passes on the tape. Oddly, his skating stride seemed to regress this year, though he’s still very strong on his pegs and difficult to knock off the puck. Lack of production the last quarter of the season and playoffs is a real concern—simply stopped driving aggressively toward the net. If he gets back to playing a hard-edged game with consistent effort, he could be a real steal if he falls to the second half of the first round.”

Hockeysfuture.com: “Saad is a solid, physical two-way player, who has seen his stock fall after missing out on the U.S. junior team and struggling through a persistent groin injury. In the end, he finished with 27 goals and 28 assists in 59 games. One thing that scouts like about Saad is his versatility. He’s proven proficient in all aspects of the game, playing on the power play, the penalty kill, and being a physical force in the five-on-five game.”

The Hockey News: “There are scouts who believe that, from a physical standpoint, Saad is ready to jump to the NHL next season. His game is raw and could use seasoning, but scouts like what they see. And while he put up respectable totals this season, he didn’t do as much as some people would have liked. Expectations ran high for Saad when he chose the OHL over the college route after coming from the U.S. national team development program. He scored 20 goals in the first half of the season and just seven the rest of the way. Scouts do like how strong he is on the puck and how responsible he is in all zones.”

[Shake]

New Blackhawks jersey numbers

Montador will wear #5
O'Donnell will wear #6
Carcillo will wear #13
Brunette will wear #15
Mayers will wear #22
Olesz will wear #85


Also Hawks announce prospect camp roster

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=70014

[Shake]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5961

Campoli and Stalberg file for arbitration..



your move, Bowman.

[tomekz1283]

What do you think the opening night lineup will look like? More importantly, where does Frolik play?

[Shake]

What do you think the opening night lineup will look like? More importantly, where does Frolik play?

I think more nights than not you'll find the lines and pairing such as this:

Brunette Toews Kane
Stalberg Sharp Hossa
Bickell Bolland Frolik
Carcillo Mayers Olesz


Keith Seabrook
Hjarlmasson Montador
Campoli Leddy
O'Donnell Scott

[loco man]

I'm interested in Bolland. I see him as a third line guy, like you have said, but Angus seems to feel that he is set in the top six.

What do you expect from him this year? 2nd PP and 45-50 points seems about right? Any chance he breaks out this year and hits 60, or is he more of a 2 way guy?

thanks

[Shake]

I'm interested in Bolland. I see him as a third line guy, like you have said, but Angus seems to feel that he is set in the top six.

What do you expect from him this year? 2nd PP and 45-50 points seems about right? Any chance he breaks out this year and hits 60, or is he more of a 2 way guy?

thanks

Hawks offense is pretty deep. Bolland is definitely a 2 way guy. 45-50 points is right about where he'll end up. The only way I see him sniffing anything more is if injury occurs and he moves up to a top 6 line. He'll be PP2 when he does play on PP.

[Shake]

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2011...ference-signed

Reports are circulating that Frolik has or will sign a 3 yr / $6.9 deal. We shall see if true or not.

[dyzfunctioned]

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2011...ference-signed

Reports are circulating that Frolik has or will sign a 3 yr / $6.9 deal. We shall see if true or not.

Interesting deal. Probably more than the Hawks want to pay, but decent deal for both sides.

In other breaking news - Toews to EDM for Gagner and Strudwick!

[dyzfunctioned]

Looks like you were right! Also signed Lepisto.

[Shake]

With Lepisto now in the fold, Bowman has indicated NO DEAL for Campoli. They will part ways.


http://twitter.com/#!/NHLBlackhawks/...70008611168257

[Shake]

Kane discusses wrist surgery.

http://video.blackhawks.nhl.com/vide...=690&id=120864