The Chicago Blackhawks are getting into the third season of their rebuild. The primary two seasons have been all about tearing down and beginning over. This 2024-25 season is the start of constructing again up once more. The group was busy this offseason, buying gamers to offer extra help to their younger core (particularly Connor Bedard). However rebuilds take time, endurance and numerous strategic choices. How are you going to greatest develop your prospects? How do you stability your wage cap; not only for one season, however for the longer term as effectively? And the way do you place all of the puzzle items in place so all the things comes collectively on the similar time?

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Properly, let’s not get too far forward of ourselves. These are choices for the large brass to find out, not the followers and the media. However we certain do wish to put our two cents in, don’t we?! One query that appears to be arising repeatedly in Blackhawks’ circles is that this; will all the brand new veterans be holding again the prospects?

Let’s dissect that query to see if we will come to some conclusions.  

Too Many Veterans for the Blackhawks?

Everyone knows by now that the Blackhawks added loads of veteran presence to their 2024-25 roster throughout the offseason. Right here’s a breakdown of all of the gamers who’re 30 years or older, or who will flip 30 throughout the season, and the way for much longer every contract runs:

That’s 14 gamers who will probably be 30 years or older throughout the season. Wow, that’s form of numerous “outdated” guys taking over roster spots. With a 23-man roster, that solely leaves 9 spots for youthful gamers and prospects.

If we take a look at the remainder of the roster, the gamers who will seemingly take the remaining 9 spots are Bedard, Philipp Kurashev, Lukas Reichel, Jason Dickinson (simply turned 29, so doesn’t depend for above), Ryan Donato, Joey Anderson, Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski and Wyatt Kaiser.

However what about these gamers who arguably could possibly be prepared for the NHL, like Frank Nazar, Landon Slaggert, Isaak Phillips and Louis Crevier? Then there’s additionally some longshots, resembling ahead Colton Dach and defensemen Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan and, in fact, 2024 second total draft decide Artyom Levshunov.

For these kids, their close to future definitely appears to be like certain for the AHL Rockford IceHogs, contemplating the plethora of veterans that now make up the Blackhawks. Plus, let’s not overlook head coach Luke Richardson’s affinity for the veterans. Bear in mind final season when he saved on taking part in Jarred Tinordi as a substitute of somebody like Kaiser of Phillips? On the time, Richardson was utilizing Tinordi as a little bit of a watchdog on the market. However he additionally leaned into taking part in 34-year-old Tyler Johnson for 67 video games over youthful gamers resembling Reese Johnson and MacKenzie Entwistle.

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Let’s face it; coaches like consistency, and that’s what you normally get with extra skilled gamers. I might see wanting to stay with consistency versus a comparatively unknown teen, who’s inevitably going to make numerous errors.

Additionally, bear in mind the veteran gamers are there to enrich the younger talent gamers which are already within the NHL, resembling Bedard, Kurashev and Reichel. It’s solely going to raise their play transferring ahead, which is required. These children ought to really feel like they’re valued and given the best instruments to succeed. The veterans can do this. (from ‘Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson: Offseason strikes will create higher growth path in NHL, AHL’, The AthleticCHI – 7/5/2024).

However did they really want so lots of them?!

Hope for the Up-And-Coming Blackhawks

All proper. Let’s take a look at the opposite facet of the coin, and think about why this could possibly be an excellent factor for the Blackhawks, and for the children. There are a selection of the explanation why they shouldn’t be discouraged.

Most Veterans Are Placeholders

If you happen to reference the checklist of gamers above, all of them besides 4 are solely signed to 1 or two-year offers. Certain, there’s Bertuzzi at fours years, and naturally everyone knows former normal supervisor Stan Bowman signed Jones for the subsequent 100 years (sorry, six extra seasons) as effectively. Teravainen and Mikheyev are each on the books for 3 extra seasons. I assume the excellent news is all 4 of those gamers are the youngest of the “outdated” guys.

Everybody else, however, is simply signed for one or two extra seasons. That means there’s not an entire lot of cash or time period dedicated to those gamers. The Blackhawks have given themselves numerous flexibility right here. When these participant contracts run out, the youthful gamers must be primed to step proper in.

Improvement in Rockford Ought to Pay Off

Moreover, is it such a foul factor to spend a few seasons in Rockford?! It labored splendidly for defenseman Vlasic, who had a breakout 2023-24 marketing campaign after spending a full season as a prime canine with the IceHogs. Kaiser additionally began with the Blackhawks final season. However he struggled out of the gate, after which spent a few months with the IceHogs. He got here again in late March trying like a very totally different participant. A lot in order that’s he’s a favourite to make the crew for good this season.

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Take Reichel. Properly, there’s a number of theories why Reichel struggled a lot final season; considered one of them being he was compelled to play on a checking line, and never put able to play to his strengths. However regardless, time in Rockford was good for him too, as he completed the season on a excessive notice with the Blackhawks.  

Accidents Will Issue In

What occurs when you might have a bunch of 30-somethings in your crew? Yeah, it’s evitable that accidents will occur. Much more so while you’re a veteran whose physique has run the gauntlet of so many grinding seasons.

Gamers are going to get damage, and when that occurs, it will likely be a next-man-up mentality, and a chance for the prospects to get a style of the NHL. This really occurred rather a lot final season; far more than the Blackhawks actually wished. Rookies have been thrown into the hearth when perhaps they weren’t fairly prepared. Typically occasions that may hinder a prospect’s growth. That is most likely a cause the group may need gone slightly overboard with their veteran signings.

Right here’s a listing of the youthful gamers from final season, and what number of video games every performed.

That’s 10 prospects who suited up for video games within the 2023-24 season, 5 of them making their NHL debuts. Some may need benefited from their time with the large membership. Others may need been overwhelmed, and it affected their confidence. In spite of everything, everyone seems to be totally different; everybody learns on a special curve, or responds differently.

The purpose right here is the Blackhawks will seemingly have loads of alternatives to present the youthful gamers probabilities. Plus, they’ve extra depth now. This may permit them to find out who will profit from totally different conditions, and truly be capable to execute it. Briefly, they’ll have extra choices to present everybody an opportunity to succeed.

The Balancing Act for the Blackhawks

All of that is going to make for a really attention-grabbing season for the Blackhawks. The plethora of veteran gamers will instantly make the crew higher, and provides the youthful expert gamers a leg up from final season. The followers ought to profit from watching higher hockey, and the crew will profit from extra successful.

Sure, the Blackhawks wish to be higher this season than they’ve been the previous few seasons. Nevertheless it’s most likely slightly far-fetched for them to have playoff aspirations. So, sprinkling within the kids right here and there must be a precedence. Regardless of the errors they may inevitably make, it will also be a studying expertise to construct upon their growth. The prospects will get their probabilities, whereas additionally studying from time effectively spent in Rockford. They received’t be rushed or compelled into unfavorable positions, like many have been final season. Moreover, the veterans received’t be round endlessly, so the youngsters can stay up for ultimately entering into their sneakers.

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It’s a balancing act, for certain. It is going to be fascinating to see how the group juggles the outdated and the brand new all through the season. However I consider the Blackhawks are in an excellent place to greatest make the most of their veterans in addition to develop their youth.

Let the video games start!