Zawaski: Blackhawks' 2015-'16 Training Camp Primer
By Jay Zawaski--
(CBS) This was supposed to be an awesome summer for the Blackhawks. This was supposed to be a celebration of a gutsy, intense and hard-fought Stanley Cup championship and coronation of a dynasty. It wasn't.
First, the Hawks had to dump salary. Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp were the highest-profile losses and the toughest to take. However, that pales in comparison to the disappointment, frustration and anger most Hawks fans have been feeling since early August, when news of the Patrick Kane sexual assault case first came to light.
Since then, it's been ugly. Fans fighting with fans. Media fighting with media. Fans fighting with media.
On Thursday, the Hawks made it all worse by putting on a tone-deaf fiasco of a press conference at Notre Dame. After his initial statement, Kane didn't (and couldn't) answer any non-hockey questions. Team president John McDonough puffed out his chest and talked about the "Camelot" Blackhawks. The Hawks tried to steer the discussion toward hockey, but it was impossible. The team would have been better off issuing a statement via email Wednesday and focusing strictly on hockey without Kane near the microphones.
Regardless, hockey season is already upon us, with the first training camp practice underway Friday morning at Notre Dame.
We are on the cusp of one of the most important and competitive Blackhawks training camps in a long, long time. Aside from the losses of Saad and Sharp, the Hawks also need to find replacements for Kris Versteeg, Brad Richards and Antoine Vermette. The competition for those forward spots will be intense.
Let's take a look at at the top candidates to fill in the holes.
Forwards
Locks
We know the Blackhawks will be led by Jonathan Toews, Kane (pending his legal situation) and Marian Hossa up front. There's plenty of talent alongside them as well.
In the Saad trade with Columbus, Chicago acquired a pair of skilled forwards who will be starters from day one.
Center Artem Anisimov is a lock for the second- or third-line center position. Standing 6-foot-4, Anisimov's a towering centerman. He's not overly physical but is effective on both ends of the ice. If he finds himself paired with Kane or Hossa, it's safe to assume his production will rise. Last season, he registered seven goals and 20 assists in 52 games.
Winger Marko Dano is a 20-year-old speedster who made his NHL debut last season. He played in 35 games with Columbus, posting eight goals and 13 assists. Looking deeper at his numbers really makes Dano an exciting prospect. Last year, Dano averaged 2.7 points per 60 minutes of ice time. That's sixth overall for players who played 250 minutes or more. Sixth place puts him right between Tyler Seguin and Vladimir Tarasenko. Make no mistake: Dano was the key piece in the Saad deal.
Ryan Garbutt was acquired in the Sharp trade with Dallas and will be a fixture on the bottom six. He brings the physical, veteran presence that coach Joel Quenneville adores. His acquisition, paired with the re-signing of Andrew Desjardins, is a little confusing, however. Andrew Shaw, Garbutt and Desjardins are a bit redundant. I do believe Shaw will spend a lot of time on the top two lines, but even in that case, it's quite crowded on the bottom six. With the Hawks still tight against the cap, there could be another move coming.
The playoffs were a coming out party for Teuvo Teravainen, who scored 10 points in 18 games. This summer, Quenneville said he'd like to see Teravainen play center. Whether that's on the second or third line remains to be seen. Either way, it's safe to assume a major increase in his number totals. The kid has proved reliable and ready.
Likely solutions
The most exciting player in this season's camp is left winger Artemi Panarin, who was signed back in May, a move that fell under the radar with the playoffs underway. If he doesn't lock up a top-six winger position, it will be a huge surprise. Last season, Panarin finished fourth in scoring in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, with 62 points in 54 games. There will be a slight adjustment to the North American game, but at 23, Panarin's transition should come a bit faster than Teravainen's did when he came to the NHL.
Viktor Tikhonov is another intriguing Russian import. He spent one season in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2009, with mixed results. He's spent the last four seasons of his career in the KHL, posting respectable numbers. Calling Tikhonov an underachiever might be a bit of an overstatement, but it's fair to say a bit more was expected of his career. Perhaps he can get back on track in Chicago. He can play all three forward positions, though he projects as a left wing on the Blackhawks. If his name sounds familiar, it should. Tikhonov is the grandson of the long-time Red Army coach of the same name.
Bryan Bickell was expected to be moved in the offseason and believe me, the Blackhawks tried. The combination of his vertigo, his salary and overall lack of production made him unmovable. He's another in a glut of bottom-six forwards. If the Hawks want to try to maximize his numbers, they could try him on the top line with Toews and Hossa. If he can't produce there, he can't produce anywhere. He's had success with Toews in the past. The bottom line is that Bickell can't be counted on to be the top offensive option on a line. If another team comes sniffing, I'd expect the Hawks to pull the trigger as soon as possible.
Darkhorses
Over the years, the Blackhawks have drafted a plethora of depth forwards who haven't gotten the chance to play in Chicago. Many of these players would be regulars on many NHL teams, but the Hawks have been so stacked up front, it's been hard to find opportunities for these players.
Mark McNeill was drafted 18th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2011 draft. He was one of the most impressive forwards in the preseason last year but couldn't crack the lineup. If he puts together another strong camp, he may finally earn an extended look. If he doesn't, he might be out of chances.
Ryan Hartman, Chicago's first-round pick in 2013, played in a handful of games with the Hawks last season. He had an impressive hit in his first shift but didn't do much else in his stint. He's a feisty, physical winger with some scoring upside, but at this point projects on the bottom six. However, it's safe to assume Hartman would be one of the top two or three options for a call-up, should a regular get injured or miss time for other reasons.
Poor Jeremy Morin, perpetually in Quenneville's doghouse, is back via the Saad trade. I actually feel bad for the guy. Here he thought he was finally going to get a chance with another team, and he's back here -- likely left to rot in Rockford. If a top-six winger goes down, maybe he gets a look. I would bet that he'll get a lot of scoring chances in the preseason, then shoot the puck directly into the goalie's chest, as is tradition.
Defensemen
The top four defensive slots for the Blackhawks are pretty much set in stone. Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and newly acquired Trevor Daley are locks. The bottom pair? That remains an enormous question.
For all of his tools, David Rundblad doesn't seem to be on the verge of the "next step" that many (general manager Stan Bowman included) were hoping for. He is what he is. In the offensive zone, he's poetry in motion. In the neutral or defensive zone, hold on to your hat. When pressured, Rundblad handles the puck like a hand grenade. He can't be trusted in big moments of a game, but with limited ice time and protected zone starts, he's adequate -- but still miles from ideal.
Trevor van Riemsdyk was the surprise of last year's training camp. He flat-out stole jobs from Adam Clendening and Klas Dahlbeck. After suffering several major injuries, including a fractured kneecap, he returned for the Stanley Cup Final, though he only averaged 7:00 per game in that series. Can van Riemsdyk grow his game and become an everyday defenseman? We'll find out. He is the biggest wild card for the Hawks this season.
As far as prospects go, there are three names with real shots of playing this season.
Viktor Svedberg was reportedly extremely close to playing in the playoffs last year. At 6-foot-8, 238 pounds, Svedberg is an imposing physical specimen. Obviously, that gives him a huge advantage in reach, strength and bulk. He's not the strongest skater, however. If he can get his skating ability up to snuff, he might be a real option. He has shutdown potential, but it will take time to get him to that level.
Ville Pokka, acquired in the Nick Leddy trade in October 2014, put together a solid season in Rockford last year. A 21-year-old Finn, Pokka has a ton of offensive upside and isn't one-dimensional. To me, he's the Hawks' most intriguing defensive prospect. He fits the Hawks scheme well and seems to be poised for the next step in his career, though I'd be surprised if he started the season on the big club. It would take a tremendous camp for that to happen.
Erik Gustafsson was signed in late April. He's spent his entire pro career playing in Sweden and recorded solid offensive numbers. I'd be lying to say I knew much about his game, but Bowman is high on him. If he has a good camp, he'll get a look for sure.
There are also a pair of journeymen defensemen at camp on a tryout basis. Lubomir Visnovsky and Jan Hejda provide intriguing options for Quenneville, who may favor a player with experience over a rookie at this point.
Hejda, 37, is a defensive defenseman exclusively. He also had a pretty poor season in Colorado last season. If he can get it together defensively, he could be a good option to help ease the stress on van Riemsdyk or Rundblad.
More intriguing than Hejda is Visnovsky, 38, who brings the puck-moving style of play that the Hawks love. He's small but can skate and contribute on the power play. If the Hawks can get him to sign for a cap-friendly contract, I love the idea.
Michal Rozsival (remember him?) has also been invited to camp. After he broke his ankle in the playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, it's hard to imagine him coming back to even the level he played at last season. He was slow before the injury. I can't imagine how he'll look today.
I'd be absolutely shocked if the Hawks don't begin the season with either Hejda or Visnovsky on the roster. Visnovsky is the better player but may cost more.
Goalies
This is the Hawks' most solidified position. Corey Crawford and Scott Darling will begin (and likely end) the season as Chicago's goaltending tandem. The camp battle will be for the third spot.
Michael Leighton will likely win the job over Mac Carruth and Brandon Hope. With Antti Raanta gone to the Rangers and Darling on the big club, the organization's goalie depth leaves something to be desired. Regardless, the NHL situation is solid, and that's what really matters.
The Blackhawks play a preseason game against the Red Wings on Tuesday night. Keep an eye on these competitions. It should be exciting and intriguing.
Jay Zawaski is the executive producer of the Spiegel and Goff Show on 670 The Score and the Blackhawks columnist for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayZawaski670.
