Dynasty League: Year 1

[IRNMN]

Patrick Kane agreed to a 3yr deal. Obviously the Hawks wanted him in camp and expect him to play some time this season so hopfully he can produce.

[chicagofan71]

[BoyGenius]

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1. Location-

2. Favorite Current Blackhawk-

3. Favorite Former Blackhawk-

4. What other teams in the NHL do you root for?

5. Other sports you enjoy? What other sporting teams do you root for?

6. Anything else you care to share?

[IRNMN]

1. Location- Chicago, IL

2. Favorite Current Blackhawk- Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook

3. Favorite Former Blackhawk- Tony Amonte

4. What other teams in the NHL do you root for? I really don't root for others, but I guess I would say Edmonton and Calgary.

5. Other sports you enjoy? What other sporting teams do you root for? Baseball, Basketball, Lacross, Football, ect. Cubs, Bulls, Shamrox, and Packers

6. Anything else you care to share? Nope

[cynomatic]

Centers

Pat Kane --Kane led Canadian juniors as a rookie with 62 goals and 145 points for the London Knights. That was a year after he broke Phil Kessel's scoring records with the United States National Development Program. He was the OHL's rookie of the month in November, February and March. Kane had five goals and four assists for the bronze-medal winning American team at the World Junior Championship. Kane is undersized, but fears nothing and moves well with the puck in traffic. He's a great scorer and better passer and has outplayed the bigger guys at every level.

The Blackhawks are hoping Kane can step right into the lineup. If not, he'll return to London for another junior season.

"Pat Kane can play any forward position," Tallon said. "We had him, a left-hand shot, on right wing with Toews. Pat can also play center or on his natural wing.

"Toews and Kane were terrific together. They just had a presence on the ice. They knew where everyone was going and where the puck was. Pat makes great short passes in traffic. They read off each other so well and were always around the puck.

"The World Juniors is really a tournament for 19-year-olds. Pat was 18, but he and Toews were arguably the two best players, along with the Russian, Alexei Cherepanov. That's when Pat really opened our eyes. He just continued to get better and better. I kept watching him through the OHL playoffs and his size was never a factor. He always had the puck in traffic, won the battles against the bigger players and made other players better around him.

"Numbers don't lie. He always get his points. He's got a good chance to play for us. He's going to get at least 10 games, that's for sure."

Jonathan Toews --Toews started slowly as a sophomore at the University of North Dakota last fall, but came alive at the World Juniors, scoring four goals and adding three assists. He returned to the Fighting Sioux a different player and ended his freshman season with 46 points in 34 games, finishing second on his team in goals and third in scoring. Toews is seen as a complete player, offensively potent and responsible defensively. He also played for Canada in the World Championship, scoring twice and adding five assists.

"Jonathan became a more confident player after the World Juniors," Tallon said. "Once he scored those winning goals and won the gold medal, he built on that and became a better and better player. He's as good defensively as offensively.

"I think he'll play for us this season. He's a well-rounded player, one of the better ones I've seen. From what we saw in prospects' camp, there's a strong likelihood he'll play for us. This kid won't fail. He won't let himself fail. He's very mature for his age and a very solid citizen. He's already played in the World Championship and he hadn't turned 19 yet. He was one of the better players there, against the best players in the world. That showed me right there he was ready to play."

Dave Bolland --After winning the Memorial Cup, Bolland returned to the London Knights for a 57-goal, 130-point season in 2005-06. It was a different story last year as the Norfolk Admirals taught Bolland professional-level defensive responsibilities. He had a slow start, but finished well to post 17 goals and 32 assists in 65 games. Bolland was also called for 104 penalty minutes in his last season in London, so he plays with a bit of an edge.

"He's just getting better," Tallon said. "His first half last year was tough. He was one of our last cuts last year at training camp, went down and got hurt. It was just nagging injuries and in the second half, he was one of Norfolk's best players. Dave worked extremely hard with Dan Jansen, our skating instructor. He's a real good hockey player, who has a lot of passion for the game. And he's got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. He's a hockey player; that's what he is, a throwback. He's very good down low with the puck and very competitive."

Left winger


The Blackhawks like left winger Michael Blunden's size and toughness.

Michael Blunden -- Blunden's game incorporates using his big, 6-foot-3, 207-pound body effectively. He was doing a good job of that early last season when he had four goals and nine points in 17 games before suffering a serious shoulder injury. The Blackhawks shut down Blunden so that he would be healthy for the start of this season. He's always been a moderate scorer, but had a breakout season in his fourth year in juniors when he had 46 goals and 84 points for the Erie Otters.

"Michael had surgery and he looks terrific," Tallon said. "He's as fit as anyone in the organization. Michael worked hard to get back. He has been very committed. Blunden is a big kid who can skate and he has a shot. His size and skating ability and overall play will be a big asset for us in the future. He hasn't played much hockey recently because of the injury. He'll get a really good look at training camp. We like his size, skating and toughness. He's a good player at every level because he complements other people. Blunden is a big power forward who goes hard to the net and finishes his checks, a big aggressive kid."

Right wingers

Jack Skille --If University of Wisconsin fans are upset that Skille left the Badgers after his sophomore season, at least they can thank and remember him for his game-winning one-timer against Cornell that put Wisconsin in the Frozen Four for the first time in 14 years. Skille, 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, probably got all he could out of Wisconsin, considering he started slowly and was one of his team's best players by season's end. After signing with Chicago, Skille played nine games with Norfolk and had four goals and eight points. He also played in three Calder Cup playoff games.

"He was a point-a-game player for Norfolk after he finished his college season," Tallon said. "Jack has great size and speed and is hard to pull down. He goes hard to the net and has good skills. His skills are underestimated because of his size. He has very good skills down low and a hard shot. He had a good prospects' camp and he's coming to training camp. At worst, he's going to Rockford, 45 minutes away, and will probably play some NHL games this season."

Troy Brouwer -- When Brouwer doubled his previous scoring totals in his final season with Moose Jaw, to 49 goals and 102 points, people attributed that to his being older than his rivals. But when the scoring kept coming last season at Norfolk, he was looked at in a whole new light. Brouwer started fast and kept it going, posting 41 goals and 79 points. He made the AHL All-Rookie Team and Second All-Star team. Brouwer is 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds.

"He's got a chance to play here this year," Tallon said. "He picked up his skating and he has a nice release on his shot. Troy is a goal scorer and he's committed, a great kid. I've had a lot of teams asking for him. Troy has a great shot. The only question mark was his skating and that has improved dramatically. If he can get a little better, he has a really good chance."

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid...e&service=page

[cynomatic]

Defenseman

Dustin Byfuglien -- Byfuglien is huge at 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds, but he can skate well for a big man. Byfuglien led the Admirals' defensemen with 44 points while picking up 146 penalty minutes. He played in the AHL All-Star Game and was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team. His strong play earned him a spot on the Blackhawks' defense for 25 games.

"He's got a really good chance," Tallon said. "He's huge and has a lot of ability. He also has a cannon for a shot. Although he'll play at 252 pounds, he has a lot of mobility. Dustin made a commitment to fitness. That was a concern when we drafted him but he's made huge strides in that regard. He's matured a lot in the past couple of years."

Goalie

Corey Crawford -- Crawford broke the Norfolk record with 38 wins in 60 games last season and was voted by his teammates as the co-MVP. After four solid years with the Moncton Wildcats, Crawford has shown steady improvement in the AHL. Crawford was the AHL Goalie of the Month for October when he went 4-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage to start the 2006-07 season, leading Norfolk to its longest winning streak in almost five years. Crawford played two games for Chicago two years ago but none last season.

"We're very high on him because he's gotten better every year," Tallon said. "Corey may be Player No. 1 of the future, that's what we think the potential is. He can become our starting goalie in time. He has good size and is getting a lot of experience. He's very technically sound and good positionally. He doesn't give you a lot of room. Corey has to get stronger and he's working on it. He played 58 games last year. That was a big step for him and he may have run out of gas in the playoffs. Corey realizes he has to raise his fitness to avoid being tired. We're going to be very patient with him. We're in good shape for now with Nikolai Khabibulin so we can take our time with Corey."

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid...e&service=page

[IRNMN]

Since when is Kane a center? He's a winger. You would think the NHL would know that.

[IRNMN]

Well everyone on the first list I am anxious to see. Kane and Toews are pretty much a lock for a spot. All they have to do is not suck. Bolland is really the guy I think could be somthing. He may never see the 1st line W/the Hawks nor should he. Also he is capable of being a wing if needed. He is a very solid player. Brouwer I think can be a special player. He is agressive and smart. He can put the puck in the net. He could be a major impact guy this year if he can keep scoring. I have never seen Blunden, but I have heard good thing. But I am a guy who says i'll believe it when I see it. Skille is a fast and talented playmaker. He could also be somthing very special. I would expect to see him on line 2.

[IRNMN]

I really like Byfuglien. He can be a complete beast. He has gotten a lot better since joining the Hawks. He has converted that fat of his to muscle and increased speed. Crawford could drive the Bulin Wall out early if he can keep up the good work. He is almost a balance of stick/glove speed.

[chicagofan71]

^Don't forget Blunden. He could be a solid player, IMO, along with Skille

[cubfan23]

anyone know if Skille has a chance to make the team this year?

[IRNMN]

anyone know if Skille has a chance to make the team this year?

Yeah it is very likely expecially if some of the vets play continues decline. I say there is a 45% chance he makes it out of camp and 80% he play for the Hawks sometime this season.

[IRNMN]

Blackhawks Top 20 Prospects

1. Jonathan Toews, C
2. Patrick Kane, RW
3. Cam Barker, D
4. Troy Brouwer, RW
5. Jack Skille, RW
6. Dustin Byfuglien, D
7. Dave Bolland, C
8. Danny Richmond, D
9. Evan Brophey, C
10. Igor Makarov, RW
11. Petri Kontiola, C
12. Michael Blunden, RW
13. Niklas Hjalmarsson, D
14. Corey Crawford, G
15. Nathan Davis, C
16. Simon Danis-Pepin, D
17. Billy Sweatt, LW
18. Akim Aliu, C
19. Bryan Bickell, LW
20. Dan Bertram, RW

Hockeys Future

[cubfan23]

i guess Kane scored like 5 goals in a minor league warm up game recently. So hopefully he doesnt get hurt in the NHL cause we need him and Toews to help Havlat out.

[IRNMN]

On the plus side look at the amount of centers we have. That has been a gaping hole for the Hawks for a long time. A lot of them may be future trade bait or be move around.