{"id":27753,"date":"2018-04-24T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=27753"},"modified":"2018-04-24T04:50:24","modified_gmt":"2018-04-24T08:50:24","slug":"chicago-blackhawks-rebuild-begins-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/04\/24\/chicago-blackhawks-rebuild-begins-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0Rebuild Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Despite the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/blackhawks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks<\/a> not making the playoffs this NHL season, there is still a lot happening with the team as it prepares for the long summer ahead. As the Blackhawks rebuild begins, they have several Restricted Free Agents (RFA\u2019s) to take care of this summer. They also have the upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/\/2018-nhl-entry-draft-headquarters\/\" target=\"_self\">2018 NHL Draft<\/a> to prepare for in June. As well as evaluating the newest crop of Free Agents (UFA\u2019s) that will be available.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0also have several of their prospects playing for the Rockford Ice Hogs in the AHL playoffs. All of these will\u00a0factor\u00a0into how the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a02018-19 team roster\u00a0is finalized\u00a0by general manager <strong>Stan Bowman<\/strong> and his staff.<\/p>\n<h1>Blackhawks\u00a0Rebuild Steps<\/h1>\n<h2>Restricted Free Agents<\/h2>\n<p>The\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0have several players who are now RFAs after the end of the season:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/duclaan01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Duclair<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 $1.2 million, 23 games played, two goals, six assists<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/haydejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Hayden<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 $925,000, 47 games played, four goals, nine assists<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tomas\u00a0Jurco<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 $800,000,\u00a0 29 games played, six goals, four assists<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vinnie\u00a0Hinostroza<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 $717,500, 50 games played, seven goals, 18 assists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tomas\u00a0Jurco\u00a0and Anthony\u00a0Duclair\u00a0both struggled to produce for the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0when in the lineup. It will be interesting to watch how Stan Bowman handles these two players this summer. Hopefully, Bowman doesn&#8217;t overpay for them causing another salary cap problem down the line.<\/p>\n<p>John Hayden and Vinnie\u00a0Hinostroza\u00a0are two young talented players with a plenty of potential. At\u00a06-foot-3 and\u00a0223 pounds, Hayden has the makings of a power\u00a0forward\u00a0for a team sorely lacking in size up front. Vinnie\u00a0Hinostroza\u00a0showed flashes at the third and fourth line centre spots and is sound defensively. Both would make excellent additions to the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0lineup next season.<\/p>\n<h3>Draft Anyone?<\/h3>\n<p>The Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks currently\u00a0have the seventh overall pick in the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft. They now have a 6.5% chance of winning the April 28th draft lottery and moving up to the first overall pick. There are many fans hoping for a repeat of the 2007 draft magic that saw the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0winning the lottery and getting the number one pick. That 2007 number one pick\u00a0was used\u00a0to select superstar <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kanepa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Kane<\/a><\/strong>. The drafting of Kane first overall was a major part of the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0run of three Stanley Cups in six seasons. After the disappointing 2017-18 season, winning the draft lottery would help ease the\u00a0pain and suffering\u00a0shared by many of the Blackhawk faithful.<\/p>\n<p>Barring a lucky break, the\u00a0Blackhawks should be\u00a0in good shape at the seventh draft\u00a0position. They also have a late first-round draft pick acquired in the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hartmry01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Hartman<\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2018\/02\/26\/ryan-hartman-moving\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">trade with the <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/predators\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nashville Predators<\/a>. Overall they have eight picks in this years NHL Draft. They\u00a0should be\u00a0able to do well with the two first-round picks in what\u00a0is being called\u00a0a solid draft class.<\/p>\n<h3>Draft Rankings<\/h3>\n<p>For more on the upcoming draft rankings, check this out from Steve\u00a0Kournianos\u00a0of The Sporting News.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Right wing Andrei\u00a0Svechnikov\u00a0was on a 60-goal pace and was the Ontario Hockey League\u2019s Rookie of the Year after winning the same award in the\u00a0USHL\u00a0the season before.\u00a0Rasmus\u00a0Dahlin\u00a0was dominant in the\u00a0SHL\u00a0as a 17-year-old defenseman and is all but guaranteed\u00a0to be\u00a0the first player taken. But neither he nor\u00a0Svechnikov\u00a0has done enough to definitively prove one prospect has the higher upside than the other. Signs point to the duo making immediate impacts for their eventual NHL clubs, and their expected success should\u00a0render\u00a0their eventual draft position\u00a0as nothing but a mere footnote.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Available Free Agents<\/h3>\n<p>Depending on where the NHL salary cap ends up next season, the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0may be\u00a0able to secure a free agent to help their team. It would be sweet for them to sign a top two defenseman. Unfortunately they will probably not be able to afford one without making a trade to free up more cap room. Even though <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/2018\/03\/18\/the-chicago-blackhawks-defense-corps-gamble\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bowman has his D corps locked up for next season<\/a>, another top\u00a0defenseman\u00a0would really help out the inexperienced D crew.<\/p>\n<p>For the latest on the top free agents available, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thehockeynews.com\/news\/article\/the-top-30-unrestricted-free-agents-of-2018\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">enjoy this from Matt Larkin of thehockeynews.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;The 2018 free agent class is top-heavy. At least until the best of the current pending\u00a0UFAs\u00a0re-sign with their clubs, which is always possible between now and July 1, the open market will produce major bidding wars for some top-notch offensive players, many of them younger than 30. After the top 10 names or so, headlined by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/tavarjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Tavares<\/a> and followed by the likes of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/carlsjo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Carlson<\/a>, James van\u00a0Riemsdyk\u00a0and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/nealja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">James Neal<\/a>, there\u2019s a precipitous drop in talent. We get a sea of aging former stars and grinder\u00a0defensemen. If the big names like Tavares sign early, we might end up with one of the weakest\u00a0UFA\u00a0classes of all-time.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Hogs Gone Wild<\/h3>\n<p>After the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0season ended, the team assigned forwards <strong>John Hayden<\/strong>, <strong>David\u00a0Kampf<\/strong>, <strong>Andreas\u00a0Martinsen<\/strong> and <strong>Victor\u00a0Ejdsell<\/strong> and goaltenders <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/glassje01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeff Glass<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/berubje02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jean-Francois Berube<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to the Rockford\u00a0 Ice Hogs\u00a0of the AHL. All of these players spent time with Chicago at the NHL level this past season. They will gain valuable experience playing in the AHL playoffs for Rockford against the Chicago Wolves.<\/p>\n<p>All eyes are on the Rockford Ice Hogs as they head into game three of their first-round playoff match-up.\u00a0 They lead 2-0 in the series and look to close out the best of five series Thursday night in Chicago.<\/p>\n<h4>Blackhawks Youth Shines<\/h4>\n<p>Many of the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0youth are contributing to the success of the Hogs against the Wolves. <strong>Victor\u00a0Ejdsell<\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/highmma01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matthew Highmore<\/a><\/strong>, <strong>John Hayden<\/strong>, <strong>Andreas\u00a0Martinsen<\/strong>, <strong>David\u00a0Kampf<\/strong>, and others will benefit tremendously if the Hogs can make a long run in the playoffs. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/deliaco01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Collin Delia<\/a><\/strong> is also gaining experience in net for the Hogs. After leading them in the chase for a playoff spot, he&#8217;s playing solid in net. Delia has a 1.51 goals against average and a .953 save percentage in the two playoff games. Delia is also giving Blackhawks fans hope while they wait patiently to hear on the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/crawfco01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Corey Crawford<\/a><\/strong> injury situation.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s another perspective on the Ice Hogs playoff success <a href=\"https:\/\/www.secondcityhockey.com\/2018\/4\/22\/17268730\/calder-cup-playoffs-rockford-icehogs-chicago-wolves-game-2\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">from Dave Melton of Second City Hockey:<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;The Rockford\u00a0IceHogs\u2019 power play\u00a0was ranked\u00a025th in the AHL during the regular season. But after two playoff games, it has Rockford on the verge of the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Three power play goals from the IceHogs led Rockford to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Wolves in Game 2 of their best-of-5 Central Division semifinal.&#8221;\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"hiddenSpellError\">Blackhawks<\/span>\u00a0Summer Rebuild<\/h3>\n<p>As the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0sadly watch the playoffs from home, there will be a lot of changes coming to the team&#8217;s roster before game one next season. The team needs to make some smart choices going forward with their RFA&#8217;s,\u00a0UFA&#8217;s, potential trades, and draft picks. With <strong>Alex\u00a0DeBrincat<\/strong>, <strong>Nick\u00a0Schmaltz<\/strong>, and <strong>Dylan\u00a0Sikura<\/strong>\u00a0improving the lineup, next season looks better already. They\u00a0will be expected\u00a0to play a larger role along with the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0core in returning the\u00a0Blackhawks\u00a0team around.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite the Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks not making the playoffs this NHL season, there is still a lot happening with the team as it prepares for the long summer ahead. As the Blackhawks rebuild begins, they have several Restricted Free Agents (RFA\u2019s) to take care of this summer. They also have the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft to prepare [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2251,"featured_media":23434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27,2],"tags":[246,655,662],"class_list":["post-27753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blackhawks","category-featured","tag-chicago-blackhawks","tag-nhl-draft","tag-nhl-free-agency"],"modified_by":"Ben Kerr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2251"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}