Blackhawks Roster Is Set 2013-14

The only changes from last year to this year are as follows:

1) Nikolai Khabibulin: Replaces Ray Emery

2) 8 defensemen: Added Michael Kostka.

ChiCityLover @moogsie4

Hawks Waive Stanton, Loan Beach to Swedish League: The Chicago Blackhawks put the finishing touches on their o... bit.ly/18Cw0Pt

Madhouse Enforcer @madhousenforcer

Blackhawks Waive Ryan Stanton, Likely Set Opening Night Roster bit.ly/15DXYWY

3) Joakim Nordstrom (#42) 21 year old out of Sweden is this years camp surprise. He beat out Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri for the final spot on the roster.

4) Ben Smith: (#28) Has finally made the roster. Good Job Ben.

5) Jimmy Hayes: (#22) Has earned a roster spot. Nice Job Jimmy.

AHL Prospect News:

Kyle Beach has proven he's one of the biggest first round BUSTS. He's been shipped to HV71 of the Swedish League. 

Ice Hogs prospects to keep an eye on:

Brandon Pirri: Lead the entire league in points last year.

Jeremy Morin: Lead the team in goals last year.

Phillip Danault: First full year as a pro.

Mark McNeill: First full year as a pro.

Drew LeBlanc: First full year as a pro. 

Maxim Shalunov: Over from Russia. Had a good camp with the Hawks.

Garret Ross: Played very well in Juniors. Was a teammate of B.Saad. 

Adam Clendening: Will strive to be a 1st team All-Star.

Viktor Svedberg: The 6'8" Swede the Hawks are keeping a strong eye on. 

Dylan Olsen: Make or break year for this kid. Is he going to step up? Had a good camp with Hawks.

Antti Raanta: Swedish Player of the year. Goaltender with a very strong upside.

Ice Hogs have a strong team with some players that have proven NHL experience. (Brad Winchester, Theo Peckham)

Jeremy Morin SITS In FInal Preseason Game

It isn't a good thing when you are fighting for a roster spot with Joakim Nordstrom, Brandon Pirri, Jimmy Hayes and Ben Smith, and you aren't in the lineup to fight for that roster spot.

And wouldn't you know it.........Pirri and Morin get sent down. That leaves ONE spot left. It's between Michael Kostka and Ryan Stanton.

The first person from the 2010 draft that has made it to the NHL is....(drum role please) Joakim Nordstrom.

Congratulations to Jimmy Hayes, Ben Smith, Joakim Nordstrom, and to the one remaining defensman (most likely Kostka).

EVERY Player WIll Need Rest This Season

* 82 game regular season

* Olympic Camp and Olympic Games

* Playoff Games

You are looking in the realm of 115-120 games this season of approximately 10 of the Hawks.

Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Kane, Hossa, Hjalmarsson and Oduya among others should make their countries' team, as well as possible surprises: Sharp, Crawford, Saad, Kruger, Rozsival, Handzus.

This over-demanding schedule would KILL any teams chances of winning the Stanley Cup. So, the Hawks (as well as other teams) will be forced to used their depth in their organization, in order to stay healthy for a solid playoff run.

Stanton and/or Kostka, Brookbank, will be used frequently.

Nordstrom, Pirri, Morin will likely interchange a bit. As much as I wanted to see Morin make the line-up, this may not happen immediately. He'll come in to replace players like Hossa (who is having Lower Back issues), or unsuspected injuries that may occur throughout the season.

Nordstrom is quickly becoming a coaches favorite due to his chemistry with fellow countryman Marcus Kruger. They are building that bond that would solidify that PK top pairing. Smart on Joakim Nordstrom to recognize what was needed to make the roster and to do everything to seek that position out.

Handzus, Kruger, Toews  and Shaw are the center men (Shaw and Kruger can interchange to the wing when called upon). Pirri is only a center man, Nordstrom is able to play both. Hawks will need a 5th winger for certain. Handzus will not be able to handle that load for 120 games. Not even close.

So, it appears that Preseason favorites Pirri and Morin, may be left off the lineup ONCE AGAIN. But, you will see both of these players being called up frequently throughout the year. Most likely 15 games minimum to approximately 35 games. It has to be done or their core is going to be WORN OUT!!!

It also appears that Michael Kostka has the slight edge over Ryan Stanton. Both deserve it, but reports out there are saying Kostka has the edge. We'll find out soon enough if that report is correct. Rozsival and Brookbank can't handle that load. (At least I wouldn't want Brookbank to handle that load. I don't think he's strong enough to play on a strong team like the Hawks for more than 15-20 games).

I thought since Kostka actually started out with Toronto's top line last year, that Kostka stands a better chance,...that is why I thought the Kostka signing was amazing.

Camp winds down this weekend and we'll have the final roster after the last preseason game against Washhington.

I Project Hossa To Miss 20-25 Games This Season

Marian Hossa has a lower back injury. A "pinched nerve". He has been getting "treatment" on his back, has gone to the gym daily and yet the pain recurs. The Brass and staff thought that the injury was finished with because he was pain free over the summer.  Well folks,...guess what? The pain was merely dormant.

If we remember that series against Boston, we saw a hobbling Hossa on the Ice during game six. He could barely move. We don't know by the interviews he's given if this pain radiates down his leg (L4 sciatic nerve involvement) or if this pain goes across his back (Localized pain L5, S1). We don't even know if the pain went down both legs (retrolisthesis of L4). The thing we DO know however, is that he has not been treating his pain properly. He believes he is, but he is not.

There's an old expression, "It's not how HARD you work,...it's how SMART you work." That fits Marian's scenario perfectly. For those of you that have had proper chiropractic care, it is more than merely a "crack of the back". If Marian went to the right chiropractor, the chiropractor would be able to remove those subluxations and start to restore his health immediately. The subluxations are what is "pinching the nerve", and if any of you have ever had that reoccurring pain in your back, and then went to the chiropractor you'll know EXACTLY what I am talking about. That pain is removed immediately. With regular maintenance (3-5 x/wk) he would be able to restore that back in such a short time, putting him back on the ice without concern of it happening again. This form of back restoration, to our knowledge, hasn't been offered to Marian Hossa. Since he is going to take the medical doctors advice,  he is going to do physio, and work out programs, and pain killers and injections. All of this is going around the problem,...but, never in truth, resolving the matter. (...working hard not smart)

So, I predict, Marian's back is going to REPEATEDLY be holding him out of the line-up.  He'll try to play with it, at first,  then he'll miss time.  Then he'll come back saying his back feel's greater than ever, and guess what?....it will happen again (somewhere around Olympic time). I will not be astonished if he has to sit out the Olympics in 2014.

I believe that this will give players i.e. Jeremy Morin (I have a gutty suspicion he's going to go back down to Rockford...which to me sucks, btw) to come back and play a bigger role than originally suspected.

So, as Marian's health journey is going to be a yearly comedy of errors, you will see that I am not a magician or a genie in a bottle,...just someone that knows how to properly treat an EASY ailment such as Marian's.......for, I TOO am a chiropractor.

-Dr. G

Coach Quenneville's Likely Plan: Keep 8 Defensemen

Ryan Stanton and Mike Kostka would love to hear that. That would mean one of them will get the nod, while that leaves 2 of the Forward prospects in the cold

In today's practice, Nordstrom was on the 4th line with Bollig and Kruger.

Smith was on the 3rd line with Shaw and Saad.

Hayes played on the 2nd line (due to Hossa's injury).

Brandon Pirri and Jeremy Morin were EXTRAS.

I don't know why Pirri and Morin are not fitting in to Q's plans, but it appears that both of them are on the outside....looking in.

Coach Quenneville loves the chemistry between the 2 Swedes : Kruger and Nordstrom. Nordstrom has developed that defensive side of the game that may allow him to crack the line-up over Jeremy Morin or Brandon Pirri.

There is always a surprise or two at each camp. This camp it was Finish Teuvo Teravainen and 21 year old Swede Joakim Nordstrom.

I felt that Morin did enough to make the team,...but's it's looking slimmer and slimmer as long as Kostka, Stanton and Nordstrom are hanging around.

Hawks Roster Down to 26 now.

Hayes, Morin, Pirri, Smith.......

Nordstrom, Kostka and Stanton.   Dog fight until the end. Do Nordstrom, Kostka or Stanton have a chance of taking a roster position from the 4 favorite? We shall see.

ESPN Chicago ‏@ESPNChiHawks13m

Blackhawks assign Winchester and Peckham to Rockford

Final Scenario For 2013-14 Blackhawks Roster Positions

The favorite 4 to make the team (Pirri, Smith, Morin, Hayes) + Bollig are probably STILL the scenario.

HOWEVER, that being said, there are a few things that must be considered. Capgeek has the Blackhawks left with $2,000,205 left to go and they have already slotted Jeremy Morin and Jimmy Hayes in their consideration with the cap.

That would allow Brandon Pirri ($870,000)  and Ben Smith ($562,500) to easily fit under that cap.
But, here's another thing it would allow. It would allow the Blackhawks to RELEASE Sheldon Brookbank and add that 24th guy...Ryan Stanton ($550,000).  ***NOTE 23 on a roster + paying for someone that had a contract (Brookbank).

Or add....
Michael Kostka ($625,000)
Theo Peckham ($575,000)

Brad Winchester could possibly replace Brandon Bollig. However, with Brandon Bollig having a strong camp, I don't foresee that happening. But, with Winchester's salary ($550,000), it could easily be done and it would all fit under the cap.

This is the only thing I can see right now with the reasoning why Kostka, Peckham and Stanton are still in camp the final week. Are the Hawks trying to make a move with Brookbank, but are unable to move him? Are all 4 going to play this week and the Hawks will make their decision afterward?

The interesting scenario for me is actually Joakim Nordstrom ($766,667). The only position I can see him taking is Brandon Pirri's slot. Morin, Smith and Hayes have had strong camps and I believe are locks for the 2013-14 roster.

ONE week to go. Who will go? Who will stay?

Blackhawks Roster Cut To 28.

The big name in this last cut was Drew LeBlanc. I thought he would push Brandon Pirri.
What is surprising is who is left (outside of the favorite 4: Morin, Hayes, Smith, Pirri).

1) Joakim Nordstrom: 21 year old Swedish Centerman has impressed the Hawks enough to keep him until the last week. He has had a fabulous camp, but I don't believe it's good enough to take over Brandon Pirri's spot on the team.

2) Brad Winchester: 6'5" 230# tough guy who has 390 NHL games under his belt. I thought after 3 straight games of scoring goals, that Brandon Bollig was a lock to make the team. Hmmm, not sure what the thought process is here.

3) Theo Peckham: 6'2" 246# veteran defenseman has spent the better part of 5 years with the Edmonton Oilers.

4) Michael Kostka: A seasoned AHL guy who finally got his chance last year with Toronto, had a good year in Toronto,...and has had a good camp here in Chicago. Let's see what Stan plans on doing with this wonderful 27yr. old prospect.

5) Ryan Stanton: Let me be blunt about this. Ryan deserves his shot in the NHL. However, that being said,...who you going to kick out in order to let him on the team?

3 defenseman are in this list. What is surprising is the defensive top 7 are all signed. Sure, I wish Sheldon Brookbank would go. He's simply NOT good enough to make the Hawks. He always looks "odd" on the ice and never appears to be in the right spot. He's the player that kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. Even in the last game against Pittsburgh,....that cross ice give away to Kris Letang leading to a breakaway goal. Often in a game, Brookbank doesn't seem to get noticed until he does something stupid......then you notice him. But, aren't the Hawks stuck with him? Who's going to want him? Sad, too,...because I hear he's such a nice guy and well liked in the locker room.  One week to go,...let's see what the Hawks do. Winchester and Peckham stick out like a sore thumb on that list of 5. I did know when the Hawks signed Winchester, Peckham and Kostka, that they were going to be given that shot to make the roster. I just don't see it. To be honest, I don't see it for any of those 5. The most surprising name on that list has got to be the young Swede, Joakim Nordstrom. ...Hey,...Hawks love their Swedes!!!!!

23/SEPT/2013 Current Roster (1 week until final cuts)

RED #'s: Not the favorites heading into camp.

 BLACK BOLD NAMES: Favorites to make ROSTER  as of 23/Sept/2013 

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Forwards

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
12	KYLE BEACH	6' 3"	208	JAN 13, 1990	23	NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, CAN
29	BRYAN BICKELL	6' 4"	233	MAR 9, 1986	27	BOWMANVILLE, ON, CAN
52	BRANDON BOLLIG	6' 2"	223	JAN 31, 1987	26	ST. CHARLES, MO, USA
56	TERRY BROADHURST	5' 11"	162	NOV 30, 1988	24	ORLAND PARK, IL, USA
24	PHILLIP DANAULT	6' 0"	184	FEB 24, 1993	20	VICTORIAVILLE, QC, CAN
58	BYRON FROESE	6' 0"	190	MAR 12, 1991	22	WINKLER, MB, CAN
26	MICHAL HANDZUS	6' 5"	215	MAR 11, 1977	36	BANSKA BYSTRIKA, SVK
22	JIMMY HAYES	6' 6"	221	NOV 21, 1989	23	BOSTON, MA, USA
81	MARIAN HOSSA	6' 1"	210	JAN 12, 1979	34	STARÁ LUBOVNA, SVK
88	PATRICK KANE	5' 11"	181	NOV 19, 1988	24	BUFFALO, NY, USA
16	MARCUS KRUGER	6' 0"	181	MAY 27, 1990	23	STOCKHOLM, SWE
14	DREW LEBLANC	6' 0"	195	JUN 29, 1989	24	DULUTH, MN, USA
11	JEREMY MORIN	6' 1"	192	APR 16, 1991	22	AUBURN, NY, USA
42	JOAKIM NORDSTROM	6' 1"	160	FEB 25, 1992	21	STOCKHOLM, SWE
37	BRANDON PIRRI	6' 0"	183	APR 10, 1991	22	TORONTO, ON, CAN
20	BRANDON SAAD	6' 1"	202	OCT 27, 1992	20	PITTSBURGH, PA, USA
46	MAXIM SHALUNOV	6' 3"	185	JAN 31, 1993	20	CHELYABINSK, RUS
10	PATRICK SHARP "A"	6' 1"	199	DEC 27, 1981	31	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
65	ANDREW SHAW	5' 10"	180	JUL 20, 1991	22	BELLEVILLE, ON, CAN
28	BEN SMITH	5' 11"	207	JUL 11, 1988	25	WINSTON-SALEM, NC, USA
19	JONATHAN TOEWS "C"	6' 2"	208	APR 29, 1988	25	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
25	BRAD WINCHESTER	6' 5"	230	MAR 1, 1981	32	MADISON, WI, USA

Defensemen

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
17	SHELDON BROOKBANK	6' 1"	202	OCT 3, 1980	32	LANIGAN, SK, CAN
4	NIKLAS HJALMARSSON	6' 3"	207	JUN 6, 1987	26	EKSJO, SWE
2	DUNCAN KEITH "A"	6' 1"	200	JUL 16, 1983	30	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
6	MICHAEL KOSTKA	6' 1"	210	NOV 28, 1985	27	ETOBICOKE, ON, CAN
8	NICK LEDDY	6' 0"	191	MAR 20, 1991	22	EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, USA
27	JOHNNY ODUYA	6' 0"	190	OCT 1, 1981	31	STOCKHOLM, SWE
70	THEO PECKHAM	6' 2"	246	NOV 10, 1987	25	RICHMOND HILL, ON, CAN
32	MICHAL ROZSIVAL	6' 1"	212	SEP 3, 1978	35	VLASIM, CZE
7	BRENT SEABROOK	6' 3"	221	APR 20, 1985	28	RICHMOND, BC, CAN
55	RYAN STANTON	6' 2"	196	JUL 20, 1989	24	ST. ALBERT, AB, CAN

Goalies

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
50	COREY CRAWFORD	6' 2"	208	DEC 31, 1984	28	MONTREAL, QC, CAN
39	NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN	6' 1"	208	JAN 13, 1973	40	SVERDLOVSK, RUS
31	ANTTI RAANTA	6' 0"	187	MAY 12, 1989	24	RAUMA, FIN

AHL Contracts/Non-Roster Invitees

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
51	BRAD MILLS (C)	6' 0"	195	MAY 3, 1983	30	TERRACE, BC, CAN