GRADING THE SUMMER ADDITIONS OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
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| Chicago Blackhawks' first-round pick Adam Boqvist skates in a preseason game. |
The summer can sometimes be slow for NHL fans, but moves always gradually happen. This was another important offseason for the Chicago Blackhawks, who are looking to break back into the playoffs after missing it last season and finishing last in the Central Division. Without further ado, here are the Blackhawks' best (and worst) additions this summer so far.
JUNE 22: Proud to Select
Adam Boqvist, drafted eighth overall
Boqvist is the Blackhawks' highest pick since Patrick Kane went first overall. He is a great puck-moving defenseman, and a gift at eight. After the Coyotes drafted by need in taking Barret Hayton and Filip Zadina fell a few spots, Boqvist was impossible to pass up. Ranked the second-best defenseman behind first pick Rasmus Dahlin, he will play in juniors for one to two years before joining the Blackhawks.
Nicholas Beaudin, drafted twenty-seventh overall
After trading Ryan Hartman at the trade deadline for Victor Ejdsell and this pick, the Hawks used it to take Beaudin. The Blackhawks elected to take another great puck-moving defenseman who had 57 assists in the QMJHL last year. He produced at an almost point-per-game pace for all 69 of his games this season.
JULY 2: Free-Agent Frenzy
Chris Kunitz, signed from Tampa Bay Lightning: 13 G, 16 A, 29 P, 82 GP
Grade: B
Kunitz is a solid depth player who brings a lot of playoff experience to a team that has some great young players. He will provide a solid example to players like John Hayden or Andreas Martinsen, while more offensive players like Alex DeBrincat or Nick Schmaltz will look up to Patrick Kane for leadership. Kunitz can play on Jonathan Toews' line with Brandon Saad so they can go back to scoring goals and get out of the battles in the corners or the penalty kill with recently reacquired Marcus Kruger. Kunitz clearly has confidence in the Blackhawks returning to relevance with his one-year contract coming at a low cap hit and this being one of his final seasons in the NHL.
Cam Ward, signed from Carolina Hurricanes: 23 W, 2.73 GAA, .906 SV%
Grade: B+
Cam Ward is going to help the Blackhawks sooner rather than later. With starting goalie Corey Crawford still "not at 100%" from an injury he sustained last season, Ward will start a good chunk of games and will have to perform admirably for the Blackhawks to maintain a playoff spot. As a backup, he'll be solid for the Hawks and give them a cushion if anything more happens to their #1 goaltender.
Brandon Manning, signed from Philadelphia Flyers: 7 G, 12 A, 19 P, 65 GP
Grade: B-
Manning's position is much-needed but he is not the number two defenseman (say, Justin Faulk) that the Blackhawks need to play with Duncan Keith. He's big and physical, which may make him a good pair with Henri Jokijarju if he makes the team out of training camp. His 100+ hits make him a solid depth defender, and he has a cannon of a slapshot.
JULY 12: The Hossa Trade
Marcus Kruger, traded from Arizona Coyotes
Grade: C
This move for the Blackhawks was a salary-cap dump of Marian Hossa's contract. Kruger is a familiar face who won with the Blackhawks before, and he's a great asset to have on the penalty kill. He will begin the season tonight against the Ottawa Senators on the fourth line. Again, the big reason for this move was not to acquire Kruger as much as it was to clear up cap space.
Good luck to the Blackhawks as they begin their season tonight in Ottawa.
This move for the Blackhawks was a salary-cap dump of Marian Hossa's contract. Kruger is a familiar face who won with the Blackhawks before, and he's a great asset to have on the penalty kill. He will begin the season tonight against the Ottawa Senators on the fourth line. Again, the big reason for this move was not to acquire Kruger as much as it was to clear up cap space.
Good luck to the Blackhawks as they begin their season tonight in Ottawa.
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