The Chicago Blackhawks may seem fully loaded after adding to their backend with Brian Campbell, and Michal Kempny, but there is still one big hole that needs to be filled. Scoring depth.
It would seem like the team has all the scoring they need with Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Jonathan Toews but that is simply not going to be enough. Of course, the team will get contributions from Marian Hossa (though he is no longer quite the threat he once was), and Artem Anisimov up front.
Blueliners like Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are also going to add to the score sheet on a regular basis. In fact, the Blackhawks defensemen are all likely to get in on the offense as they move the puck to the forwards and jump into the play in the offensive zone frequently.
Last season, the team relied heavily on the second line for the bulk of their scoring, but in order to get back in the hunt for a Stanley Cup and utilize the newfound depth on the backend, they are going to need to find more balance throughout their lineup. Kane had an outstanding season, and Panarin was a breakout star while Anisimov cleaned up around the net, but they simply can’t sustain the team in the same manner every season.
Balance will make the team less predictable and much harder to defend as it forces teams to focus on more than one line. In order to find sustainable success throughout the season, the Blackhawks will have to find ways to spread the scoring out amongst their lines.
Finding Depth
The Blackhawks lost two scoring forwards this summer in Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw, and they have yet to replace them. While there is still a good chance that Stan Bowman has another play up his sleeve, as he is rumored to be in on Jimmy Vesey (a hail Mary at best, but stranger things have happened). Though it would seem more likely he will look to another free agent on the market.
There are still a number of forwards available that could fit into the Blackhawks salary cap puzzle, even a third run with Kris Versteeg isn’t entirely out of the question.
The more likely scenario is that the Blackhawks will look within their own organization for depth scoring. Several players auditioned throughout the season last year, but the need for forwards was fairly limited, so they were quickly reassigned to Rockford.
This year may very well be the year that one or two of them break out and find some staying power.
Make or Break
Several players are on the verge of breaking into the NHL on a more regular basis. For each player, it is now a make-or-break situation as several players are coming up behind them looking to leapfrog over them straight to the NHL in the next year or two.
Dennis Rasmussen has already made an impact and is a virtual lock to make the Blackhawks with the departures of Teravainen and Phillip Danault, but he is going to have to find a way to contribute more offensively.
In 44 games last season, Rasmussen added four goals and five assists, but in order to secure his spot he’s going to have to step up his level of production. He is one of the bigger forward prospects the Blackhawks have at 6’3″, which he could use more to his advantage in his second season. He should slot in as the fourth-line center behind Marcus Kruger.
Rasmussen will have to play a more aggressive style as he is set to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and this season could easily be the difference between a new contract or a new team.
Tanner Kero had the second longest run of 17 games played. His contributions were minimal with one goal and two assists, but he was playing sheltered minutes (12 minutes on average). He could find a home in the bottom six beside Kruger or Rasmussen.
Kero led the Michigan Tech Huskies in scoring his senior year and could make an impact with the Blackhawks. He plays an intelligent game and is defensively sound, but his size (5’11″/180 pounds) could put him at a disadvantage against larger opponents. Kero certainly made enough of an impact last season to warrant a longer trial this year, it will be up to him to make a lasting impression as he too will be looking for a new contract next season.
Vincent Hinostroza is another forward that the Blackhawks have high hopes for at the NHL level. He only appeared in seven games last season, but he was unable to crack the score sheet.
What he can contribute is something that was lost with Shaw’s departure. He is on the smaller side (5’10”, 170 pounds) like Shaw and plays a similar gritty style of hockey. Hinostroza is the type of player that likes to get to the front of the net and could contribute those greasy goals that can break games open. That is where coach Joel Quenneville will be looking for him to step up and take that vacant spot left by Shaw.
If Hinostroza can do that, he will likely find his way into a much bigger role with the Blackhawks.
Tyler Motte is yet another undersized forward in the Blackhawks system, but he is a strong skater and would fit well on a checking line. He has good on-ice awareness and works well with his linemates. He isn’t a flashy scorer, but he has the hockey sense to help his linemates contribute and could find a role on the Blackhawks penalty kill.
Motte isn’t likely to solve the depth scoring issue on his own, but he could help his line be more productive and can be relied upon at both ends of the ice. Those are valuable traits for the Blackhawks overall game plan.
The Next Generation
One of the more highly anticipated draft picks has opted to sign with the Blackhawks over returning to the University of North Dakota where he just won a national title. While Nick Schmaltz could start the season in Rockford, it is unlikely he left UND early to play for the IceHogs.
Many believe he will be the heir apparent to Teravainen. He plays a similar style of hockey with a finesse game and a lot of scoring upside. Teravainen never really had that breakout year that everyone knew he was capable of, but Schmaltz will be looking to make an immediate impact.
The Blackhawks could use another playmaking two-way forward, and Schmaltz may fit the bill. Schmaltz is a smaller forward, but he has the ability to carry play through all three zones and is a solid defensive player as well.
With his playmaking abilities and his strong play at both ends, he will likely be pulling an Indianhead sweater over his head before long. Schmaltz could easily find his way onto the top line in a spot that once belonged to Brandon Saad if he can replicate some of the magic he had at UND (46 points in his sophomore season) at the NHL level.
While it is unlikely that Bowman is done tinkering with the roster, the cap may only allow for a bottom six forward without a ton of scoring punch. It will be up to the young players looking to make the jump to the NHL level to have an impact on the scoresheet and find their way into a more permanent role.
Their ability to do that will be the biggest factor in how this team transitions after yet another brutal cap crunch.
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