Chicago Blackhawks Offseason Report Card

Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Ryan Hartman poses for a photo with general manager Stan Bowman (left) after being introduced as the number thirty overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Blackhawks:  Chicago Blackhawks finished 36-7-5 1^st in the NHL central division. The Blackhawks won the President’s trophy, and the Stanley Cup. They defeated the Wild 4-1, Red Wings 4-3, Kings 4-1, and the Bruins 4-2. This is 2^nd Stanley Cup victory in 4 years.

Draft results:

Round 1: Ryan Hartman Right Wing shoots right and weights 190ls.  Ryan Hartman was considered the safest pick in the draft. He is a very aggressive player who is very assertive on both sides of the ices. He is a sure bet to make the NHL, just not this season.

Round 2: Carl Dahlstrom Defenseman shoots left, 6-3 and weight 191lbs. Carl is not a physical defender, but stays at home. He will go back to the Swiss league to hone his skills.

Round 3: John Hayden Center shoots right height 6-2 and weight 185lbs. Hayden is a big center which is in contract to other in the prospects in the Blackhawks in the system. “Hayden is among the more physically mature prospects to come out of the draft class, but will still be looking to improve his skating and rounding out his overall game as he transitions to the NCAA” Hockeyfuture.com

Round 4: Robin Norell Defenseman shoots left height 5-10 and weight 176lbs.  Norell does not posses protypical size of the NHL defense but he makes up for it with hardnosed play and a high level of character. He will develop in Sweden next season.

Round 4: Tyler Motte Center shoots left height 5-10 and weight is 175lbs.  Motte is undersized at his position but that didn’t stop the Blackhawks from the selecting him. He plays a very up tempo style and he is a hard worker. He could fit in nicely with the core at some point.

Round 5:  Luke Johnson Center shoots right height 5-11 and weight is 165lb, the Blackhawks might have stolen a pick here.  Johnson is a consistent center, who is strong on the puck. He is going to play next season with the University of North Dakota.

Round 6: Anthony Louis Center shoots left height 5-7 and weight 145lb.  Anthony Lewis will have a lot of short coming to overcome if he wants to make the NHL someday. I question this pick.

Round 7: Robin Press Defenseman shoots right height 6-2 and weight 187lbs. Robin Press is a converted forward to defense. He will need to do a lot of catching up to in Swedish league.

Free agent adds/trades:  Annti Rannta Goalie, resigned Nick Leddy defenseman, Michal Handzus Center, resigned Marcus Kruger Center, Ryan Stanton defenseman, Kyle Beach Forward, Brad Winchester.

Free agent losses/trades: Dave Bolland Center, Michael Frolik Forward, Ray Emery Goalie, Jamal Mayers Forward.

Projection: The 2013-2014 offseason was different than the 2010-2011. The Blackhawks did not have to purge most of the roster. The Blackhawks traded Bolland and Frolik to resign Brian Bickell. They kept the majority of the team together and resigned free agent veterans Handzus and Rozsival, and while it was a good offseason it was not a great offseason. There were no real superstars drafted and all the free agent adds were to supplement the core. That being said, the big question the Blackhawks still remains who will play the second line center position. Can the kids fill in for Bolland, Frolik and Emery? The ultimate question can they repeat?

The core is in much better shape than after the 2010 Stanley Cup, so do you still have enough firepower to repeat in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs?

Overall Grade B-