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Chicago Blackhawks Sign Isaak Phillips

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The Chicago Blackhawks have added another prospect to the mix, signing Isaak Phillips to a three-year entry-level contract. In the release, the team indicates that the deal will run through the 2023-24 season and will carry a cap hit of $859,167. Phillips is currently playing for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.

Technically the 19-year-old defenseman would have to return to the OHL should it start back up this season, despite his early success in the professional ranks. Through 14 games for the IceHogs, the 6’3″ defenseman has six points and is more than holding his own against opponents sometimes more than a decade older than him. That bodes well for his long-term development and is a nice surprise after he dropped to the fifth round in the 2020 draft.

Selected 141st overall, no one would have expected Phillips to step right into the AHL and keep his head above water. It’s earned him an entry-level deal right away, but there is plenty more work to be done before he becomes a part of the Blackhawks blue line.

Chicago Blackhawks Officially Sign Mike Hardman

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Tuesday: The Chicago Blackhawks have announced the signing of Hardman to a two-year, entry-level deal which will run through the 2021-22 season, meaning they will burn the first year of the contract this season. The forward has been assigned to the taxi squad and will begin his career immediately. The contract carries at $913K cap hit.

His contract breaks down like this (via CapFriendly):

2020-21: $808K base salary + $93K signing bonus + $25K GP bonus*
2021-22: $833K base salary + $93K signing bonus

* Games played bonus is prorated for five games due to shortened season.

Monday: After a surprise early exit from the NCAA Tournament at the hands of the St. Cloud State Huskies, Boston College could see a number of their top players depart this off-season. The first name who appears to make be making his exit official is two-way forward Mike Hardman. ESPN’s John Buccigross reports that Hardman has decided to leave BC and turn pro and is close to terms on an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. No details are yet available, but the contract is expected to signed tomorrow.

Hardman, 22, was considered one of the top collegiate free agents available, even after just two years at BC. The sophomore forward plays a complete, 200-foot game, using his size to win puck battles, forecheck and backcheck effectively, and create opportunities in front of the net. Hardman notched 10 goals and 19 points in 24 games, finishing in the top three in both categories for one of the best teams in college hockey.

In Hardman, the Blackhawks likely see a player who is ready for the pro game with little to no need adjustment period. With size, skill, and IQ, Hardman will be able to make an immediate impact. While he probably lacks top-six upside in the NHL, it never hurts to add a young, affordable bottom-six contributor. There is opportunity in the Chicago lineup for Hardman to earn an NHL role sooner rather than later.

Snapshots: Bowman, Kiersted, OHL

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As expected, accomplished Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman will be the next leader of Team USA. Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli reports that USA Hockey has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday where they will officially name Bowman as the GM for the U.S. entry into the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Given the NHL’s absence at the most recent Olympics paired with the quality of American players who have blossomed into superstars over the past eight years, expectations are high for Team USA. A two-time Stanley Cup winning GM, whose current rebuild seems to be moving along nicely as well, Bowman has found great success in his career and appears ready for the challenge. With a familiar face in Chicago icon Patrick Kane leading the way, Bowman’s Team USA could be legitimate contenders for gold. He won’t be alone in the decision-making, either; Seravalli notes that Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin will be named an assistant of Bowman’s as well. Nashville’s David Poile and Carolina’s Don Waddell are also likely to be considered for the brain trust, among others.

  • North Dakota defenseman Matt Kiersted, considered by many to be the top college free agent available this year, is already having to chip away at his list of suitors. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that 20+ NHL clubs have already shown interest in the dependable puck-mover, and he has begun to whittle that down to a “workable” number. What criteria Kiersted is using to choose between what are virtually identical entry-level offers is unknown and there has been few whispers of which teams might remain in the running. However, Russo notes that the Elk River, Minnesota native will definitely keep his hometown Minnesota Wild in consideration. Russo adds that the impending Expansion Draft could strip the Wild of one of their starting defensemen and there could be NHL opportunity right away for the local product. Among other likely landing spots, it is hard to ignore the immense North Dakota presence in the Ottawa Senators’ pipeline, which could link the team to Kiersted and fellow premiere UFA Jordan Kawaguchi.
  • The OHL’s shortened season is expected to begin soon and teams would prefer that their players return as soon as possible. However, the league has yet to set a firm date, seemingly dragging its feet with actually opening up play as opposed to merely discussing it. This is posing quite a conundrum for some top prospects, writes Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Many top junior-age draft picks in recent years have been playing in the AHL this season with the OHL out of commission. This includes Washington’s Connor McMichael, Los Angeles’s Quinton Byfield, Montreal’s Jan Mysak and Carolina’s Ryan Suzuki, while Anaheim’s Jamie Drysdale would have to stay put with the Ducks. Per the CHL Transfer Agreement, these players must return to the OHL once the season begins if they are not on NHL rosters. However, without a solid start date and facing a quarantine period, it is a difficult ask to suggest that these talented young players leave their AHL clubs and head for the unknown. McMichael has been outspoken on the subject, stating “I honestly want to stay here and just play pro hockey. I think it would be best for my development” and Friedman feels the others likely share in that sentiment. Will there be an exception made to allow this group to stay put to close out the season? Or will they be forced to take yet another break from hockey to quarantine only to return to a junior game that they have outgrown?

Chicago Blackhawks Activate Kirby Dach From Injured Reserve

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When the Chicago Blackhawks took the ice on Saturday night, they were joined by a surprise addition. Young star forward Kirby Dach had been activated from the Long-Term Injured Reserve and had re-joined the lineup. Dach had not played yet this season and, while he had been skating with the team, the Blackhawks had made no indication prior to their pregame announcement that Dach was close to a return. Not only was Dach apparently ready for action, but he seamlessly returned to his second-line center role, logging 20:08 time on ice – the third-highest mark among Blackhawks forwards in the game.

Dach re-joining Chicago before the end of March marks a shocking departure from his initial recovery timeline. The talented pivot was injured back in December, suffering a fractured right wrist during one of Team Canada’s World Junior Championship pre-tournament scrimmages. If he had been able to avoid surgery, the timeline for a return was believed to be just four-to-eight weeks. However, the Blackhawks announced on December 28 that Dach had in fact undergone surgery and was instead looking at a four-to-five month timeline. Yet, less than three months later he made his triumphant return to Chicago to begin his second NHL season.

Dach, 20, continues to exceeds expectations in every facet of his pro career. The third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Dach was considered a reach by a few pundits who believed that Chicago had passed up on drafting superior options at forward or addressing a greater need with a top defenseman. Dach proved his critics wrong when he impressed in training camp and cracked the Blackhawks’ Opening Night roster. Not only that, but Dach also turned in 23 points in 64 games in his rookie campaign, topped off by an impressive playoff debut. The potential long-term loss of Dach this season was a devastating blow for the Blackhawks, but now here he is at least a month early on his recovery timeline and looking to take another step forward in his development. With Chicago surprisingly still clinging to a playoff spot in the Central Division, Dach is a major boost to their postseason hopes.

Chicago Blackhawks Willing To Take On Cap At Deadline

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If you want to make a deal in today’s NHL, there are several important hurdles to get past. The most important one may be the salary cap situation around the league, which is squeezed as tightly as ever after the cap ceiling stayed at $81.5MM. That number isn’t expected to go up for the next several seasons, meaning teams are hesitant to take on any money this season or into the future.

That is, other than the Chicago Blackhawks.

Two different reports have emerged this evening, from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and Frank Seravalli of TSN respectively, explaining that the Blackhawks have let the rest of the league know they are willing to take on some bad cap at the deadline to facilitate moves or acquire assets. After moving Brent Seabrook to long-term injured reserve and admitting his career is over the team now has more than $20MM in potential cap space that they could use this season. A good portion of that can’t be used if Jonathan Toews is going to come back at any point, but that still leaves the Blackhawks with more than enough room to play matchmaker at the deadline if they want.

The Blackhawks are familiar with this strategy, given they used the Toronto Maple Leafs in a similar fashion last season to complete the Robin Lehner trade. The Maple Leafs were already deep into LTIR by the time the trade deadline rolled around, so they were used as a pit stop to unload part of Lehner’s remaining cap hit so the Vegas Golden Knights could fit him in. The Maple Leafs received a fifth-round pick for their trouble, but depending on what it is Chicago is taking on, the return could be even greater this time around.

As we discussed recently, the Blackhawks are in a peculiar situation this season, sitting somewhere between a buyer and seller. The team is currently in a playoff spot thanks to some surprising performances, but aren’t that far removed from declaring a short rebuild. It’s hard to imagine them believing they are really capable of contending for the Stanley Cup or even getting out of the Central Division given how strong the top three teams look, but stripping things down when you’re in a playoff spot also isn’t fair to a team that has performed so admirably this season.

By doing moves like the one detailed above, acting as a middle-man for teams, or a dumping ground for bad cap, the Blackhawks can give this group a chance to compete while also adding assets for the future.

Chicago Blackhawks Sign Josiah Slavin

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The Chicago Blackhawks have watched Jaccob Slavin and the Carolina Hurricanes run through the Central Division this season, so perhaps they’ve gotten the next best thing. The Blackhawks have signed Josiah Slavin, Jaccob’s younger brother, to a two-year entry-level contract that will start in the 2021-22 season. The young forward will immediately report to the Rockford IceHogs on an amateur tryout.

Slavin, 22, just finished his sophomore season at Colorado College where he recorded 13 points in 22 games. A seventh-round pick of the Blackhawks back in 2018, he’s obviously done enough to show he’s worthy of an entry-level deal.

Almost the exact same size as his brother, the younger Slavin will get his first taste of professional hockey in the coming weeks. He will not be eligible for a call-up to Chicago until next season, but even if he were there is still plenty of development to go. The Blackhawks will have plenty of opportunities for young players in the coming years and can only hope that a late-round lottery ticket like Slavin becomes an NHL regular.

Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

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Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over a month away.  Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make?  We continue our look around the league with the Chicago Blackhawks.

No one expected anything for the Blackhawks this season. They were going into the year with an unproven goaltending tandem and their two most dynamic centers have been unavailable the whole year. But with an outstanding rookie in net and a Hart Trophy-level performance from Patrick Kane, they’re right in the thick of the playoff race in the Central Division.

Record

13-9-5, 4th in Central Division

Deadline Status

Opportunistic buyer

Deadline Cap Space

No base cap room, $22.09MM in full-season space using LTIR, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.

(The LTIR room that Chicago is using this season includes Jonathan Toews’ $10.5MM cap hit. If Toews is going to come back this season, it would drastically reduce the amount of cap they have to work with at the deadline.)

Upcoming Draft Picks

2021: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
2022: CHI 1st, CHi 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th

Trade Chips

If the Blackhawks lose any ground in the next couple of weeks, their feel-good start won’t matter much in the eyes of GM Stan Bowman. The team was starting a mini rebuild and that shouldn’t be abandoned because of a strong two dozen games. Still, what the team has done this season without Toews or top prospect Kirby Dach is encouraging and will make them have to consider any names that hit the market with some term attached.

One Chicago player that has been in the rumor mill is Dylan Strome, who has just one more year on his contract before restricted free agency. When Toews and Dach are healthy, Strome isn’t a great fit for the third line and he has been passed over by lesser-known names this season. With just eight points in 19 games and a recent concussion on his medical chart, Strome certainly wouldn’t be at peak value. Still, if there is a deal to be had, he is a piece they could part with.

Carl Soderberg also sticks out as a player that has been a nice surprise this year but won’t be involved the next time Chicago is really contending. The 35-year-old forward has 11 points in 22 appearances and could be a nice depth addition for a relatively low cost. Soderberg carries just a $1MM cap hit and is an easy sell if someone like Dach (who has resumed skating recently) comes back into the lineup.

Mattias Janmark could basically have the same thing written about him, though the 28-year-old has been good enough to perhaps deserve another go-round with Chicago next year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and carries a $2.25MM cap hit but has nine goals and 15 points in 27 games.

Others to Watch For: D Calvin de Haan ($4.55MM UFA 2022)

Team Needs

1) Depth on the wing – It doesn’t seem like it even needs to be a prospect that the Blackhawks would have to target this year, given the little boost they have had in performance. Adding a reclamation project or middle-six option with some team control could be a useful piece for the end of this season and next—as long as it comes cheap (both in salary and assets).

2) NHL-ready prospects – With Kane still providing MVP-level play, there’s no way Chicago will strip it down to the bolts. A draft pick is nice, but a player ready to make an impact next season would be even nicer. If they do something like move Strome, it won’t likely be for just picks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Prospect Notes: Kravtsov, Zary, Krys

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Vitaly Kravtsov’s KHL team was eliminated from the playoffs today, meaning the New York Rangers prospect can now come to North America to join his NHL club. The 21-year-old winger is already under contract and was just loaned overseas, meaning he could play as soon as his quarantine protocols are over. That’s expected to take up to two weeks, but it could still mean the Rangers have a boost down the stretch.

Kravtsov, the ninth overall pick in 2018, scored 16 goals and 24 points in 49 KHL games this season, a strong offensive showing for a player that had struggled at times in the past. The 6’3″ winger is still an important part of the Rangers’ future and gives them another young forward to build around.

  • With the British Columbia teams in the WHL set to return soon, Connor Zary’s time with the Stockton Heat is finished. The 19-year-old forward has been assigned back to the Kamloops Blazers after scoring seven points in nine AHL contests. Zary was the 24th overall pick in 2020 and is too young for the AHL whenever the WHL is in session, but showed quite well in his first taste of professional hockey. The Calgary Flames prospect had 38 goals and 86 points last season for the Blazers and should be even more dominant now that he has some AHL experience under his belt.
  • Chad Krys, the Chicago Blackhawks second-rounder from 2016, will end his own 2020-21 season after just six AHL appearances. The Rockford IceHogs announced today that Krys underwent successful shoulder surgery yesterday and will be out for the next five to seven months. Hopefully, that leaves him able to compete in Blackhawks training camp for next season, but Krys has a long road back at this point.

Central Notes: Seabrook, Red Wings, Radulov, Gardiner

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Brent Seabrook’s announcement that he doesn’t intend to return to professional hockey has other implications as well, particularly the upcoming expansion draft. Up until now, the team had Seabrook inked in as a player the team had to protect due to his no-movement clause. Now, with Seabrook being moved to LTIR and effectively retiring allows the Chicago Blackhawks some much-needed flexibility, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Jimmy Greenfield.

The team no longer needs to protect Seabrook from the Seattle Kraken and expansion draft, which will allow them to retain an extra defenseman they weren’t originally expecting to be able to keep. Assuming the team goes with the 7-3-1 format, the team can now protect Duncan Keith and Connor Murphy like they had originally planned. However, now the team has the option of protecting Nikita Zadorov or Calvin de Haan, with Zadorov being the more likely of the two to be protected. de Haan and his $4.55 AAV are more likely to be traded at the trade deadline or exposed to Seattle.

  • The Detroit Red Wings continue to be without top-line winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who has been out since Jan. 30th with an upper-body injury. Head coach Jeff Blashill said that the forward still isn’t able to practice, according to the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James. The news is a little more promising for Dylan Larkin, who has missed four games with an upper-body injury. MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that Larkin could be ready to go on Tuesday, but Blashill said much of that determination will be based on practice Sunday and Monday. For now, he’s considered day-to-day.
  • Despite taking the ice Saturday in Dallas’ morning skate, forward Alexander Radulov is not expected to return to the team for another week, according to Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks. Radulov has been out with a lower-body injury and has not played since Feb. 4. Radulov has appeared in only eight games for the Stars this season, but does have an impressive three goals and 11 points.
  • NHL.com’s Michael Smith reports that Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jake Gardiner is ready to return to the lineup Sunday. The 30-year-old has been out since Feb. 24 and has missed five games with an upper-body injury. Gardiner has seven assists in 16 games this season and could return to his role on the power-play as well.

Blackhawks Working Towards Purchasing AHL Affiliate

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  • The Blackhawks are working towards purchasing their AHL affiliate from the City of Rockford, reports Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times. The current operating group opened the request for proposal process earlier this week with the NHL club being expected to be the successful bidder.  While their current affiliation agreement is in place through next season, this would all but cement Rockford as the home of Chicago’s top minor league club for years to come.

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