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First of all, I want to apologize for the issues with the HHS comment section. It’s a little strange — sometimes comments disappear, but I’ve already reported it to the team so hopefully it gets sorted out soon.
As for your point about the Red Wings’ pipeline — you’re spot on. This is really the year where the Yzerplan has to deliver, otherwise I think his job could be on the line. We’re already nine years into it. Detroit has drafted well and their development pipeline looks strong, but roster construction has been a big problem. Moves like Chiarot, Holl, Copp, Compher, Petry… they’ve set the team back instead of pushing them forward. That’s a lesson Kyle Davidson has to keep in mind next summer. To his credit, he stayed quiet this past UFA period, which might be a sign he’s learning from last year.
Thanks again for your comment — always great to have that kind of perspective.
P.S. If you’re running a fantasy hockey league, I’d be interested in joining. Maybe we could even get one going under the Blackhawks forum or with HHS members.
Frenchy
@mr ricochet: I’ll take care of this issue with the disappearing comments — sorry for the headache, we appreciate your patience on that.
Great take — I’m with you on Grz. He’s steady enough that preseason doesn’t really matter for him, just stay healthy and be ready to log those 21 minutes when it counts.
As for Blashill, you’re right — this game was another reminder of how big the job is. Year 3 of a teardown still feels raw, but that’s the reality of a rebuild. Some prospects will flash, some will stumble, but that’s the process.
No surprises here, but like you said, KD knows what he’s got in Grz, and he’ll be leaned on heavily once the real games start.
@chunk Sorry, I couldn’t find your original comment, but thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Here’s my reply to you:
I agree with you on Korchinski. The key for a young defenseman like him is confidence — we sometimes forget how young he still is. Right now, it’s about keeping it simple, cutting down on hesitation, and improving his transition game. If he does that, the offense will come back naturally.Like you said, the next few days will be telling. Blashill has to decide whether to lean on an extra veteran for stability or give more runway to the prospects. Either way, it’ll shape how quickly this team finds its chemistry.
@bjphawkfan: Thanks for your comment. You have to be excited about this season, especially watching the development of all the Hawks’ prospects. At the same time, it’s going to be interesting league-wide with nine new coaches behind NHL benches. Personally, I’ll be paying close attention to Quenneville, Sullivan, and Blashill — their impact could shape a lot of storylines this year.
@Chunk Thanks for your comment today! You nailed it — the big question for this season really comes down to how quickly the young defensemen adjust to the NHL grind: the long schedule, the pace, and the physicality.
And you’re right on Knight — he’s going to see a ton of rubber. I’m expecting him to get around 55 starts, and if the Hawks can get 40–45 solid outings from him, that’ll be huge.
As for Frondell, I’ve managed to watch a couple of his games already, and he looks impressive. I’ll be keeping a closer eye on him after the holidays. Hopefully, we get to see him suit up for Sweden at the 2026 World Juniors — that would be a great test for him.
Other than goaltending, the hardest position to find in the NHL is a right-shot defenseman. Just look around the league — teams are desperate for RHD. The price to acquire guys like Noah Dobson or what it might cost to get Rasmus Andersson in the coming months proves that point.
That’s why having Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel is so valuable for Chicago. You don’t give that up lightly, especially when your center depth is already in good shape with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, plus Oliver Moore as an option down the middle.
Don’t get me wrong — Mason McTavish is a very solid young player. He’s smart, improving year after year, responsible defensively, and strong in the faceoff circle. But he’s not Sam Bennett. Bennett averages 154 hits per 82 games, compared to just 72 for McTavish. Bennett brings that edge, grit, and forechecking grind that McTavish doesn’t quite match.
The Blackhawks aren’t ready to make that kind of move yet. It’s a lot harder to find top RHD than it is to find a player like McTavish. The smart play is to keep developing Levshunov and Rinzel, learn their true ceiling, and be patient. In a couple of years — say by 2027–28 — Davidson will know more about his defensive core and can properly evaluate a big trade if the right opportunity comes along.
For now, it’s about patience. Davidson is finishing Phase I: accumulating assets. Next comes Phase II: building out the roster piece by piece. It’s not a sprint — it’s a marathon. And the Hawks are on the right path.
@Betweenthedots: You’re right, Bedard put in a strong offseason. He knew he had to get stronger and faster, and he worked very hard all summer. I expect him to have a really good year, maybe even a breakout season. I don’t think he’ll be in the lineup for the first road game, but I could be wrong — we’ll see soon enough.
Thanks again for all your comments here in the forum. I wish I could be more active, but with covering multiple teams, plus my channel and podcast, it limits the time I can spend replying. Still, I really appreciate the support. If you have any feedback on how I can improve my articles or our site, please share it with me — it means a lot. Thanks again!
Yes, I noticed that a few times too, but I’d be shocked if Slaggert gets the nod on the third line over Foligno. Right now they’ve got about 8 guys battling for 6 bottom-six spots. I expect Blashill will shuffle those lines during the exhibition games. Like I mentioned in my article, it really comes down to how he wants to define the roles for each line. Appreciate your comment today!
Thanks, my friend. I reported it to Bill early this morning around 4 a.m. Thanks for all your concern. Just give us a little time to get the site running properly. Sometimes we run into bugs, but we do our best to fix them as soon as we’re aware. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me in the forum or under my articles. We truly appreciate all of you being here and sharing the love of the game. – Frenchy
The Grzelcyk situation comes down to roster construction. If the Blackhawks go with 7 defensemen and 14 forwards, Grzelcyk could find himself as the extra man. But if they carry 8 defensemen and 13 forwards, his experience gives him the edge.
For a veteran like Grzelcyk, sitting out as a healthy scratch isn’t ideal, but it’s part of the job. For a young prospect, however, that role can stall development. They’re better off logging big minutes in Rockford than watching from the press box.
The bigger question lies with Chicago’s top prospects. Players like Artyom Levshunov and Kevin Korchinski can’t just be sheltered on the third pair playing 12 minutes a night. They need to be in the top four, eating 15+ minutes, and seeing time on special teams.
That’s the challenge of a rebuild stacked with young talent — too many prospects ready at once. In the short term, it can create lineup headaches and growing pains. But long term, if managed properly, it’s the kind of problem that turns into a payoff.
@BOILERMAKER: Roman Kancerov: 1G 1A 2PTS +1 FO%:33% TOI: 16:31 PP: 4:12 PK: 1:25 1PPP
Great take on the Spencer Knight contract ???? My article is written but I’m waiting on HHS to release it.
In the meantime, a few prospect notes:
• Frondell had a strong game today.
• Kanarsky is off to a hot start in the VHL: 2–0–1 with a 1.62 GAA and .956 SV%.
• Kancerov is looking solid in his first three games — only one point so far, but he’s logging big minutes and playing an important role.@haru Great comment this morning, my friend. For some reason, I’m not sold on Reichel… but we have to give him a chance and see how he looks at training camp
@metalhead: Don’t be surprised if by next summer he’s added more muscle mass. It’s a natural part of a young prospect’s development — they realize quickly they need to get stronger, and they put in the work to improve it.
@gramps28… thanks about Lardis.. take a note… Have a great weekend
