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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
@betweenthedots: Well said! And you’re right — there’s even more to come. This feels like the turning point where Hawks fans can finally get excited about their prospects. The future is looking bright.
There’s been a lot of talk about Artyom Levshunov, Zeev Buium, Zayne Parekh, and Ivan Demidov lately. My take? It’s still way too early to compare them. Outside of a few games for Arty, none of them have really played in the NHL yet.
Each comes from a different background — Arty and Buium out of the NCAA, Parekh from the CHL, and Demidov from the KHL. I watched all of them last season, and like any prospects, they all had stretches of ups and downs. That’s normal. Development isn’t a straight, linear path — it’s full of peaks and valleys.
That’s why NHL teams are investing millions into development staffs. The real test is how these players adapt — the speed of the game, their decision-making, their consistency. Until then, we have to let things play out before declaring who’s better.
Fans will debate Demidov vs. Arty for years, and that’s fine. Personally, I’ve seen every Demidov game last year — he’s a special talent. But I’m also comfortable with the Blackhawks’ choice. If Levshunov develops properly, he’ll be a cornerstone defenseman and that’s worth the pick.
And don’t forget Sam Rinzel. He’s a perfect example of a player who quickly figured out what it takes to play at the NHL level. I fully expect him to be in the Calder Trophy conversation all year. For me, instead of Demidov vs. Arty, the real storyline might be Arty vs. Rinzel.
All in all, the Blackhawks’ scouting staff deserves credit. In the last few years, they’ve built a prospect pool that looks like the foundation of a contending team. Have agreed great weekend of hockey…
Welcome to the HHS Family, Blackhawks Fans! ????
A big shoutout to all the new members who joined us this week — we’re glad to have you here! ????
Any requests or suggestions, don’t hesitate to share. I usually check the forum once or twice a day and aim to write one article per day to keep everyone updated.
???? Take a minute to introduce yourself:
• Who’s your favorite Blackhawks player (past or present)?
• How long have you been a Hawks fan?
• What excites you most about the team this season?Looking forward to getting to know everyone and building this community together. Welcome aboard! ????
@boilemaker: Roman Kancerov: 1 assist, 3 SOG FO: 53.9% TOI 11:54 lower of the season but he was gone for 14 MIN PPTOI: 21 seconds and PK 24 seconds… not a bad game overall. His team lost 2-1
@metalhead send me an email: coach@coachfrenchy.com
@betweenthedots: You know Levshunov vs. Demidov will be compared for years, just like other teams’ draft choices. But the key isn’t the comparison — it’s Arty’s development. If he grows into the level the Blackhawks expect and plays the role they need, then it’s a great pick for Chicago. We can debate draft picks for hours, but for me it’s about enjoying the season ahead. Whatever Demidov does won’t take away from the excitement of seeing Arty develop into his role.
@boilermaker: will do…. I’ve been having some issues with the comments. Sometimes I get the email notification but then the comment isn’t there, and today I didn’t get any emails at all. I’m doing my best to reply to everyone, but it’s not always easy. Hopefully this gets fixed soon so I can keep up with all of you the way I want to.
