Zawaski's Blackhawks Mailbag: What Lies Ahead?
By Jay Zawaski--
(CBS) Coming off their third Stanley Cup in six years, the Blackhawks are in an offseason holding pattern, waiting to see if there are any takers on Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell and the large cap hits they carry in 2015-'16. Of course, that hasn't slowed the questions from fans and observers, who are anxious to see how Chicago will construct its team to make another run at a championship.
So let's get to some of those questions in a mailbag.
Matt Mosconi: How are the Rockford forwards ever going to get NHL time now? I feel like Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill are due.
JZ: While we don't yet know how this season's roster will shape up, I think both guys will get serious consideration in camp. If, somehow, it doesn't work out with Marcus Kruger, I'd look for Danault to have the first crack at the job. As for McNeill, he was one of the best Blackhawks during last season's training camp. There's a glut of bottom-six forwards on this team, so it will be tough, but look for him to be one of the first called up.
BlackhawkChris: How do you see the Patrick Sharp saga playing out? What can the Hawks realistically get in return?
JZ: There are only one or two teams willing and/or able to take on all of Sharp's contract, a source told me Thursday, adding to expect the return to be an NHL-ready defenseman and a prospect. Montreal had been a rumored destination, so I inquired about defenseman Tom Gilbert as the return. The source responded, "Someone better than that." The deal could be completed as soon as this weekend.
Travis Wills: How big of an issue is left wing going to be next season? And which potential right wing could you see flipping?
JZ: I think you could see Viktor Tikhonov play a little left wing. As of right now, you already have Bryan Bickell, Kris Versteeg and Artemi Panarin. Andrew Shaw has done it before as well.
A.J. Parker: I'm baffled by the Jeremy Morin piece in the Brandon Saad trade. Do Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville talk about these things? Where does he fit?
JZ: A.J., I was as shocked as you were. I would actually be surprised if Morin's part of the organization come opening night. If he is, he's actually a valuable piece. Why? Because he can play on all four lines and can play different styles. He's shown speed and finesse. He's shown physicality. Morin's not great at anything, but his versatility could keep him around.
Jim Kopitke: With the Hawks' "Russian influx," any chance Russian free agent Alex Semin takes a cap friendly cup chasing deal (provided Sharp and Bickell are moved)?
JZ: Alex Semin isn't the kind of guy the Blackhawks typically employ. For an organization that's built upon team defense and outworking its opponents, Semin would be like adding oil to water.
Semin's very talented, but I don't see it happening.
Joseph K: What are the enduring lessons of roster construction to be learned from this Blackhawks run? Obviously having players like Toews, Kane and Keith is paramount, but what's there to be learned from what the Blackhawks have done at the second level or on the margins of roster?
JZ: In a league with a hard cap, the importance of drafting becomes paramount. Players like Teravainen, Shaw and previously Saad were big parts of Chicago's Cup runs at a low cost. The cost of winning, however, demands all of these kind of guys get paid. That's where the challenge comes. Who to keep? Who to move? Stan Bowman is learning he made a mistake in signing Bryan Bickell to such a rich contract, but he was coming off a good season and great playoff run. Assuming improvement made sense at the time, but it hasn't worked out.
Joe Mels: Do you think Kris Versteeg will ever be consistent for a full season? Will his poor playoff performance get him traded to another team?
JZ: After a horrible 2013-'14 season, Versteeg started the 2104-'15 very well. Then, after injuring his hand in the Winter Classic, he returned to his old Versteeg form. He was bad in the playoffs, until the Cup Final. When he came back and played in those games, he was very effective.
Versteeg's success is entirely in his hands. He needs to realize he's not Patrick Kane and keep his game simple. Yes, he has some ability. He has good hands and a scoring touch, but he's lost that burst of speed he had back in his first go-around with the Blackhawks. Joel Quenneville always talks about playing a North and South, predictable game. When Versteeg plays that way, he can be very effective.
HawksFan314: What do you know about position possibilities for Marko Dano, Viktor Tikhonov and Teuvo Teravainen? I have read about all three as a center and right wing. But one or two will likely have to play left wing, right?
JZ: I believe Dano will begin the season as a right wing and on a line with Artem Anisimov. Quenneville wants to use Teravainen as a center. Tikhonov, as I said above, is the wild card. I feel he will have to play left wing to have a chance to make the roster. Obviously, he hasn't played a game in the league in some time, so it's hard to predict what he will bring. His $1 million-plus contract indicates the Hawks want him to play. We will see.
Sarcastic Mike: Should the Blackhawks and city of Chicago be bidding on World Juniors? Any advantage to bringing in talent to the area?
JZ: I'm not sure it would be an influx of new talent to the area, but it's never a bad idea to promote the game locally. I think it would be huge here. I'd love to see it -- I just don't know if there is a tangible advantage.
Alex Ericksen: Is there a defenseman in the system to fill the power-play zone entry/puck-moving role Nick Leddy had in the past?
JZ: There's no one in the system quite like Leddy. Ville Pokka and Stephen Johns can move the puck, but it's not their best asset.
Leddy's hard to replace, but puck moving is what makes the Hawks' system go. It's safe to assume that Bowman is searching for defensemen like him all the time.
Jay Zawaski is the executive producer of the Spiegel and Goff Show on 670 The Score and the Blackhawks columnist for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayZawaski670.
