Now that I have broken down the latest Blackhawks roster moves, what happens next?
I have been critical of Stan Bowman from time to time, but generally he has been alright. In the long run, at least a simple majority of the moves have been successful, but this ship is heading into an unknown abyss. Most of the Tallon blood in the Hawks system has been purged, and this can safely be called a Stan Bowman team.
I'm not so sure after this season ends, whether it be with a third Stanley Cup or not, that the Blackhawks won't be headed down that dork road names "Rebuild Parkway", and that does not bode well for some of these prospects that have been left to rot in the lower levels.
All you need to do is start at the top for the forwards. Teuvo "Simba" Teravainen. The chosen one. Debate all you want, but this kid doesn't have much more to prove anywhere but the NHL. He has more natural talent than someone like Versteeg or, dare I say, Car-Sh-Ass-Rie. Combined. How nice would it be for Teravainen to have a full year under his belt, playoffs and all, in the NHL before he is going to be forced to do so? You could go down the line with such players like Danault, McNeill, Rasmussen, and the ones not far behind them, like Hartman, Ross and Broadhurst. When people like Sharp, Kruger, and Oduya have to go next summer, where is your experience? Do we know if any of these players can even handle the jump? Nope.
Then you have the Defense. This complete mess didn't get better; it got worse. Leddy was stuck and not moving up. It really sucks that he had to go, but I understand. Hell, I'm no prophet but I called this in March, at the dealine. What does that leave, though? Michal Rozsival, David Rundblad, Kyle Cumisky and Trevor van Riemsdyk to play the third pair. OR; split up Hjalmarsson and Oduya, and strap one of those grenades to THEIR legs. But it gets better. Considering someone else needs to be sent down, what about the logjam of defensemen in Rockford? They are deep, sure, but how do you get through TVR, Dahlbeck, Clendening, Johns, and Brennan how does someone like Pokka, Svedberg, or Fournier get any decent time? How does Johns or Brennan for that matter? These guys are going to rot in Rockford while slugs like Rozsival and Cumiskey suck it up in the NHL. It makes no sense, and when Stan has to REALLY step up, his pants might be around his ankles. Enjoy this year while you can, because the bed Stan is making looks more like an old futon.
