Post by Chicago Blackhawks on Sept 19, 2023 21:02:11 GMT -6
Our last report on the Chicago Blackhawks featured the team saying goodbye to one of the "Triplets" in Evgeni Malkin. To the point where the team even released a "Thank You Gino" highlight reel and GM Hetherington released a statement basically calling out the former player for being more focused on individual success and that the team needs to change the culture. Fast-forward almost two months;
Evgeni Malkin and the Chicago Blackhawks agreed to a $6,500,000 deal for four years, including an $8,000,000 signing bonus for a total of $34,000,000
This is quite the deal when you consider Evgeni's agent was originally asking for $12,350,000 for four years and a $7,410,000 signing bonus for a total of $56,810,000. So the question is; After the goodbye video and the verbal kick in the ass out the door delivered by the GM. What's changed? What happened? How was this relationship mended?
"I'll be honest here. Free Agency is a crazy time. Things happen. Certain markets get overblown and overpriced, and sometimes you have to take advantage of a situation. We looked at the market and our team's needs, and there was Gino. He's not getting his respect. So I flew out 2/3 of the triplets in Panarin and Rantanen and myself to meet with Evgeni and his team personally. That's all he needed to see. Us coming to him wanting him back as a team and as linemates, and we got a deal done. He left money on the table to be a Blackhawk, and we are happy to reunite our top line." stated GM Hetherington shortly after making the deal official.
Aside from that deal. GM Hetherington worked all offseason on improving the team's depth, getting creative with the cap and changing the makeup of this franchise. The Hawks had the reputation of being a one-line team with veteran top-end goaltending. Lacking depth in any form and has a weak backend. Well, a lot of that has changed. The offseason featured three trades;
To Chicago: Anthony Stolarz, Jared McCann
To Columbus: Drew Commesso(p), Ty Nelson(p), David Goyette(p), CHI 2 24
To Calgary: Martin Necas
To Chicago: Mikhail Sergachev (50% retained), Rd 2 2023 (WAS)
To Chicago: Mason Appleton, FLA 6th 2023, Juho Markkanen
To Los Angeles: Travis Hamonic
"We traded away some youth, got some youth in return. Saved cap but improved our roster. We didn't do many, but we made some very purposeful deals. Anthony Stolarz was fantastic last season and proved it in the playoffs as well. Just what we wanted and needed here in Chicago. He also has one of the best contracts per dollar in the league. A big get for us. Jared McCann, also on a sweetheart contract, was a big pickup for us. We envision him centering our second line and are excited about his current and future. Trading Martin Necas was tough, but we got a top pairing dman 50% retained and a high pick in return. Yes, please. Hamonic was a victim of numbers, so we traded him to LA to get playing time, and we got Mason Appleton, who's a great depth forward to add to our pro roster. Pretty happy with all the deals." stated GM Hetherington when asked to review the trades this offseason.
In free agency, the Hawks signed Jason Zucker, who can play any middle-line wing position the team needs. He most likely begins the year on the third line. They also signed forwards Victor Rask, Ryan Carpenter and Tyler Motte to play on the team's bottom six. Josh Brown was brought in as a seventh dman. Also, veteran goaltender Kevin Poulin and centerman Derek Stepan were signed to push for a pro roster role but will most likely play on the farm.
So, the newcomers to the team this offseason;
Top-line elite center Evgeni Malkin (although kinda returning on a discount)
Starting netminder in Stolarz
Top pairing dman Sergachev
Second-line center McCann
Two-thirds of a third line in Zucker and Rask
An entire new fourth line with Appleton, Carpenter and Motte.
Also, add in an expected gradation from the farm a young high potential dman in Alex Vlasic
ALOT has changed. But has all of that improved the team all-around depth and turned this former one-line team into a true contender? We'll find out soon as the regular season is almost here.
Evgeni Malkin and the Chicago Blackhawks agreed to a $6,500,000 deal for four years, including an $8,000,000 signing bonus for a total of $34,000,000
This is quite the deal when you consider Evgeni's agent was originally asking for $12,350,000 for four years and a $7,410,000 signing bonus for a total of $56,810,000. So the question is; After the goodbye video and the verbal kick in the ass out the door delivered by the GM. What's changed? What happened? How was this relationship mended?
"I'll be honest here. Free Agency is a crazy time. Things happen. Certain markets get overblown and overpriced, and sometimes you have to take advantage of a situation. We looked at the market and our team's needs, and there was Gino. He's not getting his respect. So I flew out 2/3 of the triplets in Panarin and Rantanen and myself to meet with Evgeni and his team personally. That's all he needed to see. Us coming to him wanting him back as a team and as linemates, and we got a deal done. He left money on the table to be a Blackhawk, and we are happy to reunite our top line." stated GM Hetherington shortly after making the deal official.
Aside from that deal. GM Hetherington worked all offseason on improving the team's depth, getting creative with the cap and changing the makeup of this franchise. The Hawks had the reputation of being a one-line team with veteran top-end goaltending. Lacking depth in any form and has a weak backend. Well, a lot of that has changed. The offseason featured three trades;
To Chicago: Anthony Stolarz, Jared McCann
To Columbus: Drew Commesso(p), Ty Nelson(p), David Goyette(p), CHI 2 24
To Calgary: Martin Necas
To Chicago: Mikhail Sergachev (50% retained), Rd 2 2023 (WAS)
To Chicago: Mason Appleton, FLA 6th 2023, Juho Markkanen
To Los Angeles: Travis Hamonic
"We traded away some youth, got some youth in return. Saved cap but improved our roster. We didn't do many, but we made some very purposeful deals. Anthony Stolarz was fantastic last season and proved it in the playoffs as well. Just what we wanted and needed here in Chicago. He also has one of the best contracts per dollar in the league. A big get for us. Jared McCann, also on a sweetheart contract, was a big pickup for us. We envision him centering our second line and are excited about his current and future. Trading Martin Necas was tough, but we got a top pairing dman 50% retained and a high pick in return. Yes, please. Hamonic was a victim of numbers, so we traded him to LA to get playing time, and we got Mason Appleton, who's a great depth forward to add to our pro roster. Pretty happy with all the deals." stated GM Hetherington when asked to review the trades this offseason.
In free agency, the Hawks signed Jason Zucker, who can play any middle-line wing position the team needs. He most likely begins the year on the third line. They also signed forwards Victor Rask, Ryan Carpenter and Tyler Motte to play on the team's bottom six. Josh Brown was brought in as a seventh dman. Also, veteran goaltender Kevin Poulin and centerman Derek Stepan were signed to push for a pro roster role but will most likely play on the farm.
So, the newcomers to the team this offseason;
Top-line elite center Evgeni Malkin (although kinda returning on a discount)
Starting netminder in Stolarz
Top pairing dman Sergachev
Second-line center McCann
Two-thirds of a third line in Zucker and Rask
An entire new fourth line with Appleton, Carpenter and Motte.
Also, add in an expected gradation from the farm a young high potential dman in Alex Vlasic
ALOT has changed. But has all of that improved the team all-around depth and turned this former one-line team into a true contender? We'll find out soon as the regular season is almost here.
