McNeill's coming to Rockford and it looks like Danault will be too in the next couple days. Danault will (likely) finish his QMJHL career losing in back-to-back years in upset fashion. It's not just him, Jaskin's been MIA all series, but kinda sucks for Danault to be on powerhouse teams in back-to-back years and not even get out of the 1st round.
Going to guess the lines when McNeill/Danault come will look something like this:
Olesz - St. Pierre - Morin
Smith - Pirri - Danault
McArdle - Froese - Beach
Svendsen - Nordstrom - McNeill
McNeill's coming to Rockford and it looks like Danault will be too in the next couple days. Danault will (likely) finish his QMJHL career losing in back-to-back years in upset fashion. It's not just him, Jaskin's been MIA all series, but kinda sucks for Danault to be on powerhouse teams in back-to-back years and not even get out of the 1st round.
Going to guess the lines when McNeill/Danault come will look something like this:
Olesz - St. Pierre - Morin
Smith - Pirri - Danault
McArdle - Froese - Beach
Svendsen - Nordstrom - McNeill
More likely Rockford Coaches dont use them much and go with what they have
Hogs are more concerned right now with making playoffs then giving McNeill/Danault playing time
More likely Rockford Coaches dont use them much and go with what they have
Hogs are more concerned right now with making playoffs then giving McNeill/Danault playing time
Why wouldn't McNeill play 3C?
More likely Rockford Coaches dont use them much and go with what they have
Hogs are more concerned right now with making playoffs then giving McNeill/Danault playing time
He played mostly on the 4th line last year and the Icehogs are trying to make the playoffs - hence, they likely don't want to disrupt the lineup too much. Danault played on Pirri's wing last year and had success, that's why he's in the top-6, otherwise he'd be on the 4th line too.
Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault are better than Brad Mills and Matt Beaudoin. Maybe they don't get in right away, but both will play games for the Icehogs, and likely the majority of their remaining games. They're 1st round picks, not scrubs.
I don't see Bickell leaving the Hawks. I see him signing a team friendly deal in and around a 1-2 mil for 2 years or so. whatever coincides with the Toews/Kane contracts. He has said he's willing to take less money to stay with the Hawks supposedly and if that is true... the Hawks should have no problem re-signing him.
I don't know about Stalberg though... Stalberg I see leaving the Hawks and getting 3+ somewhere else
Hogs are looking to make playoffs
Sticking kids into lineup isn't the way to go
Danault might draw in but McNeill isn't a sure thing
No, I'm telling you right now it is a sure thing that they both play a lot of Rockford's remaining games to end the season and wanting to make the playoffs is exactly why.
You don't dress Brad Mills and Matt Beaudoin over Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault because they're "kids". McNeill and Danault are both significantly better than those players and therefore, they'll dress.
Like I said, maybe not the minute they get there, but after a couple practises, they'll get in.
For the record, Rockford was on a nice roll when Joakim Nordstrom's season ended in Sweden. He's come over and stepped right into the line-up, despite never playing in N.A. Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault are both better than Nordstrom, so why would anyone think they wouldn't play much?
If I'm Chicago, Danault and McNeill only play enough games so they don't burn a year of their contract. Rockford has been doing amazing the last few weeks, so they don't really need an improvement.
It's more beneficial to the Hawks that they have these guys on ELCs for another year as oppossed to them helping the Hogs get to the playoffs.
Not sure what the brass actually thinks about it though.
Their contracts will slide to next year because they weren't 20 by December 31st 2012, regardless of how many games (playoffs/regular season) they play in Rockford.
Hmm, didn't know about that rule...I thought if they played X amount of games that it didn't matter.
If they play in the NHL, it would matter. Since their in the AHL, it doesn't.
Both of Pirri/Morin's contract slid over a year, despite both playing in the AHL for a full year. The reason? They were both 19.
Sucks for Jokerit, but Teuvo had a really good season after his slow start. Excited to see him at Prospects camp in a few months.
My bet: He will (and should) look like the best prospect there. Just like last year.
By the way, anyone who's on the "when are we finally going to dump Kruger/Frolik" wagon should watch the development of Nordstrom as he's one of the most likely to be groomed as their replacement.