New 2024-25 Acquitions

[Northernhawk]

I didn’t think a post about all the players acquired this past offseason and during the season has been made yet…so here goes…


Ilya Mikheyev(trade with VAN) has been an excellent addition, he just looks like a hockey player, never gives up on a play, versatile, great PKer…another great ‘salary dump’ trade by Davidson, initially I was excited that Lafferty was reaquired, kid they got a 2nd rounder!

At the draft a 1st rounder(trade with CAR) for two 2nds…using assets(picks) to move up and pick a THIRD 1st and selecting Marek Vanacker, he’s been signed and looks like a keeper!

Also at the draft a 3rd rounder(again with CAR) for 3rd this summer…used the pick to select Jack Pridham, wow! Just wow! Another solid draft pick…and to boot the Blackhawks reaquired that 3rd(looks to be either 63 or 64 overall) in the Taylor Hall trade!

Tyler Bertuzzi signed as UFA…4 year deal, he’s produced a 20+ goal season, showed both his versatility and streamlines…solid signing as far as I’m concerned. When he’s hot, he’s hot!

Alex Martinez signed as UFA…1 year deal, to bring stability and beverage presence…injuries hampered his season, he’s received catcalls from United Center fans but I feel he produced when healthy, I also believe Davidson thought he could have been a tradedeadline target…didn’t happen, I’m sure he played his last game as a Hawk…

Laurent Brossoit signed as UFA…2 year deal, injured in offseason he has yet to dress as a Hawk…will he be Knights backup next season?

Craig Smith signed as UFA…1 year deal, if healthy this underrealized NHL vet would have played his 1000th game, a surprisingly muktiple 20+ goal scorer found a role on a line with fellow UFA signee Maroon and Lukas Reichel, they played well together…sadly he was lived to DET…good signing tho Davidson!

Teuvo Teravainen signed as UFA… 2 year deal, in what was somewhat of a surprise TT ‘coming home’ has been a success, somewhat streaky TT has been a great signing, another win for Davidson!

Patrick Maroon signed as UFA…1 year deal, another signee thought that would be a deadline move, rumoured interest by TB, has been invaluable to the Hawks, fights, has in my opinion been a great help to Reichels improves play…his career is coming to an end, Davidson knew what he was getting when he signed him!

Joey Anderson signed as a UFA…2 year deal, after not qualifying him, somewhat like David Kampf before him, Davidson risked losing him for nothing…he struggles to find that role he had last year season…Icehog next season unless he vastly improves at training camp…

TJ Brodie signed as a UFA…2 year deal, in what I feel is the only head scratcher of Davidsons signings Brodie was given 2 years? An instant Boo-bird, he’s been a healthy scratch for the last month…buyout possible, but Davidson has shown he can move the unmoveable…only bad signing from this summer…

Artyom Levshunov signed entry level contract…one year in USHL, one year in NCAA, signs to start his pro career, 2nd overall pick has shown a fast tracked NHL career…half a season in AHL he’s been recalled and playing a lot for the Hawks…calls for Davidson to draft Ivan Demidov have been forgotten…defence looking promising!

Louis Crevier and Isaak Phillips both sign 1 year contract extensions…both having played games last season, rewarded with qualifying offers(over others) Crevier faires better than Phillips, man Crevier has size!

Marek Vanacker signed entry level contract, third 1st rounder from 2024 draft signed on and joins Nick Lardis in Branford(ohl)…injured to start the season

Landon Slaggert agrees to an extension, after a great start to his AHL career He’s rewarded with an extension, like Nazar he follows that up with an NHL spot!

Dmitri Kuzmin(trade with WIN), traded for Isaac Phillips n a ‘change of scenery’ deal, much like Ryder Rolstin to NAS, the Blackhawks felt a change was needed in Rockford…Kuzmin, it was noted, was familiar to Levshunov…much like Thikonov with Panarin years ago…Kuzmin is signed through next season unlike Phillips, the defence was getting cluttered, they switched up 12th defencemen!

AJ Spellacy signed entry level contract…third player signed from 2024 draft, another solid prospect that Hawks fans will eventually see!

That 3rd rounder mentioned before was the line asset acquired as the third team in thr Rantanen to CAR from COL deals…Hall was also moved without retaining money, this is the kind of deals that Vegas has brought to the NHL…with retension on Rantanen they still saved cap space…Hawks acquired Rantanen for the now LEGEND that is Nils Juntorp!

Early NHL Tradedeadline deal had Spencer Knight and a 1st rounder(trade with FLA) acquired for the ‘untradeable’ Seth Jones…sure money was retained, but not as much as what was thought to be needed, getting Knight solidified the net and acquiring yet another 1st(in the Gavin McKenna draft) is yet again a huge win for Davidson…imagine if that pick ends up landing McKenna!!!

NHL TRADE DEADLINE
Joe Veleno(trade with DET) was acquired for Mrazek, who became expendable after the Knight deal and Craig Smith…no money retained, Veleno, who’s young, has shown that a change of scenery was the perfect move…he’s come on now that he’s played a few games, great on faceoffs…which the Hawks haven’t been, sneaky good move!

Last trade of the season(I think) was acquiring ‘just inducted’ HHoFer Shea Weber, the rights to Victor Soderstrom and Aku Raty(trade with UTH) for a 5th…shuffling deck chairs really…kind of a head scratcher in that Davidson just moved money with the Hall, Jones and Mrazek deals only to take on Webers contract for this season and next, but they did just hired that O’Brien guy, maybe having Webers money for LTIR purposes shows their gonna be a player next offseason? Soderstrom and Raty are ‘rough’ gems, Hawks gonna contend for playoff spot next year!

Sam Rinzel and Oliver Moore, both 1st rounders acquired by Davidson through trades sign entry level contracts and will finish their seasons as Blackhawks, both impressive!!

Taige Harding signs entry level contract starting next season…he signs a ATO with Rockford, carrying on a tradition of reinforcing the farm team…another giant in the back end!

Comments…again I feel Davidson did well this year! Even though the Hawks haven’t really ‘moved the needle’…they have improved

 

[ploppsdman]

So many exclamation points.

 

[Northernhawk]

So many exclamation points.

Yup

 

[CallMeShaft]

Tldr

It's like a fiddy post with less grammatical errors

 

[Panzerspitze]

I finished it in one sitting...

 

[pvr]

Title needs to be edited for “acquisition” spelling correction.

Otherwise it’s a reasonable summation.

 

[MHO]

I got the point about 60% through the novel. I'd say Davidson did well this year but again, even though we're past the teardown, I'd say we're still in the easier part of the rebuild. The next season is where it gets harder as expectations become real.

For the most part, the acquisitions whether through trade, the draft, and free agency have been good. Free agency wise, Bertuzzi has been a little disappointing but I feel like his game will benefit greatly from more talent around him. Everyone else has been as advertised except Brodie but that won't have any long term consequences.

Bedard, for whatever reason, has been disappointing this year but I'm not worried about him at all. My conclusion about this season is that although, the NHL product has been terrible, the prospect development has been fantastic and Davidson's vision is becoming evident with all the kids up now. They clearly have a solid foundation built and they just need to acquire top end talent and a legit NHL coach to finish it off.

 

[hawksfan50]

But it looks lije he failed to sign Donebic James who probably will turn out weell for a team that gets himas a free agent..supposedly a great fkrwchecker and 2 wY pkayer..Would have liked to see hom I Chicago. do not know why he did not sign.

 

[MHO]

But it looks lije he failed to sign Donebic James who probably will turn out weell for a team that gets himas a free agent..supposedly a great fkrwchecker and 2 wY pkayer..Would have liked to see hom I Chicago. do not know why he did not sign.

All of these great things but he failed to sign Domenic James. If James ends up not signing, it's because he doesn't see his path to the NHL being all that easy with the Hawks. How many bottom 6 forwards would he have to compete with for ice time when he could sign anywhere in 4 months?

 

[giza]

It could be that the Hawks are waiting on Greene and Thompson before committing to James. KD seemed to praise James in the past. KD has really nailed 2 important trades-----getting rid of Mrazek and getting rid of Jones. Those two alone get him an A. Not everything has worked out----Brodie and Hall, but more often than not, he's done quite well.

 

[Northernhawk]

I got the point about 60% through the novel. I'd say Davidson did well this year but again, even though we're past the teardown, I'd say we're still in the easier part of the rebuild. The next season is where it gets harder as expectations become real.

For the most part, the acquisitions whether through trade, the draft, and free agency have been good. Free agency wise, Bertuzzi has been a little disappointing but I feel like his game will benefit greatly from more talent around him. Everyone else has been as advertised except Brodie but that won't have any long term consequences.

Bedard, for whatever reason, has been disappointing this year but I'm not worried about him at all. My conclusion about this season is that although, the NHL product has been terrible, the prospect development has been fantastic and Davidson's vision is becoming evident with all the kids up now. They clearly have a solid foundation built and they just need to acquire top end talent and a legit NHL coach to finish it off.

Bedard has been different(not as fearless) since his injury…maybe…still making those passes to no one turnovers which is aggravating…but still he’s 19, it’s awesome to see Bedard Nazar Levshunov out in 3x3…Hawks future on display!

 

[Cashman]

All of these great things but he failed to sign Domenic James. If James ends up not signing, it's because he doesn't see his path to the NHL being all that easy with the Hawks. How many bottom 6 forwards would he have to compete with for ice time when he could sign anywhere in 4 months?

Maybe they do not want to burn a year of his ELC.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

Last trade of the season(I think) was acquiring ‘just inducted’ HHoFer Shea Weber, the rights to Victor Soderstrom and Aku Raty(trade with UTH) for a 5th…shuffling deck chairs really…kind of a head scratcher in that Davidson just moved money with the Hall, Jones and Mrazek deals only to take on Webers contract for this season and next, but they did just hired that O’Brien guy, maybe having Webers money for LTIR purposes shows their gonna be a player next offseason? Soderstrom and Raty are ‘rough’ gems, Hawks gonna contend for playoff spot next year!

I think the signing of Weber shows he's intentionally not trying to win next year. Like most have pointed out here it's a way to meet the cap floor. That can be interpreted as not trying to win, however, in the event that they are a bubble playoff team it allows them flexibility (like you said). I don't think even the most ardent homers think a playoff run next year is possible but I love your enthusiasm.

IF the kids make the jump and all perform at starter level I'll gladly eat my words.

 

[Cashman]

I think the signing of Weber shows he's intentionally not trying to win next year. Like most have pointed out here it's a way to meet the cap floor. That can be interpreted as not trying to win, however, in the event that they are a bubble playoff team it allows them flexibility (like you said). I don't think even the most ardent homers think a playoff run next year is possible but I love your enthusiasm.

IF the kids make the jump and all perform at starter level I'll gladly eat my words.

I think they can go (2) different routes with his contract. I think the difference is how they can add talent.

 

[BHawks77]

I think the signing of Weber shows he's intentionally not trying to win next year. Like most have pointed out here it's a way to meet the cap floor. That can be interpreted as not trying to win, however, in the event that they are a bubble playoff team it allows them flexibility (like you said). I don't think even the most ardent homers think a playoff run next year is possible but I love your enthusiasm.

IF the kids make the jump and all perform at starter level I'll gladly eat my words.

Getting Weber is that now they have more options. Now they are not forced to overpay any player if they cant find a real topline player. If they do find that they just LTIR Weber.

No downsides to to this!

 

[Paul Allen]

I think the signing of Weber shows he's intentionally not trying to win next year. Like most have pointed out here it's a way to meet the cap floor. That can be interpreted as not trying to win, however, in the event that they are a bubble playoff team it allows them flexibility (like you said). I don't think even the most ardent homers think a playoff run next year is possible but I love your enthusiasm.

IF the kids make the jump and all perform at starter level I'll gladly eat my words.

It gives him some room to potentially do some wild things in FA, due to future cap projections, their own cap surplus, and the US broadcasting rights are up for renewal in 2028- which in my uneducated mind should be north of 10B based off the new Canadian deal.

 

[ClydeLee]

Getting Weber is that now they have more options. Now they are not forced to overpay any player if they cant find a real topline player. If they do find that they just LTIR Weber.

No downsides to to this!

It also is a positive in trading for a player. It was pointed out when the Hall & Folingos rights trade for nothing happened. That the blackhawks having a need to add cap, hurt them from being able to demand picks along with Hall.