The Chicago Blackhawks are out first Western Conference team that we are taking a closer look in our season primer series. The Blackhawks enter the season as strong Cup contenders.
Use the below Tabs to view Blackhawks info for this upcoming season, as well as some numbers from last year.
2013-14 record: 46-21-15, 107 points
Where they finished: 3rd in the Central; 5th in the Western Conference; 7th in the NHL
Player Salaries: $78,262,500
Cap Payroll: $71,216,795
Bonuses: $630,000
Bonus Overages: $60,000
Cap Space: $-2,216,795
Forwards: $39.91 million (14)
Defensemen: $24.5 million (7)
Goalies: $6.75 million (2)
Source: CapGeek.com
In: Brad Richards C, Cody Bass RW, Dennis Rasmussen C/LW, Kyle Cumiskey D, Michael Leighton G, Pierre-Cedric Labrie LW, Scott Darling G
Out: Brandon Bollig LW, Brian Connelly D, Jason LaBarbera G, Pierre-Marc Bouchard W/C
2014-15 Team Outlook:
The Chicago Blackhawks have been one of the NHL’s elite teams for quite a while now, and there’s no reason to believe that will change next season.
Michal Handzus and Brandon Bollig are the only regulars who won’t be returning, and neither should cause the Blackhawks to miss a step.
Once Brad Richards was bought out by the New York Rangers, the Blackhawks pounced on the opportunity and promptly signed him to a one-year, $2 million deal.
Since Richards was bought out a lot of people view him as a mediocre player, but he’s still quite good. He scored 20 goals and recorded 51 points in 82 games before posting 12 points in 25 games during the Rangers’ Cup run, and still has some good hockey left.
In Richards the Blackhawks added another established top-6 player, and really they didn’t lose anyone of note this summer.
With Jonathan Toews and Richards down the middle, their top-2 centers can stack up against the best of them; especially when you factor in the wingers they’ll be playing with.
Chicago will be a Stanley Cup contender once again next season.
Written by Todd Cordell, who can be found on twitter @ToddCordell.
The depth chart listed below was taken from NHL.com’s 30-in-30.
FORWARDS
Patrick Sharp – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa
Brandon Saad – Brad Richards – Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Jeremy Morin
Peter Regin – Marcus Kruger – Ben Smith
Joakim Nordstrom – Kris Versteeg
DEFENSEMEN
Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya – Niklas Hjalmarsson
Nick Leddy – Michal Rozsival
David Rundblad
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford
Antti Raanta
| Forwards | POS | HT | WT | DOB | BIRTH PLACE |
| Bryan Bickell | L | 6′ 4″ | 233 | 9-Mar-86 | BOWMANVILLE, ON, CAN |
| Marian Hossa | R | 6′ 1″ | 210 | 12-Jan-79 | STARÁ LUBOVNA, SVK |
| Patrick Kane | R | 5′ 11″ | 181 | 19-Nov-88 | BUFFALO, NY, USA |
| Marcus Kruger | C | 6′ 0″ | 181 | 27-May-90 | STOCKHOLM, SWE |
| Jeremy Morin | R | 6′ 1″ | 192 | 16-Apr-91 | AUBURN, NY, USA |
| Joakim Nordstrom | C | 6′ 1″ | 160 | 25-Feb-92 | STOCKHOLM, SWE |
| Peter Regin | C | 6′ 2″ | 190 | 16-Apr-86 | HERNING, DNK |
| Brad Richards | C | 6′ 0″ | 196 | 2-May-80 | MURRAY HARBOUR, PE, CAN |
| Brandon Saad | L | 6′ 1″ | 202 | 27-Oct-92 | PITTSBURGH, PA, USA |
| Patrick Sharp “A” | L | 6′ 1″ | 199 | 27-Dec-81 | WINNIPEG, MB, CAN |
| Andrew Shaw | C | 5′ 10″ | 180 | 20-Jul-91 | BELLEVILLE, ON, CAN |
| Ben Smith | R | 5′ 11″ | 207 | 11-Jul-88 | WINSTON-SALEM, NC, USA |
| Jonathan Toews “C” | C | 6′ 2″ | 208 | 29-Apr-88 | WINNIPEG, MB, CAN |
| Kris Versteeg | L | 5′ 11″ | 183 | 13-May-86 | LETHBRIDGE, AB, CAN |
A look at the Chicago Blackhawks top prospects heading into this season. Each source may use different classifications as to if a player is deemed a prospect or has graduated on from a prospect.
| RK | NHL.com | ESPN Corey Pronman |
Dobber Prospects | Hockeys Future | The Hockey News |
| 1 | Teuvo Teravainen | Teuvo Teravainen | Teuvo Teravainen | Teuvo Teravainen | Teuvo Teravainen |
| 2 | Adam Clendening | Ryan Hartman | Adam Clendening | Nick Schmaltz | Ryan Hartman |
| 3 | Mark McNeill | Adam Clendening | Antti Raanta | Stephen Johns | Nick Schmaltz |
| 4 | Stephen Johns | Nick Schmaltz | Jeremy Morin | Adam Clendening | Adam Clendening |
| 5 | Kevin Hayes | Jeremy Morin | Joakim Nordstrom | Ryan Hartman | Mark McNeill |
| 6 | Ryan Hartman | Mark McNeill | Mark McNeill | Mark McNeill | Kevin Hayes |
| 7 | Joakim Nordstrom | Robin Norell | Ryan Hartman | Jeremy Morin | Joakim Nordstrom |
| 8 | Phillip Danault | Phillip Danault | Klas Dahlbeck | Klas Dahlbeck | Phillip Danault |
| 9 | Nick Schmaltz | Tyler Motte | Phillip Danault | John Hayden | Jeremy Morin |
| 10 | Klas Dahlbeck | Joakim Nordstrom | Nick Schmaltz | Phillip Danault | Drew LeBlanc |
* Dobber Prospects – Prospects based on relevance in a fantasy-hockey keeper league, not actual talent on the ice.
Chicago Blackhawks Draft History from the past five years
| 2014 Draft | ||||||
| Rd. | Draft # | Player | Pos. | Team | Ht. | Wt. |
| 1 | 20 | Nick Schmaltz | C/RW | Green Bay (USHL) | 5′ 11″ | 172 |
| 3 | 83 | Matheson Iacopelli | RW | Muskegon (USHL) | 6′ 1″ | 192 |
| 3 | 88 | Beau Starrett | C/LW | South Shore (USPHL) | 6′ 4″ | 197 |
| 4 | 98 | Frederik Olofsson | LW | Chicago (USHL) | 6′ 1″ | 185 |
| 5 | 141 | Luc Snuggerud | D | Eden Prairie HS (MN) | 6′ 0″ | 180 |
| 5 | 148 | Andreas Soderberg | D | Skelleftea Jr. (SWE) | 6′ 4″ | 200 |
| 6 | 178 | Dylan Sikura | C | Aurora (OJHL) | 5′ 11″ | 149 |
| 6 | 179 | Ivan Nalimov | G | SKA St. Petersburg 2 (RUS) | 6′ 5″ | 211 |
| 7 | 208 | Jack Ramsey | RW | Penticton (BCHL) | 6′ 2″ | 175 |
| 2013 Draft | ||||||
| 1 | 30 | Ryan Hartman | RW | Plymouth (OHL) | 5’11” | 185 |
| 2 | 51 | Carl Dahlstrom | D | Linkoping Jr. (SWE-JR. ) | 6′ 3″ | 211 |
| 3 | 74 | John Hayden | RW | US-NTDP | 6′ 2″ | 210 |
| 4 | 111 | Robin Norell | D | Djurgarden Jr. (SWE-JR. ) | 5′ 11″ | 189 |
| 4 | 121 | Tyler Motte | LW | US-NTDP | 5’10” | 165 |
| 5 | 134 | Luke Johnson | C | Lincoln (USHL) | 5’11” | 165 |
| 5 | 151 | Gage Ausmus | D | NTDP-18 | 6′ 1″ | 205 |
| 6 | 181 | Anthony Louis | C | USA U-18 | 5′ 6″ | 145 |
| 7 | 211 | Robin Press | D | Sodertalje (SWE-2 ) | 6′ 2″ | 190 |
| 2012 Draft | ||||||
| 1 | 18 | Teuvo Teravainen | LW | Jokerit (Fin) | 5’10” | 161 |
| 2 | 48 | Dillon Fournier | D | Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL) | 6′ 2″ | 180 |
| 3 | 79 | Chris Calnan | RW | Nobles HS (MA) | 6′ 2″ | 188 |
| 5 | 139 | Garret Ross | LW | Saginaw (OHL) | 5’11” | 169 |
| 5 | 149 | Travis Brown | D | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 6′ 1″ | 179 |
| 6 | 169 | Vince Hinostroza | C | Waterloo (USHL) | 5′ 9″ | 158 |
| 7 | 191 | Brandon Whitney | G | Victoriaville (QMJHL) | 6′ 5″ | 193 |
| 7 | 199 | Matt Tomkins | G | Sherwood Park (AJHL) | 6′ 2″ | 176 |
| 2011 Draft | ||||||
| 1 | 18 | Mark McNeill | C | Prince Albert (WHL) | 6′ 2″ | 210 |
| 1 | 26 | Phillip Danault | LW | Victoriaville (QMJHL) | 5’11” | 162 |
| 2 | 36 | Adam Clendening | D | Boston Univ. (H-East) | 5’11” | 187 |
| 2 | 43 | Brandon Saad | LW | Saginaw (OHL) | 6′ 2″ | 200 |
| 3 | 70 | Michael Paliotta | D | USA U-18 (USHL) | 6′ 2″ | 185 |
| 3 | 79 | Klas Dahlbeck | D | Linkoping (Swe) | 6′ 2″ | 194 |
| 4 | 109 | Maxim Shalunov | RW | Chelyabinsk (RUS) | 6′ 3″ | 185 |
| 5 | 139 | Andrew Shaw | C | Owen Sound (OHL) | 5’10” | 180 |
| 6 | 169 | Sam Jardine | D | Camrose (AJHL) | 6′ 1″ | 190 |
| 7 | 199 | Alexander Broadhurst | C | Green Bay (USHL) | 5’10” | 150 |
| 7 | 211 | Johan Mattsson | G | Sodertalje Jr (Swe) | 6′ 3″ | 200 |
| 2010 Draft | ||||||
| 1 | 24 | Kevin Hayes | RW | Nobles (Mass. HS) | 6′ 2″ | 175 |
| 2 | 35 | Ludwig Rensfeltd | LW | Brynas Jr. | 6′ 2″ | 192 |
| 2 | 54 | Justin Holl | D | Minnetonka | 6′ 3″ | 199 |
| 2 | 58 | Kent Simpson | G | Everett | 6′ 3″ | 182 |
| 2 | 60 | Stephen John | D | USA U-18 | 6′ 3″ | 215 |
| 3 | 90 | Joakim Nordstrom | C | Aik Jr. | 6′ 1″ | 160 |
| 4 | 120 | Rob Flick | C | Mississauga St. Michael’s | 6′ 2″ | 205 |
| 6 | 151 | Mirko Hoefflin | RW | Heilbronn | 6′ 0″ | 174 |
| 6 | 180 | Nick Mattson | D | Indiana | 6′ 1″ | 189 |
| 7 | 191 | Macmillian Carruth | G | Portland | 6′ 2″ | 169 |
| Player | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% |
| Patrick Sharp | 82 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 13 | 40 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 313 | 10.9 |
| Patrick Kane | 69 | 29 | 40 | 69 | 7 | 22 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 227 | 12.8 |
| Jonathan Toews | 76 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 26 | 34 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 193 | 14.5 |
| Duncan Keith | 79 | 6 | 55 | 61 | 22 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 198 | 3 |
| Marian Hossa | 72 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 28 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 241 | 12.4 |
| Brandon Saad | 78 | 19 | 28 | 47 | 20 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 159 | 11.9 |
| Brent Seabrook | 82 | 7 | 34 | 41 | 23 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 4.7 |
| Andrew Shaw | 80 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 12 | 76 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 149 | 13.4 |
| Nick Leddy | 82 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 123 | 5.7 |
| Kris Versteeg | 63 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 9 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 110 | 9.1 |
| Marcus Kruger | 81 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 96 | 8.3 |
| Niklas Hjalmarsson | 81 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 11 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 98 | 4.1 |
| Ben Smith | 75 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 15.6 |
| Michal Handzus | 59 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 8 |
| Johnny Oduya | 77 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 83 | 3.6 |
| Bryan Bickell | 59 | 11 | 4 | 15 | -6 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 93 | 11.8 |
| Brandon Bollig | 82 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -1 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 6.4 |
| Brandon Pirri | 28 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 17.6 |
| Jeremy Morin | 24 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 10.9 |
| Michal Rozsival | 42 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 2.6 |
| Sheldon Brookbank | 48 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 4.7 |
| Peter Regin | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 12.5 |
| Michael Kostka | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 11.1 |
| Joakim Nordstrom | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3.8 |
| Matt Carey | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100 |
| Brad Mills | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Jimmy Hayes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| David Rundblad | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Teuvo Teravainen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Goalie | GPI | GS | MIN | GAA | W | L | OT | SO | SA | GA | SV% |
| Corey Crawford | 59 | 56 | 3395 | 2.26 | 32 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 1533 | 128 | 0.917 |
| Antti Raanta | 25 | 22 | 1397 | 2.71 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 610 | 63 | 0.897 |
| Nikolai Khabibulin | 4 | 4 | 168 | 5.00 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 74 | 14 | 0.811 |
| Kent Simpson | 1 | 0 | 20 | 6.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0.714 |
Performance and Usage Charts for the Chicago Blackhawks from last season, from Extra Skater.
