Some Blackhawks questions entering the season
Chicago Tribune: Writers answering some questions about the Chicago Blackhawks. (Jimmy Greenfield, Shannon Ryan, Steve Rosenbloom and David Haugh and editor Joe Knowles.)
Five writers think the Blackhawks should go into a rebuild but they have too many contracts that are hard to move because of a no-movement clause or because of the size of the deal.
Most think that coach Joel Quenneville‘s job shouldn’t be jeopardy this season as he’s won three Stanley Cups with them. Goaltending and possibly their defense could be issues. Knowles adds that if Quenneville’s position is in jeopardy, GM Stan Bowman’s should be as well. Quenneville can only coach what he was in front of him.
Seravalli makes some predictions that he thinks could go down
Frank Seravalli of TSN: Seravalli makes his yearly predictions again this season for each team.
Seravalli thinks the Anaheim Ducks could fire Randy Carlyle by Christmas and replace him with Dallas Eakins.
Steve Yzerman will join the Detroit Red Wings after the season when his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning expires.
Minnesota Wild GM Paul Fenton could look to put his stamp on the team by making a “direction-altering trade” … “think Mikko Koivu or Eric Staal.”
The Ottawa Senators will look to recoup assets and trade Matt Duchene by the trade deadline. Mark Stone will sign a long-term contract in the New Year.
Ducks and Ritchie negotiations have been very tough
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on NHL Network talking about Anaheim Ducks restricted free agent Nick Ritchie. Friedman has heard the negotiations have been “very, very tough” as GM Bob Murray and agent Pat Morris have dug in.
“One of the things I heard is you’ll remember last year in Columbus – Josh Anderson, the Blue Jackets wanted term, a three-year deal. The agent and the player didn’t want a three-year deal, but Columbus just didn’t budge. They had all the leverage, and they said, ‘No, we want some certainty,’ and I think that’s kind of what’s happened in Ritchie’s case – Anaheim wants some certainty, and I think the player wants shorter term than that, and that’s where they’re stuck.”