Yesterday, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson talked about a wide range of topics. I wrote about a number of them yesterday, including his thoughts on the progress of some young players (both in the NHL now and in the junior and college ranks) and the idea that he might be willing to open the organ-I-zation’s checkbook in free agency.
One item I didn’t include in that was his assessment of interim head coach Anders Sorensen. Since the coaching change, the Blackhawks are 7-13-3; their point percentage (.370) is better than only San Jose and Buffalo since Dec. 5. Here’s what Davidson had to say about Sorensen’s job thus far:
#Blackhawks GM on his evaluation of interim head coach Anders Sorensen to this point: "I think he's done a nice job so far. We've seen a little bit of highs and lows…I think some of the habits and some of the mentality we have as a team has improved in my opinion." pic.twitter.com/flcSrHyNcq
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) January 27, 2025“He’s done a nice job so far. We’ve seen a little bit of highs and lows throughout his time with us so far at the NHL level. I think some of the habits and some of the mentality we have as a team has improved in my opinion. There’s some things we still need to clean up, especially when we’re playing with leads is trying to stay on that front foot and trying to keep pushing, but the fact we’ve been pushing and been able to generate offense earlier in the game and putting the team in a position to have to hold leads is a good thing, and holding leads later into games and getting results has been nice lately. I’ve really liked that. But there’s still a mentality that continues to need to change and play right through the 60 minutes on the front foot rather than sitting back and trying to play a little more conservatively. But as a high level assessment, I think he’s been really effective so far.”
I think those comments and the evolving roster at the NHL level make Ben Pope’s postgame story from Sunday night an appropriate share here. The Blackhawks went from super young to ancient over the summer. But, if you looked at the lineup on Sunday night (and again tonight), the youth movement is clearly underway. And the young guys are making an impact in the box score most nights.Earlier this season, when the Blackhawks had one of the NHL's oldest rosters, their losses were nothing but depressing.As youth takes over the roster, at least their losses now have developmental value.Postgame story: t.co/QvduB5HXSM
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 27, 2025 Here’s what Davidson said when explaining the timing of the Taylor Hall trade:“For us we were happy to get the asset that we got back. In moving Taylor, I think it was something that was probably going to happen at some point. We were not going to use our two retained salary transactions on being involved in this one and then maybe another one with Taylor later on. And so, it was one or the other. We either going to be involved in this or we weren’t. And from my estimation, the market was probably around that if we stayed out of this all together and just took the player to market later on and got a pick for him later on. But in waiting you run the risk of things like injury, the role was diminishing almost by the game, and it just wasn’t heading towards a way that was going to maximize or enhance value, and so in moving then, we moved at full price and held on the other player involved. It just didn’t make sense to wait and not really get a better return later on.”
A couple takeaways from the pieces I put in bold: the Blackhawks could retain salary in a third deal before the deadline (they kept that option open here) and they also recognize that Hall’s play was leading to his role on the team sliding the wrong direction to get max value in a trade. So they moved him when they did to effectively sell (relatively) high on the asset."Did I expect us to be better than second to last? I did, I did. But that doesn't at all mean I'm concerned about the bigger picture here, the bigger process at play here in terms of where we're headed and how good this group and this young group coming up can be."
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 27, 2025 How about this look for the pipeline? The CHL leader with 41 goals entering Monday’s games is Nick Lardis. It’s noteworthy that Michael Misa, a likely top-four pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is second on the leaderboard.How many players get to 50 goals this season? ? #CHLStats? t.co/xYIVmz2J0S pic.twitter.com/U8IHfHIUsa
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) January 27, 2025 I was reading a few other posts about Davidson’s media availability yesterday and saw it said in a couple places that Lardis isn’t a “big” player and there were a couple pieces that said something to the effect that the Blackhawks’ prospect pipeline somehow lacks size. With that, we’ll do this dance once again… because apparently it’s still necessary…FORWARDAJ Spellacy — 6-3, 204Sacha Boisvert — 6-2, 176Marek Vanacker — 6-1, 170Jack Pridham — 6-2, 185John Mustard — 6-1, 182Ryan Greene — 6-1, 195Oliver Moore — 6-0, 185Alex Pharand — 6-3, 192Martin Misiak — 6-2, 200Gavin Hayes — 6-1, 176Dominic James — 6-0, 200
DEFENSEArtyom Levshunov — 6-2, 209Kevin Korchinski — 6-1, 185Ethan Del Mastro — 6-4, 205Nolan Allan — 6-2, 195Louis Crevier — 6-8, 228Sam Rinzel — 6-5, 190Taige Harding — 6-7, 235
Sorry, folks. The concept that the Blackhawks haven’t drafted size recently and don’t have enough size in the pipeline is both false and painfully outdated. Blackhawks prospects Martin Misiak and Ty Henry will have a new coach in Erie. The Otters fired Stan Butler on Monday morning. If you’re looking for some Blackhawks hockey during the 4 Nations Face-Off break, keep in mind the IceHogs are still playing. And they’re inducting Bryan Bickell into their Ring of Honor on Feb. 15!Join us for a historic night when the IceHogs induct Bryan Bickell as the fourth member of the IceHogs Ring of Honor on Saturday, Feb. 15! There will be a VIP Meet & Greet with Bryan Bickell prior to the game and now is your chance to get a ticket to this exclusive event.The… pic.twitter.com/GWbljWfqnt
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) January 27, 2025 The Washington Capitals locked up one of their goaltenders on Monday. Good for Logan Thompson!Logan Thompson's six-year extension with the #caps carries a $5.85M AAV. Pending UFA goaltender parlayed a terrific season into a big payday.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 27, 2025 The Blues dumped a defenseman on Monday. Scott Perunovich, a 26-year-old LHD, will be an RFA this summer.We have acquired a conditional 5th-round draft pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Scott Perunovich. #stlblues DETAILS ➡️ t.co/JuPk8AE4jQ
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 27, 2025 The Ottawa Senators announced they’ll play two preseason games in Quebec City this fall.COMMUNIQUÉ: Les Sénateurs joueront deux matchs préparatoires à Québec en 2025: t.co/UFFsDSkO9nNEWS RELEASE: Senators to play two preseason games in Quebec City in 2025: t.co/HjVq5wEhy6 pic.twitter.com/FxqWLMj7vL
— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) January 27, 2025MORE FROM BLEACHER NATION: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter
With the Super Bowl now set, how about an updated 2025 NFL Mock Draft? Two new Top-100 prospect lists show the range of perspectives on the Cubs’ system How do we feel about Zach LaVine to… Milwaukee?Happy #Retire28 Day to those who celebrate #Blackhawks[image or embed]
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@bn-blackhawks.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( GMKD on Sorensen, Hall Trade Explained, IceHogs to Honor Bickell, and Other Blackhawks Bullets )
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