[A] Brandon Saad Will Start the Season in Chicago

[Ton]

Brandon Pirri, Jimmy Hayes, and Ryan Stanton were assigned to Rockford today, cutting the roster down to 23 players. The Blackhawks will travel to Los Angeles with 23 players tonight (Thursday) and will practice on Friday to gear up for Saturday's season opener against the Kings.



All of this means that Brandon Saad will travel with the team and could play against the defending Stanley Cup champions.



Saad, 20, had a very effective Junior career before jumping straight into the NHL last season after he made the team out of training camp as an 18-year-old fresh draftee of the 2011 class. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks quickly found out that he was not ready to make the jump into the NHL (0 points in 2 games) and he was sent back to the OHL's Saginaw Spirit in order to refine his game.



In his final Junior season he proved himself by torching the league with 76 points in 44 games, earning himself a call-up during the Blackhawks Stanley Cup Playoff run where he had 1 assist and a plus-2 rating in 2 games. Although he looked good, it was still clear that there was no reason to rush his development and could benefit with some time in the AHL.



Fortunately for the Blackhawks, they did not need to worry about making a poor decision and the NHL endured a lockout which forced Saad to play in a star-studded AHL league. That time really gave players like Saad the added development that they otherwise wouldn't have had.



He started the year off slow in Rockford, he was even scratched a few times, had some up and down moments, and regular rookie mistakes... but he eventually hit his stride, put up some monster games for the IceHogs over the last few weeks, and earned his shot in training camp. Considering the fact that there were only a few days to determine whether or not Saad would make the team, I would consider this time to be a trial basis for Brandon. With the shortened training camp and literally no pre-season games to base his play off of, Quenneville may consider playing Saad over the next game or two in order to determine if he can help the team. If not, it's back to Rockford for the blue chip prospect with hopes that he will make an impact down the line.



You aren't in the clear yet Brandon, but this is an exciting opportunity that I hope he takes with confidence. If he succeeds, I think he would be an excellent fit on the 3rd line, with possible upside on the 2nd line this year.



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[Tater]

YESSSSS!!!!!!!

 

[Variable]

Ton, if Saad stays up the entire season with the Hawks, what is your prediction of his stat line?

 

[Pez68]

I think it's a waste to pencil him in anywhere but top six, while giving him PP minutes.

 

[bookjones]

I think it's a waste to pencil him in anywhere but top six, while giving him PP minutes.

This.



Otherwise he's more useful to Rockford TBQH. He's not a 3rd or 4th liner. Leave it Q to try to dick around though instead of firmly planting his ass on the Toews-Hossa line. I'mma be increasingly pissed if he's on a lower line while I keep reading about other teams who have their better prospect rookies playing in their Top 6 from the get-go.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Ton, if Saad stays up the entire season with the Hawks, what is your prediction of his stat line?

Assuming he plays the whole year and is healthy.



GP 42 [Goals]-17 [Assists]-16 [+/-] (+7)

 

[Ton]

I don't buy the whole "he should play in the AHL if he's not playing as a top six forward in the NHL" garbage. Our top-six is Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland, and Stalberg. Period. All six of those guys will get top-six ice-time until someone can prove that they are capable.



Detroit sure didn't ruin Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, or Valtteri Filppula by playing them on the 3rd and 4th lines to start their careers.



You don't just hand a kid top-six minutes and PP time because they are a good prospect, they have to earn it. The sooner we start handing these kids jobs, the sooner we fall along the path of Toronto because you put too much pressure to produce early on in their careers.



Put him on the 3rd line. Let him earn his way. If he's good, he'll prove that he needs more ice-time. If he's not good enough, then he doesn't get the ice-time and he can go out the same door Jack Skille did. How does that hurt anyone?



This guy isn't Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks aren't a bad team, and they have enough depth to let their younger players work for higher roles.



If he's here all year, I can see 10 goals, 14 assists out of him bouncing between the 2nd and 3rd line for a majority of the year, maybe even working his way up to the 1st line depending on how good he can be.

 

[bookjones]

I don't buy the whole "he should play in the AHL if he's not playing as a top six forward in the NHL" garbage. Our top-six is Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland, and Stalberg. Period. All six of those guys will get top-six ice-time until someone can prove that they are capable.



Detroit sure didn't ruin Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, or Valtteri Filppula by playing them on the 3rd and 4th lines to start their careers.



You don't just hand a kid top-six minutes and PP time because they are a good prospect, they have to earn it. The sooner we start handing these kids jobs, the sooner we fall along the path of Toronto because you put too much pressure to produce early on in their careers.



Put him on the 3rd line. Let him earn his way. If he's good, he'll prove that he needs more ice-time. If he's not good enough, then he doesn't get the ice-time and he can go out the same door Jack Skille did. How does that hurt anyone?



This guy isn't Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks aren't a bad team, and they have enough depth to let their younger players work for higher roles.



If he's here all year, I can see 10 goals, 14 assists out of him bouncing between the 2nd and 3rd line for a majority of the year, maybe even working his way up to the 1st line depending on how good he can be.

Sure, nice in theory but if my alternative is Carcillo with Toews-Hossa or anywhere in the Top 6 then yes, I fucking want Saad there. He may not have torched the AHL pts. wise but even my criticism of his play there has been about consistency of effort and finish---the one thing that has been consistent is that he more often then not plays smart, does the right thing on the ice and with the puck, and isn't a detriment or distraction.

 

[Ton]

Like I said, there's not a set amount of games that I would play him on a lower line... I just think you start him there and if it happens to be that by the end of the game he's on the 1st line that's great, maybe it takes one period, or a couple games, or half the season. I don't know, but if it's my decision I'm easing him into the line-up instead of throwing him into the wolves and hoping he survives.



Carcillo is playing with Hossa and Toews, but he is not a top-six forward... meaning he won't get top-six ice-time.



The reason I start Saad on the 3rd line because it gives him a chance to play with Shaw, who he is familiar with, and Stalberg... a fresh veteran of sorts that can help after knowing his transition to the NHL wasn't exactly smooth and can probably help out a guy like Saad. I'd probably start him there at around 12-14 minutes a game and see what he does with it. At times, knowing Q, I would swap Stalberg on the top 2 lines with Carcillo depending on the game situation -- and eventually hope that Saad earns his way into that rotation at top LW.

 

[the canadian dream]

I think Saad can produce on the 3rd line if he were slotted there. 3rd lines don't have to be a "checking lines". I never understood that hockey mind set in the modern game. If you have the talent and budget to build 3 scoring lines then build 3 scoring lines. Only need one checking line in todays NHL. I agree with Ton Saad doesn't have to be penciled in as a top 6. As long as he isn't 4th line then its fine he will get plenty of ice time and experience.

 

[Ton]

[media]http://video.blackhawks.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=106&id=193570&cmpid=embed-share-video[/media]

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

If he plays the entire season I'd say he's 15-25 points (3rd line minutes). It all depends if his linemates gel with him.

 

[Ton]

If he plays the entire season I'd say he's 15-25 points (3rd line minutes). It all depends if his linemates gel with him.

Can't say I disagree with that. 10 goals and 14 assists is pretty optimistic from me, I wouldn't say those are my expectations but I can see him topping out at numbers like that. 15 points would be on the low end of production, I think he can do better than that if he is here all year. Hell, the way his season has gone in Rockford, he could pile up 10 points in any given week before disappearing for a month.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

I agree with Ton, let him earn it. We wont know unless he is up in the NHL playing and letting himself prove it. On a Side note, I had recieved my Sports Il. magazine last night and they had about 5 pages dedicated to the NHL talking about the come back season. and what they thought about who would finish where and who would make the stanley cup finals. Well they had the Hawks finishing fourth, and losing to our hated team in the Conference finals. They had the Penguns beating the Nucks in the Finals.....ha! I am soooo sick of seeing this Nucks team favorite every freakin year for the past 5-6 years. Now I take what Sports IL's predictions on the NHL with a grain of salt since they are not the reliable source of sports feed when it comes to the NHL...but it sure was an interesting read.

 

[Tater]

I agree with Ton, let him earn it. We wont know unless he is up in the NHL playing and letting himself prove it. On a Side note, I had recieved my Sports Il. magazine last night and they had about 5 pages dedicated to the NHL talking about the come back season. and what they thought about who would finish where and who would make the stanley cup finals. Well they had the Hawks finishing fourth, and losing to our hated team in the Conference finals. They had the Penguns beating the Nucks in the Finals.....ha! I am soooo sick of seeing this Nucks team favorite every freakin year for the past 5-6 years. Now I take what Sports IL's predictions on the NHL with a grain of salt since they are not the reliable source of sports feed when it comes to the NHL...but it sure was an interesting read.

They are just like the Sharks used to be.

 

[Ashor-redtribe]

They are just like the Sharks used to be.

very much agree.

 

[the canadian dream]

Majority of TSN predictions are either The Rangers winning or the Kings repeating. Lots of Blackhaws/Penguins as alternative choices. A crap load of Hawks/Kings conference finals and Rangers/Pens.



Only a few are predicting the Canucks to find success mostly based on the fact that their entire second line is injured right now and could be for a while.



Sports Illustrated doesn't know hockey. Im not sure if Sports Illustrated knows any sports anymore. I haven't found then to be relevant in years.

 

[roshinaya]

The Pens must be the most overrated team in all these predictions. Sure, they have a healthy Crosby and Malkin, but they still have the same defense and goalie that melted down last year in the playoffs and since winning the Cup they have gotten to the second round once and twice eliminated in the first. I hope they crash and burn. Same for the Rags.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Saad just turned 20. Datsyuk was 24 when he started in the NHL. Filppula was 23. Franzen was 26. Those 3 also played in professional leagues. So you are looking at a minimum of 3, max 6 extra years of crucial development playing on top lines and PP in professional leagues. Saad has 35 games played in pro leagues (4 NHL, 31 AHL).



Unless Saad is playing 14+ minutes a night and getting time on the PP/PK, keep in the AHL where he will get that development. Hell, he wasn't even dominating the AHL.

 

[the canadian dream]

He better get the start tomorrow against the Yotes. Or else there is zero reasons for him to be on the roster and yes send him to the farm. Sitting in the press box is the worst thing for him. Worse than playing on the 4th line.



I assume he will start tomorrow esp with carcillo now out again.