Hawks look to prospects for cap solutions
They might be just kids, but many of the Blackhawks' best prospects in town for this week's rookie camp are savvy enough to realize there likely isn't a roster available to them on the big club this season.
At least not the way the Hawks' roster looks at the moment, but things can change between now and the start of training camp in September.
"You look at their roster right now and there's 12 signed forwards and there's not a very good chance of them going down to Rockford, but there's always a chance of trades and things," said Kyle Beach, the Hawks' 2008 first-round draft pick.
Bingo.
The Hawks actually have 14 signed forwards, but it's the belief of many that there is at least one significant trade coming from general manager Dale Tallon that could open up roster spots for prospects such as Beach, Jack Skille, Akim Aliu or even defenseman Shawn Lalonde.
In the salary cap era, it's crucial now for teams with payroll issues such as the Hawks to fill those roster spots down on the depth chart with entry-level type salaries.
"I'd be glad to sign for pennies to play for the Chicago Blackhawks," said Lalonde, a third-round pick in 2008.
The Hawks already have Adam Burish, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser and Niklas Hjalmarsson earning less than $1 million. Beach has a $1.2 million cap hit as a former first-round draft pick, and Skille's number is similar.
"Moving forward it's key that you really draft well and develop and have those entry level guys ready sooner than later so that you can fill those holes," Tallon said. "The bottom line is we're not going to be able to keep everybody. We have to make sure we keep the core together and then keep adding pieces to the puzzle through the draft and through these prospects camps and free agency."
The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Beach would appear to be exactly what the Hawks need, a rugged winger who can put the puck in the net, is smart and can fight. Beach had 23 goals, 63 points and 165 penalty minutes in 54 games in juniors last season split between Everett and Lethbridge in the Western Hockey League.
Beach's skating still needs work, which is why the Hawks are sending him to Boston to spend the rest of the summer working with skating coach Paul Vincent.
"He's very close," Tallon said. "This is a big summer for him as far as fitness, strength and conditioning. Those are the big factors for him, but his hockey sense is incredible and his determination and grit is really good. He fits in nicely and it a very good hockey player.
"To go from junior to the NHL is a big step, but we feel very confident that he has the ability to do that because of his knowledge of the game. He makes players around him better and does all the little things right. You can't teach what he has."
There have been maturity issues in Beach's past, which the 19-year-old says he has been working on to improve.
"A lot of stuff going around are stories from when I was 15 or 16," Beach said. "I'm 19 years old now and I have expectations of an adult."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=305941">Maple Leafs a possible Hawks trade partner?<span class="date"> [7/10/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>