Hawks swap Beach to Rangers
Former Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon was extremely high on Kyle Beach when the team made the left winger the 11th pick in the 2008 draft.
But when Beach left the organization on Friday, traded to the New York Rangers, he did so having never appeared in a game for the Hawks.
Beach was sent to the Rangers for forward Brandon Mashinter.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Beach was passed up on the organizational depth chart by other young forwards.
“We had a lot of young kids that got opportunities,” Quenneville said. “When I look back over the course of time six years ago, it looked like he was almost on the team. I think organizationally there have been a lot of guys that have made that next step and got a chance here, but I guess you’ve got to earn it. Some guys got the opportunity based on how they were playing.”
The big question remains whether Beach can play in the NHL.
“I’m sure he’s going to get the chance to,” Quenneville said. “Organizationally, you get a fresh breath of air when you go to a new place and the opportunity is probably going to be there and you have to take advantage of it. So you wish him well and I’m sure they’re looking at him to get a chance to play and see how he fits in.”
The 25-year-old Mashinter is a power forward who will report directly to Rockford. He appeared in six games with the Rangers this season and has 27 penalty minutes in 23 career NHL games with the Rangers and San Jose Sharks.
“I don’t know much about him, but he has played in the league and certainly gives us some size,” Quenneville said. “He can fill that role on one of those lines that can give you energy and some strength and some toughness.”
After the Hawks took Beach at No. 11, defenseman Tyler Myers went next to Buffalo and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Defenseman Erik Karlsson went 15th to Ottawa. Karlsson won the Norris Trophy last season.
MacIsaac honored:Hawks vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac will be one of four 2014 inductees for the ECHL Hall of Fame.The four will be formally inducted as the seventh class of the ECHL Hall of Fame at a luncheon ceremony on Feb. 7 in Anchorage, Alaska.MacIsaac played two seasons with the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1991-92 and 1992-93, scoring 73 points in 95 career games. He was part of the Admirals#146; 1992 Riley Cup championship team, scoring 10 points in 14 postseason games and represented the club in the first-ever ECHL All-Star Game in 1993.MacIsaac also won an American Hockey League Calder Cup title with the Cape Breton Oilers in 1993 and has been part of two Stanley Cup championships with the Hawks.Medical report:Michal Handzus returned to the lineup Friday after missing two games while he was sick.Andrew Shaw missed his second straight game with an upper body injury.#147;Shaw is real close,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;We#146;re looking for him to play on Sunday (against Florida).#148;Bryan Bickell, out since Nov. 18 with a knee injury, is expected to resume skating next week, according to Quenneville.