Baun, Paliotta sign on with Hawks
Just as they've done the previous two seasons, the Blackhawks added to their organizational depth Thursday by signing two college players.
Colgate junior power forward Kyle Baun signed as a free agent and Vermont senior defenseman Michael Paliotta signed with the team that chose him in the third round of the 2011 NHL draft, opting not to become a free agent in August.
Each signed two-year, entry-level contracts with the Hawks, who will put the duo on the NHL roster for the remainder of the regular season. Neither is eligible to play in the postseason but could debut for the Hawks, who will burn the first years of those contracts by keeping them.
"It's been his lifelong dream to play in the NHL, and the Blackhawks were generous enough to give him the opportunity to come right onto the NHL roster after his college season was done," said Baun's agent, Brian Bartlett of Sports Consulting Group. "He's hoping to be able to get in at least one game or more to show what he can do."
Paliotta has the same aspirations. He and Baun are expected to join the Blackhawks soon.
Debuting in the NHL this season was one of the factors that prompted Paliotta to sign with the Hawks, according to agent Jordan Neumann of Edge Sports Management.
The biggest reason was a talk he had with Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman.
Paliotta was convinced not to take the same route as Kevin Hayes, the Hawks' top pick in 2010. Hayes played four seasons at Boston College and because he hadn't signed with the Hawks yet, he had the right to become a free agent. He used that option to sign with the New York Rangers. Paliotta looked into that maneuver, but felt the Blackhawks were his best choice.
"I think more than anything his decision was based on his belief this was the best organizational fit," Neumann said. "He had a lot of faith in the organization. They were the team that drafted him, so they were the only team that spent time with him the last four years and they did a good job at every step of his development."
Last season Bowman signed forward Matt Carey and defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk as college free agents. Forward Drew Leblanc was signed as a college free agent in 2013.
The way the Hawks' salary cap looks heading into the off-season, there could be a need for physically advanced players like Baun and Paliotta to play quickly.
Baun, who had 18 offers, is listed by Colgate as 6-feet-2, 210 pounds. He uses that size to play a two-way style cut out for a checking role. As a junior this season he scored 14 goals and had 15 assists in 38 games.
Paliotta, listed at 6-4, 205, has steadily added offense to his shutdown ability. He led Vermont with 36 points (9 goals) this season and also was named Hockey East's best defensive defenseman.
• The Hawks practiced Thursday without forwards Joakim Nordstrom and Daniel Carcillo, who each sat out with upper-body injuries.
Coach Joel Quenneville told reporters Nordstrom would miss a week, while Carcillo was day to day.
Goalie Corey Crawford will start Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Blackhawks game day
Columbus vs. Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. Friday
TV: CSN Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: A quick look at the standings and Hawks fans may think this will be an easy victory, but Columbus (34-35-4) has won seven of eight, beating Detroit, Vancouver, Calgary and Anaheim in the process. The Blue Jackets are averaging 3.6 goals a game over this stretch. ... Nick Foligno (26-38-64) and Ryan Johansen (24-39-63) are the team's leading scorers. Johansen is riding a five-game points streak (2G, 4A). ... The Hawks are coming off a 2-2 road trip in which they scored just 5 goals. "We know the last few efforts haven't been good enough," said captain Jonathan Toews after the Hawks' 4-1 loss in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Next: at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m. Sunday
- John Dietz