Today’s News Clips May 29, 2018

Chicago Tribune

Fifty years before unfathomable Golden Knights, Glenn Hall and led expansion team to Final

David Haugh May 27, 2018

Retirement appealed to Blackhawks legend Glenn Hall, “Mr. Goalie,” who had no plans to return to the crease for the 1968 season when Blues general manager Lynn Patrick called.

“Lynn asked me if I still wanted to play because they took me in the expansion draft,” Hall, 86, recalled on the phone from his farm in Alberta, Canada. “I told the Hawks I might retire but then I told Patrick I’d play one year for $50,000. He said, ‘Holy cow, Glenn, how about $45,000?’ I said, ‘Let’s split the difference.’ So I signed for $47,500 — and squirreled away enough money to buy this place.”

The salary was more than double what Hall ever made in 10 terrific seasons with the Hawks (1957-67), an investment nobody in St. Louis doubted after the Hall of Fame helped the Blues become the first expansion team to play in the Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights will be the second when their series against the Capitals begins Monday in Las Vegas, 50 years after Scotty Bowman coached the Blues further than anybody in hockey imagined.

Bowman, the NHL’s winningest coach with 1,244 victories and nine Stanley Cup titles, replaced Patrick behind the bench after 16 games in November 1967 and redirected the Blues on a historic path. Their distinction deserves an asterisk because all six expansion teams — half the NHL that season — were placed in the West Division, guaranteeing one would play for the Cup. The division-winning Flyers went 31-32-11 for 73 points, which would have finished sixth in the East. The Blues finished the regular season 27-31-16 before getting hot in the playoffs.

So while the Golden Knights reaching the finals in a 31-team league puts them on the verge of producing one of the greatest moments in sports history, what the Blues accomplished lacks the overall significance to everyone but those who still remember it fondly.

“A special year,” Bowman, 84, said of the first of his 30 seasons as an NHL head coach. “The league was a lot different then, and it only cost expansion teams $2 million to get in compared to the $500 million Vegas paid. But the biggest similarity between the two teams is the two goalies: Glenn Hall and Marc-Andre Fleury (of the Golden Knights). They’re like two peas in a pod.”

Fleury, 33, a strong candidate, came to the Golden Knights after winning three Stanley Cup rings with the Penguins. Hall was 36 when he joined the Blues after stints with the Red Wings and Hawks, the Cup champions in 1961.

In the 1968 Cup defeat to the mighty Canadiens, Hall won the Conn Smythe despite the Blues getting swept in a series that included two losses. Each game was decided by one . “We forced the Original Six team to sweat and they wanted to win without sweating,” Hall said. “We made them work.”

Hall made everyone else on the ice more confident knowing he was in net, much the same way Fleury affects the Golden Knights.

“Glenn carried our team,” Bowman, a Blackhawks senior adviser, said. “Like Fleury, he was the face of our franchise that first year.”

The growth of the league and changes to the game make any other comparisons between the ’68 Blues and ’18 Golden Knights moot. Consider Bowman’s fondest memory of the Blues’ playoff run: To shore up depth the day before a Game 7 victory in the first-round series against the Flyers, Bowman vividly recounted calling up 43-year-old defenseman Doug Harvey, the longtime NHL star defenseman who was the player-coach of the Blues’ minor-league affiliate in Kansas City.

“I think he played 40 minutes and we won,’’ Bowman said. “Imagine doing that now.’’

It’s hard to, even though the Golden Knights do have their share of unlikely contributors on a team whose only star is their goalie. Bowman commended hockey architect George McPhee for building a championship-caliber roster with pieces tossed onto a scrap heap of squandered talent.

Besides nabbing Fleury in an expansion draft that exposed players with bad contracts, Bowman believes two shrewd moves allowed the Golden Knights to grow quickly into a contender. The first involved the Panthers trading forward Reilly Smith to the Golden Knights only if they agreed to take Jonathan Marchessault in the expansion draft due to salary-cap considerations. The Golden Knights’ most dangerous line comprises Smith, Marchessault and William Karlsson — the discarded Blue Jacket who scored 43 goals after combining for 15 in the two previous seasons. The trio combined for 92 goals.

The other difference-making transaction Bowman cited involved acquiring center Erik Haula and forward Alex Tuch from the Wild. The addition of a savvy veteran like James Neal complemented the skill. The edge every member of the “Golden Misfits” brought to town kept complacency out of the dressing room. The experience of coach Gerard Gallant, fired by the Panthers early in the 2016-17 season, made him the ideal leader for a bunch of players nobody wanted.

“There were all kinds of theories why a team couldn’t win in Vegas but they overcame it all,” Bowman said. “They made it tough for visitors to play there. They jelled. They’re no fluke. It’s great for the league. It’s impressive.”

It’s almost unfathomable.

No modern-day expansion team in the NHL, NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball ever has posted a winning record in its first season, according to ESPN. The Westgate Sportsbook gave the Golden Knights 500-to-1 odds to win the Cup last fall. For context, the odds of the 1980 U.S. hockey team pulling off the “Miracle On Ice” against the Soviet Union were 1,000-to-1. The odds of No. 16 seed Maryland-Baltimore County upsetting No. 1 seed Virginia in the NCAA tournament were only 40-to-1 before the Retrievers stunned the college basketball world.

The Golden Knights winning the Cup would be as shocking as anything ever witnessed in American professional sports. The last time an expansion team faced a similar opportunity came under very different circumstances with Bowman, Hall and the Blues — a half-century ago. This offers a once-in-a-lifetime impact limited only by hockey’s reach.

Daily Herald

Rockford IceHogs eliminated in OT loss at Texas

John Dietz May 28, 2018

Roope Hintz scored with 8.5 seconds left in overtime and the defeated Rockford 2-1 to eliminate the IceHogs from the AHL's Western Conference final.

Four of the six games in the series went to overtime.

"Disappointment obviously," Rockford coach Jeremy Colliton said of the mood in the postgame locker room. "We weren't ready to be done, and (I) really enjoyed being with this group. …

"Proud of how we worked. Sorry (and) sad that it's over."

Rockford fell behind midway through the second period but managed to extend the game when Chris DiDomenico took a pass from Adam Clendening and made it 1-1 with just 1:34 left in regulation. DiDomenico, acquired from Ottawa in mid-February for Ville Pokka, probably was the MVP for the IceHogs in the postseason, scoring 7 goals and dishing out 11 assists in 13 games.

Jeff Glass, inserted after Collin Delia lost Games 1-3, stopped 38 shots. He posted a .955 save percentage in his three starts.

The game-winner came after Texas' Colin Markison won a board battle behind the net with IceHogs defenseman Joni Tuulola. Markison managed to kick the puck to his skate and zipped a pass to Hintz in the slot. Hintz wasted no time and fired a shot that beat Glass to his blocker side.

Rockford, which took 35 shots in regulation to Texas' 29, was outshot 11-4 in OT.

Texas now advances to play Toronto in the Finals.

Daily Herald

Could Delia be ' backup goalie next season?

John Dietz May 27, 2018

Corey Crawford and … Collin Delia?

Could that really be the goalie combination for the Chicago Blackhawks next season?

The way Delia has performed for the Rockford IceHogs this season -- and especially in the first two rounds of the Calder Cup playoffs when he went 7-0 with a .948 save percentage and 1.64 goals-against average -- that would seem to be a possibility.

"I don't know my path," Delia said after Jeff Glass made 28 saves in Rockford's Game 4 victory over Texas on Thursday in the Western Conference final. "In some ways it's out of my hands, but I can control my effort on the ice and how well I play. All the other decisions that are above my head, I just have to kind of relinquish it."

Before we get to whether Delia might jump over Anton Forsberg or J-F Berube to become Crawford's backup, let's show you just how far the 23-year-old has come in his first year as a pro.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Delia -- from Rancho Cucamonga, California -- began this season with the ECHL's Indy Fuel, a team two levels below the Blackhawks.

Even though Delia was struggling in Indy, he nonetheless earned a call-up to Rockford on Nov. 5. After a bit of shuttling back and forth between the two franchises, he grabbed the starting job for the IceHogs in late December when Berube was hurt.

Delia, much like Glass told us in the Blackhawks' locker room earlier this season, raved about how goalie coach Peter Aubry helped develop his game in Rockford.

"He just made me aware of the level of detail that goes into being successful, not only here but eventually in the NHL," Delia said.

As difficult as it was -- especially after that tough start in Indy -- Delia stopped worrying about the numbers and instead focused on how he was playing.

"The game kind of slowed down," said Delia, who went 17-7-3 with a .900 save percentage for Rockford in the regular season. "I was able to be a little bit more cerebral about how I prepared, and I wasn't so concerned with how I was going to stop the puck.

"It was just like I know I'm going to be there. Just go out and play."

As good as Delia has been, he hit a speed bump against Texas, the team Rockford is trying to get past in the Western Conference final.

Game 6 is Monday, and Glass likely will get the net for a third straight contest after Delia allowed 13 goals in Games 1-3. Delia's rebound control became a bit of an issue, and the Stars potted a few cheap goals that helped them take control of the series.

Now let's circle back to the original question: Could Delia realistically back up Crawford?

Perhaps, but it probably would take a heck of a summer and/or general manager Stan Bowman moving Forsberg or Berube. All three are signed through 2018-19.

Most goalies need to cut their teeth in the AHL or overseas before facing the best players in the world.

There are many examples, but a few of the best reside in the Central Division as Crawford (255 games with Rockford), Nashville's Pekka Rinne (145 games in Milwaukee), Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk (128 games in Springfield) and Dallas' Ben Bishop (175 games with Peoria and Binghamton) all spent plenty of time in the minors. Even Forsberg played 126 games in the AHL before backing up Crawford in 2017-18.

It stands to reason that Delia could use at least a year or two in Rockford before the Hawks consider giving him 20-25 games as a backup.

"I understand what you're saying," Delia said when I asked him if he agrees with that train of thought. "It is important.

"I was talking to Crow in training camp, and he just has this levelheadedness about him. That obviously comes from having some trials and tribulations and going through the system and being patient, putting in the work and still getting better even though sometimes you're frustrated with where you are.

"You always want to do better and be more. There's always that push for progression. With him, that was evident and was something I could see just by conversing with him."

Mark Bernard, the Hawks' senior director of minor-league affiliations, said this issue will be worked out in September and October. He didn't rule out Delia leapfrogging Forsberg and Berube, pointing to the Nashville Predators' Juuse Sarros as an example of a young backup goalie who spent time in both leagues fine-tuning his craft.

"It is important that young goalies do see games," Bernard said. "Nashville did a great job this year with Saros shuttling him back and forth. When he wasn't playing in Nashville he went down and played some games in Milwaukee.

"But we'll let training camp settle all those things."

Daily Herald

Rozner: Capitals, Steve Richmond have eyes on big prize

Barry Rozner May 28, 2018

Like most hockey players, Steve Richmond doesn't stand up as straight as he once did.

Maybe it's the cumulative effect of a lifetime spent trying to get to the Stanley Cup Final, one that makes a man look like he's been carrying the weight of the world on his back for 40 years.

Or maybe it's just a bad back, the result of a lifetime spent playing, fighting, coaching and traveling, the last 16 of those years surviving so many heartbreaks as the ' director of player development.

But now the 58-year-old Chicago native is within four victories of the party he's been envisioning since before his days at Evanston High School.

"I've been dreaming about it since I was a little kid," said Richmond, a longtime Lake Zurich resident. "All the years in juniors, college, the minors, the NHL … it's all you think about, holding the Cup.

"It seems surreal that now we're this close and it's possible."

Richmond was one of the first really good players to come out of a 1970s Chicago-area hockey program and after two years of junior hockey in Pickering, Ontario, Richmond set a record for goals by a defenseman at the University of Michigan.

Signed as a free agent by the in 1982, Richmond played 159 NHL games for four teams in the '80s, managing 27 points and a ridiculous 514 minutes.

Yup, Steve Richmond would fight anyone. Actually, he would probably drop 'em now if you proposed in proper fashion.

After his last pro season in 1991 with the San Diego Gulls, Richmond went about the business of raising a family with wife Jeanne, herself a basketball and track star at Michigan.

That's when a twist of fate hit Richmond with a right cross.

He was coaching and directing the Glenview Stars hockey program in the late '90s when they ran into a Park Ridge team coached by former Hawks defenseman Bob Murray, who was working in the Hawks' front office.

"He was coaching his son and I was coaching mine, and the game got a little heated," Richmond said. "He was sending out kids to go after my guys and I wanted to fight him.

"I was looking for him behind the benches after the game and I was ready to kill him when he comes up to me and says, 'Hey, you ever think of getting back in the game? You should be scouting for us.'

"So I went from wanting to fight him -- I mean, I was really mad -- to getting a job. Funny how things happen, huh?"

It was less a crossroads than an on-ramp.

Murray, the GM in Anaheim the last 10 years, didn't last long as the Hawks' GM -- not with Bob Pulford around -- and Richmond moved on to become the head coach of the Chicago Steel for two years (2000-02), where his son Danny played before also heading to Michigan.

It was then that Steve was hired by George McPhee, the GM of the Caps and his former roommate from their days with the Tulsa Oilers.

OK, well, that's another story and one that would take an hour to tell you, but suffice it to say that the Central Hockey League team is famous in hockey circles for going bankrupt in 1984, being homeless for the final two months of the season, moving to a hotel in Denver and practicing at a shopping mall where they weren't even allowed to use pucks.

Sort of a "Slap Shot" meets "Semi-Pro," only with real-life consequences.

That absurd story ended, naturally, with the vagabond Oilers winning the league championship -- played at a practice rink in front of 500 people in Indianapolis -- and the CHL disbanded the next day.

"It's worse than it sounds," Richmond laughed. "There was one time we had to buy our own plane tickets back from Birmingham."

Richmond reunited with McPhee in Washington and in 2010 as the No. 1 overall seed it looked like Steve might run into Danny in the postseason, but the Caps lost a seven-game series to in the first round and the Hawks won it all, Danny celebrating on the ice in Philadelphia in street clothes as a member of the Hawks' AHL affiliate.

His son has a ring and is still playing professionally in Europe.

Steve hopes to now grasp the big trophy as the Caps face the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final beginning Monday night in Vegas.

"I was obviously very happy for Danny and really glad the Hawks treated him so well, but it also hurts," Richmond said. "I've seen a lot of friends win and I'm jealous.

"It's what you play for, why you're in the game. It's why you ride buses and travel all over the world scouting. That's the goal. I'm not doing this for hotel points."

And now the Caps will have to go through Vegas, and old friend McPhee, the Vegas GM, to get what they want.

"I'd run over him to get a ring, but I'd help him up afterward," Richmond said with only half a chuckle. "It's just amazing because Vegas wasn't supposed to be here and we were supposed to be dead."

The Capitals have made the playoffs in 10 of the last 11 years with eight division titles, three of the last nine years as Presidents' Trophy winners, and seven times losing a seven-game series, often to clubs that went far in the postseason.

It's has been a glorious, but tortured run in Washington as the franchise reaches the final series of the season for the second time in its 43-year history and first since 1998, as it tries for its first title in a year in which the experts believed the Caps would be rebuilding.

It speaks to the difficulty the Caps have had, and how hard it is to win in the postseason, that after so many tough endings they started this year's run against the Blue Jackets in the opening series with two overtime defeats at home.

"We played two great games and we're down 0-2," Richmond said. "We got to their place and we're short- handed in overtime and we could be down 0-3, but we get a break and win in double-overtime and suddenly it's a series.

"It's such a fine line when you're playing great teams. All three of Pittsburgh's Cups, they beat us twice in seven games and once in six. You're not playing the Skokie Flyers. It's tough to win in this league.

"Sometimes you just get beat by a great team. This year, maybe it's our turn."

For a hockey lifer enduring a very long journey, it's the ultimate chance to throw the last punch.

The Athletic

Every shift: Victor Ejdsell adapting, scoring goals, preparing for chance with Blackhawks

Scott Powers May 28, 2018

On Tuesday, Rockford IceHogs forward Victor Ejdsell said he wasn’t yet comfortable playing North American hockey since arriving from Sweden in March.

Two days later, Ejdsell scored two goals, including the overtime game-winner, to lift the IceHogs to a 3-2 win over the Texas Stars and stave off playoff elimination.

It’s apparent he’s certainly getting more comfortable by the day.

To get a better sense of Ejdsell’s game and what adjustments he’s made since coming over two months ago after being traded from Nashville to Chicago in the Ryan Hartman deal in late February, I went back and watched all of his shifts from Thursday’s game.

The AHL doesn’t release number of shifts or ice time to the public, so they were all manually tracked. The number of shifts are accurate, but the ice time may be off a few seconds one way or the other. It wasn’t always possibly to see on the video exactly when a player entered or exited the ice.

Ejdsell began the game on the left wing alongside Matthew Highmore and Luke Johnson. Late in the game with the IceHogs trailing, Chris DiDomenico replaced Highmore. Ejdsell was also on the IceHogs’ second power play.

Ejdsell played 21 shifts, which included 18 5-on-5 shifts and three on the power play. Of his 5-on-5 shifts, nine began on the fly, six in the offensive zone, two in the defensive zone and one in the neutral zone. He played 15:25 of ice time, which included 13:07 of 5-on-5 ice time.

There’s no mistaking Ejdsell’s greatest attribute is his goal-scoring ability. In the Calder Cup playoffs, he has scored seven goals on 16 shots for a 43.8 shooting percentage. That may not be a realistic shooting percentage to keep up, but he has shown in the past to be an efficient and accurate shooter. In the Swedish Hockey League this past season, he scored 20 goals on 116 shots for a 17.2 shooting percentage.

Ejdsell isn’t a high-volume shooter. He averaged 2.32 shots on goal per game in the SHL this season. His shots are quality, though. He can score around the net and has a big left-handed shot from his 6-foot-5 frame that gives goalies trouble. He had eight shot attempts and three shots on goal on Thursday. Two of them went in the net, and he had another where he just missed.

Ejdsell was concerned coming over to North America that his skating and speed would be issues, but he mentioned Tuesday he was surprised that hasn’t been the case. He’s not a speedster and he’s not going to win a lot of races, but he’s not slow and isn’t out of place. There weren’t any instances Thursday that stood out about his skating. He was in most plays.

Ejdsell showed some athleticism on his first goal. The puck was knocked out of the IceHogs’ defensive zone and bounced into an open area just outside the offensive zone. Ejdsell used his long strides and got to the puck first.

Ejdsell retrieves the puck and begins making his move to the net. The Stars defender does catch up with him, but another one of Ejdsell’s strengths is he knows how to use his body. While on the move to the net, he’s able to shield the puck from the defender and get off a shot.

There were other times in the game Ejdsell was able to hold onto puck in the offensive zone and give himself some time with it by putting his body between him the defender. Ejdsell does see the ice pretty well. He had a few passes Thursday where he opened up chances for teammates. He can also move the puck quickly, and that helps on the power play.

Ejdsell isn’t someone you’d want the puck on his stick for too long or trying to do too much with it. He seems to understand that too. There were only a few times where he actually carried the puck into the offensive zone. He mostly got it to his quicker linemates through the neutral zone.

When Ejdsell didn’t keep it simple with the puck, he had it taken away from him. At his size, there are limitations.

Defensively, Ejdsell was fine in his own end. IceHogs coach Jeremy Colliton has helped Ejdsell become more comfortable and not worry so much about the defensive side by moving from center to left wing.

As center, Ejdsell spent more time defending around the net and getting involved in puck battles. On the wing, he’s able to roam more and spend more energy in the offensive zone.

Ejdsell did have a few plays where he did step in defensively and break up a chance in the defensive zone. He was also often utilized as the F1 on the forecheck and use his long reach to put pressure on their breakouts.

It’ll be interesting to see where the Blackhawks want Ejdsell next season. He played center with the Blackhawks when he was up in the NHL, but they were still just learning about his game in North America. The fact he’s at wing now may be an indication of where they like him.

With his size and shot, Ejdsell could make sense to be the left wing on a line with Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz. Ejdsell could provide some net-front presence and be someone who buries chances created by his linemates. It’s still probably unlikely Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville gives that winger spot to Alex DeBrincat, so Ejdsell might fit more what Quenneville is looking for.

Ejdsell’s game-winning goal Thursday is the type of goal that could happen if he was playing with Kane and Schmaltz. Ejdsell puts himself in position for a shot, waits for a pass, which Highmore delivers, and Ejdsell knocks it home.

Overall, Ejdsell looks like he’s learning more and more how he can be effective on the smaller ice. The IceHogs’ playoff run has given him more time to figure that out.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Ejdsell finds himself a place in the Blackhawks’ lineup to begin next season. chicagoblackhawks.com

BLOG: IceHogs season ends in overtime

Nick Merlina May 28, 2018

The Rockford IceHogs fell to the Texas Stars 2-1 in overtime on Monday night. The win secured a 4-2 series win for the Stars in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Texas opened the scoring when they found the back of the net halfway through the second period of play.

Chris DiDomenico would answer with just under two minutes left of regulation play to tie the game and force overtime.

With nine seconds left in the first overtime period, Texas scored their second goal of the game and fortified their spot in the Calder Cup Final.

This appearance in the Western Conference Final was the first for the IceHogs in franchise history. chicagoblackhawks.com

THE VERDICT: Roenick's draft memories

Bob Verdi May 28, 2018

It is always advisable for a young man entering the to exercise humility. But Jeremy Roenick, whose physique was a cross between a thermometer and a 2-iron, took bashful to an extreme when he first showed up with the Blackhawks in 1988.

"I was afraid to take my shirt off," he recalled. "I was 158 pounds. Before the draft that summer, my agent, Neil Abbott, told me never to appear in public with my shirt off because he didn't want teams to see how skinny I was.

"Well, after Chicago took me, I was still skinny and I saw all these big guys around me in camp like Dave Manson and Al Secord and Dan Vincelette who were ripped. You know how locker rooms are. Guys walk around naked. Not me. I would go into the bathroom stall to dress and undress. I looked like a marathon runner. The coach, Mike Keenan, gave me these football pads to wear under my jersey so I'd appear bigger."

Soon, Roenick's body filled out and his body of work exploded. In a relatively brief but meteoric career over eight seasons with the Blackhawks, he scored 267 goals - still ninth on the all-time franchise list - before moving on to amass a career haul of 513, plus 53 in playoffs. Upon selecting Roenick eighth overall in the 1988 draft, the Blackhawks weren't exactly sure what they had besides a promising teenager who could have used a few milkshakes.

When the Blackhawks pick No. 8 again in Dallas on June 22, they should only be as fortunate as they were two decades ago in Montreal. Roenick became a prolific sniper in Chicago and at four other NHL teams. Moreover, he immediately declared himself to be, as Bobby Hull will say about a precious few lodge brothers, "tougher than a night in jail."

Roenick's reputation was cast in enamel and early. During a playoff game at St. Louis in his rookie year, Glen Featherstone of the Blues imbedded the shaft of his stick into Roenick's mouth. Though stunned, he gathered four dislodged teeth and showed them to Referee Kerry Fraser. Featherstone was banished for five minutes, and the energized Blackhawks tallied twice in eight seconds. Roenick later scored the winner, eliminating the Blues. The Blackhawks' 4-2 conquest was instantly 'crowned' as "The Chiclets Game." Keenan lauded Roenick, who enjoyed a buoyant debut to postseason hockey.

"Before all that, in the same game, I took a skate blade to the nose and needed eight stitches," Roenick said. "First stitches ever for me. Maybe that night helped me gain a little respect with my teammates and around the league. I know Keenan was happy, and that didn't happen every day."

As the '88 draft approached, Roenick was generally ranked to be among the best ten or 12 prospects. However, he had just completed only his junior year at Thayer Academy. Another red flag: Thayer Academy was located in his native Massachusetts. Eight years prior, a bunch of American college kids had authored the Winter Olympics "Miracle on Ice" against a machine from the Soviet Union, but reservations persisted about that path to the NHL.

"Lake Placid helped, but the best option was still viewed as going through the junior ranks in Canada," Roenick said. "Bob Pulford, Chicago's general manager, was part of the old school, which was fine. But I was told that Jack Davison, the Blackhawks' head scout, pretty much put his job on the line for them to pick me if I was available.

"Quebec had the third and fifth picks, so I thought there was a chance I'd go to the Nordiques. Then there was a rumor about the Blackhawks exchanging spots with Buffalo, so the Sabres could move up to eight. That never materialized, and the Blackhawks wound up selecting me."

But not before, during pre-draft machinations, members of the Blackhawks' front office requested that Roenick and his sunken chest step on a scale. He refused.

"Did you ever see a scale score a goal?" barked Roenick, providing an early clue to JR's typical New England bluntness.

During the summer, Roenick took courses to complete his high school education while Abbott talked salary with the Blackhawks. When negotiations stalled, Roenick baffled everybody, including Abbott, by deciding to enroll at Boston College. No hockey scholarships were available, so Roenick was offered one in football. He could play his primary sport and also be a place kicker. No problem, said Roenick. He'd done that at Thayer. Alas, his college experience was over before it was over.

"My first day in class, the professor handed out this 'syllabus' of about 80 pages," Roenick recalled. "I didn't know what a 'syllabus' was. Never heard the word. I asked a girl next to me what it meant and she said it was an outline for the course. I got up, went to a pay phone, called Neil and told him to get a deal with the Blackhawks. No 'syllabus' for me. It was basically the same money we'd turned down all summer, but that was before my syllabus shock."

Roenick agreed to terms, and was off to Chicago. After signing at the Stadium, he and Abbott looked for a taxi. Good luck.

"Rough area in those days," Roenick said. "Here's two guys in suits, carrying a check for $50,000. Neil finally had to jump in front of a CTA bus on West Madison Street. He gave the driver $100 to take us to the hotel, and another $100 to a passenger for the detour."

In an early exhibition game, Roenick played as he played in high school. Speed, skill, not much contact. If he was bumped at Thayer, he might collapse "like a soccer player," seeking sympathy or a power play. But when he failed to finish a check in that preseason affair, Keenan grabbed him by the neck. Be physical in the NHL, or be gone. The message stuck. Roenick learned to thrive on hitting and being hit.

After three regular-season games, Roenick was sent for seasoning to the Hull Olympiques, a team owned by Wayne Gretzky in the Quebec Junior League. Roenick stormed with 70 points in 28 games. Come February, the Blackhawks were beset by injuries. Roenick was recalled, he hurried to Minnesota, and scored his first NHL goal against the North Stars. As an emergency replacement, Roenick bore sweater No. 51 without further identification.

But he made a name thereafter, famously wearing No. 27, accumulating 53 goals in 1991-92 and 50 more the next season while evolving into one of the most popular Blackhawks ever. For the record, Roenick registered the last Blackhawks goal in the Stadium: April 24, 1994, against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of the Conference Quarterfinals. His overtime score - in addition to assisting on the first three goals - produced a 4-3 victory and a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven series. The Blackhawks played Game 6 at the Stadium four nights later, lost 1-0 and were ousted, four games to two. Next stop: .

"I wish I could have played my whole career in Chicago, but it wasn't to be," reflected Roenick. "It's an amazing city with great fans, and I met a lot of tremendous guys: Doug Wilson, Steve Larmer, Keith Brown, Steve Thomas, Troy Murray, Michel Goulet. They took a skinny and quiet American under their wing. And after a while, I wasn't so skinny anymore."

Or as quiet. Talk about typecasting. "JR" has become a colorful TV analyst. When the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup, he shed a few tears on camera. chicagoblackhawks.com

DRAFT: Previewing the top

Nick Merlina May 28, 2018

As each day goes by we inch closer and closer to the NHL Draft, with all of the franchises heading to Dallas June 22-23. Get to know the draft eligible prospects with our chicagoblackhawks.com position previews. We continue our coverage with some of the top goalies available, using scout rankings, mock drafts and information gathered from draft prognosticators.

LUKAS DOSTAL, BRNO KOMETA JR. (CZECH U20) Czech goalie Lukas Dostal has been earning strong praise from scouts since the 2014-15 season. In the Czech U16 he registered the most shutouts (8) and most wins (25), became a U18 champion while earning the best save percentage (.957), and recently became a U20 champion, picking up a Hlinka Memorial Silver Medal to add to his expanding trophy case.

As of late, Dostal helped his Czech Republic team pick up a stunning upset over Team Canada in the quarterfinals of the U18 World Championship. Dostal was stellar in goal, accounting for 33 saves in the win that would propel his team into semifinals action.

A scout, per : "He doesn't have the size but is very quick and possesses the ability to steal a game."

Rankings:

CSS: 1st among European goalies ISS: N/A Red Line Report: 58th

ALEXIS GRAVEL, (QMJHL) Alexis Gravel's size has scouts gushing over his potential, although it is understood that the netminder would be a project for the team that selects him. Standing at 6'3" and 220 pounds, he has the ability to make chances very difficult for opposing scorers.

He took a big step by achieving a 20-11-4-1 record in his second season with the Mooseheads, but scouts note that his goals-against average and save percentage still leave room for much improvement. Scouts harp on his aptitude to track pucks and follow the play as keys to his NHL success.

A scout, per The Hockey News: "He's sound technically and plays the part of the butterfly goalie just like you want him to."

Rankings: CSS: 3rd among North American goalies ISS: 7th among goalies Red Line Report: 131st

KEVIN MANDOLESE, CAPE BRENTON SCREAMING EAGLES (QMJHL) Canadian goalie Kevin Mandolese uses his explosive leg strength to burst to the puck and make big saves on a regular basis. The 13th overall selection by Cape Brenton in the 2016 QMJHL Draft employed his 6'3"-plus frame to register a .884 save percentage in 37 regular season games this past year.

Mandolese is seen by scouts as being exceptional on the first save and rebound but note that playing behind a solid defense that doesn't force him to make multiple saves every rush will be beneficial for the young goalie.

A scout, per The Hockey News: "He is big, quick, athletic and a raw stopper. He needs more structure to his game."

Rankings:

CSS: 2nd among North American Goalies ISS: 2nd among goalies Red Line Report: 51st

OLIVIER RODRIGUE, DRUMMONDVILLE VOLTTIEGEURS (QMJHL) Olivier Rodrigue, who was drafted third overall by Drummondville in the 2016 QMJHL Draft, has developed from a serviceable to dominant netminder in his young, professional career. The Chicoutimi, Quebec native accounted for 31 wins in the 2017-18 season, good for second in the entire league.

Scouts have credited his positioning, that makes up for his size in most cases, as the reason he was able to add the starting for Team Canada at this year's U18 Hlinka Memorial Tournament to his growing resume. Rodrigue has been described as "determined" with a "fiery demeanor" that allows him to battle for wins every time he's on the ice.

A scout, per The Hockey News: "He has strong technique; holds his post and telescopes out well. Size is a drawback."

Rankings:

CSS: 1st among North American Goalies ISS: 1st among goalies Red Line Report: 41st

JAKUB SKAREK, HC DUKLA JIHLAVA (CZECH EXTRALIGA) Jakub Skarek is described as having exceptional athleticism, agility and energy between the posts. At just 16 years-old, he was getting time in the Czech Republic's U20 league, and he even earned a shutout in his debut.

This past season he has been regarded as one of the best goalies in the Czech Extraliga, posting a 2.41 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. According to some scouts, Skarek is very underrated in the upcoming draft and will have a chance to flaunt his extensive experience early given the right opportunity.

A scout, per The Hockey News: "He has a solid butterfly that covers the ice well, and he has the size to cover a lot of net. He's calm, but there's also no hesitation to his game."

Rankings:

CSS: 2nd among European Goalies ISS: 5th among goalies Red Line Report: 70th

The 2018 NHL Draft will be held June 22-23 in Dallas. The Chicago Blackhawks currently hold the 8th and 27th picks in the first round, and eight picks overall. Stay tuned to chicagoblackhawks.com for on-going coverage leading up to the draft, including content from the NHL Scouting Combine. NHL.com

Dahlin, Svechnikov among those in spotlight at 2018 NHL Scouting Combine

Mike Morreale May 28, 2018

Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov, the projected top two picks in the 2018 NHL Draft, are among 104 prospects scheduled to participate in the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine at KeyBank Center and HarborCenter in Buffalo beginning Monday.

The combine gives the 31 NHL teams physical and medical assessments of the top prospects ahead of the 2018 draft at American Airlines Center in Dallas on June 22-23.

"The combine week is always an interesting event for Central Scouting that seems to go by very quickly," said Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. "The goal is to present an event that allows NHL personnel to interact with the future stars of our game and assist the NHL clubs in their pursuit of gaining as much knowledge about the draft prospects as possible. Central Scouting looks forward to hosting the prospects during combine week so that they can further showcase themselves."

There are 60 forwards, 37 defensemen, and seven goaltenders attending the combine. All are listed on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings of North American and International skaters and goaltenders.

Teams can have 1-on-1 interviews with the prospects at KeyBank Center from Monday through Friday. The medical examinations will take place Thursday, and a majority of the fitness testing will take place at HarborCenter on Saturday.

No player can test until clearing the medical screening.

"The combine is another tool that we can use and, personally, I like sizing the player up face-to-face and trying to figure out his character," Dallas Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell said. "The latter is very difficult, if not impossible. If we could figure that out in an 18-year-old player, life would be a little less complicated."

Dahlin (6-foot-2, 181 pounds), a defenseman with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, is believed to be a generational NHL star. He had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists), a plus-4 rating and 84 shots on goal in 41 games for Frolunda. He also was named the best defenseman at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship after he had six assists and a plus-7 rating and helped Sweden win the silver medal.

He is No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of International skaters, and expected to be chosen No. 1 by the Buffalo Sabres. The hold the No. 2 selection, and the have the No. 3 pick.

Svechnikov (6-2, 188), a right wing with Barrie of the , led OHL rookies in goals (40) and points (72) in 44 games. He also had a plus-26 rating and 174 shots on goal. He also had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven OHL playoff games.

He is No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters eligible for the NHL draft.

Other top North American skaters invited to the Combine are left wing Brady Tkachuk (6-3, 196) of Boston University in Hockey East, right wing Filip Zadina (6-0, 195) of Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, defenseman Evan Bouchard (6-2, 193) of London (OHL), defenseman Noah Dobson (6-3, 180) of Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL), and defenseman Quintin Hughes (5-9, 170) of the University of Michigan in the Big 10.

Defenseman Adam Boqvist (5-11, 168) of Brynas in Sweden's junior league, right wing Vitali Kravtsov (6-2, 170) of Chelyabinsk in Russia, right wing Martin Kaut (6-1, 176) of Pardubice in the Czech Republic, and defenseman Adam Ginning (6-3, 196) of Linkoping in Sweden are among the top skaters from the final International ranking invited.

Olivier Rodrigue (6-1, 159) of Drummondville (QMJHL) and Lukas Dostal (6-1, 158) of Trebic in the Czech Republic second division are among the goaltenders attending the combine.

Rodrigue, No. 1 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goaltenders, went 34-16-3 with a 2.54 goals-against average, three shutouts, and a .903 save percentage in 53 games. Dostal is No. 1 on the final ranking of International goaltenders; he had a .921 save percentage in 20 games with Trebic, and had a 1.40 GAA and .959 save percentage in seven playoff games to help Brno win the Czech Under-20 league title.