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New York Rangers rivals: Chicago Blackhawks season preview

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 17: Dylan Strome #17 and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks battle for the puck against Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2019 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 4-3. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 17: Dylan Strome #17 and Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks battle for the puck against Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2019 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 4-3. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 17: Chicago Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner (40) during the second period of a preseason game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings on September 17, 2019, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 17: Chicago Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner (40) during the second period of a preseason game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings on September 17, 2019, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Arrivals

There were a flurry of new faces for the Blackhawks to welcome during the course of the off-season as the franchise continued to try and get younger and better in certain areas.

Gritty forward John Quenneville was acquired from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward John Hayden, while proven defenseman Calvin de Haan and former Ranger draft pick, Aleksi Saarela were brought over in a trade from the Carolina Hurricanes.

And the Hawks were active on the first day of free agency after signing depth forward Ryan Carpenter to a three year contract, forward David Kampf to a two-year contract extension and goalie Robin Lehner to a one-year deal.

Lehner was obviously the pick of the off-season additions for the Blackhawks having carved out a hell of a year for the New York Islanders in 2018-19, posting a 2.13 Goals Against Average and a .930 Save Percentage, while collecting the Bill Masterton Trophy and the Williams M. Jennings Trophy.

Young forward Alex Nylander – who was the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft – was traded from the Buffalo Sabres and young stud Alex DeBrincat was locked down to a three-year extension.

And let’s not forget that the Blackhawks selected center Kirby Dach with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, with the two-way forward a potential long-term replacement for Captain Jonathan Toews.

The Hawks also took defenseman Alex Vlasic (No. 43), left wing Michal Teply (No. 105), center Antti Saarela (No. 123), goalie Dominic Basse (No. 167) and defenseman Cole Moberg (No. 194) in the draft.  Yes, Antti is Aleksi’s brother.

BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 29: Kirby Dach #77, Connor Murphy #5, Calvin de Haan #44 and Collin Delia #60 of the Chicago Blackhawks arrive to the Global Fan Tour at Mercedes Platz, prior to the NHL Global Series Challenge 2019 match between Eisbaren Berlin and Chicago Blackhawks on September 29, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 29: Kirby Dach #77, Connor Murphy #5, Calvin de Haan #44 and Collin Delia #60 of the Chicago Blackhawks arrive to the Global Fan Tour at Mercedes Platz, prior to the NHL Global Series Challenge 2019 match between Eisbaren Berlin and Chicago Blackhawks on September 29, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Departures

There were few notable departures with depth players John Hayden (F), Henri Jokiharju (D), Anton Forsberg (G) and Gustav Forsling (D) all traded for other pieces, as mentioned in the Arrivals section above.

Other than that, the Blackhawks kept their core intact believing that with the young talent added to the roster, the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith can propel this franchise to another postseason run.

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