Veterans Miller, Mitchell Cut From Blackhawks' Roster
By James Neveau •
The Chicago Blackhawks brought a group of veteran free agents into camp this preseason, but they’ve already let three of them go as it appears a youth movement is in full effect.
Forwards Drew Miller and John Mitchell were both released from their PTO contracts on Thursday, along with defenseman Mark Stuart, the team announced.
Miller, who spent most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings, scored five goals and dished out two assists last season.
Mitchell spent the last five seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, and has scored 70 goals in his NHL career.
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Patrick Sharp
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Dauphin, acquired by the Blackhawks in the Niklas Hjalmarsson trade, could provide some scoring punch among a forward group in sore need of it, as he scored 17 goals in just 38 AHL games last season.
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DeBrincat is one of the most highly touted prospects in the NHL, and he showed why at the Traverse City tournament in Michigan as he racked up five goals (and a fighting major) in four games.
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Forsberg, acquired from Columbus in the Artemi Panarin trade, will be competing to be the Blackhawks’ back-up goaltender, a key role left vacant by the departure of Scott Darling.
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The Blackhawks’ blue line is very unsettled, but with comparisons to Niklas Lidstrom, the Blackhawks’ organization is VERY high on Forsling’s ceiling, and it will be interesting to see if he can live up to the hype.
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Signed to a tryout deal by the Blackhawks, Franson will try to bring some veteran presence to the blue line, and he could be the financial beneficiary when the team finally is able to put Marian Hossa on injured reserve.
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The Blackhawks gave up a third round pick to get Jurco and protected him in the NHL Expansion Draft, so they clearly have a lot invested in the winger. He needs to reward their faith.
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With Marcus Kruger gone, the Blackhawks are going to be looking for a bottom-six center, and Kero has the defensive skill and occasional scoring touch to potentially fill that role.
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The Blackhawks gave up Hjalmarsson to get Murphy, a younger blue liner that addressed the team’s lack of balance when it comes to the handedness of its defensemen. Murphy has some big skates to fill, but the team is confident in his upside.
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It’s going to be put up or shut up time soon for Pokka, who has been highly touted but has never been able to make the jump to the NHL full-time. With uncertainty reigning on the Blackhawks’ blue line, Pokka will never have a better shot to make the team than he will this season.
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Can Sharp regain the form that saw him score 34 goals for the Blackhawks in the 2013-14 season, or will he be the player who couldn’t stay healthy with the Dallas Stars? Training camp will give us the first glimpse as the Blackhawks, and Sharp, attempt to answer that question.
Stuart, a long-time fixture with the Winnipeg Jets, had two goals and two assists in 42 games last season.
All three players presumably were brought aboard to compete with players like Alex DeBrincat, Vincent Hinostroza, and Gustav Forsling for roster spots, and the decision to part ways with all three indicates that the team is looking to at least keep a few youngsters around for the beginning of the regular season.
