Posts Tagged ‘Fermando Pisani’

Roster spots at forward still available, and two more cut

September 28th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Yet again, another round of cuts hit Hawks’ training camp today. Forward Hugh Jessiman was assigned to Rockford (AHL) after clearing waivers, and Swedish forward Ludvig Rensfeldt was returned to Brynas J20 (SuperElite). The Blackhawks training camp roster stands at 31 players before their fourth (first un-televised) exhibition game in Pittsburgh tonight.

With four more pre-season games left, the competition for the few remaining roster spots at forward is still wide open. Ex-Oilers Fernando Pisani and Ryan Potulny have played well enough to secure roster spots, prospects Igor Makarov and Jeremy Morin are making bids to stick around, and one-time lock, Viktor Stalberg, might have played well enough to make the IceHogs.

Training camp roster as it stands –

Forwards (17) – Kyle Beach, Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Jake Dowell, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Tomas Kopecky, Igor Makarov, Jeremy Morin, Fernando Pisani, Ryan Potulny, Patrick Sharp, Jack Skille, Ben Smith, Viktor Stalberg, Jonathan Toews

Defensemen (10) – Nick Boynton, Brian Campbell, Brian Connelly, Jassen Cullimore, Jordan Hendry, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Nick Leddy, John Scott, Brent Seabrook

Goalies (4) – Corey Crawford, Alec Richards, Hannu Toivonen, Marty Turco

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Roster spots to be had at forward

September 20th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

With the Blackhawks’ roster virtually locked up in net (Turco and Crawford) and on the blue line (Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjalmarsson, Boynton, Hendry and Scott – with Vishnevskiy on the outside looking in), the competition at training camp is happening at forward. The Hawks’ top-six are set, but there are spots to be won as a bottom-six forward.

Who’s locked in?

Brouwer – Toews – Kane
Sharp – Bolland – Hossa
Stalberg – ??? – ???
Bickell – ??? – Kopecky
???

Who has a realistic shot?

Kyle Beach – Top prospect in the Blackhawks’ system will play his first game in the NHL sometime this season, but will his time come when training camp breaks? You can’t deny the kid is talented, but he’s “in need of a serious attitude adjustment.” Spending more time in Rockford could do some good, but he’s a Bowman favorite.

Igor Makarov – The 23-year-old Russian forward won the hearts of everyone in attendance at the training camp shindig over the weekend, and has a legitimate shot at stealing a roster spot from any player on this list. Makarov dazzled in prospect camp two years ago, but faded into the drab background of the KHL as a fourth-liner since. In 51 games between St. Petersburg and Moscow, he score five goals with four assists.

Fernando Pisani – If healthy, he’ll easily make the team out of training camp. Pisani will provide a veteran leadership on one of the bottom lines, and will help on the penalty kill. That being said, his skills and offensive production have tailed off significantly since he was a playoff hero for the Oilers in 2006.

Ryan Potulny – A nice off-season signing at a nice price, and could fill the role of third- or fourth-line center with the Hawks this season. At 26, Potulny has a small upside, and a scoring touch (15 last year). His plus/minus rating of minus-21 was indicative of playing on the last place Oilers.

Jack Skille – This will undoubtedly be the last shot for Skille to make the club that drafted him five years ago with the seventh overall pick. Really, there is nothing new I can tell you about Skille. His high water mark is as the Kris Versteeg replacement on the third line, but being assigned to Rockford is a possibility.

Jake Dowell – A spot on the Blackhawks was as good as his before ex-Oilers Pisani and Potulny were brought into the fold. Dowell still has an outside shot to make the team, but it appears as though he’s destine to begin the season in the AHL for the fifth time. The only thing he has going for him is that he’s a natural center.

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Blackhawks add depth by signing Fernando Pisani

August 18th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

So the Blackhawks signed forward Fernando Pisani – formerly of the Edmonton Oilers – to a one-year deal worth $500,000. You may remember Fernando from his performance in the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, and star of that one commercial for Ulcerative Colitis. Pisani will play on one of the bottom two lines, and provides veteran depth on the Hawks’ roster.

Not a big fan of Bowman’s latest deal solely for the reason that Pisani’s addition will keep a younger (healthier) player from vying for a roster spot come fall. He hasn’t played over 40 games in the last two seasons. That being said, the 33-year-old comes cheap and has some value in the defensive zone. Jack Skille, Bryan Bickell, Jake Dowell and even Kyle Beach will each need to put their best foot forward at training camp.

Hawks relinquish Chris Auger’s rights

The Blackhawks had till August 15 to sign prospect Chris Auger to an entry-level deal before his rights were relinquished. There was no press release, but the move was noted on blackhawks.com’s player tracker. The Hawks passed on the UMass-Lowell graduate, and Auger is free to sign with any other organization.

Changes have been reflected on our In the Organization page above.

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