Retooling vs Rebuilding: The Hawks To Do Both?

Heading into Saturday's Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks - at the time of this writing - have 10 picks including a rare first-round selection at 30th overall.

They've also made a slew of trades, offloading Logan Couture, Nick Schmaltz, Reilly Smith, Mack Weegar, Mike Matheson, Cody Ceci, and Curtis Lazar for younger players in Max Jones, Will Butcher, Ville Heinola, Tage Thompson, Evan Barratt, Joey Keane, Mikhail Maltsev, Fabian Zetterlund, and prospects in Alec Regula and Ruslan Iskhakov.

It seems like a "rebuild" is happening in the Windy City. Just don't say that word around Blackhawks GM Thomas Gidlow.

"It's not a rebuild in the traditional sense," said Gidlow. "You say 'rebuild' and visions of a 3-5 year slog through the doldrums come to mind. That's not what we're doing. We're restocking, retooling."

Whatever way you want to call it, 'change' is the name of the game it would seem after a second-round Game 7 playoff exit against the Dallas Stars this past postseason. While it was Chicago's most successful season of Gidlow's four-year tenure to date, he isn't satisfied with resting on that laurel.

"We've got some things we need to do. We need the next wave. But we can still compete - we're not folding up our tent and aiming for the basement."

Indeed, the Hawks have plenty of options at their disposal. With just under $28 million in projected payroll tied into the 2021-22 season right now, Chicago can virtually go in any direction they choose - early projections indicate 10 pro roster spots will be available.

And "tanking" wouldn't work anyway - Chicago doesn't own their own first-round pick in 2022.

"I don't believe - and I never have - that you have to take your team into the gutter to be able to restock the cupboards and keep the asset train rolling along," quipped Gidlow. "We've got roster spots and a ton of cap space. We're going to do both - retool and still compete. It's definitely happening."

To that point, Chicago's entry into the first round on Saturday presents a rare opportunity for a top-end talent. While many feel this year's Entry Draft is a bit of a potluck beyond the top ten, Gidlow feels if anything, there's more opportunity in the unknown.

"Everyone is talking about not having enough to go on when it comes to drafting these young guys. True, there's a lot missing due to the pandemic. But to me, I think it means it's up to the team to find the right raw materials and help develop the player more. I think we get too bogged down in analytics sometimes that we forget...part of the process is the actual one-on-one development.

"I think a lot of these players are going to get more of that than before. If anything it could end up producing more useful NHL'ers than in years past."

It's certainly one way to look at it.

Chip Whitley
Blackhawks Beat Reporter

Kirklan Lycar

It's Ruslan Iskhakov** Great stuff though brother, looking forward to seeing the final product before opening night!

Retooling vs Rebuilding: The Hawks To Do Both?
Many big changes leads some to wonder about Chicago's direction

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Kevin Lacy It's pronounced Russian Ice Hockey.

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