Getting Tighter

The Hawks set free a host of hopefuls today, primarily veterans attempting to latch on to an already crowded lineup.  Tomas Kopecky, Daniel Paille, Lubomir Visnovsky join Jan Hejda, released yesterday, on the unemployment line.  I guess it's no use pondering how bad Hejda and Visnovsky would have been in comparison to Rozsival.
Brandon Mashinter and Cameron Schilling were assigned to Rockford, as well.
Chillingly, Kyle Cumiskey is now indicated as a roster player rather than a PTO.

So, who's left?  Kyle Baun, who's had some success in the preseason, so far, along with Garret Ross, Dennis Rasmussen, Vincent Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman are the remaining forwards not yet assured a spot.  One could argue that Panarin belongs in that group but I expect that, if he's healthy enough to play, he'll get every opportunity to fail by receiving 8 minutes per game on the fourth line before bolting for The KHL.  On defense we have Viktor Svedberg, Erik Gustafsson and, presumably, Kyle Cumiskey, who has yet to suit up for a pre-season game, I believe.  It's possible that one of these three could squeeze out Rundblad or Van Riemsdyk but I don't see that happening.  

Hawks Training Camp Roster Revealed

First:
2015-16 Training Camp Roster

Well, there are a few unwanted surprises there on defense.  Earlier today The Hawks revealed that Kyle Cumiskey, Lubomir Visnovsky and (gasp) Michal Rozsival would attend camp on Professional Try Out (PTO) deals.  Granted, the defense ranks are a little thinner than in previous seasons but, omigosh, if you're going to hedge your bets in case TVR and Rundblad cannot carry the mail I'm not sure if this is the direction to go.  I've had a sneaky, icky feeling that Cumiskey would end up in camp, likely on Quenneville's insistence.  I'm a little surprised that Visnovsky would choose to have a go at what will amount to a barely-above-minimum-wage gig but, desperate times and all that...  Assuming Visnovsky's head is reasonably clear I see he and Jan Hejda as the frontrunners in the 5-6-7D battle.

Continuing in the "please, no" vein, The Hawks' Back To The Future movement extends to the forward ranks, as well, with Jake Dowell and Tomas Kopecky also being invited to compete for a non-existent roster spot with Daniel Paille already in the queue ahead of them.

Finally, The Hawks' roster opportunities may have gotten a little smaller, too, as Patrick Kane is expected to attend camp.  For now.

Jan Hejda Offered PTO by Blackhawks

Evidently, veteran defenseman Jan Hejda has been granted a Professional Try Out by The Hawks.
While I am aware of Hejda and have seen him play many times...I have no clear recollection of what he did.  This is probably a good thing being that he's considered a stay-at-home defenseman.

At age 37, though, he had better not cause me any flashbacks.  The first time he flatfoots a one-on-one and I scream "F8CKING ROZSIE" he's dead to me.

                                                      Jan Hejda, 1978 - ???