Cashing in the Blue Chips

The Hawks traded former prize prospect Adam Clendening to Vancouver for a younger but apparently similar-style player in one Gustav Forsling.  Expect to see Clendening to play for the 'Nucks very soon, and for Forsling to begin his 2-4 year apprenticeship in Rockford in 2018.  He will eventually be traded to Brooklyn (Yes! I've been itching to type that!) in 2021 for a second round pick, with which The Hawks will draft an offensive defenseman.  Rinse and repeat, always repeat.

Despite Clendening's tumble from the tippy-top of The Hawks' minor-league depth chart, falling behind Stephen Johns, Ville Pokka and, hilariously, TJ Brennan, I did not see this coming.  Players have funks, off months and even years, but I seriously didn't expect Stan Bowman to pull the trigger quite this fast.

Let that be a lesson to the rest of them.  I'm talking to you, Klas Dahlbeck.

I don't typically dignify any Hawks losses in this space but regarding Wednesday's loss to the Kings:
- Soooo, neither Rozsival nor Oduya are suitable to play alongside Keith on a regular basis, but the guy who "is" plays considerably fewer minutes the afore-mentioned leadfoots...  In what world does this arrangement make any sense?
- Ditto for Teravainen vs. any number of lesser mortals.  The boy is a thoroughbred, but he need more mileage to show his stuff.
- On that topic, sort of, that was the first game that I didn't wonder why Joakim Nordstrom deserved his ice time.  Ultimately, he accomplished nothing, but he did some good things.  I expect he will sit in favour of Dennis Rasmussen on Friday, just because.

And the Winner is...

....Adam Clendenning.  Although it took a bit of effort and a fair amount of salary-cap manipulation before it got done.
This comes as a bit of a surprise to most observers, as the odds-on favourite to replace the injured Trevor Van Riemsdyk (out 2-3 months, LBI) seemed to be Klas Dahlbeck.  While Dahlbeck has been described as the steadiest of the defence group in Rockford, Clendenning has certainly waited around long enough to get his NHL looks.
Promoting Clendenning may fill a rather large gap in The Hawks' lineup, as well, since Michal Rozsival has been working on the second power play unit.  Say that out loud.  Anyway, Clendenning is a prototypical offensive defenceman and is quite accustomed to quarterbacking a power play and should see some PP time straight away on the upcoming western road trip.  I would expect to see Clendenning debut on Saturday or Sunday; Saturday if Rozsival is a disaster on Thursday, Sunday otherwise.
With TVR being unavailable for 2-3 months, though, The Hawks will have the opportunity to give their other defence prospects a spin and I fully expect to see Stephen Johns and Klas Dahlbeck play some games before the New Year.  Once Sharp returns from his own injury, still as long as week or two from now, The Hawks' first-unit PP guy will be back and, unless Clendenning sets the world on fire in the interim, that would be the time to give Johns and Dahlbeck their respective shots.

Joakim Nordstrom will join The Hawks on the road trip, as well, presumably alternating with Jeremy Morin alongside Kruger and Smith.