Healthy forecast for de Haan
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, during a Zoom call with reporters Thursday, shared updates on injured Hawks players and recent signings.
Injuries
The biggest news was that defenseman Calvin de Haan — out since Dec. 10 after undergoing shoulder surgery — is expected to be healthy for the planned start of training camp July 10.
“Calvin is probably the furthest along of all [our players on injured reserve],” Bowman said. “It was originally a four- to six-month recovery, so we’re pretty much in that timeframe right now . ... I would expect him to be ready.”
Defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Drake Caggiula — who both suffered minor injuries in early March just before the season paused — are also fine, as anticipated. Forwards Andrew Shaw (concussion) and Zack Smith (back surgery) and defenseman Brent Seabrook (shoulder, hip surgeries) are less certain.
“We’re still determining their status for when we’re going to resume playing,” Bowman said. “Some of that will depend upon when the games start and once we see how they look when they get back on the ice.”
Signings
The Hawks signed three new players during their coronavirus media lockdown: top prospect Ian Mitchell, 2019 draft pick Michal Teply and undrafted European import Matej Chalupa. Bowman finally commented on all three Thursday.
Mitchell, after three years at the University of Denver, likely won’t be eligible for this summer’s playoffs. But if he is, it sounds as though the Hawks will eagerly deploy him. If not, he’ll be “a big part of this team next season,” Bowman said.
Teply, a fourth-round selection last June, took “big steps forward” in his first year in Canadian juniors, Bowman said. While he’s eligible to return to his Winnipeg junior team for 2020-21, Bowman said he’ll get a chance to prove he’s NHL- or AHL-ready in training camp this fall.
Chalupa, a Czech league star at age 21 this past season, was discovered by the Hawks during one of Bowman’s European scouting trips in January.
“He’s got good puck pursuit, so he’s what you’d call a busy or active player,” Bowman said. “A little bit of a later bloomer, so he’s just starting to see some of his best hockey right now, and it’s time to get him over to North America. I liked the potential, and we’ll see how quickly he adapts.”
Chalupa will probably need some time in Rockford at first. He projects as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level.