BLOG: Roster Shakeups and Shakedowns in Final Days of Camp

The Blackhawks prepared the final shakeups to their lineup during practice to close out the final week of training camp.
With forward Colton Dach being sent back to his junior team on Friday morning and goalie Mitchell Weeks being release from his professional tryout, the Blackhawks roster stands at 27 players entering the final preseason game on Saturday afternoon in St. Louis.

Defenseman Jake McCabe practiced with full contact in Friday's practice. Although head coach Luke Richardson stated McCabe will travel on the opening road trip to Colorado, Vegas and San Jose, the plan remains to play him after the team returns home.
"I felt good," said McCabe, who underwent cervical spine surgery in the offseason to repair a reoccuring issue over the last few seasons. "From the moment I stepped on the ice, really. I haven't noticed any setbacks, and hopefully it continues that way."
The Hawks are also optimistic about Connor Murphy, who has returned to practice following a back injury last week, but Richardson does not plan to bring him to St. Louis. Per Richardson: "We thought it'd be better to get [Murphy] another day of practice or two with the team, but we're hoping that he's ready for day one and game one."

Lineup Considerations

Most roster spots amongst the Blackhawks are locked in: Richardson will use Petr Mrazek as top netminder and Alex Stalock as backup, and the Hawks sent down eight forwards to Rockford earlier this week - including top forward prospect, Lukas Reichel.
Head coach Luke Richardson stated he favors a 12-forward, six-defenseman split on his game night lineup, finding the alternative of rostering seven defenseman, "really hard to keep [up]."
"It's easier with the proper four lines up front to keep everybody involved in the game," said Richardson. "There's usually lots of penalties, especially early in the season, so you find a role for everybody and make sure they're involved in the game."
Beyond comparing player skill, Richardson and General Manager Kyle Davidson will create the Blackhawks opening lineup with consideration to the current injuries affecting the team:
"If someone's a little banged up, we might have to keep one more defenseman [on the roster], and if we have someone that's a little banged up at forward, it might make more sense to keep an extra forward."

Last Defenseman Standing

The remaining question for the Blackhawks: who will fill the last defensive spot?
Richardson and Davidson have narrowed the options down to Alec Regula, Alex Vlasic, and Filip Roos.
"As far as making the final roster or ice time in the regular season, [Richardson and Davidson] haven't given me any inclination," said Regula. who split time last year between the Blackhawks and the IceHogs. "I think I have a good chance. We're getting down to here two more games. So yeah, fingers crossed."
Vlasic gathered experience on the NHL roster at the end of last year, and impressed the team with his play when paired with Seth Jones. Swedish forward Filip Roos made his North American debut this year after signing with the Blackhawks this summer.
"All of our defensemen have to get better at just playing defense," said Richardson. "That will let all those guys - especially Roos and Regula - [with] getting up in the offense because that's where they can really help."

The Robinson-Richardson Connection

Training camp reunited Luke Richardson with one of his former protégées after Buddy Richardson signed over the summer. The veteran winger played under him for the four seasons Richardson coached the Binghamton Senators in the AHL.
"It's crazy awesome how small the hockey world is," said Robinson. "Now just to be able to reconnect with Luke after three years has been really cool. It's been a breath of fresh air."
"[Playing for] someone that you've had relationships with in the past, it just makes it that much easier," said Robinson. "For me, it's [about] just going out there doing my job, and just showing him that I still got it and want to play for him."
Robinson impressed Richardson during this year's training camp:
"I don't play favorites to anybody, [but Robinson's] really worked his butt off and deserved an opportunity here," said Richardson. "He can give you a little bit of energy, some penalty killing, [and] - every once in a while - he pulls an unbelievable play out of his hat and can make some offense."