Unless something dramatic takes place within the next couple of weeks, the Chicago Blackhawks will have gone through yet another summer without addressing their biggest need right in the middle of that second line.
That means that the solution will take place from within, with Patrick Kane and Marcus Kruger set to do battle for the spot, as predictable as that sounds. But it may not come down to just those two. There may be a wild card that could contend for the spot in Brandon Pirri.
Pirri is an intriguing player in the Blackhawks’ organization for a couple of different reasons. He has the potential to be an effective player for the Hawks, but could also end up being a big piece of a potential trade at some point, if the Hawks eventually choose to upgrade in the middle or on defense.
Of course, the former is more likely at this point, with Pirri expected to get at least a shot at that spot in training camp. He displayed some flashes last season that showed he might be capable of holding that spot down, even making the team out of camp, though that was short-lived.
Pirri isn’t a gamechanger in the middle and doesn’t project to be one in the future, but he could be very solid there nonetheless. He’s very intelligent and has nice playmaking skills that could benefit from playing between the likes of Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa in some combination.
Brandon Pirri on the second line would be an ideal situation for the Blackhawks. It would keep Patrick Kane on the wing and Marucs Kruger in more of a defensive role on the fourth line, which are roles that both of them are probably better suited for.
Whether or not that happens, though, is going to be up to Pirri.
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Pirri is an answer,as well as Beech. Kane is a lose lose as his most effective play is off the boards and not in the middle of the ice. He is easily out muscled between the dots and will have to dish or dump the puck costing the Hawks posseasion time. Pirri is bigger and fast enough to cover the role, has a decent shot and can set up Sharpe or Hossa if given a chance. Beech adds muscle, is less of a playmaker , but can be effective if given a role, like stand infront of the net and screen the shots from Sharpe or Hossa. He can dish to the points ans has enough speed to catch up to the play if deep in the zone. You could add Sadd or Hayes into the role too. Hayes is the biggest and Saad seems to have the hockey smarts to assume the role, yet both are wings, but are young enough to learn a new position, and have the skill set to play the position.