Oilers' Ryan Potulny checks Sharks' Dany Heatley. (Larry Wong / Edmonton Journal)
The Blackhawks have signed forward Ryan Potulny to a one-year, $500,000 contract.
The 26-year-old had 15 goals and 17 assists with the Edmonton Oilers last season. Potulny was a third-round pick (87th overall) in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and has 22 goals, 27 assists and 54 penalty minutes in 116 career games.
The Grand Forks, N.D., native plays center and inked a two-way contract, meaning he will play for Rockford of the American Hockey League if he doesn't make the Hawks' roster out of training camp.
Potulny could battle Jake Dowell, among others, to be the center on the Hawks' fourth line.
Prior to turning pro, Potulny spent parts of three seasons at the University of Minnesota (WCHA) from 2003 to 2006, collecting 118 points (68G, 50A) in 100 games. He was a finalist for the 2006 Hobey Baker Award.
Everywhere I went on the West Coast and in Colorado during this off-season, wearing BlackHawk shirts and hat, people greeted me (not a majority, mind you) with "Yay, BlackHawks!" I was in Chicago in July wearing the same shirts and hat, and nobody said "Buff" (or anything like it). I guess you guys are already focussed on REPEATING!
And go figure---EVERYONE wants to come to Chicago and play for the Hawks. Original 6...Major Market...the Bowman's (hockey royalty) now building something like Detroit's HOCKEYTOWN in Chicago. Why not!?
Yeah, sucks to see Buff, Versteeg, Eager, Soapy, Niemi, etc. go....but it was a forced situation and they're making the right moves. Veteran guys at a price.... young guys who---just maybe---might be stars in their own right some day.
Don't knock em....stay behind em! Make it two in a ROW!
Over half the games actually.
Momentum going into the playoffs? Do you not remember the end of the season for the hawks? They had no momentum at all. Everyone was talking about how they would be one and done in the playoffs.
Begging of march the lost 3-5 to the Islanders. End of march they lost 3-8 and 2-4 to the Columbus blue jackets. In the month of march the hawks went 11-7-2. They only outscored there opponents 70-62 (the only reason the actually out scored them was because they had 3 shutouts in the month of march) And half of those games where against teams who didnt even make the playoffs. I would hardly consider that moments going into the playoffs
Even though the salary capped killed the Hawks depth it's great Bowman is not resting but rebuilding around Keith, Toews and Kane with more solid role players like Turco, John Scott, Jeff Taffe, Fernando Pisani and now Potulny. These guys are solid but not spectacular NHL vets at the right price. Not even including what young Hawk prospect make the team, the Hawks will be top 3 in the Western conference. Looks like another great year. I only pray the Hawks have momentum going into the playoffs like they did last time.
Adding depth, good signing.