First Round Picks: No. 10, No. 11 (from VAN)
1999-2000 Record: 33-39-10 (2), 78 points (21st overall)
What they need
The new regime in the Windy City (Mike Smith, Alpo Suhonen) will need to improve their
defense (2.95 team GAA, tied for 22nd). Added grit at both ends of the rink would also seem to be a priority here.
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HOMEGROWN BLACKHAWKS
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Blackhawks draftees who played 20 or more games with Chicago in 1999-00: (All stats with Chicago) |
| Name (drafted) |
GP |
G-A-Pts |
Dean McAmmond
(22nd in '91) |
76 |
14-18-32 |
Eric Daze
(90th in '93) |
59 |
23-13-39 |
Jean-Yves Leroux
(40th in '94) |
54 |
3-5-8 |
Dave Manson
(11th in '85) Traded to DAL |
37 |
0-7-7 |
Ed Olczyk
(3rd in '84) |
33 |
2-2-4 |
In their system
Center Mark Bell (8th overall in '98) fared well offensively for the Ottawa '67's (OHL) in 1999-2000, scoring 34 goals and 72 points in 48 games. However, he also suffered two concussions during the season, which could send up a red flag in the 'Hawks hierarchy. Another center, Tyler Arnason (183rd overall in '98) had a solid season at St. Cloud State (NCAA-WCHA), scoring 19 goals and 49 points in 39 games. Arnason's size (5'11", 185) could be a concern, though.
Two other forwards of note are left wing Kyle Calder (130th overall in '97), who had 36 points and 43 PIM's in 74 games for Cleveland (IHL), and left wing Mike Souza (67th overall in '97), who had 40 points and 58 PIM's in 38 games for the University Of New Hampshire (NCAA-Hockey East).
On defense, the 'Hawks has a capable two-way performer in Steve McCarthy (23rd overall in '99), who helped lead the Kootenay Ice to the WHL title with 36 points and 36 PIM's in 37 games.
Recent draft history
The selection of McCarthy with the 23rd pick last year marked the first time since 1990 that Chicago used a first round pick on something other than a forward. Before McCarthy, Karl Dykhuis, now with Monreal, was Chicago's last non-front line first round pick (16th overall in '90).
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FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS (LAST FIVE YEARS)
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| YEAR |
PICK |
PLAYER |
POS. |
'99 TEAM |
'99 G-A-Pts |
| 1999 |
23 |
Steve McCarthy |
D |
Kootenay (WHL) |
13-23-36 |
| 1998 |
8 |
Mark Bell |
C/LW |
Ottawa (OHL) |
34-38-72 |
| 1997 |
13
16 |
Dan Cleary
Ty Jones |
LW
RW |
Edmonton (NHL)
Cleveland (IHL) |
3-2-5
10 GP, 2 pts. |
| 1995 |
19 |
Dmitri Nabokov |
C/LW |
NY Islanders (NHL) |
4-7-11 |
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ALSO SEE
Blackhawks' first-round history
Team Needs: Columbus Blue Jackets
Team Needs: Detroit Red Wings
Team Needs: St. Louis Blues
Team Needs: Nashville Predators
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