With Marian Hossa Aching, Chicago May Need Someone To Shoulder the Burden

With the recent news that newly signed Chicago Blackhawk Marian Hossa might miss the start of the season, Blackhawk fans were sent into a ridiculous frenzy.

How are we going to compete?

Who is going to fill in while Hossa is gone?

Why did we sign him to such a long deal if we knew he was injured already?

At this point in time, Hossa is just rehabilitating his shoulder and if he does not require surgery this is a moot point, but if it is a more serious injury the Blackhawks need to consider their options.

I'm not sure that I can answer questions one or three, but I think I can provide some interesting options to easy the blow that Hossa's absence will cause.

Really, what Blackhawks fans must understand is that prospects are not going to fill the void left by Hossa, rather it will be players like Kris Versteeg and Patrick Sharp who will fill that void.

These options really address what to do with the roster spot left by Hossa. Do you let a prospect get a chance at making the team or do we stick with players already on the roster?

Here are some options that the 'Hawks might chose to pursue.

The first option that I have created is one that many Blackhawks fans seem to be really attracted to, bring 2008 first round pick Kyle Beach onto the team to play in the top nine.

Beach looked very good at the recent Chicago Blackhawks prospects camp and has said that his goal this season is to make the 'Hawks coming out of training camp. A bold statement by the young power forward, but he seems to have learned all he can at the Junior level and could be ready for the NHL.

There is one problem with this idea. What do we do with him once Hossa is healthy enough to play? Beach is not eligible to play in the American Hockey League and would probably have to go back to Lethbridge to play for his junior team.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of this option because I don't think he will get time in the top six, were he belongs. He would most likely be featured on the third line with the likes of John Madden and Dustin Byfuglien. I also do not like the idea of Beach playing 30 games at the NHL level and then be sent back to juniors which could hinder Beach's development.

Now for option number two, the Chicago Blackhawks use forward Akim Aliu to fill the roster spot left by Hossa.

Aliu is my favorite Chicago Blackhawks prospect in the system right now. He is great with the puck, good hands, above average skating ability for a man his size and has a mean streak that Byfuglien could learn from.

Aliu probably fits the mold of what the Blackhawks are looking for a gritty forward that can play on their third line and can get some much needed NHL experience. Aliu unlike Beach can play in the AHL this season and from that standpoint makes more sense.

However Aliu still has plenty to improve in his game before he can be an every day NHLer and would probably be better served to get an entire year in the AHL.

Aliu seems to be the number two horse in this race among Blackhawks fans and I would agree that he should probably be number two but the number one horse should not be  Beach, it should be Jack Skille but you will hear more about him later.

In all actuality the Blackhawks do not need to bring a prospect into the fold as they already have 14 forwards under contract. Option three for the Blackhawks is to just stand pat and fill the void with either Troy Brouwer or Colin Fraser.

While this might not be the sexy option it could be the most likely. Brouwer and Fraser both played most the season with the Blackhawks last season and were were productive in their roles last season

Fraser is more along the lines of a fourth line check and would probably not help cushion the blow over the loss of Hossa. Brouwer, on the other hand, seems poised for a break out season.

Although Brouwer only recorded 26 points last season, playing with the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane for stretches, it was only Brouwer's first full season in the NHL and you would imagine he would only get better with more time.

For the Blackhawks it seems like the most likely option but I think that the Blackhawks could do better.

Why not give Skille another try?

I mean eventually we are going to need to find out if Skille really fits into their long term plans. Skille made the Blackhawks out of camp last season but was sent back to the AHL once Joel Quenneville took over as head coach.

Why Skille? Because the Blackhawks have players like Beach and Aliu in the pipeline and need to know if Skille is an everyday NHLer or a career AHLer.

What can Skille contribute?

Well Skille fits the mould of what they need at the NHL level while Hossa is out and he also possesses the speed to keep up with the fast moving team. Something that many question in the games of Aliu and Beach.

Now I might be in the minority with the choice of Skille over Beach and Aliu this is just another storyline to add to training camp come the end of August.

Where these decisions will be made is on the ice and if any of the Blackhawks prospects want to have a chance at beating out the likes of Brouwer and Fraser they will need to leave it all out on the ice.