Buzz Around Number Changes, Tax Benefits, Personalized Names, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Okay, I slept on it and I still need to get my soapbox out for a moment. On Friday afternoon, the Blackhawks announced the new jersey numbers for their eight veteran additions this summer and signed top draft picks. That announcement also included changes for three guys on last year’s NHL roster and a few prospects. One number that was not changed: Colton Dach is apparently still wearing 28. The Blackhawks need to go ahead and make a change for Dach so they can retire 28 for Steve Larmer.

And while we’re at it, 24 should be in the rafters for Doug Wilson by now as well. I tweeted a few reasons why on Friday afternoon as speculation started to float regarding why the Blackhawks are moving Lukas Reichel out of 27 (for a Jeremy Roenick retirement?).

Note: Scott Powers tweeted that he was told by a team source that the number change for Reichel was partially out of respect for JR, but that a jersey retirement is not in the plans.
To be clear: I have no issue with the idea of Roenick’s number being retired. I just believe firmly that there are two other numbers that should have been out of circulation 20+ years ago that deserve that distinction far more.
I chatted with one of the new Blackhawks, TJ Brodie, this week about him choosing Chicago. He had some great things to say about our fine city — and a couple veterans who helped recruit him (and his wife). Family was a big driver in his decision, and he’s excited to call Chicago home.

Powers wrote about Luke Richardson on Friday. Yes, Richardson owns a historically bad winning percentage as a head coach. But that was also the realistic expectation for the rebuilding organization. I like that Powers reminds us that Richardson is a first-time head coach who is also learning and developing like many of his young players. Now that he’ll have an NHL roster mostly filled with veteran players — and with enough depth to withstand a few injuries without requiring multiple waiver claims in early January — we’ll have a better idea of how his systems work.

This is something that’s been a topic of conversation around free agency for a while, but it’s starting to get more heat in recent offseasons. The tax rates in different NHL locations can be a factor in where players sign — and their cap hit. Is that an advantage to those teams? Absolutely. Canada has a different tax rate than the US. In the United States, Florida (two teams), Texas, Tennessee and Washington have no state income tax, which can save their players a bice chunk of change.
I don’t think there’s an easy fix for this. The league can’t make some changes to the cap structure to specifically single out teams in those states (though two of them are in the Blackhawks’ division). We also need to remember there are teams that cannot and do not spend to the upper limit because of internal controls; they don’t make enough money to be a max team, and they’re still a business trying to make money.
Barry Trots, the GM in Nashville — one of the tax-less states — had some interesting comments about the competitive advantage their location can be in free agency.

The Florida Panthers’ names have been engraved and placed on the Stanley Cup. Looks like they had a little trouble with the font size when they started because the players look like they’re a little more crammed than the guys who pay their bills and tell them who to skate with every night.

Finally, I’m going to be an obnoxious Hinsdale Central grad this year with both the Bears and Bulls drafting Red Devils. But the Bulls’ first-round pick looks like a really good player and good kid, so this is exciting.