Blackhawks GM Bowman on new faces: 'I think change is good'
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman certainly knows a thing or two about replacing established role players with new ones after winning a Stanley Cup.
After all, that scenario played itself out in 2013-14, on the heels of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup-winning triumph over the Boston Bruins. Well, with salary cap constraints being what they are, Bowman has prepared for the upcoming 2015-16 season in that light as well after the team secured its third title in six years following a spirited six-game series victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in June.
"I think change is good, and I think we've embraced that in the past and been able to bring in some players that now are household names ... but at one point they were new," Bowman told the team's website. "It's going to be the same thing for some of the new guys that are part of this group next year. They might be new to the fans and media, but as you'll see in time, I think we're really going to fall in love with some of these guys."
Forward Teuvo Teravainen, 20, introduced himself to Blackhawks' fans during the playoffs last year, and he could be joined by Artemi Panarin of the Kontinental Hockey League and fellow 23-year-old Erik Gustafsson of the Swedish Elite League.
Marko Dano and Artem Anisimov were acquired in the blockbuster deal that shipped top-line forward Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1. Nine days later, Ryan Garbutt and defenseman Trevor Daley joined Chicago in a trade that sent Patrick Sharp to the Dallas Stars.
(h/t Chicago Blackhawks)
