Backup switch in the works? Raanta or Darling

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Raanta has been sent down to Rockford and Hawks have called Darling up.

Click to read more...

 

[Taze em]

Something is going on. I could see a morin trade/ bring up Teravainen type deal going on.

 

[Nothingman*]

Isn't it the other way around? Darling called up?

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Color me honestly shocked....

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=739351

Don't mind the move at all, but hadn't thought that Raanta had really done anything to warrant a demotion. Team's either of the impression that they don't trust him to back up Crow or they want him to have more starts down there as they continue to ride Crawford more often.

 

[Nothingman*]

Let's be frank. This has zero affect on the every day Hawks. It means little to nothing unless there is a trade to be made.

 

[CptnSerious]

Huh.

 

[CourtneyDagger50]

What?!?! Why is twitter not sending updates to my phone tonight?! WHen there are actually things happening!!!
Anyways, this is weird. Don't really see the point. But... okay

 

[CallMeShaft]

Sorry Raanta, I really enjoy you as a player and a human being.

Congrats Darling on a long fought battle for your dreams to become reality.


Wonder if this may hint at a potential trade, like what Taze Em suggests.

 

[Taze em]

Chris Block just explained this away.

Darling played Fri/Sat, Leighton is hurt. Didn't want to play Darling 3 in 3 so they bring him up to sit behind Crawford tomorrow and play Raanta in Rockford.

Nothing to see here folks.

 

[Periwinkle]

I think this might actually be good for Raanta, to get some games. I don't really see it as a demonition rather than both allowing Raanta to play and rewarding Darling for his good play in AHL with a call-up that at least rewards him financially.

 

[clydesdale line]

Raanta gets some playing time in, another Fin for Teravainen and Pokka to chat with, etc.

 

[BobbyJet]

Chris Block just explained this away.

Darling played Fri/Sat, Leighton is hurt. Didn't want to play Darling 3 in 3 so they bring him up to sit behind Crawford tomorrow and play Raanta in Rockford.

Nothing to see here folks.

I figured it was something along these lines. If nothing else, it gets Raanta some much needed action after sitting since CC returned from injury.

That said however, I reckon Darling will get a start soon and this is the beginning to he becoming Hawk's back-up goalie..... and with the inevitable cap crunch approaching, who knows about the future. Hawks are going to be rather desperate to keep in tact their core. Could Crawford get moved in a year or so? Hmmmmm .... Never say never.

 

[SatchelRuaz]

As for Darling, I thought they might do this. He played extremely well when he was up, but they wanted him to play as much as possible with the Hogs.

The next two weeks we have two stretches with three games in four nights. Now that he is going to actually play up here they brought him up.

So happy for him. Guy on my men's league team played with him in the SPHL and has just raved about what a personal turnaround he has made off the ice. Definitely some big lifestyle changes had to be made for him to get where he is. Really cool story.

 

[mtxed]

As for Darling, I thought they might do this. He played extremely well when he was up, but they wanted him to play as much as possible with the Hogs.

The next two weeks we have two stretches with three games in four nights. Now that he is going to actually play up here they brought him up.

So happy for him. Guy on my men's league team played with him in the SPHL and has just raved about what a personal turnaround he has made off the ice. Definitely some big lifestyle changes had to be made for him to get where he is. Really cool story.

So you actually think Darling will get a few more NHL games in, or will Raanta be sent back up to the NHL in a few days to play those B2B games?? Let me understand this. Is this for a game or two or for the next few weeks?

 

[BobbyJet]

So you actually think Darling will get a few more NHL games in, or will Raanta be sent back up to the NHL in a few days to play those B2B games?? Let me understand this. Is this for a game or two or for the next few weeks?

It makes sense that Darling plays those games. He has been the better of the two since training camp; his stellar play has been consistent, with Hawks and RFD.

 

[hisgirlfriday]

I figured it was something along these lines. If nothing else, it gets Raanta some much needed action after sitting since CC returned from injury.

That said however, I reckon Darling will get a start soon and this is the beginning to he becoming Hawk's back-up goalie..... and with the inevitable cap crunch approaching, who knows about the future. Hawks are going to be rather desperate to keep in tact their core. Could Crawford get moved in a year or so? Hmmmmm .... Never say never.

I would want Crawford moved the least of Sharp and Seabrook based on his play this year so I hope he is not the one moved.

However, even if Crawford isn't moved, there are cap reasons to roll with Darling over Raanta as the backup THIS SEASON because it makes it easier cap-wise to call up guys like McNeill, Teravainen, etc...

 

[BobbyJet]

I would want Crawford moved the least of Sharp and Seabrook based on his play this year so I hope he is not the one moved.

However, even if Crawford isn't moved, there are cap reasons to roll with Darling over Raanta as the backup THIS SEASON because it makes it easier cap-wise to call up guys like McNeill, Teravainen, etc. ..

Yes, quite true. This move makes sense in several ways, short term and long term. I hope Darling can keep progressing under these conditions, as he was the first to admit he wanted to play, even if it was in RFD.

I may be getting ahead of myself here, but I have a funny feeling that Q is going to have difficulty keeping Darling on the bench. He has impressed me that much.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

For what it's worth....

@capgeek

Flip of Darling/Raanta ups Chicago's deadline cap space from ~$800K to ~1.5M (only if exact roster maintained from now until then).

https://twitter.com/capgeek/status/534017019343941632

 

[SatchelRuaz]

So you actually think Darling will get a few more NHL games in, or will Raanta be sent back up to the NHL in a few days to play those B2B games?? Let me understand this. Is this for a game or two or for the next few weeks?

I think that, right now, they believe Darling is the better goaltender, but they want him to play as much as possible so they don't want him to sit behind Crawford all the time.

I think when Crow needs rest over the next two weeks Darling will be in the net. Two maybe three games over the next two weeks.

 

[FinPanda]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q4PraNUoUc&feature=youtu.be

 

[Crow]

During the broadcast they made it sound like darling came up to ride the pine and raanta will be back with the team for the road trip.

Raanta seems to not want to say or not know during that interview.

 

[Jussi]

Finnish media story says Quenneville said immediately that he wanted to give Raanta playing time and that he'll get games during the 6 game road trip, most likely the latter of the back-to-back games.

 

[anlongo13]

Coming in peace trying to figure out some fantasy stuff.

Is Raanta looking like he is going to stay down in Rockford for a while to get some PT? Or has Darling taken over that back-up role?

Not sure whether it's worth hanging on to Raanta as a 4th goalie.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Coming in peace trying to figure out some fantasy stuff.

Is Raanta looking like he is going to stay down in Rockford for a while to get some PT? Or has Darling taken over that back-up role?

Not sure whether it's worth hanging on to Raanta as a 4th goalie.

At least per the team, sounds like they just sent him down to get some ice time prior to the circus trip. As far as we know, he's going to get brought back up and hasn't been demoted.

 

[anlongo13]

At least per the team, sounds like they just sent him down to get some ice time prior to the circus trip. As far as we know, he's going to get brought back up and hasn't been demoted.

I appreciate it.