McKenzie: "Sharp is gone for sure"
/Bob McKenzie was on Vancouver’s TSN 1040 on Thursday afternoon.
As part of a discussion on Kyle Baun signing with the Chicago Blackhawks and the transitional period coming up for the team:
“This group that’s going for the Cup this year, as it’s constructed – I mean, Bickell could be gone. Versteeg could be gone. Brent Seabrook may eventually be gone. He’s a year away from unrestricted free agency. There’s no question in my mind that Johnny Oduya is not likely to be back.
“There’s going to be a big turnover here once you get past the top five or six forwards on the Blackhawks and I think this kid recognizes that if he goes and develops and plays well in the American Hockey League, he’s going to have a chance to play on what will still be a good team, but there will still be an opportunity for him.
On if he would be surprised if Sharp or Hossa were gone too:
“Oh, Sharp will be gone. Sharp’s gone. Sharp is gone for sure.
“I think they’ll be able to keep Hossa around. But I think Bickell is probably at some point is likely to be gone. Versteeg is likely to be gone.
“And as I said, a lot of these kids that you just mentioned that are playing in Rockford are going to get opportunities.
“The worst case scenario is if you do really well in the American Hockey League for an organization like Chicago, somebody else will figure it out and they’ll want you. So it’s just a matter of developing and having an opportunity.”
Source: TSN 1040/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey
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