Blackhawks Sign Bickell, Brouwer, Nordqvist

[Thrillhouse]

Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced that the Blackhawks have signed forwards Bryan Bickell and Troy Brouwer to 3-year contracts and forward Jonas Nordqvist to a 1-year deal.

Bickell, 20, 6’4”, 221 pound Left Wing was selected by the Blackhawks in the 2nd round, 41st overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This past season, Bickell appeared in 67 regular season while splitting time with the Ottawa ‘67’s and the Windsor Spitfire of the Ontario Hockey League scoring 45 goals and 38 assists for 83 points and 60 penalty minutes while posting a plus/minus rating of plus-19. He played in seven playoff games this season for Windsor recording five goals and five assists for 10 points and 10 penalty minutes.

A native of Bowmanville, Ontario, Bickell spent four seasons (2002-03 to 2005-06) playing in the Ontario Hockey League playing for Ottawa and Windsor. Over his four seasons, he appeared in 242 career regular season games recording 94 goals and 96 assists for 190 points and 235 penalty minutes. Bickell also skated in 55 career OHL playoff games recording 18 goals and 20 assists for 38 points and 65 penalty minutes.

Brouwer, 20, 6’3”, 210 pound Right Wing was selected by the Blackhawks in the 7th round, 214th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This past season , Brouwer appeared in 72 regular season games for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League scoring 49 goals and 53 assists for 102 points and 122 penalty minutes while posting a plus/minus rating of plus-37. He played in 17 playoff games this season recording 10 goals and four assists for 14 points and 34 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of plus-2.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Brouwer spent five seasons (2001-02 to 2005-06) playing for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. While with the Warriors he appeared in 287 career regular season games recording 103 goals and 116 assists for 219 points and 426 penalty minutes. Brouwer also skated in 45 career playoff games for Moose Jaw recording 15 goals and eight assists for 23 points and 68 penalty minutes.

Nordqvist, 24, 6’3”, 202 pound Center was selected by the Blackhawks in the 2nd round, 49th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. This past season , Nordqvist appeared in 46 regular season games for Lulea HF in Sweden’s Elite League scoring 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points and 30 penalty minutes while posting a plus/minus rating of plus-12. He played in six playoff games this season recording one goals and two assists for three points and six penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of even (0).

Nordqvist also played for Sweden at the 2006 World Championships scoring two goals and two assists for four points and six penalty minutes in nine games en route to capturing a Gold Medal. He has also represented his country at the Under-18 World Junior Championships in 2000 and the Under-20 World Junior Championships in 2001 and 2002.

A native of Leksand, Sweden, Nordqvist spent parts of seven seasons (1999-00 to 2005-06) playing in the Swedish Elite League for Leksand, Rogle and Lulea. Over the seven seasons, he has appeared in 278 career regular season games recording 77 goals and 83 assists for 160 points and 92 penalty minutes. Nordqvist also skated in 13 career playoff games in Sweden recording two goals and three assists for five points and eight penalty minutes.

[Grizzman]

Anyone think Brouwer can crack thier lineup next year or is he gona stick with the farmteam?

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by Grizzman

Anyone think Brouwer can crack thier lineup next year or is he gona stick with the farmteam?

I can't see Brouwer making the jump, but stranger things have happened.

[HellOnIce]

Nordqvist will be a great asset for Hawks'. He's to good to play in the AHL. Trust me, I've seen him play in Luleå for three seasons!