Wow! You're likely going to get blasted for that...but I agree.

We'll see but I think he played well enough this season where someone would give him similar money to play on their 3rd pair.
- HawkintheD

Blasted for what, wanting a #7-8D body for depth, with someone who can do OK in the 'Hawks system and at a reasonable price?

Re: Bickell/Desjardins

Watched Game 4 again last night, take a look at the 2-1 with Kane and Desjardins, and in particular Desjardins' skating stride. Pretty sure he's hurt.
- John Jaeckel

AND . . . I just heard from a source who talked to Desjardins. He's fine. FWIW. Maybe tired.

Sure but again in TVR's case your talking about a guy who went out in Nov with a fractured patella.

I know the reports here from some were a guy who was playing tentatively. He was coming off that and I believe a fairly serious ankle injury so it's not that hard to see why there may have been hesitation.

As for what you're seeing now, had he been playing the whole season I would agree with the assertion that this is pretty much what you're going to get with some room for development.
- HawkintheD

I don't know if he's not a very good athlete or not physically mature yet or a bit of both. He leaves something lacking in the areas of strength and mobility. Smart kid, hockey aware, definitely. I'm just not floored with his physical gifts at all.

AND . . . I just heard from a source who talked to Desjardins. He's fine. FWIW. Maybe tired.
- John Jaeckel

It's worth enough for me to know the 4th line can go out there and just maybe score us a greezy goal or two the next two games.

I'll take a solid 11/16/65 4th line who can reek some havoc on the triplets.

Don't you get that AFTER a concussion?

I also thought it was funny when one of the three post broadcast talking heads almost revealed outright waht oduya's injury was, just caught himself.
- wiz1901

I don't know if it definitely only happens after a concussion, but mine did start after I hit my head a few times after having a few too many pops. My head hasn't been right ever since, going on about 2 and half years, the vertigo (general dizziness that can eventually feel like you're on a tilt-a-whirl) comes and goes with no regularity. It gets bad a few times, maybe once a year for me, but the rest of the time my head just doesn't feel right. Don't know how it is for others who have had it, but this has been my experience. (frank)in sucks, and the medicine recommended for it doesn't work.

You must be an extremely prescient judge of talent, making a determination on a rookie Dman with an 18 regular season game and two playoff game sample. PUHLEASE!
- KingB

Dunno, I think it's not unreasonable to look at a kid and say the optimal physical tools you want in a d-man aren't there. He's smart and he's shown that. But he is an average skater and pretty weak physically (at this point). Room for development? Sure and some of that is up to him. But based on where he is now, you have to be able to project, too.

Don't you get that AFTER a concussion?

I also thought it was funny when one of the three post broadcast talking heads almost revealed outright waht oduya's injury was, just caught himself.
- wiz1901

Could, but do not have to; in fact a friend of mine who recently contracted it had absolutely no head trauma whatsoever. It was a viral infection which caused his.

His Dr. asking him about head contact or any type of concussive or sub-concussive blows to the head and he said he didn't believe so. He was tested for concussions and passed with flying colors.

On the talking heads, I pay absolutely no attention to their statements.

It'll be interesting to find out after the season (assuming the 'Hawks are not in active trade talks about Bickell) if there was any examination by an ENT Dr revealing any sort of inner ear issues.

Dunno, I think it's not unreasonable to look at a kid and say the optimal physical tools you want in a d-man aren't there. He's smart and he's shown that. But he is an average skater and pretty weak physically (at this point). Room for development? Sure and some of that is up to him. But based on where he is now, you have to be able to project, too.
- John Jaeckel

So it is then reasonable to assume he can develop and be a solid #5-6D man in a year or two, correct?

Bishop sitting out practice today, uncertain for tomorrow, per NHL App notification.

Bishop sitting out practice today, uncertain for tomorrow, per NHL App notification.
- BDT36

Both Bolt goalies are beatable. Both have been giving up rebounds, just need the forwards to stop in front of the net.

Yeah, it is realtively easy if the sound is on your Tv to hear their idea of what SHOULD have happen, when the pass should have been attempted.

If anyone thinks that it is easy in those microseconds to move your stick position (that indicates to all you just mayBE passing it over) and MAKE that pass, I don't, and I do know on the attack you take the shot if you think YOU (your ability over the 4th liner) is the best option. Unselfish passes to Desi will come another day...
- wiz1901

In that case I want Kane taking the shot all day long. Desjardins never presented himself as an option was my point. Thing is Wiz, its not a decision to make in that instant. Its instinct. Desjardins is not an offensive minded player so the move isn't second nature to him. If, for instant, it was Hossa, he would just do it without a thought needed. That was what I was getting to.

Both Bolt goalies are beatable. Both have been giving up rebounds, just need the forwards to stop in front of the net.
- BlazinMike

Easier said than done vs the TB Defense. They have kept the crease pretty clear of Hawks bodies, unless you count when they knock us on our butts.

I'd be happy with just more shots on net in general...

Imagine if Conor McDavid or Jack Eichel enrolled in college tomorrow and did the same...pretty big gamble and a three year wait/chance of serious injury setback, but , just saying, I have an active mind...
- wiz1901

Jack Eichel already is in college. He would not have to enroll to play out the Schultz/Hayes strategy. And McDavid doing that wouldn't matter, because he played his draft year in the OHL.

And like you said, he would be insane to do that even if it was an actual option.

Easier said than done vs the TB Defense. They have kept the crease pretty clear of Hawks bodies, unless you count when they knock us on our butts.

I'd be happy with just more shots on net in general...
- gnosox1986

Definitely easier said than done, but nothing is supposed to be easy in the finals.

I don't know if he's not a very good athlete or not physically mature yet or a bit of both. He leaves something lacking in the areas of strength and mobility. Smart kid, hockey aware, definitely. I'm just not floored with his physical gifts at all.
- John Jaeckel

This pic of TVR was floating around Twitter this week...not exactly a guy of slight build.

Yeah over the course of the last month, he has drifted in and out of my 54th slot going to the Blackhawks. Right now i have him going 53rd overall to Calgary out of their reach.

Yeah have watched him on tape a lot.
I will even share w/o you having to use this link:
http://www.draftsite.com/...er/matthew-spencer/21034/
Great skater with strong puck handling ability and all around smarts. Nasty to play against and pounds the enemy relentlessly. Makes a solid first pass. Has a quick release. Strong on his pins and is willing to pinch in and then battle through defender after defender and make point of blowing them up. In his own zone he makes a point to explode in contact behind his net, and opposing forwards don’t like venturing into his side of the ice. Utilized his defensive partner when under pressure. May be an up and comer.

You guys do know I am trying to get the last of my written evals in my top 211 draft eligibles...between ready my notebook scribbles, my two finger typing and misspellings and the fact I have to search slot by slot to see who doesn't have a written profile, I could use all your help. Find and PM me with spelling and omissions, and somnebody spend big money to by me that fancy scouting template / grader for my cellphone?
- wiz1901

If Spencer fell to the Hawks I would be thrilled. To take what you said and add to it. There is one more thing I really saw that I like. He moves with the play extremely well. Never flat footed.

I don't know if it definitely only happens after a concussion, but mine did start after I hit my head a few times after having a few too many pops. My head hasn't been right ever since, going on about 2 and half years, the vertigo (general dizziness that can eventually feel like you're on a tilt-a-whirl) comes and goes with no regularity. It gets bad a few times, maybe once a year for me, but the rest of the time my head just doesn't feel right. Don't know how it is for others who have had it, but this has been my experience. (frank)in sucks, and the medicine recommended for it doesn't work.
- BlazinMike

A lot a times it is crystals built up in your ear canal...

Jack Eichel already is in college. He would not have to enroll to play out the Schultz/Hayes strategy. And McDavid doing that wouldn't matter, because he played his draft year in the OHL.

And like you said, he would be insane to do that even if it was an actual option.
- BreakoutHockey

Yeah I knew that was just trying to make a point and added eichel because there was all Buffalo-Eichel media comments that were read to mean there were issues 'tween them.

I think you would see a trade before a team let this college thing happen...

Yeah I knew that was just trying to make a point and added eichel because there was all Buffalo-Eichel media comments that were read to mean there were issues 'tween them.

I think you would see a trade before a team let this college thing happen...
- wiz1901

Yeah I agree with your last point - if, say, Buffalo take Eichel as expected and he decided to say "screw you" and stay in college for all 4 years, you'd see them try to swing a deal pretty quickly.

A lot a times it is crystals built up in your ear canal...
- wiz1901

Whatever it is, it sucks.

I would count on Johns in there somewhere. TVR maybe as the #6 or #7, but they may need at least one veteran added in, depends on Oduya's status but he is likely gone, especially if Crawford is not dealt.

I think we're seeing right now how good TVR really is. Or isn't.
- John Jaeckel

This gives the Hawks another chance to reconsider their position on the value of NON-SKATERS, i.e. Goalies. IMO, the Hawks have no other choice but to trade Crawford this off season while his value is high, and then take that money (a la SCOTTY Bowman) and put it into strength at Centre and a deep defensive core. Right now, against a backdrop of ZERO Cap space, the Hawks have 3 championship calibre DMen coming back. That leaves FOUR (count them, 1, 2, 3, 4) crucial roster spots to fill without much of any money to do it!

Now, for sure Sharp will be traded, (the Hawks don't have any other options and Teravainen is ready to fill that role) and they would love to dump Bickell's contract, but it might come at a price. Could they move Versteeg at $2.2 million? I think so, but they might not want to, as he becomes a good "affordable veteran" to split time with a rookie forward (12th/13th man) play 50 games, stay fresh, be counted upon during the playoffs and fit upon occasion on every line. However, my preference would be Desjardins, as he is even more flexible IMO (being a true Centre) and can play this role for HALF that amount.

After resigning Saad and Kruger (both might see offer sheets), finding a 2nd line Centre, and perhaps resigning Desjardins if they trade Versteeg, the trades of Sharp and Bickell/Versteeg STILL aren't enough! And please consider this...Coach Q can only pull so many miracles with his defence corp, he needs to be able to count upon a top notch group of FOUR, not three! Oduya needs to be resigned because the cost of replacing him will be THE SAME or even more with someone else of that ilk, plus Oduya IS ALREADY A HAWK and knows what it takes to win a championship! We simply do not possess a player in our organization who is ready to take this spot just yet. Johns (if healthy) will be given every chance as our #5 DMan, and based on what I have observed he is more than ready. TVR will be given every chance to become our steady #6 DMan. BUT, both are inexperienced rookies and both have a history of INJURIES, and in the case of TVR, major injuries. The Hawks MUST acquire a veteran #6/7 DMan who has a history of playoff success. That won't cost a mere million dollars.

So with Kruger inheriting the #3 Centre role and Danault taking over the #4 Centre position, that still leaves the CRUCIAL #2 Centre spot to fill. This is why I mentioned yesterday that the Hawks will have to have a discussion with Brad Richards about reprising his role one more time at $2 million a year. While he is slow and aging, he doesn't have a great history of injuries, has a great relationship with Kane on and off the ice, and he has played his heart out this post season. Richards LIKES Chicago a lot, and from what I have heard, he wants to stay centring Kane. Thus, this scenario has to be explored because Teravainen is NOT ready to be our 2nd line Centre, if ever. That doesn't mean that Teuvo isn't a good player, he is, but not at Centre. I see his future as the "heir apparent" to Patrick Sharp. And for those not willing to believe that Richards would take another $2 million contract, think again, the Rangers bought him out of his massive deal last year, he isn't playing hockey for the money, he's playing it for Championships and the love of the game! Centring Patrick Kane on the Chicago Blackhawks fills both of his prerequisites!

So the first line stays the same with Saad, Toews and Hossa. The second line becomes Teuvo/Panarin, Richards, Kane. The third line becomes Tuevo/Panarin, Kruger, Baun, while the fourth line will be Desi/Versteeg/Rookie, Danault and Shaw. Consider this, if Panarin "pans" out, the Hawks will be every bit as good at the forward position as they were this year, which was the best in the NHL.

So again, the key becomes defence and goaltending. I firmly believe that Scott Darling is the "real deal", a true steal that fell into the Hawk's laps. He is still young, very mature, a "flat line" personality, possesses a HUGE frame, but with incredible agility and athleticism. Plus, his rebound control and crease positioning are both already better than Crawford's. Raanta makes an excellent 1B goalie who can take a lot of starts and both are young with affordable and controlled contracts. So the true key comes down to resigning Oduya for 2 more years and finding that solid third pairing defenceman who can rotate with Johns and TVR. And to achieve this (along with Saad, Kruger, Richards and Desjardins) means that Sharp, Crawford, Bickell and Versteeg would all have to go. This would give us a CAP total of $68 million leaving space for any dollars we might have to eat with Bickell and allowances for the CAP not increasing to $71 million. It also gives us flexibility for the trade deadline next year should more needs arise, or if any key player gets injured.

So it is then reasonable to assume he can develop and be a solid #5-6D man in a year or two, correct?
- blackhawk24

Maybe

This pic of TVR was floating around Twitter this week...not exactly a guy of slight build.


- BreakoutHockey

Agreed and man that makes me kinda uncomfortable LOL, maybe he's just not that great an athlete, maybe he has some maturing to do cuz he's not much physically on the ice

I don't know if he's not a very good athlete or not physically mature yet or a bit of both. He leaves something lacking in the areas of strength and mobility. Smart kid, hockey aware, definitely. I'm just not floored with his physical gifts at all.
- John Jaeckel

Neither am I JJ. TVR would have to add either that Oduya quickness or that Seabrook element of physical strength to his game before he became truly effective IMO. Plus, he has suffered a MAJOR injury at every level of his hockey career going back to bantam. Stephen Johns (if he can stay healthy) is the guy that can become a top 4 DMan within a couple of NHL seasons for the Hawks.

This gives the Hawks another chance to reconsider their position on the value of NON-SKATERS, i.e. Goalies. IMO, the Hawks have no other choice but to trade Crawford this off season while his value is high, and then take that money (a la SCOTTY Bowman) and put it into strength at Centre and a deep defensive core. Right now, against a backdrop of ZERO Cap space, the Hawks have 3 championship calibre DMen coming back. That leaves FOUR (count them, 1, 2, 3, 4) crucial roster spots to fill without much of any money to do it!

Now, for sure Sharp will be traded, (the Hawks don't have any other options and Teravainen is ready to fill that role) and they would love to dump Bickell's contract, but it might come at a price. Could they move Versteeg at $2.2 million? I think so, but they might not want to, as he becomes a good "affordable veteran" to split time with a rookie forward (12th/13th man) play 50 games, stay fresh, be counted upon during the playoffs and fit upon occasion on every line. However, my preference would be Desjardins, as he is even more flexible IMO (being a true Centre) and can play this role for HALF that amount.

After resigning Saad and Kruger (both might see offer sheets), finding a 2nd line Centre, and perhaps resigning Desjardins if they trade Versteeg, the trades of Sharp and Bickell/Versteeg STILL aren't enough! And please consider this...Coach Q can only pull so many miracles with his defence corp, he needs to be able to count upon a top notch group of FOUR, not three! Oduya needs to be resigned because the cost of replacing him will be THE SAME or even more with someone else of that ilk, plus Oduya IS ALREADY A HAWK and knows what it takes to win a championship! We simply do not possess a player in our organization who is ready to take this spot just yet. Johns (if healthy) will be given every chance as our #5 DMan, and based on what I have observed he is more than ready. TVR will be given every chance to become our steady #6 DMan. BUT, both are inexperienced rookies and both have a history of INJURIES, and in the case of TVR, major injuries. The Hawks MUST acquire a veteran #6/7 DMan who has a history of playoff success. That won't cost a mere million dollars.

So with Kruger inheriting the #3 Centre role and Danault taking over the #4 Centre position, that still leaves the CRUCIAL #2 Centre spot to fill. This is why I mentioned yesterday that the Hawks will have to have a discussion with Brad Richards about reprising his role one more time at $2 million a year. While he is slow and aging, he doesn't have a great history of injuries, has a great relationship with Kane on and off the ice, and he has played his heart out this post season. Richards LIKES Chicago a lot, and from what I have heard, he wants to stay centring Kane. Thus, this scenario has to be explored because Teravainen is NOT ready to be our 2nd line Centre, if ever. That doesn't mean that Teuvo isn't a good player, he is, but not at Centre. I see his future as the "heir apparent" to Patrick Sharp. And for those not willing to believe that Richards would take another $2 million contract, think again, the Rangers bought him out of his massive deal last year, he isn't playing hockey for the money, he's playing it for Championships and the love of the game! Centring Patrick Kane on the Chicago Blackhawks fills both of his prerequisites!

So the first line stays the same with Saad, Toews and Hossa. The second line becomes Teuvo/Panarin, Richards, Kane. The third line becomes Tuevo/Panarin, Kruger, Baun, while the fourth line will be Desi/Versteeg/Rookie, Danault and Shaw. Consider this, if Panarin "pans" out, the Hawks will be every bit as good at the forward position as they were this year, which was the best in the NHL.

So again, the key becomes defence and goaltending. I firmly believe that Scott Darling is the "real deal", a true steal that fell into the Hawk's laps. He is still young, very mature, a "flat line" personality, possesses a HUGE frame, but with incredible agility and athleticism. Plus, his rebound control and crease positioning are both already better than Crawford's. Raanta makes an excellent 1B goalie who can take a lot of starts and both are young with affordable and controlled contracts. So the true key comes down to resigning Oduya for 2 more years and finding that solid third pairing defenceman who can rotate with Johns and TVR. And to achieve this (along with Saad, Kruger, Richards and Desjardins) means that Sharp, Crawford, Bickell and Versteeg would all have to go. This would give us a CAP total of $68 million leaving space for any dollars we might have to eat with Bickell and allowances for the CAP not increasing to $71 million. It also gives us flexibility for the trade deadline next year should more needs arise, or if any key player gets injured.
- MexicoHawk

I guess we really don't have to discuss this much more - I think you solved things.

Not sure who wants Crawford or what they would offer, but methinks if I am GM I need some real return because I am giving a solid starting goalie, not Jonathan Bernier, or Niemi, or Ben Scrivens.

But great breakdown analysis with the confines of the Cap...