Should of moved Oduya out of the division. Could come back to bit you in the ass given how close all the teams are.
- Gerk

How could we have done that?

Let's assume the Norris (Central) sends 5 teams to the playoffs again (as they have for the first 2 years of the reformed playoff system)....

I see Dallas as an "in" now, along with the Blackhawks and Blues... which means one from last year has to drop out.

WPG? MINNY? NASH?
- Katana777

I don't see anyone as in. It will be a dog fight. Any of the 7 Central teams can make it.

Yep! Throughout all the craziness that is somethings posted.

This forward group IS younger, ARE more talented and MORE athletic.

If they can figure out a way to get Kruger signed and another serviceable veteran defensive player signed...

... this team will be better (on paper) than the team that just won a Cup.
- CaptainBlackhawk

The key for this young forward group will be how will they hustle and back check coach Q's teams all are predicated on good defense and quick transition, Dano and AA check those boxes

Yes, he could of, but did not. You can spread it around your plate any way you like it, but that is in effect how things have played out.

So semantic victories matter. I can only shake my head at the logistical emotional process many undertake in taking any of what happens to the hawks personally.
- TrueGrit

It's kinda like whistling in the graveyard, correct?

I don't see anyone as in. It will be a dog fight. Any of the 7 Central teams can make it.
- carcus

One or two central teams will simply be culled because of a key injury or two.

Hell, the Hawks are two key injuries from being out of the playoffs. Teams are just so close in the Central.

Yes, he could of, but did not. You can spread it around your plate any way you like it, but that is in effect how things have played out.

So semantic victories matter. I can only shake my head at the logistical emotional process many undertake in taking any of what happens to the hawks personally.
- TrueGrit

Except if JO signed with Buffalo, your entire point means nothing. They are 2 different transactions, not related. The trade AND JO signs somewhere else. I'm tired of this doom and gloom crap all over this board. It was Garbutt and Daley for Sharp and Johns. That's it. JO was a UFA who walked, that's it. They both weren't awesome, but they are not the same deal.

dont really engage all this pointless trade blather....

but Al and others were right...when they pointed out that 29 as a straight up cap dump was not doable...they would have to eat at least half of it....now that looks like that is impossible and sharp would also require $$ back and it did....which places stanbow in the hawks in a big hole....not many options left

Better be careful if you side with Stan they'll say what we don't have the right to question his moves


I agree taking the wait and see approach since he's done this before and seems to know what pieces he needs and ones he can succeed without
- BetweenTheDots

Question his decisions, don't care.
Question his ability based upon an Internet fact of him being offered 2 picks straight up for sharp?

From a “homers” perspective:
On paper right now, compare our current team on paper to last years. Are we better, equal, or worse off?

Key additions: Anisimov, Dano, Daley
Key subtractions: Saad, Sharp, Oduya, Richards
Meaningless additions: Garbutt, Morin, Tropp
Meaningless subtractions: Vermette, Timonen, Rozsival
Key in-house promotions: Panarin, Teravainen, van Riemsdyk, possibly Tikhonov

Explanation: Saad hurts. Sharp, as important as he has been, is in decline. Daley for Oduya is basically a wash. Anisimov replaces the Richards of last year, and each year that goes by the scale tilts more in our favor as Richards would not have been able to sustain the contribution as long as Anisimov will. Vermette was a 3 month spare part that came up big in the playoffs, but will not be missed long term, as we didn’t even have him long enough to be considered an integral part of the team. Timonen and Rozival end of career anyway, replacing them with van Riemsdyk and whomever is the 6 d-man (Erhoff?) will be an upgrade. Teravainen is listed as a key promotion because he only played half a season last year. Having Tevo for a full year, along with Panarin and Dano, should be an offensive upgrade, despite losing #20. Anything Tikhonov can offer is bonus. Garbutt plays a bigger role of Shaw is dealt, otherwise he is “meh”

Sentimentally, it seems like a bigger wound losing some of the players mentioned, than it really is. On paper, taking emotion out of the equation, the Blackhawks are at the very least EQUAL to last year’s team. The on ice performance will have to ultimately determine how this plays out.
- Katana777

Very well said. I would add that Anisimov is an upgrade over Richards...younger faster and a bigger body.
Daley is also an upgrade on Oduya because he has offense and will be a bonus on the pp taking Sharps point spot.

Also Baun,Hartman McNeil and Danault may surprise.

Better down the middle with Toews TT Anisimov and Kruger ...top 6 looks great ...bottom 6 looks quicker and younger.

We have beat this horse to death for weeks
Need a vet DMan and Bickell gone

Very well said. I would add that Anisimov is an upgrade over Richards...younger faster and a bigger body.
Daley is also an upgrade on Oduya because he has offense and will be a bonus on the pp taking Sharps point spot.

Also Baun,Hartman McNeil and Danault may surprise.

Better down the middle with Toews Anisimov TT and Kruger ...top 6 looks great ...bottom 6 looks quicker and younger.

We have beat this horse to death for weeks
Need a vet DMan and Bickell gone
- Colbyboy

How could we have done that?
- HawksHype

Right after the cup win, they could have traded his UFA rights. It wouldn't be for much since the acquiring team could lost him July 1st. But that would be a way. It wasn't going to go that way since SB in all likelihood wanted to keep JO.

Trying to wrap my head around people saying, "Johns has proven nothing, he's just a prospect" who are also saying this team is going to be better based off the emergence of players who have proven nothing and are essentially prospects. Other than total blind faith, I see nothing but a logical disconnect.

dont really engage all this pointless trade blather....

but Al and others were right...when they pointed out that 29 as a straight up cap dump was not doable...they would have to eat at least half of it....now that looks like that is impossible and sharp would also require $$ back and it did....which places stanbow in the hawks in a big hole....not many options left
- bogiedoc

There are always options, they just have to be found. I never thought the Leafs had a chance at moving Clarkson's contract, and they did.

You do NOT know that anymore than I KNOW Marko Dano will be elite. I think Dano is a freaking beast in the making, but until he proves it, he (LIKE JOHNS) is just a big fat question mark (and hell, Dano has more of a track record than ANY of these guys, albeit small).
- kwolf68

Of course I don't know that FOR SURE but elite players come up big against top competition and Panarin did just that.

Are you going to tug on my nuts for that mistype every time? Just curious.....
- CaptainBlackhawk

Tug? No. Just bust 'em a bit. I mean, you're always so cordial to so many other posters here .... It's all in good fun, eh?

They are certainly getting the short-end. I mean that's to be expected. EVERYONE knows they need to move players, expensive players.

The fact the Hawks are adding "sweeteners" just so someone will take players is not easy to swallow, because the Hawks didn't need to do that in 2010. NOW, it's costing extra prospects/players just for someone to take these guys.

Who knows what kind of sweetener will be added just to move Bickell.

Hawks have lost their 2 and 3 center, their 4th D-man, and two top six wingers (lets say Sharp is now a third liner).

Daley has replaced the D-man. Fine there.
Now you have Anisimov and TT? as our 2 and 3 centers. May be great, who knows
For Saad and Sharp you have a 170 pound Russian installed in one spot and Marko Dano (LOCKED and LOADED) in the other spot. Again, huge question marks (and I think Dano is going to be a stud, but that's just what I THINK...again, not proven)

And...
you still have a questionable third pairing, Rundblad, questions about Kruger and about 12 bottom 6 wingers.

It has not been pretty, but lets see how things finish up.
- kwolf68

Yes there are question marks.

Can TT take the next step and will that step be at center or wing?

Can Dano play in the top-6?

Can Panarin play the N.A. game?

Can Anisimov play with an elite winger?

Can TvR stay healthy?

Can Darling prove he's the real deal?

... just to name a few of the most obvious questions?

But there's no reason to not be optimistic, all of those young players have very good odds to reach expectations.

There are always options, they just have to be found. I never thought the Leafs had a chance at moving Clarkson's contract, and they did.
- paulr

Were they right up against the cap when that moved happened? Cuz if not, it's probably not quite the same pressure.

Trying to wrap my head around people saying, "Johns has proven nothing, he's just a prospect" who are also saying this team is going to be better based off the emergence of players who have proven nothing and are essentially prospects. Other than total blind faith, I see nothing but a logical disconnect.
- kwolf68

This. I can see it if we still had Saad and JO so the ripened prospects can learn on the job. But seeing as how their replacements (Dano, Daley) are likely a step down, that will thrust those said prospects into a bigger more exposed role.

Of course I don't know that FOR SURE but elite players come up big against top competition and Panarin did just that.
- Dabearshawks

Again, unknown. You can NOT project him to replace ANY lost forward. COULD he score 50 points? Yep, he could. Could he totally flame out? Yep he could do that also. The Hawks are now dealing with as many "unknowns" than many other teams they are competing with.

You can "project" elite prospects to do this or that and you'll be playing a fools game that many fans of losing hockey teams roll every year.

I like the "known". Again, NOT saying he won't do well or even great, just saying I won't believe it till I see it, thus the Hawks are more a mystery than at any point since 2011.

dont really engage all this pointless trade blather....

but Al and others were right...when they pointed out that 29 as a straight up cap dump was not doable...they would have to eat at least half of it....now that looks like that is impossible and sharp would also require $$ back and it did....which places stanbow in the hawks in a big hole....not many options left
- bogiedoc

The maximum salary retention allowed is 50%.

Yes there are question marks.

Can TT take the next step and will that step be at center or wing?

Can Dano play in the top-6?

Can Panarin play the N.A. game?

Can Anisimov play with an elite winger?

Can TvR stay healthy?

Can Darling prove he's the real deal?

... just to name a few of the most obvious questions?

But there's no reason to not be optimistic, all of those young players have very good odds to reach expectations.
- EbonyRaptor

What are your expectations for Panarin?

Yes there are question marks.

Can TT take the next step and will that step be at center or wing?

Can Dano play in the top-6?

Can Panarin play the N.A. game?

Can Anisimov play with an elite winger?

Can TvR stay healthy?

Can Darling prove he's the real deal?

... just to name a few of the most obvious questions?

But there's no reason to not be optimistic, all of those young players have very good odds to reach expectations.
- EbonyRaptor

Ebony. I am fine for optimism, but better than Cup winning teams? Give me a break (not saying you say that).

Were they right up against the cap when that moved happened? Cuz if not, it's probably not quite the same pressure.
- blackhawk24

True enough but my point is there are different options out there that have to be found. Toronto were able to take on Horton's salary but escape his cap hit because he was injured and Columbus got a healthy body with a similar contract.

How does it work if we put Bickell on waivers?

Trying to wrap my head around people saying, "Johns has proven nothing, he's just a prospect" who are also saying this team is going to be better based off the emergence of players who have proven nothing and are essentially prospects. Other than total blind faith, I see nothing but a logical disconnect.
- kwolf68

Agreed. All of them are simply prospects until proven.

Remember JJ about 3-4 years ago about Saad? Dominates kids his size and age, struggles against the slightly bigger/older kids? It was true, back then....and Saad was a prospect. Then the lockout ended. And the prospect grew into a role just fine.

Too bad it came to what it did; but a shoe had to drop. Just happened to be the one with #20 on it.