Exactly. He isn't going anywhere unless Yzerman is completely blown away by a deal.
And given all the circumstances, I can't see a team doing that right now. Especially the Hawks.
- TTtime

All of this discussion because the doofus agent Walsh comes of his basement to announce his 'upset' client wants to be traded.

The kid has no options but to go to Syracuse and play just like a lot of good young players are doing. Yzerman isn't going to take orders from Walsh or Drouin. If he trades him it will be when he decides to.

Then ask yourself this question. If Drouin is all of those things, why would TB look to move him? The truth is Drouin comes with just as many question marks as Dano. The only thing that makes Drouin the new shiny toy is draft position.
Also. TB may even be in more of a win now mode then the Hawks considering the contract coming due and the fact Stamkos remains unsigned.

And from my math, Dano actually has a higher PPG average then Drouin.
- TTtime

There are questions that would need to be answered - including that one. But it's possible Cooper is a dictator who doesn't like Drouin and Drouin would be fine elsewhere.

But, I think we can safely say you and I disagree on this matter - so be it. The odds of the Hawks acquiring Drouin are probably pretty long so this is nothing to get too excited about regardless which side of the discussion you're on.

Panic at the Disco gets the nod over Widespread Panic? Cmon John. I expect better.
- jacksonshole

How about manic panic?

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25437794/why-the-blackhawks-corey-crawford-is-now-one-of-nhls-top-goalies

Crow finally getting some love
- maria_wyeth

well..i'll be damned....ya don't say

"At a position where production can be an unpredictable roller coaster from game-to-game for even the best players, it's Crawford's consistency that is so valuable to the Blackhawks and what seperates him from so many other goalies in the league."

best big game goalie in the league...you can drool all you want over hank, rask, price...

price gets the accolades and awards and then bows out in the playoffs or is hurt...

Drouin to the Hawks is an extremely huge long shot. TB will want cap relief (someone to take a higher salaried player) which the Hawks cannot provide. Of course there is the possibility of a 3 way deal, but those are rarely made in the post-salary cap era.

If TB decides Stamkos is unsignable I could see them dealing him for young (cheap NHL ready) high end players and high draft picks. If they do that they will be able to keep their free agents and have quite a good team for a few years to come.

As the trade deadline approaches the dominoes will begin to fall. Drouin, Johansen, Ladd, Buff, maybe Stamkos and others. I would say the trend arrow has been up for the Hawks in the last few weeks with the additions from Rockford. With Danault, Rasmussen, Gustafsson, and TVR playing pretty well Stan might gamble that they can win the SC without major additions like a #4 defender or #1LW. At the very least he will want to see how things play out between now and the deadline. I think he thinks we need another player or has the opportunnity to snare someone on the cheap Stan will go for a "value" player like Vermette was last year that does not cost them an arm and a leg or a key piece of their future.

TT and Dano's natural position is RW. it won't be long and they will need an heir to Hoss. We might be needing RW's in two years like we are needing LW now. It was not that long ago that we only had 1 decent center.
- -Doh-

If TB decides Stamkos is unsignable I could see them dealing him for young (cheap NHL ready) high end players and high draft picks. If they do that they will be able to keep their free agents and have quite a good team for a few years to come.


This is more unlikely than Drouin to the Hawks...Which by the way I think is a longshot. TB would have to drop completely out of the playoff race for that to happen.
Stamkos is an elite player and they won't get anything close to fair value.

If TB decides Stamkos is unsignable I could see them dealing him for young (cheap NHL ready) high end players and high draft picks. If they do that they will be able to keep their free agents and have quite a good team for a few years to come.


This is more unlikely than Drouin to the Hawks...Which by the way I think is a longshot. TB would have to drop completely out of the playoff race for that to happen.
Stamkos is an elite player and they won't get anything close to fair value.
- Al

So Al do you believe that they will ride out this season with Stamkos and potentially lose him if he so chooses?

So Al do you believe that they will ride out this season with Stamkos and potentially lose him if he so chooses?
- eagle50

Absolutely....Unless they are so far out of the 8th spot Stevie Y couldn't see it with a telescope.

Absolutely....Unless they are so far out of the 8th spot Stevie Y couldn't see it with a telescope.
- Al

Thanks Al.

Why? Drouin was a #3 overall pick/talent that has 40pts in 89gms

Schmaltz is unsigned and could go the route of Hayes if he isn't going to go right to the NHL
- PatShart

This may be out of place for me to say, but I played with him when we were both younger and he has a good head on his shoulders. Though I haven't talked to him since god knows when, I would put a vote of confidence of the guy staying around. Grew up in Wisconsin, played AAA in Chicago suburbs, played USHL in green bay, plays for North Dakota, and got drafted by the hawks. Math isn't too hard to figure out.

And FWIW, TT's natural position is C not RW.
In fact, he played primarily C and LW in Europe.
- TTtime

I was referring to Dano.

TT's natural position might "have been" center. But playing center in the NHL is different. The need for size, strength, and intestinal fortitude (to stand in front of the net and get crossed checked and pushed around by 250 pound behemoths) at the center position is increasing and not decreasing.

Now that I'm up to pace on the thread, my 2 cents is as follows.

If stan has ANY means to aquire Drouin with no more than 2 of: Dano, Schmaltz, Pokka, our 1st rounder, AND not hurting our NHL roster, it would be lunacy if he passed it up.

There are questions that would need to be answered - including that one. But it's possible Cooper is a dictator who doesn't like Drouin and Drouin would be fine elsewhere.

But, I think we can safely say you and I disagree on this matter - so be it. The odds of the Hawks acquiring Drouin are probably pretty long so this is nothing to get too excited about regardless which side of the discussion you're on.
- EbonyRaptor

Just a point-counterpoint discussion in my world.

Grossmann was traded from a team that is starving for competent D-men but he is better. Sure thing. The numbers show that to not be true but whatever.
- TTtime

The "numbers" don't give an accurate description of #32's play. Those numbers are increased by the talent on the ice around him - and that talent usually has to cover for him, not excel with him.

The fact that he is the slowest skater out there is not in your numbers either. Or the fact that when teams dump the puck in, they do it specifically on his side, knowing they can easily retrieve it, because he can't move anymore.

And watch closely when he is out there how many times he is beat for inside position near the goal crease. He can't move to defend what is referred to as the "high priced real estate area".

His passes are usually behind who he is passing to, and his clearing attempts are usually picked off easily.

But I guess your "numbers" on a piece of paper tell a better story than what the eyes see.

And to you, I throw back the same "whatever"....

The "numbers" don't give an accurate description of #32's play. Those numbers are increased by the talent on the ice around him - and that talent usually has to cover for him, not excel with him.

The fact that he is the slowest skater out there is not in your numbers either. Or the fact that when teams dump the puck in, they do it specifically on his side, knowing they can easily retrieve it, because he can't move anymore.

And watch closely when he is out there how many times he is beat for inside position near the goal crease. He can't move to defend what is referred to as the "high priced real estate area".

His passes are usually behind who he is passing to, and his clearing attempts are usually picked off easily.

But I guess your "numbers" on a piece of paper tell a better story than what the eyes see.

And to you, I throw back the same "whatever"....
- dahawks8819

I'm sure if all of this were actually the case and he was as useless as you depict, Q wouldn't be giving him 14-15 mins a game on avg.

The "numbers" don't give an accurate description of #32's play. Those numbers are increased by the talent on the ice around him - and that talent usually has to cover for him, not excel with him.

The fact that he is the slowest skater out there is not in your numbers either. Or the fact that when teams dump the puck in, they do it specifically on his side, knowing they can easily retrieve it, because he can't move anymore.

And watch closely when he is out there how many times he is beat for inside position near the goal crease. He can't move to defend what is referred to as the "high priced real estate area".

His passes are usually behind who he is passing to, and his clearing attempts are usually picked off easily.


But I guess your "numbers" on a piece of paper tell a better story than what the eyes see.

And to you, I throw back the same "whatever"....
- dahawks8819

I will trust the 3 time Cup winning coach who keeps playing Rozy over your eyes. Thank you very much.

All the Drouin stuff has pushed Boedker rumors to the backseat, but is there any more info on that possibility?

The "numbers" don't give an accurate description of #32's play. Those numbers are increased by the talent on the ice around him - and that talent usually has to cover for him, not excel with him.

The fact that he is the slowest skater out there is not in your numbers either. Or the fact that when teams dump the puck in, they do it specifically on his side, knowing they can easily retrieve it, because he can't move anymore.

And watch closely when he is out there how many times he is beat for inside position near the goal crease. He can't move to defend what is referred to as the "high priced real estate area".

His passes are usually behind who he is passing to, and his clearing attempts are usually picked off easily.

But I guess your "numbers" on a piece of paper tell a better story than what the eyes see.

And to you, I throw back the same "whatever"....
- dahawks8819

Even assuming all of the above re: Rozi is true, doesn't do anything to address the premise that he is (statistically) better than Grossman. How much have you watched Grossman play? If you want to dispute the conclusion that Rosi may actually be better than Grossman you need to say something about Grossman and why he's better.

I would guess the price for the Hawks would be something like Schmaltz+either Pokka or Svedberg+draft pick.

Here's the thing about Schmaltz. I am reminded of the words of the "Great" Jim Cummins who said of NCAA hockey, "everyone skates around like they're ten feet tall."

So now he's having a really good World Juniors: which can be an indicator of future NHL success, or not.

He is tiny, has not played any pro hockey. He may develop into a great, really good, good or average NHL player.

The Hawks also have a lot of tiny, non physical forwards.

I Agree JJ, enough of the tiny tots, this kid may be ok ,but there is only 1 Patrick Kane. If SB has a shot at Drouin and the price is schmaltz and Pokka, that should be a short conversation ,
like "done deal Stevie!".

Drouin is more of a proven commodity now, who can likely help the Hawks (perhaps significantly) this year, and probably has as high or higher upside than Schmaltz.
- John Jaeckel

I will trust the 3 time Cup winning coach who keeps playing Rozy over your eyes. Thank you very much.
- TTtime

Coaches - even winning ones - can show sentimental blind spots from time to time.

He knows what #32 was ten years ago, even three years ago, and that's what they keep in their heads.

Take Handzus two years ago EVERYONE knew he was finished, but Q kept throwing him out there on the second line with Kane, absolutely killing that line's productivity.

I think Q shows too much sympathy to aging players past their primes. Professional teams need objectivity when evaluating talent, and Q doesn't always exercise this quality.

Even assuming all of the above re: Rozi is true, doesn't do anything to address the premise that he is (statistically) better than Grossman. How much have you watched Grossman play? If you want to dispute the conclusion that Rosi may actually be better than Grossman you need to say something about Grossman and why he's better.
- Marlowe

Please don't get me wrong. I am not advocating for Grossmann. What I am saying is #32 was finished last year before tripping over his own feet accepting a pass from Keith that was slightly out of his reach. He is even more than finished this year, which makes most dmen in the NHL better.

Coaches - even winning ones - can show sentimental blind spots from time to time.

He knows what #32 was ten years ago, even three years ago, and that's what they keep in their heads.

Take Handzus two years ago EVERYONE knew he was finished, but Q kept throwing him out there on the second line with Kane, absolutely killing that line's productivity.

I think Q shows too much sympathy to aging players past their primes. Professional teams need objectivity when evaluating talent, and Q doesn't always exercise this quality.
- dahawks8819

Let it go
The only way out of the hole your digging is to stop digging

Coaches - even winning ones - can show sentimental blind spots from time to time.

He knows what #32 was ten years ago, even three years ago, and that's what they keep in their heads.

Take Handzus two years ago EVERYONE knew he was finished, but Q kept throwing him out there on the second line with Kane, absolutely killing that line's productivity.

I think Q shows too much sympathy to aging players past their primes. Professional teams need objectivity when evaluating talent, and Q doesn't always exercise this quality.
- dahawks8819

I think most would agree with the bolded but I think you're exhibiting some of the same of what you accuse Q of...in this case maybe more selective memory.

If you would have asked me after the 2014 WCF's I'd have said Rozy was done too and didn't think bringing him back for another year made all that much sense.

As it turns out Rozy gave them reliable minutes last year and he is again this year. I also think Q would have loved to have him for the last two playoff rounds last year as opposed to getting a few minutes here and there from Kimmo, Cumiskey, Rundblad and a TVR that was just getting his legs back after sitting out with injuries most of the season.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not advocating for Grossmann. What I am saying is #32 was finished last year before tripping over his own feet accepting a pass from Keith that was slightly out of his reach. He is even more than finished this year, which makes most dmen in the NHL better.
- dahawks8819

I'm not trying to pile on, but after seeing Daley and Scuderi I'll take my chances with Rozy

All the Drouin stuff has pushed Boedker rumors to the backseat, but is there any more info on that possibility?
- maria_wyeth

The Hawks are still focusing on Boedker as far as I know. They seem to be searching for a way to free up cap space so they can sign him long term if they acquire him. They do not want him as a rental.