99.9% of this board is not paid to scout NHL talent.

The .1% who is told me the Hawks love Boedker. And THEY had him targeted. It wasn't just board speculation.

It's all about context and ability, tapped and untapped.
- John Jaeckel

John, I personally could care less about Boedker, but wanted to make a point about the bolded:

These were the same geniuses that:
> apparently recommended Kimmo and said he could still play after being off the ice for nearly a year.

> recommended Rundblad to Stan, who then proceeded to double down on his mistake not once but twice and even after sending him away last year, brought him back in the playoffs no less and better yet, in a 7th game. only to put him on buyout waivers (finally) this year admitting the initial mistake of giving up a pick for this guy.

I think we all get what you're saying here.

Personally, I wouldn't trust whoever "they" are (not your source BTW) -- "they" meaning whoever in the organization (scouts? Scotty B?? McD??? or maybe even the guy that waxes the floor at the UC every week????) is recommending a particular player based on what they believe their merits to be (or not).

Eye test usually works wonders.
Wiz has already weighed in w/his thoughts that Boedker, no matter who he's paired with doesn't really add up.

Hell, I'd trust Wiz at this point a lot more than "they" within the Madhouse. Two prime examples above. There certainly are more.

I agree. But where does the money come from this year?
- tgentry1084

You know I hadn't even considered the above. Great point........... Only way to make it work is for COL to take part of his salary for this year and that would be offset by what they save in Panarin's hit.

Good point.

decent size, speedy LW for the Hawks make sa ton of sense.
- JRoenick97

Dumped by Arizona and bought out by Edmonton because he stinks. Now fits perfectly in Chicago. The standards have certainly fallen.

You just can't be serious. Makes no sense for the Hawks
- RickJ

Honestly Rick, I've gotten to the point now where I don't know where the right move is or what the right move is. And just looking at what left around the NHL FA market it's not all that pretty. Cheap option as a bottom 6 is what I see. Not ideal but probably not the worst. I'm just going to disgress now and assume the front office has a plan.

John- any update on Yakupov? Maybe a connection with the TVR rumors you've heard? Edmonton still looking for defensemen, TVR plus prospect and/or pick(s) for Yakupov (+?) would seem to make sense for both teams...
- TyYoungfelt

Pass. I understand the logic for a dealnlike this but I would rather stick with our defensive depth and go another route for another forward.

Dumped by Arizona and bought out by Edmonton because he stinks. Now fits perfectly in Chicago. The standards have certainly fallen.
- RickJ

The last team in the league I trust to judge a players merit is EDM. ARI isn't far behind them. I"mnot saying he's a perfect fit, I'm saying he's a cheap LW for a team with LW depth issues.

Current Blues RFA Jaden Schwartz vs Artemi Panarin Both currently 24-years-old. pic.twitter.com/IMxInc3H1l
- jt19

Hearing Schwartz is playing hard ball with STL.

The Hawks want someone who can effectively play the cycle possession game with Toews and Hossa - someone like Saad who is quick enough to beat other players to the puck and big enough to out-muscle them if a puck battle on the wall or in the corner. If the Hawks can't find that type of player, then simply plugging in some guy with "LW" next to his name is not going to allow the Toews line to be any more effective in puck possession than they were last season.

Therefore, a possible solution is to change the style that Toews' line plays from a grind and cycle line into a more freelance offensive line - ala the 72-15-88 line last season.

There are 2 offense generators on the Hawks and they played together last season - Kane and Panarin. They are both capable of carrying a line offensively. The could be separated with one of them going to the Toews line. That would eliminate the need for a specialized LW to play like Saad and instead make it an easier get for Stan to find a "LW" that can shoot the puck when it's passed to him from Kane.
- EbonyRaptor

The problem with the 1st line is there isn't a F1...can't have Toews and Hossa rushing the zone to get the puck off the wall. That's why Shaw kept getting time there.
Kane and Panarin are not the type of player needed...Especially not Kane.
Toews and Hossa could be that player but don't expect to see them score much especially Hossa which has already happened.

Honestly Rick, I've gotten to the point now where I don't know where the right move is or what the right move is. And just looking at what left around the NHL FA market it's not all that pretty. Cheap option as a bottom 6 is what I see. Not ideal but probably not the worst. I'm just going to disgress now and assume the front office has a plan.
- 93Joe

The plan at this point has got to be a trade. With the defense back up, Crawford is now a luxury we can't afford IMO.

I meant we don't have the space for is contract
- Abadseed

Yes, you are correct. For this coming year the Hawks don't have space without Rado working with them on taking money for 16/17.

I'm curious about Bishop and Russell still floating around out there.
- Hank3Henshaw

Russell is a UFA this year, Bishop next year.

Hearing Schwartz is playing hard ball with STL.
- Mr Ricochet

Ask him if he'll come here for free. Doesn't hurt to ask....

John, I personally could care less about Boedker, but wanted to make a point about the bolded:

These were the same geniuses that:
> apparently recommended Kimmo and said he could still play after being off the ice for nearly a year.

> recommended Rundblad to Stan, who then proceeded to double down on his mistake not once but twice and even after sending him away last year, brought him back in the playoffs no less and better yet, in a 7th game. only to put him on buyout waivers (finally) this year admitting the initial mistake of giving up a pick for this guy.

I think we all get what you're saying here.

Personally, I wouldn't trust whoever "they" are (not your source BTW) -- "they" meaning whoever in the organization (scouts? Scotty B?? McD??? or maybe even the guy that waxes the floor at the UC every week????) is recommending a particular player based on what they believe their merits to be (or not).

Eye test usually works wonders.
Wiz has already weighed in w/his thoughts that Boedker, no matter who he's paired with doesn't really add up.

Hell, I'd trust Wiz at this point a lot more than "they" within the Madhouse. Two prime examples above. There certainly are more.
- savvyone-1

I wouldn't say this is exclusive to the Hawks organization. Sure, holding on to Runny as long as they did was a dumb move, they should have cut him loose way sooner. But every team in every sport takes chances on players because they see something and hope they can get the most out of it. Plenty of times it doesn't work out. Not everyone is going to be a Panarin. Hell, not everyone's even going to be a Panik. Nobody is ever going to hit on 100% of the players they bring in, not even the infallible Theo Epstein.

The #Blackhawks agree to terms with Spencer Abbott on a 1-year contract. The forward had 14 goals and 21 assists with Frolunda in 2015-16.

Honestly Rick, I've gotten to the point now where I don't know where the right move is or what the right move is. And just looking at what left around the NHL FA market it's not all that pretty. Cheap option as a bottom 6 is what I see. Not ideal but probably not the worst. I'm just going to disgress now and assume the front office has a plan.
- 93Joe

This is the worst day of the year to panic on player availability. Remember all those guys around the league going to camps last year on PTO's looking for a contract? It will be the same this year - guys like PA Parenteau, Brandon Pirri, Sam Gagner, Fleichmann, maybe Versteeg.

And don't discount a trades.

The last people i want to hear female doging about the 3-4 rooks that have to play because there is no cap space to sign better players is anyone in the dressing room.


- vabeachbear

terrific observation.

This is the worst day of the year to panic on player availability. Remember all those guys around the league going to camps last year on PTO's looking for a contract? It will be the same this year - guys like PA Parenteau, Brandon Pirri, Sam Gagner, Fleichmann, maybe Versteeg.

And don't discount a trades.
- RickJ

If Stan goes the trade route I'll go back to my suggestion for a Shaw trade (before he was dealt to Montreal) - Pat Maroon. A cap hit of $1.5 million for 2 more years, he could fill the void Shaw left.

The problem with the 1st line is there isn't a F1...can't have Toews and Hossa rushing the zone to get the puck off the wall. That's why Shaw kept getting time there.
Kane and Panarin are not the type of player needed...Especially not Kane.
Toews and Hossa could be that player but don't expect to see them score much especially Hossa which has already happened.
- Al

You're making my point - unless they get an F1 to play with Toews and Hossa - it would be more effective from an overall team success perspective to scrap the possession/cycle game that Q wants Toews and Hossa to play and go with a different style and lineup combination. Putting Kane and Panarin on separate lines can effectively make both top lines effective and arguably a better net gain than the combination of xx-19-81 + 72-15-88 was last season.

Pass. I understand the logic for a dealnlike this but I would rather stick with our defensive depth and go another route for another forward.
- DarthKane

Running with John's report on Rosey/Kempny pairing being likely, keeping TRV when they have Gustafsson, Svedberg and possibly Pokka capable of handling the 7th D spot seems guiltiness if he could possibly bring back a 1LW, no?

The #Blackhawks agree to terms with Spencer Abbott on a 1-year contract. The forward had 14 goals and 21 assists with Frolunda in 2015-16.
- mrpaulish

Rockford bound....

As far as remaining FA LW's:

Elias
Doan
Hudler
Versteeg
Raymond
Pirri
Korpikoski

And... some others...

FA pool not looking great...

I have to agree that as much as I like what I see, he simply has shown over and over (in the stats) that no matter who his linemates are, he doesn't get them the puck and the unit is unsuccessfully manufacturing looks.

I see the jump he has but there has come and gone many a player who everyone thought was going to a huge success based on speed puck-handling and shooting.garret ross signs with Arizona
Paliotta to Rangers
- wiz1901

I can't sit through much of a Rado game cuz it's tough to see Roy mangle such a skilled and fast team but even but even with that skilled group Boedker did much of what he always did. Just a speed skill guy who over 8 years hasn't come near the ceiling many thought he had.

He's a Shark by the way at a 4 mil hit.

Rockford bound....
- DarthKane

For the second time. He used to play there

As far as remaining FA LW's:

Elias
Doan
Hudler
Versteeg
Raymond
Pirri
Korpikoski

And... some others...

FA pool not looking great...
- Chunk

Mason Raymond would be an interesting cheap option if the hawks are desperate for speed, would be interesting to see what he might be able to do with a Toews and Hossa

I'm not sure I like Soupy coming back, but at least Rundblad is being bought out.