Mmmmm, not quite so much. Has decent speed, not great. As far as finishing plays off. Not so much either. Watched him all season, wasn't very impressed. Just plays average. In 108 AHL games, he's got 29g, 24a, 53pts. Potential, yeah, I could agree. He might do better playing with better talent as well.
- Isleshockeyman

That's all I have been saying this whole time. Playing with guys like Kane, Toews, Saad, etc. could elevate his game. Having a real hockey culture and a real front office and a real coaching staff will help too. I listed a bunch of players earlier that flourished in Chicago and flopped when they left. So assuming that stays the course, there is "potential" that he will develop into a nice player.

That's all I have been saying this whole time. Playing with guys like Kane, Toews, Saad, etc. could elevate his game. Having a real hockey culture and a real front office and a real coaching staff will help too. I listed a bunch of players earlier that flourished in Chicago and flopped when they left. So assuming that stays the course, there is "potential" that he will develop into a nice player.
- Shamz24

I can agree with that. Just from watching him play, he hadn't shown any of that. Maybe a flash here or there, but that's it. Fischer, Mueller & Wood impressed me. Perlini was especially impressive. Especially when he came back down around Christmas for one game (while the Coyotes took their mandated week off).

Flyers (Provorov, Sanheim, Konecny, Morin, Myers, Lindholm, Rubtsov, (#2) ?
- MJL

I don't think so. Seems like we've been waiting on Sanheim and Morin for a while. The high end of Chychrun, Strome, Kellar is untopable if we are no longer considering Auston Matthews a prospect.

Some very nice moves by Chayka and the new ownership.
A couple solid trades (and the subtractions of Doan and Tippet) and suddenly this team is starting to look like there is a plan in place.

If you were going to trade the 7th OA, this was the year to do it by all reports. I don't know DeAngelo or the other prospects that well, but it sounds like they won't be missed too much and are well worth what they bring in. Murphy was probably still overvalued a bit for being a first round draftee.

Everything is going your way James. Maybe they really are fans of your blog!
- Thecakeisalie

Ha, I gotta say, it's pretty uncanny. But really, its just a situation where the moves are obvious if you take off the old-school-hockey-guy glasses.

I don't think so. Seems like we've been waiting on Sanheim and Morin for a while. The high end of Chychrun, Strome, Kellar is untopable if we are no longer considering Auston Matthews a prospect.
- James_Tanner

Morin for sure but they knew he would be a project when he was drafted. Sanheim is right on schedule and he is going to be a 2 way stud. Drafting #2 puts them over the top. Lindblom has a shot at being a top forward.

Brutal Trade

Keith and Hammer were a stop gap to the Disaster that is Brent Seabrook.

When he wasn't paired with either of those 2 he is a dumpster fire.
- classic321

The news of Seabs' death has been greatly exaggerated. Most of the last two years, he has been babysitting Gustafson, Svedberg, Kempney and Forsling. He is still a legitimate top 3 defenseman on 95% of the teams in the league. My only problem with him is his contract.

I agree.

Edit: He isn't racist, he bullied the guy for being gay (from what I'd read).
- jmatchett383

It happened when he played for the Sarnia Sting which is 20 minutes away from me. It's a small town and people talk. It's the same thing regardless. If that guy was gay he had as much choice in the matter as he did if he was black(which he was). It's still classless even if he was just a kid.

Wow....you really have no clue. Hawks fans all day have been on here supporting this trade. We are criticizing Tanner because he can't see how it makes perfect sense. And we are criticizing you because you are just randomly trolling instead of reading what we wrote. So it's obvious that you bring no smarts to the convo. It's just you being a salty Detroit fan.

So one more time. The Hawks have three cups. Winning brings on raises for all players. Thus the Hawks need to reshuffle their roster so they can win more cups....that is the goal you know? In order to reshuffle, you have to look at today and TOMORROW.

This trade. Hammer is 30. His contract expires in two years. He isn't HURT. His value was HIGH. The Hawks got two NHL ready players for one. They got two younger players for an older one. They also saved on cap. The Hawks WIN because if these players pan out, then they got two for the price of one AND both are young and COST CONTROLLED. The Yotes WIN because they get a legit top 4 DMan that they can keep or trade away at the deadline to get some big assets back.

This was a good trade for both sides. Nothing to criticize either GM about here. Murphy wasn't going to develop in an organization that doesn't even know if it's coming or going and has major off the ice problems. And Hammer wasn't going to sign likely his last contract for less than what he's making now. Not to mention his next contract will probably have a NMC in it. So all around good deal for both sides.

The End
- Shamz24

You know you're right. It's just like if you had a Range Rover and traded it for 2 newer Honda Civics.

Hawks fans getting straight up roasted in here today haha.

This! Dolphin is a guy who will play NHL minutes too. I like the rangers trade much more for the yotes, particularly if Stepan was just having an off year. I found myself agreeing with Tanner quite a bit lately, other than the pandering to his own masterbatory "I was so right" bullpoop, Tippett is out. Doan gone, flipped some young pieces for some pieces to take pressure off the kids (stepan should do this in particualr) =. How's your heart doing Tanner? I feel like you have a hockey chub that is been going for a few days straight.
- neem55

Of course the Rags deal looks great. You trade a d prospect thats being moved for the second time and a 7th overall pick in a mediocre draft that you are just as likely to draft a dud as you are someone even useful for a first line center and a starting goalie. My Ranger hate makes me hate Stepan but I can see he makes this team better and he can teach the umpteen number of young forwards how to be pros.

You know you're right. It's just like if you had a Range Rover and traded it for 2 newer Honda Civics.
- Dcoms

More like they traded a range rover for a schwinn and some honda civic parts

More like they traded a range rover for a schwinn and some honda civic parts
- Feds91Stammer

- Tumbleweed

At least they will have the schwinn locked up for 5 years.

At least they will have the schwinn locked up for 5 years.
- Feds91Stammer

anytime you can bring a bike to a car race, you gotta do it.

Domi- Stepan- Keller
Perlini- Dvorak- Duclair
Rieder- Strome- Fischer/Burmistrov
Crouse- Richardson- Martinook(?)
McGinn, Cousins, Jooris

OEL- Hjalmarsson
Goligoski- ???
Chychrun- Schenn
Connauton

Raanta
Domingue

Young line-up with a lot of space to add a UFA or two and give guys like Fischer and (unlikely) Strome a chance to over-ripen in the AHL. It's a whole lot of left shots so maybe they work out a deal to bring a right shooter or two over the offseason using guys like Rieder and Duclair.

I don't think so. Seems like we've been waiting on Sanheim and Morin for a while. The high end of Chychrun, Strome, Kellar is untopable if we are no longer considering Auston Matthews a prospect.
- James_Tanner

The high end of provorov trumps high end of all 3 of those

The high end of provorov trumps high end of all 3 of those
- rinaldo

i see what you did there

Tanner, I know you don't watch many games - but if you're gonna watch the Yotes next season, you will find out that Stepphan is the slowest player in the league.

Hmmm. Connor Murphy now playing on a real team, not in the AHL in Glendale. Instructed to skate and head man the puck to forwards.

Nik H. Blocking 20 shots a night for a complete dog of a franchise. Guess Nik H and Rantta can have a "wake" or should I say reunion tour.

Oh and Dauphin is the next Carl Hagelin. Not for a piss poor team like Phoenix, but for a team where he can just play his game, which is speed and penalty.

See ya later Dogs. Stay in the shade, Sky Harbor has no water. Even your airport is Fake News. Lol

I never thought i would see the day that Tanner got so excited over a "defensive defenseman".
Where is the "offense is all that matter" Tanner that we are so used to?

I never thought i would see the day that Tanner got so excited over a "defensive defenseman".
Where is the "offense is all that matter" Tanner that we are so used to?
- camfor

You have mistunderstood. I don't like defenseman that are called defensive because they hit and block shots, but who get hemmed in their own zone and make their teams worse. Guys like Russel, Polak, etc.

Haljarmann can skate and pass, he isn't just some checker. He's "defensive" in that he actually has strong defensive stats.

Murphy and Dauphin are playing with garbage players in a dysfunctional organization. There is no winning culture there and no real desire by anyone to actually go out and win a cup. Both players might have a real chance to flourish in an organization committed to hockey. But this is all speculation. We are speculating that they will suck or flourish just like we are speculating that Hammer wont have his skills decline rapidly or that the will stay in Phoenix. That is why I said no one got fleeced here. Both teams have the potential to win and lose in this trade. Time will tell. But on the surface, there is upside for the Hawks down the road and upside for the Yotes today. Nothing wrong with that considering the Hawks weren't going to be able to resign Hammer anyway.
- Shamz24

Yes but if Murphy plays equally to how he did in arizona you pay 3.85Million to a useless player for years to come. Very risky move

Not when it comes to you MJL. You drive us all crazy!

Great blog Tanner and I agree with you entirely and you know I don't always. I just can't wait to see Raanta shine as he is the big steal in this trade. Gonna be watching a lot of Coyote Hockey as Stepan and Raanta are mine in keeper league of 38 seasons now. So excited for the Yotes and glad Tippet and Doan are gone.

Coyotes Suck and they always will suck. The team will fold or move eventually.