John you're really spoiling us this weekend...three blogs or was it 4? I'm losing count.

Great conversation this morning...No question losing Hammer is a killer - what Stan can do to add to the defense here remains to be seen. Hoping Ulf will have a positive effect on the group.

The bigger concern right now is of course with the forwards. The Saad trade was a homerun...its sad that your 10.5m center wasn't carrying a line, but Saad is mini Hossa - with Panik that line should do very well.

Anisimov has to be the next one off the island. Kane definitely needs someone with him...lots of thoughts out there on this. E. Kane, Gal...some mentioned Shaw...

Shaw's got a ton of miles on him, but the kid is a gamer.
Sharp's name has been mentioned as well - when he came back from the concussion last year had had a nice scoring streak in Jan/early Feb, but the hip has got to be a concern.

The other name folks have mentioned is Jumbo Joe...? To put him with Kane - that would be an interesting sight...but the money...

also wondering if Hossa comes out at the end of the season and plays - I don't think its likely, but I think we'd all love to see it.

Is there something wrong with PR? You do know every team in every major league sport does the same thing correct?
- darkman

I don't think it's a qualitative judgement he's making. But they are somewhat rolling this stuff out to get the fans and spotlight back, IMO. Some stuff you can't do that with as much, but . . .

Maybe the Hawks should bring back Rundblad and have Rundblad and Murphy as a featured pair. Other teams are quaking at the thought. JJ does a terrific job except misleading spin helps nobody on this board. Do your own research.
- Savoy

Backhanded compliment aside, you are being a Richard. Officially.

No facts, no insight. Just (seeming anyway) pissy about Panarin getting traded, which you said would never happen.

According to www.capfriendly.com the Hawks are about $1.5M over the Cap, and that's with only a 21-man roster. So, even if the 22nd and 23rd roster players make under $1M, the Hawks will be around $3M over the Cap with no wiggle room cap space for injuries throughout the season.

If Kruger is traded with no salary coming back his $3.1M gets removed but then he will be replaced on the 23-man roster by Dauphin and his $745K cap - so essentially the Hawks would be $700K over the Cap with no wiggle room cap space for injuries.

I don't understand the rules for putting Hossa on LTIR regarding how it affects the Cap - so maybe that's the magic bullet plan - anyone?

Go read the Arizona board.
- Savoy

This speaks for itself.

Where Rundblad was proclaimed "vastly underrated" due to "advanced analytics" (when he wa splaying with Duncan keith—that part got left out)

Please not Sharp or Shae.

Shaw brought a needed element but he makes too much. Sharp has no business anywhere near a top 6 on the Hawks. He wasn't that good on the 3rd line before he left and he hasn't gotten any better in Dallas.

There are 2 LW available that would make the Hawks VERY dangerous. We all know who they are. Lets hope Stan knows as well and can pull off a deal for one or the other.

In all honesty two of the more entertaining Hawks lines to watch were the following:

1. Kane and the Russians. That was just brilliant hockey to watch. Except when Panarin decided he wanted to be Patrick Sharp and float-a-saurous-rex
2. Watching Brandon Saad burn down that left side of the ice and be Battle Cat to Hossa's He-Man impression. Jonathan Toews, being the old man that he is of course Man at Arms. Except when they did the get puck low, dumb stuff shot that I'm pretty sure never created a goal, and that terribly predictable limp wrist poop from the right half boards that heavily contributed to Hossa's abysmal shooting percentage over those years.

Time for the next best thing. Giddyup.

The Hammer one is a pure business decision and I think its great. Its ruthless and sends a clear message that no one is safe which probably needed to be sent. They got younger by half a decade on the blue line. The kid is locked in for 5 years. Can skate, can mash, and probably a better free safety for Keith as he can make a first pass similar to Seabrook. Relative to defenders on his team, Murphy's Corsi as a % is a lot better than everyone else. He also ate a lot of D zone starts and skated 20mins a night so there's no shock in terms of TOI.

Plus having 3 guys over 30 like that on the blue line that have seen a lot of mileage is probably not the smartest way to move forward.

And Lord willing and the creek dont rise, they have two pairings that can exit the zone with either player successfully if you assume Keith - Murphy and Kempny - Seabs.

Not a bad thing.

Sharp is awful at hockey now , plus over concussed.



SAY NO TO SHAW too much $$$$$$$$. Hawks already got his good years.

Please not Sharp or Shae.

Shaw brought a needed element but he makes too much. Sharp has no business anywhere near a top 6 on the Hawks. He wasn't that good on the 3rd line before he left and he hasn't gotten any better in Dallas.

There are 2 LW available that would make the Hawks VERY dangerous. We all know who they are. Lets hope Stan knows as well and can pull off a deal for one or the other.
- Tuke17

Ugh......

Sorry....I can't sit here and watch people and analysts dismiss Hammer as if he were some 2nd tiered player or some washed up player.

Same people who are ready to bash Hammer's corsi rating and use that as an argument but give Murphy an out because his statistical numbers were on an awful team. Can't have it both ways. You know who also bad most of last year? Keith and Seabrook. Yet both have inmovable deals due to recapture (keith) and term (seabrook).

It's also humorous that all of sudden Panarin got apparently slow.....I saw a kid who was quick enough to rush the outside when he wanted....power forward? No.....but he wasn't skating in cement either.

Bottom line these moves are all about getting younger, having players tied up for a longer duration, while also doing a semi rebuild on the fly.......Hossa is gone, Hammer is gone, Panarin is gone......it's still early but this team is NOT better then the one that ended in April.

ANd if we thought Keith and Seabrook played a lot of minutes before, light a candle that Bowman can find a cheap UFA D men who can play top 4 minutes because the guys behind them are all a very much unknown....not all will succeed, and not all will bomb, but as of today....you have 2 legit NHL d men on your team, and another who is probably a 3rd pairing on most cup contending teams.......

The other name folks have mentioned is Jumbo Joe...? To put him with Kane - that would be an interesting sight...but the money...

also wondering if Hossa comes out at the end of the season and plays - I don't think its likely, but I think we'd all love to see it.
- DK002

I know ya never say never, but I can't imagine Thornton signing with the Hawks. The Hawks certainly couldn't pay him more so the only reason he would sign with the Hawks is for a shot at winning the Cup and San Jose has gotten closer to doing that than the Hawks have recently. It's fun to think about the big dofus creating space and dishing to Kaner ... but most likely nothing but a pipe dream.

Is there something wrong with PR? You do know every team in every major league sport does the same thing correct?
- darkman

Not the Bulls...

JJ - great writing, as always.

Any inside dirt on what has been said between Bowman and Quenneville? Like, "if you run Murphy off like you did Daley, you're going to be looking for a new job before Christmas."
- DMChi2010

Backhanded compliment aside, you are being a Richard. Officially.

No facts, no insight. Just (seeming anyway) pissy about Panarin getting traded, which you said would never happen.
- John Jaeckel

I am not here to get in a pissing contest with you. Was Murphy a third pairing guy?

Yes and yes.

I still see 81 back for the playoffs.


- Return of the Roar

If you're serious (and I don't see a red font) - as hard as he works, and as dedicated as he might be, no 39 year old is going to be able to get in game shape - PLAYOFF game shape - without any prior game experience.

I doubt he's coming back - certainly not in April.

Maybe the Hawks should bring back Rundblad and have Rundblad and Murphy as a featured pair. Other teams are quaking at the thought. JJ does a terrific job except misleading spin helps nobody on this board. Do your own research.
- Savoy

With all due respect, and I mean that, the passive aggressive nature and "my word is doctrine" is getting old and juvenile.

Just be respectful even if you don't agree with someone else's outlook and analysis. And complete two way forwards with size and speed are suited for the Chicago gameplan

Maybe the Hawks should bring back Rundblad and have Rundblad and Murphy as a featured pair. Other teams are quaking at the thought. JJ does a terrific job except misleading spin helps nobody on this board. Do your own research.
- Savoy

Wow... Really?

This speaks for itself.

Where Rundblad was proclaimed "vastly underrated" due to "advanced analytics" (when he wa splaying with Duncan keith—that part got left out)
- John Jaeckel

Is there something wrong with the Arizona board posters? Don't they know anything at all about their team?

In all honesty two of the more entertaining Hawks lines to watch were the following:

1. Kane and the Russians. That was just brilliant hockey to watch. Except when Panarin decided he wanted to be Patrick Sharp and float-a-saurous-rex
2. Watching Brandon Saad burn down that left side of the ice and be Battle Cat to Hossa's He-Man impression. Jonathan Toews, being the old man that he is of course Man at Arms. Except when they did the get puck low, dumb stuff shot that I'm pretty sure never created a goal, and that terribly predictable limp wrist poop from the right half boards that heavily contributed to Hossa's abysmal shooting percentage over those years.

Time for the next best thing. Giddyup.

The Hammer one is a pure business decision and I think its great. Its ruthless and sends a clear message that no one is safe which probably needed to be sent. They got younger by half a decade on the blue line. The kid is locked in for 5 years. Can skate, can mash, and probably a better free safety for Keith as he can make a first pass similar to Seabrook. Relative to defenders on his team, Murphy's Corsi as a % is a lot better than everyone else. He also ate a lot of D zone starts and skated 20mins a night so there's no shock in terms of TOI.

Plus having 3 guys over 30 like that on the blue line that have seen a lot of mileage is probably not the smartest way to move forward.

And Lord willing and the creek dont rise, they have two pairings that can exit the zone with either player successfully if you assume Keith - Murphy and Kempny - Seabs.

Not a bad thing.


- fattybeef

murphy is a project. Young, raw, but flawed and needs to quickly get the curve up in his development.

Kempny, Rutta, Frosling....all still unknowns. Rutta is projected be a bottom tiered pairing by many scouts. The other 2? I like Frosling over Kempny but time will tell.

Like Saad coming back...no question.

Hawks just lost their best defensive defensemen, top PK d man, so impossible for me to like that deal.

Once upon a time the Hakws had a big guy who could skate like the wind and win board battles....his name was Ben Eager.....

Maybe the Hawks should bring back Rundblad and have Rundblad and Murphy as a featured pair. Other teams are quaking at the thought. JJ does a terrific job except misleading spin helps nobody on this board. Do your own research.
- Savoy

Dude enough already.... Seriously your posts are TOXIC..

According to www.capfriendly.com the Hawks are about $1.5M over the Cap, and that's with only a 21-man roster. So, even if the 22nd and 23rd roster players make under $1M, the Hawks will be around $3M over the Cap with no wiggle room cap space for injuries throughout the season.

If Kruger is traded with no salary coming back his $3.1M gets removed but then he will be replaced on the 23-man roster by Dauphin and his $745K cap - so essentially the Hawks would be $700K over the Cap with no wiggle room cap space for injuries.

I don't understand the rules for putting Hossa on LTIR regarding how it affects the Cap - so maybe that's the magic bullet plan - anyone?
- EbonyRaptor

There have been some good articles about this subject explained in great detail - I apologize for not remembering the links.

From what I remember, if you are cap compliant before putting a player on LTIR, you get to maximize the amount you can go over the cap. So, I think the Hawks would be able to go over the cap by the full amount of Hossa's cap hit if they are cap compliant when they LTIR him. If they are over the cap when they LTIR him, they wouldn't get the full amount.

The other issue with LTIR is, the Hawks won't get to "bank" cap space with Hossa on LTIR. It would be much harder to make a trade where they would have to take on salary - at the trade deadline.

If Hossa is truly done, the best move they can make is trade his contract to another team who needs to reach the floor.

John you're really spoiling us this weekend...three blogs or was it 4? I'm losing count.

Great conversation this morning...No question losing Hammer is a killer - what Stan can do to add to the defense here remains to be seen. Hoping Ulf will have a positive effect on the group.

The bigger concern right now is of course with the forwards. The Saad trade was a homerun...its sad that your 10.5m center wasn't carrying a line, but Saad is mini Hossa - with Panik that line should do very well.

Anisimov has to be the next one off the island. Kane definitely needs someone with him...lots of thoughts out there on this. E. Kane, Gal...some mentioned Shaw...

Shaw's got a ton of miles on him, but the kid is a gamer.
Sharp's name has been mentioned as well - when he came back from the concussion last year had had a nice scoring streak in Jan/early Feb, but the hip has got to be a concern.

The other name folks have mentioned is Jumbo Joe...? To put him with Kane - that would be an interesting sight...but the money...

also wondering if Hossa comes out at the end of the season and plays - I don't think its likely, but I think we'd all love to see it.
- DK002

I'm sure Panik probably has preference to be 1RW, but I wouldn't rule out a grind it out, two way line of Saad/Toews/Hartman

Is there something wrong with the Arizona board posters? Don't they know anything at all about their team?
- Savoy

James.Tanner.Is.The.Arizona.Blogger.

The answer to your question begins and ends there.

I'm sure Panik probably has preference to be 1RW, but I wouldn't rule out a grind it out, two way line of Saad/Toews/Hartman
- 93Joe

Dunno, Panik and Toews played pretty well together. I like 38 better on the 3rd line. I think the top line of 20 19 14 will be damn tough to play against. 19 now has 2 big wingers to play with.

John you're really spoiling us this weekend...three blogs or was it 4? I'm losing count.

Great conversation this morning...No question losing Hammer is a killer - what Stan can do to add to the defense here remains to be seen. Hoping Ulf will have a positive effect on the group.

The bigger concern right now is of course with the forwards. The Saad trade was a homerun...its sad that your 10.5m center wasn't carrying a line, but Saad is mini Hossa - with Panik that line should do very well.

Anisimov has to be the next one off the island. Kane definitely needs someone with him...lots of thoughts out there on this. E. Kane, Gal...some mentioned Shaw...

Shaw's got a ton of miles on him, but the kid is a gamer.
Sharp's name has been mentioned as well - when he came back from the concussion last year had had a nice scoring streak in Jan/early Feb, but the hip has got to be a concern.

The other name folks have mentioned is Jumbo Joe...? To put him with Kane - that would be an interesting sight...but the money...

also wondering if Hossa comes out at the end of the season and plays - I don't think its likely, but I think we'd all love to see it.
- DK002

Literally anyone who can get up the ice at speed, stand in the circle, and rip a one timer can play on that LW and score 25 goals.

Dinglecat, if his foot speed is good enough, can probably play that LW, skate the same zone shares as Panarin and be in the Calder running because Patrick Kane is that good at hockey.

Kane made Brad Richards (only drew 48%) and Kris Verbeauty look like all stars for 50 games and Richards was close to done and Versteeg was a step slower than his previous life here with those knee problems.