I think they lose a lot of emotional intangibles with Hossa, Hammer and Kruger.

Saad restores some of that.

Hard to say in Murphy but he does have some edge at times.

I have some confidence fans are going to love Dauphin for just that reason—effort every shift, competitiveness.
- John Jaeckel

Agree they'll have a different locker room not having 2 guys that have been here as long as they have. But maybe sometimes that's not always a bad thing...especially when they still have the guys they do

David Haugh in today's Tribune related this incident at (I guess) yesterday's presser:

According to David Haugh in today's Trib: As Blackhawks first-round draft pick Henri Jokiharju entered a room full of reporters late Friday night at the United Center, he felt someone grab his arm.

Jonathan Toews wanted to pull Jokiharju aside briefly to do what good captains do. Toews made eye contact. Then he left a lasting impression. "They will give you my number so call me if you need anything at all,'' Toews told the 18-year-old who appeared in awe of his future teammate.

Very captain-like.
- StLBravesFan

Hopefully Toews wasn't passing on/promoting that Onnit diet garbage to the kid

Is Murphy that bad that we're going to be pining for Hjalmarsson by November - or will we be saying that yeah, Hammer is better than Murphy - but Murphy does his job, provides some things that the Swede didn't (speed, some additional grit), and with what Dauphin give them on the bottom six, the trade is working out up for Chicago?

I don't know which - I'm hopeful for the latter.

Putting a roster together is a balancing act - give up a little here to get a bit more there....
- StLBravesFan

Don't disagree but you are losing your top PK d man, your top shot blocking d man, your best pure defensive d man. I get it. I know why he was traded and it's purely cost and that's on Stan for other deals he handed out. Long term would you rather have seabrook or hammer? That's where my anger resides. And I'm a huge seabrook fan.

They essentially got a younger seabrook, hopefully, but created a larger hole.

REPEAT:

Kid was drafted 20th overall in a GOOD draft year, was heavily scouted and played in all the major junior and international situations, he's big, can skate, can make a quick first pass, has some nasty, has some shutdown ability, is just 24.

Plug him in with Keith, maybe he'll be as good as (or better than!) The UnderAppreciated Rundblad was with Keith (red font on).
- John Jaeckel

I get everyones point about reading the phoenix blog and honestly the hawks were looking long term on these deals. Ignore the fact if certain players are better then others. The number one fact here is we have players locked in that do not have the No Movement Clause. The no movement clause which has just been on blast here the last couple years.

Also Hjmarsson is an amazing player, but watch the Nashville series over again. He was a turnover machine and the hawks needed a change. So these moves will take some time before we can really weigh on them.

And want to talk about picking up players with untap talent? How about Oduya? When we got him 99% of people on here probably knew nothing about him.

Agree they'll have a different locker room not having 2 guys that have been here as long as they have. But maybe sometimes that's not always a bad thing...especially when they still have the guys they do
- PatShart

Agreed mostly about this but I think and feel the complacent resided more in the Canadian players 19,2,7 then 81,88,4. 81 is gone. That's a hard one to swallow but uncontrollable.

Hawks really need a lot to go right. Bounce back years from 19,2,7. Continued development of young kids and to shore up back end.

Lots of heavy lifting for 19,88,20,2,7,50.

Don't disagree but you are losing your top PK d man, your top shot blocking d man, your best pure defensive d man. I get it. I know why he was traded and it's purely cost and that's on Stan for other deals he handed out. Long term would you rather have seabrook or hammer? That's where my anger resides. And I'm a huge seabrook fan.

They essentially got a younger seabrook, hopefully, but created a larger hole.
- SteveRain

The PK wasn't very good last year, with Hjarlmarsson, Kruger and Hossa. Maybe their legs weren't what they used to be?

Murphy blocks 1.7 shots per game (Nik is at 1.96pr game) and plays the PK, while shelling out some hits (2.16 per game) -and younger legs

I think Murphy may have more hits in 1yr than Nik in his career.

Just bear in mind, the 2015 team's top 6:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Richards-Kane

2013:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Handzus-kane (something like that anyway)

Point being—and fully granted, this is also somewhat out of context—who was there and who wasn't?

What this suggests to me is Saad has unique chemistry with Toews, and I will even go as far as Panik is sort of Hossa-Lite stylistically, and after a point, it almost doesn't matter who Kane lines up with.
- John Jaeckel

Is Toews a different player now? Saad might need to play with Kane this time around. Both Kane lines you mentioned had powerful left wings. Mgt still has to bring more scoring to the team so it could also be that Kane's left wing is not on the team yet.

Agreed mostly about this but I think and feel the complacent resided more in the Canadian players 19,2,7 then 81,88,4. 81 is gone. That's a hard one to swallow but uncontrollable.

Hawks really need a lot to go right. Bounce back years from 19,2,7. Continued development of young kids and to shore up back end.

Lots of heavy lifting for 19,88,20,2,7,50.
- SteveRain

I see you added 19 to the heavy lifting part...if he has another down year with them bringing Saad back...then they can dump Seabrook, Crawford and anyone else over 30 because a rebuild will be in full effect

He is the guy that needs to play a full effective 82+ games, IMO. And not just a 30gm span with 52 built in excuses the other ones

Is Toews a different player now? Saad might need to play with Kane this time around. Both Kane lines you mentioned had powerful left wings. Mgt still has to bring more scoring to the team so it could also be that Kane's left wing is not on the team yet.
- Savoy

Kane makes his left wings better and a lot of money, no matter who they are

I see you added 19 to the heavy lifting part...if he has another down year with them bringing Saad back...then they can dump Seabrook, Crawford and anyone else over 30 because a rebuild will be in full effect

He is the guy that needs to play a full effective 82+ games, IMO. And not just a 30gm span with 52 built in excuses the other ones
- PatShart

Sucks to have to admit it, but yes, THIS THIS and THIS. x10^9

Just bear in mind, the 2015 team's top 6:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Bickell-Richards-Kane

2013:

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Handzus-kane (something like that anyway)

Point being—and fully granted, this is also somewhat out of context—who was there and who wasn't?

What this suggests to me is Saad has unique chemistry with Toews, and I will even go as far as Panik is sort of Hossa-Lite stylistically, and after a point, it almost doesn't matter who Kane lines up with.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, Us Hawks fans are bad enough. No need to reply to newly minted CBJ fans that offer 0 insight to the discussion.

Rainman, you point out that the core that is left will need to do some heavy lifting next year. How is that different than if no moves were made? I feel the same way you do but moves needed to be made both for the short term and long term health of the team. If Seabrook was moved then you could just replace the 7 in your list of players with a 4. Likely there were a few other options but would they have been better? We'll never know that. What we do know right now is there are other moves coming because they still need to work on next years cap number. I'm willing to wait until more has played out before passing judgement just yet.

I get everyones point about reading the phoenix blog and honestly the hawks were looking long term on these deals. Ignore the fact if certain players are better then others. The number one fact here is we have players locked in that do not have the No Movement Clause. The no movement clause which has just been on blast here the last couple years.

Also Hjmarsson is an amazing player, but watch the Nashville series over again. He was a turnover machine and the hawks needed a change. So these moves will take some time before we can really weigh on them.

And want to talk about picking up players with untap talent? How about Oduya? When we got him 99% of people on here probably knew nothing about him.
- lilmookie630

Not to mention he (Hjalmarsson) got turned around a few times as he watched guys blow by him.

Hjalmarsson might be a better overall Dman than Murphy, but...

the D on a whole could be better next season.

This year we had in order of total minutes played..
Keith
Seabrook
Hjalmarsson
Campbell
TVR
Kempny
Forsling
Rozsival
Oduya

Likely gone are
Hammer
Campbell
TVR
Oduya

It is possible that as a group
Murphy
Rutta
and further development from new guys like Kempny/Forsling/etc.. are every bit as effective as a unit. Let's not kid ourselves, the D wasn't good against the Preds and all year Crawford/Darling bailed out the team. Maybe the new D pairs will move the puck up the ice better and the Hawks won't have to worry so much about who can what defensively. The Hawks weren't gonna come back with the same core and likely now people can stop complaining about what side Hjalmarsson and TVR play on. The revamped coaching staff can work with the group and let's just see what the product on the ice looks like. The change in D from Hjalmarsson to Murphy isn't a pure 1 for 1 in a vacuum.

[quote=blackhawk24]Duchene won't be coming here after Friday's trades. Both monies and (lack of a full, competitive) roster fill out becomes difficult.

I totally agree with you. They are still strapped financially with little flexibility unless they trade away another big contract. Kruger and AA need to go and I don't count those as big contracts. AA moreso than Krugs. AA was riding Kaner's coattails. Krugs is too expensive despite his awesome defensive dimension. For his salary, you have to get more for the $$.

Don't disagree but you are losing your top PK d man, your top shot blocking d man, your best pure defensive d man. I get it. I know why he was traded and it's purely cost and that's on Stan for other deals he handed out. Long term would you rather have seabrook or hammer? That's where my anger resides. And I'm a huge seabrook fan.

They essentially got a younger seabrook, hopefully, but created a larger hole.
- SteveRain

Both of these moves are cap based. Both Saad and Murphy are under control for longer term. Saad is clearly a better all around player than Panarin and it shows that the Hawks are still trying to jump start #19's game.

Bowman's heavy deals based on past performance along with the no movers have certainly had an effect on what he can and can't do to alter the team moving forward. That coupled with his less than stellar deals the past few seasons and we are where we are.

Personally I think Darling would be your starter right now without the NMCs in CCs deal. And had he not moved Danault for hot garbage your center situation wouldn't be as of big of a concern as it could be with AA and Krugs moving. We'll see how the kid does from Phoenix - hopeful he works out.

And Murphy hopefully can take another step in his game with Ulf coaching him. The other thing I really didn't mind was Kitchen being let go.

All signs point to Stan not being done yet. Kruger gone after the bonus is paid, but Anisimov hopefully sooner. Stan has really got to hit it out of the park here in the next couple weeks. E Kane or Jumbo...we'll see what happens as well as another possibly vet D, but where's all that cap space coming from.

Should be interesting the next couple weeks...

Both of these moves are cap based. Both Saad and Murphy are under control for longer term. Saad is clearly a better all around player than Panarin and it shows that the Hawks are still trying to jump start #19's game.

Bowman's heavy deals based on past performance along with the no movers have certainly had an effect on what he can and can't do to alter the team moving forward. That coupled with his less than stellar deals the past few seasons and we are where we are.

Personally I think Darling would be your starter right now without the NMCs in CCs deal. And had he not moved Danault for hot garbage your center situation wouldn't be as of big of a concern as it could be with AA and Krugs moving. We'll see how the kid does from Phoenix - hopeful he works out.

And Murphy hopefully can take another step in his game with Ulf coaching him. The other thing I really didn't mind was Kitchen being let go.

All signs point to Stan not being done yet. Kruger gone after the bonus is paid, but Anisimov hopefully sooner. Stan has really got to hit it out of the park here in the next couple weeks. E Kane or Jumbo...we'll see what happens as well as another possibly vet D, but where's all that cap space coming from.

Should be interesting the next couple weeks...
- DK002

Thornton is reportedly looking for another 3 year deal - if true, no way the Hawks touch that.

Thornton is reportedly looking for another 3 year deal - if true, no way the Hawks touch that.
- L_B_R

At this stage in his career you would think he would be Cup hunting. Find a legit Cup favorite and do a one year deal.

Thornton is reportedly looking for another 3 year deal - if true, no way the Hawks touch that.
- L_B_R

I'd do it, for 2M a year or less...
Thornton for 2M a year in 3 years as a 3C or 4C isn't a bad idea

I'd do it, for 2M a year or less...
Thornton for 2M a year in 3 years as a 3C or 4C isn't a bad idea
- Slofire94

Yeah but somebody else will pay him more than that. Other teams with a chance at the cup would probably pay him more

Thornton is reportedly looking for another 3 year deal - if true, no way the Hawks touch that.
- L_B_R

Thornton will stay in San Jose. I don't see him leaving.

I know a lot of posters are saying that Keith and Seabrook will have to play major minutes this year. I agree with that statement, but would like to add that they won't likely be on the same line so there will be two other D men getting big minutes. My guess would be Murphy and Keith and likely Seabrook and Kempney (because of last year). I really want to see Forsling get a full time spot on this team and I bet he will have a great year with Ulf running the D.

Both of these moves are cap based. Both Saad and Murphy are under control for longer term. Saad is clearly a better all around player than Panarin and it shows that the Hawks are still trying to jump start #19's game.

Bowman's heavy deals based on past performance along with the no movers have certainly had an effect on what he can and can't do to alter the team moving forward. That coupled with his less than stellar deals the past few seasons and we are where we are.

Personally I think Darling would be your starter right now without the NMCs in CCs deal. And had he not moved Danault for hot garbage your center situation wouldn't be as of big of a concern as it could be with AA and Krugs moving. We'll see how the kid does from Phoenix - hopeful he works out.

And Murphy hopefully can take another step in his game with Ulf coaching him. The other thing I really didn't mind was Kitchen being let go.

All signs point to Stan not being done yet. Kruger gone after the bonus is paid, but Anisimov hopefully sooner. Stan has really got to hit it out of the park here in the next couple weeks. E Kane or Jumbo...we'll see what happens as well as another possibly vet D, but where's all that cap space coming from.

Should be interesting the next couple weeks...
- DK002

True to some degree, Stan did say they have to do better beginning with him. Now he has Saad locked in for four years with no clauses in his contract and Murphy for five years again with no clauses in his contract.

As much as I have come to appreciate Panik, he never seemed to be able to gather the puck in stride, or be in the right position to do so, and he was the only real threat the hawks has the last two years on the stretch pass. Sadder is a guy who is proven to bring that element, collecting the puck from the blade of Keith and Seabrook at minimum.

Again, Hjalmarsson and Oduya made some of these passes too, but it's not like Kemeny and Murphy can't. Both have that ability as well.

And finishing one of these stretch pass plays, just one, sends a message to scouts and coaches, you better be a step further back when you play these guys because they can do this. It is not just a goal or two here or there, it changes the other team's whole approach and psychology.
- John Jaeckel

Great writeups JJ as usual....and I totally agree on defenses having to be pushed back a bit. These past 2 seasons the Hawks really struggled to get through the neutral zone. It seemed the book was out to stop the Hawks, step up on them at center ice and force them to dump and chase. Also, defences seemed to pinch a lot more on our forwards along the wall (boards). I'm sure Saad's speed along with any other acquisitions we get will help that also. Let's hope you're right about more moves coming to add speed. Thank you for all your insights.

We need to look back at the JHammer trade for Murphy in a couple of years. When Jones was traded for Johansson I think a lot of writers said Columbus one that trade hands down. Looking back now it looks like Nashville gambled to get a possible future 1C and I think they found it. Point being that trade worked out for both teams and I think this trade will work out just fine especially if Murphy plays a full year with Keith.

Hammer DID get exposed by Nashville as much as any other Hawks Dman. Is he better defensively than 2 or 7? Yes. But 2+7 drive offense and Hammer does not. I think Keith-Murphy could complement each other very well. I also think Kempny-Seabs or Forsling-Seabs could be a good 2nd pair. For those complaining, I don't get it. STATUS QUO was NOT working. Saad > Panarin and Murphy is a physical puck mover that can develop under Ulf while playing with a 2-Time Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe winner. Bowman should now trade AA+ for another Dman or a Top
6 LW like E.Kane. Tough, bold decisions were finally made by StanBo, and I applaud him for it. Let's wait until puck drop before assessing the team.