Yakupov. may as well just run kids.
- kwolf68

Agreed! I know Yak is still young, but I think he is KHL bound soon. I just don't know that he will ever find his game here.

How about AA and Kruger to NYC for Nash?

How about AA and Kruger to NYC for Nash?
- Dojodan

No!!

Agreed! I know Yak is still young, but I think he is KHL bound soon. I just don't know that he will ever find his game here.
- breadbag

We already have yak. His jersey just says jurco. Hard pass on yak.

Chuky has to be a legit possibility for the Blackhawks.

Montreal is very thin at the pivot and Anismov would be a good fit there in exchange.

I do think it'd take a bit more than ole' Arty though to pry Chuky away though.

Anisimov + Gustaffson ?

The only problem with moving AA is that they will still need a NHL center other than Jonathan Toews on the roster.

If that means retaining Kooga then that is fine but I don't think you can come off both with out some kind of proven player that position being either acquired via FA or trade.

Toews Schmalz blah blah is baaaaaaaaaaad

I think we all would love Nate Schmidt here on the Hawks to fill a key top 5 role on defense, but that's just not happening, especially for Kruger. The Hawks are going to need a pure salary dump on Kruger as they are still 1.45 million over the cap, and that is still with Hossa's messy situation which they may not be able to trade away.

Plus McPhee said he has zero interest in trading Schmidt, and rightfully so. Why would he want to trade away a young defenseman who is cost controlled that can grow with that team?
- Budi1782

Schmidt isn't cost controlled yet - he's currently an RFA and like one year away from UFA, so he's likely hoping to get a decent pay increase.

Also, the Hawks are only technically $1.4m over the cap. They can rectify that easily by sending two waiver exempt kids down to the AHL for a day, then place Hossa on LTIR, and then bring the kids back up.

I like Thornton a lot, but let's keep in mind that he will likely be even slower next year. He is recovering from ACL and MCL surgery, so you might be getting another hot-wheels-Handzus showing up on the screen 5 seconds after Kane enters the zone.

Obviously Thornton is elite at all other parts compared to Zus but it's worth worrying about.

Nice write up, JJ.

Ugghh...I hope they don't bring Sharp back

Why??

I don't like this "bring back the boys" thing that the Hawks tend to do.

Let's just keep moving forward with new blood!

The only problem with moving AA is that they will still need a NHL center other than Jonathan Toews on the roster.

If that means retaining Kooga then that is fine but I don't think you can come off both with out some kind of proven player that position being either acquired via FA or trade.

Toews Schmalz blah blah is baaaaaaaaaaad
- fattybeef

Valid points. You may be surprised by year's end with Dauphin especially on the PK and D-zone draws. Maybe not.

From a faceoff standpoint, after 24 NHL games, he's no worse than AA or Kero. But they have not really addressed that 50%+ FO option need.

I like Thornton a lot, but let's keep in mind that he will likely be even slower next year. He is recovering from ACL and MCL surgery, so you might be getting another hot-wheels-Handzus showing up on the screen 5 seconds after Kane enters the zone.

Obviously Thornton is elite at all other parts compared to Zus but it's worth worrying about.
- ObeseOprah

Thornton over Sharp any day of the week, brother.

Just my opinion.

The only problem with moving AA is that they will still need a NHL center other than Jonathan Toews on the roster.

If that means retaining Kooga then that is fine but I don't think you can come off both with out some kind of proven player that position being either acquired via FA or trade.

Toews Schmalz blah blah is baaaaaaaaaaad
- fattybeef

Nate Thompson would be a solid add if they could pull it off.

Thornton over Sharp any day of the week, brother.

Just my opinion.
- Hank3Henshaw

That's everyone's opinion if cap hits and term were a part of the equation. As it were, it's Thornton at $4-5m for 3 years or Sharp for $1-1.5m for 1 year.

That's everyone's opinion if cap hits and term were a part of the equation. As it were, it's Thornton at $4-5m for 3 years or Sharp for $1-1.5m for 1 year.
- L_B_R

Fortunately, they are not the only players in the NHL, much less the only obtainable ones

Nate Thompson would be a solid add if they could pull it off.
- Psenerch

Could do worse

Realistically... what kind of shot does a) fortin, and b) debrincat have at making this team?

Nate Thompson would be a solid add if they could pull it off.
- Psenerch

Nate Thompson is a 4th line grinder that hasn't hit over 10 points in two years who is likely looking for $2m.

We already have yak. His jersey just says jurco. Hard pass on yak.
- Psenerch

Haha agreed. Yak would last about half a period with Q, then he'd get the Leddy treatment.

Of all the prospects from Detroit, we had to take Jurco. I would've held out for Athanasiou, Bertuzzi, or one of the many other kids they have stashed in Grand Rapids.

Fortunately, they are not the only players in the NHL, much less the only obtainable ones
- John Jaeckel

Yep, just pointing out how context in relation to cap hits / term need to be considered when people play armchair GM.

Sharp on a mega-cheap deal...sure...no harm there.

Shaw, on his present deal. No freakin' way!!! Hate it....please..."Just say "No"""

I read elsewhere (and maybe here) that the Kruger deal hasn't happened yet because they want to pay him his $2m bonus on 7/1 first just as a thank you. Not sure the validity of that. Otherwise, I'm pretty excited to see what other levers the wizard of Bowman may pull in the next few days.
- biskit67

Assuming the Kruger deal goes through (likely for a draft pick), then we start to get a bigger picture on the off season moves so far in terms of who may pick up the role/icetime

Gone
Darling 4.15 M (Maybe would have been less)
Hjalmarsson 4.1 M
Panarin 6 M
Kruger 3.08 M
TVR 0.825 M

Added
Rutta 0.925 M
Murphy 3.85
Dauphin 0.75 M
Saad 6 M
Forsberg ~0.7 M


Hossa aside (as LTIR) the Hawks likely to clear up nearly 6 million in cap space so far. (+ or - a bit)

Realistically... what kind of shot does a) fortin, and b) debrincat have at making this team?
- jt19

He really needs to develop his game in the AHL for a year or two...

Nate Thompson is a 4th line grinder that hasn't hit over 10 points in two years who is likely looking for $2m.
- L_B_R

Dont they already have that in Kruger that they are trying to move????

Realistically... what kind of shot does a) fortin, and b) debrincat have at making this team?
- jt19

I think the chances for those two will really hinge on what other moves the Hawks could make in the next week or so. It could change but I bet Alex D gets a huge opportunity prove he is the real deal at camp.

Dont they already have that in Kruger that they are trying to move????
- vabeachbear

They are not even slightly similar.