After 17 seasons in the NHL, @bcampbell_51 has announced his retirement.

Congrats on an incredible career, Soupy! pic.twitter.com/I4Wg8wwTIl

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 17, 2017

Funny, i hear a lot of valid information and I have yet to hear that there is no truth to these rumors.

Nor have I heard there is truth, beyond:

The Hawks WERE highly and seriously interested in acquiring Duchene in january and February of this year.

And there were some talks earlier this summer between Montreal and the Hawks around Anisimov.

And there have been some talks about E, Kane, spurred in part by a desire of P. Kane to have him on his opposite wing.

All plausible, ALL borne out by multiple sources who have been right before.

I would just love to hear the incontrovertible proof that the latest batch of rumors (that I can't honestly weigh in on one way or the other at this point in time), AREN'T happening.

Beyond someone's opinion that it "doesn't make sense."
- John Jaeckel

I could have missed it but if an E Kane or Duchene type is acquired a salary has to go back, no? You have AA going in any of these moves? And if that's the plan either of those types are gonna make up to 2 mil more per yr. You think they allocate that money to a forward instead of defense?

Guess my question is what position do they throw the Hossa money at? The next question is do they wait and see if a Schmaltz, Hartman or even a long shot like Jurco can fill a top 6 role or Kempny, Forsling, Ruuta can be the #4 Dman before allocating the Hossa money.

After 17 seasons in the NHL, @bcampbell_51 has announced his retirement.

Congrats on an incredible career, Soupy! pic.twitter.com/I4Wg8wwTIl

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 17, 2017

- DarthKane

Interesting he's going into marketing with the Hawks and nothing on the hockey side. He's joining Tony O, Savard and Hull? ...... Didn't realize Campbell was a 6th rd draft pick. http://www.eliteprospects...om/player.php?player=8565

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Hawks have to use Hossa's LTIR money for a forward per the CBA—ie, a plausible replacement.
- John Jaeckel

There's nothing in there which stipulates how a team utilize LTIR relief.

Interesting he's going into marketing with the Hawks and nothing on the hockey side. He's joining Tony O, Savard and Hull? ...... Didn't realize Campbell was a 6th rd draft pick. http://www.eliteprospects...om/player.php?player=8565
- Mr Ricochet

Well that announcement confirms that soup and a Sammy is officially defunct. Thankfully!

None to nonexisistent




I honest remember this comment made at each and every pre-convention period, but I don't think that they hockey business decisions allign with fan fueled events. You notice how they managed to make the biggest trade in their last decade and didn't wait until ten minutes before the draft started to announce on the mike there?




I think that was an injured Johnny Oduya we saw last Spring, and it is time to actually develop or at least put on a long rope, the younger bottom end defensemen you already have.



My personal opinion of Cody Franson is he is terrible, and I would rather see a prospect crap the ebd there instead of a watching him underwelhm with the hawks as he has each and every city he has been given the chance at good minutes and good situations. There is no coincidence he is available.




IF Q was truly this roadblock to developing kids (and not a willing yet strict disciplinarian to getting things correct), he would BE GONE, right?



Whether they resolve or add with new found Hossa Cap money at game one or game 52, I think they aren't planning any strategic BIG moves just more tinkering to upgrade at both ends, and in net if the back-up proves incapable of being a back-up.
- wiz1901

Thanks for all the insight Bill. I don't know what to think anymore. I guess just sit back and let it unfold.

There's nothing in there which stipulates how a team utilize LTIR relief.
- walleyeb1

Huh. I could swear there is. OK.

Funny, i hear a lot of valid information and I have yet to hear that there is no truth to these rumors.

Nor have I heard there is truth, beyond:

The Hawks WERE highly and seriously interested in acquiring Duchene in january and February of this year.

And there were some talks earlier this summer between Montreal and the Hawks around Anisimov.

And there have been some talks about E, Kane, spurred in part by a desire of P. Kane to have him on his opposite wing.

All plausible, ALL borne out by multiple sources who have been right before.

I would just love to hear the incontrovertible proof that the latest batch of rumors (that I can't honestly weigh in on one way or the other at this point in time), AREN'T happening.

Beyond someone's opinion that it "doesn't make sense."
- John Jaeckel

John, I guess it's mostly EKlund coming up with some of this. I don't know about you, but if it could be done smartly, I am all for adding 1of Boone Jenner, Matt Duchene, or providing he got his noggin on straight now, Evander Kane.

I could have missed it but if an E Kane or Duchene type is acquired a salary has to go back, no? You have AA going in any of these moves? And if that's the plan either of those types are gonna make up to 2 mil more per yr. You think they allocate that money to a forward instead of defense?

Guess my question is what position do they throw the Hossa money at? The next question is do they wait and see if a Schmaltz, Hartman or even a long shot like Jurco can fill a top 6 role or Kempny, Forsling, Ruuta can be the #4 Dman before allocating the Hossa money.
- Mr Ricochet

Depends on whether:

a) Hossa's deal has been traded (and if they took any salary back in the deal)
b) if/when they put Hossa on LTIR (definitely applies with Kane whose cap hit is EXACTLY Hossa's, not as sure about Duch, whose hit is $750K more).

You may be right and they go get a d-man, but right now, it better be a d-man who can take d-zone draws, better still one who can play C on the PK and even the PP, cuz they don't really have that guy anymore.

I have a feeling they will take a minimum 10-15 game look-see (ASSUMING they do nothing before the start of the season), and ascertain where they most acute needs are.

Depends on whether:

a) Hossa's deal has been traded (and if they took any salary back in the deal)
b) if/when they put Hossa on LTIR (definitely applies with Kane whose cap hit is EXACTLY Hossa's, not as sure about Duch, whose hit is $750K more).

You may be right and they go get a d-man, but right now, it better be a d-man who can take d-zone draws, better still one who can play C on the PK and even the PP, cuz they don't really have that guy anymore.

I have a feeling they will take a minimum 10-15 game look-see (ASSUMING they do nothing before the start of the season), and ascertain where they most acute needs are.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, don't confuse some of the readers.

Depends on whether:

a) Hossa's deal has been traded (and if they took any salary back in the deal)
b) if/when they put Hossa on LTIR (definitely applies with Kane whose cap hit is EXACTLY Hossa's, not as sure about Duch, whose hit is $750K more).

You may be right and they go get a d-man, but right now, it better be a d-man who can take d-zone draws, better still one who can play C on the PK and even the PP, cuz they don't really have that guy anymore.

I have a feeling they will take a minimum 10-15 game look-see (ASSUMING they do nothing before the start of the season), and ascertain where they most acute needs are.
- John Jaeckel

I'm not advocating anything per say. Just curious what the long game allocation of what the Hossa money might be. As you point out, and I agree, StanBow has shown he's playing a long game approach with moving Panarin and Murphy.

And as far as winning draws it just doesn't seem at face value it's a priority for the Hawks. Their additions of Bouma, Wingels and Dauphin, who do check some boxes, they are very very very poor at the dot. Other than adding Vermette I can't think of anyone they added who was good on faceoffs.

I could have missed it but if an E Kane or Duchene type is acquired a salary has to go back, no? You have AA going in any of these moves? And if that's the plan either of those types are gonna make up to 2 mil more per yr. You think they allocate that money to a forward instead of defense?

Guess my question is what position do they throw the Hossa money at? The next question is do they wait and see if a Schmaltz, Hartman or even a long shot like Jurco can fill a top 6 role or Kempny, Forsling, Ruuta can be the #4 Dman before allocating the Hossa money.
- Mr Ricochet

Anisimov $4.55mil
Hossa $5.275 mil
Duchene $6 mil
E Kane $5.25 mil

They could put Hossa on LTIR day 2 and pick up E. Kane with no problem. The question is the price? Hayden and next year's 1st? Would BUF retain some salary?

If they moved Anisimov to Montreal for a 1st and 2nd round pick maybe CO would take Forsling, a 1st and 2nd round pick, and Debrincat? Would CO retain some salary?

Anisimov $4.55mil
Hossa $5.275 mil
Duchene $6 mil
E Kane $5.25 mil

They could put Hossa on LTIR day 2 and pick up E. Kane with no problem. The question is the price? Hayden and next year's 1st? Would BUF retain some salary?

If they moved Anisimov to Montreal for a 1st and 2nd round pick maybe CO would take Forsling, a 1st and 2nd round pick, and Debrincat? Would CO retain some salary?
- -Doh-

I would put the Hawks acquiring Duchene at about 0.000001%. If you read the reports of what Sakic is asking for, top young defense.....hawks have none. Their best bet was Hammer, and unless they are going to flip captain America to Colorado (assuming CO has interest in him) it's not happening.

Anisimov $4.55mil
Hossa $5.275 mil
Duchene $6 mil
E Kane $5.25 mil

They could put Hossa on LTIR day 2 and pick up E. Kane with no problem. The question is the price? Hayden and next year's 1st? Would BUF retain some salary?

If they moved Anisimov to Montreal for a 1st and 2nd round pick maybe CO would take Forsling, a 1st and 2nd round pick, and Debrincat? Would CO retain some salary?
- -Doh-

Well yes the price to acquire one of these types is a question but what are the cap implications, and allocation of cap money, of signing E Kane or Duchene long term when he's a UFA in 2019/20?

Swapping AA money for Duchene money seems good but AA for E Kane leaves the 2C slot open unless Schmaltz is ready.

I would put the Hawks acquiring Duchene at about 0.000001%. If you read the reports of what Sakic is asking for, top young defense.....hawks have none. Their best bet was Hammer, and unless they are going to flip captain America to Colorado (assuming CO has interest in him) it's not happening.
- SteveRain

So you're saying there's a chance?

Tbf some guys just don't match up well against other guys. Toews has struggled against guys like Kesler or Zetterberg, but then does really well against Getzlaf and Datsyuk (both of whom are the better players imo). Hopefully Johansen is not in the former group and/or that the Hawks have another line that can help with matchup flexibility. I honestly think Toews would not have had as much (if any) issue against most other centers from western conference playoff teams.
- L_B_R

Teams like Nashvile used a combination of a Johansen and their two defenders to smother/manhandle Toews. It will be a little harder with Saad and Panik on his wings.
It would be nice if Ulf puts in a system where our defenders get a lot more aggressive/physical with opposing centers in our crease and behind our net to give our centers some help in our own end.
- -Doh-

Both of these are good points and can highlight why we struggled in the playoffs. Toews was identified by Nashville as a top target to take out in the playoffs. Panik and Schmaltz, while decent last year, do no have the skill to overcame Toews being taken out of the game. Kane had AA and Panarin, so that line is more lethal because they can get generation from all of those guys. With Saad now flanking Toews, that line has 2 targets for other teams, potentially freeing up one of them to score while the other is covered. Saad returning to the top line will have a noticeable effect in games that are harder fought against better shut down teams.

Also, in the past, when Toews has struggled to shutdown a 1C, we had guys like Bolland and Kruger to step in on those guys and move Toews to another guy. This last year, Kruger wasn't used in that way, Kero wasn't developed enough to help out like that, and our other lines were more offensive minded. With a little look in to strategy from previous years to last year, It's easy to see why these moves were made.

I would put the Hawks acquiring Duchene at about 0.000001%. If you read the reports of what Sakic is asking for, top young defense.....hawks have none. Their best bet was Hammer, and unless they are going to flip captain America to Colorado (assuming CO has interest in him) it's not happening.
- SteveRain

Maybe.... But what Sakic wants and what he ends up getting may be a little different. Rumors were that he liked Forsling a lot. A 1st, a 2nd and an "A" level prospect with Forsling might at least be a bid worthy of consideration.

I would put the Hawks acquiring Duchene at about 0.000001%. If you read the reports of what Sakic is asking for, top young defense.....hawks have none. Their best bet was Hammer, and unless they are going to flip captain America to Colorado (assuming CO has interest in him) it's not happening.
- SteveRain

Yea he wants young Dmen but at the same time it's been reported Tyson Barrie is/was available.

Sakic's job may depend on what the return is for Duchene. At least from the reports on what he turning down seem to indicate as much. ......Don't think it matters long term though as Sakic seems over matched as a GM.

But while he's still Rado's GM it would be nice to pry away young RW Mikko Rantenen.

One of the team's problems the past two seasons has been 5x5 production - Looking at Toews' 5x5 stats the past 5 seasons (and I haven't looked at the rankings, only the raw scores):

Pts/60: 3.3-2.3-2.2-1.6-1.9
CF%: 57.5-59.3-55.8-51.0-51.8

If I'm reading those correctly, that's a pretty dramatic decline (recognizing that CF especially is very team-dependent.

But even without looking at the stats - has he been (and will he become again) the guy who "willed" the goal almost by himself against Vancouver to send game 7 to OT?

He hasn't been since the last Cup team.
- StLBravesFan

5x5 hockey is where the lack of true top 6 wingers will impact that production. Play a guy with less talented line-mates and his numbers will decline. The impact to Toews is in line with Saad leaving and Hossa slowing down (even with his bounce back, Hossa wasn't the Hossa of 5 years ago).

Yea he wants young Dmen but at the same time it's been reported Tyson Barrie is/was available.

Sakic's job may depend on what the return is for Duchene. At least from the reports on what he turning down seem to indicate as much. ......Don't think it matters long term though as Sakic seems over matched as a GM.

But while he's still Rado's GM it would be nice to pry away young RW Mikko Rantenen.
- Mr Ricochet

I think it should also depend if he just stands pat and keeps him. Rumblings were Duchene is none too pleased and I can't imagine that will translate well to the ice. Something has to give.

Maybe.... But what Sakic wants and what he ends up getting may be a little different. Rumors were that he liked Forsling a lot. A 1st, a 2nd and an "A" level prospect with Forsling might at least be a bid worthy of consideration.
- -Doh-

There are also reports that Sakic job's in hot water going back to the return he got on Ryan O'Reilly.

If you look at the assets on D the Predators have and their inability to get a deal done, do you really think Forsling is going to land you Duchene even with Debrinct, a mid 1st round pick, and 2nd round pick? No way I would do that deal if Duchene were a Hawk and some team floated me that package.

Maybe he comes down in asking price, but what a team can AFFORD to give away like Nashville vs what the Hawks can, puts the Hawks at the back of the line IMO.

Huh. I could swear there is. OK.
- John Jaeckel

Didn't the Blackhawks use the Kane LTIR in 2015 to acquire Vermette, Desi, and Timonen? 2 forwards and a D.

I think it should also depend if he just stands pat and keeps him. Rumblings were Duchene is none too pleased and I can't imagine that will translate well to the ice. Something has to give.
- JRoenick97

It does, but look at how long it took Drouin to be traded, and he even left the team and went home expecting to be dealt, only not to be....things can change.

IMO if you look at what the Hawks can afford to give up in a trade, realistically, their package will be low in the bids for Duchene. It's truly a game of chess and who blinks first but I just can't see the Hawks landing him.

I think it should also depend if he just stands pat and keeps him. Rumblings were Duchene is none too pleased and I can't imagine that will translate well to the ice. Something has to give.
- JRoenick97

Tough to figure if Sakic has a plan for much of anything. He wants top pairing young Dmen, who doesn't, yet Barrie is on the block? This group played like dogs last yr and it could very well be a lost locker room. If that's the case and a revamp is needed I sympathize with Avs fans if Sakic is in charge of doing so.

Toews isn't an offense only guy, but still over the last 3 seasons, he put up 1C numbers. Some guys outscore him but he plays a better 2 way game that most other C.

Add in the fact that he has been playing with some wingers who couldn't finish. (i.e. Hossa had a hard time finishing from 2014-16) He found his stride in the second half and was pretty much a point per game player in 2017. That was playing with a rookie (Schmaltz/Hayden/Hartman) on one wing and a journeyman (Panik) who has typically been suited to the bottom 6.

Keith has been dealing with a knee injury, but is still legit 1D while not firing on all cylinders. Elite status for them is completely subjective, but there are still many elite aspects to their game, even in down years. I'm not worried about either one.

Probably the biggest concern I have....what happens if CC gets hurt? Not a lot of proven NHL talent behind him in the depth chart. I think the Hawks have enough depth/talented skaters but they could slip fast if the goalie situation becomes a question mark. CC/Darling as a combo were solid and Darling was a top 5 backup G in the NHL last season.
- breadbag

And as soon as Hossa got away from Toews his shooting percentage normalized.

Hmmmmmmmm

Not sure you can say that Hossa was dragging anyone down. Especially if you look at his shooting percentage pre Toews (and that stupid cycle stuff \ weak half board shot).