I agree with JJ, and have been begging to a PK/FO guy since the middle of last season. I really can't figure out why StanBo hasn't made that a priority. There are a lot of lower line spare parts guys he could get on the cheap. I assume he will pull the trigger either right before camp or right after Hossa goes on LTIR.

As far as the defense goes, it is probably the weakest group since before the cup years. I think Kempny could be a 3 or 4, but I haven't seen the next top pairing prospect yet. They need to prioritize finding Keith's replacement as a #1 in the next couple drafts.

Good blog JJ. As I see it, this team is not better than it was when last season ended, only different.

Trade alert!

Anisimov + prospect + 2nd rd (maybe 1st) for duchene

With Hossa money and anisimov money sign duche for 6.5/7 still habe done money for dman if none of the kids take over
- ge1002

Why did you say trade alert if there is no trade alert?

I agree with JJ, and have been begging to a PK/FO guy since the middle of last season. I really can't figure out why StanBo hasn't made that a priority. There are a lot of lower line spare parts guys he could get on the cheap. I assume he will pull the trigger either right before camp or right after Hossa goes on LTIR.

As far as the defense goes, it is probably the weakest group since before the cup years. I think Kempny could be a 3 or 4, but I haven't seen the next top pairing prospect yet. They need to prioritize finding Keith's replacement as a #1 in the next couple drafts.
- biskit67

Half of what they drafted were Dmen this year. Think they are on it. Maybe they land Butcher? Or trade VGK for one of their D?

Will Butcher started his college career the same year Jaccob Slavin did.

Butcher rumoured to be signing with Chicago, further proof he'll sign with the Rangers.

BREAKING: #Sens emerge as valiant runners-up behind #Blackhawks to sign Will Butcher: https://t.co/SAHWhcyvN6 #CawlidgeHawkey #bridesmaids pic.twitter.com/Huox7Fm9FQ

— The Elbow (@ElbowNews) July 26, 2017

What is going on with Vegas and their surplus of Dmen? Doesn't McPhee still have about 12 Dmen on 1-way NHL contracts?? There are a handful of guys Vegas drafted that would be upgrades for the Hawks 3rd pair. One would think that StanBo has something brewing with Vegas once the season starts.....
- EnzoD

So that leaves 4 to 5 D-men that will have to clear waivers (or be traded), right? What are the odds the Hawks can claim one of them? How many teams would get a chance to claim them before the Hawks? Could they trade a prospect or pick, along with using the future consideration in the Kruger trade to land one of the better ones?

Butcher rumoured to be signing with Chicago, further proof he'll sign with the Rangers.

BREAKING: #Sens emerge as valiant runners-up behind #Blackhawks to sign Will Butcher: https://t.co/SAHWhcyvN6 #CawlidgeHawkey #bridesmaids pic.twitter.com/Huox7Fm9FQ

— The Elbow (@ElbowNews) July 26, 2017

- DarthKane

If the Hawks are going to go with 8/15/88 on a line, why not try AA on LW, and put Schmaltz as center? AA is what he is as far as as faceoffs are concerned, but with some seasoning, Schmaltz may be able to improve. Plus, if he doesn't do better than AA, they just move him back to LW.

Good blog JJ. As I see it, this team is not better than it was when last season ended, only different.
- Bjm84

Different can be good, though.

New York Rangers defenseman Nick Holden could be on the move soon.

According to a TSN report via Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Blueshirts are expected to attempt to trade the 30-year-old defenseman.

http://www.tsn.ca/report-...o-trade-d-holden-1.814025

The team announced today that Andrei Markov will not return to the Canadiens for the 2017-18 season.


https://www.nhl.com/canad...g-to-montreal/c-290517754

From @NHLhistorygirl:
On this date in 1988, inventor of the Zamboni, Frank Zamboni, died.

What would professional hockey be like without it?

I'm a little more optimistic about this season than most of you and here is why:

Stan has retooled this roster very well so far.

Concerning Defense:

Last year our old and slow defenseman got exposed by Nashville. Time and time again, I saw Hawk defenseman getting beat to pucks in their own zone which led to more time being stuck in the defensive zone. So what did Stan do, he went out and got a bunch of young and fast defensemen. From what I have read about most of the defensemen he has acquired so far, they are all supposedly fast in getting to pucks, and good at outlet passes and clears to get the puck out of the zone quickly. He overfilled the roster with these young defensemen so that they will have to compete with each other for the open spots, which should allow the cream to rise to the top, and make them even better. Also he went and reacquired 2 very good 2-way players in Saad and Sharp that will help the defense in getting the puck up ice quickly.

Concerning Forwards/Offense:

Last year the Hawks were a one line offensive team. So what did Stan do, he went and solidified the top 6 so that we have at least two good scoring lines. As JJ stated, Kane can have anyone on his left and that line will still produce. Will they produce as much as last year? Most likely not, but the Hawks now, theoretically at least, have 2 lines that can score versus one. Stan also bolstered the Hawks bottom six with speedy guys that are hard to play against, and hopefully will be able to produce some goals as well.

I also don't think Stan is completely done yet. I think he will acquire a veteran defenseman to play at least on the bottom pair, and he will make some more moves in the bottom 6 forward group. We still are missing that secondary FO/PK guy, but Stan has acquired a bunch of guys that are close, between 45% and 50% in their career, and maybe the thinking is have Yannick work with these guys and maybe one becomes that guy. Plus I think it will be easier at the trade deadline to acquire this type of guy if no one steps up. So, I think Stan will make some minor moves at the start of the season, and then save some of Hossa's cap space for moves later in the season or at the trade deadline.

Obviously, a lot needs to pan out, but because of the volume of players he has acquired, there is room for a few of them not to, and the Hawks will still be a very tough team to play against, and I project them to be near the top of the conference again this year, barring any significant injuries to the core.

This is all my opinion, and I am a perennial optimist, but I think so far, so good.

From @NHLhistorygirl:
On this date in 1988, inventor of the Zamboni, Frank Zamboni, died.

What would professional hockey be like without it?
- pdx2ord

More Ice Girls pushing wet mops around the ice for 15 minutes.

Damn that Zamboni (red ink.)

Probably already been said:

Keith is 34 (a typo, I know). Seabrook is 32.

Keith was drafted 1 year (2002) after initial eligibility (2001).

More Ice Girls pushing wet mops around the ice for 15 minutes.

Damn that Zamboni (red ink.)
- hocktock

There'd still be prople that don't know poop female doging about the ice.

Probably already been said:

Keith is 34 (a typo, I know). Seabrook is 32.

Keith was drafted 1 year (2002) after initial eligibility (2001).
- TwoPieceFeed

Yeah. Keith is still pretty (frank)ing good though. Seabrook's ability to move laterally has really taken a hit, though.

Yeah. Keith is still pretty (frank)ing good though. Seabrook's ability to move laterally has really taken a hit, though.
- BINGO!

Granted.

Not many people know (it seems) that Keith was drafted a full year after eligibility, though. They assume he's 1 year older than Seabs, but it's 2 years.

So that leaves 4 to 5 D-men that will have to clear waivers (or be traded), right? What are the odds the Hawks can claim one of them? How many teams would get a chance to claim them before the Hawks? Could they trade a prospect or pick, along with using the future consideration in the Kruger trade to land one of the better ones?
- tvetter

Should also note that 7 of those 9 d-men play the left side. Meaning, Miller/Engelland won't be coming this way. Merrill might be the only one that'd make sense $-wise pending the Hossa LTIR. Doubt LV would want to deal McNabb but he'd fit the bill for Stan's big boy defense

Heard this AM Butcher's leading candidates are Chicago and MN. He has contacts going back to youth hockey with Granato and Suter families.

http://lastwordonhockey.c...tcher-college-free-agent/

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/07/26/scouting-will-butcher-college-free-agent/
- kmw4631

Interesting. Seems like he might be an ok third pair guy.

Why did you say trade alert if there is no trade alert?
- JRoenick97

um because this a blog to talk about hockey in july.. just throwing it out there.

I like Anisimov, but i don't think he creates much on his own. To win a cup you need strength down the middle and on the back end. I think those are our biggest question marks. Look at Crosby/Malkin, thornton/Pavelski, Getzlaf/Kesler, McDavid/Draisital

Does Toews/Anisimov win any of those straight up? Might as well up grade 2nd line center going for Duchene

So that leaves 4 to 5 D-men that will have to clear waivers (or be traded), right? What are the odds the Hawks can claim one of them? How many teams would get a chance to claim them before the Hawks? Could they trade a prospect or pick, along with using the future consideration in the Kruger trade to land one of the better ones?
- tvetter

The 12 number is incorrect (but I can see why people would think that) - Vegas has 10 players that would have to pass through waivers, so they'd need to move 2. These are the 10:

Englland RD
Garrison LD
Hunt LD
McNabb LD
Merrill LD
Miller RD
Reinhart LD
Sbisa LD
Schmidt (RFA) LD
Stoner LD

Both Bischoff LD and Theodore LD are waivers exempt so they can be moved to the AHL easy.