If Schmaltz+ gets the Hawks a young Dman like Trouba...YES PLEASE!
- EnzoD

Agreed. I'm not a big Schmaltz fan. If we're keeping AA, see what you can get for Schmaltz. TB liked him and I was down for trading him for TJ's RFA rights

Agreed. I'm not a big Schmaltz fan. If we're keeping AA, see what you can get for Schmaltz. TB liked him and I was down for trading him for TJ's RFA rights
- Assman22

TJ = Tyler Johnson? The hawks had room for that 6 mil a yera deal he signed until he is 33?

and I guess those 65 NHL games Schmaltz played sealed the deal on his fandom for you?

SO IT BEGINNITH:

Jack Eichel (who has scored 48 goals /113 pts in two seasons and his reps are looking to sign a long terms second contract with the Sabres in the 9.5 -10 million range.

After Jonathan Toews rookie contract, he signed a five year deal that paid him 6.5 mil including bonuses, after 58 goals / 113 pts in his first two of the three the entry level contract entails.

Looking at free agents, here is all i can see for faceoff guys/bottom pairing d that stan may invite on a pto:

Defense:
Kindl
Franson
Jokipakka
Wideman
Weber


Center:
McClement
Mitchell

Not too exciting but anyone functuinal in that group?

The Hockey News season yearbook arrived today, and they of course are far from experts, but they has Dauphin as making the roster in a year, and Alex Debrincat this season.
- wiz1901

I would project, they are backward. Dauphin THIS year, DeBrincat maybe a 7-8 game cup of coffee, but a year away at least. (But, I am even much LESS of an "expert", so watta I know??)

Looking at free agents, here is all i can see for faceoff guys/bottom pairing d that stan may invite on a pto:

Defense:
Kindl
Franson
Jokipakka
Wideman
Weber


Center:
McClement
Mitchell

Not too exciting but anyone functuinal in that group?
- ikeane

If that's the guy who ran the linesman then i say no thanks. He's lucky he wasn't banned. That linesman is done. I say (frank) that guy.

Looking at free agents, here is all i can see for faceoff guys/bottom pairing d that stan may invite on a pto:

Defense:
Kindl
Franson
Jokipakka
Wideman
Weber


Center:
McClement
Mitchell

Not too exciting but anyone functuinal in that group?
- ikeane

Pass on Kindl. He was bad on a pretty middling to bad bunch of Wing dmen.

They cannot afford Trouba's next contract.
- wiz1901

Exactly. People conveniently forget about the salary cap in place. You can't just think about this year...but about 5 years down the road. That is why Bowman is doing this....and we are not.

TJ = Tyler Johnson? The hawks had room for that 6 mil a yera deal he signed until he is 33?

and I guess those 65 NHL games Schmaltz played sealed the deal on his fandom for you?
- wiz1901

This! Or maybe it was that instagram picture?

Exactly. People conveniently forget about the salary cap in place. You can't just think about this year...but about 5 years down the road. That is why Bowman is doing this....and we are not.
- onehundredlevel

Thank u .

If Schmaltz+ gets the Hawks a young Dman like Trouba...YES PLEASE!
- EnzoD

Be serious......... never in your wildest dreams would Smhmaltz + bring you Trouba.
NO CHANCE !!

The Hockey News season yearbook arrived today, and they of course are far from experts, but they has Dauphin as making the roster in a year, and Alex Debrincat this season.
- wiz1901

This camp will say a lot about that. But based on last year's pro camp and this summer's prospect camp, I think they're not watching and just assuming some things.

This camp will say a lot about that. But based on last year's pro camp and this summer's prospect camp, I think they're not watching and just assuming some things.
- John Jaeckel

I don't know if any of the current forward prospects starts the season on the Chicago roster. If anyone surprises the team I would guess it's Dauphin or Fortin.

They cannot afford Trouba's next contract.
- wiz1901

Was thinking the same thing. Trouba isn't affordable for the Hawks unless they move another significant contract.

Indeed we do. Connor Murphy. Similar size, style, point production, has a family history in the game.
- Chunk

Nooooooooo!, not in theManson category! I'm a big Secord fan but if Charlie Manson and Al had a tilt, I think Al may come out on the short end in that one. Josh has his dads temper and has fought some big gunslingers in his short career.
I am hoping ConnerMurphy is a loose cannon and would have the balls to call someone out to the middle of the ice like they use to. That is when you know they meant business when it comes to fighting for a purpose and not this wussy crap that you see in todays game , Josh Manson, Milan Lucic and a few others aside.
If I see Conner Murphy absolutely take on all comers and play mean but smart ,I will welcome that and be one of his biggest fans.when it comes to Toews getting rung or any of our other players getting rung and our so called tough guys stand there with their fingers in their arses whether the coach said so or not like the Brooks Orpik hit, As a fan, I have a serious problem with that and so should those team mates.
So yes, I hope you are spot on!

Nooooooooo!, not in theManson category! I'm a big Secord fan but if Charlie Manson and Al had a tilt, I think Al may come out on the short end in that one. Josh has his dads temper and has fought some big gunslingers in his short career.
I am hoping ConnerMurphy is a loose cannon and would have the balls to call someone out to the middle of the ice like they use to. That is when you know they meant business when it comes to fighting for a purpose and not this wussy crap that you see in todays game , Josh Manson, Milan Lucic and a few others aside.
If I see Conner Murphy absolutely take on all comers and play mean but smart ,I will welcome that and be one of his biggest fans.when it comes to Toews getting rung or any of our other players getting rung and our so called tough guys stand there with their fingers in their arses whether the coach said so or not like the Brooks Orpik hit, As a fan, I have a serious problem with that and so should those team mates.
So yes, I hope you are spot on!
- wonthecup10

I hope Murphy or anyone else for that matter is more the latter than anything close to the former. Loose cannons wouldn't last long with Q anyway and hurt the team more than help.

MLB is recently doing the Players Weekend uniforms with nicknames on the back. Anyone think the NHL would ever do this? I'm sure jerseys would sell like hotcakes.

TAZER #19
SEABS #7
SHARPIE #10
CROW #50
etc...

MLB is recently doing the Players Weekend uniforms with nicknames on the back. Anyone think the NHL would ever do this? I'm sure jerseys would sell like hotcakes.

TAZER #19
SEABS #7
SHARPIE #10
CROW #50
etc...
- AEL_Fox

BAMBI #86 (for Teravainen)

Sorry, I couldn't resist

Nickie Schmaltz could be a difference maker if he generates lots of scoring and doesn't quit on the wall.

I am tried of the kitty-catifying of him...I don't think he is the weak sister that many have painted him to be,while hanging on to the old paradigms of what a winger has to be.
I wonder if the Blue boards are cluttered with more of the same about Robby Fabbri, or the Nashville fans about Viktor Arvidsson when he arrived.
How much weight was Zach Parise carrying on his 5' 11 frame in his first years?
Let alone those young 5'8 "wings Jake Guentzel, Conor Sheary?
boo the freak hoo that he doesn't remind you of Curt Frazer. or Brandon Saad.

I pretty sure Nick has been working hard to be stronger, so it would be terrific if we got a surprise, right?
- wiz1901

The following stat is a rookie without a defined role that went down to the AHL and back. Very interested to see Schmaltz' approach this year after getting a good taste of what the NHL is all about: http://www.dobberhockey.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Among all forwards with at least 700 minutes of five-on-five ice time, it was Ryan Getzlaf at the top of the leaderboard in primary assists per 60 minutes. In second place was Connor McDavid. Just behind McDavid was Chicago forward Nick Schmaltz. Seriously.

I have no huge issue with Kero and I think he is a useful player. I'm just not 100% sure where his best use is. Yet. And I don't think the Hawks are either.

I also keep thinking a lot of people are going to be surprised by Dauphin—not as a scorer, but as the "replacement" for what Kruger did. His role, if he has one in the NHL this year (and that's not engraved in stone), is more clear.
- John Jaeckel

I think Dauphin is our 4th Line center, He is fast and can play the PK
I see Kero as 13th forward fill in, nothing wrong with that
I agree with you, Dauphin in my opinion has more grit too.

MLB is recently doing the Players Weekend uniforms with nicknames on the back. Anyone think the NHL would ever do this? I'm sure jerseys would sell like hotcakes.

TAZER #19
SEABS #7
SHARPIE #10
CROW #50
etc...
- AEL_Fox

I think McD needs to bring on board a VP in charge of Nicknames.

Just adding a suffix onto a last name doesn't make a good nickname.

I think McD needs to bring on board a VP in charge of Nicknames.

Just adding a suffix onto a last name doesn't make a good nickname.
- StLBravesFan

I can see them wanting to control that too.

In other news,
Cam Barker signed a one-year contract with HC Slovan Bratislava, and therefore he returns to familiar environment after a year spent in Barys Astana. Barker would like to have another successful season, remembering his Slovan season where he scored 40 points and became the league's MVP in the category of defensemen.

They cannot afford Trouba's next contract.
- wiz1901

Hawks are building some breathing room from the cap hell of the last few years. They have a $3.5m cap carry-over this year that goes away after this year. At some point, they will solve the Hossa situation through a trade. That's $8.7m of room. Add another bit of annual cap growth, and they likely have $10m to spend next summer. And there are no players currently looking at significant raises in the next two years.

Hawks are building some breathing room from the cap hell of the last few years. They have a $3.5m cap carry-over this year that goes away after this year. At some point, they will solve the Hossa situation through a trade. That's $8.7m of room. Add another bit of annual cap growth, and they likely have $10m to spend next summer. And there are no players currently looking at significant raises in the next two years.
- Cmonalready

My hope is they use that for players and contracts more like Shaw and Krug 2nd contracts. Not a big slug for a $6-8m player, but several at $2.5m.

The hawks trouble now is that the core takes up so much that they end up with a team of core, rookies and has-beens. Everyoner is either >$5m or <$1.2m. They need some quality in the middle. With Hossa and his $5m out of the core, they have a chance to build a middle group. I hope they do so.