Powers wrote a great article analyzing ADBs shifts and asking scouts about what they've seen. and think. It's a good outlook:
- JRoenick97

Sell high! ADB for Duchene straight up

I just thought that Luc Snuggerud looked like a bigger, and equally as mobile defenseman last night before his injury. For a 21 year old recent college player, Snuggerud was very impressive last night. Does anyone know what his injury status is?? I also think that Rutta and Kempny are bigger and more defensively responsible that Osterle. I don't see Osterle as a bad player, I just think there are better options who should make the Top 6D over him.
- EnzoD

It wasn't until tonight that I SAW the first period b/c the NHL channel came in late here...
I have always liked Luc throughout his career and know him to be a gambler.
There was only one time he was caught up ice in that first period.

I just think they fo slow and he is Rockford bound and if injured, where we don't see him again,for sure...

I may be incorrect but pretty sure they are of equal height and stature although websites lie about the guys being bigger when they come in new

and Osterizer can play both sides equally...

@MarkLazerus

Marian Hossa had an independent medical evaluation several days ago, per Bill Daly. NHL is waiting for report before determining his status.

@MarkLazerus

Marian Hossa had an independent medical evaluation several days ago, per Bill Daly. NHL is waiting for report before determining his status.
- DarthKane

There is a saying: walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck: must be a duck

Hockey Night in Canada interviewed people in the hockey community and in society at large about both Hossa situation and face off protocol

The outcome was unanimous. Everyone thinks you are full of it. You know how the saying goes
About the duck. Just substitute common sense. NHL hierarchy is educated, right?

Three best players o the ice ast night IMO:

1. (tie) Schmaltz and Panik
3. Saad

Not even close.

I am a believer in Schmaltz now. Just a much higher level of confidence. Still wish he would shoot more.

Panik is a beast, period. And he is gaining more and more confidence in his offensive ability.

Saad skated hard, caused trouble and was around the net all night.

This was a skeleton crew Detroit team, but those three players are a VERY good sign for this hockey team this year.
- John Jaeckel

The speed at which Schmaltz is playing at is undeniable. Skeleton crew or not, his is the smoothest, fastest (game conditions) out there.

Who'd of thunk it from a chicken leg slacker like him

All this talk of a fake LTIR for Hossa is bothersome for me-

What Hawks fan wouldn't love to see him playing
this season & don't think Hoss wouldn't love to play.

Not a Bad Third Line-
Anisimov Hossa & Sharp

Adding even more depth to an already deep forward group.

There is a saying: walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck: must be a duck

Hockey Night in Canada interviewed people in the hockey community and in society at large about both Hossa situation and face off protocol

The outcome was unanimous. Everyone thinks you are full of it. You know how the saying goes
About the duck. Just substitute common sense. NHL hierarchy is educated, right?
- jhawk59

There is?

Duh,Bringit. "They welcomed me warm here so, it's been good."

GO HOCKS

There is?
- Ogilthorpe2

Yea. Also, there once was a duck from Nantucket.....

All this talk of a fake LTIR for Hossa is bothersome for me-

What Hawks fan wouldn't love to see him playing
this season & don't think Hoss wouldn't love to play.

Not a Bad Third Line-
Anisimov Hossa & Sharp

Adding even more depth to an already deep forward group.
- Colbyboy

There has to be plenty of documentation that supports the LTIR claim especially if he has been suffering from this for such a long time. I just hope the NHL doesn't decide to screw the Hawks on this. They shouldn't but then again it's the NHL so you never know.

There has to be plenty of documentation that supports the LTIR claim especially if he has been suffering from this for such a long time. I just hope the NHL doesn't decide to screw the Hawks on this. They shouldn't but then again it's the NHL so you never know.
- jhawk159

The league employed Chris Pronger while he was on "LTIR"...he was even traded while working for the league. The fact that he was working for them means they knew he was never going to play again, but they didn't make him retire making Philly immune to the Cap Recapture Penalties.

After the way the Pronger contract was swept under the rug, the NHL would have a serious credibility problem if they decided to not allow Hossa's LTIR for any reason.

The speed at which Schmaltz is playing at is undeniable. Skeleton crew or not, his is the smoothest, fastest (game conditions) out there.

Who'd of thunk it from a chicken leg slacker like him
- vabeachbear

Really is amazing how a franchises' evaluating team can see a 17 yr old kid who is allergic to his own zone and play exclusively on the perimeter at the jr level develop into a 3 zone NHLer. ..... A light flipped on for Schmaltz at North Dakota but how evaluaters could forecast that from a kid who relied only on skill is amazing to me. He never showed any signs of high end compete the 10 times I saw him as a jr.

Really is amazing how a franchises' evaluating team can see a 17 yr old kid who is allergic to his own zone and play exclusively on the perimeter at the jr level develop into a 3 zone NHLer. ..... A light flipped on for Schmaltz at North Dakota but how evaluaters could forecast that from a kid who relied only on skill is amazing to me. He never showed any signs of high end compete the 10 times I saw him as a jr.
- Mr Ricochet

I sure as hell know that i don't want to be responsible for how I was 33 yrs ago as a 17 yr old

I always figured ADB would go to the Rock for a couple months at least, but the way he has played in the TC tournament, and one PRESEASON game, I wouldn't mind him staying with the big club for the first month or so.
- tvetter

I'm so entrenched in old school non-cap thinking that I still prefer kids to get too much AAA seasoning before coming up, especially smallish skill guys. But in a hard cap world we see more and more kids up when even their organIzation knows they're not quite ready.

But I also like seeing kids who are not ready get a taste of the big leagues before they go back down to give them a feel of what it takes at the highest level. I think that would really help a kid like ADB who has shown he works to improve.

It'll work itself out but I'm much more optimistic this yr than last. Kid has shown he won't sulk and will work and improve.

I sure as hell know that i don't want to be responsible for how I was 33 yrs ago as a 17 yr old
- vabeachbear

Amazing how driven these kids are at 16-17-18 yrs old. I watch a jr game where it is a rumble then these skinny kids walk by and board a bus for a 10-12 hr ride and open a book to do their trigonometry home work.

Incredible how they can put a game played 30 minutes ago away in their mind and get to work. There is just so much more to scouting than what a kid does on the ice.

Really is amazing how a franchises' evaluating team can see a 17 yr old kid who is allergic to his own zone and play exclusively on the perimeter at the jr level develop into a 3 zone NHLer. ..... A light flipped on for Schmaltz at North Dakota but how evaluaters could forecast that from a kid who relied only on skill is amazing to me. He never showed any signs of high end compete the 10 times I saw him as a jr.
- Mr Ricochet

Sign me up as a big critic as well.
Remember when JJ let me do a column on who could possibly be available when they were selecting in 2014?
I had a buyer beware sign on him.

The nice thing about me forming opinions on junior players and then putting them up where you can go back and see what I said, when they were "mocked" etc,, is I am an open book on most of my opinions,
I said this BEFORE they drafted him:
Longer term project who is not the sum of his parts. Displays good feet, vision, hands of the high end level, but his work ethic is on the low end. Needs to become an all around team first player, one who helps his team get chances, and not wait for the team around him to provide him with scoring chances. Takes many a shift off, and can disappear in a tight checking game. The question remains will the team that drafts him see the dazzling skill and motor for 60 minutes? Was named to the U.S. World Junior A roster for the Junior A Challenge. Committed to North Dakota University.

and the link;
https://www.draftsite.com...ayer/nick-schmaltz/19500/

There was no doubt he had excellent abilities of handling pucks in small pockets of space while going to the net, and could stickhandle at a really high skill level.

The thing is, kids that want it, and kids that get stronger more disciplined had a drive and an even keel. That may be him it looks like....

I find it HILARIOUS that so many people think the Hawks want better value than Marian Hossa at 5mil to the point that they would get together on some elaborate conspiracy and lower their honor and risk getting caught and all that nonsense just to get the chance to make a move with the open space. Like really?

Sign me up as a big critic as well.
Remember when JJ let me do a column on who could possibly be available when they were selecting in 2014?
I had a buyer beware sign on him.

The nice thing about me forming opinions on junior players and then putting them up where you can go back and see what I said, when they were "mocked" etc,, is I am an open book on most of my opinions,
I said this BEFORE they drafted him:
Longer term project who is not the sum of his parts. Displays good feet, vision, hands of the high end level, but his work ethic is on the low end. Needs to become an all around team first player, one who helps his team get chances, and not wait for the team around him to provide him with scoring chances. Takes many a shift off, and can disappear in a tight checking game. The question remains will the team that drafts him see the dazzling skill and motor for 60 minutes? Was named to the U.S. World Junior A roster for the Junior A Challenge. Committed to North Dakota University.

and the link;
https://www.draftsite.com...ayer/nick-schmaltz/19500/

There was no doubt he had excellent abilities of handling pucks in small pockets of space while going to the net, and could stickhandle at a really high skill level.

The thing is, kids that want it, and kids that get stronger more disciplined had a drive and an even keel. That may be him it looks like....
- wiz1901

Could not possibly agree more with your pre-draft assessment on Schmaltz and I posted the same when the Hawks did take him. High skill low compete. And with Fabbri still on the board I was outraged. ...... Always thought the Hawks were flush with skill guys and short on grit and Fabbri checked both those boxes.

Give you a lot of credit for nailing the scouting report. A guy can be dinged or sick and you see that game and think that's the way he plays but I saw him live numerous times over 3yrs in jrs and had the exact same thoughts on the kid.

We've got 10-14 yrs to go but as of today credit has to be given to the Hawk's evaluators.

I find it HILARIOUS that so many people think the Hawks want better value than Marian Hossa at 5mil to the point that they would get together on some elaborate conspiracy and lower their honor and risk getting caught and all that nonsense just to get the chance to make a move with the open space. Like really?
- SimpleJack

And THAT is really the bottom line here. Is there any question - based on his level of play last year - that the Hawks would rather have Hossa than his cap space? The leadership he brings plus his talent and work ethic still make that a value. They would prefer he be on the roster. That's why I think this spin is all for public consumption and the decision is essentially made. They are just waiting to satisfy the petty jealousy in other cupless cities and provide sufficient independent confirmation of the decision.

I find it HILARIOUS that so many people think the Hawks want better value than Marian Hossa at 5mil to the point that they would get together on some elaborate conspiracy and lower their honor and risk getting caught and all that nonsense just to get the chance to make a move with the open space. Like really?
- SimpleJack

Agree. Hard to argue they wouldn't be a better team with him on it.

If he was there, he'd form a pretty good 3rd line with AA and Hartman or Sharp. One of which could slot into 2LW or a 4th liner.

They would be absolutely a better team with him on it.

I'm so entrenched in old school non-cap thinking that I still prefer kids to get too much AAA seasoning before coming up, especially smallish skill guys. But in a hard cap world we see more and more kids up when even their organIzation knows they're not quite ready.

But I also like seeing kids who are not ready get a taste of the big leagues before they go back down to give them a feel of what it takes at the highest level. I think that would really help a kid like ADB who has shown he works to improve.

It'll work itself out but I'm much more optimistic this yr than last. Kid has shown he won't sulk and will work and improve.
- Mr Ricochet

That renowned scout Connor McDavid endorsed his ex-teammate ADB as a player about 2 years ago.

He will have some rough patches and bench time but very rare is the player who can select which hole in the mesh he"ll hit to score a goal or slip it into a crevice about a 1/4" larger than the puck.

Looks like everyone is playing tonight. Including Toews. Should be fun.

The league employed Chris Pronger while he was on "LTIR"...he was even traded while working for the league. The fact that he was working for them means they knew he was never going to play again, but they didn't make him retire making Philly immune to the Cap Recapture Penalties.

After the way the Pronger contract was swept under the rug, the NHL would have a serious credibility problem if they decided to not allow Hossa's LTIR for any reason.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogi has summed it up nicely...the moves with Pronger were total bs -
what really amazes me how so many fans from other teams are whining about this - don't they get it. We'd much rather have Hossa than the cap hit used elsewhere. But you know the Hawks doctors are lying...

Hossa's deal was legal when the Hawks did it only to have the league change the rules the next season...talk about bullsh-t.

Arlington Rob's link to the Barstool article is dead on...take a look at how the Hawks have basically been a feeder system for how many other teams because the cap has become stagnant and forced the Hawks to continually move quality talent.
Ask Carolina how they like their new starting goalie or how the Jackets like having Saad/Panarin...?

Does Bettman really want to piss off one of the charter franchises of the league and Rocky - should be interesting stay tuned.

And THAT is really the bottom line here. Is there any question - based on his level of play last year - that the Hawks would rather have Hossa than his cap space? The leadership he brings plus his talent and work ethic still make that a value. They would prefer he be on the roster. That's why I think this spin is all for public consumption and the decision is essentially made. They are just waiting to satisfy the petty jealousy in other cupless cities and provide sufficient independent confirmation of the decision.
- tredbrta

Hey Tred hope you had a good summer...great post sir. How many game winners did Hossa have last season..? A bunch. Hossa has done so many things on and off the ice for this team. Last season he seemed to regain his scoring touch a bit, but as we know he's just an absolute demon when it comes to defense. The master of the backcheck. You can't replace him. Not being able to see him play is a very depressing thought.

Hey Tred hope you had a good summer...great post sir. How many game winners did Hossa have last season..? A bunch. Hossa has done so many things on and off the ice for this team. Last season he seemed to regain his scoring touch a bit, but as we know he's just an absolute demon when it comes to defense. The master of the backcheck. You can't replace him. Not being able to see him play is a very depressing thought.
- DK002

Thanks. Hope yours was good as well. I will say part of me is concerned Hossa's loss may hurt the room (the example his unselfish hustle was for the younger players on the ice) but I think Toews et al should have that covered. I do like the return of Saad plus Sharp as it may positively impact the room dynamic as well and help offset his loss. I liked Panarin but something changed on the ice the last 2 years - they looked less cohesive and more selfish. Hossa, of course, was one of the exceptions to that. Hoping Saad and Sharp bring some of the old attitude with them and the absence of Panarin will make it less about One Line, One Player, One Bonus..... Get back to ONE GOAL.