Swing a deal for Paquette, he's like a cheaper Kruger
- BlazinMike

Hey - I'm on board, love the guy. However, if I'm TB, I'm not messing with too much.

Though, they would be able to move Johnson back to C, I think they are liking their Stammer/Point(<- dude is going to win a Selke in the next 5 years)/Gourde/Paquette as their C.

Hey - I'm on board, love the guy. However, if I'm TB, I'm not messing with too much.

Though, they would be able to move Johnson back to C, I think they are liking their Stammer/Point(<- dude is going to win a Selke in the next 5 years)/Gourde/Paquette as their C.
- Justin Lowe

Havent watched really any TBL hockey besides when the Hawks played them. I'm surprised by that though because i thought Point was more of an offense first type guy.

I really hope Kampf gets in the lineup tomorrow night.

Good eye, DK.

I'm looking into what's happening. Something is going on.

It could be that Stan has a trade in place that would have to be announced today (the trade freeze has been lifted).

Maybe Sharp is retiring?
- Justin Lowe

False alarm, as Mr. Scott Powers just informed me, Franson is still on the IR.

I thought he came off. He must have suffered a setback to his rehab as he was skating and traveling with the team.

I've thought it for awhile. This team got away from signing/trading/developing players for specific ROLES to help the core and instead tried acquiring talent.

Curious to see what Kampf can do. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but everything I've heard has me excited that he could be a very solid bottom six forward who can not only just "play" Center but actually knows the position and can win draws.

Definitely see Stan trying to take from the cupboard in Rockford before he goes and does much of anything in the way of a trade (substance). Wouldn't be surprised to see a minor move get announced today or tomorrow shipping out a Defensemen for a Forward. Something like that.

Crawford going to IR screams them just giving him some extra time off (maybe even a little extra cap room to make pieces move around more easily should a deal go down) which isn't the worst thing in the world. If this team wants any shot of Playoff hockey they need him at 100% come Feb. and Mar. Plus it'll give Forsberg another shot to get some time in net and develop his game.

Havent watched really any TBL hockey besides when the Hawks played them. I'm surprised by that though because i thought Point was more of an offense first type guy.

I really hope Kampf gets in the lineup tomorrow night.
- BlazinMike

He's an everything guy! Puts up points and is a hellish back-checker. Honestly, he reminds me of a young Toews.

He's an everything guy! Puts up points and is a hellish back-checker. Honestly, he reminds me of a young Toews.
- Justin Lowe

Good, I hope he can take a crosscheck as they are coming...

He's an everything guy! Puts up points and is a hellish back-checker. Honestly, he reminds me of a young Toews.
- Justin Lowe

He's kinda smaller though, right? I'm going off of memory from browsing for trade targets when playing NHL 17 last year haha. Just got NHL 18 over the weekend so i'll be diving into that tonight.

He's kinda smaller though, right? I'm going off of memory from browsing for trade targets when playing NHL 17 last year haha. Just got NHL 18 over the weekend so i'll be diving into that tonight.
- BlazinMike

Yep - 5'10 / 170ish, but plays bigger than that.

Yep - 5'10 / 170ish, but plays bigger than that.
- Justin Lowe

StaBo must have read your blog and acted a few minutes later - Nice work Justin!

If I'm Q, I go:

Saad-Toews-Panik
Schmaltz-AA-Kane
Hartman-Kampf-Debrincat
Hinostroza-Wingels-Hayden

If I'm Q, I go:

Saad-Toews-Panik
Schmaltz-AA-Kane
Hartman-Kampf-Debrincat
Hinostroza-Wingels-Hayden
- Justin Lowe

gotta leave wingels and hayden with bouma... they bash.

IceHogs recall Matt Tomkins from the Indy Fuel.

So on the assumption the Hawks cannot finish in the top three of their division, and the strong chance they cannot get a wild card spot, what are the realistic players that other teams would want/they would consider letting go?

1. Panik for a 3rd round pick-- be nice to shed his salary.
2. Hartman for a 2nd-3rd round pick-- would they really want to resign him at a higher cost? What's the point if they are not a playoff team?
3. One of the newer D?

These seem more realistic than any of the "core" players, because the Hawks would either have to retain a decent amount of salary, or blow everything up with a trade of someone like Keith.

Thoughts?

So on the assumption the Hawks cannot finish in the top three of their division, and the strong chance they cannot get a wild card spot, what are the realistic players that other teams would want/they would consider letting go?

1. Panik for a 3rd round pick-- be nice to shed his salary.
2. Hartman for a 2nd-3rd round pick-- would they really want to resign him at a higher cost? What's the point if they are not a playoff team?
3. One of the newer D?

These seem more realistic than any of the "core" players, because the Hawks would either have to retain a decent amount of salary, or blow everything up with a trade of someone like Keith.

Thoughts?
- RaleighHawk

1. 1/3 of a bad season does not make a bad player
2. fires sales on Hartman?
3. Not until you fully understand the top 8 for years to come...

1. 1/3 of a bad season does not make a bad player
2. fires sales on Hartman?
3. Not until you fully understand the top 8 for years to come...
- riozzo

Indeed there won’t be any panic selling/trading from this FO. Whatever is done going forward, I hope would be done with a specific purpose.

Gives blowing out the candles a new meaning
- riozzo

That candle has been out for awhile now.

False alarm, as Mr. Scott Powers just informed me, Franson is still on the IR.

I thought he came off. He must have suffered a setback to his rehab as he was skating and traveling with the team.
- Justin Lowe

Ahhhhhh sooooo.

False alarm, as Mr. Scott Powers just informed me, Franson is still on the IR.

I thought he came off. He must have suffered a setback to his rehab as he was skating and traveling with the team.
- Justin Lowe

That fact slipped by me as well.

Practice happening in a couple hours... we'll see what Q is thinking RE: lines w/ Kampf.

1. 1/3 of a bad season does not make a bad player
2. fires sales on Hartman?
3. Not until you fully understand the top 8 for years to come...
- riozzo

Just trying to realistically think of who other teams would want that the Hawks could give up. If they don't make the playoffs, they certainly are not keeoing the same team next year hoping for different results.

Maybe the complete rebuild happens sooner than later, but more likely the ones who go will be the non-core players. If the cap goes to around 79M, and a few more lower salaries can be shed, it might give them enough room to pickup some mid-level free agents while trying out some other rookies.

Great blog, Justin. Of the center possibilities you described, I would imagine in a few years we could see Kampf as the 3C and either Dauphin or Johnson as the 4C.

Highmore is a center IIRC, but like Sikura and Soderlund, I see him playing wing in the NHL (assuming he makes the big show).

Sikura could eventually be a top 6 winger to go along with DeBrincat and Schmaltz (if center ends up not being where he will be deployed in the long term). Even if Schmaltz ends up being a pivot, you could potentially have two gifted wingers in Sikura and DeBrincat to play with Kane, Saad, and Toews.

Soderlund would be a great mini power winger with finesse like Arvidsson. Not sure if he's top 6 material but he has the tools to state his case.

There's also Kero, of course, who has the most NHL experience by comparison to the prospect group. But then we start getting a lot of redundant players: bottom 6 forwards who are good defensively and bring minimal offense (i.e. him, Highmore, Dauphin, Johnson, Noel, Knott). That's great for AHL depth and for trade fodder.

"A terrific two-way center with speed to burn, Toews has great hands and one-on-one moves. With his size, he can also just overpower defenders, out-muscle them. Toews is a great shot as well and an excellent passer of the puck."

Speed? Nope.
Overpower defenders? Nope.
One-on-One moves? Nope.

What the (frank) happened to this guy?

"A terrific two-way center with speed to burn, Toews has great hands and one-on-one moves. With his size, he can also just overpower defenders, out-muscle them. Toews is a great shot as well and an excellent passer of the puck."

Speed? Nope.
Overpower defenders? Nope.
One-on-One moves? Nope.

What the (frank) happened to this guy?
- EnzoD

After he made me grab my ankles on this contract he didn't really feel like scoring much more than that

"A terrific two-way center with speed to burn, Toews has great hands and one-on-one moves. With his size, he can also just overpower defenders, out-muscle them. Toews is a great shot as well and an excellent passer of the puck."

Speed? Nope.
Overpower defenders? Nope.
One-on-One moves? Nope.

What the (frank) happened to this guy?
- EnzoD

From my eye test, who on the team checks these boxes for speed, overpowering defenders, and one-on-one moves?

Speed: Kane, Schmaltz, Saad
Overpower defenders: Saad, Panik (if he applies himself), Hayden
One-on-One moves: Kane

Kane and Saad are the only ones who check 2 of 3 boxes. Y'all may have a different view. Welcome anyone's thoughts.

From my eye test, who on the team checks these boxes for speed, overpowering defenders, and one-on-one moves?

Speed: Kane, Schmaltz, Saad
Overpower defenders: Saad, Panik (if he applies himself), Hayden
One-on-One moves: Kane

Kane and Saad are the only ones who check 2 of 3 boxes. Y'all may have a different view. Welcome anyone's thoughts.
- AEL_Fox

Schmaltzy has good one on one moves too. Debrincat a bit.