Unbelievable. I stayed up to watch the Sweden vs Norway game and I didn't see him or hear his name called and was very confused. Cannot believe USA lost to (frank)ing Slovenia. Should have done all NCAA players then FFS.
- EnzoD

USA sucks. American players don't have any heart.

Did you watch the Hawks vs Stars last week? Johns was a force all over the ice. His ice time has fluctuated significantly lately....20:33, 13:53, 19:42, 14:25, 19:35,18:41....his season avg is 17:28 TOI in 54 GP he has 7 G, 5A, +9, 90 SOG, 134 Hits, 110 blocks. To Hawks67....he appears to be in the 4/5 role for the Stars depending on the game. How many minutes would Oesterle, Gustafson, Kempny, Murphy or Seabrook be playing for Dallas??
- EnzoD

I'm still not gonna lament his loss.

He's 4/5 on a good team heading to the playoffs. Safe to say he'd be at least that on the Hawks.
- kwolf68

And he brings the nasty. He punished several Hawks last week with clean, hard body checks, while scoring a goal. I'm a fan of how he plays the game. But why have a crease clearing 225lb bruiser with plus skating and shooting when you can have 4 defenseman who weigh under 180lbs on the backend?

I'm still not gonna lament his loss.
- BlazinMike

It's still a free country and free internet (until net neutrality is implemented), so that is your right. However, I'd argue that gifting away legit NHL players on Entry level Contracts is not a recipe for sustained success. Example A: 2017/18 Chicago Blackhawks who have been giving away young talent for the last 3-4 years without adequate replacement players.

It's still a free country and free internet (until net neutrality is implemented), so that is your right. However, I'd argue that gifting away legit NHL players on Entry level Contracts is not a recipe for sustained success. Example A: 2017/18 Chicago Blackhawks who have been giving away young talent for the last 3-4 years without adequate replacement players.
- EnzoD

The two players the team lost that people complain most about are Danault and Johns.

Both are solid young players on cost effective deals (at least for now). I would like to have both guys back and I think the team would be better with them. But I question how much better they would be. Would the Hawks be a playoff team and/or a contender with these guys? It's hard to say.

I'd add Teravainen to this list, he could be a top 6 forward on the Hawks.

So in those 3 players the Hawks would have had another top 6 forward, 2C/3C and 2nd pairing d-man. That hurts. I know you can't look at those deals in isolation, but it would have been nice to have kept 1 or 2 of those guys. Hopefully Stan doesn't trade away Schmaltz or Debrincat.

It's still a free country and free internet (until net neutrality is implemented), so that is your right. However, I'd argue that gifting away legit NHL players on Entry level Contracts is not a recipe for sustained success. Example A: 2017/18 Chicago Blackhawks who have been giving away young talent for the last 3-4 years without adequate replacement players.
- EnzoD

How do you compare Johns and Murphy? They seem like basically the same player. Some very nice traits, but not top pairing guys. I agree with your argument for Johns, (not to mention his contract is great right now) but curious to hear your analysis of the two.

I'm still not gonna lament his loss.
- BlazinMike

His loss is a perfect example of WHY the Hawks suck. Johns, Danault, TT were all (are all) talented young players who are enjoying varying levels of success in their current situation and ALL WOULD BE upgrades over current players on the Hawks.

Danault would be our L3-C, TT would be a Top 9 winger and Johns would be playing D-4. Immediately a better hockey team, younger even with even more depth. TT and Danault were former #1 picks, Johns was a 2 or 3. This isn't junk talent we essentially gave away. And now they are all proving their capabilities.

No need to "lament their loss" as the Hawks bee-line it toward the crapper with very little top end talent on the horizon.

It's still a free country and free internet (until net neutrality is implemented), so that is your right. However, I'd argue that gifting away legit NHL players on Entry level Contracts is not a recipe for sustained success. Example A: 2017/18 Chicago Blackhawks who have been giving away young talent for the last 3-4 years without adequate replacement players.
- EnzoD

Don't worry, we have Tomas Jurco, Gustafson, and Jeff Glass on the way to be the next Saad, Leddy, and Crawford.
[Long descending trombone sound]

How do you compare Johns and Murphy? They seem like basically the same player. Some very nice traits, but not top pairing guys. I agree with your argument for Johns, (not to mention his contract is great right now) but curious to hear your analysis of the two.
- Chunk

Johns is a better skater that Murphy without a doubt and his 7 goals would be the most for a Hawks Dman by a wide margin. He is also bulkier/stronger. Murphy is tall but a bit lanky (6'4" 205lbs, while Johns is 6'3" 215lbs) When Stephen Johns hits you, you feel it. Just ask Hartman and Ansimov from last week's game. He would have been a nice player for the Hawks. Oh well.....

His loss is a perfect example of WHY the Hawks suck. Johns, Danault, TT were all (are all) talented young players who are enjoying varying levels of success in their current situation and ALL WOULD BE upgrades over current players on the Hawks.

Danault would be our L3-C, TT would be a Top 9 winger and Johns would be playing D-4. Immediately a better hockey team, younger even with even more depth. TT and Danault were former #1 picks, Johns was a 2 or 3. This isn't junk talent we essentially gave away. And now they are all proving their capabilities.

No need to "lament their loss" as the Hawks bee-line it toward the crapper with very little top end talent on the horizon.
- kwolf68

EXACTLY correct, my friend.

https://www.yahoo.com/ent...e-underwood-and-mike.html

Mystery solved, Now we know why Mike Fisher is coming out of retirement

His loss is a perfect example of WHY the Hawks suck. Johns, Danault, TT were all (are all) talented young players who are enjoying varying levels of success in their current situation and ALL WOULD BE upgrades over current players on the Hawks.

Danault would be our L3-C, TT would be a Top 9 winger and Johns would be playing D-4. Immediately a better hockey team, younger even with even more depth. TT and Danault were former #1 picks, Johns was a 2 or 3. This isn't junk talent we essentially gave away. And now they are all proving their capabilities.

No need to "lament their loss" as the Hawks bee-line it toward the crapper with very little top end talent on the horizon.
- kwolf68

Just my opinion, but I don't think TT would have ever panned out here.

He was billed by Hawks front office/marketing team as the seconding coming of Kane--which is incredibly unfair to do to a young kid. Yes, he's talented, but Kane is a prodigy-level talent. The casual fan base and media here buried TT because he couldn't live up to the hype.

The hype that was created by the organization was what ended up hurting him in Chicago.

Just my opinion, but I don't think TT would have ever panned out here.

He was billed by Hawks front office/marketing team as the seconding coming of Kane--which is incredibly unfair to do to a young kid. Yes, he's talented, but Kane is a prodigy-level talent. The casual fan base and media here buried TT because he couldn't live up to the hype.

The hype that was created by the organization was what ended up hurting him in Chicago.
- Hank3Henshaw

Regarding Teravainen, Danault, and Johns, I also wonder if they would have panned out in Chicago like they have in their new teams given that they played in Rockford under Dent who wasn't exactly developing players that well and given some have questioned whether Q is the type of NHL coach who is adept at player development. I feel these 3 former Hawks would have been serviceable if they were still with the team, but maybe not at the level they are now under different coaches and systems. Just food for thought.

Just my opinion, but I don't think TT would have ever panned out here.

He was billed by Hawks front office/marketing team as the seconding coming of Kane--which is incredibly unfair to do to a young kid. Yes, he's talented, but Kane is a prodigy-level talent. The casual fan base and media here buried TT because he couldn't live up to the hype.

The hype that was created by the organization was what ended up hurting him in Chicago.
- Hank3Henshaw

I was NOT a fan of Tuevo when he was here. Soft, alligator arms, and allergic to contact. But, he was a 1st round pick for a reason and you saw flashes of his playmaking ability during his time here. He was an asset that shouldve been used to acquire a Dman or given more time to grow his game either in Chicago or the AHL. Gifting him away to shed another bad contract Bowman signed with Bickell was another bad move from StanBo the "cap genius". He has 45 points in 57 games, which would be good for 2nd on the Hawks this year.....

The two players the team lost that people complain most about are Danault and Johns.

Both are solid young players on cost effective deals (at least for now). I would like to have both guys back and I think the team would be better with them. But I question how much better they would be. Would the Hawks be a playoff team and/or a contender with these guys? It's hard to say.

I'd add Teravainen to this list, he could be a top 6 forward on the Hawks.

So in those 3 players the Hawks would have had another top 6 forward, 2C/3C and 2nd pairing d-man. That hurts. I know you can't look at those deals in isolation, but it would have been nice to have kept 1 or 2 of those guys. Hopefully Stan doesn't trade away Schmaltz or Debrincat.
- DarthKane

Really hope Stannie doesn't trade Debrincat. Pretty surprising what he's doing on this team with his constant crapshoot of linemates and under 15 min of average ice time. He's on pace for 30 goals. Laine had 36 goal his rookie season and is at 25 now. He probably skated consistently with better linemates last year and had more ice time (about 17 min).

This kid is a goal scorer. Is it outside the realm of reality to imagine he is putting in 40 to 45 goals in 4 or 5 years time?

Assuming the Hawks don't win the lottery for 1-3, let's do a rundown of each prospect slotted to go 5-15.
Dahlin, Svechnikov, Boqvist, Zadina, Tkachuk likely off the board before we can get to them.

Anyone got the skinny on some of these guys?

Regarding Teravainen, Danault, and Johns, I also wonder if they would have panned out in Chicago like they have in their new teams given that they played in Rockford under Dent who wasn't exactly developing players that well and given some have questioned whether Q is the type of NHL coach who is adept at player development. I feel these 3 former Hawks would have been serviceable if they were still with the team, but maybe not at the level they are now under different coaches and systems. Just food for thought.
- AEL_Fox

Sticking with TT as an example, going to CAR was probably the best thing for him. He was under a big microscope in Chicago.

I think going to the Canes allowed him to focus on just offense, instead of playing a more complete a two-way game.

Not making excuses for TT, because I wasn't a huge fan of what he brought, but I'm just saying that I think Chicago wasn't the best place for him to develop. Too many responsibilities that required of him on the ice and too much to live up to.

Sticking with TT as an example, going to CAR was probably the best thing for him. He was under a big microscope in Chicago.

I think going to the Canes allowed him to focus on just offense, instead of playing a more complete a two-way game.

Not making excuses for TT, because I wasn't a huge fan of what he brought, but I'm just saying that I think Chicago wasn't the best place for him to develop. Too many responsibilities that required of him on the ice and too much to live up to.
- Hank3Henshaw

Good perspective. Not sure if this is a perfect analogy, but with Teravainen at least, on the Hawks he seemed to be a square peg being forced into a round hole where as the square hole in Carolina helped him flourish by giving him the chance to put his offensive talents on full display.

The square peg/round hole dilemma may also be seen with current players on the Hawks roster not being slotted properly, i.e. playing on the wrong line, playing on the weaker side, playing a role not suited for their skill set and experience, etc.

Good perspective. Not sure if this is a perfect analogy, but with Teravainen at least, on the Hawks he seemed to be a square peg being forced into a round hole where as the square hole in Carolina helped him flourish by giving him the chance to put his offensive talents on full display.

The square peg/round hole dilemma may also be seen with current players on the Hawks roster not being slotted properly, i.e. playing on the wrong line, playing on the weaker side, playing a role not suited for their skill set and experience, etc.
- AEL_Fox

It's still a free country and free internet (until net neutrality is implemented), so that is your right. However, I'd argue that gifting away legit NHL players on Entry level Contracts is not a recipe for sustained success. Example A: 2017/18 Chicago Blackhawks who have been giving away young talent for the last 3-4 years without adequate replacement players.
- EnzoD

Him, and Danault and TT are still gone though and not coming back. I understand the situation the Hawks are in currently and how it might have been different with TT, Danault and Johns still Hawks property, but none of that happened.

Time to look to the future.

Wingels and Bouma in the top 6....
Hysterical. Nice slap in the face to some of the boys eh ?? I like it !!
The Tank is On.
- Hawkytalk

Toews and Kane get some red ass and we all know that you can never have enough red ass.

Has Johns really been that good in the NHL so far?
- BlazinMike

Yes! Living in Dallas I watch him every night. He plays physical, is good with the puck and is responsible in his own end. He reminds me of a quicker Seabs honestly.

Him, and Danault and TT are still gone though and not coming back. I understand the situation the Hawks are in currently and how it might have been different with TT, Danault and Johns still Hawks property, but none of that happened.

Time to look to the future.
- BlazinMike

How long have you been here? That will never happen!

Ville Pokka has been recalled according to @Capfriendly.

Beat writers haven't posted anything yet.

Wonder what's up there? Who's hurt or going down?

Weird timing.

Ville Pokka has been recalled according to @Capfriendly.

Beat writers haven't posted anything yet.

Wonder what's up there? Who's hurt or going down?

Weird timing.
- Justin Lowe

There ya go.

Pokka traded to Sens for Chris DiDomenico.