Sounds reasonable but if they keep all four look for another high draft pick next year because they might be in the bottom 5.
- RaleighHawk

You're probably right. It might be reasonable to assume the likes of Gus, Rutta and Oesterle will improve next season. But even if they do I don't think they will improve enough to make this team a contender.

After watching last nights game I have nothing intelligent to add. Going to go over the the preds page and troll all of their contributors...

After watching last nights game I have nothing intelligent to add. Going to go over the the preds page and troll all of their contributors...
- riozzo

Bombs away

Found this short podcast from Boyle and Burish interesting. Personally think Burish has been a great addition to the commentators' booth. He isn't afraid to call it like it is and he also provides insights that few others, outside of Eddie O, can provide.

http://www.nbcsports.com/...hampionship-window-closed

First Boyle talks to Toews about whether the window is closed, then Burish gives his opinion on which forwards are building blocks, not sure (need to see more to know), or no thanks. He gives brief reasoning for each in the audio.

Saad - not sure
DeBrincat - building block
Schmaltz - building block
Jurco - no thanks
DuClair - no thanks
Hayden - not sure
Anisimov - not sure
Kampf - not sure
Hinostroza - building block

No, they didn't ask him about Toews or Kane.

Waite helps. But who convinces Bowman whether Forsberg is shsceptible or will ivercome his preparedness? Is there an approach that woukd work for him? I am asking,; maybe someone can provide professional advice on this.

Found this short podcast from Boyle and Burish interesting. Personally think Burish has been a great addition to the commentators' booth. He isn't afraid to call it like it is and he also provides insights that few others, outside of Eddie O, can provide.

http://www.nbcsports.com/...hampionship-window-closed

First Boyle talks to Toews about whether the window is closed, then Burish gives his opinion on which forwards are building blocks, not sure (need to see more to know), or no thanks. He gives brief reasoning for each in the audio.

Saad - not sure
DeBrincat - building block
Schmaltz - building block
Jurco - no thanks
DuClair - no thanks
Hayden - not sure
Anisimov - not sure
Kampf - not sure
Hinostroza - building block

No, they didn't ask him about Toews or Kane.
- pdx2ord

pretty interesting...agree with most: i like kampf, i still like saad, i like hayden

After watching last nights game I have nothing intelligent to add. Going to go over the the preds page and troll all of their contributors...
- riozzo

neither does Q-Bow or Stan-Q

You're probably right. It might be reasonable to assume the likes of Gus, Rutta and Oesterle will improve next season. But even if they do I don't think they will improve enough to make this team a contender.
- DarthKane

My hope is that after two seasons one or two have gained experience and could be good depth players

pretty interesting...agree with most: i like kampf, i still like saad, i like hayden
- bogiedoc

He seems to really like Hayden, but hopes he will recognize that he is really a bottom 6 forward and that grit is one of the most important things he can bring to this team.

"Rutta at over 2 million is stupid money.

Same for Gus at 1.2 or whatever that is. They could have easily qualified him for less and its not like he was going to go anywhere else.

That 2.5 million there could really biff them unless one or both of those guys are throw ins for summer deals.-Fatty Beef"

Stan Bowman overpaying contracts and (frank)ing up the salary cap? Nooo

Trade Murphy and Anisimov this offseason. That would free up 9.4M, and with the cap increasing 4-7M this summer, there are lots of UFA secondary scorers that should be reasonably priced. Doubt you can offload Seabrook, but Gustafsson and Oesterle look like solid D-men at a great price.

"Rutta at over 2 million is stupid money.

Same for Gus at 1.2 or whatever that is. They could have easily qualified him for less and its not like he was going to go anywhere else.

That 2.5 million there could really biff them unless one or both of those guys are throw ins for summer deals.-Fatty Beef"

Stan Bowman overpaying contracts and (frank)ing up the salary cap? Nooo
- EnzoD

rutta 1.5 mil max
gust 800k with incentives like actually competing in the corners

Trade Murphy and Anisimov this offseason. That would free up 9.4M, and with the cap increasing 4-7M this summer, there are lots of UFA secondary scorers that should be reasonably priced. Doubt you can offload Seabrook, but Gustafsson and Oesterle look like solid D-men at a great price.
- bikeguy99

ummm no...offensive ok...but defensively very weak

Trade Murphy and Anisimov this offseason. That would free up 9.4M, and with the cap increasing 4-7M this summer, there are lots of UFA secondary scorers that should be reasonably priced. Doubt you can offload Seabrook, but Gustafsson and Oesterle look like solid D-men at a great price.
- bikeguy99

You said Gus and Oesterle look like solid D-Men at a great price? Gotta respectfully disagree. Gus has to improve to be a viable NHL D-Man - needs to add some quick thinking and some aggressiveness to his game in the D end. Oesterle is simply not an NHL D-Man.

I'm so over this lame duck team right now.

Depressing.

Hopefully something happens at the draft or in the off season.

rutta 1.5 mil max
gust 800k with incentives like actually competing in the corners
- bogiedoc

OR.....let both walk in free agency because both are big factors in the Hawks' awful defense the entire season??

If we must pick from that list, I'd say Hutchinson first, then Bernier, then maybe Hutton, but the Blues will keep him.
The best thing that could happen for Corey is that he gets a good summer of rest and comes back with a vengeance next year and returns to the old crow!
But if the Hawks feel different about that situation, If indeed there was more mis behaving and Bowman and McD feel that's enough, then I could see a Crawford for Carey Price swap possibly , of course they would have to make the money work out so there maybe other pieces involved( no not Shaw), and then sign one of those other guys for back up.
As far as depth in our system, we got S--T.
But the Cherry on the Sundae would be that Bowman isn't around come the summer to make that call!

Found this short podcast from Boyle and Burish interesting. Personally think Burish has been a great addition to the commentators' booth. He isn't afraid to call it like it is and he also provides insights that few others, outside of Eddie O, can provide.

http://www.nbcsports.com/...hampionship-window-closed

First Boyle talks to Toews about whether the window is closed, then Burish gives his opinion on which forwards are building blocks, not sure (need to see more to know), or no thanks. He gives brief reasoning for each in the audio.

Saad - not sure
DeBrincat - building block
Schmaltz - building block
Jurco - no thanks
DuClair - no thanks
Hayden - not sure
Anisimov - not sure
Kampf - not sure
Hinostroza - building block

No, they didn't ask him about Toews or Kane.
- pdx2ord

Saad, Schmaltz, DeBrincat, Hayden should be building blocks. Jurco and Duclair, No-thanks. Kampf and Anisimov are not building blocks, but have a role on a championship level team. Hinostroza is a great local story and a kid that gives it everything he has and does what is asked of him, but realistically he is at best a 13th/14th forward on a team that has SC dreams.

pretty interesting...agree with most: i like kampf, i still like saad, i like hayden
- bogiedoc

Agree with your add ons and like AA too...maybe not as a building block but a bridge at least.

If we must pick from that list, I'd say Hutchinson first, then Bernier, then maybe Hutton, but the Blues will keep him.
The best thing that could happen for Corey is that he gets a good summer of rest and comes back with a vengeance next year and returns to the old crow!
But if the Hawks feel different about that situation, If indeed there was more mis behaving and Bowman and McD feel that's enough, then I could see a Crawford for Carey Price swap possibly , of course they would have to make the money work out so there maybe other pieces involved( no not Shaw), and then sign one of those other guys for back up.
As far as depth in our system, we got S--T.
But the Cherry on the Sundae would be that Bowman isn't around come the summer to make that call!
- wonthecup10

I don't see how adding the worst goalie contract in the league helps the Hawks' situation at all. There are enough egregiously overpaid, immovable players on this roster as is...

Agree with your add ons and like AA too...maybe not as a building block but a bridge at least.
- HawkintheD

Unless there is a solid plan to replace Anisimov I don't see the value in trading him.

Found this short podcast from Boyle and Burish interesting. Personally think Burish has been a great addition to the commentators' booth. He isn't afraid to call it like it is and he also provides insights that few others, outside of Eddie O, can provide.

http://www.nbcsports.com/...hampionship-window-closed

First Boyle talks to Toews about whether the window is closed, then Burish gives his opinion on which forwards are building blocks, not sure (need to see more to know), or no thanks. He gives brief reasoning for each in the audio.

Saad - not sure
DeBrincat - building block
Schmaltz - building block
Jurco - no thanks
DuClair - no thanks
Hayden - not sure
Anisimov - not sure
Kampf - not sure
Hinostroza - building block

No, they didn't ask him about Toews or Kane.
- pdx2ord

I'm not sure about Vinnie.
I agree that AA is a "not sure" but he's a bit too old to be a building block anyway - he's the same age as 19 and 88.

Unless there is a solid plan to replace Anisimov I don't see the value in trading him.
- DarthKane

Well you get cap space by getting rid of a high paying contract. That is enough in itself. However, presumably you also get a return of some kind. Not a huge return but a return. Anisimov’s stock has dropped and will continue to do so. Had far higher value last summer when he should have been moved. He is injury prone and misses lots of games every year. However, what that has created are experimental samples. What is concluded from those samples is the team doesn’t miss a beat when he is out. The team actually becomes better, faster.

The problem with Anisimov is he is not a top 6 forward or at least he isn’t with the forwards the Hawks have. However, if he plays 3C he is getting very nice money to do so. However, if the team is fine with the money at 3C then leave him there and do not move him top 6 pretending he has the speed or 5 on 5 talent to play with fast, talented players like Kane and Schmaltz. Move him or recognize his limits and slot him low while paying high.

Well you get cap space by getting rid of a high paying contract. That is enough in itself. However, presumably you also get a return of some kind. Not a huge return but a return. Anisimov’s stock has dropped and will continue to do so. Had far higher value last summer when he should have been moved. He is injury prone and misses lots of games every year. However, what that has created are experimental samples. What is concluded from those samples is the team doesn’t miss a beat when he is out. The team actually becomes better, faster.

The problem with Anisimov is he is not a top 6 forward or at least he isn’t with the forwards the Hawks have. However, if he plays 3C he is getting very nice money to do so. However, if the team is fine with the money at 3C then leave him there and do not move him top 6 pretending he has the speed or 5 on 5 talent to play with fast, talented players like Kane and Schmaltz. Move him or recognize his limits and slot him low while paying high.
- Z3Hawk

What good is the cap space if the team isn't going to use it? Trading AA depletes the Hawks centre depth. Toews and Schmaltz are legit centres, Kampf is probably a decent 4C but he's still unproven. Beyond that who on the team is better than AA?

That being said, I truly expect Anisimov to be traded, but not this off-season. I expect AA to be dealt in July 2019 after this NTC clause expires and he's paid his performance bonus. AA would be paid $2 million in salary (after his bonus) in 19/20 and would carry a $4.55 million cap hit. In 20/21 he's paid $3 million for the same cap hit. That will drive up his trade value to cash strapped teams like Ottawa.

I'm not sure about Vinnie.
I agree that AA is a "not sure" but he's a bit too old to be a building block anyway - he's the same age as 19 and 88.
- matt_ahrens

Vinnie is at a crossroads. He obviously has speed but unless he starts playing smarter he will not be successful. He passes foolishly into coverage so often it is as if there is no thinking going on whatsoever. When his speed creates a shooting opportunity he has to take it and hit the net. Speed in and of itself is a good attribute to have but unless it is used effectively can border on irrelevant.