How about DeBrincat and Schmaltz turning it up and Saad&Toews turning back? Not saying that will happen but that´s not impossible.
- MjulQvist

How can Debrincat turn it up when he's destined to be a career AHL star???

Schmaltz is too weak to turn up the volume on his iPod, much less in the NHL.

Saad, maybe, but we'll have to trade him again and watch him succeed in another jersey.

Toews is done. He should retire now and focus on the environment while there are still trees growing in Canada

I completely agree with your assessment of these players, but something needs to be done about their system as well. How many times can we make the same mistake of having all three forwards chasing the puck and caught behind the opponents net only to have an odd man break the other way.

We have to be near the bottom of the league in odd man rushes against. Between our forwards not recognizing the situation and our D being REALLY aggressive when they shouldn't there needs to be a lot of work done to correct what ails this team.
- Chunk

A strong point to bring in.

Who cares? I wouldn't be pissed at a Jurco/Kampf/Martinsen first line, it's all experimental at this point. #TANK4DAHLIN
- Murph76

Exactly!
It's not like we are fighting for a playoff spot. And maybe management wants to have a look at Martinsen to see if he can play at this level and offer us some grit which we have none of.

How about DeBrincat and Schmaltz turning it up and Saad&Toews turning back? Not saying that will happen but that´s not impossible.
- MjulQvist

Certainly possible, but I'm not sure Toews is going to have much of a bump next year. this is his 3rd season with production in the 50's and he's gonna be 30 in about a month.

Exactly!
It's not like we are fighting for a playoff spot. And maybe management wants to have a look at Martinsen to see if he can play at this level and offer us some grit which we have none of.
- 67hawks

We can always dream

I feel like Schmaltz could really break out next season. He seems to be getting better in more areas of the game and has that speed and instincts with the puck. If he gets stronger and harder to contain, and he gets paired with some effective line-mates, he could really become a great player.
- breadbag

And if someone could teach Schmaltz not to throw the puck away when he is in a high percentage shooting lane.

I hope if coach Q does not coach next year he stays with the Organization. If not it cold but I bet he would like coaching EDM

3 billboards for Madison Ave.

Two early playoff exits followed by no playoffs and a last place team

And still a non performing core and an outdated coach still remain?

How come Stan Bowman?

Certainly possible, but I'm not sure Toews is going to have much of a bump next year. this is his 3rd season with production in the 50's and he's gonna be 30 in about a month.
- BINGO!

Eric Staal did it when he was 32. I want to believe!

Not reading too much into the Andreas Martinsen recall but believe he's getting the call up is they want to see what they have in him and if he's worth keeping around. Essentially another "tryout" type move for a guy that:

A) has played well since they acquired him so a reward for him
B) is versatile, skates well for a big guy (6'3/220 lbs) and physical
C) has 120 NHL games... is 27 years old and an UFA this summer


The 'Hogs don't play again until Friday so he could play a game and head back to join his team for that game (granted the Highmore injury isn't too serious).

3 billboards for Madison Ave.

Two early playoff exits followed by no playoffs and a last place team

And still a non performing core and an outdated coach still remain?

How come Stan Bowman?
- Hawkster

Hawks fans needs to do the same thing as Ottawa did with a #SeeYaStan billboard

beat a dead horse time:

saad + toews on pace for 90 pts and 4-5 PPG

you get this kinda return next year and = same result

almost 17 mildo at 1/2 price production....

ADB + Smaltz will outpoint and out goal saad/toews

Eric Staal did it when he was 32. I want to believe!
- MjulQvist

Staal's last year in Raleigh his linemates were guys like Nathan Gerbe and Chris Terry.

plenty of seat available for tonights game...CHEAP...GET EM while you can

https://www.ticketcity.co...-mar-20-2018-2379318.html

How can Debrincat turn it up when he's destined to be a career AHL star???

Schmaltz is too weak to turn up the volume on his iPod, much less in the NHL.

Saad, maybe, but we'll have to trade him again and watch him succeed in another jersey.

Toews is done. He should retire now and focus on the environment while there are still trees growing in Canada
- Slofire94

Whatever you say Trump Jr

Staal's last year in Raleigh his linemates were guys like Nathan Gerbe and Chris Terry.
- BINGO!

Stan need to target this guy...he'd look great on Toews' wing.

How can Debrincat turn it up when he's destined to be a career AHL star???

Schmaltz is too weak to turn up the volume on his iPod, much less in the NHL.

Saad, maybe, but we'll have to trade him again and watch him succeed in another jersey.

Toews is done. He should retire now and focus on the environment while there are still trees growing in Canada
- Slofire94

Staal's last year in Raleigh his linemates were guys like Nathan Gerbe and Chris Terry.
- BINGO!

A lot like Toews playing with some subpar guys over the last 2-3 seasons. He has usually had at least one guy who doesn't belong in the top 6 but sometimes two. Often some young guys learning on the job too.

- DarthKane

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

#embraceTheTank

How can Debrincat turn it up when he's destined to be a career AHL star???

Schmaltz is too weak to turn up the volume on his iPod, much less in the NHL.

Saad, maybe, but we'll have to trade him again and watch him succeed in another jersey.

Toews is done. He should retire now and focus on the environment while there are still trees growing in Canada
- Slofire94

Schmaltz and DeBrincat had solid seasons, but it's unlikely that they continue to grow or even maintain this level. DeBrincat was a 2nd round pick, maybe Stan could trade him for a 1st or even a high-2nd rounder? Trade Schmaltz for a college defenseman to help replenish the prospect pipeline.

A lot like Toews playing with some subpar guys over the last 2-3 seasons. He has usually had at least one guy who doesn't belong in the top 6 but sometimes two. Often some young guys learning on the job too.
- breadbag

There are 10.5 million reasons why this is a BS excuse for Toews mediocre (at best) play over the last 3 seasons.

A lot like Toews playing with some subpar guys over the last 2-3 seasons. He has usually had at least one guy who doesn't belong in the top 6 but sometimes two. Often some young guys learning on the job too.
- breadbag

Neither of those guys are NHL players.

And didn't Toews spend most of this year with Saad? Wasn't that the whole point?

There are $10.5 million reasons why this is a BS excuse for Toews mediocre (at best) play over the last 3 seasons.
- EnzoD

*4.5M reasons
We don't expect anything until at least 6M, or else then Saad would qualify too

EDIT:
*3.5M reasons
We don't expect anything until at least 6M, or else then Saad and Seabrook would qualify too

Poll: At what cap hit would remove Toews as #1 whipping boy since the 2015 cup.
And who would replace him? (comment replacements below)

http://www.easypolls.net/...=5ab14671e4b00828d86bdfee

Honestly, I'm routing for Oesterle to find his way defensively because he has a good offensive mind for the game already and more importantly is one of the better skaters on the team.

So if he's fast, mobile, can potentially QB a PP, even throws the odd body check and makes $650k... he's not much of a risk. So here's hoping he can get it together in his own end.

The issue for me is not with Oesterle specifically, but that the Hawks plan to bring back 4x Oesterle-types in terms of skill level and experience:

* Oesterle (still figuring it out still)
* Rutta (still figuring it out still),
* Gustafsson (still figuring it out still)
* Forsling (still figuring it out still)


That's a lot of uncertainty again next year. They will all be a year older but I concerned that there won't be a dramatic enough change (in a positive way) in their game that makes me believe that this defence is going to be better.
- Justin Lowe

It seems to me that Bowman, when he needs a certain type of player, will get a bunch of the same type, hoping that one will figure it out and stick. I think he may be doing this with the defense. The odds are better that 1 or even 2 out of the 4 will figure it out. instead of taking a gamble on just one. The Hawks have the cap space and these players aren't even making that much, so why not.