I was in Columbus in 2005, I wanted to buy some rum, and the stores told me they weren't allowed to sell alcohol above a certain proof. I know bars served it... I thought it was bizarre.. If I remember correctly you had to buy booze from some "state store".... IDK, I didn't enjoy the city at all.

Back to hockey.

I don't see the Hawks as a lottery team - but they could go either way.. Playoff bubble team, they could contend - IDK, but I'm not expecting a "lottery team".... In the end I think it's going to come down to our defense and goaltending..

I'm certain Panarin will re-sign in Chicago, I think that was Bowman & Panarin's plan all along... Panarin was the perfect fit for Kane, and I just don't see Bowman giving up Panarin without intention to bring him back, I thought the same about the Saad deal - when I found out he was traded (for cap reasons, like Panarin) I said to myself "he will be back"...

Wise will certainly pan out, I mean he's not a #1 center but he will be a very good/above average #3 center that could play 2nd line center....And Nordgren is like DeBrincat, he was only passed on, er fell in the draft because of his size - he has all the talent in the world - just not the size.... If the guy was 6 foot he would have been a first round pick... I mean IMO, the Hawks got 2 first round pick talents in the 3rd round. Wise was injured (he was expected to be a first round pick going into the draft) and like I said, Nordgren isn't the biggest guy but he has first round talent.

As far as Nash, he's unsure if he's healthy enough to even play.. As to why he would want to come here - because players were polled 6 months ago about franchises they would like to play for and Chicago won that poll..... Chicago is a very desirable destination...

As far as Brouwer - I think signing him to a 1-year 1m deal would be a very good move..

Either way I expect this team will be a lot better next season..... Kunitz will help, bringing Kruger back was HUGE and I think some of these kids progressed with a year of NHL experience under their belt..... And don't forget that all the veterans had terrible seasons last year so I expect them to rebound from that.... Also, the Hawks have something to prove again for the first time in a decade... The Hawks always were expected to make a deep run, now "fans" are calling them a lottery team -- that really has to light a fire under Toews a$$..
- Savard2Secord

I never had a problem having a great time in Columbus. I had a lot of help, though.

You guys are a hoot!
good to already know which players are the scapegoats for the upcoming season, especially that scrawny shmaltz!
Y'all may want to wait for the opening night roster....just a thought

I really don't know what the future holds for Sikura, I see him as a Hinostroza-type player with better hands and more offensive upside, so using him as bait is a bit intriguing because we don't know what we have in him yet given he had a cup of coffee last year with the Hawks..
- Savard2Secord

Sikura > Hinostroza and possibly >> than him if his potential is realized. On the high end, I could see Sikura being a poor man's Johnny Gaudreau or even a notch below. No matter his comparable, Sikura is top 6 material. Hinostroza is middle 6 if not bottom 6.

I would love to bring in Faulk, but at the same time remember that the Hawks are a couple of years away from having at least 4 young top-4 defenseman with very high ceilings. So you don't want to give up significant assets for a guy like Faulk who may be redundant after a couple of years...

If the Hawks are seeking a Faulk-like player (offensive contributor, PP specialist, mediocre at best at defense), then they should just stay in house with Gustafsson and eventually Forsling once he's fully healed.

The same goes for the 2nd line left wing spot, the Hawks need a one-year patch there. I mean I'm absolutely convinced and expecting that Bowman will re-sign Panarin next summer, so that spot will be taken (95% certain).

Not so sure about Panarin being what's best for the Hawks financially, but I do agree that a top 6 LW especially with size on a short-term deal is worth considering so Schmaltz can remain centering that line with Kane on the right. An experienced 3C who can win draws and is solid in all zones is ideal, too, but doubt the Hawks can obtain both let alone one.

So yea, at this point (and if I was in Bowman's shoes) I wouldn't be interested in giving up young players that have the potential to play significant roles for the Hawks long-term..... And I totally understand you have to give to receive, but I also understand the Hawks needs are temporary so you don't want to give up a kid that may not be ready yet to fill those holes...

Agree.

There is not much the Hawks can do about a #4 defenseman right now without having to give up an arm or leg to do it, and giving up a pound of flesh for a quick fix would be absolutely out of the question...

IMHO, the best opportunity was signing a UFA like de Haan earlier this summer but that ship has sailed. Next opportunity is possibly a PTO who proves in camp that he has at least one more strong season to give and can parlay that into a 1-year affordable contract.

Remember, you (us Hawks fans) need to look beyond this season and IMO a good GM plans for the future... So what if the Hawks suck for 1-2 seasons if they can set themselves up to have another decade + of contending (for) and winning the Cup?? - small price to pay IMO...

Agree again.

I mean the first 4 guys the Hawks took in the draft are cant-miss prospects...

Not sure if "can't miss" is the right descriptor but at least Boqvist, Beaudin, and Wise have high upside if developed the right way. Nordgren is possible but not at the same level as his draft mates, IMHO. If he doesn't substantially improve his skating, then Nordgren will never get close to the NHL.

And yes, Panarin will absolutely be a Blackhawk next summer.

Again, not so sure Panarin returning to the Hawks is a good financial move for the team overall given the Toews, Kane, and Seabrook contracts and need to re-up with young key players once their ELCs expire. Eventually shedding salary like Anisimov's and Crawford's and even Murphy's in some way or other will help. I personally would rather invest the money that would go to one player (Panarin) and split between at least 2 players.

The Hawks will have one of most dynamic defenses in the NHL in 2-3 years.
- Savard2Secord

Maybe the timeline is a tad longer than 2-3 years, but it is quite possible if anywhere from 4 to even 6 or 7 prospects hit. The blueline pipeline is deep now where the Hawks don't have to put their eggs in 1-2 baskets but can rely on other prospects to step up if others bomb. Consider a future blueline like this (if all spots are filled by home-grown talent):

Carlsson - Boqvist
Beaudin - Jokiharju
Hillman - Mitchell
Krys, Gilbert

Go look at Bowman's draft record - he hit's a home run in basically every draft, or manages to draft several players the go on to have successful NHL careers... Bowman allows players to develop at their own pace, and if Jokiharju steps into a top 4 role (offensively he's more than ready) then that will make it 4 out of 5 years the Hawks got a stud that paid off (minus 2015, but the Hawks didn't even have a first round pick, and it's not too late for others drafted in 2015 to pan out).

The farm system is starting to improve and getting deeper than it has in long time, particularly at defense. Trending in the right direction, that's for sure. Still time to deepen the pool at forward, especially top 6 talent, and in goal.

Even though forward prospects are overwhelmingly bottom 6 talent (possibly middle 6), that pool may include some really good ones in guys like Soderlund, Entwistle, Slavin, and Barratt. From and Dahlstrom (John, not Carl) are worthy of consideration, too.

The only "real" hole the Hawks have is at goaltending - they have no kid even close to filling the Hawks #1 role...I'm hoping that Forsberg, Lankinen or Delia could be that guy.. Regardless, I think signing Nailonov would be a very good idea.

No argument there. It would be best for Forsberg to get at least one full season as a true backup and not be thrust trial by fire into a starting role again. Then have Delia and Lankinen in Rockford.

As for Nalimov, I say let him walk or trade his rights or whatever. Not enamored with his attitude. If he thinks he has what it takes to be in the big show, then prove it.

Is the Hlinka Gretzky tourney this week televised??

Right, we should sell off the future so we can win right now and then suck for a decade? lol

C'mon dude..

Panarin at 9-10 million if affordable, the cap went up - not only that but in a couple of years there will be a Seattle franchise which will further boost the cap....

Look, in 4 years 9-10 million will be peanuts for player of Panarin's talent... Look at Keith's contract... Soon enough players will be signing for 13-15 million dollar deals.. Wait and see what Matthews gets, Dalhin for that matter as well.

What you want is for the Hawks to win now, and then deal with the future when it comes, that's what Bowman did and that's why the Hawks had a terrible season this past year.... Signing Panarin is NOT a bad move - he will be 27 when he signs and signing him until he's 35 will not be a big deal....

But like I said in my post - the Hawks sign Panarin, Schmaltz & DeBrincat long-term and they have a top 6 that is signed for the foreseeable future, something Bowman doesn't have to worry about..... And the Hawks have more than enough talent to fill out the bottom 6 forwards..... If Bowman plays his cards right, this team could be a real beast in a couple of years...

And when I say "cant miss" I mean that -- these kids will be NHL players, and Boqvist a potential franchise defenseman.. The Hawks know how to develop prospects, so I have total faith that these kids will hit (or come very close to hitting) their ceilings...

The Hawks will have one of most dynamic defenses in the NHL in 2-3 years... I know 70% of Hawks fans are expecting failure, but I'm not...... Most Hawks fans think the only way the Hawks can win is with Toews, Keith and Kane and we "MUST trade future assets while the Toews, Keith & Kane window is still open"......

No, Bowman is doing the right thing..... Standing pat, allowing the kids an opportunity to fill roster spots that are open.... And I'm sure if he signs a guy like Brouwer Hawks fans will cry about it.....

I don't know why Hawks fan's see Kool-Aid in optimism...

I know hockey pretty well dude - I've been a "hockey nut" for 35 years, I'm not some bandwagon fan.... These prospects will pan out... Go look at Bowman's draft record - he hit's a home run in basically every draft, or manages to draft several players the go on to have successful NHL careers... Bowman allows players to develop at their own pace, and if Jokiharju steps into a top 4 role (offensively he's more than ready) then that will make it 4 out of 5 years the Hawks got a stud that paid off (minus 2015, but the Hawks didn't even have a first round pick, and it's not too late for others drafted in 2015 to pan out)..

Look at his draft record and the guys that have played roles in the NHL:

2017: Jokiharju (he will make the team)
2016: DeBrincat, Hillman (who has top 4 potetnial)
2015: No one yet
2014: Schmaltz, Sikura (there are others on the cusp of joining the league)
2013: Hartman (who turned into Edjsell,Beaudin & Nordgren), Hayden, Dahlstrom
2012: Teravainen, Hinostroza (who got the Hawks MacKenzie Entwistle who will be a beast)
2011: Saad, Danault, Shaw (who got us DeBrincat), Dahlbeck
2010: Hayes, Johns & Nordstrom

But I should be pessimistic about Bowman and the Hawks scouting staff's eye for talent? lol....

Oh and lets not forget - it's not like the Hawks were ever drafting from a position of strength - they always had later round picks, yet they find gold in later rounds.. Bowman has only had ONE bust in the First Round and that was McNeil, but he followed that draft up by drafting Saad, Danault, Shaw (who got us Cat) & Dahlbeck.

Yet I shouldn't be excited about the future? lol

The Hawks know how to draft and develop players, and this 2018 draft may be the best ever and will probably be Bowman's best draft ever... I could see all the kids drafted by Bowman in 2018 making the NHL at some point, but his first 5 picks absolutely will (if they stay healthy).... I mean Nordgren is basically a DeBrincat, and Wise going into 2017-18 was expected to be a first round pick but he was injured..

C'mon dude..

I can already see this team dominating 2-3 years from now.... A lot of these kids are going to be very good NHL players.

This decade is going to repeat itself going into the 2020's.

Sure the Hawks have a hole at 2nd line LW, and they need a top 4 D now, but the Hawks have 3-4 top 4 defenseman on the way in a couple of years.

The only "real" hole the Hawks have is at goaltending - they have no kid even close to filling the Hawks #1 role... And Crawford is 33 so that is a bit concerning - especially considering his "injury"..... So Bowman will need to figure out something there, he's going to need to acquire a top goalie prospect that is close (1-3 years away from starting in the NHL) or sign a legitimate young-ish starter as a RFA or UFA.

I'm hoping that Forsberg, Lankinen or Delia could be that guy.. Regardless, I think signing Nailonov would be a very good idea because I do not like the outlook for Crawford...IF Crawford comes back will he still be the "Crawford" he was last season and previously? .... Because he could come back and be backup material..
- Savard2Secord

Not every drafted player is going to make it to the nhl its a crap shoot just hope and wait and see and trust your scouts. Goaltending and Center are two areas lacking in the hawks system IMO.

Wo, catching up reading posts from the last couple days.

Question;

Did someone pass a rule on here that no post can be under 1000 words?

Wo, catching up reading posts from the last couple days.

Question;

Did someone pass a rule on here that no post can be under 1000 words?
- vabeachbear

Yeh but if you are good enough at quotes -you really don't need to type all that much to make it.

Panarin? Well, I mean look - you got a proven player - why wouldn't you, if you could? He77 -move someone if you need to. In fact trade someone to get it done now wouldn't be the worst idea since his cap hit can be accommodated...

It would be interesting to see how things work with 2 viable forward lines for a chance - and technically Panarin can actually play without Kane too.

Wo, catching up reading posts from the last couple days.

Question;

Did someone pass a rule on here that no post can be under 1000 words?
- vabeachbear

It’s fine, if there is enough white space - easy to skim to get the points.

It’s the novel-length one-paragraph screeds - often without even sentence breaks - that I skip.

Yeh but if you are good enough at quotes -you really don't need to type all that much to make it.

Panarin? Well, I mean look - you got a proven player - why wouldn't you, if you could? He77 -move someone if you need to. In fact trade someone to get it done now wouldn't be the worst idea since his cap hit can be accommodated...

It would be interesting to see how things work with 2 viable forward lines for a chance - and technically Panarin can actually play without Kane too.
- steve-hist-sdc

$30MM for 3 skaters?

Cap won’t likely be going up fast enough to accommodate that AND enough depth and experience elsewhere to actually contend for a Cup.

$30MM for 3 skaters?

Cap won’t likely be going up fast enough to accommodate that AND enough depth and experience elsewhere to actually contend for a Cup.
- StLBravesFan

If hawks going to spend 8-9million on the breadman that is one player rather the spend that kind of money on top 4 d man and 2nd line player whether its a winger or center.

I'm spoiled. Within a 2-hour radius I have:

Hamilton
Niagara
Guelph
Kitchener
Missaussaga
London
Oshawa
- Justin Lowe

Damn!! I'd be in divorce court. Damn.

Maybe the timeline is a tad longer than 2-3 years, but it is quite possible if anywhere from 4 to even 6 or 7 prospects hit. The blueline pipeline is deep now where the Hawks don't have to put their eggs in 1-2 baskets but can rely on other prospects to step up if others bomb. Consider a future blueline like this (if all spots are filled by home-grown talent):

Carlsson - Boqvist
Beaudin - Jokiharju
Hillman - Mitchell
Krys, Gilbert

The farm system is starting to improve and getting deeper than it has in long time, particularly at defense. Trending in the right direction, that's for sure. Still time to deepen the pool at forward, especially top 6 talent, and in goal.

Even though forward prospects are overwhelmingly bottom 6 talent (possibly middle 6), that pool may include some really good ones in guys like Soderlund, Entwistle, Slavin, and Barratt. From and Dahlstrom (John, not Carl) are worthy of consideration, too.

No argument there. It would be best for Forsberg to get at least one full season as a true backup and not be thrust trial by fire into a starting role again. Then have Delia and Lankinen in Rockford.

As for Nalimov, I say let him walk or trade his rights or whatever. Not enamored with his attitude. If he thinks he has what it takes to be in the big show, then prove it.
- AEL_Fox

AEL I am with you on this! While the "farm" D is stocked and loaded, I too think that it's about 5 years away to really see how they fare, and with I think they will be successful as along as they maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. For example, Boqvist to be a "active" offensive D man but playing it more simple (stick on stick, being goal side) when defending in D zone or Hillman to be physical in any with or without puck battles and valuing puck possession in all three zones (no egregious turnovers) It's one thing to get to the Big Show in two years and another to acclimate and perform well.

Is the Hlinka Gretzky tourney this week televised??
- EnzoD

https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2018hlinka

For those not televised go to hockey streams and they may have a link.

Jack Hughes or bust! #1 overall here we come!!!!
- EnzoD

. So hope so !!!

(The tourney in a few weeks , the Ivan Hlinka will be the younger kids.


I loved that I got to see Boqvist to dispel the negativity I read here.
- wiz1901

The Chicago Steel have FIVE players on the USA Hlinka roster!! Sam Colangelo (they drafted his whole line out of Lawrence Academy), Josh Groll, Robert Mastrosimone (my guy), Luke Reid and Jackson LaCombe. http://www.hlinkagretzky....s/team-rosters?teamid=713


Really good to hear you liked what you saw from Bovqist and you were able to dispel any Bovqist negativity in YOUR mind which I guess is all that matters.

Saw the one game vs USA and will repost what I did then. Saw him take a long shift that caused his club to get hemmed for nearly a minute, danced 3 times (poor/horrid gap on one along the wall in the neutral zone), don't remember him taking one shot, didn't see him create or skate it out, his coach sat him in the OT 3 on 3 thru the first 3 shifts getting him on the ice at the 2:30 mark and IMO did a lot of floating.

Liked that he was looked at on the left side. Liked the one pass off the glass up to a forward. That's the only positives I saw. No "edge work", no skating it out, no breaking down the opposition, no creativity, no shots. .......... Can you say you saw any IQ in the couple games you saw? This is unanswered in my mind as of today.

As mentioned a few thousand times he's 17 and will certainly improve. As mentioned by myself a few hundred times I will defer to the paid scouts on the kid. I see Karlsson and Letang look horrid in their zone often but also see them create most every shift. I'm almost sure Bovqist will be poor in his zone not sure he will create like a Letang.

And yes if I didn't read the lineup I wouldn't have known Wahlstrom was on the ice. His name was rarely mentioned.

Burke is a lawyer and worked for the league at some point. Could be a story he cooked up, but that was the word in Chicago regardless of who said it.
- 6628

Well there was never a word in Sweden that twins wouldn´t come to NHL if they couldn´t play for the same team. That was never an issue with them.

https://theathletic.com/4...-to-sign-with-blackhawks/

Goalie​ prospect Ivan​ Nalimov and the​ Blackhawks are​ on good​ terms again.

Nalimov​ had​ asked for the Blackhawks to trade​ his​​ NHL rights, but he’s rescinded that request after a recent conversation between his agent, Shumi Babaev, and Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman about his future.

According to Babaev, Bowman told him Nalimov was in the Blackhawks’ plans, but the organization would like for him to spend another season in the KHL before coming over.

Nalimov, who turns 24 in August, has since signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. Babaev believes Nalimov will be the No. 1 goalie with the team.

Respectability for the next season depends in large part on how much Toews bounces back. I think he will have a very good year. If 50 can't make it at least there is a viable back up plan this year unlike last year. Hinostroza will be good for more than 50 points this coming year. We can almost put together an entire all-star team of good to great players mgt has completely wasted with nothing of equal value coming back in any case whatsoever. I have said previously the owner needs to hire one or two consultants, maybe ex-gms or head coaches to oversee and have veto power over any and all future 'trades' before any more damage is done to this poor decimated team.

https://theathletic.com/460910/2018/08/06/goalie-prospect-ivan-nalimov-will-wait-one-more-season-to-sign-with-blackhawks/

Goalie​ prospect Ivan​ Nalimov and the​ Blackhawks are​ on good​ terms again.

Nalimov​ had​ asked for the Blackhawks to trade​ his​​ NHL rights, but he’s rescinded that request after a recent conversation between his agent, Shumi Babaev, and Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman about his future.

According to Babaev, Bowman told him Nalimov was in the Blackhawks’ plans, but the organization would like for him to spend another season in the KHL before coming over.

Nalimov, who turns 24 in August, has since signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL. Babaev believes Nalimov will be the No. 1 goalie with the team.
- Mr Ricochet

This is good news, atta boy Stan!

Hey wiz, I saw enough from Boqvist to feel pretty confident he will develop into a pretty good player.

I had a similar reaction to that big #19 kid playing for Canada ... and then realized it was Entwistle. The Entwistle-Hayton-(forgot the 3rd guy) line was clicking and was probably the best line for Canada when they played the Swedes. Hayton looked very good.
- EbonyRaptor

Yeah, Hayton only knock is he isn't gonna be an this huge offensive finisher...he certainly can transport the puck, read the action and control play with this actions.

Was it speedy talk Alex Formenton on the Lw with them, maybe?

Ottawa is gonna get a nhler with him too.

When McKenzie Entwistle fills in that lanky frame he will be quicker all around and he plays that 3rd line role already, but there is clearly skill and great skating balance and recognition there already.

Hey wiz, I saw enough from Boqvist to feel pretty confident he will develop into a pretty good player..
- EbonyRaptor

Because these games in the showcase were game after game day after day, players were rested....Boqvist and Centre Jack Hughes didn't play in the final "championship" round mostly b/c they had played in the others/


Boqvist wore #3 if you anybody is watching the NHL channel replays

Wo, catching up reading posts from the last couple days.

Question;

Did someone pass a rule on here that no post can be under 1000 words?
- vabeachbear

Some people are just verbose. I know I can definitely be.

To answer about TV of the "Gretsky" - Hlinka tourney in Red Deer:


The US NHKL channel gets the option to buy the Rogers-(TSN?) broadcasts.

They are showing semis and final. I am not sure if that means TWO or THREE games will be televised.

It bugs me...it is called the NHL channel, I know but...someone has to start coming to the realization that the fans want to see not just the USA teams games and that there is value in showing the games involving Sweden and the rest.

Maybe I am completely incorrect and it is just greedy me who besides wanting to see the USA 2019 prospects Rich Robert Mastrosimone, Arthur Kaliyev, Tyler Paquette, Luke Toporowski, Nicholas Robertson and goalie Dustin Wolf, I want to see the other top kids win the other teams.

The US team has for a decade made sure tom send the inexperienced younger guys with less emphasis on results and getting their feet wet against good foreign teams.

I guess I need to find yet another Hockey TV option and pay for it.

Somebody here was talking about one a while back, b ut I thought since there were Canadien, that it probably wasn't an option for me...

any body PM with any and all possible options to see more junior.

(Will his wife endure the barrage?)

Wo, catching up reading posts from the last couple days.
Question;
Did someone pass a rule on here that no post can be under 1000 words?
- vabeachbear

Answer: yes

Some people are just verbose. I know I can definitely be.
- L_B_R

Thanks for having my back... you will. notice my long posts don't involve much negativity...