Ha! Stranger things right?

Agree about signing Sbisa. I think he’s more bottom pairing at this point and unless he’s brought in as depth, pass.

I’d rather see if Gusto and Rutta can take another step. They both have some offense to their game and if they can be better defensively it’s a win.

If not, Jan’s contract is up at the end of the year and Gus only has one left.

If it helps keep some of the other Utes stay in RFD for all or most of the year to develop, great. Too bad on the other Gus though. I thought Forsling had a legit shot to come in and play a whole season.
- HawkintheD

I'm still not sold on Rutta, hopefully he proves me wring. I still remember that game in Vancouver where he and Forsling were absolutely terrible. I was there with 2 of my boys.

I think Forsling is the odd man out and he'll be dealt later this season or maybe next summer. I'd like to see Stan try to snag McCann out of Florida, he's a bit of a risk but wouldn't cost much to acquire. He could fill the 3C role ok with some more experience (*waits for LBR to provide stats on how bad McCann is* - I'm just poking fun at you LBR, I always enjoy your contributions but you tend to prove me wrong often)

I think certain aspects of the roster will be better. DeBrincat and Schmaltz should be better with more experience. I think Sikura and Kahun will help the team, and Kruger is a defensive upgrade at forward. Small improvements for the most part, but improvement nonetheless. Not to mention that a bounceback season from Saad is completely realistic.

Goaltending is the big question and it all surrounds Crawfords health. If Corey plays I have no concerns. If Corey doesn't play the Hawks are in deep trouble (in the absence of any other goaltending moves).

Defense is about neutral as far as change. Manning and Oesterle are even swaps, Keith should improve but he can only do so much. Seabrook may improve but not but much. They key to any improvements on defense will be Gus or Murphy really stepping up (possible but not a given) or a young guy (Jokiharju) surprising everyone.
- DarthKane

Joki sikrua kahun should be in rockford developing why rush them. Smaltz dcat were rushed and there holes in their games no player is perfect. Plus putting a lot of pressure on the kids to perform and carry the team.

Justin after looking over your predictions, I have to say 2 things first your spot on and 2nd this defensive group is awful.

I'd rather see all the kids brought up and show more energy and learn , then hanging onto useless cap eating aging guys.


This team isn't going anywhere this year

Focusing on points scored by the defense is I think too narrow a lens to look through, if not the wrong one entirely.

This squad first and foremost needs to develop and execute an effective defensive scheme that plays to the strengths and away from the weaknesses of the players they have.

If they can do that then points scored by them is just a bonus.

Right now it is more important to make zone entries difficult, zone exits effective, and reducing quality shots on goal.

That all said, none of this means anything if the forwards (top six in particular) do not have the stamina and determination to keep offensive zone possessions alive. Their ineffectiveness in this area created far too many situations where defensemen pinched to cover for the cottony soft forward group, creating odd man break opportunities going back the other way.

Is there a David Bote (Cubs) like player looming on the Hawks? Someone who was not drafted high, has been in their system for a while but not shined, and then finally figures things out. Or a pick up that came on without much fanfare that has struggled wherever he has been, but the light finally goes on. A player or two like that could really make a difference even in a limited role (like Bote).

Joki sikrua kahun should be in rockford developing why rush them. Smaltz dcat were rushed and there holes in their games no player is perfect. Plus putting a lot of pressure on the kids to perform and carry the team.
- Scott1977

Unfortunately, you have to rush them because you can't really afford anyone else. I know we have cap space now, but you have two guys you have to resign in short order (8 & 12).

If players show that they are ready for the NHL, you are not rushing them. ABD isn't going to get much bigger, and he has shown the ability to perform very well at the NHL level. While I think he'll get pushed around a bit, I think Sikura could have a similar impact to the team this year (more of a playmaker, but still an impact player). It is all well and good to let players marinate if you have that luxury. I don't think that we do.

Is there a David Bote (Cubs) like player looming on the Hawks? Someone who was not drafted high, has been in their system for a while but not shined, and then finally figures things out. Or a pick up that came on without much fanfare that has struggled wherever he has been, but the light finally goes on. A player or two like that could really make a difference even in a limited role (like Bote).
- -Doh-

I think that was Hinostroza (and to a lesser degree Forsling). I'm really bullish on Hayden, and (to mimic DarthKane) Kahun. Kahun hasn't been in our system long, but fits a similar description.

As far as defense goes, I can see Hillman being this years version of TVR. Someone who Q sees as solid defensively and can occasionally provide some offense.

Unfortunately, you have to rush them because you can't really afford anyone else. I know we have cap space now, but you have two guys you have to resign in short order (8 & 12).

If players show that they are ready for the NHL, you are not rushing them. ABD isn't going to get much bigger, and he has shown the ability to perform very well at the NHL level. While I think he'll get pushed around a bit, I think Sikura could have a similar impact to the team this year (more of a playmaker, but still an impact player). It is all well and good to let players marinate if you have that luxury. I don't think that we do.
- Chunk

Good points but argument is the holes in young player's can be get better with development at the ahl level and when upper management thinks the player is ready and has worked on the holes in his game then bring him up. You are right hawks don't have the luxury of keeping players in rockford to develop due the lack of depth and that the fault of upper management.

Unfortunately, you have to rush them because you can't really afford anyone else. I know we have cap space now, but you have two guys you have to resign in short order (8 & 12).

If players show that they are ready for the NHL, you are not rushing them. ABD isn't going to get much bigger, and he has shown the ability to perform very well at the NHL level. While I think he'll get pushed around a bit, I think Sikura could have a similar impact to the team this year (more of a playmaker, but still an impact player). It is all well and good to let players marinate if you have that luxury. I don't think that we do.
- Chunk

No, they do NOT HAVE TO resign ADB and/or Schmaltz - at least not at any cost. They are not, and will not be, marquis level core players. They are nice skaters with some vision and in the case of ADB, some serious snipe abilities. However, they are not the "baby core", or anything analogous to 19 or 88. When they come across more players like that either through the draft or free agency, THOSE are the guys you pay the big bucks to.

ADB at $4MM bridge and Schmaltz at $5MM bridge - I could maybe see that. But I sure would like to see Schmaltz play on a line without 88 and see what he really has in the tank before the wallet opens very widely.

Something still to be said for building a team from the net out. Goalie, top 4 D, your four centers, then fill in the role players around them. Why worry about your wingers when you have no goalie, the top 4 D not filled, and the centers not filled?

Ha! Stranger things right?

Agree about signing Sbisa. I think he’s more bottom pairing at this point and unless he’s brought in as depth, pass.

I’d rather see if Gusto and Rutta can take another step. They both have some offense to their game and if they can be better defensively it’s a win.

If not, Jan’s contract is up at the end of the year and Gus only has one left.

If it helps keep some of the other Utes stay in RFD for all or most of the year to develop, great. Too bad on the other Gus though. I thought Forsling had a legit shot to come in and play a whole season.
- HawkintheD

I agree on Forsling, but no sure Q does. I love the shot and think he could be a PP weapon. But it depends on which wrist. If it's the top hand on the stick that's more of a problem going forward.

I agree on Forsling, but no sure Q does. I love the shot and think he could be a PP weapon. But it depends on which wrist. If it's the top hand on the stick that's more of a problem going forward.
- 6628

He had a very good stretch of defensive prowess last year. It tailed off and didnt last obviously, but if he can get that to stick then the PP QB thing is gravy.

No, they do NOT HAVE TO resign ADB and/or Schmaltz - at least not at any cost. They are not, and will not be, marquis level core players. They are nice skaters with some vision and in the case of ADB, some serious snipe abilities. However, they are not the "baby core", or anything analogous to 19 or 88. When they come across more players like that either through the draft or free agency, THOSE are the guys you pay the big bucks to.

ADB at $4MM bridge and Schmaltz at $5MM bridge - I could maybe see that. But I sure would like to see Schmaltz play on a line without 88 and see what he really has in the tank before the wallet opens very widely.

Something still to be said for building a team from the net out. Goalie, top 4 D, your four centers, then fill in the role players around them. Why worry about your wingers when you have no goalie, the top 4 D not filled, and the centers not filled?
- Return of the Roar

I would be happy with $5mil x 5 years for each guy. 25-30 goals and 60ish points is worth at least $5mil in today's NHL (remember our 50ish point $10.5 million dollar man has set the bar). Both Cat and Schmaltz are young enough to really cash in again in 5 years, and $10mil for Cat and Schamltz (two top 6 players) would be a solid investment given their age and upside. But, lets be honest, with the exception of the Cap "Cheating" contracts with Hossa + Keith, and Hammer's $4.5mil deal, Stanley Bowman has overpaid EVERY SINGLE PLAYER he has signed to a contract. Even a Euro 3rd pair guy like Rutta who was healthy scratched gets a 200% raise from StanBo.

Quotes not working,

Osterle and Manning are different players, by a lot. Manning is a stay at home defender and Osterle is more offensively inclined to the demise of his defensive responsibilities. So when looking at more goals being scored, the Hawks moved down. In terms of better defense, they moved up. None of this is meaningful if Crow doesn't play or doesn't play like the Crow of old. Carolina handed the starter's job to Darling BECAUSE Ward wasn't good enough, and the top 4 "D" on Carolina is better than the Hawks. So poor drafting (Glendenning), Quenville's mishandling of young defenseman (Leddy) and questionable trades (Johns, Kepney, Hjalmmarson) didn't make the defense better. IF the Hawks could find a trade partner for a #2 and #3 D it would wipe out any promising players in Rockford or Sikura, DeBrindicat, Schmaltz.
The Hawks are going to suck this year and next, so play the Stanly Cup CD from 10,13, or 15 a few times to remember what a good Hawks team looked like. This may take awhile longer than we all will like for the Hawks to be respectable again.

Quotes not working,

Osterle and Manning are different players, by a lot. Manning is a stay at home defender and Osterle is more offensively inclined to the demise of his defensive responsibilities. So when looking at more goals being scored, the Hawks moved down. In terms of better defense, they moved up. None of this is meaningful if Crow doesn't play or doesn't play like the Crow of old. Carolina handed the starter's job to Darling BECAUSE Ward wasn't good enough, and the top 4 "D" on Carolina is better than the Hawks. So poor drafting (Glendenning), Quenville's mishandling of young defenseman (Leddy) and questionable trades (Johns, Kepney, Hjalmmarson) didn't make the defense better. IF the Hawks could find a trade partner for a #2 and #3 D it would wipe out any promising players in Rockford or Sikura, DeBrindicat, Schmaltz.
The Hawks are going to suck this year and next, so play the Stanly Cup CD from 10,13, or 15 a few times to remember what a good Hawks team looked like. This may take awhile longer than we all will like for the Hawks to be respectable again.
- weakglovehand

I'd say the Hawks are a lock for bottom 10 in the league, with or without Crawford. A top 5 pick is needed, just look at how close they were to adding a close to NHL ready high end prospect with Zadina going to the Dead Wings at 6 and Quinn Hughes at 7. Boquist is 2021/22 NHL arrival while Zadina may play this year and Quinn Hughes next year. Oh ya, Dylan Larkin was training with Hughes last week and said he's "like Duncan Keith but a better skater".....so close!

Good points but argument is the holes in young player's can be get better with development at the ahl level and when upper management thinks the player is ready and has worked on the holes in his game then bring him up. You are right hawks don't have the luxury of keeping players in rockford to develop due the lack of depth and that the fault of upper management.
- Scott1977

Some players are beyond what is learned in the AHL, though. Like the speed of the AHL is pretty dramatically different, for example, so at some point, they have to transition to the NHL to learn skills / defense / etc at that higher pace. Leaving a player in the AHL beyond their 'done' point can stunt their growth as much as rushing them to the NHL can. So not all players need a lot of AHL time to get the development they need. Esp player who are a little older and done full NCAA or 3-4 years in Europe, like Sikura and possibly Kahun.

Also, the argument the Hawks couldn't send the players down is bunk as well - they totally could if that was what they wanted. I mean, the Hawks could sign a bunch of $1m or less replacement level players who are desperate to play in the NHL if they wanted to fill out their roster if they really really felt like it would be better for the kids to be in the AHL. That's not hard to do. You don't think any number of guys who eventually have to go to Europe because no NHL team wants to sign them wouldn't have jumped to stay in the US? Or that their aren't some older AHL-quality players that wouldn't kill to have a chance to play? Yeah, the Hawks filled out their roster with slubs like that in 2011, so it's totally doable.

They don't do that because they believe players like Debrincat and Schmaltz are NHL ready and now need to be learning at that stage. Sikura/Kahun/whoever might not be but we won't know until we see them play, so saying they should definitely be in the AHL is a bit silly. The Hawks org knows they're in the transition phase, so they're going to be looking at what is best for the future as well as the now, so that means they're not going to initially rush players because they're desperate. They're not really - they just believe it benefits some of the young players to be in the NHL at this time.

I get where you're coming from - I worry about rushing players too - but like with most things about this season, we just have to wait and see how ready they actually are. Making judgements now is kind of pointless.

Ellis got Seabrook money!

I would be happy with $5mil x 5 years for each guy. 25-30 goals and 60ish points is worth at least $5mil in today's NHL (remember our 50ish point $10.5 million dollar man has set the bar). Both Cat and Schmaltz are young enough to really cash in again in 5 years, and $10mil for Cat and Schamltz (two top 6 players) would be a solid investment given their age and upside. But, lets be honest, with the exception of the Cap "Cheating" contracts with Hossa + Keith, and Hammer's $4.5mil deal, Stanley Bowman has overpaid EVERY SINGLE PLAYER he has signed to a contract. Even a Euro 3rd pair guy like Rutta who was healthy scratched gets a 200% raise from StanBo.
- EnzoD

If Schmaltz gets 60 points next season (and played the same amount), his PPG would be .65 for his ELC years, which would put him above Scheifele (at the same age and almost exactly the same number of games played) but slightly below Monahan (same games played but a year younger).

So the going rate for a 60 point player in Schmaltz's situation is not $5m. I don't know why people keep ignoring the actual comparables for him. I don't know if you're going this intentionally, but it's like some of you guys are trying to build this narrative that Schmaltz is only worth a certain (lower) amount so that if he's paid more / closer to actual market value, you can say Bowman overpaid. That's how it looks because you never provide actual evidence that he's worth $5m compared to other players contract situation, age, games player, and production.

If Schmaltz gets 60 points next season (and played the same amount), his PPG would be .65 for his ELC years, which would put him above Scheifele (at the same age and almost exactly the same number of games played) but slightly below Monahan (same games played but a year younger).

So the going rate for a 60 point player in Schmaltz's situation is not $5m. I don't know why people keep ignoring the actual comparables for him. I don't know if you're going this intentionally, but it's like some of you guys are trying to build this narrative that Schmaltz is only worth a certain (lower) amount so that if he's paid more / closer to actual market value, you can say Bowman overpaid. That's how it looks because you never provide actual evidence that he's worth $5m compared to other players contract situation, age, games player, and production.
- L_B_R

No way! Get out! No one here would do that.

No, they do NOT HAVE TO resign ADB and/or Schmaltz - at least not at any cost. They are not, and will not be, marquis level core players. They are nice skaters with some vision and in the case of ADB, some serious snipe abilities. However, they are not the "baby core", or anything analogous to 19 or 88. When they come across more players like that either through the draft or free agency, THOSE are the guys you pay the big bucks to.

ADB at $4MM bridge and Schmaltz at $5MM bridge - I could maybe see that. But I sure would like to see Schmaltz play on a line without 88 and see what he really has in the tank before the wallet opens very widely.

Something still to be said for building a team from the net out. Goalie, top 4 D, your four centers, then fill in the role players around them. Why worry about your wingers when you have no goalie, the top 4 D not filled, and the centers not filled?
- Return of the Roar

If Schmaltz improves on his numbers from last year. His comparable players are all going to be $5.5-$6.5 AAV. So the Hawks need to decide if he is that type of player.

Debrincal should improve his goal totals based on that he led the team in goals playing mainly on the 3rd line and limited if no power play time. If that is the case then he is on pace for an even better deal after his ELC is done.

Baby core or not, those are big costs coming in the next two years. Plan accordingly.

If Schmaltz gets 60 points next season (and played the same amount), his PPG would be .65 for his ELC years, which would put him above Scheifele (at the same age and almost exactly the same number of games played) but slightly below Monahan (same games played but a year younger).

So the going rate for a 60 point player in Schmaltz's situation is not $5m. I don't know why people keep ignoring the actual comparables for him. I don't know if you're going this intentionally, but it's like some of you guys are trying to build this narrative that Schmaltz is only worth a certain (lower) amount so that if he's paid more / closer to actual market value, you can say Bowman overpaid. That's how it looks because you never provide actual evidence that he's worth $5m compared to other players contract situation, age, games player, and production.
- L_B_R

You're right, as the going rate for a 50-60 point player is about $10.5mil on the Blackhawks

Ellis got Seabrook money!
- VopatsRash

You must thirsty down in Trashville without any Cups

If Schmaltz gets 60 points next season (and played the same amount), his PPG would be .65 for his ELC years, which would put him above Scheifele (at the same age and almost exactly the same number of games played) but slightly below Monahan (same games played but a year younger).

So the going rate for a 60 point player in Schmaltz's situation is not $5m. I don't know why people keep ignoring the actual comparables for him. I don't know if you're going this intentionally, but it's like some of you guys are trying to build this narrative that Schmaltz is only worth a certain (lower) amount so that if he's paid more / closer to actual market value, you can say Bowman overpaid. That's how it looks because you never provide actual evidence that he's worth $5m compared to other players contract situation, age, games player, and production.
- L_B_R

One year in the NHL playing with Kane, not being strong on the puck in the O zone, and a 40ish% faceoff guy don't add up to much of anything to be honest.

Have to be in a position to see if the same $5.5-6MM gets you a better player in trade or in FA - NEXT SUMMER.

Justin, have a question to ask,Regarding some of these PTO potential’s, where does Alexi Emilen shake out and all of this? I got a believe he still has a decent game left, maybe not to warrant the contract he had before, but isn’t he still a guy where the opposing players have to keep their head up coming across the blue line, and would fit the bill of what we need in a four, five, six defenseman? All these other names of defenseman being thrown around or nothing but soft pillows (Scbisa,Enstrom?) among others.
All those defenseman on that list, the only ones that I see that could make any other NHL team other than the Blackhawks are Seabrook, Keith, Connor Murphy, and probably Brandon Manning. All that other garbage listed on there wouldn’t make any other NHL team. And the young kid probably needs a whole season in Rockford so he is exempt.

You're right, as the going rate for a 50-60 point player is about $10.5mil on the Blackhawks
- EnzoD

You bolded a sentence with "a player in Schmaltz's situation" and still ignored it to bring up Toews lol.

One year in the NHL playing with Kane, not being strong on the puck in the O zone, and a 40ish% faceoff guy don't add up to much of anything to be honest.

Have to be in a position to see if the same $5.5-6MM gets you a better player in trade or in FA - NEXT SUMMER.
- Return of the Roar

Please re-read my comment from the start. It literally started with "if Schmaltz gets 60 points next season", so he would have two full seasons and a partial one under his belt AND added that he would have almost the same games played as the two comparables I provided - so your point of "one year" has zero merit.

And if you did some research, you'd see that your other points are pretty similar to comparables too. Like one of the guys I mentioned, Scheifele, had only 42% FO and got highly skewed OZS in his ELC years. Hell, most of these guys have high OZS. And many of them often play with high level players - maybe not Kane levels but very good (Monahan-Gaudreau, Scheifele-Wheeler/Ehlers, MacKinnon-Duchene/Landeskog, etc etc).

Honestly, you just added items that show how similar Schmaltz actually is to the comparables that are in the $6m range.

But go off I guess.