So Matthews get 10+, Marner is probably at 8, Kapanen at 6mil and Connor Brown in a couple years will get 4-5. Holy.......
- nickmo2699

they best get their cups NOW...because the CAP piper will come a calling

Well, with the changes in Canada it could be true!
- powerenforcer

It's been a foggy day here in downtown Toronto.

Happy MJ day my fellow Canucks.

I think I've seen 1 Hossa on my lifetime, there will never be one again. Hopefully we see coach Hossa down the line ...
- I Am The Breadman

Dead bang on!

Thanks JJ. Yeah we're on the same page. I don't it's the time for Stan to make any knee-jerk moves RE: Saad. We'll mark this down as strike 1 by Q and see how Saad reacts.
- Justin Lowe

Selling low is not a good asset management strategy.
Holding on to Toews looks pretty good right now.
Saad will play better again, probably this year; certainly before the end of his contract.
When he's playing better, is it a sign of a permanent shift or just a continuation of the on-again, off-again cycle he seems to be stuck in. I'd consider trading him when his stock is higher but they'd need to get some value back if they did. The same goes for Schmaltz. I'm not wanting to trade him, but I'd be willing to for value. Both of these guys could be assets moving forward, but they don't need to be guys to rebuild around.

Anyone know if Jesse Puljujarvi can play the left side? BarstoolChief had an interesting idea of trading Saad to Edmonton for him.
- Panarin27

I'm not advocating trading Saad at all, but as I was researching for this blog, I looked around the league for players in a similar position as #20.

The, almost identical version in terms of age, contract, production, and size is Nino Niederreiter.

He's coming off a down year last year and makes $5.25M (for one more year than Saad - who's at $6M).

He's also started off with just 1A in the first 6 games in Minny.

If you're looking at a 1-for-1 swap of player if both need a change of scenery... it's el Nino.

(once again, I'm NOT saying I WOULD do this... just comparing players and their situations).

Actually it sounds like he's a really laid back guy, who is a bit dense, reporters said when he was demoted to the 4th line he seemed not to care?
- BetweenTheDots

The same statements made by him could also sound like a guy that is very down on himself...But at the same time how much is getting married and trying to start a family affecting his on ice play...his passion isn't 100% hockey anymore, he has other things to distract him now.

You heard it hear first. Saad has talked to his agent about requesting a trade.

A power forward who can win board battles, retrieve the puck when the puck is dumped, provide net front presence playing on Kanes line, absolutely.

I believe the golden knights success last year came from 50/50 pucks, some games they would win 75 to 80% of those in a game which would be the difference in winning and losing
- BetweenTheDots

Indeed. Saad's value will never come from the points he provides, he just isn't that kind of player. When he played on a line with Toews and Hossa he put up a career high 53 points and that line was as good as any in hockey. .........His lifetime PPG is .51.

A 3 zone player with ++speed, good size, good along the boards who's attributes free up his linemates to score and to shutdown the opponent. Would add he won't be 26 until late this month. .........That said it's up to the coach to slot him properly.

Trade him or Schmaltz? Damn right if the deal is good for the Hawks but not cuz he's struggling right now.

I eat because I’m unhappy....I’m unhappy because I eat....it’s a vicious cycle.
- SimpleJack

Did you just soil yourself??

I'm not advocating trading Saad at all, but as I was researching for this blog, I looked around the league for players in a similar position as #20.

The, almost identical version in terms of age, contract, production, and size is Nino Niederreiter.

He's coming off a down year last year and makes $5.25M (for one more year than Saad - who's at $6M).

He's also started off with just 1A in the first 6 games in Minny.

If you're looking at a 1-for-1 swap of player if both need a change of scenery... it's el Nino.

(once again, I'm NOT saying I WOULD do this... just comparing players and their situations).
- Justin Lowe

I'm not saying I want it to happen, but I wouldn't be disappointed if it happened. It's not a bad 1-for-1.

I'll second the "no need to trade Schmaltz" sentiment. If there is a smart hockey trade....okay, but the kid is helping the team win games. He isn't a problem and he is only going to get better. He might not be a center long term, but that isn't a huge deal on a team that lacks top 6 players.
- breadbag

Agree BB. I think the kid fits better as a wing and is only playing C cuz the Hawks are so thin there. At least as a 22 yr old with 145 NHL games.

I forgot that he got married. That could definitely contribute to him not being 100% ready this year.

I really don't think they are demoting/sitting him as a wake up call. I really think there is something to him being hard on himself. The coaches have probably been telling him that he is doing the little things right, and to just keep doing those things and everything else will fall in place, but he just gets so stuck on how he isn't producing that he gets so down on himself, which leads to worse play. Eventually the team needs to bench him just to get him out of the way of his own head.

EDIT: Or...the wife wants a baby, and she has been taking all of the energy out of him every night!!
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Women weaken legs!!!!

Did you just soil yourself??
- dahawks8819

Hey hey, I said Austin Powers, thanks for catching on!

"Even stink would say that stinks."

And to answer your question, maybe.

You heard it hear first. Saad has talked to his agent about requesting a trade.
- gifman

Are you serious, or do you just see it happening?

Sometimes when the Blackhawks make me sad I just go to this page and it makes me very happy: https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/mapleleafs
- ObeseOprah

Toronto Maple Sleeps are in for it ...

The seemingly positive Corsi possession numbers merely SUPPORT the eye test observation that the Hawks play a soft offensive style dominated by keep away perimeter passing with precious little to show for it.
- Return of the Roar

Yep.

You mean perimeter fans, the ones that cheer cause its the cool thing to do? People who know the sport wouldn't call for a trade of those players unless it benefited the team now and in the future. Saad cant make a difference in the game the way those three guys could. His down year at 6mil is a problem because of the lack of scoring depth up front. I am on board with holding out to game 25-30 to really evaluate and decide what should be done. My issue stems from the off ice representation. Interviews, missing skates, etc. You want to see a guy that is a big piece to the offense show more fire when challenged in this way.
- nickmo2699

Really? You have been on this board for a while now. Plenty of "non-perimeter" fans on here were calling for Hossa's head. They wanted him traded for anything, because supposedly he couldn't score anymore or somehow forgot how to shoot. All kinds of stupid theories on why Hossa was done from the experts on this blog.

He was no good anymore.................until he was.

Are you serious, or do you just see it happening?
- I Am The Breadman

Definitely Serious. It’s just him talking right now. Like any good agent, he heard him out and pointed out some obvious points. Saad is not in a good mood. Situation is not good.

You heard it hear first. Saad has talked to his agent about requesting a trade.
- gifman

The 'Hawks brought Saad on board. Twice. A smart agent would tell him he'd rather be fired than request Saad be traded.

Really? You have been on this board for a while now. Plenty of "non-perimeter" fans on here were calling for Hossa's head. They wanted him traded for anything, because supposedly he couldn't score anymore or somehow forgot how to shoot. All kinds of stupid theories on why Hossa was done from the experts on this blog.

He was no good anymore.................until he was.
- TheTrob

Looking back at it, majority of it surrounded the cap situation. He didnt have a good year, he was making 5+ and that made most sense to complain about. Until people like yourself, who are well versed in the business side of the game as well, made it clear what kind of penalties we would face for moving the contract.

I concede that there is a lot of over reaction at game 5. He is young and has a lot of talent and hopefully he will put ends to these convo's with his play.

Mehhhhhhh - 5 games. Not the end of the world. The team has been pretty dreadful in their own zone with the exception of Toews and Debrincat and pleasantly enough Jokiharju and Keith.

No idea whats going on in the dudes personal life or whatever but things like that can be a factor.

Maybe he just hit a lul and is having a tough time getting started.

Shots per game are down, sometimes when someone is trying too hard it makes it look like they aren't at all. w\e based on 455 games played kind of know what the guy is at this point. Even with the poor start could easily sit in that 50 point range which is about what 6 million gets you.

I'd be more inclined to think that things will click rather than take a continued downward slide. More interested to see how things are trending after 20 games not 5.

Women weaken legs!!!!
- dahawks8819

And they weaken the ability to "Score." Saad can't score.

Looking back at it, majority of it surrounded the cap situation. He didnt have a good year, he was making 5+ and that made most sense to complain about. Until people like yourself, who are well versed in the business side of the game as well, made it clear what kind of penalties we would face for moving the contract.

I concede that there is a lot of over reaction at game 5. He is young and has a lot of talent and hopefully he will put ends to these convo's with his play.
- nickmo2699

Agree, either that or......................trade his A S S

It's been a foggy day here in downtown Toronto.

Happy MJ day my fellow Canucks.
- Justin Lowe

Smell a lot of skunks do ya.

You heard it hear first. Saad has talked to his agent about requesting a trade.
- gifman

Not if she likes living here, his wife will say, you need to step it up.