Plenty of injuries around the league to defenceman like Edler, Hedman and a few others. I don't know what Stanbo was thinking when he accumulated enough Dmen to stock 6 franchises but maybe he can unload a couple the Hawks don't need or want. Getting back a forward that could actually do something on the PP wouldn't be all bad, I don't care if he couldn't check his suitcase playing 5 on 5.
- RickJ

You might be on to something Rick.

I just don't know what a Jan Rutta is going to bring back. Maybe something like a Josh Leivo type at tops but most likely a late pick or an NHLer.

If it's not Rutta... Davidson and/or Manning would be the only others I would trade. Murphy could maybe be moved later on after he gets healthy, but I think they might want to hold on to him.

Justin, don't know if you saw on the last blog, I shot you a pm.
- I Am The Breadman

Just saw it - message you back!

December 1. RFA and belongs to the Leafs.

And forget about him as a Blackhawk. He is not what they need.
- RickJ

Rick, I know you're in the area as well and not sure your feeling, but the vibe is (even with the Matthews injury) that it's looking more likely that Nylander gets traded.

Darren Dreger was on this morning talking about Carolina as a team to look out for.

You keep harping on this thing that Gus isn’t an NHL dman. Why?

He definitely has some O to his game and has been better defensively so far. He’s more of a 4/5, where Davidson and Manning seem to be more of a 6/7.

Thought Davidson was ok last night though.
- HawkintheD

He is what he is, you are right he looks like he does have a little bit of flair but his mistakes seem to be pissing off the coach if you can read between the lines, I would’ve not given him that kind of contract, I want to see what Forsling can do once he comes back.

Well the problem with Gus is he would like to just stay in the O-Zone. Wait for the puck to come back. Unfortunately for him the most important role of a D-Man occurs in the D-Zone and Gus has no idea what to do in the D-Zone. Eventually Seabrook will lose it from babysitting Gus and will just lay down on the ice.
- Z3Hawk

I’m sure he’ll cough up the puck or serve one up in his own end on more than one occasion...hell Keith still does it from time to time.

Overall, he seems to be making smarter plays with the puck and tightened it up a bit. I think he and Seabs have been decent together and Gus was actually getting more ice time than Seabs more nights than not.

I'm not going to judge Gustafsson on that play in OT. It was about a 95% chance a 2-1 involving Draisatl and McJesus was going to score.
- Justin Lowe

We obviously disagree on Gus. In the D-Zone he is awful. It is not a 95% certainty no matter who is involved, if you have a D-Man who actually does something other than back in before then getting completely out of the way.

You might be on to something Rick.

I just don't know what a Jan Rutta is going to bring back. Maybe something like a Josh Leivo type at tops but most likely a late pick or an NHLer.

If it's not Rutta... Davidson and/or Manning would be the only others I would trade. Murphy could maybe be moved later on after he gets healthy, but I think they might want to hold on to him.
- Justin Lowe

Agree on the D
Davidson could be waived
Manning becomes the 7th D this year
Rutta gets traded for 7th rd or future considerations and maybe we have to throw in 300K for his contract? we do have a log jam of D here and in RFD

Nice read thank you

I’m sure he’ll cough up the puck or serve one up in his own end on more than one occasion...hell Keith still does it from time to time.

Overall, he seems to be making smarter plays with the puck and tightened it up a bit. I think he and Seabs have been decent together and Gus was actually getting more ice time than Seabs more nights than not.
- HawkintheD

I know it's a bit of a split opinion on Gustafsson but I've been watching him closely lately and he's a lot better defensively than he was last year.

That's to say, he was real bad last year.

You're right HawkintheD - he will make his mistakes but he's making much smarter plays IMO.

Okay, I'm playing catch up today.

Do we like Saad now or not? Last week he was to be traded immediately until the game where he looked like his old self and all was well in the world.

Now?

Cuz he’s not LOOCH or Andre the Giant?
- HawkintheD

😂👍,Hell if Edmonton wants to eat some of that money I’ll take Lucic. I don’t know about all the fight and stuff but he could be useful against heavier teams and in different situations when you need to get those down and dirty goals. And he still is a respected player when it comes to the rough stuff. I don’t think he’s no more than 31 or 32 years old. Totally should not be playing with McDavid or any of those speed demons. His agent just took advantage of the system and got him a sweet contract. Probably for a player like him it’s $2 million a year too much.

Yea this. Why is Saad getting blown up here?
- kwolf68


Saad is getting blown up because he did absolutely nothing on that play. I am a Saad fan but in OT if you find your path to the net is taken away and you can’t get a good shot to potentially win the game you must back off, keep clear possession and re-start. Looked initially like there might be something - there wasn’t - in OT re-start. Also in OT you have to really keep track of who is on the ice and where they are. Kane had drifted down backing Saad but he needed a change. Forget involving Kane at all - keep the puck or get it back to Gus.

Speaking of Gus he has no idea how to play defence. Draisatl had done nothing all game - pressure him. Gus had to do something - backing in and making a late slide that totally took him AWAY from the puck is nothing. Same as if no D-Man at all. At some point Gus is going to be in the cross-hairs. He needs to be able to play both ends of the ice and he simply doesn’t seem to be able to.
- Z3Hawk

Yeah maybe we should just give him to the Capitals, they seem to have a way of figuring out what to do with our garbage.

Agree on the D
Davidson could be waived
Manning becomes the 7th D this year
Rutta gets traded for 7th rd or future considerations and maybe we have to throw in 300K for his contract? we do have a log jam of D here and in RFD

Nice read thank you
- CTblackhawkfan

Thanks CT.

Davidson could be waived to head down to join 236 other defencemen in RFD, but I think the "issue" that Stan is trying to solve is ensuring he's not messing up with the growth of all of the defencemen in the AHL as well.

If guys like Gilbert Snuggerud and Tulola are only playing once ever few games, then you have an issue.

Gilbert might as well stayed in NCAA.

I have a future blog coming up with the pros and cons to the Hawks drafting over the last few years.

Spoiler alert: the cons are there are TOO MANY DEFENCEMEN!

He is what he is, you are right he looks like he does have a little bit of flair but his mistakes seem to be pissing off the coach if you can read between the lines, I would’ve not given him that kind of contract, I want to see what Forsling can do once he comes back.
- wonthecup10

His contract is a pretty reasonable $1.2M this year and next, but I’m also hoping Forsling comes back and plays consistently like he did the first 20 games last season.

I know it's a bit of a split opinion on Gustafsson but I've been watching him closely lately and he's a lot better defensively than he was last year.

That's to say, he was real bad last year.

You're right HawkintheD - he will make his mistakes but he's making much smarter plays IMO.
- Justin Lowe

Nice to see we are now in agreement. We all agree that Gus is slightly better in his D-Zone than he was last year when he may have been the worst D-Zone D-Man in the NHL. Just teasing.

Nice to see we are now in agreement. We all agree that Gus is slightly better in his D-Zone than he was last year when he may have been the worst D-Zone D-Man in the NHL. Just teasing.
- Z3Hawk

ha. Fair enough.

I just don't think Gustafsson is the Hawks biggest issue.

Also, I think the defence will settle in once Forsling and Murphy are back in the fold.

Double also, the Hawks GA being the worst in the West is a team defence problem IMO. Not just the 6 D dressed every night.

In those ANA and NYR wins, the forwards were helping out so much in terms of back checking and being in the right spots in the d zone to give the defence outlets.

Yea this. Why is Saad getting blown up here?
- kwolf68


Saad is getting blown up because he did absolutely nothing on that play. I am a Saad fan but in OT if you find your path to the net is taken away and you can’t get a good shot to potentially win the game you must back off, keep clear possession and re-start. Looked initially like there might be something - there wasn’t - in OT re-start. Also in OT you have to really keep track of who is on the ice and where they are. Kane had drifted down backing Saad but he needed a change. Forget involving Kane at all - keep the puck or get it back to Gus.

Speaking of Gus he has no idea how to play defence. Draisatl had done nothing all game - pressure him. Gus had to do something - backing in and making a late slide that totally took him AWAY from the puck is nothing. Same as if no D-Man at all. At some point Gus is going to be in the cross-hairs. He needs to be able to play both ends of the ice and he simply doesn’t seem to be able to.
- Z3Hawk

Problem is - 3x3 is such a different game than “normal” 5x5 - primarily in the “factlmthat possession is paramount.

I’m not sure how much 3x3 ice time Saad has had, here or in Columbus - I don’t recall him being out there much (if at all) this year. Need experience to know uow to make the right plays.

Kane should have known better....

December 1. RFA and belongs to the Leafs.

And forget about him as a Blackhawk. He is not what they need.
- RickJ

Thanks, to you and paulr, I didn't know.
I worded my question poorly, does he become a ufa after ineligibility? I know he is an rfa, haha.
I don't want him for what he's asking either.

Just saw it - message you back!
- Justin Lowe

Got it, thanks.

Any news on how Sikura is playing. I know his stat line, which is just OK, but how is he playing?

Justin Lowe: What's Missing?

The Hawks finish up the weekend with a 0-1-1 record after a 7-3 thump to St. Louis on Saturday and a 2-1 OT loss to the McDavids.

The Blue loss was just bad. This was mostly highlighted by bad coverage in the defensive zone. This is a team that the Hawks had already beat twice, however, they just happened to run into a Blues team that was fighting for their (coach's) life.
- Justin Lowe

The loss to the Oil wasn’t a defensive disaster, like the two previous losses.

They gave up only 21 SOG in 47:42 ice time 5x5 - 27 SOG per 60 minutes. And only 44 SAT - 56 per 60. Pretty good suppression and protection.

What cost them the game, I think, was the PP - needed a 5x3 to score and only 1 SOG in 7:42 on 5x4 - and a continuing lack of scoring from the bottom.

I’m sure he’ll cough up the puck or serve one up in his own end on more than one occasion...hell Keith still does it from time to time.

Overall, he seems to be making smarter plays with the puck and tightened it up a bit. I think he and Seabs have been decent together and Gus was actually getting more ice time than Seabs more nights than not.
- HawkintheD

I've seen him paired with Joki at times, 5-5 and pp. I think he is making improvements, but has a ways to go, if he hasn't peaked. I love the shot passes though.

Thanks CT.

Davidson could be waived to head down to join 236 other defencemen in RFD, but I think the "issue" that Stan is trying to solve is ensuring he's not messing up with the growth of all of the defencemen in the AHL as well.

If guys like Gilbert Snuggerud and Tulola are only playing once ever few games, then you have an issue.

Gilbert might as well stayed in NCAA.

I have a future blog coming up with the pros and cons to the Hawks drafting over the last few years.

Spoiler alert: the cons are there are TOO MANY DEFENCEMEN!
- Justin Lowe

Damn, now I don't have to read.
Taking the fun out of the job, haha.

If Gus is so bad in the D zone (as some posters are saying), maybe Q should pair Gus and Keith. And have them follow this one simple rule - Keith cannot cross the Red line into the o zone (since he adds zero threat in the O zone) and Gus cannot cross the Red line into the d zone (since he adds no help in the D zone). Let each player handle their strongest position.

Manning will be on the Hawks this year, signed him to a 2 year deal. Davidson will be gone once the Hawks call up Forsling. My guess the Hawks will carry 8 d-men for awhile even though that is something they do not want to do.

Problem is - 3x3 is such a different game than “normal” 5x5 - primarily in the “factlmthat possession is paramount.

I’m not sure how much 3x3 ice time Saad has had, here or in Columbus - I don’t recall him being out there much (if at all) this year. Need experience to know uow to make the right plays.

Kane should have known better....
- StLBravesFan

I remember him a few times last year, specifically because he scored. Off the bench, rush and put it in the net. He tied Kane for 2 OTGWG last year.