I expect them to be drafting in a similar position...8-10 next summer. Get another impact player, move/lose dead cap weight in Rutta ($2.3mil), Manning ($2.25mil), Murphy ($3.85), Ward ($3mil), Kruger ($2.77mil) Kunitz ($1mil) = $15.17 mil off the books! Lets say there's a $2mil cap increase and they currently have $4mil in cap space. That's about $20million dollars in cap space to work with.

Lock up the Cat at $6mil x 5 years


UFA Targets next summer:

Jacob Trouba
Tyler Myers
William Karllson
Anders Lee
Brock Nelson
Joel Edmunsson
Mark Stone
**Artemi Panarin
- EnzoD

I know there are more Ufa's to look at, but that's not the point. There are great names in that list though.

The beauty of extending Adb would be the fact that he would still be in his elc for another year.

With contracts coming off the books, there are still a lot of players that will need new contracts, (probably more than we lose) and Bowman, Q and company will need to decide where ties get cut, and who gets re-upped.

I like free agency, but it's not where a team should be built. Just 1 or 2 pieces to improve. Trying to entice a name or two to come to Chicago might be problematic.

I know there are more Ufa's to look at, but that's not the point. There are great names in that list though.

The beauty of extending Adb would be the fact that he would still be in his elc for another year.

With contracts coming off the books, there are still a lot of players that will need new contracts, (probably more than we lose) and Bowman, Q and company will need to decide where ties get cut, and who gets re-upped.

I like free agency, but it's not where a team should be built. Just 1 or 2 pieces to improve.
- I Am The Breadman

I hope you know my intention in that post was not to sign all of those guys, that is impossible. Adding one of those dman in Myers or Trouba or Edmunsson...big guys who can skate, move the puck, and win physical battles. I've really got my sights set on Anders Lee who is the protypical power forward in the Top 6 that would releive some pressure on Toews/Saad/Anisimov in terms of net front/dirty work on the top 2 lines.


You move all that bottom roster talent on inflated contracts and replace them with ELC dmen in Boquist, Mitchell, Forsling and you have some money to add the NEEDED impact NHL Vet in Trouba or Lee

11 games 15 points working on a 112 point season. Who else didn't see this coming from Panarin besides Bowman? OR what number exactly is cost certainty worth? 112 points? 187 points? 228 points? Like maybe Panarin, TT and Hino among others. Keep up the great work mgt.

11 games 15 points working on a 112 point season. Who else didn't see this coming from Panarin besides Bowman? OR what number exactly is cost certainty worth? 112 points? 187 points? 228 points? Like maybe Panarin, TT and Hino among others. Keep up the great work mgt.
- Savoy

hawks will sign him for 7 years x $9mil next summer!

I hope you know my intention in that post was not to sign all of those guys, that is impossible. Adding one of those dman in Myers or Trouba or Edmunsson...big guys who can skate, move the puck, and win physical battles. I've really got my sights set on Anders Lee who is the protypical power forward in the Top 6 that would releive some pressure on Toews/Saad/Anisimov in terms of net front/dirty work on the top 2 lines.


You move all that bottom roster talent on inflated contracts and replace them with ELC dmen in Boquist, Mitchell, Forsling and you have some money to add the NEEDED impact NHL Vet in Trouba or Lee
- EnzoD

Haha, you didn't need to explain your intentions, I can follow along just fine. I know you like Lee, I remember you mentioning him before on a couple of occasions. 1 addition on top 4 d and 1 addition in the top 6 would be great. I'm ok with more elc guys on d only if they are nhl ready. I don't want their development jacked up.

Wouldn't mind having Panarin in a 9x7 as you have it. But I know the emoji too, don't explain haha.

I know there are more Ufa's to look at, but that's not the point. There are great names in that list though.

The beauty of extending Adb would be the fact that he would still be in his elc for another year.

With contracts coming off the books, there are still a lot of players that will need new contracts, (probably more than we lose) and Bowman, Q and company will need to decide where ties get cut, and who gets re-upped.

I like free agency, but it's not where a team should be built. Just 1 or 2 pieces to improve. Trying to entice a name or two to come to Chicago might be problematic.
- I Am The Breadman

I would agree with that, but this is where you can go out and get a hired gun so to speak to come in and play in the Top 6 and score goals. Say you can move a salary or two with the expiring contracts we have and what we already have and you can bring back Panarin, for argument sake, and plug him in the Top 6 then you're looking at...

Saad/Toews/Cat
Panarin/AA/ Kane

Then you still have Schmaltz who could play in the Top 6 with a glut of guys in Kahun, Sikura, Highmore, Johnson, Ejdsell, Fortin, Hayden, Kampf, etc. to plug the last five spots in the lineup and all of the sudden you've got a potentially deep team.

On defense, we know that Keith, Seabrook, and Jokiharju will be in the three pairs next year. If Murphy stays and Boqvist makes the team then we're looking at...

Keith-Joki
Murphy-Boqvist
TBD- Seabrook

With Gustafsson, Manning (hopefully we can rid ourselves of his contract), Forsling, Hillman, Dahlstrom, Carlsson, etc. fighting for the last two spots.

Then you got Crow with one of Forsberg, Delia, Nalimov backing him up and I'm sure a vet signing or two.

Not saying that team screams Stanley Cup winner but you have a good team with depth that could be in position to one last Playoff push with the Core before they eventually ride off into the sunset.

Lol, Crow doesn't have any glove side problems. He's been as good if not better than Lundqvist and has better career numbers and more Cups than Price.


- fattybeef

Can we as Blackhawks fans stop throwing number of Cups argument as alleged superiority of our players, it does not hold water. Bickel and Kruger have more cups than Ovechkin, so what? There was a stacked and deep team back then and anyway 2015 cup only happened because luck with cap loophole by Kane collarbone injury/Vermette acquisition (though one can argue Hawks should have had 2014 cup instead of 2015 if not for Q decisions with Zuus and Quick being more clutch than Crow).
For a while many on this board argued Toews > Crossby because of number of cups too, anyone desires to continue this line?

I would agree with that, but this is where you can go out and get a hired gun so to speak to come in and play in the Top 6 and score goals. Say you can move a salary or two with the expiring contracts we have and what we already have and you can bring back Panarin, for argument sake, and plug him in the Top 6 then you're looking at...

Saad/Toews/Cat
Panarin/AA/ Kane

Then you still have Schmaltz who could play in the Top 6 with a glut of guys in Kahun, Sikura, Highmore, Johnson, Ejdsell, Fortin, Hayden, Kampf, etc. to plug the last five spots in the lineup and all of the sudden you've got a potentially deep team.

On defense, we know that Keith, Seabrook, and Jokiharju will be in the three pairs next year. If Murphy stays and Boqvist makes the team then we're looking at...

Keith-Joki
Murphy-Boqvist
TBD- Seabrook

With Gustafsson, Manning (hopefully we can rid ourselves of his contract), Forsling, Hillman, Dahlstrom, Carlsson, etc. fighting for the last two spots.

Then you got Crow with one of Forsberg, Delia, Nalimov backing him up and I'm sure a vet signing or two.

Not saying that team screams Stanley Cup winner but you have a good team with depth that could be in position to one last Playoff push with the Core before they eventually ride off into the sunset.
- Savetheembers33

I don't know why you said, "I would agree with that, but"... because we are in complete agreement haha.

You analyze everything and have lines set that I like. You know of "possibilities," making the team or not. Great job. We do agree haha.

I don't know why you said, "I would agree with that, but ... we are in complete agreement haha.

You analyze everything and have lines set that I like. You know of "possibilities" great job. We do agree haha.
- I Am The Breadman

HA I misread what you said. I thought you were saying that it isn't a good idea to go out into FA to sign someone lol My bad.

I think right now we're kinda stuck in the middle. This year is about trying to pin point which of their depth Forwards and Defensemen can step up to play key roles on this team to go with Toews, Kane, Cat, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, Keith, Seabrook, Joki, and Crow and build the team that they use for one last serious push to win a cup before Keith and Seabrook retire and Crow's contract is up.

If Boqvist can be an impact talent defensemen like Joki has been this year, it removes the need to go out and spend money on a D-man. Plus they still have Mitchell waiting in the wings in a year or two here as well. Makes ya wonder if we will eventually rock out with all three of those guys (Joki this year, Boqvist next, Mitchell the next) or eventually use one of them to get another impact forward. Just a though. My point being, if the can sign Cat to a reasonable extention (6x6 something like that) and Schmaltz continues to play himself into a bridge deal (3x3 something like that) they could have enough money to go out and sign a big time forward. At some point though one or more of AA, Murphy, Saad, Schmaltz will likely need to be traded to continue to restock the team and not block up the payroll like we've been they past few years.

I expect them to be drafting in a similar position...8-10 next summer. Get another impact player, move/lose dead cap weight in Rutta ($2.3mil), Manning ($2.25mil), Murphy ($3.85), Ward ($3mil), Kruger ($2.77mil) Kunitz ($1mil) = $15.17 mil off the books! Lets say there's a $2mil cap increase and they currently have $4mil in cap space. That's about $20million dollars in cap space to work with.

Lock up the Cat at $6mil x 5 years


UFA Targets next summer:

Jacob Trouba
Tyler Myers
William Karllson
Anders Lee
Brock Nelson
Joel Edmunsson
Mark Stone
**Artemi Panarin
- EnzoD

Solid thoughts here Enzo...I'd love to see Trouba and Panarin for starters... But the tank is on right now. The Hawks are settling in to what we thought they'd be.

Haha, you didn't need to explain your intentions, I can follow along just fine. I know you like Lee, I remember you mentioning him before on a couple of occasions. 1 addition on top 4 d and 1 addition in the top 6 would be great. I'm ok with more elc guys on d only if they are nhl ready. I don't want their development jacked up.

Wouldn't mind having Panarin in a 9x7 as you have it. But I know the emoji too, don't explain haha.
- I Am The Breadman

Lee is a beast! And also brings a good character/work ethic to the room from what I've read (and his captaincy in NY). Trouba is a beast, just ask Auston Matthews shoulder.

Solid thoughts here Enzo...I'd love to see Trouba and Panarin for starters... But the tank is on right now. The Hawks are settling in to what we thought they'd be.
- DK002

Yep, no Kane to bail them out in the 3rd last night.

HA I misread what you said. I thought you were saying that it isn't a good idea to go out into FA to sign someone lol My bad.

I think right now we're kinda stuck in the middle. This year is about trying to pin point which of their depth Forwards and Defensemen can step up to play key roles on this team to go with Toews, Kane, Cat, Saad, AA, Schmaltz, Keith, Seabrook, Joki, and Crow and build the team that they use for one last serious push to win a cup before Keith and Seabrook retire and Crow's contract is up.

If Boqvist can be an impact talent defensemen like Joki has been this year, it removes the need to go out and spend money on a D-man. Plus they still have Mitchell waiting in the wings in a year or two here as well. Makes ya wonder if we will eventually rock out with all three of those guys (Joki this year, Boqvist next, Mitchell the next) or eventually use one of them to get another impact forward. Just a though. My point being, if the can sign Cat to a reasonable extention (6x6 something like that) and Schmaltz continues to play himself into a bridge deal (3x3 something like that) they could have enough money to go out and sign a big time forward. At some point though one or more of AA, Murphy, Saad, Schmaltz will likely need to be traded to continue to restock the team and not block up the payroll like we've been they past few years.
- Savetheembers33

It's fine, haha. Yeah, I'd advocate 1-2 pieces, a top 6 forward and a top 4 d man.

This is a tricky season. We have too many placeholders: forwards, d, and goalies. We need to assess what we have, and if this is another capsize season, then the tdl will be selling off expiring contracts (maybe some that you said: Arty, Saad, Murphy) not advocating it, just for the sake of argument, they are in the realm of possibility. To fill those gaps, kids in Rockford. Who's a keeper, and who can walk. It's sad because it eats away a year of a rejuvenated core.

Lee is a beast! And also brings a good character/work ethic to the room from what I've read (and his captaincy in NY). Trouba is a beast, just ask Auston Matthews shoulder.
- EnzoD

Didn't know Trouba laid down the hurting on Matthews.

Just something to think about, what is Matthews going to want/actually sign for after this year? Could injury after injury after injury affect his contract? Probably not the more I think about it, but I'm sure it will be considered.

[quote=I Am The Breadman]It's fine, haha. Yeah, I'd advocate 1-2 pieces, a top 6 forward and a top 4 d man.

I agree that they need another difference maker in the Top 6 and a solid all around D-man to play in the Top 4. I think they are hoping and praying to the sky's that at least ONE of Boqvist, Mitchell, and Beaudin are truly studs and can make an impact sooner rather than later so they don't have to go out into FA and over pay for a Top 4 D-Man and can sign a sniper in FA.

Exactly, this season is hanging in the balance where if things go their way, they could make it in the Playoffs, but if the kids can't develop as quickly as they want they could be right where they were at last year which would be a shame to waste another one of our cores years in the league. If it does go south, then I'd be fine with trading a piece or two to free up some more cap space for FA. Just gotta make sense for the team not just do it to do it.

Unfortunately that's where we're at as a Franchise. IMO, this year and next offseason will be the deciding factor if this team can make another legit Cup run or not while Kane and Toews still have something left. They have a lot of pieces and cap space to work with. Now they need to figure out who can stick to the wall and fill roles on this team and make moves to fill where they need em at. I'm hopeful but I'm not blindly hopeful that they can get at least one last hoorah run with these guys

Didn't know Trouba laid down the hurting on Matthews.

Just something to think about, what is Matthews going to want/actually sign for after this year? Could injury after injury after injury affect his contract? Probably not the more I think about it, but I'm sure it will be considered.
- I Am The Breadman

smacked him with a good clean shoulder check as he tried to get to the net. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone with talent protecting the hawks crease like this????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9JrMwZ2-Yw


And I love watching Matthews so I'm bummed about this injury, but its a good hockey play by Trouba.

smacked him with a good clean shoulder check as he tried to get to the net. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone with talent protecting the hawks crease like this????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9JrMwZ2-Yw


And I love watching Matthews so I'm bummed about this injury, but its a good hockey play by Trouba.
- EnzoD

Hot damn, that was a pop and a half! Is there a timetable on his return? It sucks with injuries, but it was clean.

Hot damn, that was a pop and a half! Is there a timetable on his return? It sucks with injuries, but it was clean.
- I Am The Breadman

Minimum 4 weeks

I agree that they need another difference maker in the Top 6 and a solid all around D-man to play in the Top 4. I think they are hoping and praying to the sky's that at least ONE of Boqvist, Mitchell, and Beaudin are truly studs and can make an impact sooner rather than later so they don't have to go out into FA and over pay for a Top 4 D-Man and can sign a sniper in FA.

Exactly, this season is hanging in the balance where if things go their way, they could make it in the Playoffs, but if the kids can't develop as quickly as they want they could be right where they were at last year which would be a shame to waste another one of our cores years in the league. If it does go south, then I'd be fine with trading a piece or two to free up some more cap space for FA. Just gotta make sense for the team not just do it to do it.

Unfortunately that's where we're at as a Franchise. IMO, this year and next offseason will be the deciding factor if this team can make another legit Cup run or not while Kane and Toews still have something left. They have a lot of pieces and cap space to work with. Now they need to figure out who can stick to the wall and fill roles on this team and make moves to fill where they need em at. I'm hopeful but I'm not blindly hopeful that they can get at least one last hoorah run with these guys
- Savetheembers33

I hear you, that's where I am. I like a lot of these players, and see potential ... but I will call out errors when I see them. I don't see a S.C. team, but I see good pieces in transition, maybe playoffs but some ifs need answers. Management has some tough problem on their hands because this half-baked rebuild could bite them on the ass.

Minimum 4 weeks
- EnzoD

That's a shame.

I hear you, that's where I am. I like a lot of these players, and see potential ... but I will call out errors when I see them. I don't see a S.C. team, but I see good pieces in transition, maybe playoffs but some ifs need answers. Management has some tough problem on their hands because this half-baked rebuild could bite them on the ass.
- I Am The Breadman

As any fan should within reason. I see a lot of people on here who are just off the wall riding the wave of every game where or not this team is any good. Just makes me laugh. I'm thankful for the three Cups we had since I never though I'd get to see one, but I'd like to see them get back to at least having a legit shot of being in the Playoffs every year and a chance to get lucky and go on a run. Who knows though. We'll see how they play over the next few weeks to see which direction they will be heading to

Seems like a lot of goals against happening with Manning and Davidson are on the ice, so I looked it up.

Here are the top 5 most scored against (per minute of icetime 5v5) for the Hawks.

Johnson
Manning
Kunitz
Hayden
Davidson

All 5 are dismal when considering how little the Hawks score with them on the ice. I know they are part of a 5 man unit, but it don't look good and I think the eye test general is telling us the same thing.
- breadbag

Curious where you got this stat. Do you have a general link for the site?

As any fan should within reason. I see a lot of people on here who are just off the wall riding the wave of every game where or not this team is any good. Just makes me laugh. I'm thankful for the three Cups we had since I never though I'd get to see one, but I'd like to see them get back to at least having a legit shot of being in the Playoffs every year and a chance to get lucky and go on a run. Who knows though. We'll see how they play over the next few weeks to see which direction they will be heading to
- Savetheembers33

Even during their hot start the first 2 weeks, there were serious red flags with the amount of shots allowed, defensive zone play, and an anemic powerplay. With Toews' line slowing down and virtually ZERO depth scoring.....I think the last 2 weeks are much more accurate representation of the 2018/19 Blackhawks....sub 500 team

Whew what an awful game. Didn’t have time to watch all last night so watched the final part this morning before work. Shouldn’t have bothered. Manning was unbearable to watch. What possibly did StanBo and the scouts see in him? - he was out of position constantly. The Hawks might as well have taken the $2.25M and burned it. Also enough with this Gus experiment. He just gave the puck away in the slot right after Toews’ giveaway. He is awful in his own end and more telling he seems to hate the defensive part of the game. Surely from the 1000s of D-Men we have at Rockford there are 3 that are more competent than Rutta, Manning and Gus.

Couldn’t believe Foley and Konroyd said you couldn’t blame Toews for his atrocious giveaway. Whether Hayden had a stick or not it was a terrible, unsafe pass. It still gets intercepted even if Hayden had a stick. Toews may have actually been trying to hit Cat on the far side. Also shouldn’t Toews have a clue what’s going on? The goal was announced as “unassisted” which was wrong - Toews had the primary assist. Q certainly thought it wad a terrible giveaway as he benched Toews, albeit not for long enough. A final thought on that play - Hayden went to Yale. You’d think he’d be able to figure out when to change - he shouldn’t even have been on the ice.

Konroyd is simply awful as a hockey analyst. His analysis is pond scum deep. He focused on Davidson on one goal where the play was caused by Manning being caught and losing his man and accomplishing nothing. Konroyd’s Key to the Game - Hawks Should Really Try To Score More Goals Than The Other Team,

Also Konroyd what was that complete bullcrap about Canadians not really knowing how to celebrate Halloween? - you are an imbecile - has Enzo been giving you product? I ask as I gave out scores of Double-Sized Oh Henry! Chocolate Bars to scores of happy, young children being escorted around our extremely safe neighbourhood, full of elaborately decorated houses, by proud, caring parents. Sadly our son has gotten just a little too old for Trick or Treating which we all loved doing. As shocking as it might seem to you Canadians also know how to celebrate Christmas and Easter - and what are you even talking about you are from freakin’ Scarborough/Toronto in Canada you ignoramus.

Even during their hot start the first 2 weeks, there were serious red flags with the amount of shots allowed, defensive zone play, and an anemic powerplay. With Toews' line slowing down and virtually ZERO depth scoring.....I think the last 2 weeks are much more accurate representation of the 2018/19 Blackhawks....sub 500 team
- EnzoD

Too many people would be off the walls excited when they played well and then wanting to burn it down when they played bad instead of realizing that this is a team still in transition that is growing and finding itself with the young players they have. Like I said before, I really can see this season going either way depending on how guys develop and the defense plays the rest of the year.