Read more carefully. Your Reality is NOT THE REALITY. Schmaltz, and his 2 goals and -6, is not coveted by other teams. Why would he be? A player with 2 goals in 18 games is clearly not exhibiting elite talent, especially when he has played almost the entire year with Kane.
- Z3Hawk

Are goals the only measure of a good player. I understand that he is on the top line and should produce, but there is more to being a good player than just goal output. Do assists count for anything in your view?

I would be the first to admit that he is struggling a bit this year, but he also provides high end skill to the lineup (something that we are sorely lacking even with him). Additionally, we need to keep in mind that while we do have some cap space, we don't have a ton of it. He is currently on a cheap contract. Lets take advantage of that.

I think Stan passed on Robbie Fabbri to draft Schmaltz. Don't guys like to score goals in the NHL? What is the deal with 8's lack of desire to shoot the puck? Maybe 8 needs to go to Rockford for a bit. Make the easy play. Throw it at the net and attack. It is not hard to figure out.

Carolina hasn't had a relevant team in 10 years, who cares what they are doing.

They arent going anywhere again this year even if they scrape into the playoffs.

Five top-10 picks the last nine years and they are still a team that has no direction.

Congrats on getting TT, Carolina lucked into a guy not playing up to his contract due to a misdiagnosis of M.S. for a couple of years that degraded his play and forcing Chicago to move him before they could put him on LTIR.

Hmm yes, it appears that this thing you do not care about at all has very much upset you.








*waits for "I'm not even mad. Actually, it's funny to me."*
- BINGO!

It's not funny, it's annoying. No one cares about the Carolina Hurricanes, not even their fans or their city. Just because some lonely guy in Saskatchewan has a hard on for Patrick Marleau we have to hear about every update or bit of dog poop news about a team that doesn't muster enough interest to have a blog about? Try the Wings blog and update them on Mrzek or the Kings blog and let them know how Williams is doing. Maybe they'll care.

This is so juvenile. Two hall of famers sit and roll eyes at each other and poudt and cry because they have to skate with Schmaltz? Really....

And everyone in the room whispers to each other. Guys sending kane and toews flowers and pick me up texts today....

Jeez....Kane and Toews had 3 or 4 good looks each, half of them after a pass from 8 and they did not hit the net or get shot thru.

Watch the tape....
- TrueGrit

I agree with you.

Folks just want to rag on Schmaltz because he is going to get a new contract and they don't want him to get market value. I think it is clear that Schmaltz does a lot more good than harm on the ice. He isn't without some flaws, but that goes for pretty much everyone on the roster. I mean, even 19 and 88 themselves have cost us goals(and likely points in the standings) with mistakes this season.

I think if we compare him to a player like Kahun right now (a guy who has the same base salary, but makes more potentially with bonuses), Schmaltz is more effective, 2 way, carrying the puck and making plays on the ice. Nobody is here complaining about Kahun because the team doesn't rely on him as much and he has another year on his deal.

It's not funny, it's annoying. No one cares about the Carolina Hurricanes, not even their fans or their city. Just because some lonely guy in Saskatchewan has a hard on for Patrick Marleau we have to hear about every update or bit of dog poop news about a team that doesn't muster enough interest to have a blog about? Try the Wings blog and update them on Mrzek or the Kings blog and let them know how Williams is doing. Maybe they'll care.
- GPHawksfan

Nah I'm good I like it here.

I agree with you.

Folks just want to rag on Schmaltz because he is going to get a new contract and they don't want him to get market value. I think it is clear that Schmaltz does a lot more good than harm on the ice. He isn't without some flaws, but that goes for pretty much everyone on the roster. I mean, even 19 and 88 themselves have cost us goals(and likely points in the standings) with mistakes this season.

I think if we compare him to a player like Kahun right now (a guy who has the same base salary, but makes more potentially with bonuses), Schmaltz is more effective, 2 way, carrying the puck and making plays on the ice. Nobody is here complaining about Kahun because the team doesn't rely on him as much and he has another year on his deal.
- breadbag

The kid has skill. I think we all agree he needs to wind up and let it fly. He has a great shot.

It's not funny, it's annoying. No one cares about the Carolina Hurricanes, not even their fans or their city. Just because some lonely guy in Saskatchewan has a hard on for Patrick Marleau we have to hear about every update or bit of dog poop news about a team that doesn't muster enough interest to have a blog about? Try the Wings blog and update them on Mrzek or the Kings blog and let them know how Williams is doing. Maybe they'll care.
- GPHawksfan

And very few people want to hear one poster complain incessantly about another poster when you can simply scroll past it. Carolina is basically Chicago East. They have a high proportion of former players. TT has been compared numerous times on this board to Schmaltz for a variety of reasons. BINGO is simply providing additional context to the conversation.

You literally can just scroll right past the comment when you see his avatar.

And very few people want to hear one poster complain incessantly about another poster when you can simply scroll past it. Carolina is basically Chicago East. They have a high proportion of former players. TT has been compared numerous times on this board to Schmaltz for a variety of reasons. BINGO is simply providing additional context to the conversation.

You literally can just scroll right past the comment when you see his avatar.
- Chunk

And yes, this is conjecture...

And yes, this is conjecture...
- Chunk

I was gonna say, not quite...

But we had so many ex-hawks it only made sense. It's not as prevalent anymore, obviously, but I still have a soft spot for Chicago and I find the roster situation fascinating. We've never before seen what is essentially a dynasty team slowly degrade due in large part to salary cap restraints.

It's not funny, it's annoying. No one cares about the Carolina Hurricanes, not even their fans or their city. Just because some lonely guy in Saskatchewan has a hard on for Patrick Marleau we have to hear about every update or bit of dog poop news about a team that doesn't muster enough interest to have a blog about? Try the Wings blog and update them on Mrzek or the Kings blog and let them know how Williams is doing. Maybe they'll care.
- GPHawksfan

Bingo isn't a jerk like Nashville fans VoPat or Goalie 33, so as far as I'm concerned he's welcome here. Other points of view, and information about other teams, are refreshing.

I think everyone is misinterpreting BINGO's posts as trolling.

BINGO has been a regular contributor on the Hawks blog, providing insight to ex-Hawks (now on Carolina) and general hockey knowledge/discussion.

I believe his post about TT was meant to draw comparisons to Schmaltz - particularly to the folks who are calling for Schmaltz to be traded.

I think his point is that a lot of guys don't think Schmaltz has value, but he may in fact have value (like TT adds to the Canes).

Now, the only place I disagree is that I think value can be affected by playing styles, team schemes, etc.

To explain:

For TT, the front office did not do him favors by billing him as the next coming of Kane. Kane is a prodigy and that's impossible for any young player to live up to, and when he couldn't, fans didn't understand why.

The other thing that led to TT's lack of success in Chicago was that he played a one-dimensional game, choosing to focus on offense almost-exclusively.

Him going to Carolina (small market) took him out of the Chicago microscope and allowed him an environment where he didn't have to be a two-way player and could focus on offense - thus releasing his talents.

The kid has skill. I think we all agree he needs to wind up and let it fly. He has a great shot.
- z1990z

I think he does get more looks playing wing. He has been robbed on some good looks this year too. The game against Minny for example, Toews set him up on the PP and Dubnyk made a huge save. I think there were a couple other one-timers and all those breakaways. I think it will start to go in the net for him.

Sarcasm?
- I Am The Breadman

No.

so you want to keep Saad?
- matt_ahrens

I was trying to think of another Hawk with only 4 letters - couldn't come up with it at the time.

But - yes - in general - I'd like to keep Saad - a young quality player who has been skating much better the past month or so - but, if there would be a deal to improve the team, then I'd be OK with it.

Are goals the only measure of a good player. I understand that he is on the top line and should produce, but there is more to being a good player than just goal output. Do assists count for anything in your view?

I would be the first to admit that he is struggling a bit this year, but he also provides high end skill to the lineup (something that we are sorely lacking even with him). Additionally, we need to keep in mind that while we do have some cap space, we don't have a ton of it. He is currently on a cheap contract. Lets take advantage of that.
- Chunk

Goals are an all important indice for someone who plays with Kane - 2 in 18 not good. Assists of course are also important, as are +/-, effort, competetiveness, committment, training and a myriad of other indices. 2 in 18 does not indicate high-end skill. Fortin is a clear example that speed itself is not enough. Remember as well that Schmaltz has been blessed to play with Kane. Now Kane AND Toews. When not with Kane no production at all. Elite talent exists independently.

Regarding his contract - that it is not
large now isn’t the issue, it is his next one? What do you pay for someone who is under-achieving and doesn’t seem committed to training or taking or making a check to make a play? Do you try to move him for someone with skill but not these issues. Can you pay Schmaltz as if he is a leader on this team when that is clearly not what he is. Should be but clearly isn’t.

It should be know that up until recently I have been in Schmaltz’s corner. When the photo was released where his body had no definition - where he looked like he had never been to a gym - I looked past it. When I read reports from Training Camp that said after drills he alone would be on his knee totally out of breath because he was out of shape, I looked past it. However, at some point for me enough was enough. The refusal to shoot, the terrible, dangerous, often blind passing, the floating, the flybys, the refusing of contact as if the opposing players have the Bird Flu - enough. He is 22 years old not 15.

It's not funny, it's annoying. No one cares about the Carolina Hurricanes, not even their fans or their city. Just because some lonely guy in Saskatchewan has a hard on for Patrick Marleau we have to hear about every update or bit of dog poop news about a team that doesn't muster enough interest to have a blog about? Try the Wings blog and update them on Mrzek or the Kings blog and let them know how Williams is doing. Maybe they'll care.
- GPHawksfan

Why are you guys going after Bingo?

He's been a valuable contributor here for a long time.

Why are you guys going after Bingo?

He's been a valuable contributor here for a long time.
- StLBravesFan

See my post a few up. Haha.

I get your point. I would put some of that blame on the Hawks though for touting him as the next "big thing" in Chicago since Day 1 of being drafted. Seems like it took to his head and he expected to be treated as such. His play and demeanor on an off the ice led to some of the friction and unfortunately it happened to be at the same time that we were up against the cap and needed to shed Bickell's contract one way or another. Maybe that was the wake up call he needed to become a better player overall going form being "the chosen one" to another guy on Carolina where he felt he had to prove himself.
- Savetheembers33

In one of your earlier posts you pondered what factors may have helped Teravainen grow into the player he is now in Carolina versus what he was in Chicago. A few factors come to mind (some mentioned already in other posts): playing with fellow Finn in Aho who is fierce as a smallish forward and who exudes offensive talent, playing in a new system that allows him to be an offensive contributor amongst many rather than an all-world offensive dynamo, and playing on a team with Brind'Amour as an assistant and now head coach.

As a workout freak himself, Brind'Amour had an impact on his workout regimen. Could be wrong but I believe Aho had a role as well in Teravainen's off-season training, maybe even sharing the same Finnish trainer.

As far as Schmaltz goes, none of us are there to really see if he does or doesn't know how to train and prepare himself. Maybe he does and he has a much harder time putting on muscle than some people do. Maybe he doesn't care, but puts on a good face to make it seem like he does and thinks he can just jump on the ice and do his thing. None of us know that. As far as comparing him to any of those guys isn't a fair comp., each player is different and learns at a different curve.

Agree that just because players don't publicly share their off-season training via social media or news articles like Kane doesn't mean they don't have one. Or just because there are more pictures of Toews on vacation than of him working out doesn't mean he's a slouch. Maybe he just likes to post fun pictures and keep his exercise private.

Not saying you're the one who said this because I know you didn't, I don't think it's a fair statement to say that Schmaltz isn't working on building up his strength. I remember reading articles this summer where Schmaltz did say strength training was something he was focusing on. He's never going to be a hulk like Martinsen due to his body type so he just needs to focus on the right amount of muscle so that he doesn't become so lumbering it slows him down.

Earlier in his career Seabrook used to do a lot of power exercises for his legs but it made him slower so he cut back. Brendan Shanahan did the same. I recall an article many years ago (during his prime years) where Shanahan said his legs became thick as trees but his offense and agility suffered.

Time line for how we will "mature" into the player we think we could be is hard to say because of what I mentioned above, but normally, I would say three years into the league you should have a good feel for a player (as we pretty much do with him, we know he has the talent and needs to work on other areas). That way once their ELC is up you can give them a bridge "prove it" deal for two or three years to see if they can take the next and final step to be a true top in a lineup (unfortunately guys want to get paid ASAP so that makes it harder to do). I know this is pretty much this third year at the NHL, but with how he's seemed scared of making a mistake under Coach Q and it, IMO, slowing his game from developing, I'd wait til the end of the year so you can see a full body of work and how he progressed from the start of the year to the end. Then I would want to sign him to a two or three year bridge deal at a reasonable cap hit to see how he can continue to develop under JC. If he doesn't progress more into the player you think/want him to be then next year you can start to look to trade him in a package for someone else.

One factor that is exacerbating this debate about Schmaltz is the fear of him signing a long-term deal with high AAV (i.e. $6MM or more) when most would feel comfortable with a 2-3 year bridge deal worth south of $4MM. I prefer the latter so he can continue to develop under Colliton and prove his worth.

If Schmaltz was already under contract with a bridge deal, say at $3.5MM, I feel there would be less complaining about him. There would still be criticism about what he needs to work on but possibly less talk about getting rid of him or calling him completely worthless.

As others have stated, Schmaltz has a ton of skill and is young so it would suck to give up on him so quickly. Yes he has rough edges but they can get smoothed out under the right coaching and development staff on top of his own personal workout regimen.

Idk about everyone else, but I'd like to see how he can play the rest of the year under JC before making any judgements about him with what he can or cannot become and if we should trade him

Agree, see my previous statement above.

You sure about that???.....


- EnzoD

I am...he isn't.

I'm the last one who should opine on what Teuvo's ceiling is, but I always believed he wasn't going to reach it here. Teuvo has Finnish teammates in Carolina. For him, that is important. He was a bit homesick when he first came here. Whatever anybody says about Timonen, his presence here raised the level of Teuvo's game for that short period of time.

My concern with Schmaltz on a line with Kane is that if Schmaltz misses a pass to Kane you know Kane will be in his ear about getting him the puck. Kane plays like a C in the o-zone. He needs the puck.

I'd like to see:

Schmaltz Toews Kahun
Dcat Anisimov Kane
Saad Kampf Hayden
Martinsen Johnson/Kruger Fortin

Wouldn't mind Sikura up for turn either. Bump Hayden to 4th line with Martinsen and Kruger/Johnson. Maybe put Sikura up with Toews and Schmaltz.

This team really needs is a solid sized sniper to play in the Top 6. Sure those aren't hard to find. Wonder if the Jets would loan us Partik Laine for the next 5 years



- bhawks2241

I too would like to see Hayden and Martinsen playing 4th line wing with a shifty center who is defensively responsible and solid on draws. Kruger ideally for this year but he's injured and I don't think he is on the team next season so either Johnson or Kampf instead.

It's a matter of time before Sikura is recalled. It would be nice to see him get some top 6 minutes to see how he fares but also wouldn't be upset if he anchored a 3rd line to face lower QOC as he gets his bearings again at the NHL level.

As for a top 6 forward on another team who may need a change of scenery, what about Wennberg from Columbus? He's a playmaking center who had a subpar year last year and not doing so hot again this season. Could it be a case of not thriving under Tortarella? Could he do better under Colliton?

If he could thrive under a new system like Colliton's, he could be the next 2C allowing Schmaltz to play top 6 wing or be 3C (or have Wennberg play 3rd line). Whatever the scenario, it would help spread out offensive talent across 3 lines.

Bingo isn't a jerk like Nashville fans VoPat or Goalie 33, so as far as I'm concerned he's welcome here. Other points of view, and information about other teams, are refreshing.
- BMWChiFan

Agree with you he is not trolling . I like hearing other points of view. Others should be welcome

Bingo isn't a jerk like Nashville fans VoPat or Goalie 33, so as far as I'm concerned he's welcome here. Other points of view, and information about other teams, are refreshing.
- BMWChiFan

Agreed, never had a problem with his input.

Can we all discuss the big elephant in the room now? What happened to Q? No interview or anything with him yet?? Just disappeared into the wind...