Nice win keep er going tonight and we are right back in this thing ..GO HAWKS !!!!!!

I don't think we will get full value for trading him and I wouldn't move him to a contender for just a second. I want at least a 1st and if teams aren't going to pay that, then he's better off mentoring the our future top defensemen (Joki, Boq, etc).
- RedRevenge

The return wouldn't be an issue. Keith would bring back more than a 1st. It just comes down to how deep they wanna cut in order to rebuild. You need some good vets to play with the next wave or the team could waffle for a long time.

The return wouldn't be an issue. Keith would bring back more than a 1st. It just comes down to how deep they wanna cut in order to rebuild. You need some good vets to play with the next wave or the team could waffle for a long time.
- breadbag

Aka The Oilers

As for the future, where (and when) does Evan Barratt fit in? He's having a great year at Penn State, does he sign this spring? I think it would be better for him to go back to school for one more year, but what if he wants to sign this year and the Hawks want him to wait another year? Does he decide to stay in college until his senior year and test free agency?
- tvetter

He's beyond excited to be a hawk & I think AEL gave a report/listing of players that were easy to coach & I think he was one of them. If that is true, then staying another year shouldn't be bad to where he'll go free agent. I project him as middle/bottom 6.

I was just happy to see this team come out ready to play with some energy and grabbing an early lead. This team usually is lifeless after an extended time off.
- BGKarras

Agree 100% 👍🏻

He's beyond excited to be a hawk & I think AEL gave a report/listing of players that were easy to coach & I think he was one of them. If that is true, then staying another year shouldn't be bad to where he'll go free agent. I project him as middle/bottom 6.
- I Am The Breadman

From the articles and reports I've read Barratt as well as Entwistle and Slavin have been considered a coach's dreams. Humble, open to feedback, does whatever it takes to win playing any role. Great traits to have for bottom 6 prospects especially when compared to Hartman who was vocally dissatisfied with playing time and roles for himself and teammates.

Barratt has the most potential IMHO to be more than bottom 6. Don't think he has the high end talent to be a consistent top 6 forward but some have compared him to Shaw, i.e. that all-terrain forward who can play any line and actually contribute with speed, offense, and sandpaper. He may play best in bottom 6 but wouldn't be out of place in the top 6 with spot duty assignments.

Was at the game last night as well and when the Sabres started pressing and made it 4-3, you just had that sinking feeling again and it became really apparent their d needs help, yes they need help on o, especially their bottom 6 but their d needs some serious help. Gus watched the puck slide through his legs on one goal like he was playing croquet, problem is he's 4th or 5th in scoring. Btw, people are misreading what Keith said, he's 100% right, there are no rebuilds or retools, ups and downs can change from season to season, and I'm pretty sure he never said he doesn't care or try for that matter, he's been off for sure the last couple seasons but he had a solid game last night and even scored, can't believe I saw that live.

From the articles and reports I've read Barratt as well as Entwistle and Slavin have been considered a coach's dreams. Humble, open to feedback, does whatever it takes to win playing any role. Great traits to have for bottom 6 prospects especially when compared to Hartman who was vocally dissatisfied with playing time and roles for himself and teammates.

Barratt has the most potential IMHO to be more than bottom 6. Don't think he has the high end talent to be a consistent top 6 forward but some have compared him to Shaw, i.e. that all-terrain forward who can play any line and actually contribute with speed, offense, and sandpaper. He may play best in bottom 6 but wouldn't be out of place in the top 6 with spot duty assignments.
- AEL_Fox

Coming through again, summoned like Beetlejuice. Thanks for the report/confirmation.

Edit: exactly like Beetlejuice. Jhawk59 said your name twice, one in relation to Koekkoek, and today with your breakdown on defense prospects, and me just now. Michael Keaton?

Was at the game last night as well and when the Sabres started pressing and made it 4-3, you just had that sinking feeling again and it became really apparent their d needs help, yes they need help on o, especially their bottom 6 but their d needs some serious help. Gus watched the puck slide through his legs on one goal like he was playing croquet, problem is he's 4th or 5th in scoring. Btw, people are misreading what Keith said, he's 100% right, there are no rebuilds or retools, ups and downs can change from season to season, and I'm pretty sure he never said he doesn't care or try for that matter, he's been off for sure the last couple seasons but he had a solid game last night and even scored, can't believe I saw that live.
- Butcherboy66

Agreed, Keith played well last night.

Nice win keep er going tonight and we are right back in this thing ..GO HAWKS !!!!!!
- oldduffman

We are -5 games played vs points, which puts us at 77 points for the season, they have to win 5 games in a row just to get to even, still 82 points isn't going to cut it, that would leave 25 games left, then they would have to go 17-8 just to hit 91 points? 20-5 to hit 97? So the Hawks would have to go 25-5 imho to have a chance at making the playoffs. That would be one hell of a run. Is it possible? Sure, it's it probable, No

Responding to a post in an earlier blog that jhawk asked why I'm not high on Koekkoek. I'm not opposed to retaining him next year but it hinges on a few things.

For one thing, he needs to show consistency with whatever skills he can bring to the ice and in whatever roles he's put in. I guess it helps for him to actually play in games so that's an upside to Jokiharju being sent down to Rockford.

Another thing is that the team could upgrade Koekkoek this summer if the opportunity arises in a trade or free agency as long as they don't break the bank to do so. He's not a huge liability but he hasn't really stated a case to be a fixture on the blueline either.

And Koekkoek's fate also depends on the fates of other D-men. Will the team resign Forsling and/or Dahlstrom who are also RFAs like him? Does Gustafsson get traded at the TDL? Do the Keith rumors materialize? Who can the team realistically obtain at the TDL or this summer?

Perlini seems to be in a similar situation at forward.

Attitude problem? If that is what you got from Keith's response then you need to re-calibrate.

Ridiculous. You are just projecting your feelings onto him.

D Keith surely has an attitude problem and that may be why Bownan entertains the trade him now disposition. Keith can still skate well so really another GM is betting on how much how often Keith goes all out. The beauty of the playoffs is that this is the time you go all out.

The biggest obstruction to completion of trade, however, may not be Keith's attitude but more so a team whom wants him as much as he would want to play for them. Frankly it is difficult to see him finding a situation outside of Chicago. But we are looking from the outside and Stan is on the inside. You know that old phrase about waiting until next year.....in this brouhaha (is it really a brouhaha) we indeed wait to next year to see how different the team will look. With or without Keith.
- jhawk59

surely you know this how?

Nice win keep er going tonight and we are right back in this thing ..GO HAWKS !!!!!!
- oldduffman

right back in what?

Duncan Keith’s response says it all. No wonder they are struggling so much this year. It should matter to him and it should matter a lot. Interesting, since he’s been the Worst Blackhawk on the ice. Yes, even worse that Seabs lately. As he said, this isn’t a delevopmental league. Well it’s also not a league where u can use the excuse he just gave. If u could, Q would still b around and the UC would still b full. Trade him while opposing GMs may still b under the impression that he’s got a lot of value.
- Nmbr1

No

Coming through again, summoned like Beetlejuice. Thanks for the report/confirmation.

Edit: exactly like Beetlejuice. Jhawk59 said your name twice, one in relation to Koekkoek, and today with your breakdown on defense prospects, and me just now. Michael Keaton?
- I Am The Breadman

I don't think we will get full value for trading him and I wouldn't move him to a contender for just a second. I want at least a 1st and if teams aren't going to pay that, then he's better off mentoring the our future top defensemen (Joki, Boq, etc).
- RedRevenge

100% agreement.

No
- Ogilthorpe2

Maybe?

Responding to a post in an earlier blog that jhawk asked why I'm not high on Koekkoek. I'm not opposed to retaining him next year but it hinges on a few things.

For one thing, he needs to show consistency with whatever skills he can bring to the ice and in whatever roles he's put in. I guess it helps for him to actually play in games so that's an upside to Jokiharju being sent down to Rockford.

Another thing is that the team could upgrade Koekkoek this summer if the opportunity arises in a trade or free agency as long as they don't break the bank to do so. He's not a huge liability but he hasn't really stated a case to be a fixture on the blueline either.

And Koekkoek's fate also depends on the fates of other D-men. Will the team resign Forsling and/or Dahlstrom who are also RFAs like him? Does Gustafsson get traded at the TDL? Do the Keith rumors materialize? Who can the team realistically obtain at the TDL or this summer?

Perlini seems to be in a similar situation at forward.
- AEL_Fox

He's played 2 games and one of them was with 7 dmen. He was better than Forsling and showed some willingness bo play physical.

- AEL_Fox

Lovely! Hahaha!

"I've seen the exorcist 167 times, and it just keeps getting funnier every time I see it. Not to mention the fact that you're talking to a dead guy."

It looks like Joki is playing RD in Rockford. If this is the case i sure hope they don't have him playing LD when he comes back to Chicago

He's played 2 games and one of them was with 7 dmen. He was better than Forsling and showed some willingness bo play physical.
- GPHawksfan

And get caught deep in the O zone like so many others

And get caught deep in the O zone like so many others
- BetweenTheDots

2 games!

Maybe?
- Elbows15

Attitude problem? If that is what you got from Keith's response then you need to re-calibrate.

Ridiculous. You are just projecting your feelings onto him.
- Elbows15

It is a misnomer to say Keith has an attitude problem. An attitude problrm implies many negative factors. Earlier i used "attitude problem;" i shoukd have just given the longer drawn out description of his play these last two seasons which often is called listless, error prone, doesn't seem interested to compete. Some talk also last season about disenchanted with his defense partner

I have also explained that he most likely is still a capable player, still skates well. He may need a partner whom is a good fit and a better team around him to lift his spirit.

Actually with young dmen now coming aboard in camp, in exhibitions, even regular season i think prospects need to see not just hear how a veteran keeps
In shape and how a veteran smallish size (emphasis added) like them has thrived in a long career with these traits: good skaters most of them/likes to challenge/smart/knows how to throw a big hit once in a while).

Keith can be really good although he is prone to bone headed decisions sometimes. Nonetheless, a smart heady savvy veteran
.