Say you are a team like Dallas, if you have four firsts in the next four years that are high picks, you have a serious problem. They continue to lobby that it is win now mode. I can see them doing it especially with Spezza coming off the books.

Look at Vegas, likely will be a team that can play to at least the second round the next four years. Those picks possibly are expendable for a top player and true superstar to build the franchise around.

Then there is Ottawa. They lose out on Stone and Duchene and get a guy to put buts in the stands and keep them relevant.

So, I disagree.
- nickmo2699

Ottawa is without a first this year. My opinion, no ownership would allow 4 firsts to go for anyone short of McJesus

https://www.instagram.com...heet&igshid=1a1up5768xhus

Boquist OHL highlights

Update:

NEWS: Mikko Koivu will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament & meniscus in his right knee. He is expected to have surgery to repair his knee on Friday.

Update:

NEWS: Mikko Koivu will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament & meniscus in his right knee. He is expected to have surgery to repair his knee on Friday.
- walleyeb1

Anisimov to Wild!

Marner is signing for what Matthews got or very close to it. I'd argue Marner is the Leafs' best player and given his stats, the fact he stays healthy, is more physical, kills penalties and who's ever like he plays on is the most dangerous I'd say his Agent has very good case.
- paulr

I am aware. Hence, the IF. You know, hometown discount and all.

LTIR doesn't come off the books until after the first day of the season. As we learned with Hossa, and other teams have learned. So if you have a $5M hit on your books, he will be there on day one, and only after that day can you put him on LTIR.
- ObeseOprah

That is incorrect. Capfriendly has the explanation of the differences of when you put a player on LTIR https://www.capfriendly.com/ltir-faq. It is beneficial to be as close to the Cap limit as possible when placing players on LTIR so as to get the maximum cap relief benefit. You can also exceed the cap by the 10% cushion during the off-season and place a player on LTIR in the off-season. The cushion is removed once the season begins.

Z, I can see Nylander being moved and possibly Zaitsev, but they wont move Willy without wanting solid pieces back which cost $ and Zaitsev wont be moved without retention, so I find it tough. Plus they have said Marleau may be someone they move out but he is really important to their locker room and the young guys!

I think they are in a bind.
- nickmo2699

While everyone is gonna bring up Nylander and Zaitsev as guys to be moved I would argue as good as he is, in an overqualified role as a 3C, Kadri would be a guy I would look at moving if I were Toronto. with having 22M tied up in their Top 2 Centers. Having Kadri is a HUGE luxury to have and perfect going for a Cup run when one of your top two C's are on their ELC but with both being PAID you're best bet is to clear that cap space to spread it around your team.

Really all three should be moved out if they want to keep the likes of Marner, Kapanen, Johnsson, and guys like Muzzin, Dermott, Hyman for the long term. It's going to be extremely interesting and fun to watch what the team does going into the summer to sort this all out. Either way, they've got about a 2-3 year window (this year included) to win a cup and if they don't deliver its gonna go down as one of the best collections of talents that were mismanaged.

Call me crazy, but if the Hawks end up somewhere in the middle outside of the Top lets say 7, when the season ends I'd call up Toronto and try and get Kadri and Kapanen from them using our 1st and whatever collection of the over abundance of cheap bottom six forwards we have to get both of those guys in this lineup and help Toronto gain cap relief and cheap depth players. Win-Win.

Anisimov to Wild!
- EnzoD

Pick up the phone Stan, NOW!

Ottawa is without a first this year. My opinion, no ownership would allow 4 firsts to go for anyone short of McJesus
- riozzo

There's not much I wouldn't give up for Ottawa's next 4 firsts.

https://www.instagram.com...heet&igshid=1a1up5768xhus

Boquist OHL highlights
- EnzoD

Yeah Hawks have potentially a Ferrari in the garage that probably use a lil work but could help this team win next year and they're gonna just say naw we're gonna wait for it to be good before we take that bad boy out. Can't see it happening. They're gonna wanna see him in the lineup next year dangling around guys to set Kane, Cat, and Toews up for goals

Update:

NEWS: Mikko Koivu will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament & meniscus in his right knee. He is expected to have surgery to repair his knee on Friday.
- walleyeb1

OUCH! That's a BIG blow to that team....$#!T!! This likely helps improve our Playoff chances too.

https://www.instagram.com...heet&igshid=1a1up5768xhus

Boquist OHL highlights
- EnzoD

Man is he good, so good I can even watch those highlights with that brutal music.

Say the Hawks make a move for a forward at the deadline and are in the hunt the rest of the way/squeeze into a wild card spot. Do the Hawks bring one of Boqvist, Beaudin or Mitchell into the fold toward the end of the year when their respective seasons end?

I am aware. Hence, the IF. You know, hometown discount and all.
- Elbows15

Marner is gonna want close to the same as Matthews if not around the exact same amount as he's played better as we've all seen BUT, I forgot which show I was watching so forgive me, the host suggested that this will follow closely to what happened with Edmonton with McDavid and Draisaitl where McDavid got the mega deal and Draisaitl wanted close to the same, but they got him to settle for a few million less to as a "discount" to help the team.

Believe it or not, they way Agents and the NHLPA is pushing players to get the most money that they can, Matthews probably, if he wanted the money, could have gotten a deal for a higher AAV than McDavid did but decided to take "less" to help the team out.

Yeah Hawks have potentially a Ferrari in the garage that probably use a lil work but could help this team win next year and they're gonna just say naw we're gonna wait for it to be good before we take that bad boy out. Can't see it happening. They're gonna wanna see him in the lineup next year dangling around guys to set Kane, Cat, and Toews up for goals
- Savetheembers33

Wouldn't be the worse thing in the world for Boqvist to spend another season with London. For a few reasons. Expansion draft, RFA status, physical maturity and more time to hone his defensive game.

Say the Hawks make a move for a forward at the deadline and are in the hunt the rest of the way/squeeze into a wild card spot. Do the Hawks bring one of Boqvist, Beaudin or Mitchell into the fold toward the end of the year when their respective seasons end?
- SoftServe

The only one I could see making sense is Mitchell IF he's willing to sign an ELC once their season is over with. I still think Beaudin is at least another year away, and I think they will let Boqvist take the same path that Joki did in Training Camp last year and surprise everyone to make the team (Boqvist almost did it last year with his play so imagine what another year should do for his confidence). Also, gotta keep in mind that Joki is very much likely to get the call back up at some point as well too.

Marner is gonna want close to the same as Matthews if not around the exact same amount as he's played better as we've all seen BUT, I forgot which show I was watching so forgive me, the host suggested that this will follow closely to what happened with Edmonton with McDavid and Draisaitl where McDavid got the mega deal and Draisaitl wanted close to the same, but they got him to settle for a few million less to as a "discount" to help the team.

Believe it or not, they way Agents and the NHLPA is pushing players to get the most money that they can, Matthews probably, if he wanted the money, could have gotten a deal for a higher AAV than McDavid did but decided to take "less" to help the team out.
- Savetheembers33

Not so sure about Marner settling for much less than Matthews. His Dad and his agent have been spouting an awful lot to the media.

Wouldn't be the worse thing in the world for Boqvist to spend another season with London. For a few reasons. Expansion draft, RFA status, physical maturity and more time to hone his defensive game.
- Elbows15

And playing one more season for the Hunter's, great moulders (SIC) of NHL players

The only one I could see making sense is Mitchell IF he's willing to sign an ELC once their season is over with. I still think Beaudin is at least another year away, and I think they will let Boqvist take the same path that Joki did in Training Camp last year and surprise everyone to make the team (Boqvist almost did it last year with his play so imagine what another year should do for his confidence). Also, gotta keep in mind that Joki is very much likely to get the call back up at some point as well too.
- Savetheembers33

Beaudin has already signed his ELC. So Rockford would be where he would go. Which he probably could use.

IIRC, Boqist has signed his ELC also but both are slide eligible. I think

For giggles, say you call the Wild and offer AA in a trade. Who do you ask for back? Player or just picks?

Wouldn't be the worse thing in the world for Boqvist to spend another season with London. For a few reasons. Expansion draft, RFA status, physical maturity and more time to hone his defensive game.
- Elbows15

I don't disagree with you. I think for every single one of the reasons you mentioned that it makes the most sense for them to wait. However, when you see how skilled he is offensively I find it VERY hard to see the Hawks waiting to bring that level of skill to the team. I can already see their reasoning being that he can learn from two all time greats in Keith and Seabrook with Brookbank helping him understand the system and grow his defensive game more with the team while letting him unleash his offensive skill set with Kane.

Not so sure about Marner settling for much less than Matthews. His Dad and his agent have been spouting an awful lot to the media.
- Elbows15

Yeah idk, if he does it won't be for much less. Probably like 10M AAV

We need to stop talking about tanking. Tanking is not a thing in the NHL. It might be with the fans, but no one in any organization will think that way. Being sellers at the TDL does not mean tanking. Being buyers at the TDL does not mean playoff push.
- HawksHype

Because players are always playing for their next contract, and trying to win, the only way to ‘tank’ is to get rid of all your good players, and rebuild with picks & prospects. (Only prospects in MLB). Cubs did it, Astro’s did it, White Sox are trying to do it.

Theo was so good at it he signed guys in the off season to 1 year deals, knowing he was going to flip them at the deadline for prospects.

The Hawks, as constructed, have most of their good players, and some of their less good players, tied up with NMC & NTC. That precludes them from flipping them.

Also, MLB draft is 40 rounds. Much easier to take a flyer on a guy in round 20 or 30 than in a draft with only 7 rounds.

Man is he good, so good I can even watch those highlights with that brutal music.
- ObeseOprah

He has promise, but those highlights show a kid who is an excellent skater and puckhandler against other kids playing questionable defense and goaltending.

I've been advocating for a Retool since the Hawks started sucking. Get the most picks/prospects you can out of the two down years and go back to contending. How do we get the most out of the second year of our retool? By getting the best pick possible.

The Bruins made great picks during their retool with Pastrnak and McAvoy, I hope the Hawks can make equally as valuable picks wherever they end up for this draft. I just don't want to fall into the Red Wings/Wild model of 'hey let's make the playoffs and anything can happen' when we clearly can't beat a good team in a playoff round.
- ObeseOprah

All they need to do is draft well, sign smart contracts and make good trades. Tanking to the bottom isn't a replacement for those things.