Excellent question but not an easy answer.

DeBrincat - for sure, sign him up ASAP.

Strome - all signs are positive but the same could have been said a year ago for Schmaltz.
- DarthKane

I think Strome has shown more than Schmaltz did - but it’s only been the 31 games.

Excellent question but not an easy answer.

DeBrincat - for sure, sign him up ASAP.

Strome - all signs are positive but the same could have been said a year ago for Schmaltz.
- DarthKane

Agreed that’s how people were talking about Schmaltz this time last year, but Strome has contributed so much more than Schmaltz had. Think Strome has shown an ability to distribute just as well as Schmaltz, but Strome is much more dynamic at and around the net and on the boards. Schmaltz is a better skater, but Strome is a much better hockey player.

i know many others will disagree but i thought ward has been very good all year; he had no help facing chance after chance and 40 shots per game during the 1st half of the season with no defensive help...when the hawks just were getting blown out regularly the problem was not netminding..

he is not going to steal games or sand on his head game after game but he will give you a chance to win with some defensive play in front of him
- bogiedoc

I think him and Delia playing every other game has been a nice goalie tandem

I don’t know if the Hawks current offends output is sustainable but overall offense doesn’t seem to be an issue. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stan focus on upgrading the defense in the off season.
- DarthKane

I think the defense is number one priority and then improving the bottom six. As much as I would like to add one more top six wing, I think the money is better didn’t for two really solid lower six.

Not really. Strome is playing the position we thought Schmaltz would play ... so let's go ahead and get one of the top two lotto balls.
- EbonyRaptor

Strome has been an upgrade of what Schmaltz was on this team. But I get your point, Strome isn’t a net new addition.

Having the young guys (ie Strome, DeBrincat, Kahun, Murphy) learn to win is more important than a chance to draft in the top 1-2. Even if the Hawks finished 31st there’s still an 82% chance they don’t draft 1st.

no way in hell 3 weeks ago did i think this team would even sniff .500 this year and hear they are sniffing it...1 game under .500.

ok oldduff this ones for you...i am off to the

I think the defense is number one priority and then improving the bottom six. As much as I would like to add one more top six wing, I think the money is better didn’t for two really solid lower six.
- Spec41971

Erik Karlsson?

The Hawks definitely have made it interesting, if they win 2.5 more games than the Wild and all the other teams flounder at 500 they will have a great chance. I keep saying let's first get to 500 before we talk about playoffs. If they beat Boston they will be 24-24-9, quite an accomplishment considering it took an 8 game winning streak to do it.
- BetweenTheDots

24-24 still puts them 9 games below .500. Let’s see them get to a real .500 (the same number of wins as combined losses) and then they will have a real chance at the playoffs.

I think the defense is number one priority and then improving the bottom six. As much as I would like to add one more top six wing, I think the money is better didn’t for two really solid lower six.
- Spec41971

This is the perhaps the worst defensive group in hockey. It's amazing they are still in it, giving up 40 shots a night, d-men who can't skate, poor positioning, hot potato puck movement. That said I DO like the way Murph has been playing, Dahlstrom seems to be developing and CooCoo has gone from looking like a beer league player to someone who is now passable. Maybe there is more in the tank for those 3.

They have some young prospects, but none are really close to ready and time is ticking on Kane and Toews window. I know those guys still have a lot of years left, but man they are playing at such a high level, just wished we had the backend to go with them.

Erik Karlsson?
- DarthKane

What the hell is he going to cost a team.

i know many others will disagree but i thought ward has been very good all year; he had no help facing chance after chance and 40 shots per game during the 1st half of the season with no defensive help...when the hawks just were getting blown out regularly the problem was not netminding..

he is not going to steal games or stand on his head game after game but he will give you a chance to win with some defensive play in front of him
- bogiedoc

I agree. Ward has been good for all the shots he faces.

when your team has lost 20 of 22 and looking really bad doing it...the GM should get a front row seat of the mess he has assembled before he goes..
- bogiedoc

I like it!

no way in hell 3 weeks ago did i think this team would even sniff .500 this year and hear they are sniffing it...1 game under .500.

ok oldduff this ones for you...i am off to the


- bogiedoc

Sounds like you are getting into the sucky way the NHL wants us to look at a team’s winning percentage. They are still 8 or 9 games under .500.

24-24 still puts them 9 games below .500. Let’s see them get to a real .500 (the same number of wins as combined losses) and then they will have a real chance at the playoffs.
- Spec41971

Wild who hold the final WC spot, 27-24-5?

Sounds like you are getting into the sucky way the NHL wants us to look at a team’s winning percentage. They are still 8 or 9 games under .500.
- Spec41971

Not with Foley math.

This is the perhaps the worst defensive group in hockey. It's amazing they are still in it, giving up 40 shots a night, d-men who can't skate, poor positioning, hot potato puck movement. That said I DO like the way Murph has been playing, Dahlstrom seems to be developing and CooCoo has gone from looking like a beer league player to someone who is now passable. Maybe there is more in the tank for those 3.

They have some young prospects, but none are really close to ready and time is ticking on Kane and Toews window. I know those guys still have a lot of years left, but man they are playing at such a high level, just wished we had the backend to go with them.
- kwolf68

That's why I'd rather they keep Keith unless they can get a better defenseman or two to replace him. Murphy may be better than him now but the D is better with him than without him.

Uh oh that tells me the Hawks might be making a move for the playoffs, i hope not, no rentals
- BetweenTheDots

It tells me that he thinks people shouldn’t freak out if they “blow”their chance at Hughes because they’ve already added the equivalent of a top pick.

That's why I'd rather they keep Keith unless they can get a better defenseman or two to replace him. Murphy may be better than him now but the D is better with him than without him.
- matt_ahrens

I am still holding out hope Keith has some fuel in the tank. I thought he skated well today. Much better than the last game when guys were skating past him. When guys are skating past Duncan then you know it's over, because that is probably his main talent, being a brilliant skater.

So today was encouraging for #2. And I agree. I think he'd bring a haul still and that's the ONLY way I'd ever consider moving him. This nonsensical bullpoop with people offering a 2nd and some nothing prospect is not gonna fly. It will take a first and a top prospect, or he stays in Chicago, period.

streaking

the winners:

hawks...7 strt
blows...6 strt

the losers:

aves...7 strt
ducks...7 strt and 19 of 21
oil...7 of 8

in the east the flyers were once at the bottom with the hawks now have won 9 of 10

I think Kruger is the most likely one to get moved. Someone will probably want that skill set for the playoff run. The other one might be Hayden. If someone wants him, I think the Hawks owe it to him to give him a chance to play more than 7 minutes a game. I don't see his career taking off here.
- 333inthe3rd

I agree with your assessment; Kruger most likely, Hayden perhaps second most likely to be moved.

I might be in the minority here but I hope the Blackhawks keep Kruger and resign him at a more reasonable cap hit like $1.5m or so. He's a solid 4th line center who is good on the PK. If they could get a solid 3LC and put Kruger on the 4th, that'd be a good thing for the bottom six.

Hayden, yeah, not really seeing the point of keeping him.

I don't think they'll make any moves that trade picks or prospects for short term contracts. But if someone wants to take Kunitz, Ward, Hayden, or AA and give something to the Blackhawks in return, great.

What the hell is he going to cost a team.
- BetweenTheDots

Money and cap space.

I am still holding out hope Keith has some fuel in the tank. I thought he skated well today. Much better than the last game when guys were skating past him. When guys are skating past Duncan then you know it's over, because that is probably his main talent, being a brilliant skater.

So today was encouraging for #2. And I agree. I think he'd bring a haul still and that's the ONLY way I'd ever consider moving him. This nonsensical bullpoop with people offering a 2nd and some nothing prospect is not gonna fly. It will take a first and a top prospect, or he stays in Chicago, period.
- kwolf68

Yes. He is still an asset, not an overpaid drain on the cap like Seabrook is, unfortunately.

Not with Foley math.
- I Am The Breadman

He can’t even keep keep straight how many drinks he’s had.

Just got done watching parts of the game I missed today and the postgame show. Think I’ve got to get one of those solid black caps with the winter classic black and white Indian head. The more I see it, the more I like it.

I don't buy the notion that Strome is like winning the lottery pick because he is a replacement for Schmaltz and the net delta between Strome and Schmaltz is not equal to a lottery pick.

But, this is supposed to be a pretty deep draft and we've seen the mid-first round yield some very good players over the last few drafts so drafting in the middle of the first round doesn't mean we get a lump of coal in our draft stocking - only that it will probably take a year or two before our prized new possession shows up in a Hawks sweater.

And if we happen to make the playoffs then the experience will be good for the young players, as others have said, but also it makes the Hawks more attractive for a free agent considering where to sign. I'm still hoping we can convince Dzingel and Chiarot to sign with us.