Hell of a hockey game in Sin City. 3-3 in the 3rd
- EnzoD

Sin City definitely one of the more underrated AC/DC songs. Hell of a guitar solo.

Cam Ward excellent again. STL is on a rampage right now so they still need to win basically 75% of their games the rest of the way to make the Tournament
- EnzoD

Nah. Minnesota will choke.

Loving the Drake...such a good move by Stan. I keep saying it but it keeps being true. The Hawks needed more guys to go to the front of the net, now they have Toews, Anisimov, Strome and the Drake.

Koekkoek was solid too, he's starting to pull away from Forsling.
- DarthKane

Agreed. I was vehemently opposed to trading Forsling, but with the logjam the Hawks have now on D, I'd rather keep Koekkoek.

Hell of a hockey game in Sin City. 3-3 in the 3rd
- EnzoD

You play St Louis and after the game whom is singing the blues?

The answer is not a player from that NHL venue.

It is not Elton John either any wise guys.

After their summer transactions the critics said this team might be a tad slow but it also might be tough to knock them off in playoffs.

Now stage left enter one Mr Binnington. Mr Allen you may not retain your starting role by regular season end. And maybe Tarasenko finally gets past the.30 or low 30's goal output. Beats his friend, the Breadman, in goal scoring.

So does St Louis win a couple playoff rounds? Maybe. But their defense depth on blueline particularly is not good.

Dallas might fall out of their spot. St Louis probably gonna take 3rd from them soon.
- breadbag

The final NHL scoring leaders will be:

1) Kucherov
2) Kane
3) McDavid

Anyone disagree

funkn blows...8 in a row...when did they become good

https://lastwordonhockey.com/2018/03/05/2018-college-hockey-free-agents/
- Elbows15

Close... that’s the 2018 list

Close... that’s the 2018 list
- DarthKane

I know.

funkn blows...8 in a row...when did they become good
- bogiedoc

O'Reilly was quoted as saying he hopes St. Louis brass doesn't tinker with their team.Geesh! Talk about coming out of nowhere! L.A. Kings second time around? Sure hope not. Would make for one miserable summer.

Mitchell isn't gonna sign with the hawks. He's gonna play all four years and go free agent.
- GPHawksfan

Ok! You know best. Mitchell just said he is going to sign with Blackhawks but I trust you more.

Ok! You know best. Mitchell just said he is going to sign with Blackhawks but I trust you more.
- MjulQvist

You should. I have sources.

Hey everyone. Haven’t posted much this season but have been following the discussions closely. My question is this... I see many posters wanting to tank and I understand that point of view. This team, even if they sneak into the playoffs likely won’t get past the first round (barring a miracle).

But, with Kane and Toews entering their 30’s, how many more years do they realistically have at this level? Before this year, many on this board were proclaiming 19 as finished. The rush of playoff hockey (for me as a fan) is second to none and I’d love to see the hawks in the tournament again this year. A top 3 pick doesn’t guarantee long term success and if Kane and/or Toews fall off, it’ll take a lot more than a Hughes type to get the Hawks back to the level they’re at now (offensively). I can see them winning 6-7 of the next 8. I say stick with the current roster, try to get into the playoffs and add to the D corps in free agency/keep developing the young D. I don’t think they’re as far off as many would think.

Go Hawks!
- OneGoalx3

Probably about one or two more that Crosby and Malkin.

You should. I have sources.
- GPHawksfan

Few weeks ago Mitchell told to Chicago Tribune that he wants to play for the Hawks as soon as possible. Maybe he was lying?

If I’m Stan, I actively try to get rid of AA for a lottery ticket prospect and a mid-level draft pick.

However, I don’t view that money as necessarily savings per se. AA has two years at $4.5M AAV left on his deal.

That’s the exact contract I’d offer Eric Staal this offseason to center the team’s third line next year. He’s bigger, better at the dot, a huge improvement offensively, and he would add another veteran element that the team absolutely needs, especially up front where it’s basically Toews, Kane, and a bunch of young 20 somethings. It’s the kind of veteran addition you make that pay dividends when you’re playing hockey in the late spring.
- TommyHawk

I think AA has been monitoring all the trash talking going on about him on these blogs and Twitter the last couple days.

Nah. Minnesota will choke.
- tazer_and_diet

Maybe Dallas will choke too

You should. I have sources.
- GPHawksfan

You could have said that originally

If Mitchell signs elsewhere, no compensation since he was drafted before a new CBA. A new CBA should hopefully address this issue.

Because the league tolerates the abuse financially wealthy teams impose on weaker financial teams, there ought to be a severe penalty OR not allowed to sign with non drafted team for two years after finishing non professional career.

If the league does not address this issue in all fairness, then the league is guilty of catering to the wealthy. I don't care to hear how a legal challenge might overcome this. It is suberterfuge by the wealthy teams. Just the facts. But like life itself some things are just not fair and proper.

Few weeks ago Mitchell told to Chicago Tribune that he wants to play for the Hawks as soon as possible. Maybe he was lying?
- MjulQvist

MyulQvist:

Disappointed in Forsling and Tulolla? They appear behind others on the list of closest to NHL. The later might not advance to NHL and if he does, then with another organization.

Really appreciate your input on the Finnish and Swedish players. I feel that Laakinen might be a more solid prospect than previously considered.. Can you give a season end analysis on the development of any.l Finnish & Swedish Blackhaek draftees: eg From andcDahlstrom the forward. Others?

A couple years ago there was another Carlsson whom returned to Sweden. He appeared to get lost in Blackhawks system. Tallish, defensive but very good skater played ECHL and AHL. Wondering if he has been good back in Sweden. Not expecting him back here but I thought that he was never given a fair opportunity.

Knocking on the playoff door. Definately a chance of grabbing 8th. Minny have lost 6 of last 7 or something and doing nothing. I still think we get clobbered in Round 1. But, if we are screwing up a Top 5 draft position anyway....it is just as well to get to the dance, because will only be drafting 9th to 12th anyway, and no real difference in that area of the draft.

Saw Nashville play last night too. They are not THAT super either. Yes, way more solid than the Hawks, but they gave up loads of quality chances. Luckily for them it was against a offensively-challenged Habs team. But, if Hawks got into a open, shoot-out series with nashville....they could maybe give them a scare. No doubt, our horrid defense wiould surrender 4+ a game....maybe we could win 4 of those 5-4 or 6-5 games.

This team is NOT going to learn defense or add THAT much defensive help over the next month, So embrace it, realizing we can't score and do the 80's Oiler thing...and somewhat the present Leaf thing......open it up and see if we can outscore whoever we play 6-5. Hard to watch, but fun as heck when we win....lol.

Tyler, thank you for all you do for our online community. Everyone has a different style and I like yours: you are articulate, knowledgeable, fair, and humble. Feel free to cut and paste that to your HR department when performance appraisals come around.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks AEL. Will do.

MyulQvist:

Disappointed in Forsling and Tulolla? They appear behind others on the list of closest to NHL. The later might not advance to NHL and if he does, then with another organization.

Really appreciate your input on the Finnish and Swedish players. I feel that Laakinen might be a more solid prospect than previously considered.. Can you give a season end analysis on the development of any.l Finnish & Swedish Blackhaek draftees: eg From andcDahlstrom the forward. Others?

A couple years ago there was another Carlsson whom returned to Sweden. He appeared to get lost in Blackhawks system. Tallish, defensive but very good skater played ECHL and AHL. Wondering if he has been good back in Sweden. Not expecting him back here but I thought that he was never given a fair opportunity.
- jhawk59

Thanks! Not disappointed of Tuulola at all. I just don´t have any expectations on him. Don´t think he´ll be ever NHL caliber player. Forsling I see odd man out. Injuries have taken toll on him and I still see potential there but the way things are going with Hawks I wouldn´t be suprised if he is traded at some point.

Sorry to say but I haven´t paid attention to Carlsson, From or John Dahlström.

Thanks! Not disappointed of Tuulola at all. I just don´t have any expectations on him. Don´t think he´ll be ever NHL caliber player. Forsling I see odd man out. Injuries have taken toll on him and I still see potential there but the way things are going with Hawks I wouldn´t be suprised if he is traded at some point.

Sorry to say but I haven´t paid attention to Carlsson, From or John Dahlström.
- MjulQvist

I wouldn't either. He's still young but it seems others have jumped ahead. Could see him be part of a deal at the TDL or over the summer.

It's kind of fitting that it occurs the year they are honoring Stash.
- boilermaker100

I hope Stosh is smiling down on the team and helping push it along.

I wouldn't either. He's still young but it seems others have jumped ahead. Could see him be part of a deal at the TDL or over the summer.
- HawkintheD

With expansion looming teams may want to acquire or not acquire cetain type of players. Grand strategy centers around whom to protect, whom to leave available as attractive expansion picks, and whom to have available in trade to expansion team.

Recall Vegas swung lots of deals. Recall they were starting a franchise with very little in the farm system.

What we do mot know is what Bowman thinks of Forsling future development.

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=97764