>>>Cam Ward is earning his paycheques these days. He had another 40+ save performance last night. I think if there is uncertainty with Crawford heading into the offseason, you may see the Hawks resign the veteran goalie to another 1-year deal. He and Delia are playing well off each other. The big question to me is if that happens, does Ward gets a NMC this time?<<<

No...but it might mean a larger 1 year deal say 1.5 - 2 mil. As crow insurance.

This is so confusing. If they make the playoffs does Kane win the MVP? He kind of has to right?
- fattybeef

yes...even if they don't make the playoffs....

Whaddya think about CooCoo now?
Far better skater (faster) than Forsling and seemingly NOT afraid of his shadow.
Also has a better last name! Could it be that Stan pulled off another under-the-radar move by dumping Ruuta for this former 1st rounder? Sure seems possible.

One other note -- was Seabrook playing drunk the 1st 2 periods?
He goes back to touch up on an icing with puck along the boards and falls on his ass. Gets up and looks totally out-of-it.
And what's with his Eddie Munster hairline look in those stupid lawyer commercials?
- savvyone-1

i am CooCoo over CooCoo.

There was some talk in the last blog about a trade with Anisimov and Faulk being the primary pieces which would be a decent trade for the Hawks because it would lose one year of Cap commitment - AA with 2 years remaining after this season and Faulk with only 1 year remaining. But I'm not really wanting Faulk because I think he helps defensively which is what the Hawks need, plus he is RD which is not what the Hawks need. But - it would be better than not trading him.

AA's bonus this summer is always talked about as an impediment to trading him. Does a salary floor team trade for him without salary being retained, or are they waiting until after the bonus gets paid? And from my armchair here, I don't have the contract info on all the other players, so I don't know the answer to who has a similar contract situation and can come back in a trade.

We know Torts loved coaching him, so what kind of deal can happen with Columbus?

Anyway, I don't think this contract will be easy to trade, or it probably would have happened by now.

Another question is who takes his spot in the lineup if he does get dealt?

I suspect some team will overpay for arte; yet would not be surprised if hawks have to eat $$ or take a bad contract back.

Was thinking after the game, whether the Hawks make the playoffs or not, what questions have been answered or still need to be addressed to become a playoff team next year.

Can Toews be Toews again YES
Is Schmautz the answer to the #2 center- NO but Strome appears he can be
Can Joki make the jump out of juniors - APPEARS HE COULD, but sent him down for more seasoning as Dahlstrom appears to at least be a serviceable 5-6 defenseman.
Can the defense improve. ARGUABLY NO, but defenseman seem to be trending up. Murphy playing more like the player they traded for as opposed to the one last year. Keith and Seabrook not playing better (until lately, Keith I think is a +15 in the last 8 or 9 games.)
No goalie depth behind Crawford if he gets hurt again- YES, Ward has played this year as good as can be hoped. Delia showing he is at least an NHL #2, with an upside as a #1.
Can SAAD have a better year. YES, but it took him a quarter of a season to get going, and driving the third line as opposed to being the #1 left wing.
Can special teams be better-PK no PP yes.
Depth scoring - YES, Cagiulla, Kahun are proving the can play up and down the line-up, still short a top 6 talent, but forward depth scoring is much improved.
PIPELINE - yes, Bovquist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Barrat, Entwhistle, Soderland seems to be getting lost in the conversation, and he has been compared as another Victor Ardvisson (watched him in the WJC, man can he scoot). Been a long time since the Hawks had so many prospects play in the WJC (I think they had 9, and most played prominent roles).
Are they a playoff team my opinion is NO, but they are more exciting, PASSIONATE and competitive than last year.

So even if the Hawks do not make the playoffs it appears to me Stan has less holes to fill than he did last year, and has the cap space to make some moves. I don't think he does anything at the deadline major, but I expect some big moves on July 1. Also with a full training camp behind him, lets see if Colliton is ready to coach in the big time.


I

I suspect some team will overpay for arte; yet would not be surprised if hawks have to eat $$ or take a bad contract back.
- bogiedoc

It's only for 2 years at only 4.5 or something, so not debilitating. If hawks did eat salary then that should enhance the return for Arty.

They have several prospects on defense not inthe NHL
This means they do not want another in Forsling. No trade if Bowman tries to dump

The latest Athletic playoff probability has the Hawks up to 19% to get in, as of this morning.

Projecting MIN to get the last WC spot with 87 points, COL next with 86, and the Hawks at 83.

So, probably need an additional 5ish points.

Also, saw (I think in Athletic as well) that the Hawks remaining schedule is the 4th hardest in the league.

Still hoping they make it. Playoff hockey is fun.

Why move Forsling (or Hayden for that matter) for a pick? If anything, you include Forsling to get a better prospect in return. IMO Hawks are looking for prospects more than picks as this will be an impatient rebuild. Kunitz for a pick tho makes sense.
- Assman22

Forsling seems to be quickly becoming expendable between who has been brought in and who is possibly coming up. Hayden is just a guy. I'd rather have the extra picks and see if the Hawks could hit on something in the future.

Would love to see Ward re-upped for at least another year, maybe 2, but for $4 mil tops for 2 years.

And how about that shot by Drake "Pasta" Caggiula ?

$$$$$$NIPAGE

AA is the only trade bate any team would be willing to take, especially considering $. We could probably swing a 4th rounder. Great~~~~

Close but don't want Forsling.

We already have too many defensemen and Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean waiting to play on the left side.
- BINGO!

Understood. I don't think AA alone gets the Hawks a 2nd but, maybe since the Canes have 2.

I was thinking Carolina goes after Staal. Minnesota isn't going anywhere and Staal is on the last year of his contract. He's better than Anisimov and costs less. Plus he gets to go "home". Lots of good story lines there.

I could see Columbus throwing the the Hawks a 4th round pick and Adam Clendening for Anisimov.

I am starting to think the Hawks are really only missing a Top 2 D-men and bottom 6 depth. If they had that they are probably a legit playoff team. Probably a big 2 way top 6 winger away from a cup contender.

The bottom of their roster is horrible. I know +/- isn't the best state but Hayden Perlini Kunitz (and Gus) all rocking the worst +/- on the team by a long shot.

Cagguila and Kahun are nice bottom 6 guys. Anisimov is too I suppose but he isn't an ideal bottom 6 center.

So the Hawks are really missing 4 bottom 6 guys. I leave out Kruger because his game is just horrible to me these days. Lazy bad penalties. Tons of clutching and grabbing. Surprise he isn't in the box every game.

You were always critical of how Bickell was getting his skates sharpened? Maybe Seabrook has the same issue?
- paulr

Ha!
Good memory Paul, but I would expect no less from you.
Sadly, it was more than just a bad sharpening or wrong profile on Bick's blades.

In Seabs' case, maybe it's those pennies the crowd is throwing on the ice in his direction as a monument to his stellar contract? Those things can be a real b!tch when you step on one in-stride.

Since you're up in the Great White North, you probably don't know what I'm talking about with the Eddie Munster look on the commercials. I haven't searched but have to assume you could find those somewhere on the net.

For a while there, I was thinking Seabs put on Herman's huge cement-like boots before heading out on the ice. Or got into Grandpa's stash of Transylvania wine.

Would love to see Ward re-upped for at least another year, maybe 2, but for $4 mil tops for 2 years.

And how about that shot by Drake "Pasta" Caggiula ?

$$$$$$NIPAGE
- philco28

that was a high end snipe. its a goalie beater: it goes in or hits the pipe

I was thinking Carolina goes after Staal. Minnesota isn't going anywhere and Staal is on the last year of his contract. He's better than Anisimov and costs less. Plus he gets to go "home". Lots of good story lines there.

I could see Columbus throwing the the Hawks a 4th round pick and Adam Clendening for Anisimov.
- MNHawk

Bruce Boudreau has other ideas.

https://www.hockeywildern...e-deadline-eric-staal-nhl

Stick tap to Stan for making subtle moves that reshaped the roster and cap space. Maybe Q was a hinderance.

We are no longer smurfs.
AA 6'4", Dahlstrom 6'4", Murphy 6'4", Hayden 6'3", Perlini 6'3", Seabs 6'3", Strome 6'3", Kampf 6'2", Koekkoek 6'2", Toews 6'2".
We can still play more physical. But Murphy cleaned Abdelkader out of the crease and Koekkoek had a Kronwallesqe hit at center ice yesterday. Caggiula is looking a little Shaw like. Although I question his hockey IQ, Hayden is regularly taking the body. Dahlstrom is not shy about taking the body. Kind of fun to see Kane throw a few checks recently (but for self preservation's sake they should be rare).


I could see a few moves at the deadline.
AA $2mil salary retained (to cover the July 1 bonus) for a mid round pick or prospect.
Forsling for a "B" level center prospect (maybe someone who has an outside chance of being a 3rd line center
Maybe Ward and Kunitz. But I am thinking they want to stay put.
I could also see them adding another young 3C/4C center that is cost controlled for a few years. Maybe you package whatever you get for AA and Forsling and ad a prospect or pick to get a Kampf-like player.

Ha!
Good memory Paul, but I would expect no less from you.
Sadly, it was more than just a bad sharpening or wrong profile on Bick's blades.

In Seabs' case, maybe it's those pennies the crowd is throwing on the ice in his direction as a monument to his stellar contract? Those things can be a real b!tch when you step on one in-stride.

Since you're up in the Great White North, you probably don't know what I'm talking about with the Eddie Munster look on the commercials. I haven't searched but have to assume you could find those somewhere on the net.

For a while there, I was thinking Seabs put on Herman's huge cement-like books before heading out on the ice. Or got into Grandpa's stash of Transylvania wine.
- savvyone-1

hey savvy who is do you like to dump on now that your guy Q is gone...

So, what is the Chicago verdict on Koekkoek? I always felt like he never got a proper shot in Tampa.

last week of the season is looking interesting: all division games: jets, blues , stars and preds...3 of 4 at home

hawks could be playing the spoiler role or actually competing for a WC spot...

So, what is the Chicago verdict on Koekkoek? I always felt like he never got a proper shot in Tampa.
- GalacticStone

better of late...tough to jump in and learn a new defensive scheme

made a very nice pass off the rush for toews one timer last night...

he might have found a home here...

I was thinking Carolina goes after Staal. Minnesota isn't going anywhere and Staal is on the last year of his contract. He's better than Anisimov and costs less. Plus he gets to go "home". Lots of good story lines there.

I could see Columbus throwing the the Hawks a 4th round pick and Adam Clendening for Anisimov.
- MNHawk

I'd like it, but Staal really doesn't seem to want to be traded. I'd welcome him with open arms though.