Speaking of Debrincat, his ELC only calls for $132,500 in schedule A bonuses out of a possible maximum of around $850,000. Who the heck is his agent?

https://puckpedia.com/sal...level-performance-bonuses
- boilermaker100

Jeff Jackson

https://puckpedia.com/agent/jeff-jackson

We don't want a team that wins, we want a team that drafts high.
- DarthKane

We want a team that hits and fights too.

Maybe he tried everything else and Duclair is on his last leg anyway, so he figured if this doesn't work, nothing will.
- Elbows15

All Torts said was what everybody knows about Duclair - great natural talent who doesn't know how to play the NHL game and isn't learning despite the amount of teaching they are giving him. Torts doesn't like dummies is all.

Meh. Its suppose to be entertainment. They haven't quit. No one expected them to even be sniffing a playoff spot the way the season started. As a fan, there is value in that to me.
- Elbows15

There's value for the short term but the long term I don't know what this team has....

upfront they seem to be good. I'd still dangle Saad as it's hard to fathom paying a 3rd line guy 6 aav a year. Same with 15.

Back end? I guess we are promised prospects and the hopes they develop quickly.

Goal? We signed a solid back up on the cheap who probably has to take #1 step next year, as nobody can count on CC being a 60 gp+ guy anymore. hell even 50+.

So yeah Monday was fun, and it's great they are sniffing the playoffs under .500 and on pace for low 80s pts but lets not fool ourselves that this is a stepping stone.

I don't disagree but the system the Hawks are running isn't allowing the Hawks slow footed, D men that luxury. Matching up vs a speedy forward with not a lot of help leads to so many grade A chances it's comical.

It's wide open hockey...fun, but not sustainable to win with. Guys are open in the slot constantly. Ward and Delia have been holding fort so far, and there was a chance Monday where a Senator just missed and it went out of the zone and you could Ward shaking his head because the guy was WIDE open......
- SteveRain

Hawks D-zone coverage has been comical way too often, but I'm not going to go as far as saying Delia and Ward are holding the fort or are blameless. Yeah they have both at times faced high danger chances and have made some nice stops, but they both have also given up way too many soft goals. 2 of the 3 the other night against Delia were soft, and 1 or 2 of the 4 against Ward.

The man to man they are running now creates not only problems for the slower defensemen against faster teams, it has forwards not sure who to pick up or who to follow. Still way too many missed assignments at this point with this system. You are taking guys who have been taught and are playing more or less the same style of defense since they were mites, and are now asking them to do something completely different. This isn't some slight twist, it's a complete change in philosophy.

Are they though?

Valid question....upfront they have loads of NHL talent. On the backend we are teased by prospects and hoping they pan out......and in goal we have a prone concussed goalie and a solid young back up who may need to take the #1 step much sooner then expected in Delia.
- SteveRain

I’m assuming that a prospective FA might feel that it he has the ability to Take a team from point B to C. Whereas he might be less inclined to sign with a team still stuck at point A.

Are they though?

Valid question....upfront they have loads of NHL talent. On the backend we are teased by prospects and hoping they pan out......and in goal we have a prone concussed goalie and a solid young back up who may need to take the #1 step much sooner then expected in Delia.
- SteveRain

- Elbows15

Sorry I missed the day it was rainbow and unicorns....EVERYONE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hawks D-zone coverage has been comical way too often, but I'm not going to go as far as saying Delia and Ward are holding the fort or are blameless. Yeah they have both at times faced high danger chances and have made some nice stops, but they both have also given up way too many soft goals. 2 of the 3 the other night against Delia were soft, and 1 or 2 of the 4 against Ward.

The man to man they are running now creates not only problems for the slower defensemen against faster teams, it has forwards not sure who to pick up or who to follow. Still way too many missed assignments at this point with this system. You are taking guys who have been taught and are playing more or less the same style of defense since they were mites, and are now asking them to do something completely different. This isn't some slight twist, it's a complete change in philosophy.
- TheTrob

Careful.....dont' be critical. The fun police are out in full effect.

For the record, agreed...….but lets sit back and enjoy the show, and then watch people lose their minds when 8-7 games vanish come playoff time and hawks are getting shelled in their brief appearance.

I’m assuming that a prospective FA might feel that it he has the ability to Take a team from point B to C. Whereas he might be less inclined to sign with a team still stuck at point A.
- Ogilthorpe2

Lets hope so.

I'll have to dig up to see who the UFA D men are this offseason.

There's value for the short term but the long term I don't know what this team has....

upfront they seem to be good. I'd still dangle Saad as it's hard to fathom paying a 3rd line guy 6 aav a year. Same with 15.

Back end? I guess we are promised prospects and the hopes they develop quickly.

Goal? We signed a solid back up on the cheap who probably has to take #1 step next year, as nobody can count on CC being a 60 gp+ guy anymore. hell even 50+.

So yeah Monday was fun, and it's great they are sniffing the playoffs under .500 and on pace for low 80s pts but lets not fool ourselves that this is a stepping stone.
- SteveRain

Saad isn't causing cap problems. Dinky and Strome both still have another season on their ELCs so the need to move Saad should only be entertained if the return is too good to pass up.

Saad has been fantastic since he was given his own line to drive. He could easily have another ten points this season given the amount of iron he has hit.

I trust the Hawks to find goalies. They have had pretty good success in that department.

But it is a stepping stone. May not be the one you want but there are good things to build on moving forward. Playing in meaningful games is good experience for the young dudes.

I haven't seen this one in a long time - still good for a chuckle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNn3k1KfOrs

Sorry I missed the day it was rainbow and unicorns....EVERYONE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- SteveRain

Oh please. Lighten up. No one here is deluded into thinking this is a Cup team. The holes have been discussed to no end by everyone. It has to start somewhere. The good days were always going to end. I am encouraged by the development of guys like Dinky, Kahun and to a lesser extent, Dahlstrom. I am stunned by the performance of Strome. I was wrong about him. Keith has been playing well. Murphy, rough stretch aside, is improving.

Good players can still be found in the teens. This draft has a few of them in that range.

Lets hope so.

I'll have to dig up to see who the UFA D men are this offseason.
- SteveRain

Don't bother. Its Karlsson, an aging Stralman and a bunch of guys that either aren't what the Hawks need or should be spending money to acquire.

Meh. Its suppose to be entertainment. They haven't quit. No one expected them to even be sniffing a playoff spot the way the season started. As a fan, there is value in that to me.
- Elbows15

Maybe. Heck I for one was not sorry to see Duclair not re-signed. I just think that Torts' airing of grievances to the press is a pretty crappy thing to do.

Careful.....dont' be critical. The fun police are out in full effect.

For the record, agreed...….but lets sit back and enjoy the show, and then watch people lose their minds when 8-7 games vanish come playoff time and hawks are getting shelled in their brief appearance.
- SteveRain

The position the Hawks were in in December, if they make the playoffs, I will just enjoy seeing them play. I have no illusions that this team is going anywhere in the playoffs, but to see the growth in the team is at least the enjoyment to me

Lets hope so.

I'll have to dig up to see who the UFA D men are this offseason.
- SteveRain

It’s not just D-men they need. A top 6 two way forward, and a shut down 3C would do wonders for this team. Defense is a team game.

You may be right about that and I wish the Hawks figure it out. I feel like at times the Hawks don't pressure as hard because they are afraid of taking a stick infraction and they don't have the elite speed they used to compared to some other teams. I wish there was an easy answer, but I won't complain as long as they are outscoring their opponents.
- breadbag

As i watch the power play, i really enjoy the passing, the more aggressive the PK the quicker the puck is off of each players stick.

I believe they are trying to duplicate this in the defensive zone but players are not getting into those spots or are not sure where to be. I just wish one of the dmen would stay in front of the goalie instead of close to the boards or behind the net.

Oh please. Lighten up. No one here is deluded into thinking this is a Cup team. The holes have been discussed to no end by everyone. It has to start somewhere. The good days were always going to end. I am encouraged by the development of guys like Dinky, Kahun and to a lesser extent, Dahlstrom. I am stunned by the performance of Strome. I was wrong about him. Keith has been playing well. Murphy, rough stretch aside, is improving.

Good players can still be found in the teens. This draft has a few of them in that range.
- Elbows15

You beat me to it and more eloquently than what I posted

Hawks D-zone coverage has been comical way too often, but I'm not going to go as far as saying Delia and Ward are holding the fort or are blameless. Yeah they have both at times faced high danger chances and have made some nice stops, but they both have also given up way too many soft goals. 2 of the 3 the other night against Delia were soft, and 1 or 2 of the 4 against Ward.

The man to man they are running now creates not only problems for the slower defensemen against faster teams, it has forwards not sure who to pick up or who to follow. Still way too many missed assignments at this point with this system. You are taking guys who have been taught and are playing more or less the same style of defense since they were mites, and are now asking them to do something completely different. This isn't some slight twist, it's a complete change in philosophy.
- TheTrob

They were terrible in the old scheme, too.

It’s not just D-men they need. A top 6 two way forward, and a shut down 3C would do wonders for this team. Defense is a team game.
- Ogilthorpe2

I think they have the shutdown center. Kampf.

Coaching is huge. Islanders also getting better goaltending and you can't discount the defensive contributions of the forwards.

Lots of people just look at the D when a team is giving up goals, but it is a 5 man unit on the ice (plus a goalie) that all need to do their part and a weak link in the chain screws it up.

i.e. if a Dman is under pressure the winger isn't in position to help break out, then maybe he makes an ill advised play and turns it over. Or if the opposition is making the D run around down low, the Center needs to do their part to help cover or support the play.

One thing that I think we've all seen...the Hawks as a unit tend to chase around and nobody takes the guy who gets the open ice right in front of the net. Often the forwards or second dman are too slow to realize and get back into position.
- breadbag

Well said. I am not sure the Hawks can/will make such a huge turn around in one year as the Islanders did. But they can get a lot better, even with the current players, coaches, and scheme (though I think I would not mind seeing the scheme changed or tweaked).

I think they have the shutdown center. Kampf.
- Elbows15

Maybe. I like him, but I had him pencilled in at 4C. I’m not sure he has enough offensive upside to be 3C in today’s 3 scoring line NHL.

Maybe. Heck I for one was not sorry to see Duclair not re-signed. I just think that Torts' airing of grievances to the press is a pretty crappy thing to do.
- Rota's Rooter

There was a longer detailed transcript I saw from what I believe is the same interview. He still is taking Duclair to task but it really highlights Torts' frustrations in trying to get Duclair to improve. It changes the tone from Torts just ripping the guy to one of more an overwhelming level of frustration with Duclair's inability to implement any of the things Torts and his coaching staff are taking a lot of time to teach him.

Maybe. I like him, but I had him pencilled in at 4C. I’m not sure he has enough offensive upside to be 3C in today’s 3 scoring line NHL.
- Ogilthorpe2

I agree. Its why he would be a shutdown center. We are getting caught in the semantics of what lines are called I think.