Ok but back to Wennberg. Would CBJ do AA for Wennberg? Seems like another Strome type and just needs a change of scenery but jmo
- Assman22

If you were Columbus' GM would you make that trade? I wouldn't.

Caligula was for Manning, Koekkoek was the result of trading Rutta.
- Ogilthorpe2

I know Manning was for Caggiula, but you even further prove my point with Rutta

First of all, thanks TC for the mailbag blog. Great add to what you do here already.

Mr. P, gotta disagree on giving up picks. Would love a JO type, but for me anything Stan does should be focused on keeping and if anything, adding picks.

If Stan adds, should be a hockey trade and only for Yutes...no aging vets!!!
- HawkintheD

I am glad that HawkintheD is the voice of reason. How many reading this would invest in this Blackhawks team with its serious issues heading into the more physical demanding strong defense which is typically what the playoff grind features.

Oh you are so sure you can come out on top by outscoring. Better offense than appeared earlier in season and Kane, The Cat plus Gus do make us quite capable. But loose teams as well as hard driving for playoff spot teams.....they can beat pretty much anyone and they will more often jump on teams with holes.

Would you invest your money in a Blackhawk model with problems on defense and two goaltenders you cannot trust to be solid. Yes, Dellia and Crawford

Dellia is ahead of schedule for the NHL. He has let in too many stop - able shots since his initial hot start..

Crawford had trouble moving side to side a few times. I don"t believe he will be 100% form even if he is good born out of adrenaline particularly first game or two. Someone wrote about this weakness in his game on this board. I wish that person would step up and explain this again.

Anyway Forsling and Gus are not trustworthy. Dahlstrom has come down to a worse level of play. Seabrook has both good and bad moments and things he either does well or other things where he is walked. Murphy has his moments, some bad games now and then.

Yes yes but Koekoeck and Keith. Keith always has been known for bonehead moves or plays even during his mvp year.

You cannot ser that this is not a stellar defense but actually a close your eyes and pray they aren"t bad all game long. If there was a lottery where you win money for the team you pick if they make playoffs, your money now....some of you might choose us missing playoffs.

If you really truly think you can get outplayed and win often enough, you are not being realistic. Not what I wish was the likely outcome. A trade or two isn't solving the defensive issues.....you know that

This whole TDL process is getting slowed down because teams trying to acquire UFA's have gotten permission to talk to the agents of the UFA's and negotiate new contract before they finalize any deal for them. The agent will hold out until the very last minute for the highest price, especially if several teams have permission to talk to him about that player.

Keep in mind JJ also predicted ADB was a small weakling and wouldn't amount to anything in the NHL.
- paulr

Kruger's unrealized offensive potential for the greater good of the team was another one I could never really wrap my head around.

BUY BUY BUY. Sell everything for rentals. All in baby. The time is now! By the time the TDL passes on Monday I don't want to see any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd draft picks still owned by the Hawks for the next 5 years. The only thing I want to see in our prospect cupboard are cobwebs, dust bunnies and a half eaten piece of moldy bread. Panarin, Stone, Duchene, Dzingel, Simmonds and any other expiring UFA I may have missed - get em all. We're going to be like Slim Pickens whooping and hollering riding the atom bomb down for one final big bang in Dr. Strangelove. We'll outscore our way to the Cup with 15-14 games. Think about it - it will be glorious.

Kruger's unrealized offensive potential for the greater good of the team was another one I could never really wrap my head around.
- Davewn

same. I think dalhstron is a #7 D, Murphy looks like a 4/5 to me Koek might have a higer ceiling then both.

keith-Seabs
Koek-Murphy
Gus-Joki

would be what I would roll with after Monday.

Kruger's unrealized offensive potential for the greater good of the team was another one I could never really wrap my head around.
- Davewn

This was the most nauseating one. JJ would say this at game 70 of the year when Kruger had 6 points on the year.

So who would be the one "D" add on at the deadline that shuffles the deck so that the whole unit is significantly better?

BUY BUY BUY. Sell everything for rentals. All in baby. The time is now! By the time the TDL passes on Monday I don't want to see any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd draft picks still owned by the Hawks for the next 5 years. The only thing I want to see in our prospect cupboard are cobwebs, dust bunnies and a half eaten piece of moldy bread. Panarin, Stone, Duchene, Dzingel, Simmonds and any other expiring UFA I may have missed - get em all. We're going to be like Slim Pickens whooping and hollering riding the atom bomb down for one final big bang in Dr. Strangelove. We'll outscore our way to the Cup with 15-14 games. Think about it - it will be glorious.
- EbonyRaptor

Red font?

Unless every interview has been a slow roll, I don't see them going after anyone "huge". They might make some smaller hockey trades (and if they are of similar ilk to recent trades, I'm all for it), but nothing else. Between NMC's, and how they are currently playing, I'm not sure Stan can do all that much.

Red font?

Unless every interview has been a slow roll, I don't see them going after anyone "huge". They might make some smaller hockey trades (and if they are of similar ilk to recent trades, I'm all for it), but nothing else. Between NMC's, and how they are currently playing, I'm not sure Stan can do all that much.
- Chunk

Maybe ... well OK, you got me.

So who would be the one "D" add on at the deadline that shuffles the deck so that the whole unit is significantly better?
- riozzo

There isn't one. The whole team needs to be much better at defending. It wouldn't matter if you added Doughty, Subban, Josi, or (insert your favorite D-man).

According to Tracy Myers:

Caggiula-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Kahun
Saad-Anisimov-Sikura
Kunitz-Kruger-Perlini

Good to see Caggiula is OK and back in. Bad to see Kunitz in for Hayden. Seabrook skating and Dahlstrom not (flu?). Delia starter.

Rapid fire updates from Powers:

Delia likely starter
Seabrook back on ice for morning skate (no word on if he is playing yet)
Caggiula on the ice.
Dahlstrom out with flu-like symptoms

If you were Columbus' GM would you make that trade? I wouldn't.
- paulr

Wennberg has 23 pts in 59 games this season, had 35 pts last season, and is signed at $4.9 per for 4 more seasons ($19.6 total). Buyer's remorse has to have set it by now.

AA owed $4.55 over the next two ($9.1 total)seasons. Currently has 28 pts over 57 games this season and 31 pts the year prior.

There isn't one. The whole team needs to be much better at defending. It wouldn't matter if you added Doughty, Subban, Josi, or (insert your favorite D-man).
- Chunk

Agreed, I see the Hawks defense requiring a major rebuild. Keith is now a second pairing guy compared to what he was. Seabrook, his contract aside, is probably the second best Blackhawk defenseman, but now a third pairing guy. KK has intrigued me but we won't know what he is probably until next season. As much as his defense is lacking, Gus as a powerplay specialist and sheltered on the third pairing will work until he wants the coin for his offensive output then he becomes expendable. I'm not sold on Murphy, Dahlstrom or Forsling.

Then you have to have the forwards buying into some defensive system. Allot of work ahead for both Bowman and Coliton.

Can you send cash in a hockey trade like they do in basketball?

We keep hearing AA will be moved after his $2M bonus is paid in July, if you can send cash could you trade him now with $2M cash added so the other team still gets the benefit of saving the money and we can move him for more now?

Maybe the $50's were Canadian currency?
- paulr

Or worse. Maybe they were from Fro's homeland and the denomination was 50 Czech Korunas.

50 Korunas = $2.21 US

Can you send cash in a hockey trade like they do in basketball?

We keep hearing AA will be moved after his $2M bonus is paid in July, if you can send cash could you trade him now with $2M cash added so the other team still gets the benefit of saving the money and we can move him for more now?
- Black Raven

I think the equivalent of sending cash to another team is retaining a portion of the salary. There are rules as to how much you can retain and how many players you can have retained salary on the books for.

Can you send cash in a hockey trade like they do in basketball?

We keep hearing AA will be moved after his $2M bonus is paid in July, if you can send cash could you trade him now with $2M cash added so the other team still gets the benefit of saving the money and we can move him for more now?
- Black Raven

No. The closest thing is retaining up to 50% of the cap hit over the remaining term of the contract.

Wennberg has 23 pts in 59 games this season, had 35 pts last season, and is signed at $4.9 per for 4 more seasons ($19.6 total). Buyer's remorse has to have set it by now.

AA owed $4.55 over the next two ($9.1 total)seasons. Currently has 28 pts over 57 games this season and 31 pts the year prior.
- Assman22

I think the argument maybe is "upside". AA has none, does Wennberg? That's what the Hawks scouting dept. would have to determine. It's not like CBJ isn't trying to figure out why that guy hasn't really stepped it up yet.

But Stan snagged Strome, who was playing scrapheap minutes in a lower line role and now he is proving to be a LEGIT 2nd line center.

Trouble is, that 4.9/mya salary is a hard one to "take a flier" on. Not sure if I'd do it honestly. Which makes an AA for Wennberg deal actually interesting from both perspectives. I am NOT a fan of Anisimov at all and would LOVE to move him today, but I also want a "good trade", not just a trade to "get rid of him". Potential or not, I am not convinced Wennberg would be a good guy to get. At at lower AAV salary? Much more interesting.

The risk? Get a player who is mediocre at best, paying 5 million a year to!! Poor play + Cap Hell

The reward? Wennberg delivers and Hawks get a young stud for a mediocre vet and replenishes team with young talent, Hawks rise up the charts.

I remember JJ being a big Wennberg fan. What happened to him? He's really fell off since that big contract but perhaps it's the coaching style?
- Assman22

Not exactly sure. I think the coaching has a lot to do with it like he's fallen out of favor with Torts and doesn't exactly fit his system. Could be wrong though

Ok but back to Wennberg. Would CBJ do AA for Wennberg? Seems like another Strome type and just needs a change of scenery but jmo
- Assman22

I would seriously consider it. Having another young Center who's shown he can play at a high level would add the kinda Center depth you need to make a deep run in the Playoffs. However, my only concern would be the fact that his game has fallen off and there isn't a clear cut answer (that anyone has pinpointed) as to why that is. Plus he's locked in to a long term deal that could come back to bite the teams Cap with Cat and Strome needing new deals this summer, the need to add a Defensive minded Top 4 LHD to pair with Keith, Joki, Murphy, etc., and provide bottom six depth. That being said, this could turn out to be a hell of a steal if Wennberg can fit in the same that Strome did here.

Toews-Kane
Strome-Cat
Wennberg-Saad

(at full potential) That would be an excellent way to build a foundation of your Top 9 and fill out with the likes of Kahun, Cags, Sikura, Perlini, Hayden, etc. that we have or may acquire before next season

If you were Columbus' GM would you make that trade? I wouldn't.
- paulr

I would definitely consider it for a few reasons. One, you know what you're getting out of AA each game while Wennberg has been pushed down to the bottom six and a limited role. Two, he's shown GREAT chemistry with Panarin so you could bump him to a Top 6 role with him and hope to duplicate that success (with Atkinson playing the opposite wing). This could also help in retaining Panarin long term if he's got one of his russian buddies with him (I would talk to him about bringing on AA before the move is made to feel him out on it). Third, he's got a shorter term on his contract which helps free up cap space sooner for them.

Personally I don't see them doing that deal, but I can see how it could make sense for both sides

First of all, thanks TC for the mailbag blog. Great add to what you do here already.

Mr. P, gotta disagree on giving up picks. Would love a JO type, but for me anything Stan does should be focused on keeping and if anything, adding picks.

If Stan adds, should be a hockey trade and only for Yutes...no aging vets!!!
- HawkintheD

Personally, I don't necessarily agree. The Hawks shouldn't do anything silly on rentals, but I don't think trading a pick if off the table if they are getting a player that can be a part of the team over the next few years. This isn't a tear it down rebuild they are going through. That doesn't make sense with the guys they have on the team under contract. If they have to move a pick to get a better defender in here until the young guys are ready, it won't be the end of the world.

Personally, I don't necessarily agree. The Hawks shouldn't do anything silly on rentals, but I don't think trading a pick if off the table if they are getting a player that can be a part of the team over the next few years. This isn't a tear it down rebuild they are going through. That doesn't make sense with the guys they have on the team under contract. If they have to move a pick to get a better defender in here until the young guys are ready, it won't be the end of the world.
- breadbag

Hope so . Hopefully its a hockey trade the helps past this year