my view to duff and Gus at 1.2 next year on the cheap, keeps us in good cap, if he don't workout, sell high next trade deadline. I'm amazed at how much attention Gus gets on this board for his price tag of 1.2 million and for next year; and being a major change agent on the PP which was a joke for last few years. I look around the league and see so many older underachievers for 3.5 Mil to 7 Mil. he is bang for the buck and would have been gobbled up today.
- holyJumpin_NL

i agree that is my you don't move him now...he is not going to continue being 1 pt per game dman...but 50-60 pts = pretty good for a season; the problem he is a 5-6 dman at best and a pp specialist

see if magic gus continues into next year and improves defensively or ya gotta think of selling high on him

I wonder how different concussion protocol will be in 10 years. Seems like there is still a lot more to learn about concussions and long term ramifications.
- 333inthe3rd

The NHL is in position to not really push a strong and effective concussion protocol. There are lawsuits pending from former players. Anything the league does now to face the reality of just how bad concussions are to the long-term health of its players will hurt its defensive position. The sums involved can be enormous and the league is trying to minimize its exposure

Why not play him in goal?

That might help him develop to standards demanded of the board here?

Did you see how he just sat there during the too many men on the ice penalty and Keiths trip. Just shows his low IQ.
- TrueGrit

Hmmm... goalie, I never thought about that but I like it!

We’re on different sides of the “trade Gus” argument but we both like the value he brings to the team. My biggest concern is his next contract. Anything longer than 3-4 years would be too much and I wouldn’t pay north of $4 million.

Hmmm... goalie, I never thought about that but I like it!

We’re on different sides of the “trade Gus” argument but we both like the value he brings to the team. My biggest concern is his next contract. Anything longer than 3-4 years would be too much and I wouldn’t pay north of $4 million.
- DarthKane

Name one 50+ point Dman that makes less than $6mil??

Name one 50+ point Dman that makes less than $6mil??
- EnzoD

I know.... but is he worth that to the Hawks? He’ll be 28 at the end of next season, not old but not young either.

How much is he really worth to the Hawks (dollars and term)?

I know.... but is he worth that to the Hawks? He’ll be 28 at the end of next season, not old but not young either.

How much is he really worth to the Hawks (dollars and term)?
- DarthKane

I’m with you, sell high between now and 2020 trade deadline. Boquist can replicate his production on the Powerplay as it’s Kane/Cat that are the ones finishing plays. He has been a solid offensive contributor, but how many of Gustafson’s assists are secondary?

Does anybody know if Stan Bowman has any plans to Look at any of the prospects before the end of the season, namely Evan Barrett?

Lazerus has a quote from Bowman on taking big swings at the TDL:

"There are two sides to that. You know, rarely does that work. I think the one time, well Handzus and Vermette, so it did work those two years for us. But, most often, it doesn't work. There are two sides to that. There's a lot of deals made today, but only one team that is going to win. Some teams didn't do anything so it could be one of those teams. Half of those teams are going to lose in the first round. There's always two sides to it. But you know you can't necessarily wish you were somewhere else. This is where we are and we're excited about the fact that we've shown progress and that the future is bright."

Those last two sentences are crucial in my eyes. We had 8 awesome years, and there is a consequence to being that good for that long (under these conditions). I'm very happy that they didn't drop a bunch of prospects for supposedly immediate help.
- Chunk

How ironic it would be the way the Entry Draft selection could play out. I almost feel like using a flow chart here but it could have too many deviations for this blog space.

To begin: bad team, bad record, bad defense, Delia comes down to earth and we moan for the day all these prospects come along.

We start winning some games with a prolific offense no one imagined back in training camp. Strome, Gus, Caggiliula have jumped in while Murphy returns and plays better. Koekkoek joins the fray while DeBrincat steps up. Kane takes off on a scoring spree. The new Toews is scoring too. Ward them off.

This is not how Colliton managed the Icehogs in the playoffs last season but he is coaching with the group bestowed. Okay remember i mentioned Gus again right here

Gus is a prominant name at the trade deadline. Love him or hate his game but hey he is nailing it and this winning is fun. What! we may fall to a lower draft spot!

My oh my Bowman did not trade Gus at the trade deadline. But the winning ways appear over -
. We are whom we thought we are.

A few spots down will be our draft location thanks to among other things ....yeah enter Gus again.

Now might Gus be a bargaining chip to move up a few spots. Hmmm. Only say to the 5th spot as no one trades the top picks - the creme de la creme. But hey here is an opportunity to pick the forward you like most to join the attack....Here Come the.Hawks

Except maybe Bowman likes Gus as the caretaker for Boqvist. Maybe. Wow a flow chart was going to leave no room for this akward admonition dares a winning streak.




[url]

The NHL is in position to not really push a strong and effective concussion protocol. There are lawsuits pending from former players. Anything the league does now to face the reality of just how bad concussions are to the long-term health of its players will hurt its defensive position. The sums involved can be enormous and the league is trying to minimize its exposure
- Spec41971

Aside from the league issues, what will the medical consensus be? I would think the NHL becomes tobacco company level liable only if they were aware of and suppressed any evidence, the act of which led to more damaging outcomes for players. I have not followed any legal proceedings closely, so I don't know the facts and laws at hand there.

Does anybody know if Stan Bowman has any plans to Look at any of the prospects before the end of the season, namely Evan Barrett?
- wonthecup10

The Hawks have room for three more contracts this season. My guess is that Mitchell gets priority. They’ll want to keep one open for a college or European free agent, maybe two.

Barrett could sign a deal with the Hawks for next season and a deal with the Ice Hoga for the remainder of this year, they’ve done that type of move before.

The Hawks have room for three more contracts this season. My guess is that Mitchell gets priority. They’ll want to keep one open for a college or European free agent, maybe two.

Barrett could sign a deal with the Hawks for next season and a deal with the Ice Hoga for the remainder of this year, they’ve done that type of move before.
- DarthKane

Thanks.

Good thing goalies never make mistakes
- Ogilthorpe2

HA! Good catch! What I meant to say was, 'Let him play goalie to know what it feels like when a defenceman blows an assignment or doesn't come back.', or something like that.

Brain working a little faster than the typing fingers, which really isn't saying much... like turtle speed 2.

A quote from Stan in the Herald yesterday...

"We weren't determined to make a trade just to make you guys happy."

It's given me a little insight at to why so many here hate him.

#tradesfortradesake

A quote from Stan in the Herald yesterday...

"We weren't determined to make a trade just to make you guys happy."

It's given me a little insight at to why so many here hate him.

#tradesfortradesake
- HawkintheD

What is wrong with that comment?

I’m with you, sell high between now and 2020 trade deadline. Boquist can replicate his production on the Powerplay as it’s Kane/Cat that are the ones finishing plays. He has been a solid offensive contributor, but how many of Gustafson’s assists are secondary?
- EnzoD

Natural Stattrick says - 21 primary (8th in league’s defensemen), 12 secondary = 33 total assists (14th). 12 goals (7th). All strengths.

Keith is the one with the s3condary assists - 18 of his 27 assists.

Boquist MAY be able to replace Gus - he hasn’t touched professional NA ice yet - maybe they need to see what he can do before they too quickly give up on Gus’ strengths (even with his weaknesses) - being involved in 3/4 goal per game from the blue line ain’t bad.

How ironic it would be the way the Entry Draft selection could play out. I almost feel like using a flow chart here but it could have too many deviations for this blog space.

To begin: bad team, bad record, bad defense, Delia comes down to earth and we moan for the day all these prospects come along.

We start winning some games with a prolific offense no one imagined back in training camp. Strome, Gus, Caggiliula have jumped in while Murphy returns and plays better. Koekkoek joins the fray while DeBrincat steps up. Kane takes off on a scoring spree. The new Toews is scoring too. Ward them off.

This is not how Colliton managed the Icehogs in the playoffs last season but he is coaching with the group bestowed. Okay remember i mentioned Gus again right here

Gus is a prominant name at the trade deadline. Love him or hate his game but hey he is nailing it and this winning is fun. What! we may fall to a lower draft spot!

My oh my Bowman did not trade Gus at the trade deadline. But the winning ways appear over -
. We are whom we thought we are.

A few spots down will be our draft location thanks to among other things ....yeah enter Gus again.

Now might Gus be a bargaining chip to move up a few spots. Hmmm. Only say to the 5th spot as no one trades the top picks - the creme de la creme. But hey here is an opportunity to pick the forward you like most to join the attack....Here Come the.Hawks

Except maybe Bowman likes Gus as the caretaker for Boqvist. Maybe. Wow a flow chart was going to leave no room for this akward admonition dares a winning streak.





- jhawk59[url]

Give this guy bonus points for creativity in trading Gus....


But.....Gus will not be traded....ever

What is wrong with that comment?
- powerenforcer

I'm fine with it...maybe even ecstatic. You come here a lot. Any of the people who post here strike you as possibly enjoying trades more than anything else involved with the sport...or am I alone in that observation?

Give this guy bonus points for creativity in trading Gus....


But.....Gus will not be traded....ever
- TrueGrit

I gotta ask...so how many Gus jerseys do you own? Fess up!

NHL Teams and scouts, like all professional teams and scouts Grade players. They grade various factors to determine a players ceiling.

This idea of "selling high" is for the most part a myth. Scouts and GMS are not stunned or shocked by what a player may be producing on the ice. Every players ceiling is written on the thousands of player cards in an organizations war room.

They don't go up and down on a player, shift to shift, game to game. A player with 3 good games in a row is NOT going to net more in return in a trade than 3 games ago.

The value of a player is relative to his grade/skill set and how many other players are graded the same (supply), then of course the true value is set by the markets demand. How many people seek that skill set.

Players able to improve weaknesses and add wrinkles to their game, can increase their value, but by and large all players fall into some known category.

The fun and challenge of a GM is having to assemble and collect talent with the constraint of a budget (Salary Cap).

So the idea that Gus has more value today than when he started the season and that some how, what he has done has surprised or caught the eyes of those who grade talent is factually incorrect. He simply in most cases has fulfilled his potential.

The question is, how many other talented offensive defensemen are out there, who struggle in their own end? A little hint, there are more than the 1 we have.

I gotta ask...so how many Gus jerseys do you own? Fess up!
- HawkintheD

Their on back order. Can't get one.

Heard Hawk fans were using them to burn for heat during cold spell.

I'm fine with it...maybe even ecstatic. You come here a lot. Any of the people who post here strike you as possibly enjoying trades more than anything else involved with the sport...or am I alone in that observation?
- HawkintheD

I agree with you, and I guess I misread your original post. I thought you were disturbed by his comment.

I do think some posters think they can be a better GM than the pros. Sometimes trades are fun, but they have to be for the better of the team. Currently, this team has holes, but better to fill them in the summer. It will be fun to follow up to the draft and Free Agency.

NHL Teams and scouts, like all professional teams and scouts Grade players. They grade various factors to determine a players ceiling.

This idea of "selling high" is for the most part a myth. Scouts and GMS are not stunned or shocked by what a player may be producing on the ice. Every players ceiling is written on the thousands of player cards in an organizations war room.

They don't go up and down on a player, shift to shift, game to game. A player with 3 good games in a row is NOT going to net more in return in a trade than 3 games ago.

The value of a player is relative to his grade/skill set and how many other players are graded the same (supply), then of course the true value is set by the markets demand. How many people seek that skill set.

Players able to improve weaknesses and add wrinkles to their game, can increase their value, but by and large all players fall into some known category.

The fun and challenge of a GM is having to assemble and collect talent with the constraint of a budget (Salary Cap).

So the idea that Gus has more value today than when he started the season and that some how, what he has done has surprised or caught the eyes of those who grade talent is factually incorrect. He simply in most cases has fulfilled his potential.

The question is, how many other talented offensive defensemen are out there, who struggle in their own end? A little hint, there are more than the 1 we have.
- TrueGrit

Nicely stated Grit!

A quote from Stan in the Herald yesterday...

"We weren't determined to make a trade just to make you guys happy."

It's given me a little insight at to why so many here hate him.

#tradesfortradesake
- HawkintheD

ole stan giving media blowback...

from i could read...the media did not have high expectations of any trade that would make them happy...

looking way ahead the hawks cannot go into the 20-21 season with seab and arte still on the books with those contracts; not with strome and adb starting new contracts..

*NEW* blog up: https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=98009

ole stan giving media blowback...

from i could read...the media did not have high expectations of any trade that would make them happy...

looking way ahead the hawks cannot go into the 20-21 season with seab and arte still on the books with those contracts; not with strome and adb starting new contracts..
- bogiedoc

Doesn't CC contract expire next season?