Justin Lowe: Deadline Comes and Goes for Blackhawks
The 2019 NHL trade deadline was rather slow. From watching the TSN panel miss putts on live TV to playing the waiting game on Mark Stone, there was zero action from the Blackhawks.

I'm not shocked, not mad. Stan Bowman has made some solid moves with the largest and most successful coming on November 25th, 2018 which saw him send Nick Schmaltz to Arizona for Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini.

Stan wasn't just going to make a trade just to make a trade; this was evident from his comments.

First!

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.
- powerenforcer


The Hawks didn't have to make a move yesterday, unless another GM presented Stan with something just too good to pass up.

Doesn't sound like anything close to that happened, so yeah, I agree, better to address them in summer, and I'm glad he didn't try to trade and picks/prsopects for short term gains.

I like the trades Stan has made of late and hoping he continues on that route, in terms of hockey trades in the vein of Strome for Schmaltz over the summer' and possibly is able to add a few picks along the way.

Can't remember how many they have as of today but I think the one round they have none is the third.

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.
- powerenforcer


The Hawks didn't have to make a move yesterday, unless another GM presented Stan with something just too good to pass up.

Doesn't sound like anything close to that happened, so yeah, I agree, better to address them in summer, and I'm glad he didn't try to trade and picks/prsopects for short term gains.

I like the trades Stan has made of late and hoping he continues on that route, in terms of hockey trades in the vein of Strome for Schmaltz over the summer' and possibly is able to add a few picks along the way.

Can't remember how many they have as of today but I think the one round they have none is the third.
- HawkintheD

That sentence is factually incorrect! The object of the game of hockey is to make trades, the more the better. Anything else like wins, championships etc. are window dressing. The team making the most trades wins!

Hi Justin,

Nice article. I agree with you on Sikura. He doesn't belong here. What I don't understand is the love for Kampf!! He doesn't belong here either, or if he is here, then he is on the 4th line. He gives zero offense, and is 45% at the dot. He does nothing good. Even Anisimov is better at the dot.

That sentence is factually incorrect! The object of the game of hockey is to make trades, and increase cap space, the more the better. Anything else like wins, championships etc. are window dressing. The team making the most trades wins!
- paulr

Fixed.

JL- So Bowman made no moves. Do you think nobody offered any pick or even any player for Kruger, Ward, Kunitz? These guys can't be in the future plans? I mean in 20 games they are gone.

That sentence is factually incorrect! The object of the game of hockey is to make trades, the more the better. Anything else like wins, championships etc. are window dressing. The team making the most trades wins!
- paulr

So now there is going to be a banner ceremony for "TDL Champion"? I hope they ask Nashville how to hold it!

I hope you meant to use red font on your statement.

Hi Justin,

Nice article. I agree with you on Sikura. He doesn't belong here. What I don't understand is the love for Kampf!! He doesn't belong here either, or if he is here, then he is on the 4th line. He gives zero offense, and is 45% at the dot. He does nothing good. Even Anisimov is better at the dot.
- SaadBeast

He does everything good except scoring, and face offs are overrated.

Justin Lowe: Deadline Comes and Goes for Blackhawks

The 2019 NHL trade deadline was rather slow. From watching the TSN panel miss putts on live TV to playing the waiting game on Mark Stone, there was zero action from the Blackhawks.

I'm not shocked, not mad. Stan Bowman has made some solid moves with the largest and most successful coming on November 25th, 2018 which saw him send Nick Schmaltz to Arizona for Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini.

Stan wasn't just going to make a trade just to make a trade; this was evident from his comments.
- Justin Lowe

Count me as happy. If there was a hockey trade to make, great. If not, play out the string, make the playoffs or don't and reassess in the offseason.

From your blog...

He loves the progress and I like that he is thinking about the long-term plan. I just really hope there is a lot more urgency in the summer when adding and tweaking this team. Don't give me another summer of Ward, Manning, Kunitz and Davidson.[/I]

I just don't see this happening nor do I see splashy home run type moves either. I could see them either trying to sign or acquire a top 4 dman and possibly a 3C.

Neither move would bankrupt them and contrary to the posts of some they do have room to make those moves after addressing their RFA's and being mindful of the bigger ones to come the following season (Dinky, Strome, Kahun).

When I look at the moves made for this season, I don't have an issue with them. Coming into the season there were a ton of questions.

Bounceback seasons from: Toews, Saad, Seabs, Keith
Ready for the NHL or NA ice: Joker, Kahun, Kampf, Sikura, Forsling

I think enough of those questions have been answered to the point where, while they still have holes, there aren't as many as maybe they originally thought.

Stan didn't handcuff the team with a bunch of bandaid moves and the one signing he (frank)ed up on (Manning), he was able to turn to gold.

So I see a bit of a different offseason for them...until Stan proves me wrong and decides to hibernate in the summer.

JL- So Bowman made no moves. Do you think nobody offered any pick or even any player for Kruger, Ward, Kunitz? These guys can't be in the future plans? I mean in 20 games they are gone.
- hockey nut 28

If you’re so eager for them to be gone, why would any GM want to give up assets to get them?

He does everything good except scoring, and face offs are overrated.
- Ogilthorpe2

He's also 24, may not be a big hitter but good along the boards and gives you a bit more scoring than the guy he's likely replacing (Kruger).

Not you, but I'm curious what kind of scoring the other guy would like to see out of a 4C?

I am happy with Stan's approach to this year's TDL. They Hawks were not buyers and they still needed to maintain a minimal viable product on the ice.

For better or worse it's becoming clear that Stan has a plan and he's sticking to it. The plan started with brining on Kahun then replacing Schmaltz with Strome, both risks that paid off. Adding Caggiula was another move that paid off and improved the forward depth.

I would expect the roster transformation to continue, the next step will be signing college prospects (i.e. Mitchell) and a combination of college and/or European free agents in the spring. In the summer Stan will address the bottom 6 and defence through trades and free agency. Justin has said it many times and he's right, the team simply cannot return with this defense. There's just no way that Forsling, Koekkoek, Dahlstrom and Gustafsson all return.

The rest of this season should be used for give these boarder line players a shot to see who should stay and who should go. If Stan can fix the team defense then the Hawks can be a playoff team next season. Maybe not a true contender, but easily a playoff team.

Alright, everyone is all caught up in games played. Blackhawks are 5 points back with 4 teams to jump.

Additions: Crawford.

That doesnt seem like its going to get it done.

The Hawks will finish in 10th place and draft 8th , maybe ?

Meh

He's also 24, may not be a big hitter but good along the boards and gives you a bit more scoring than the guy he's likely replacing (Kruger).

Not you, but I'm curious what kind of scoring the other guy would like to see out of a 4C?
- HawkintheD

I said he should be the 4th line center if he is here. Justin had him centering the 3rd line and he belongs no where near a top 9 role.

He's also 24, may not be a big hitter but good along the boards and gives you a bit more scoring than the guy he's likely replacing (Kruger).

Not you, but I'm curious what kind of scoring the other guy would like to see out of a 4C?
- HawkintheD

I think 70 points per season is fair.

Alright, everyone is all caught up in games played. Blackhawks are 5 points back with 4 teams to jump.

Additions: Crawford.

That doesnt seem like its going to get it done.

The Hawks will finish in 10th place and draft 8th , maybe ?

Meh
- mrpaulish

The Hawks went from a group of guys who seemed to play with no focus, passion or energy to a team playing hard each night to try to win. That bodes well for the team next year and is far more important than a trade for a 4th line winger at this trade deadline. Hopefully next year players are added to the team from within the organization to fill weak spots in the roster and builds on the level of play we have seen this year.

I think 70 points per season is fair.
- DarthKane

If the Hawks are to be a playoff team, that still might be a bit low.

I said he should be the 4th line center if he is here. Justin had him centering the 3rd line and he belongs no where near a top 9 role.
- SaadBeast

First off, 4th line is very nearly top 9. That’s just the reality of the math.

It’s the “if he is here” part that suggests you think he’s borderline at best. While he’s certainly not etched in stone on next year’s roster, I think he can be a very solid bottom 6 guy on a good team. He’s a high energy, somewhat physical player who can provide a little grit and hopefully some front end defensive stability.

A quality team needs affordable guys who accept that they are never going to be stars, excel in whatever role they’re given, and do it without complaining about not being given their chance to be the star they and everyone else knows they’ll never be.

He may or may not be back, but I’m guessing he is your Krüger replacement, and think he’ll be fine in that role.

First off, 4th line is very nearly top 9. That’s just the reality of the math.

It’s the “if he is here” part that suggests you think he’s borderline at best. While he’s certainly not etched in stone on next year’s roster, I think he can be a very solid bottom 6 guy on a good team. He’s a high energy, somewhat physical player who can provide a little grit and hopefully some front end defensive stability.

A quality team needs affordable guys who accept that they are never going to be stars, excel in whatever role they’re given, and do it without complaining about not being given their chance to be the star they and everyone else knows they’ll never be.

He may or may not be back, but I’m guessing he is your Krüger replacement, and think he’ll be fine in that role.
- Ogilthorpe2

The next great one has ZERO PK TOI so he's not a replacement for Freddy. #JustaGuy

The next great one has ZERO PK TOI so he's not a replacement for Freddy. #JustaGuy
- Beaver-Warrior

Worst PK in the league, maybe it’s time he gets a go at it?

Justin, with all due respect to Stan and the Blackhawk organization, that isn’t anywhere near a good NHL roster. From the blog:

Caggiula-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Kahun
Anisimov-Kampf-Saad
Perlini/Sikura-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Seabrook
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Koekoek-Gustafsson

Crawford

What I’d like to see in a future blog, is what you think the team might look like next year, including the current players now in the NCAA, AHL & major junior, plus some FAs you’d target.

I’d say this is the roster to build around. The ? are holes I believe this team will need to fill. I think need a top 6 wing, a 3 center, and 2 top 4 D, in order to be a competitive playoff team. And thanks for all the work you do.

???-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Kahun
Caggiula-???-Saad
Perlini/Sikura-Kampf-Hayden

Keith-???
???- Murphy
Koekoek-Seabrook

Crawford

Kampf? He played the PK regularly before he got hurt.....

Justin, with all due respect to Stan and the Blackhawk organization, that isn’t anywhere near a good NHL roster. From the blog:

Caggiula-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Kahun
Anisimov-Kampf-Saad
Perlini/Sikura-Kruger-Hayden

Keith-Seabrook
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Koekoek-Gustafsson

Crawford

What I’d like to see in a future blog, is what you think the team might look like next year, including the current players now in the NCAA, AHL & major junior, plus some FAs you’d target.

I’d say this is the roster to build around. The ? are holes I believe this team will need to fill. I think need a top 6 wing, a 3 center, and 2 top 4 D, in order to be a competitive playoff team. And thanks for all the work you do.

???-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Kahun
Caggiula-???-Saad
Perlini/Sikura-Kampf-Hayden

Keith-???
???- Murphy
Koekoek-Seabrook

Crawford
- scottak

I think two top 4 D is the hardest part. Probably more realistic to start with one, and see how the kids look. I’d like to see Kahun on the third line with Saad something like...

Caggiula Toews Kane
Cat Strome ?
Saad ? Kahun
Hayden Kampf Sikura

Take a look through the 2019 blue line free agents that are available. Unless the Hawks want to sign a big defensemen that is older than Seabrook, I don't see a whole lot of realistic help there. San Jose will re-sign Karlsson. Given Stan's love for fast skating defensemen, who on that list helps the Hawks?

So now you're talking either a trade (with what assets to move, exactly?) or relying on the smallish kiddie corps of draftees from the past couple of years. Joker should be up full-time next year, so there is one probably upgrade (assuming his game and body mature). But who else?

In terms of defensive defensemen it will still be Seabrook, Keith and Murphy, with Gustafsson as the PP specialist floater. That leaves two spots with Joker probably being one.