Stan needs to explore all options. UFA, RFA offer sheet, or trade package. No one said it would be easy.
- -Doh-

The question isn't about easy. It is about whether it is possible.

The UFA guys ain't it. Young cost-controlled top pair studs are not traded - and if one were available, the Cat, a serious D prospect and a #1 is what you're looking at. RFA's are a possibility, but the guys has to sign it, so big money and serious picks IF the other team doesn't match.

But, I'm all ears (well, eyes) if you've got a target in mind that can be obtained in a realistic deal. Who is it?

They need to grow a pair....I mean, you have to groom and grow a top pair dman internally. As you mentioned, they rarely are traded and seldom become UFAs, except later into their careers when you are going to have to give them way too much term.

I don't see a top pair dman coming to the Hawks from anywhere next year. In fact, Duncan Keith will be our best defenseman still for the foreseeable future. Best bet is Joker's continued development but man he still has a long way to go to just be a consistent guy that doesn't get scratched.

Then you have the young prospects but they all have holes in their games and need to develop further before even taking a shot at the NHL.
- hereismike1

Kinda like Duncan Keith when he was a prospect and before he was coached on how to play a top notch defensive game utilizing the skillset he already had..

They need to grow a pair....I mean, you have to groom and grow a top pair dman internally. As you mentioned, they rarely are traded and seldom become UFAs, except later into their careers when you are going to have to give them way too much term.

I don't see a top pair dman coming to the Hawks from anywhere next year. In fact, Duncan Keith will be our best defenseman still for the foreseeable future. Best bet is Joker's continued development but man he still has a long way to go to just be a consistent guy that doesn't get scratched.

Then you have the young prospects but they all have holes in their games and need to develop further before even taking a shot at the NHL.
- hereismike1

Totally agree. Thought you were going in another direction with "grow a pair".

I would say they need to set their sights on something more achievable like having a solid 3-4 pairing. When Murphy and Dahlstrom were playing well and shutting teams scoring lines down, that is when they had that long winning streak.

I am not sure those are the two guys you want to give that job to next season, but if they can improve that pairing that goes a long way toward stabilizing what you are going to ask the rest of the guys do.
- hereismike1

Agree again. My fear is they'll force a 5/6 guy from the outside into a 3/4 role. Thatsa no gouda.

Doughty is signed until he is 38 at $11 million per year, no thank you
- LAHawk

Nah, you see... they will retain half his salary if we throw in a case of Goose Island...

/s

True.
And we have lots of Cap space this season to eat the rest of these expiring contracts.
Buying someone out this season adds partial Cap hit for next season.
- 67hawks

I believe you can only buy out players during a specific window in the offseason.

Kinda like Duncan Keith when he was a prospect and before he was coached on how to play a top notch defensive game utilizing the skillset he already had..
- paulr

Apples and oranges. If you think any of the so called four horsemen defense prospects are Duncan Keith, or have anywhere near as a complete game as he did back then, I beg to differ.

I agree Keith and Seabrook benefited from coming up to the NHL on a crappy team with no expectations. They were able to play through and learn from their mistakes but they also showed pretty much right away more than flashes of the fact they were damn good. This current Hawks team doesn't seem to have the leeway for young D coming up but that's what happens when you win 3 Cups. No one is looking for the team to have guys learn on the job they want to be competitive, at least, now.

Otherwise, trade Kane and company and let the young guys suck and learn as they go. But doing both is not compatible.

Agree again. My fear is they'll force a 5/6 guy from the outside into a 3/4 role. Thatsa no gouda.
- mohel

That's their most likely path. We are already watching that with Murphy, and hoping he grows into a quality 3 or 4.

Apples and oranges. If you think any of the so called four horsemen defense prospects are Duncan Keith, or have anywhere near as a complete game as he did back then, I beg to differ.

I agree Keith and Seabrook benefited from coming up to the NHL on a crappy team with no expectations. They were able to play through and learn from their mistakes but they also showed pretty much right away more than flashes of the fact they were damn good. This current Hawks team doesn't seem to have the leeway for young D coming up but that's what happens when you win 3 Cups. No one is looking for the team to have guys learn on the job they want to be competitive, at least, now.

Otherwise, trade Kane and company and let the young guys suck and learn as they go. But doing both is not compatible.
- hereismike1

Differ all you like. It's been well documented from Keith himself that without the coaching from Trent Yawney in the AHL he, Keith, would not be the all round defenseman who dominated, won Norris trophies and will one day go to the HOF. It's very possible that none of the prospects will ever be as well rounded as Keith but we also don't know at this point.

Differ all you like. It's been well documented from Keith himself that without the coaching from Trent Yawney in the AHL he, Keith, would not be the all round defenseman who dominated, won Norris trophies and will one day go to the HOF. It's very possible that none of the prospects will ever be as well rounded as Keith but we also don't know at this point.
- paulr

History tells us that none of these guys will be HOF guys; they're rare. But good enough to contribute to a Cup team? I'd say there's a good chance of that for at least one of them.

Who the heck is Reece Johnson?

Who the heck is Reece Johnson?
- walleyeb1

20 year old captain of the Red Deer Rebels, teammate of Brandon Hagel. Looks like the Hawks are trying to redo the DeBrincat/Strome thing again.

History tells us that none of these guys will be HOF guys; they're rare. But good enough to a Cup team? I'd say there's a good chance of that for at least one of them.
- mohel

None may ever be Hall of Famers in fact none may ever make the NHL, but some or all may. My point really is that when Keith was at the same stage as these guys he was considered to be a good offensive defensman who had a big hole in his game, playing defense. Trent Yawney taught him positioning and anticipation and to Keith's credit he learned and benefitted from it. These prospects are good skaters like Keith and if they want to learn to play defense as much as Keith, they too can be well rounded defensemen.

None may ever be Hall of Famers in fact none may ever make the NHL, but some or all may. My point really is that when Keith was at the same stage as these guys he was considered to be a good offensive defensman who had a big hole in his game, playing defense. Trent Yawney taught him positioning and anticipation and to Keith's credit he learned and benefitted from it. These prospects are good skaters like Keith and if they want to learn to play defense as much as Keith, they too can be well rounded defensemen.
- paulr

No.



JK....agreed.

20 year old captain of the Red Deer Rebels, teammate of Brandon Hagel. Looks like the Hawks are trying to redo the DeBrincat/Strome thing again.
- Flying Puck

Anyone here see Red Deer play this season? Johnson is another 20 year old over-ager with decent size but he has only 45 points whereas Hagel is in the WHL top-10 with 92 points.

Anyone here see Red Deer play this season? Johnson is another 20 year old over-ager with decent size but he has only 45 points whereas Hagel is in the WHL top-10 with 92 points.
- EbonyRaptor

I tried to find a scouting report on him with no luck. I checked Youtube, some posters will like the fact it looks like Johnson can throw em.

Anyone here see Red Deer play this season? Johnson is another 20 year old over-ager with decent size but he has only 45 points whereas Hagel is in the WHL top-10 with 92 points.
- EbonyRaptor

I think it can be hard to really judge though. While he didn't have size, Andrew Shaw comes to mind as a guy who didn't necessarily stand out but his play was consistent though each level from Junior to AHL to NHL. He might be a good role playing character guy who will provide his bit at all levels.

Interesting to note he is the captain of his team, which may speak well of his character. I will admit, I know next to nothing about this kid myself.

I think it can be hard to really judge though. While he didn't have size, Andrew Shaw comes to mind as a guy who didn't necessarily stand out but his play was consistent though each level from Junior to AHL to NHL. He might be a good role playing character guy who will provide his bit at all levels.

Interesting to note he is the captain of his team, which may speak well of his character. I will admit, I know next to nothing about this kid myself.
- breadbag

I was more interested in his sating ability because scoring only 45 points in 61 games as a 20 year old in Juniors pretty much indicates he is not going to make the NHL on his scoring prowess so he better have something else going for him like being able to skate at a better than average level.

Make or break time for Dahlstrom? I guess if you expect a rookie D-man to come in and be a stud.

Buffalo isn't hungry. They are playing out the string just like the Hawks.

I tried to find a scouting report on him with no luck. I checked Youtube, some posters will like the fact it looks like Johnson can throw em.
- paulr

https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/279121/reese-johnson


Not a whole lot there but someone in the organization must have saw something they liked while keeping tabs on Hagel I guess.

Probably doesn't look good for Mo's favorite, Perlini, if they are willing to use a contract slot on him. Plus signed him for more than Hagel according to CapFriendly.

Here were the lines in practice today:

Saad-Toews-Hayden
DeBrincat-Strome-Perlini
Kahun-Anisimov-Kane
Kunitz-Kampf-Kruger

W-T-F ! I don't have a problem with Hayden on Toews' line - who cares it's basically garbage time anyway. I don't have a problem with Kane moved down to play with Kahun and Anisimov although I think it will not help Kane's attempt to better his best scoring totals. What I do have a problem with is Kunitz playing over Sikura. Is Colliton still thinking they have a shot at the playoffs and Kunitz over Sikura gives them a better chance to win? Even if that were true - is the slight advantage Kunitz gives them more important than giving Sikura every chance to prove for better or worse what the Hawks should do with him after this season.

I'm probably missing some hockey savant nuance that Kunitz over Sikura makes some sense - if true, can someone help me out with this one.

None may ever be Hall of Famers in fact none may ever make the NHL, but some or all may. My point really is that when Keith was at the same stage as these guys he was considered to be a good offensive defensman who had a big hole in his game, playing defense. Trent Yawney taught him positioning and anticipation and to Keith's credit he learned and benefitted from it. These prospects are good skaters like Keith and if they want to learn to play defense as much as Keith, they too can be well rounded defensemen.
- paulr

Beaudin may actually be further along defensively than Keith was at the same age. Remains to be seen if he has that same desire as Keith.

Here were the lines in practice today:

Saad-Toews-Hayden
DeBrincat-Strome-Perlini
Kahun-Anisimov-Kane
Kunitz-Kampf-Kruger

W-T-F ! I don't have a problem with Hayden on Toews' line - who cares it's basically garbage time anyway. I don't have a problem with Kane moved down to play with Kahun and Anisimov although I think it will not help Kane's attempt to better his best scoring totals. What I do have a problem with is Kunitz playing over Sikura. Is Colliton still thinking they have a shot at the playoffs and Kunitz over Sikura gives them a better chance to win? Even if that were true - does the slight advantage Kunitz gives them more important than giving Sikura every chance to prove for better or worse what the Hawks should do with him after this season.

I'm probably missing some hockey savant nuance that Kunitz over Sikura makes some sense - if true, can someone help me out with this one.
- EbonyRaptor

If they're written off Sikura, just send him back to Rockford. If he's on the team, he's going to learn more from playing than watching.

I was more interested in his sating ability because scoring only 45 points in 61 games as a 20 year old in Juniors pretty much indicates he is not going to make the NHL on his scoring prowess so he better have something else going for him like being able to skate at a better than average level.
- EbonyRaptor

Or that he realizes the ice is 200 feet long.

If they're written off Sikura, just send him back to Rockford. If he's on the team, he's going to learn more from playing than watching.
- matt_ahrens

Exactly. Rockford is battling for a playoff spot and could use him if he isn't busy in Chicago.