Dzingel and Ferland are nice options on the UFA market, but I also like Brett Connolly (19 goals/39pts) and Brock Nelson (21 goals/44pts) as other nice mid level UFAs. This team definitely does not need to spend 7-10 million on one forward, scoring is not the issue. You need bum-slayers on the 3rd line to be a Cup Contender. Look no further when the Hawks were able to have a 3rd line of Ladd/Bolland/Havlat, or the Versteegs/Brouwers/Bickells/Sharps at various points. The Hawks would be well served to move out Anisimov, let Kunitz retire, let Kruger walk, and rebuild the 3rd and 4th lines to be more similar to the Cup winning teams.

Even if you spend roughly 7-8 million on a rebuilt 3rd/4th line, you would have another 7-8 for defense. The only issue is there are no great UFA defensemen, so as others have mentioned, you might not have a choice but to deal Saad for a top 4 D.

The other bigger problem the Hawks have on defense is they aren't able to turnover the defense because they just have to many unmoveable pieces there. Seabrook and Keith are nearly untradeable, they probably won't move Murphy, and Gus is too valuable right now to trade. If Joker plays up again next year, that really only leaves 1 defensive spot to replace, so then basically you're returning the same bad defense as the last 2 years, which isn't going to work.

Is there another Kempney/Rutta (before concussion) in the Euro leagues that Stan can snag?
- LAHawk

I'm sure the Hawks scouts in Europe are scouring. Here's a recent Hockey News article about European free agents, two of which are D men.

https://thehockeynews.com...-who-could-land-nhl-deals

I think we can all agree that:
A) This is a very talented offensive team from top to bottom.
B) Crow (if healthy for a full year) is good enough to contend for a cup.
C) The team D needs to be better, much better.

The questions now are:
1) How much better can this team get defensively with a lot of the same personnel?
2) What type of players do we need to add?
3) How much will they cost (in players, prospects, picks, cap space)?

This team can get a lot better defensively with about the same personnel. We have seen hints of it already. Witness two games against offensively challenged teams (AZ and Dallas) and 2 periods against a very good offensive team (Toronto). You can see changes in structure and commitment.

How much would a good 200’ 3C that can win faceoffs and bring some offense help the team D? I think you can get that in free agency at a reasonable price and term.

How much would a gritty veteran 4th line winger help team defense. I think you can get that cheap in free agency.

Saad - Toews - Kane
ADB - Strome - Perlini
Sikura - FA 3C - Kahun
Caggiula - Kampf - Gritty FA
13th C/F Kruger or ?

A top 4 is also needed. What will it cost? Ideally AA, a 2020 1st round pick, one of our prized defensive prospects, maybe another pick or prospect. Maybe even Saad (instead of AA). You pay it.

Joki - Keith
Murphy - trade acquisition
Seabs - Gus
7th defender - Koekkoek or Dahlstrom or ?

Crow and Delia (or a surprise like Lankinen, Nalimov, or Forsberg)

Ok Stan. Get r done.
- -Doh-

Right there with you, that's the same D line-up I've previously posted. The issue is, can Stan find that trade acquisition?

Why would the other team trade a young, established legit top four guy for a prospect who might become what they already have?
- mohel

Cause everyone should be trying to help the Hawks?

Right there with you, that's the same D line-up I've previously posted. The issue is, can Stan find that trade acquisition?
- scottak

My question is whether the trade acquisition is a 3/4 on a very good team, or just good enough to be a #4 on this team

Why would the other team trade a young, established legit top four guy for a prospect who might become what they already have?
- mohel

Because we need one

My question is whether the trade acquisition is a 3/4 on a very good team, or just good enough to be a #4 on this team
- mohel

You are looking for a true top 4 dman that will help make this team a very good team. You a top 4 dman, a 200' 3 center, a gritty 4th line winger and continued improvement from the coaching staff and carryover players.

Dzingel and Ferland are nice options on the UFA market, but I also like Brett Connolly (19 goals/39pts) and Brock Nelson (21 goals/44pts) as other nice mid level UFAs. This team definitely does not need to spend 7-10 million on one forward, scoring is not the issue. You need bum-slayers on the 3rd line to be a Cup Contender. Look no further when the Hawks were able to have a 3rd line of Ladd/Bolland/Havlat, or the Versteegs/Brouwers/Bickells/Sharps at various points. The Hawks would be well served to move out Anisimov, let Kunitz retire, let Kruger walk, and rebuild the 3rd and 4th lines to be more similar to the Cup winning teams.

Even if you spend roughly 7-8 million on a rebuilt 3rd/4th line, you would have another 7-8 for defense. The only issue is there are no great UFA defensemen, so as others have mentioned, you might not have a choice but to deal Saad for a top 4 D.

The other bigger problem the Hawks have on defense is they aren't able to turnover the defense because they just have to many unmoveable pieces there. Seabrook and Keith are nearly untradeable, they probably won't move Murphy, and Gus is too valuable right now to trade. If Joker plays up again next year, that really only leaves 1 defensive spot to replace, so then basically you're returning the same bad defense as the last 2 years, which isn't going to work.
- Budi1782

One really good dman addition, and the reslotting of the other 6 dmen, could make a huge difference. Think of a younger Hjalmarsson type.

Trading for top 4 D bothers me because everyone is looking for D. Consequently teams tend to overpay as the Oilers did when they gave up Taylor Hall. You get your top 4 D but create other holes in your lineup.
What the Hawks have been doing in recent drafts is probably the smart way to go along with beating the bushes for hidden undrafted gems.
- 67hawks

Stanbean$ and co have yet to draft a top 4 D.
Somebody in the cupboard might become one, but so far a major whiff
by the CHI scouts.

Salient point on the Devils fleecing Chiarelli, so risks abound from a trade standpoint but bolstering the top 4 D corps is imperative.

I'd be ok with trading Saad to get a top 4 defensemen but I also think he's going to play better the next two years as he positions himself for another big contract. He'd have more value at the TDL next year or the year after but he can also play a role on the Blackhawks when they get good again in the next couple/few years.

Cause everyone should be trying to help the Hawks?
- HawkintheD

I guess. But ya gotta place yourself in the other team's shoes at least a bit.... What would the reaction have been here in 2012 to a fan of another team offering to trade their hot shot 19 year old defenseman for Hammer?

I'm sure the Hawks scouts in Europe are scouring. Here's a recent Hockey News article about European free agents, two of which are D men.

https://thehockeynews.com...-who-could-land-nhl-deals
- AEL_Fox

Both defenseman are finnish, test if Joki has any recruiting skills.

One really good dman addition, and the reslotting of the other 6 dmen, could make a huge difference. Think of a younger Hjalmarsson type.
- -Doh-

Everyone keeps ignoring Dahlstrom in their projections of next year's dcore.

From what I have seen, when he plays well, he and Murphy form the only shut down pair we have had all year. And we generally win.

I don't see why they wouldn't resign Dahlstrom to a minimal contract and bring him back next year to see if he can grow his game a bit at the NHL level. To me he has impacted the team already more than Forsling and Gus prior to his recent offensive outbreak after Q got purged.

I guess. But ya gotta place yourself in the other team's shoes at least a bit.... What would the reaction have been here in 2012 to a fan of another team offering to trade their hot shot 19 year old defenseman for Hammer?
- mohel

I mean if it would've helped that other team out then sure...why not? Also, he's a bum! Not a big hitter and can't score.

I'd be ok with trading Saad to get a top 4 defensemen but I also think he's going to play better the next two years as he positions himself for another big contract. He'd have more value at the TDL next year or the year after but he can also play a role on the Blackhawks when they get good again in the next couple/few years.
- matt_ahrens

I don't think they can trade Saad because if Perlini turns out to be smoke and mirrors next year, they are screwed with no cap space to make a move and stuck with too many holes on the wing. We have already played this year with guys on the top 2 lines that really shouldn't be there.

Before everyone goes and spends all of Stan's cap space on forwards and defensemen, consider the looming Blackhawk goalie crisis.

Crawford is 34, with 1 season left after this one, at $6M, and has missed large parts of the last 2 seasons with concussions. Will he be good/healthy enough to warrant another contract after this one? Best case is he has a solid season next year and you sign him to be the #1 for another 2-3 years.

Ward is, at best, a good #2 at this point in his career, and he's 35. Clearly not a #1 for the Blackhawks, nor any other team in the NHL.

Delia has had a few solid games this season, but he has a total of 18 NHL games played with a .906 save % and a 3.65 GAA. Are you comfortable he will be your #1, potentially on a SC contender, in 20-21?

Forsberg hasn't shown any ability to be an NHL #1. Over 45 career games in the NHL, he's .901 save % and 3.21 GAA. Again, does anyone really thing he's going to be the #1 in 20-21? It's more likely he's not a part of the Blackhawk organization after this season.

I have a feeling that Stan is going to be looking for a #1 goalie in the FA market prior to the 2020-21 season, unless a bunch of dreams turn into reality.

So a kid playing his first year of pro hockey needs to get stronger? Well, yeah. Point is he gets in there. Has won his share of board battles. He goes to the net a lot.
- Elbows15

True if you are talking about a 19 or 20 year old breaking in. However Sikura is 23 going on to 24 before the start of next season so there has to be some concern if he cannot handle the tough areas of the ice now.

Everyone keeps ignoring Dahlstrom in their projections of next year's dcore.

From what I have seen, when he plays well, he and Murphy form the only shut down pair we have had all year. And we generally win.

I don't see why they wouldn't resign Dahlstrom to a minimal contract and bring him back next year to see if he can grow his game a bit at the NHL level. To me he has impacted the team already more than Forsling and Gus prior to his recent offensive outbreak after Q got purged.
- hereismike1

I would also like to see what Carlsson has

Stanbean$ and co have yet to draft a top 4 D.
Somebody in the cupboard might become one, but so far a major whiff
by the CHI scouts.

Salient point on the Devils fleecing Chiarelli, so risks abound from a trade standpoint but bolstering the top 4 D corps is imperative.
- philco28

While that may be true and I won't even give him the excuse about not having a high draft pick til last season, let's not forget that during his time here, the "Builder" only hit on one top 4 dman.

Hammer was a great one and I'm glad that was the one Uncle Dale hit on...but top 4 or otherwise, it was the only dman he ever drafted that stuck.

Everyone keeps ignoring Dahlstrom in their projections of next year's dcore.

From what I have seen, when he plays well, he and Murphy form the only shut down pair we have had all year. And we generally win.

I don't see why they wouldn't resign Dahlstrom to a minimal contract and bring him back next year to see if he can grow his game a bit at the NHL level. To me he has impacted the team already more than Forsling and Gus prior to his recent offensive outbreak after Q got purged.
- hereismike1

Everyone likes the flash and dash type defencemen, but you have to have some size and snarl back there too. When it comes to a short handed situation or last minute pressure as in Toronto the other night, you have got to have size and reach out on the ice.

Before everyone goes and spends all of Stan's cap space on forwards and defensemen, consider the looming Blackhawk goalie crisis.

Crawford is 34, with 1 season left after this one, at $6M, and has missed large parts of the last 2 seasons with concussions. Will he be good/healthy enough to warrant another contract after this one? Best case is he has a solid season next year and you sign him to be the #1 for another 2-3 years.

Ward is, at best, a good #2 at this point in his career, and he's 35. Clearly not a #1 for the Blackhawks, nor any other team in the NHL.

Delia has had a few solid games this season, but he has a total of 18 NHL games played with a .906 save % and a 3.65 GAA. Are you comfortable he will be your #1, potentially on a SC contender, in 20-21?

Forsberg hasn't shown any ability to be an NHL #1. Over 45 career games in the NHL, he's .901 save % and 3.21 GAA. Again, does anyone really thing he's going to be the #1 in 20-21? It's more likely he's not a part of the Blackhawk organization after this season.

I have a feeling that Stan is going to be looking for a #1 goalie in the FA market prior to the 2020-21 season, unless a bunch of dreams turn into reality.
- scottak

I wouldn't give up on Frosberg, he is having a solid season in Rockford. Both Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss had over 200 games prior to "emerging" this year, Devin Dubnyk floundered 6 years and over 175 games before becoming #1 with the Wild, those are 3 that are off the top of my head this year, why wouldn't the Hawks sign him?, he won't cost much. I actually have no faith in Delia, everyone is going head over heels over his first 5 games, and the fact he can make the spectacular save (mostly cause his positioning and rebound control sucks), but technically he is weak, Forsberg right now is much better technically.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1104252362858758144

helluva a play by the goalie and Boqvist; but really that play should have been blown dead...WTF ref

Before everyone goes and spends all of Stan's cap space on forwards and defensemen, consider the looming Blackhawk goalie crisis.

Crawford is 34, with 1 season left after this one, at $6M, and has missed large parts of the last 2 seasons with concussions. Will he be good/healthy enough to warrant another contract after this one? Best case is he has a solid season next year and you sign him to be the #1 for another 2-3 years.

Ward is, at best, a good #2 at this point in his career, and he's 35. Clearly not a #1 for the Blackhawks, nor any other team in the NHL.

Delia has had a few solid games this season, but he has a total of 18 NHL games played with a .906 save % and a 3.65 GAA. Are you comfortable he will be your #1, potentially on a SC contender, in 20-21?

Forsberg hasn't shown any ability to be an NHL #1. Over 45 career games in the NHL, he's .901 save % and 3.21 GAA. Again, does anyone really thing he's going to be the #1 in 20-21? It's more likely he's not a part of the Blackhawk organization after this season.

I have a feeling that Stan is going to be looking for a #1 goalie in the FA market prior to the 2020-21 season, unless a bunch of dreams turn into reality.
- scottak

Bang on.

This is why even when anyone looks two and three years down the line in search of true cap space, it still really isn't there. When CC is done, they will know if Delia is for real within a year or so of that. If he is, he will want to paid like a #1, and if he is a bust, they are now in the FA market for another #1 who will also want to be paid like one. And it won't be $6MM/year three years from now for one of those guys.

Compounding things is the paltry 3%ish annual cap increase which barely covers the extension of most squad's RFA troupes.

Player development is the only way out until the big guns' contracts are gone. I guess most people think I'm being critical all the time - I'm not really. I am simply pointing out that the rebuild process is not going to be a quick one for the Hawks. It is going to take time. Once you accept that developing their own players is the best path out you come to understand the importance of drafting well - and higher - is more important for the Hawks than say a team with cap to work with. Also accepting that a big part of the roster inertia lies with the contracts given out leading up to today. At some point the FO has to own that, and as fans we have to accept that.

But when guys like McDavid and Matthews get eight figure deals, guys like Stone get $9MM, and top D guys get $6-10MM today, imagine the cost two to three years from now....

I wouldn't give up on Frosberg, he is having a solid season in Rockford. Both Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss had over 200 games prior to "emerging" this year, Devin Dubnyk floundered 6 years and over 175 games before becoming #1 with the Wild, those are 3 that are off the top of my head this year, why wouldn't the Hawks sign him?, he won't cost much. I actually have no faith in Delia, everyone is going head over heels over his first 5 games, and the fact he can make the spectacular save (mostly cause his positioning and rebound control sucks), but technically he is weak, Forsberg right now is much better technically.
- LAHawk

Yes, I'd like to see Forsberg brought up if/when the Hawks are eliminated.

Everyone keeps ignoring Dahlstrom in their projections of next year's dcore.

From what I have seen, when he plays well, he and Murphy form the only shut down pair we have had all year. And we generally win.

I don't see why they wouldn't resign Dahlstrom to a minimal contract and bring him back next year to see if he can grow his game a bit at the NHL level. To me he has impacted the team already more than Forsling and Gus prior to his recent offensive outbreak after Q got purged.
- hereismike1

Dahlstrom looks decent at times but he doesn't handle a strong forecheck very well. When he's going back for the puck and knows a forechecker is on him - he prioritizes bracing for the hit over moving the puck and more times than not it results in either losing control or a 50/50 scramble. Sometimes it's not avoidable because there's no time to make a play but many times you can see him have time to move the puck one way or the other but instead he braces for the hit. That, to me, is the reason he needs to be replaced in the lineup. Forsling does the same thing. Again - every d-man does it to a certain extent based on the circumstances of the play in real time - but Dahlstrom (and Forsling) do it when a better play is there to be made.