How are they set for lavender sniffers?
- mohel

I have strategically placed a lavender sensor on the team bus and on the bench. I will provide data soon.

What is funny, is half the people on this board would be whining and female doging about half of the Lightning players. I am sure if they watched a few games we would here that they only have 3 or 4 top 6 forwards....

Many would not be sold on Kucherov's offensive prowess... and we would spend hours fawning over teen age boys and theorizing and modeling their non-existent "Cap Hell".

have a few.
- Elbows15

How about Boston?

I have strategically placed a lavender sensor on the team bus and on the bench. I will provide data soon.

What is funny, is half the people on this board would be whining and female doging about half of the Lightning players. I am sure if they watched a few games we would here that they only have 3 or 4 top 6 forwards....

Many would not be sold on Kucherov's offensive prowess... and we would spend hours fawning over teen age boys and theorizing and modeling their non-existent "Cap Hell".
- TrueGrit

No doubt there'd be whining and female doging. It happened when the team won 3 Cups, why wouldn't it happen when the team's won nothing?

They just traded Duchene, Dzingel & Stone for picks and prospects. That's the definition of tanking.
- scottak

Those were all UFAs and none of them would agree to resign which makes it an entirely different situation than intentionally tanking.

They just traded Duchene, Dzingel & Stone for picks and prospects. That's the definition of tanking.
- scottak

Ya for sure. It had nothing to do with the fact that all 3 were UFA and would have walked for nothing. But you're probably right.

No doubt there'd be whining and female doging. It happened when the team won 3 Cups, why wouldn't it happen when the team's won nothing?
- mohel

Fair point.

Tampa has to sign Brayden Point this off season.

When Callahan is traded, that covers that.

Plus they run off Stralman, Girardi, Coburn and Rutta. Like 13.5 mill. And still have their top 4 in place.

They can give raises to Paquette and Erne or let Erne go...

This team is in tact for at least 2 more seasons.

How about Boston?
- mohel

Chara doesn't allow that.

I have strategically placed a lavender sensor on the team bus and on the bench. I will provide data soon.

What is funny, is half the people on this board would be whining and female doging about half of the Lightning players. I am sure if they watched a few games we would here that they only have 3 or 4 top 6 forwards....

Many would not be sold on Kucherov's offensive prowess... and we would spend hours fawning over teen age boys and theorizing and modeling their non-existent "Cap Hell".
- TrueGrit

I'm not sure Tampa's hellish cap situation would be classified non-existant. Dante may place them on one of the upper floors but they're still in the general vicinity of the nether world.

Fair point.

Tampa has to sign Brayden Point this off season.

When Callahan is traded, that covers that.

Plus they run off Stralman, Girardi, Coburn and Rutta. Like 13.5 mill. And still have their top 4 in place.

They can give raises to Paquette and Erne or let Erne go...

This team is in tact for at least 2 more seasons.
- TrueGrit

They are at 73M for next season. With only 4 D-men. They are going to need to replace 3. Point is going to make more than 5M. Getting rid of Callahan will cost them something. Doable for sure but their D is going to be young.

They are at 73M for next season. With only 4 D-men. They are going to need to replace 3. Point is going to make more than 5M. Getting rid of Callahan will cost them something. Doable for sure but their D is going to be young.
- Elbows15

Their problem is worse the following season when they'll have 5 key RFAs needing new paper.

Their problem is worse the following season when they'll have 5 key RFAs needing new paper.
- EbonyRaptor

(frank) them. Wonder if they get knocked out in the 1st round if they don't make huge changes.

(frank) them. Wonder if they get knocked out in the 1st round if they don't make huge changes.
- Elbows15

Whatever changes they make they can send their scouting staff over to the Hawks. They have picked some gems out of the middle to lower ends of drafts.

I can't see anyone beating Tampa assuming they remain healthy.
- paulr

Agreed they are loaded!

The article says Brayden Point "could get as much as" $7M when Tampa re-signs him. I don't know which orifice the author pulled that number out of but let's hope he's correct because that would set the ceiling for Cat.
- EbonyRaptor

7 million seems light.

Whatever changes they make they can send their scouting staff over to the Hawks. They have picked some gems out of the middle to lower ends of drafts.
- RickJ

IDK. I like the staff that built 3 Cup winners. TB Russian scouts are pretty good, though. Hawks have no luck in that area.


Missing the PO a couple of times over the last few years helped.

A quick list of professional teams currently tanking. The Blackhawks, are not now, nor have been tanking, since at lease 2008. And they cant with the veterans on their roster.

And not all teams with a bad record are necessarily tanking. For instance, LAK are not there yet, although, if they trade off Doughty, Quick, Kopitar, et al, they will be.

MLB - Orioles, Blue Jays, White Sox, Royals, Marlins

NFL - Raiders, Jets, Cardinals

NBA - Bulls, Suns, Knicks, Cavs

NHL - Senators, Red Wings, Devils, Rangers
- scottak

There has not been an NHL team that has purposely tanked in the cap era and successfully rebuilt into a Stanley Cup winner.

A few MLB teams have successfully done it over a period of 4-5 years, but there has yet to be a successful NBA or NFL team to do it. The concept of tanking in most sports just does not work.

I'm not sure Tampa's hellish cap situation would be classified non-existant. Dante may place them on one of the upper floors but they're still in the general vicinity of the nether world.
- EbonyRaptor

Maybe more Purgatorio than Inferno, haha.

Oh great. The literature geek is here.

Did anyone foresee Ryan O'Reilly emerging when he debuted as a defensive forward. So you never know.

And this Galvas could be as solid or more solid than most of these hot shot dmen prospects. He is however another slight sized dman which we have aplenty in the system
- jhawk59

A few scouting reports I've read about Galvas speak about his ability to play a physical game despite his smaller frame. Most websites list him at 5'11" and 160 pounds. That's Sikura's frame although I have seen Dylan listed as high as 174 (I know, still light). A body size like that is fine on a slick forward with great hockey sense but not so much on a defenseman who is not known to be an offensive type.

IDK. I like the staff that built 3 Cup winners. TB Russian scouts are pretty good, though. Hawks have no luck in that area.


Missing the PO a couple of times over the last few years helped.
- Elbows15

I didn't know that Point, Cirelli, Killorn, Palat, Paquette were Russians.

Nothing against the Hawks staff but they have missed badly on a few players as have most teams somewhere along the line.

I have no idea if Edmonton would even consider this - but how about a trade with the two main pieces being Saad and Nurse. Rumor has it that EDM would like a top-6 winger and Saad would fit that description. Nurse plays LD behind Klefbom so on the 2nd pairing - is he a true top-4 guy who would provide the type of defense the Hawks are looking for? He's got everything the Hawks would want in terms of long term investment - just don't know how good he is defensively.

I didn't know that Point, Cirelli, Killorn, Palat, Paquette were Russians.

Nothing against the Hawks staff but they have missed badly on a few players as have most teams somewhere along the line.
- RickJ

Meant Kucherov and the goalie.

On Forsling: i have reported what wiz suggested to me regarding Forsling future: maybe he is given until xmas to take that next step. I add this:

Patience is key now for team as what do they have to loose by playing him. With the other two (Dahlstrom, Koekkoek) you have to give them the scenario - if possible - to mature. Lately Forsling has performed better whrn he is left in the Seabrook pairing. Although when only 12 TOI it is not much playing time to grow his game.

I concur with the Dahlstrom analysis. He had performed best when teamed up with Murphy.

Koekkoek is getting the least support here but you poll bloggers and maybe he is not the least among this triumpherant. I liked him a lot when he first started getting regular shifts. His willingness to actually commit a bodycheck stood out among the soft dmen on this roster. Regarding this part of the game, when Dahlstrom uses his big frame effectively in physical confrontations then he is much better.

I really wish each would be given a long look because each can become solid puck movingg dmen. Those players are a valued commidity. Some team could snag one of them from us on the cheap and as wiz has said right time, right place with some pro experience and they blossom.

Blossom as......maybe just strong enough play to hold a job until the more highly acclaimed dmen push them out. Or one of the acclaimed hot shots may get traded. Eventually when several young dmen playing well.....you look at what side each plays. You look at what is the more ideal defense for the team.

It is a waiting game while prospects and team hopeful improves. I just terribly disdain giving up on prospects. Each team has this situatiin sooner or later. How about Columbus with some forwards including Wenneberg?

To carry this discussion to its farthest point....i reference Minny finally giving uo on Granlund as a TOP. Center. They exchanged him for a different player and a different look. They did this approach with Coyle too. Those are two high early draft choices obviiusly progressed further than the dmen in this discussion. But you see the transformation happens with young players. To what extent our dnen may transform? THEY are hopefully getting playing time insofar as later on decisions are to be made.
.
- jhawk59

Regarding the decisions on pending RFAs Dahlstrom, Forsling, and Koekkoek, I imagine there being several related factors that may impact who stays and who goes.

1) Do the Hawks expect Jokiharju to be in the starting 6 next season?

2) Are the Hawks planning to pursue only one new D man this summer, whether via trade or free agency, or two of them?

3) Does Gustafsson get traded at the 2020 TDL before he demands a contract renewal that may be too rich for the team's blood?

4) What is the timeline for the other D prospects like Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys, and the Rockford ones like Carlsson?

Depending on how each of these questions are answered, there are a number of scenarios that could play out with the fate of Dahlstrom, Forsling, and Koekkoek. Generally, I would advocate signing at least one of them and up to two of them especially if Jokiharju starts in Rockford this fall and/or the Hawks pursue only one new blueline acquisition.

I didn't know that Point, Cirelli, Killorn, Palat, Paquette were Russians.

Nothing against the Hawks staff but they have missed badly on a few players as have most teams somewhere along the line.
- RickJ

Yep - Pointov, Cirellichev, Killornov, Palatkin and Paquetteyuk all shortened their names. Russions - all of them.

They are at 73M for next season. With only 4 D-men. They are going to need to replace 3. Point is going to make more than 5M. Getting rid of Callahan will cost them something. Doable for sure but their D is going to be young.
- Elbows15

They will still have their top 4. McDonough/Cernak Hedman/Segachev. Coburn or Girardi may come back for a million. They are not going to pay anyone over 2mm for bottom pair. First world problem.

They will give up something for trading Callahan, but nothing that will take away from the group. You may give up Erne or Joseph to trade Callahan, or a pick, maybe this years first. Do not expect that to hit their core of forwards.