I'm not convinced that Hayden will ever be more than a 13th forward in the NHL. I know he's still young, and he does show the occasional flash of NHL skill, but he doesn't seem to be able to do it consistently.
- tvetter

Consistently is the key word. That and sticking to a defined role. Play a heavy, north-south style to agitate and wear down the other team. Power game with smart plays.

There's been a series of posts regarding Caggiula, starting with the report from Powers that he was skating with the team at practice this morning but is not yet ready to return to game action. That led me to think he may be getting close and gets back in there before he season ends.
- EbonyRaptor

Yes, definitely hope that’s the case.

I like that we locked in one of our hopeful future blue liners. I always get nervous with the whole commitment to a player in college who can keep playing and then test FA, especially when his stock continues to rise. I think we continue to see a trend with our D prospects being very offensively focused and powerful. To me, it's not a bad thing if you can have one of those prospects as a defensive minded player and then adding in a FA to help in the d-zone. We can see the power of a Karlsson, puck moving defenseman. And if you can pair him with a defensive minded D-man, I think you can have a few really dangerous lines. He still is a good deal away, imo, from being in the NHL. He could be the second or third group of guys making it to the show, or potentially make another prospect expendable.

I hope Mitchell and Barratt both sign this offseason.

Boqvist, Joker, Beaudin, Krys, and Mitchell create a "stacked" prospect pool. With Keith, Seabs, and Murphy in the fold, I see a prospect and Gus/Forsling being moved.

What's your thoughts?
- HawksHype

The thing with prospects is that we really don’t know how they will eventually play out. Based on potential and expert prognostication, of the top 5 D prospects (Big 4 + Krys), Boqvist may have the highest ceiling or possibly it’s Jokiharju while Krys is 5th on the depth chart. However, reality could play out that Krys ends up being the best and Boqvist the worst.

I agree that a D prospect gets moved for say forward depth. One factor that could ramp up a trade is whether more defensemen are drafted this June and especially in the first two rounds. Get a prospect like Byram and that could reshuffle the deck and put one in the discard pile.

I m probably on the minority but i like hayden i think he needs more ice time and defined role. He also needs to be more consistent and work on his skating on the offseason. Still think he can be a valuable player to the hawks next season after that we will see. In the offseason hawks should be looking at teams that are going to have cap problems in the offseason.
Calgary
Tampa bay
Pitt
Winnipeg
Washington
Edmonton
Bowman should look to try and fleece some of these teams just like hawks were. If anything make smart creative hockey trades.

I agree that it would be preferred if the 4th line ended this season with Caggiula, Kampf, and Hayden. Of course, Caggiula is injured so that's unfortunate yet he has a future with the team.

As for Kunitz over Hayden, my guesses as to why are because Kunitz is more experienced and reliable during this playoff push and because this could very well be Kunitz's last season (he hasn't publicly stated so but who knows if management already knows) so playing him is out of respect. Just a guess. Could be totally wrong, too.
- AEL_Fox

If nothing else it destroyed the meme that these geezers Stan picked up were at the behest of Q. At least that bit of BS has died.

Finding out today is Grit's B-day is terribly disturbing on a personal level.
- Elbows15

Why? Is it yours too? Happy Birthday True Grit and Elbows!

Yeah, quit the economic/political talk.

How about Smollett?
- mohel

Instigator!!!

Instigator!!!
- HawkintheD

Right? Hit and run style too.

Boqvist has a pair tonight in G3 of the London/Windsor series.
One was a gimme, puck found him, he had a gaping net and made no mistake.
The second, he came off the left boards with the puck, moving to his right across the high slot and sniped knee high inside the far post. Joyous cellys too. Kid loves to light the lamp.

Boqvist with a hat trick. 3-3 late in the 3rd. London up 2-0 in the series.

Right? Hit and run style too.
- Ogilthorpe2

Boqvist with a hat trick. 3-3 late in the 3rd. London up 2-0 in the series.
- EbonyRaptor

Like i said....HATTY LOL

Boqvist with a hat trick. 3-3 late in the 3rd. London up 2-0 in the series.
- EbonyRaptor

Really like the fact that we might have another player who is clutch, who comes up biggest in the biggest games.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Hayden. I was thinking something similar. Don't think the Hawks want to settle on him but his contract is really favorable so retaining him as the extra forward isn't a bad thing. Don't know what that does to his psyche, though.

Personally I prefer an upgrade on 4th line wing. Start with Kampf and build out from there. Caggiula is a great option as one of the wingers. A speedy, gritty, and tough as nails forward would be nice.
- AEL_Fox

Maybe the hawks could get Ryan Strome for the third line and the third Strome bro from the flyers and have one on the three bottom lines. Lol.

Like i said....HATTY LOL
- philco28

Make it a foursome?

Boqvist with a hat trick. 3-3 late in the 3rd. London up 2-0 in the series.
- EbonyRaptor

Nice! Adam Fox will opt to become an NCAA UFA in 2020 after not signing with Carolina. Defenseman who put up 48 points in 32 games for Harvard. That’s HUGE point production from an NCAA Dman...target next summer??

Nice! Adam Fox will opt to become an NCAA UFA in 2020 after not signing with Carolina. Defenseman who put up 48 points in 32 games for Harvard. That’s HUGE point production from an NCAA Dman...target next summer??
- EnzoD

Whatever keeps Bingo out of here posting stats of former Hawks.

Whatever keeps Bingo out of here posting stats of former Hawks.
- kwolf68

LOL Ottawa routing Buffalo 4-0. Buffalo was in the playoffs at about the halfway point of the season...


But in all reality Hawks signing Fox would probably give Bingo another reason to come here lol.

Why? Is it yours too? Happy Birthday True Grit and Elbows!
- HawkintheD

Not anymore.

Really like the fact that we might have another player who is clutch, who comes up biggest in the biggest games.
- pdx2ord

(cough) Magic Gus (cough)

Make it a foursome?
- Ogilthorpe2

Wow...that's a nice night's work.

Make it a foursome?
- Ogilthorpe2

He did.

Nice! Adam Fox will opt to become an NCAA UFA in 2020 after not signing with Carolina. Defenseman who put up 48 points in 32 games for Harvard. That’s HUGE point production from an NCAA Dman...target next summer??
- EnzoD

He will end up with the Rags. He is from out that way.

He did.
- Elbows15

Sell high. Trade him for Risto.

Sell high. Trade him for Risto.
- Ogilthorpe2