If he will sign for at or near the league minimum it couldn’t hurt to keep him around for a little while longer, but I don’t think too many will mourn if he’s gone.
- Ogilthorpe2

He was considered a top talent in his draft year. I'd like to see him signed to a low cap hit and see if he can't realize the potential that was seen in him. Strome was able to prove his value after three quarters of a season may be Koekkoek can after a full one? Again the Hawks are not in a position to give up on young talent.

After a long look at Koekkoek, what is the verdict on him?
- GalacticStone

Engages well but has mental lapses that prevent him from being anything better than 6/7 guy.

FL fired coach - rumors seem to have Sutter or Q ending up there

He was considered a top talent in his draft year. I'd like to see him signed to a low cap hit and see if he can't realize the potential that was seen in him. Strome was able to prove his value after three quarters of a season may be Koekkoek can after a full one? Again the Hawks are not in a position to give up on young talent.
- paulr

Agreed, but it’s getting crowded on the back end. Going to have to make some decisions.

Forsling
Koekkoek
Dalqvist
Gusto

No room for them all

FL fired coach - rumors seem to have Sutter or Q ending up there
- pdx2ord

Let the bloodletting begin.

Agreed, but it’s getting crowded on the back end. Going to have to make some decisions.

Forsling
Koekkoek
Dalqvist
Gusto

No room for them all
- Ogilthorpe2[/quote
Keep dahlstrom and koko trade gust and forsling IMO

Agreed, but it’s getting crowded on the back end. Going to have to make some decisions.

Forsling
Koekkoek
Dalqvist
Gusto

No room for them all
- Ogilthorpe2

Hopefully an acquistion or two will make who to keep and who to move more clear.

Koekkoek's time in Tampa was strange, and I never thought the team got a full look at him. He'd be dressed for one or two games, then ride the bench for twenty. It's difficult for any player to hone their craft or get into a groove without regular ice-time.

I wonder if those serious shoulder injuries changed his game or style in a negative way?

But, like a couple of posters said above - if he will sign for cheap, then it might be worth it to give him more look before giving up on him. He might just be another first-round bust, or possibly a late bloomer.

The blackhawks defense and PK have not been good since Stan fired Kitchen. Wonder when Q gets his next coaching job will Kitchen be one of his coaches.

Strome is a big skinny gangly kid. He needs a summer on that famous 20 lbs of muscle programme suggested by certain individuals.
- paulr

Superman isn't required, now what about stamina, speed?

Superman isn't required, now what about stamina, speed?
- gazza53

I was being facetious.

And should Gus have another big scoring season he becomes a guy who commands a first pairing defenseman contract who isn't capable of playing second pairing defense, let alone first pairing. Then cap hell begins all over again and he becomes the team whipping boy. If he signs for less than $2M, maybe, because he could still be moved. I'd prefer the Hawk unload him at the draft so they don't get tempted to offer him a contract that hurts the team down the road.
- paulr

Ditto. My preference is to move Gustafsson this summer, ideally to gain another 1st round pick but open to other options as the return should be favorable if the trade is managed well.

His stock is guaranteed to be high(est) this summer. Could be lower and even a lot lower by the 2020 TDL since we don't know if he has another season like this in him. Another poster said it but this could have been his career year then regression.

Agreed, but it’s getting crowded on the back end. Going to have to make some decisions.

Forsling
Koekkoek
Dalqvist
Gusto

No room for them all
- Ogilthorpe2

Trade Gus if the price is right, the others can spend next season in Rockford.

One of them is the smallest guy on the team and spent the last week of the season in Rockford.
- Ogilthorpe2

Was thinking the same thing. Don't mind, though, that he's getting experience during a playoff push and hopefully in the actual tournament if the Hogs qualify.

Strome is a big skinny gangly kid. He needs a summer on that famous 20 lbs of muscle programme suggested by certain individuals.
- paulr

Maybe Strome and Kruger can be off season workout buddies and finally gain those much needed 20 pounds.

Agreed, but it’s getting crowded on the back end. Going to have to make some decisions.

Forsling
Koekkoek
Dalqvist
Gusto

No room for them all
- Ogilthorpe2

Trade Gustafsson this summer.

Dahlstrom is resigned and can play in Rockford if needed but like him as a 3rd pair or 7th man.

Decide between Forsling and Koekkoek but that may depend on who the Hawks pursue and successfully acquire on D in free agency or via trade. If any transactions fall through, the Hawks could very well bring back both which may not be a good thing.

I wouldn't bet on any prospects making the team besides Jokiharju. Would be surprised if he did not make the team again this fall.

Housley fired in Buffalo, that’s 2 coaches let go today.

Speaking of Florida.... Talon + Quenneville = Seabrook?

I personally don't think he's resigned.
- Justin Lowe

Do you prepfer Kekkoek back if Forsling is ttraded? Is there a replacement for his level of checks and puck moving?]

Great post.

It also speaks loudly as to how ridiculous it is to pull the goaltender wth over 2 minutes to go in regulation and down by one goal. Offensively it is way to challenging to maintain that do or die intensity for over a minute to minute and a half, plus your top players don't have the legs for that long. Player changes due to fatigue makes it much easier to defend and score the empty netters. It's a philosophy that Q started a few years ago and hasn't worked the majority of the time, yet many other teams do it as well. It's the "me too" syndrome for coaches that follow instead of lead !!

Pull the darn goalies under the 1:30 mark when you have possession in the offensive zone and you'll have a better chance of tying it up instead of giving up the empty net goals.
- Hawkytalk

I seem to remember back in the 60's and 70's, most teams waited 'til very close to the 1:00 minute mark before pulling the goal tender. Yea, I really don't get doing it much earlier than that either.

My primary source is the literal interpretation of the rule as explained on NHL.com website.

Moreover, I was looking at Gus +/- over the last few games, and even towards the end of the game yesterday. He was even until the last 2 empty netters went in. Ended -2

I saw he was on the ice for the first empty netter, assume he also was on the second.


Again, not using the stat to draw any conclusions or discount Gus defensive issues, just pointing out, like most issues thrown about, conclusions are overblown.

Just wondering if "the going all out to get the final playoff spot " the last three weeks was a wise move. It looks like we will get the 12 pick in the draft. It could have been 6th or 7th pick if we had taken 4 or 5 more losses. It reminds me of the Bears during the early 2010's ... Winning the last 3 games of the season and get to draft at 10 to 12 and loosing out getting a top QB at 5 or 6th pick.

I seem to remember back in the 60's and 70's, most teams waited 'til very close to the 1:00 minute mark before pulling the goal tender. Yea, I really don't get doing it much earlier than that either.
- BobP.

And they never did it down two.

Just wondering if "the going all out to get the final playoff spot " the last three weeks was a wise move. It looks like we will get the 12 pick in the draft. It could have been 6th or 7th pick if we had taken 4 or 5 more losses. It reminds me of the Bears during the early 2010's ... Winning the last 3 games of the season and get to draft at 10 to 12 and loosing out getting a top QB at 5 or 6th pick.
- spanky

I heard that picks 6-15 are all over the place, so I'm unsure if it would have made that big of a difference. The real issue was having a lower % chance to get a top 3. We will know on Tuesday, if it would have mattered.

My primary source is the literal interpretation of the rule as explained on NHL.com website.

Moreover, I was looking at Gus +/- over the last few games, and even towards the end of the game yesterday. He was even until the last 2 empty netters went in. Ended -2

I saw he was on the ice for the first empty netter, assume he also was on the second.


Again, not using the stat to draw any conclusions or discount Gus defensive issues, just pointing out, like most issues thrown about, conclusions are overblown.
- TrueGrit

Unless they consider an ENG to be a short handed goal (maybe) - doesn’t say it to me:

Plus-Minus
A player is awarded a "plus" each time he is on the ice when his Club scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal. He receives a "minus" if he is on the ice for an even-strength or shorthanded goal scored by the opposing Club. The difference in these numbers is considered the player's "plus-minus" statistic.

Well that's it gang.

Year end mailbag for tomorrow's blog... any questions you want to ask?

Get them over to me by tonight and I'll include as many as I can.