- Ogilthorpe2

Something is happening, but you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?

Back to the Hawks...what about fixing our D by giving a really large 1 year contract to Stralman. We have space for 1 more year, but then we need space to sign ADB and Strome the next year. Giving Stralman more 2M more for a one year contract may get him to sign with us, and give our young D prospects another year to get ready for the show.
- tvetter

Even if Stralman made a huge positive difference in 2019/20 - then what? If the Hawks were one player away from contending for the Cup - they would be playing in the playoffs right now - they're not just one player away. A more realistic timeline for when the Hawks could be ready to compete for the Cup would be the following season, 2020/21, if not the season after that 2021/22.

Back to the Hawks...what about fixing our D by giving a really large 1 year contract to Stralman. We have space for 1 more year, but then we need space to sign ADB and Strome the next year. Giving Stralman more 2M more for a one year contract may get him to sign with us, and give our young D prospects another year to get ready for the show.
- tvetter

I would go as far as 2 years/4.5 AAV. He doesn't put up enough points to warrant any more than that to me. His zone starts are pretty evenly split. Someone wants to offer more, then they can have him. And I like Stralman. He is going to be 33 by the start of the season.

Do you guys think Saad, Gus, and Forsling for Trouba and Copp is a fair hockey trade?
- Bjm84

No its not fair if peg throws in a first this year's draft might consider it. Plus they cannot afford saad and his contract they have key rfa's they have to sign.

- Ogilthorpe2

Doesn't really burst my bubble...the reason he would sign a one year contract is because we're going to pay him 2M more than anyone else. Then, he would be a free agent the next year, and could sign another contract.

- Ogilthorpe2

Even if Stralman made a huge positive difference in 2019/20 - then what? If the Hawks were one player away from contending for the Cup - they would be playing in the playoffs right now - they're not just one player away. A more realistic timeline for when the Hawks could be ready to compete for the Cup would be the following season, 2020/21, if not the season after that 2021/22.
- EbonyRaptor

Then what? Then we have 2 of Joki, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell or Krys. Honestly, my biggest problem with this is that he's a RD. I just don't really like any of the LD UFAs.

I would go as far as 2 years/4.5 AAV. He doesn't put up enough points to warrant any more than that to me. His zone starts are pretty evenly split. Someone wants to offer more, then they can have him. And I like Stralman. He is going to be 33 by the start of the season.
- Elbows15

A 2-year deal for Stralman is still a stop-gap and most likely "the gap" stops just when the Hawks are most probable to compete for the Cup. I think if the Hawks acquire a d-man it has to be at least 4-5 years and the d-man has to be young enough to still be playing well in the 4th/5th year.

That was why Stone made a bundle of cash.
I dismissed him, and then when they signed him, I was like, they look like a rookie organization again spending SO much, but then I went back and he really catches the opposition by surprise, knocks them off pucks, and goes hard in the greasy areas.

It is not a concern on my part, burt I have to wonder, are the hawks gonna rank that over position or player.

I have tried to play devil's advocate with all the negative about Russian additions, including the our last one, if we would have not traded him, might have decided to be saying goodbye to the Windy City now, if he WAS still here?

...and hear tell, I have seen comments that Podkolzin is undisciplined in the way he basically bulls in, knocks opposition off the puck, plays with them in his solo displays of power powering dominance, that a team player doesn't play like that.

Through all the generations of NHL play i have watched, didn't the best decide to take over games?

So as I rack my feeble hockey head concerning the poor hawks having to actually have make a talent decision, I see they are looking for:
a) long term new face of the franchise
b) a kid that adds to the arsenal and brings offensive pressure
c) foot speed, hand & stick speed, head speed
d) 200 foot game ability


If this was the 2018 draft, Brady Tkachuk would have solved the decision in my mind.

It's kinda too bad that Mark Kelley and company will have to decide the order the above bullet points follow...

Back to work.
- wiz1901

I’d order them like this:

a) foot speed, hand & stick speed, head speed
b) 200 foot game ability
c) a kid that adds to the arsenal and brings offensive pressure
D) long term new face of the franchise

D) will be the result so a, b, and c.

Then what? Then we have 2 of Joki, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell or Krys. Honestly, my biggest problem with this is that he's a RD. I just don't really like any of the LD UFAs.
- tvetter

I'm questioning what purpose he severs in 2019/20 - not what comes after 2019/20. Do you think the Hawks will be Cup contenders next season if they sign Stralman? If not, then what's the point of signing him? If anything it could be counter productive because he would take minutes from players who would be here when the Hawks have the potential to be a Cup contender.

A 2-year deal for Stralman is still a stop-gap and most likely "the gap" stops just when the Hawks are most probable to compete for the Cup. I think if the Hawks acquire a d-man it has to be at least 4-5 years and the d-man has to be young enough to still be playing well in the 4th/5th year.
- EbonyRaptor

He bridges the gap to the boys. Honestly, I am fine with some minor bottom depth signings and keeping some cap flexibility for another season.

I'm questioning what purpose he severs in 2019/20 - not what comes after 2019/20. Do you think the Hawks will be Cup contenders next season if they sign Stralman? If not, then what's the point of signing him? If anything it could be counter productive because he would take minutes from players who would be here when the Hawks have the potential to be a Cup contender.
- EbonyRaptor

His purpose is allowing our top prospects another year to develop without hurting our current team. I don't see us competing for a cup next year no matter what we do in free agency.

Keith-Stralman
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Gus-Seabrook
Koekkoek or Forsling

That's better than we had this season.

Hey Wiz, both Cozens and Turcotte meet your A/B/C/D criteria - don't they?
- EbonyRaptor

yes!

and I thnk you wait a year on both.

Dach, well, he very well may be the Getzlaf too.

The game keeps morphing and I think speed is a large criteria.

Cozens WILL grow, plays TOEWS LIKE. (some think he is Kesler angry at times...)

Turcotte is the hidden upside guy who could be an Dylan Larkin

He bridges the gap to the boys. Honestly, I am fine with some minor bottom depth signings and keeping some cap flexibility for another season.
- Elbows15

Me too, but does Anton Strålman play 80 games like he did a year ago or at 33 next play 47 games like he did this year?

and it is another right shooter...like Chris Tanev.

I honestly don't think there are any left handed #4 defenders out there unless you make a hockey trade of one of ours for theirs.

Ben Chiarot mentioned here is a stay at home guy, but...he sometimes handles the puck like a gernade and as a defensive defender you want a sure stick back there...he does have a history of shot blocking and hits, a 100+ hit and 100 blocks, but again he becomes a UFA and settles for one-two year deal with Chicago, or finally cashes in with a longer term deal elsewhere?
or does someone want to overpay Edler?

His purpose is allowing our top prospects another year to develop without hurting our current team. I don't see us competing for a cup next year no matter what we do in free agency.

Keith-Stralman
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Gus-Seabrook
Koekkoek or Forsling

That's better than we had this season.
- tvetter

If the purpose is to have a transition season why sign a free agent for that one season you don't epect to contend? Why not save the money or sign a younger guy who may be around after next season?

yes!

and I thnk you wait a year on both.

Dach, well, he very well may be the Getzlaf too.

The game keeps morphing and I think speed is a large criteria.

Cozens WILL grow, plays TOEWS LIKE. (some think he is Kesler angry at times...)

Turcotte is the hidden upside guy who could be an Dylan Larkin
- wiz1901

Larkin or an angry Toews? Easy pick for me.

If the purpose is to have a transition season why sign a free agent for that one season you don't epect to contend? Why not save the money or sign a younger guy who may be around after next season?
- paulr

Because making the playoffs would be good for the young players like ABD, Strome, Perlino, Caggiula, etc. Also, I would expect at least one, and possibly as many as 3, of Joki, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell and Krys the following year.

Larkin or an angry Toews? Easy pick for me.
- paulr

Not really. Turcotte has also been compared to Toews because of his 2-way play and his work below the dots. Kid only plays one way. Full bore.

Either one would be a nice addition.

Because making the playoffs would be good for the young players like ABD, Strome, Perlino, Caggiula, etc. Also, I would expect at least one, and possibly as many as 3, of Joki, Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell and Krys the following year.
- tvetter

I wouldn't be counting on Perlini too much. I have a feeling he is going to drive Hawk fans as batty as Bickell did for years.

I wouldn't be counting on Perlini too much. I have a feeling he is going to drive Hawk fans as batty as Bickell did for years.
- Elbows15

I think the Hawks can fix that with a new skate sharpener.

I wouldn't be counting on Perlini too much. I have a feeling he is going to drive Hawk fans as batty as Bickell did for years.
- Elbows15

I'm not, but we can't have a big signing for multiple years and risk losing ABD or Strome. I have hope for Perlini, but I think, at best, he'll be a third liner who can play top 6 for a few games.

I wouldn't be counting on Perlini too much. I have a feeling he is going to drive Hawk fans as batty as Bickell did for years.
- Elbows15

I think now is the time to see the value of some of our younger dee-men and both Kahun and Perlini.

Just saying, there are teams looking for speed and they may have that now guy on dee we need, and those teams may not have a stable of possible defense prospects the hawks have.

There is a balance necessary for NEXT year needs with better defenseman play and fortification of up front scoring...

it doesn't necessarily have to a marquee name added, but ONE addition on the backline and if the young forwards falter start looking before the deadline for help up front...

His purpose is allowing our top prospects another year to develop without hurting our current team. I don't see us competing for a cup next year no matter what we do in free agency.

Keith-Stralman
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Gus-Seabrook
Koekkoek or Forsling

That's better than we had this season.
- tvetter

I'd rather Jokiharju plays all year than a guy that isn't going to be here when it matters. If 2 or 3 of the young d-prospects are going to be part of the d-corps in a few years - they need to get some NHL experience under their belt even know they will take some lumps early on.

I think now is the time to see the value of some of our younger dee-men and both Kahun and Perlini.

Just saying, there are teams looking for speed and they may have that now guy on dee we need, and those teams may not have a stable of possible defense prospects the hawks have.

There is a balance necessary for NEXT year needs with better defenseman play and fortification of up front scoring...

it doesn't necessarily have to a marquee name added, but ONE addition on the backline and if the young forwards falter start looking before the deadline for help up front...
- wiz1901

The Hawks are in a rebuild. Its not the time to be giving away D prospects and young players on their ELC. Perlini doesn't have much value is my guess. 4th round pick or so. Their scoring wasn't an issue. An improved PK and some guys who can play a shutdown role with Kampf puts this team in the mix next season.

Disclaimer: I'm not very good at judging the "fairness" of trades to both sides.

I wonder if a trade using the #3 pick and possibly other assets, if needed, would land the Hawks Hampus Lindholm from Anaheim or Matias Ekholm from Nashville. Thoughts?