Trade Saad to Pitt for Kessel

Move Anisimov for picks/or prospect

Draft Turcotte

Sikura- Toews - Kane
Debrincat- Strome - Perlini
Kubilak- Turcotte- Kessel
Caggulia- Kampf - Kahun

Forward group done...and can score
- PatShart

Curious, how does swapping out Saad for Kessel fix what ails the Hawks. I get he puts up points, but the Hawks were 8th in the league Goals, and second to last in Goals Against.

Trade Saad to Pitt for Kessel

Move Anisimov for picks/or prospect

Draft Turcotte

Sikura- Toews - Kane
Debrincat- Strome - Perlini
Kubilak- Turcotte- Kessel
Caggulia- Kampf - Kahun

Forward group done...and can score
- PatShart

Maybe they can score but that third line looks very scary in its own zone.

They're not going to add Tanev or some other 3rd liner and all of a sudden be better defensively, especially with no defensive system or the inability to match lines from the coaching staff

So load up offensively

Trade Saad to Pitt for Kessel

Move Anisimov for picks/or prospect

Draft Turcotte

Sikura- Toews - Kane
Debrincat- Strome - Perlini
Kubilak- Turcotte- Kessel
Caggulia- Kampf - Kahun

Forward group done...and can score
- PatShart

From a cap standpoint Kessel and his additional 800K more than Saad hurts the Hawks, since they have to shed 6 to 11M by next summer to resign their RFAs Cat, Strome, Kahun, Cags and fill out the roster. For the math, see my long winded post on page 2.

TC, you mentioned that Stan may be looking to get more physicality brought in that would play more than Hayden.

I've personally moved on from him just because he hasn't really shown all that much, and it seems Colliton is disinterested, but it could very well be that Hayden is very much like Bickell. Not so great during the regular season, but plays much bigger in the playoffs. The problem is that we've never seen him in the playoffs, so we don't really know. I don't expect him back, but this dynamic is not really new in the NHL.

Re: Saad - I'm not advocating for it, but with all of Stan's insistence on Kubalik making the team (bigger body scorer), and the "down years" that he has had recently, I can see that Stan would be open to moving Saad. I don't think it's a good idea, but I can see it happening if it brings back a solid D-man.
- Chunk

The year Saad that had is on par with about every other year he's hed. I don't know why people expect him to become a 30 goal 60-70 point player all of a sudden.

Trade Saad to Pitt for Kessel

Move Anisimov for picks/or prospect

Draft Turcotte

Sikura- Toews - Kane
Debrincat- Strome - Perlini
Kubilak- Turcotte- Kessel
Caggulia- Kampf - Kahun

Forward group done...and can score
- PatShart

I hope they don't draft Turcotte. He might be a good player but the really need to stop drafting these smallish guys from Chicago area.

Nice to see those guys sign on, even if they don't have those high ceilings or expectations, we need the depth in the system for forwards at the pro level.
- breadbag

It's also great to see homegrown talent move from draft to ELC to the pros and hopefully to the Hawks roster at some point in the future. And not just be a fringe NHLer but an impact player even if bottom 6 or 5/6/7 defense spots.

Trade Saad to Pitt for Kessel

Move Anisimov for picks/or prospect

Draft Turcotte

Sikura- Toews - Kane
Debrincat- Strome - Perlini
Kubilak- Turcotte- Kessel
Caggulia- Kampf - Kahun

Forward group done...and can score
- PatShart

Generating offense isn't a team issue. Defense is and isn't Saad a much stronger 200 foot player than Kessel?

Moving Anisimov is fine as long as someone better takes his place. I guess that could be the 3rd pick overall but there's no guarantee that draftee plays in the NHL right away. Even if he does get a spot out of camp, he could still struggle through growing pains so big risk.

And not sure how I feel about Kahun on the 4th line. He has a lot more to give. IMO, he and Sikura could be great secondary scorers with strong play in all zones similar to Labanc from the Sharks.

They're not going to add Tanev or some other 3rd liner and all of a sudden be better defensively, especially with no defensive system or the inability to match lines from the coaching staff

So load up offensively
- PatShart

Right, but the Hawks are going to have a number or new faces at the bottom of the roster (Kruger, Kunitz, Likely Hayden, possibly AA out). Not to mention that the team now has some experience with what the coach wants to do, and have an entire offseason to adjust and implement along with a full training camp.

You say that there isn't a defensive system, but that is not the case. It was just quite different from what guys have played for the past 10 years, so it took some adjusting. Toward the end of the year, the defense was getting better.

Tyler- What are your thoughts about JC if next year the hawks have a bad start in their first 20 games and his system does not seem to be working with the players they have?
- RaleighHawk

I think Coach JC will have a long(ish) leash. He's Stan's first coaching hire. He's got a lot of stock in him and will do everything he can to make it work for him.

I hope they don't draft Turcotte. He might be a good player but the really need to stop drafting these smallish guys from Chicago area.
- GPHawksfan

He's 18 yrs old, 5'11" and 194 lbs - still time to grow, and not that small as is...

Sounds like a lot of love for Ceci out there.
- Tyler Cameron

He sucks but so does Ottawa so maybe a change of teams like the hawks he could fulfill his potential or not. Rather have McNabb or miller from vegas.

Trade Saad to Pitt for Kessel

Move Anisimov for picks/or prospect

Draft Turcotte

Sikura- Toews - Kane
Debrincat- Strome - Perlini
Kubilak- Turcotte- Kessel
Caggulia- Kampf - Kahun

Forward group done...and can score
- PatShart

So when hawks go to the playoffs hawks will get the poop kick out of them with that forward group plus kessel I believe is a lw. Turcotte is also commited to college forget which.

They're not going to add Tanev or some other 3rd liner and all of a sudden be better defensively, especially with no defensive system or the inability to match lines from the coaching staff

So load up offensively
- PatShart

So hawks miss the playoffs again and burn out the goalies half way through the season with all the shots against.

From a cap standpoint Kessel and his additional 800K more than Saad hurts the Hawks, since they have to shed 6 to 11M by next summer to resign their RFAs Cat, Strome, Kahun, Cags and fill out the roster. For the math, see my long winded post on page 2.
- boilermaker100

And they move Anisimov and his 4.5 mil too

So its essentially Anisimov and Saad at 10.5m for Kessel (RW) and Turcotte on his rookie deal which will be savings

So hawks miss the playoffs again and burn out the goalies half way through the season with all the shots against.
- Scott1977

Because Saad suppressed shots so much this year and helped the goalies how much again?

And those 3 extra shots a game CHI gives up more than say TB...must really over work the goalies

Calgary had the best in the regular season. Then couldn't handle the 50 shots a game COL was throwing at them

Games officiated for speed and offense. The coach behind the bench coaches all offense.
Q wanted defensive responsible players and was bashed for it - but the right thing to do is play to a coaches strength

JC can let the guys play and go all offense (shown last year)...so add to his strengths and let him coach up to offense

Blackhawks miss out on Ilya Mikheyev, signs with Maple Leafs.

Mark Kelley interview below.

https://www.nbcsports.com...rJbcHir5qbr2uB77YsXLcKUEk

Because Saad suppressed shots so much this year and helped the goalies how much again?
- PatShart

If another team offered a decent trade proposal for Saad, I'd rejoice. Maybe weep a tad.

From a cap standpoint Kessel and his additional 800K more than Saad hurts the Hawks, since they have to shed 6 to 11M by next summer to resign their RFAs Cat, Strome, Kahun, Cags and fill out the roster. For the math, see my long winded post on page 2.
- boilermaker100

in addition to your cap point...kessel is signed for 3 more years; hawks are not trading a 26 year old saad with 2 years left for a 31 year old in kessel...

that's just absurd

in addition to your cap point...kessel is signed for 3 more years; hawks are not trading a 26 year old saad with 2 years left for a 31 year old in kessel...

that's just absurd
- bogiedoc

Is it as absurd as the 81pts Kessel has averaged the last 3 years or the 45pts a year Saad will give at 6mil?

in addition to your cap point...kessel is signed for 3 more years; hawks are not trading a 26 year old saad with 2 years left for a 31 year old in kessel...

that's just absurd
- bogiedoc

Saad is a top six forward, but what are the Hawks plans for him in 2 years when he becomes an UFA? Maybe Hawks should move him this summer for a top 4 D. If the Pens want to unload Kessel fine as long as not to the Hawks. Pens could then replace Kessel with Saad in return for Dumolin, signed for 4 years at 4.1M. But who replaces Saad on the Hawks? Maybe Kahun steps up or Kubalik is a pleasant surprise.

They're not going to add Tanev or some other 3rd liner and all of a sudden be better defensively, especially with no defensive system or the inability to match lines from the coaching staff

So load up offensively
- PatShart

Hear Hear !!
Colliton's defensive inadequacies just might do him in. He is not Barry Trotz.
Load up on scoring.

Hear Hear !!
Colliton's defensive inadequacies just might do him in. He is not Barry Trotz.
Load up on scoring.
- Hawkytalk

Depends if those inadequacies are really with Colliton or the roster and situation. Too early to tell until he has more time with the team. It wasn't like the team was any better last year under Q, but at least JC got some more offense out of them after those first 6 weeks of a rocky transition.

Depends if those inadequacies are really with Colliton or the roster and situation. Too early to tell until he has more time with the team. It wasn't like the team was any better last year under Q, but at least JC got some more offense out of them after those first 6 weeks of a rocky transition.
- breadbag

Good point.....but the defensive system must change regardless of personnel.

1. Dmen have to stand up at the blue line and stop backing in to the goaltenders
2. Wingers and Dmen must change from stick-checking along the boards to rubbing-out on-rushing players carrying the puck. Body, Body, Body !!
3. PK MUST change to the aggressive style played by most teams and STOP sitting in that 4 man box allowing shot after shot from all over the ice. Tips and rebounds galore. It's no wonder they were the worst in the NHL on the PK
4. Somebody, Anybody on D has to aggressively clear the crease in front of our net. This will be a huge challenge for #2 who has always allowed forwards to just park in front of our goalies, only to do his stick slap after the puck's in the net.
5. Seabrook and Keith MUST have better years next year if they're considered to be our vereran leaders.
6. One trade for a left handed stud/nasty defenseman would be great.