Ty, Dennis Gilbert seems to have the size and toughness that other Hawks D prospects don't. Despite his 1 game call-up, he never is mentioned as a D-man possibility (including in your post.) Why is that? Is he too slow? What are his deficiencies?
- BMWChiFan

I was wondering the same thing. After he got the jitters out, he played a pretty simple and sound game and was strong enough to move guys.

Obviously I'm speculating, but I wouldn't rule out Stan going a bit nuclear and dealing a number of guys out (Saad, AA, Gus/Murphy, some of the D prospects). He's noted on a couple occasions that the roster is not going to look the same next year. It appears that they want to remake the roster/lines a bit so I think anything is open. Next few months will be fun to watch.
- Chunk

I think Stan is going to be very patient. First time since he is GM, that he has some money/tradeable options., and there are several other teams in CAP hell/shed salary type of mode.

What you outlined as a projected starting base for forward lines is more realistic given the current roster with the possibility of Kane playing with Toews and Saad for the nuclear option. Not a fan of going nuclear and would prefer to balance out the lines.

We shall see what happens this summer with the draft, free agency, and trades to shape up the forward ranks as well as the blueline. Backup goalie, too, if Crawford's health my prevent him from playing regularly next season and/or the team doesn't think Delia is ready to be a full-time backup.
- AEL_Fox

I am not a fan of the nuclear option either. Any line Kane plays on is not going to be a 200' line. ADB and Strome are not a 200' line. I would like to see Toews and Saad and a really good 200' RW on one line. Then get Kampf Caggiula and a big, fast, physical, gritty, skilled veteran RW to make a solid 4th line. IF you do those two things and IF you have a healthy Crow for 55+/- games your team defense and goals against improves greatly. Add a more seasoned Joki for a full season and the D gets better. If you can add a top 4 Dman in free agency or trade and the team D gets better. You have a full training camp to work on the team D and PK and the results could be dramatic.

Question for the board:

Is Bowen Byram NHL ready?
If so, does Stan grab him?
Finally, if that’s the case which Hawks defensemen would you be most willing to move to fetch another asset that they need?
- Bjm84

No one but Hughes and Kakko are going to play next year.

Can I answer tomorrow because after his team scored ONE goal tonight and Prince Albert score EIGHT, I want to know how many he was on for...


St. Albert 8 - Vancouver Giants 1. game three
- wiz1901

Gifman:
Byram was on for 1 of the 7 goals in first period, the last one. He finished -1 with 1 assist during a PP. Also of note, the CBH had a large group watching the game led by Scotty Bowman.

St. Albert scored four PP goals os no minus available on them.

Wiz:
Byram did take a slashing penalty that lead to the 4th St. Albert goal.

so minus one and brain fart down 3 -0
- wiz1901

Probably true but I wouldn’t be as certain, there’s always the possibility that someone surprises.

So no to a one year deal for Koekkoek while they figure out which prospects are going to make it at D? I wasn't crazy about what I saw, but wondered if he needed more time in this system before they would cut bait for good.

Do they get Strome and Debrincat locked up this summer? Is Gus going to get extended, or will he be trade bait until the end?
- 333inthe3rd

Koekkoek's underlying analytics were significantly better than Forsling & Dahlstrom. Plus, he's not afraid to hit, and skates OK. I'd much rather keep him than either of the other 2.

Koekkoek's underlying analytics were significantly better than Forsling & Dahlstrom. Plus, he's not afraid to hit, and skates OK. I'd much rather keep him than either of the other 2.
- scottak

I would rather replace all 3.

Zegras elites hands

Cozens size and speed

Dach grit and determination to make his teammates better.

We have to be happy, b/c we are going to get aChristmas present we didn't expect not a tie...
- wiz1901

Wiz i have asked this question before if were in bowman position as gm of the hawks who would you pick at #3 provided hughes and kappo are taken 1 and 2?

Hi, Ty. I think they should draft the guy who they believe will be the best player in 2-3 years rather than the guy closest to the NHL this year. Maybe they're the same guy.
- mohel

Agreed. And they will. Mark Kelley has stated that numerous times.

So that might mean Podkolzin might be the best pick. Just saying.

I'll break down my thoughts on the top guys starting Monday.

Doubtful but, he could.

Heck, not many here thought an undersized, 2nd round pick in Alex DeBrincat would not only make the team out of camp but, score goals and stay healthy enough to play 2 complete 82 game seasons.
- Rota's Rooter

True but he did slide and spend the season after he was drafted in the OHL.

True but he did slide and spend the season after he was drafted in the OHL.
- walleyeb1

You're right. Forgot that.

For all the Blackhawk smurf haters, from Puckin Hostile:

“The league is changing” -“they” said

The Blues are on the verge of making the conf finals and have only 2 players under 6’ and only 7 of their 24 rostered skaters are under 200lbs.

The Sharks are ALL 5’11” or taller and have 15 rostered skaters over 200 lbs.
- scottak

AMEN to this. Watch the series and you see why it matters, and why the toughest physical teams are the ones who are advancing.

Still so much work to do to get to Cup level hockey again in Chicago, and it isn't going to happen next year.

They need one gritty player on each of the top three lines. I still think their lines should look like:

Toews/Kane/?
ADB/Strome/?
Saad/ Caggiula/?
Kubalik/Kampf/Kahun

The D corps is a mess with $13MMM in dead/dying unmovable money, Murphy who is still fairly TBD on his trajectory, and a bunch of inexperienced lightweight poke checking "puck movers" that have yet to seem sticky enough to make the roster. Maybe Joki, but honestly - he's a lightweight.

There is no one in Rockford that is a true difference maker (defined by me as top six F or top four D) - yet anyway. Maybe in a year or two - or three - a couple of lower line guys come out of there.

Gus is an enigma and an incomplete player, and I'm not at all sold on Perlini or Sikura.

Wiz is right that only Hughes and Kakko will see NHL ice next year, so the #3 is a work in progress no matter who they pick. I am hoping they draft Cozens.

So, do they plug holes with cheap FAs, unready rookies? Who knows. I just hope they don't lose sight of the long term and actually have a plan that includes removal of rag-dollable players up and down the lineup.

I have hope for the future, but the future is not next year, and that is realistic. Its another year of developmental on the job training, and trying to see how to create more cap space to add players and not just pay big money to keep what they have. Mark my words - ADB/Strome will cost $13-15MM to resign.

Would you bring this guy back as a UFA? say 2x2?

https://www.bardown.com/r...of-his-backhand-1.1302300

Would you bring this guy back as a UFA? say 2x2?

https://www.bardown.com/r...of-his-backhand-1.1302300
- LAHawk

Just a guy.

They have several "just a guys" just a-like him.

AMEN to this. Watch the series and you see why it matters, and why the toughest physical teams are the ones who are advancing.

Still so much work to do to get to Cup level hockey again in Chicago, and it isn't going to happen next year.

They need one gritty player on each of the top three lines. I still think their lines should look like:

Toews/Kane/?
ADB/Strome/?
Saad/ Caggiula/?
Kubalik/Kampf/Kahun

The D corps is a mess with $13MMM in dead/dying unmovable money, Murphy who is still fairly TBD on his trajectory, and a bunch of inexperienced lightweight poke checking "puck movers" that have yet to seem sticky enough to make the roster. Maybe Joki, but honestly - he's a lightweight.

There is no one in Rockford that is a true difference maker (defined by me as top six F or top four D) - yet anyway. Maybe in a year or two - or three - a couple of lower line guys come out of there.

Gus is an enigma and an incomplete player, and I'm not at all sold on Perlini or Sikura.

Wiz is right that only Hughes and Kakko will see NHL ice next year, so the #3 is a work in progress no matter who they pick. I am hoping they draft Cozens.

So, do they plug holes with cheap FAs, unready rookies? Who knows. I just hope they don't lose sight of the long term and actually have a plan that includes removal of rag-dollable players up and down the lineup.

I have hope for the future, but the future is not next year, and that is realistic. Its another year of developmental on the job training, and trying to see how to create more cap space to add players and not just pay big money to keep what they have. Mark my words - ADB/Strome will cost $13-15MM to resign.
- Return of the Roar

I don't have a problem with a lot of what you say here, but I have a couple questions:
1) Do you consider Saad a gritty player?
2) I noticed you don't have AA listed. Wouldn't he provide grit on one of those lines (best guess is 3C?).
3) Do you not expect any growth from our younger D (Forsling, Dahlstrom, even Gilbert)?

I was thinking similarly today that it would be great to have at least one "gritty" player on each line. Would AA as 1LW provide that? He could free up Toews and Kane to work a little more cleanly. Just some ideas kicking around.

Obviously I'm speculating, but I wouldn't rule out Stan going a bit nuclear and dealing a number of guys out (Saad, AA, Gus/Murphy, some of the D prospects). He's noted on a couple occasions that the roster is not going to look the same next year. It appears that they want to remake the roster/lines a bit so I think anything is open. Next few months will be fun to watch.
- Chunk

Definitely a reshuffling of the deck could be in order if Bowman makes some major deals this summer. Anything can happen but the players you listed are the likely trade assets being dangled.

I am not a fan of the nuclear option either. Any line Kane plays on is not going to be a 200' line. ADB and Strome are not a 200' line. I would like to see Toews and Saad and a really good 200' RW on one line. Then get Kampf Caggiula and a big, fast, physical, gritty, skilled veteran RW to make a solid 4th line. IF you do those two things and IF you have a healthy Crow for 55+/- games your team defense and goals against improves greatly. Add a more seasoned Joki for a full season and the D gets better. If you can add a top 4 Dman in free agency or trade and the team D gets better. You have a full training camp to work on the team D and PK and the results could be dramatic.
- -Doh-

Agree with the various points in your post. With what you laid out, I'm thinking the following as far as forwards:

- Toews and Saad's linemate option could be filled internally with Kahun or Sikura.
- Similarly with Strome and DeBrincat's line filling internally with Perlini or Kubalik.
- For the 4th line, start with Kampf and Caggiula and find them a gritty, quick, and defensively sound linemate via free agency.
- Kane's line is the one where either a high-end free agent whether UFA or RFA or a trade may be in the cards.
- Assuming Anisimov is still on the team, pair him with Kane and get them a scoring winger.

What about Burakovsky in Washington? RFA, Caps can't afford him. Can he be had for a prospect? Speed, size, shot. Put him with Toews and maybe he puts it together.

Would you bring this guy back as a UFA? say 2x2?

https://www.bardown.com/r...of-his-backhand-1.1302300
- LAHawk

no!!!

What about Burakovsky in Washington? RFA, Caps can't afford him. Can he be had for a prospect? Speed, size, shot. Put him with Toews and maybe he puts it together.
- ikeane

I m good with that plus there will be many good rfa's that teams wont be able to sign due their cap problems. Djoos be another from Washington I look at young has size and speed still developing.

What about Burakovsky in Washington? RFA, Caps can't afford him. Can he be had for a prospect? Speed, size, shot. Put him with Toews and maybe he puts it together.
- ikeane

Would you bring this guy back as a UFA? say 2x2?

https://www.bardown.com/r...of-his-backhand-1.1302300
- LAHawk

Why would you want to?

If, and a big IF, the Hawks were to get Panarin again, they should pair toews/sadd together, kane/panarin together, and strome/debrincat together. fill in those lines with players who will compliment them. Have 3 good lines who can score and spread out the wealth. I don't like going nuclear with Kane/Panarin/Toews. Again, that is saying if they were to get Panarin again, which I do not think that they will.
- frafra

I totally agree with your concept here, however, the chances of Panarin returning are slim and none......unless he'd take 9 × 5 or so, and that's unlikely. Bank on 10.5 + from NYR and he'll enjoy missing the playoffs for a while there. It's all about the money for Artemi. See what I did there ?

Why would you want to?
- walleyeb1

If he came on the cheap, big, can be physical, basically a 4 year older Perlini. All the tools in the world, would be a good 3rd or 4th line option,and can play in the top 6 or a while if an injury occurred.

Wait, wait, wait....just the other day the league was speed, speed, speed. Now we're back to the Broad Street Bullies? Wtf?

Agreed. And they will. Mark Kelley has stated that numerous times.

So that might mean Podkolzin might be the best pick. Just saying.

I'll break down my thoughts on the top guys starting Monday.
- Tyler Cameron

The challenge with Podkolzin isn't that he could be 2-3 years away from playing in the NHL, it's that he may never come over at all. I don't think the Hawks draft Podkolzin unless they feel he'll come over for the 19/20 season or 20/21 at the least.