Good news on Kubalik signing. I have high hopes he will have similar impact as Kahun had last season - if not better. He doesn't have the same dangle puck skill as Kahun but he's got a better one-timer and knows how to the space to get his shot off.

Further on these RFAs... I can't think that Forsling is overly happy with the Koekkoek re-signing.

Not that he's proven that a spot in the top 6-7 should be his, but I'm sure he and his agent are wondering what his future holds with this team. He is a guy I see being packaged out. Maybe a sign and trade in a larger package.
- Tyler Cameron

I would agree my concern lies....

1. Bringing back the dumpster fire D corps for a 2nd go around hoping the "system" fixes what ails their awfulness from this past year.....

2. That all the young prospects are still NOT NHL ready...…

3. Was Koekkoek really somebody they needed to bring back? Or this Bowman staying with a guy he traded for to justify it?

For me it's hard to get sold that this team is playoff caliber without adding at least 1, if not 2, proven NHL D men...and stop slotting guys far beyond their abilities.

Also...anyone else notice how out of place Chara looks out there? Reminds me a lot of Seabrook. Great career, but the game and speed has passed him by and they really need to evaluate why they are still playing when it will likely damage their legacies of what they accomplished in younger years.

ELC contracts are set on the number of years they have to be. you cannot pick and choose. its not based on the age they are in when they sign them I believe its the age as of sept 15th on the year they start and kubalik turns 24 in Aug.

Players younger than 25 years of age as of September 15 during the year of their first NHL contract must sign an entry-level contract which have set limitations - all entry-level contracts are two-way contracts and the maximum allowable salary for players drafted until 2022 is $925,000.

The length of the entry-level contract is also dependent on the player’s age:
18-21 years of age: 3 years
22-23 years of age: 2 years
24 years of age: 1 year
- kmw4631

Well. There you go. Thanks for clarifying!!!

While I'm just as excited about the Kubalik signing as anyone we need to pump ht brakes on this discussion. We're here today to talk about Cole Caufield.

Well. There you go. Thanks for clarifying!!!
- hawk35

So if I'm understanding this correctly: because Kubalik will be 24 before 9/15 - the only option is a 1-year ELC. Correct?

While I'm just as excited about the Kubalik signing as anyone we need to pump ht brakes on this discussion. We're here today to talk about Cole Caufield.



- DarthKane

We need a picture of your sweater purchase immediately after they draft him.

IS it a fluke the 2 biggest teams are in the Stanley cup final, Hawks have too many small men as it is . Take Vancouver Giants defense men Browen Byram . Good size and mobile.
AND need to get some bangers and crashers

I would agree my concern lies....

1. Bringing back the dumpster fire D corps for a 2nd go around hoping the "system" fixes what ails their awfulness from this past year.....

2. That all the young prospects are still NOT NHL ready...…

3. Was Koekkoek really somebody they needed to bring back? Or this Bowman staying with a guy he traded for to justify it?

For me it's hard to get sold that this team is playoff caliber without adding at least 1, if not 2, proven NHL D men...and stop slotting guys far beyond their abilities.

Also...anyone else notice how out of place Chara looks out there? Reminds me a lot of Seabrook. Great career, but the game and speed has passed him by and they really need to evaluate why they are still playing when it will likely damage their legacies of what they accomplished in younger years.
- SteveRain

I think a lot of these signings (those done and those to come) will be for ease of movement. I'm as skeptical as the next guy after watching how Leddy, Sharp, and others have been handled (waiting too long for the best offer), but Stan has said multiple times that they WILL NOT bring the same team back next year. It is less messy to move a guy who has a set contract instead of simply the rights to an RFA.


I didn't get to see game 1, but I thought Chara actually looked really steady in the series against the Canes. He wasn't spectacular by any means, but he broke up a lot of plays.

IS it a fluke the 2 biggest teams are in the Stanley cup final, Hawks have too many small men as it is . Take Vancouver Giants defense men Browen Byram . Good size and mobile.
AND need to get some bangers and crashers
- Ging72

According to a report at the beginning of the year, Boston was bottom half of the league in both height and weight. They play hard hockey. It does not really have a basis in size.

One of the toughest guys on the Hawks is Caggiula and he is listed at 5'10" 176 lbs. At the other end of the spectrum you have Perlini who is 6'3" 211 and is really fast, but is definitely not known for "playing big".

I think a lot of these signings (those done and those to come) will be for ease of movement. I'm as skeptical as the next guy after watching how Leddy, Sharp, and others have been handled (waiting too long for the best offer), but Stan has said multiple times that they WILL NOT bring the same team back next year. It is less messy to move a guy who has a set contract instead of simply the rights to an RFA.


I didn't get to see game 1, but I thought Chara actually looked really steady in the series against the Canes. He wasn't spectacular by any means, but he broke up a lot of plays.
- Chunk

The Hawks wore Chara out in 2013!

I would agree my concern lies....

1. Bringing back the dumpster fire D corps for a 2nd go around hoping the "system" fixes what ails their awfulness from this past year.....

2. That all the young prospects are still NOT NHL ready...…

3. Was Koekkoek really somebody they needed to bring back? Or this Bowman staying with a guy he traded for to justify it?

For me it's hard to get sold that this team is playoff caliber without adding at least 1, if not 2, proven NHL D men...and stop slotting guys far beyond their abilities.

Also...anyone else notice how out of place Chara looks out there? Reminds me a lot of Seabrook. Great career, but the game and speed has passed him by and they really need to evaluate why they are still playing when it will likely damage their legacies of what they accomplished in younger years.
- SteveRain

I have heard several time over these playoffs how awful Chara looks, how slow hw has become....and on and on....

Yet, he sits at +11...the HIGHEST on the Bruins....maybe the highest of ALL players in the playoffs.

He may have slowed down, but dammit....just how much are other teams taking advantage of him if he is +11!!!!!!




(and before you metric chums tell me how +/- is a flawed stat. + 11 and BEST on the team is not an irrelivent stat!!!)

Any report on how Caulfield is on backchecking and the PK?
- 35Tony0

He's not going to be on the PK and while he is so good receiving passes and picking corners he isn't going over power or win puck battles on defense.

not much for all this draft and trade speculation however:

1. draft a center not another scoring wing
2. a guy who can play now...not college bound
3. no dman

there i'm done
- bogiedoc

...that gets us down to Cozens and maybe Dach or Krebs...

Justin just my opinion but i have to think teams have to be itchy to make trades before the draft at the draft so have any trade been discussed that you have heard not only with the hawks but other teams besides kessel trades that he has nix.

my assumption is that the hawks take a big centreman

I would agree my concern lies....

1. Bringing back the dumpster fire D corps for a 2nd go around hoping the "system" fixes what ails their awfulness from this past year.....

2. That all the young prospects are still NOT NHL ready...…

3. Was Koekkoek really somebody they needed to bring back? Or this Bowman staying with a guy he traded for to justify it?

For me it's hard to get sold that this team is playoff caliber without adding at least 1, if not 2, proven NHL D men...and stop slotting guys far beyond their abilities.

Also...anyone else notice how out of place Chara looks out there? Reminds me a lot of Seabrook. Great career, but the game and speed has passed him by and they really need to evaluate why they are still playing when it will likely damage their legacies of what they accomplished in younger years.
- SteveRain

I though Koek looked OK considering he had not been in Coltans system very long. he had some speed and was also not afraid to hit people. I think his upside is much higher then both forsling and dalhstrom considering those guys have been playin with coltan for 2 years. IE I think Koek could get better and he has way more natural talent then the other 2. his Corsi numbers also did show that he was not the weak link.

The Hawks have to take the best available. If Byram is rated the best available or tied as best available I think they have to go with him.

I would agree my concern lies....

1. Bringing back the dumpster fire D corps for a 2nd go around hoping the "system" fixes what ails their awfulness from this past year.....

2. That all the young prospects are still NOT NHL ready...…

3. Was Koekkoek really somebody they needed to bring back? Or this Bowman staying with a guy he traded for to justify it?

For me it's hard to get sold that this team is playoff caliber without adding at least 1, if not 2, proven NHL D men...and stop slotting guys far beyond their abilities.

Also...anyone else notice how out of place Chara looks out there? Reminds me a lot of Seabrook. Great career, but the game and speed has passed him by and they really need to evaluate why they are still playing when it will likely damage their legacies of what they accomplished in younger years.
- SteveRain

no question...i thought he was done after the hawks beat them in 2013...but he is coming back for another year...

but he is always good for several slashes and crosschecks a game

The USHL (frank)ing sucks though.

It's incredible how overrated 90% of the guys that come out of the USNTDP are.
- BINGO!

.... like Brock Boeser, the entire USA developmental program, as in Quinn Hughes, Charles McAvoy, etc.

It is difficult to start saying there are not strong diverse roads to being a good pro, because of the higher competitive levels between the junior leagues.

I could make an argument that for years the Q was a weaker smaller league, but that didn't stop Crosby, Giroux (REMEMBER when Giroux was considered a under the radar pick?)
and I could say that the WESTERN H L this year has plenty of weak sisters, so that being said is that the success of Dcah, Cozens Byram and Krebs?

WAS Cole Makar (and this year Alex Newhook) and overrated pick due to the fact they came from province leagues (Alberta Junior & BCHL respectively).
It is the crazy nature of the player development that even if you see them against peers in International competitions the idea is figuring out just were they WILL have a high water mark...but I see the way lesser competition could be a way to not be your best or work to be the better competitor...

Dominik Kubalik signs a 1-year / 925k contract.
- Tyler Cameron

really good deal...because you want MORE from him, and he should work to be better to get more...

...that gets us down to Cozens and maybe Dach or Krebs...
- wiz1901

wiz you and others know the ins/outs of this draft more than me...i just stated what i would like and what i think they need...

i realize what is available may not fit my "likes"..

a big #1 centers don't grow on trees and they need a young stud at center big time

Dominik Kubalik signs a 1-year / 925k contract.
- Tyler Cameron

Does it surprise you it was for only 1 year?

IS it a fluke the 2 biggest teams are in the Stanley cup final, Hawks have too many small men as it is . Take Vancouver Giants defense men Browen Byram . Good size and mobile.
AND need to get some bangers and crashers
- Ging72

Not to get in the way of a narrative, but after some quick research, it looks like Boston and St. Louis rank 25th and 7th in average height and 22nd and 6th in average weight, respectively. They don't even rate as the two biggest teams in the playoffs. It looks like that data was pulled from an early season article on The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/5...by-age-height-and-weight/ (which I do not subscribe to, so I'm unable to verify).

To be fair, they are the two biggest teams remaining.

For reference, Chicago ranks 27th in height and 30th in weight.

wiz you and others know the ins/outs of this draft more than me...i just stated what i would like and what i think they need...

i realize what is available may not fit my "likes"..

a big #1 centers don't grow on trees and they need a young stud at center big time
- bogiedoc

that is why i think even if Chicago take a defenseman, Colorado takes Cozens because he is a BIG Center forward who scores and plays 200 feet over even Turcotte.
Turcotte fits in many ways for many teams but think about the Avs right now and the playoffs what guy of the two makes your current roster better as a playoff contender?

I think a lot of these signings (those done and those to come) will be for ease of movement. I'm as skeptical as the next guy after watching how Leddy, Sharp, and others have been handled (waiting too long for the best offer), but Stan has said multiple times that they WILL NOT bring the same team back next year. It is less messy to move a guy who has a set contract instead of simply the rights to an RFA.


I didn't get to see game 1, but I thought Chara actually looked really steady in the series against the Canes. He wasn't spectacular by any means, but he broke up a lot of plays.
- Chunk

Hes not chasing people but he made some bad turnovers in game 1.

Stan was also upset after the exit/Butt whooping Nashville put on them in April of 2017 and they haven't sniffed the playoffs since then....actions > words