I don't see any mention of Slater KK in your mock trades. Some NHL teams would like his size and particularly his contract going into a new season.
- RickJ

Best skater of the bunch, Rick.
Former top pick reclamation project.
Methinks Stan and JC will give him every chance to make the team.

That's fair. I'm honestly not the biggest Maatta fan. I low-balled them.

What are your thoughts on him?
- Tyler Cameron

Can play as good as a number two and as bad as a number 7. Consistency is his issue. Health though that’s gotten less concerning. I don’t feel the pens soured on him as opposed to they have a log jam of d and need cap space and maatta likely has best trade value. With how much gms care about things like cup experience and due to maatta youth I feel he will get a better return from a gm who feels he will be a top 4.

concerning refs: where is wes mccauley...
- bogiedoc

Most likely with Ed Hochuli working on their on-camera calls!

Great blog Tyler

I really like the Vegas trade. McNabb and Murphy would make a great shutdown pair and Eakin along with Saad would make 2/3rds of an awesome "2B" line. It fills the need of short term center (pending Anisimov) and left handed defenseman/top 4. In a situation like that... on June 21st who do you draft? Personally, I still feel Byram. With Beadin being traded in this scenario it opens up a nice spot for Byram.

Do you see a scenario of Byram being drafting and keeping all 4 young defenseman? The only reservation I would have would be the tough sell on Mitchell to sign after his season. Along with the fact they would be our most attractive trade bait.

I also really liked the Columbus and Philly trades, I would do both in a heartbeat. I like the reclamation projects and shuffling the defense. Along with the physicality added with Haag and/or McNabb.

The Hagg trade is fair, but he's more of a 5/6 than a top-4. That said, he's WAY better than Brandon Manning. Hagg likes to play physical and isn't a bad skater, but he has trouble with outlet passes and any offense you get is a bonus. Play him with as a 5/6 and he'll be adequate. Play him as a top-4 and, well, you deserve what you get. This is coming from a guy who's a Hagg fan.

Best skater of the bunch, Rick.
Former top pick reclamation project.
Methinks Stan and JC will give him every chance to make the team.
- savvyone-1

I sure hope they give him a reasonable shot at making the team as their bottom pair Dman. Dahlstrom is an AHLer IMO.

Sounds like Uncle Lou has Leddy on the trade block. He would be a very nice piece in Edmonton playing on their top pair with Adam Larsson. Just get the puck to #97 and head north to the other team's end of the ice.

Dzingel comes in as a reclamation project for Saad

Now that the hometown boy story idea is put out there, honest answer is no clue.

Quotes not working

“ That remains to be seen though. Right now his trade value is little more than a toss in imo. Better for the Hawks to keep him and try to get his value up”

I can appreciate biases, but I think you should be weary of overvaluing players based on their scoresheets. Two way positional players win championships and are therein, coveted by winning GMs.
- Bjm84

Right now though, Sikura's stats say that he's a one-way player (defensive forward). Sabres could just qualify Girgensons or Larsson to fill that role, plus Asplund is probably ready to make the jump to a 4th line role. Sabres need offense

Dzingel comes in as a reclamation project for Saad

Now that the hometown boy story idea is put out there, honest answer is no clue.
- ikeane

Interesting story on barstool about this:
https://www.barstoolsport...he-blackhawks-need-to-add

Best skater of the bunch, Rick.
Former top pick reclamation project.
Methinks Stan and JC will give him every chance to make the team.
- savvyone-1

I'm hoping KK comes to camp with direction from the coaching staff and prepared to show he deserves a spot. He has many of the skills but does he have the smarts?

I'm anticipating a trade where TVR ends up on the Panthers!

How bout Neal Pionk?

Really like Saad but think that Coach Q is going to jump start Matheson's career and get him back on track to being the guy you see for the next 7 years.

Would rather hold on to MM and see what he does this season.

You have the wonder if Philly's Fletcher has his eye on Trouba with that announcement he is willing to trade out of slot#11 for a young NHLer.

Maybe the Krebs injuring will move him down and maybe out of the first round, but that sounds crazy that everyone passes (maybe twice) on this guy. It is a partial, not a Wiz total or Rocket Richard type achilles that takes the ability to derive power in you able to propel.

Ty - great write up as usual.

Most of those trade ideas were solid. I read that Stan wants to add to the team without taking away what made them successful so two trades stood out for me.

Murray for picks and a prospect
Kulikov for prospect and pick

I lean towards the Murray trade and yes, it's not without it's risks. I think Stan would need to pay a bit more too, the 2020 pick would likely be a 2nd and the prospect would be more along the lines of Hayden, Krys or Sikura.

You have the wonder if Philly's Fletcher has his eye on Trouba with that announcement he is willing to trade out of slot#11 for a young NHLer.

Maybe the Krebs injuring will move him down and maybe out of the first round, but that sounds crazy that everyone passes (maybe twice) on this guy. It is a partial, not a Wiz total or Rocket Richard type achilles that takes the ability to derive power in you able to propel.
- wiz1901

Totally possible, bit I would think Winnipeg would also want some assets back that would help now.

I don't see the Trouba situation dragging on. Chevy needs to fill the void if Trouba goes and he can't let the few decent UFA d-men get scooped up.

Dillon for Murphy? Yes, please.

Also, the Athletic has comps up for the top guys in the draft. Anyone other than me like Boldy @ #3? Anyone with Hossa as a comp is worth another look.

Matthew Boldy

NHL player comparable: Marian Hossa

The breakdown: “It’s perfect. It’s a great throwback reference to a guy who plays a modern game but is supremely dedicated to 200 feet and works that transition game to his overall attack. His seek and destroy mentality is very unique – the way that he lifts sticks and goes the other way and catches teams off guard. There must be a dozen clips of us scoring off his backcheck in two years.”
- scottak

Cole Caufield

NHL player comparable: Alex Ovechkin

The breakdown: “He’s a miniature version of Ovi. He’ll score every single way but they both have that campout spot on the back side. If you leave them alone any other spot, they’re equally as dangerous. They’ll both score back door. The difference is 120 pounds or something. But you’ve got a mini-Ovechkin. The similarity is how the puck explodes off their stick. Once you get Cole into the dots and hash marks, they’re similar.”

Ourt stats expert, which I clearly am not:
Forget Hawk already drafted comparisons with Bowen Byram...


Where does American defender Cam York, Philip Broberg and Victor Söderström compare statewide on attack zone entires, passes to lead to entires, as that to me in more of a perceptive of interest...

Fair. He will score though and he played really well in his last stint in Chicago. He actually led Chicago in CF% for the year at 55.1. The goals will come.

To me, it looks like he'll be a solid 3rd liner (w/ ability to play up in top 6 if needed), with a strong 2-way game and skills to chip in with secondary scoring.
- Tyler Cameron

The problem with evaluating guys now-a-days. There is a favorable stat for every player in the league. It's ridiculous. He didnt score a goal in 24 games. Not that it is easy to do so, but the kid was getting top6 minutes for periods in that 24 games. I feel like as fans we really cut a lot of these prospects at forward some slack cause we really want them to be good. Fact of the matter is we are developing way too many fringe NHLers and it is hurting our depth when the time to fill roles with the big club are available they can't step in and make a difference. If he is the sweetner a team wants and it gets you a solid piece in return, I am not batting an eyelash before accepting.

Weighing back in from the last blog comments regarding Kaapo Kakko:

You revealed to the Finnish Coeliac Society in February that you were diagnosed with diabetes and Celiac disease (unable to digest gluten) a few years ago. Have you had to adjust your game on the ice in any way because of this?

"It was five years ago, and I was given no restrictions then by doctors, nor do I have any now. Nothing. It's not affecting my game in any way, and I don't even think about it."

I found his answer to be somewhat flippant, maybe it was just his way of saying it’s none of your business.

Actually I know more than most about diabetes, my son was diagnosed with diabetes when he was eight months old (he’s now 36). There’s a lot more to it than just insulin shots or wearing an insulin pump and check blood sugars routinely. Each case is different and it’s an ongoing balancing act of adjustments between food intake, activity and insulin to maintain excellent blood sugar control.

If I’m a team that’s drafting him I’m definitely doing some more due diligence. I’m going to want to know how well controlled it has been over the past five years. Not saying it would stop me from drafting him at #2, just that I’d have a whole set of extra questions I’d need answers to.

Ourt stats expert, which I clearly am not:
Forget Hawk already drafted comparisons with Bowen Byram...


Where does American defender Cam York, Philip Broberg and Victor Söderström compare statewide on attack zone entires, passes to lead to entires, as that to me in more of a perceptive of interest...
- wiz1901

I recall watching him during the WJHC, he was certainly impressive. I would take York over the Swedes.

Ty - great write up as usual.

Most of those trade ideas were solid. I read that Stan wants to add to the team without taking away what made them successful so two trades stood out for me.

Murray for picks and a prospect
Kulikov for prospect and pick

I lean towards the Murray trade and yes, it's not without it's risks. I think Stan would need to pay a bit more too, the 2020 pick would likely be a 2nd and the prospect would be more along the lines of Hayden, Krys or Sikura.
- DarthKane

Darth just imagine of those 2 D-Men via trade and Byram when we select him with the 3rd overall pick. Man we will have a full house of legit D prospects.
Byram Bowden..

Tyler Cameron: 15 Fake Trades to Improve Blackhawks Defence

Popping in here with an auxiliary blog this week. These 15 fake trade proposals are in response to my article on Monday, Blackhawks Looking into Ryan Murray + 15 Other Trade Targets.

The following trades are from those 15 other trade targets.
- Tyler Cameron

I think the Oilers would decline that trade.

Darth just imagine of those 2 D-Men via trade and Byram when we select him with the 3rd overall pick. Man we will have a full house of legit D prospects.
Byram Bowden..
- BGKarras

The Hawks are going to draft Turcotte and acquire a #4 defensemen via trade. It doesn't make sense to draft another elite D prospect when we have Joki, Boq, Beaudin, and Mitchel.

Also, since he's a Chicago native (and hopefully a future #1 center), they have a future face for the franchise (when Toews retires).

I sure hope they give him a reasonable shot at making the team as their bottom pair Dman. Dahlstrom is an AHLer IMO.

Sounds like Uncle Lou has Leddy on the trade block. He would be a very nice piece in Edmonton playing on their top pair with Adam Larsson. Just get the puck to #97 and head north to the other team's end of the ice.
- RickJ

I think KK gets a fair shot at making the squad and agree with you on Dahlstrom.

As for Uncle Lou, yes, since Nick doesn't have a NTC/NMC unlike Boychuk, he's absolutely move-able and probably one of their best chips to dangle for forward/scoring help.

Although unlike Stan, Uncle Lou isn't going to give Leddy away for a Ville Pokka and 3 other pieces of crap that will never see the NHL. If Leddy is traded, you can be sure Uncle Lou will get something up-front that helps the Isles with some real scoring punch.