my thoughts exactly on Hossa, in history of game, Hawks hit solid gold with him, no wonder the fans loved him. Knowledgeable season ticket holders get to know who plays with intensity night in, night out. He was the glue
- holyJumpin_NL

I saw a quote where he had said his year in Detroit was so valuable for him in learning from Datsuk (sp?) back checking and neutral ice play. From his time in Chicago where I saw him all the time, I think he surpassed him.

I totally agree, Somehow, there just doesn't seem to be the caliber of player combination leader like Hossa. He was head and shoulders above the average. It isn't that he was so much more skilled than a lot of other players, it's just that there was all out effort from him. Talk about hockey sense! I think the mold was broken with him. He just inspired trust, confidence, and teamwork along with being all in. He was an essential part of our cup runs. I know different players bring strengths, Hossa just seemed to have it all.
- Googlyeyes

Hossa came to Chicago I believe when he was 30 or 31 years old if I'm correct and what's truly amazing most hockey players start to decline and he seemed to excel.

That can not be said about toews who is 31 now and since his new contract 4 years ago he has only had 1 respectable season.

That's why I believe in my opinion if Chicago never signed hossa , Chicago would have never won a cup, or multiple cups.

Even more so look back to toews in their first cup run , it took seabrooks leadership if every one remembers having that talk to toews in the penalty box during their run playing Detroit.

That's why I fully believe Chicago lacks that type of player needed now to be that mentor.

Murphy is a top 4 d-man, realistically a second pairing defenseman. There’s nothing wrong with that, Hjalmarsson in his prime was a 2nd pairing d-man.

I don’t get the dislike (and in some cases) hate of Murphy. He’s 26, which is still on the younger side of defensemen and he’ll keep getting better.
- DarthKane

This is what I do not understand either. Top 4 defenseman, at 3.85 friendly contract done by another GM (as a side note, how many team friendly contracts Stan signed with this current roster? ). Potential to get better. And yes Murphy was definitely better than Keith last season so was the best we got.

This is what I do not understand either. Top 4 defenseman, at 3.85 friendly contract done by another GM (as a side note, how many team friendly contracts Stan signed with this current roster? ). Potential to get better. And yes Murphy was definitely better than Keith last season so was the best we got.
- vshun

Agree with most of what you said, but Keith is still our best dman.

Murphy is a top 4 d-man, realistically a second pairing defenseman. There’s nothing wrong with that, Hjalmarsson in his prime was a 2nd pairing d-man.

I don’t get the dislike (and in some cases) hate of Murphy. He’s 26, which is still on the younger side of defensemen and he’ll keep getting better.
- DarthKane

Me either, I knew why that cap trade needed to be made, and knew Murphy needed work, but he continues to work on his game...you can't ask for more - you want your players to heed the advice of the staff and work in the off season to improve.

Hossa came to Chicago I believe when he was 30 or 31 years old if I'm correct and what's truly amazing most hockey players start to decline and he seemed to excel.

That can not be said about toews who is 31 now and since his new contract 4 years ago he has only had 1 respectable season.

That's why I believe in my opinion if Chicago never signed hossa , Chicago would have never won a cup, or multiple cups.

Even more so look back to toews in their first cup run , it took seabrooks leadership if every one remembers having that talk to toews in the penalty box during their run playing Detroit.

That's why I fully believe Chicago lacks that type of player needed now to be that mentor.
- Taylorst1

I've always been of the mindset of if you eliminate one of Hossa, Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabs, or Hammer, then no cups. I won't argue about Hossa because he is the smartest player I've ever seen. I just don't hang success on one guy. That is, to me, the strongest core of players that a team could have, who have logged a ridiculous amount of extra minutes on their bodies. I am spoiled by their success & am grateful by what they were able to accomplish in a short span of time. But those players compliment each other so well, & I think filling in around them with fringe/serviceable/smart players was done successfully. I might just be a Kool-Aid drinker who's been in an oddly good mood lately, but a S.C. comes back to Chicago in the near future.

Hossa came to Chicago I believe when he was 30 or 31 years old if I'm correct and what's truly amazing most hockey players start to decline and he seemed to excel.

That can not be said about toews who is 31 now and since his new contract 4 years ago he has only had 1 respectable season.

That's why I believe in my opinion if Chicago never signed hossa , Chicago would have never won a cup, or multiple cups.

Even more so look back to toews in their first cup run , it took seabrooks leadership if every one remembers having that talk to toews in the penalty box during their run playing Detroit.

That's why I fully believe Chicago lacks that type of player needed now to be that mentor.
- Taylorst1

I believe it was 2013 Seebrook talked to Toews against Detroit in the penalty box.

Me either, I knew why that cap trade needed to be made, and knew Murphy needed work, but he continues to work on his game...you can't ask for more - you want your players to heed the advice of the staff and work in the off season to improve.
- wiz1901

It's just frustrating for me when he at times does something that takes himself out of the play. An instinct he seems to have which drives me crazy is he'll be in no man's land and take a step forward instead of back and immediately loses an angle to defend.

The play i still see in my head from last season is the Hawks are on the PK and the puck is in the Kings end and for whatever reason Murphy is past center ice on the PK, instead of protecting against the stretch pass the dman acts like he's going to pass it along the boards, Murphy falls for it and opens a passing lane to the forward behind him, the other AHL dman Koekkoek didn't help on the play but this is my issue with him.

This is one example but he does little things during the season that put his goalie on an island way too many times for my liking, appreciate his effort, sacrificing his body, no matter how hard he works unless he can stop taking the step forward in no man's land, anticipate the play in the dzone instead of chasing it, then we might have a top 4 dman or what i consider a top 4 dman.

Why does it matter if Teravainen isn't some rough tough guy? Not every player needs to play in that manner. The compliant some had of him was that he was never going to either get stronger or adapt to the NHL enough to be consistently top 6, but while I can't speak much to the former, he's most definitely done the latter. Though no one has the top 95% puck recovery numbers if they aren't willing to put in the work along the boards. He's more than just "kind of good" - he was top 40 forward for PPG and he's really strong defensively (even Q saw that as an area of potential strength for him as he played TT on the PK that last season).

Idk about anyone else, but I'd love to have a decently two-way player like that on the Hawks for $5.5m. If people were ripping Bowman for giving TT a similar deal and he was still here, those people would be idiots. And they're going to hella salty when Debrincat is either paid more (for similar production, though at a younger age) or he's traded.
- L_B_R

Meh,

I get what your saying to a point, we just disagree, but I'm not going to go down the stats rabbit hole, I'll lose that battle.

Me, I tend to rely more on my eyes. I saw about 20 Canes games (actually live in NC now)

I thought he was better than he was with the Hawks, just don't think he is a star. Definitely would pick 40 other forwards in the league ahead of him.

Our two top prospects – Dach and Boqvist – are at similar points on their path to the NHL in that they both need only one thing (two if considering physical maturity that only time will provide) – experience. They are both extremely talented but neither has played against pros/men.

Boqvist can get that experience by playing either in the AHL or NHL. Dach, on the other hand, only the NHL as the WHL will not provide that level of play. That’s not to say playing in the WHL would be a waste of time for him because a player can always work on his game to some extent – but he will need to make the leap up in competition at some point and that will not get done in Saskatoon.

If de Haan is not ready to play on day#1 of the season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boqvist starts with the Hawks out of training camp, but once de Haan is ready to play Boqvist will most likely head to Rockford because there’s really no spot for him unless Stan trades a d-man. Boqvist will benefit from playing in the AHL almost as much as playing in the NHL so his progression and preparation to play in the NHL moves forward either way.

I think it might be overstating it a bit to say there is a gaping hole at 3C because there are several players who could slot in there that won’t be “terrible”, but they probably won’t be more than serviceable either. So, unlike with Boqvist where there isn’t an open and obvious spot in the lineup for him, the 3C spot is sitting there waiting for Dach to claim it. The conservative/cautious approach would be to send Dach back to Saskatoon and have him one year older and more physically mature when he starts his NHL in 2020/21 – but that only moves the leap to pro play back a year which means his stride and comfort level playing in the NHL is also moved back a year.

And therein lies the real question of what to do about Dach – Will the Hawks be ready to make a legitimate Cup run in 2020/21 which would require Dach to have NHL experience by then to be a key contributor – or is it more realistic that they won’t be in position to be a Cup contender until 2021/22 so Dach could delay the start of his NHL career until 2020/21 and still have a year experience by 2021/22.

Our two top prospects – Dach and Boqvist – are at similar points on their path to the NHL in that they both need only one thing (two if considering physical maturity that only time will provide) – experience. They are both extremely talented but neither has played against pros/men.

Boqvist can get that experience by playing either in the AHL or NHL. Dach, on the other hand, only the NHL as the WHL will not provide that level of play. That’s not to say playing in the WHL would be a waste of time for him because a player can always work on his game to some extent – but he will need to make the leap up in competition at some point and that will not get done in Saskatoon.

If de Haan is not ready to play on day#1 of the season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boqvist starts with the Hawks out of training camp, but once de Haan is ready to play Boqvist will most likely head to Rockford because there’s really no spot for him unless Stan trades a d-man. Boqvist will benefit from playing in the AHL almost as much as playing in the NHL so his progression and preparation to play in the NHL moves forward either way.

I think it might be overstating it a bit to say there is a gaping hole at 3C because there are several players who could slot in there that won’t be “terrible”, but they probably won’t be more than serviceable either. So, unlike with Boqvist where there isn’t an open and obvious spot in the lineup for him, the 3C spot is sitting there waiting for Dach to claim it. The conservative/cautious approach would be to send Dach back to Saskatoon and have him one year older and more physically mature when he starts his NHL in 2020/21 – but that only moves the leap to pro play back a year which means his stride and comfort level playing in the NHL is also moved back a year.

And therein lies the real question of what to do about Dach – Will the Hawks be ready to make a legitimate Cup run in 2020/21 which would require Dach to have NHL experience by then to be a key contributor – or is it more realistic that they won’t be in position to be a Cup contender until 2021/22 so Dach could delay the start of his NHL career until 2020/21 and still have a year experience by 2021/22.
- EbonyRaptor

I think, depending on preseason, Dach will probably get 9 games tryout

As much as i like Boqvist he still needs to work on the defensive side of the ice.

Hossa came to Chicago I believe when he was 30 or 31 years old if I'm correct and what's truly amazing most hockey players start to decline and he seemed to excel.

That can not be said about toews who is 31 now and since his new contract 4 years ago he has only had 1 respectable season.

That's why I believe in my opinion if Chicago never signed hossa , Chicago would have never won a cup, or multiple cups.

Even more so look back to toews in their first cup run , it took seabrooks leadership if every one remembers having that talk to toews in the penalty box during their run playing Detroit.

That's why I fully believe Chicago lacks that type of player needed now to be that mentor.
- Taylorst1

you are right, unreal age 30, I did not realize Boss signed that late, Unheard of now to risk a 30 year old free agent now for obvious reasons. He had a few injuries too in his first ten years in league. Makes him winning 3 with Blackhawk much sweeter after not winning in final with Pitts and Det to age 30

I believe it was 2013 Seebrook talked to Toews against Detroit in the penalty box.
- rpeters01

Loved the Imagine Dragons HNIC montage that showed it.

you are right, unreal age 30, I did not realize Boss signed that late, Unheard of now to risk a 30 year old free agent now for obvious reasons. He had a few injuries too in his first ten years in league. Makes him winning 3 with Blackhawk much sweeter after not winning in final with Pitts and Det to age 30
- holyJumpin_NL

Don't get me wrong, big Hossa fan, but it takes a team, game 5 vs the Preds, Hossa gets a 5 minute boarding penalty, series tied 2 to 2, down 1 goal with a minute to play. Incredible 5 minute PK. More than 1 piece is needed but yea he was a great 200 foot player.

Our two top prospects – Dach and Boqvist – are at similar points on their path to the NHL in that they both need only one thing (two if considering physical maturity that only time will provide) – experience. They are both extremely talented but neither has played against pros/men.

Boqvist can get that experience by playing either in the AHL or NHL. Dach, on the other hand, only the NHL as the WHL will not provide that level of play. That’s not to say playing in the WHL would be a waste of time for him because a player can always work on his game to some extent – but he will need to make the leap up in competition at some point and that will not get done in Saskatoon.

If de Haan is not ready to play on day#1 of the season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boqvist starts with the Hawks out of training camp, but once de Haan is ready to play Boqvist will most likely head to Rockford because there’s really no spot for him unless Stan trades a d-man. Boqvist will benefit from playing in the AHL almost as much as playing in the NHL so his progression and preparation to play in the NHL moves forward either way.

I think it might be overstating it a bit to say there is a gaping hole at 3C because there are several players who could slot in there that won’t be “terrible”, but they probably won’t be more than serviceable either. So, unlike with Boqvist where there isn’t an open and obvious spot in the lineup for him, the 3C spot is sitting there waiting for Dach to claim it. The conservative/cautious approach would be to send Dach back to Saskatoon and have him one year older and more physically mature when he starts his NHL in 2020/21 – but that only moves the leap to pro play back a year which means his stride and comfort level playing in the NHL is also moved back a year.

And therein lies the real question of what to do about Dach – Will the Hawks be ready to make a legitimate Cup run in 2020/21 which would require Dach to have NHL experience by then to be a key contributor – or is it more realistic that they won’t be in position to be a Cup contender until 2021/22 so Dach could delay the start of his NHL career until 2020/21 and still have a year experience by 2021/22.
- EbonyRaptor

You are spot on, Bovqist will be fine, as is anyone who can move between the NHL and the AHL.

Dach on the other hand, I can't help but think another year in Saskatoon will be a waste of a year in his development, although there certainly is reason to believe being in the NHL could do the same.

Really think they need to change that rule, maybe at worst, give a team one exemption per draft year.

It helps no one except the pockets of the minor league owner.

Meh,

I get what your saying to a point, we just disagree, but I'm not going to go down the stats rabbit hole, I'll lose that battle.

Me, I tend to rely more on my eyes. I saw about 20 Canes games (actually live in NC now)

I thought he was better than he was with the Hawks, just don't think he is a star. Definitely would pick 40 other forwards in the league ahead of him.
- vabeachbear

Agree. I went to a number of Canes games this year also. Hawks coming in early this year-October.

Don't get me wrong, big Hossa fan, but it takes a team, game 5 vs the Preds, Hossa gets a 5 minute boarding penalty, series tied 2 to 2, down 1 goal with a minute to play. Incredible 5 minute PK. More than 1 piece is needed but yea he was a great 200 foot player.
- BetweenTheDots

Nobody can dismiss hockey is a team sport, however each year a few select guys seem to find another gear that in some way helps a team achieve more success.

Before hossa arrived Chicago lost to Detroit in the western conference finals , the next year when hossa arrived he was the final piece to the puzzle, sure it took the entire team some lucky bounces , but having hossa who had been through a few runs but never win a cup , was at least for the 2009-2010 season the final piece needed .


And with him in the lineup Chicago was a much better team overall.

You do remember that Henri played less than half a season last year right? Teams do scout and try to find weaknesses and attack that soon enough.

You quote Stan's comments from January... here's the same guys comments on July 9th (after having an additional 6 months of evaluation and feedback): "SVP/GM Bowman says acquiring a high-skill, talented player like Nylander for Jokiharju was made possible by the development of Boqvist and Beaudin this season."

In other words (in at least Stan's mind), Henri wasn't as good as the guys coming in and wasn't value add enough to rank higher than Nylander. That's the most updated statements we have, so they supersede what you wrote above.
- DontKnowNutin

You do remember Joker is 19 and might grow a bit

Just cuz guys behind him might be better than him what have
they done in the NHL.

Joker didnt need to be motivated, Nylander does and is 2 years older

Dahlstrom, 4K, Seabs, before Joker cuz the team is good at playing D

Which hit was it again?

Yeah, 4 games into the season... then he received his first real good hit.

I thought he was better than he was with the Hawks, just don't think he is a star. Definitely would pick 40 other forwards in the league ahead of him.
- vabeachbear

I actually think Tevo learned from the Cup runs and I too was surprised seeing him this last SEASON's games....as he seems to now be able to play Kane-like, and avoid much contact and still be willing to go to the harder areas.
I do wonder if the impact of Aho's arrival has helped his comfort and compete levels.

Strome scored 51 points in 58 games with the Hawks last season - that extrapolates to 72 points in 82 games. 70 points should be the expectation more so than an optimistic stretch. If the work he's done with Goodman improves his skating and balance - would it be unrealistic to project 80+ points? Obviously he is a pass first guy so his scoring largely depends on his line mates but with DCat he has a stud sniper that will bury a lot of his setups. Yes, this is offseason optimism - but not without legitimate plausibility.

You do remember Joker is 19 and might grow a bit

Just cuz guys behind him might be better than him what have
they done in the NHL.

Joker didnt need to be motivated, Nylander does and is 2 years older

Dahlstrom, 4K, Seabs, before Joker cuz the team is good at playing D

Which hit was it again?

Yeah, 4 games into the season... then he received his first real good hit.
- gazza53

I hear you, it's a bit arrogant for an organization to believe they have an over abundance of top 4 dmen since they haven't been able to draft 1 since 2005.

You are spot on, Bovqist will be fine, as is anyone who can move between the NHL and the AHL.

Dach on the other hand, I can't help but think another year in Saskatoon will be a waste of a year in his development, although there certainly is reason to believe being in the NHL could do the same.

Really think they need to change that rule, maybe at worst, give a team one exemption per draft year.

It helps no one except the pockets of the minor league owner.
- vabeachbear

I think confidence and poise are the things that will dictate if Dach goes back to juniors or stays. Some guys get sent back so that they can build confidence and participate in the world junior tourney on a big stage. Others to physically mature a bit more or just generally grow up and mature. From what has been said and written Dach appears to need none of the above. I hope he gets the nine games and proves that he deserves to stay.

I hear you, it's a bit arrogant for an organization to believe they have an over abundance of top 4 dmen since they haven't been able to draft 1 since 2005.
- BetweenTheDots

Hammer might be the exception but it wasn't done by
this crew.

You do remember Joker is 19 and might grow a bit

Just cuz guys behind him might be better than him what have
they done in the NHL.

Joker didnt need to be motivated, Nylander does and is 2 years older

Dahlstrom, 4K, Seabs, before Joker cuz the team is good at playing D

Which hit was it again?

Yeah, 4 games into the season... then he received his first real good hit.
- gazza53

Your arguments are still assuming an amazingly bright and cheerful future about him, which may or may not evolve as you assume. I think its better to incorporate the current viewpoints of folks who are on the inside (SB, ect.) into what your future assumptions of Henri might hold. I never spoke out against Henri, actually liked him on the team, thought he was the 'forerunner' of the upcoming great D guys we had. I'm just commenting against agreement of your view that Henri is guaranteed to be so awesome in the near future. It can happen, to me doesn't seem like it will in the near term, but he has a lot of control over that.

As for the 'hit', not sure if you watched games last year, don't claim to really know a whole lot, but I personally did see what seemed like an awkward adjustment as the games continued, like he was pulling back from contact, leading to others getting the puck. Then a few days or week later there was a short discussion on this blog, so it seemed like others were also seeing the same thing. To me, it seemed like there was pullback. If it's a true observation, then sure, he can grow through that. But it appears Stan+ feels that Nylanders value-add, right now in the short/medium term, is better than Henri's.

I think confidence and poise are the things that will dictate if Dach goes back to juniors or stays. Some guys get sent back so that they can build confidence and participate in the world junior tourney on a big stage. Others to physically mature a bit more or just generally grow up and mature. From what has been said and written Dach appears to need none of the above. I hope he gets the nine games and proves that he deserves to stay.
- 6628

I'm with you on this, every player is unique.