Me?

I said I was disappointed he didn't step up at the development camp but will reserve judgement until I see more of him.
- Tyler Cameron

NO, if you, I would have referred to you by name...……...

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this year's PK will be vastly better than last year's.
They will from worst NHL PK in the last 30 years last year to top half of the league this year.
- 35Tony0

They've taken big strides to improve in that area. A nice bonus would be Toews getting less time on the PK.

They've taken big strides to improve in that area. A nice bonus would be Toews getting less time on the PK.
- mohel

Enzo has assured us that bum Toews would be a third liner after Dach and Strome so hopefully we'll see less of Toews in all situations.

Which is why it was moronic to trade AA and not get a top 9 center back.

However with JCs love for Kampf, I can definitely see him playing him well over his head at 3C with his 4g per year dominance

Ugh

If Dach gets sent back down (which he probably should for a few reasons)....then I'm sure its Kampf getting the first crack at 3C which is beyond pathetic
- PatShart

Dont worry, they're not sending Dach back, but if they do, its because they already know who the 3C is.

They wouldn't have traded AA for Smith if they didn't already know who was going to be at 3C

Enzo has assured us that bum Toews would be a third liner after Dach and Strome so hopefully we'll see less of Toews in all situations.
- paulr

Toews should really be the 13th forward.

I see that Dach, Entwistle, Kurashev, Hagel and Johnson are joining up to play in the Chicago Public Hockey League (Wednesday nights).

Dach and Entwistle will join Boqvist and Beaudin on "Team Warrior" which also includes other pro players like Bollig, Clendening, Pirri and Turcotte is also on that team.

Kurashev, Hagel and Johnson will join Vlassic on the "Chem Station" team which also includes Dzingel, Hartman and Jake McCabe.

The other two "pro league" teams have Toews, Kane, DeBrincat, Strome, and Murphy from the Hawks and a bunch of other NHL players.

It's good to see many of our top prospects sticking around town to play in this league.
- EbonyRaptor

I would want Dach & Ent as far away as possible from Pirri for fear of picking up bad habits.

They've taken big strides to improve in that area. A nice bonus would be Toews getting less time on the PK.
- mohel

Only thing about the PK, it could be vastly improved and move all the way up to "next to last."

I would want Dach & Ent as far away as possible from Pirri for fear of picking up bad habits.
- Rota's Rooter

Pirri, what a waste of talent because he was too lazy and relied soley on his strong offensive talent. Had the guy put even a bit of effort into the defensive side of the game he could have had a solid career in the NHL instead of being a tweener, too good for the AHL not good enough for the NHL, and bouncing around both leagues.

Only thing about the PK, it could be vastly improved and move all the way up to "next to last."
- rpeters01

Yep, they're screwed.

Pirri, what a waste of talent because he was too lazy and relied soley on his strong offensive talent. Had the guy put even a bit of effort into the defensive side of the game he could have had a solid career in the NHL instead of being a tweener, too good for the AHL not good enough for the NHL, and bouncing around both leagues.
- paulr

He had that season in FLA where he had 22 G and only 2 A. Just a little one-dimensional.

Toews should really be the 13th forward.
- DarthKane

at 10.5 mil per...most assuredly...

after last years complete dumpster fire of a defense: second from the bottom in GA (291) and GA/gm (3.57) but both showed improvement the last 25-30 games.

stanbow has made the moves which should translate to getting that GA under 3; if the scoring remains or even improves from 8th in the league they are a playoff team..

i see depth and i see some stiff competition for bottom 6 playing time IF perlini and nylander answer this wake-up call the hawks just might make some noise in a very tough division

after last years complete dumpster fire of a defense: second from the bottom in GA (291) and GA/gm (3.57) but both showed improvement the last 25-30 games.

stanbow has made the moves which should translate to getting that GA under 3; if the scoring remains or even improves from 8th in the league they are a playoff team..

i see depth and i see some stiff competition for bottom 6 playing time IF perlini and nylander answer this wake-up call the hawks just might make some noise in a very tough division
- bogiedoc

Besides Keith and Seabrook who did you have out there especially on the PK? Murphy who finds his way to the boards way to often for me, Gusto hell no, Koekkoek, Forsling, had a really nice 2 week's Dahlstrom, Joki he was to weak.

When JC took over way to often 2 defenders in 1 spot, which means one guy is out of position.

If the moves they made are 1 GA better per game this is a playoff team, if it's only .5 GA it'll be tough

at 10.5 mil per...most assuredly...

- bogiedoc

If they bury him in Rockford, only 9.5 will count against the cap.

Besides Keith and Seabrook who did you have out there especially on the PK? Murphy who finds his way to the boards way to often for me, Gusto hell no, Koekkoek, Forsling, had a really nice 2 week's Dahlstrom, Joki he was to weak.

When JC took over way to often 2 defenders in 1 spot, which means one guy is out of position.

If the moves they made are 1 GA better per game this is a playoff team, if it's only .5 GA it'll be tough
- BetweenTheDots

Maatta and DeHaan will see significant PK minutes. Don't need to be fast to be a good PK d-man.
Edit: Forsling is no longer a Blackhawk.

Maatta and DeHaan will see significant PK minutes. Don't need to be fast to be a good PK d-man.
Edit: Forsling is no longer a Blackhawk.
- 35Tony0

I think the PK should be greatly improved over last season, not that it would be hard to do that.

Maatta, de Haan, Smith, Carpenter. Quennevill and Lehner should all help contribute to a more effective PK. Not to mention the team now buying into JC's message, that will help too.

If they bury him in Rockford, only 9.5 will count against the cap.
- tvetter

He and his bud Seebrook can finish their careers down there together.

He and his bud Seebrook can finish their careers down there together.
- rpeters01

Damn right, the bums are worthless!!!

It's Wednesday, 12:00 noon CST and Stanley Glenn Bowman has not made his weekly team transaction. Is the fax line down?

It's Wednesday, 12:00 noon CST and Stanley Glenn Bowman has not made his weekly team transaction. Is the fax line down?
- Rota's Rooter

I’m pretty sure all the fax lines are down. Permanently.

I think the PK should be greatly improved over last season, not that it would be hard to do that.

Maatta, de Haan, Smith, Carpenter. Quennevill and Lehner should all help contribute to a more effective PK. Not to mention the team now buying into JC's message, that will help too.
- DarthKane

Smith??? Hes like top 10 in taking minor penalties...he'll be in the box once a game. Shaw wont help the PIMs either, along with a full year of the Drake.

Thankfully JC has a training camp this year because allegedly that will help his 'system's and what held him back last year from implementing one

You win with defense, PERIOD, END OF STORY! Yes under Q the power play was so so or down right unproductive but the Blackhawks win the 2013 and 2015 Championships with poor powerplays but good penalty killing and exceptional defense and goaltending. Don't get me wrong I'd like to see a strong powerplay too but the two areas that are far more important for the Hawks to fix are their defensive game and their penalty killing.
- paulr

Good to see that there is at least one poster who actually understands what it takes to win games in the NHL.

How about the rest of you jump on board?

NO, if you, I would have referred to you by name...……...
- vabeachbear

Ok. Thanks.

I’m pretty sure all the fax lines are down. Permanently.
- Ogilthorpe2

What's a fax line?

If Gus improves his defense substantially where he isn't a major liability in his own end, then it gives the Hawks a good "touch decision" to make on a re-up.

If not, Boqvist is waiting in the wings, and except for about a three week period, he would be hard pressed to be worse in his own zone than Gustafsson.

if they were going to keep both, why bring in Maatta and deHaan?