My only point is with Covid19 I think all new contracts are going to either take a significant drop or be shorter with a significant drop? Who really knows but no way Stan signs that contract in today's world.
- rpeters01

Likely very true. It's going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out with teams like the Hawks, Leafs, Oilers, etc.

We don't need another defencemen in the 1st round,this team needs scoring.We will probably loose Saad after next year or sooner.
- Tatoo

In the current 2019-20 season, the Blackhawks rank:
-18th in goals scored per game at 2.97
-17th in goals against per game at 3.06

So they're equally good/bad at both. If that isn't a reason for taking the 'best player available' I don't know what is.

In context Kurashev's numbers were pretty gaudy.

He was pretty much the whole team's offense. He was by far his team's best offensive player and the focus of every team they played.
I think he is going to turn out to be a huge steal in that draft.

- Elbows15

sevens goals - 19 points....

Was the above supposed to be in red?

I hate to admit it (simply because it means the Hawks got worse), but I think you are right. Schmaltz, despite the groans about him going into the corners, is a better overall player than Strome at this point.
- Chunk

Stas wise this year they are about the same, Strome with one more goal, Schmaultz has 8 more assists. But Schmaultz is signed for 7 more years at $5.85 mil. We talk about ADB at $6.4 for 3 years being bad? Oh and Arizona is right at $80 mil. with Hossa, even if they put him on LTIR, they won't have enought to pay Taylor Hall anyway unless they salary dump someone else.

Perlini got us Regula, who seems to have a future.

In context Kurashev's numbers were pretty gaudy. He was pretty much the whole team's offense. He was by far his team's best offensive player and the focus of every team they played.
I think he is going to turn out to be a huge steal in that draft.
- Elbows15

Sorry, I should have qualified what I meant by gaudy. I meant scoring at significantly more than a PPG, i.e. 1.25-1.50 PPG pace or greater.

Anyhoo, I would agree that Kurashev's Quebec Remparts junior team wasn't particularly strong and he was one of the few bright spots. A 1.0 PPG for a mediocre team is really good.

IIRC, Dellandrea who the Stars drafted in the 1st round in 2018 was in a similar situation playing for the Flint Firebirds.

Either way, would also agree Kurashev could end up being a steal. And to think, we got him and Beaudin for Hartman with Ejdsell being the throw away.

Stas wise this year they are about the same, Strome with one more goal, Schmaultz has 8 more assists. But Schmaultz is signed for 7 more years at $5.85 mil. We talk about ADB at $6.4 for 3 years being bad? Oh and Arizona is right at $80 mil. with Hossa, even if they put him on LTIR, they won't have enought to pay Taylor Hall anyway unless they salary dump someone else.

Perlini got us Regula, who seems to have a future.
- LAHawk

I'm not debating the contracts (although I don't think Schmaltz contract is bad at all considering the going rates). Watching Schmaltz play, as well as seeing his underlying numbers, says he is the better player. Better backchecker, better on his skates, equal offense, and seems to be processing the defensive zone faster than he did on the Hawks.

Just the way I see things.

NBC Sports (the national network) will show game 6 of the 2010 Cup final series (Hawks vs Flyers) at 8 pm Central. Today is the ten year anniversary of that game. Spoiler alert Kaner scores in OT.

Game 1 of that series is on now and game 3 will be on at 6 pm.

Can't wait for Entwistle.
- scottak

I've thought he would be a 4th line force also.

Though I wonder, if he was that good, shouldn't he be able to beat out the folks on the 4th line this upcoming year?

Get that players develop in the A, and prefer this route and have always female doged when they didn't follow it, but man, the 4th line really sucks.

Highmore, Hagel and Entwhistle should be the 4th this year.

Strome is going to have to improve tremendously to be good enough defensively. He was one of the worst forwards defensively in the whole league according to metrics. Like bottom 15 bad.
- Elbows15

Thanks for sharing that tidbit about Strome's advanced metrics.

So with the scenario being to either re-sign Strome to a bridge deal to see how he develops or trade him to gain something in return, what are the center options to replace him if the latter happens?

Kurashev is at least a year away, IMO. Same with Barratt.

Entwistle would thrive as a kickass 4th liner before seeing if he elevate his game to 3C.

Could Strome be traded for another center? On CapFriendly, I see countless trade proposals from Sabres fans trading Mittelstadt for Strome. Not saying that's the deal to take but that could be a template to consider, i.e. another 1st round reclamation.

Or could a new center be had in another deal? Consider the center depth on the Habs and the fact that Bergevin highly covets Beaudin. Others have suggested trading Beaudin for one of Suzuki, Poehling, or Kotkaniemi (as part of a larger deal with other assets).

Then there's this year's draft as a possible solution, i.e. Lundell.

I hate to admit it (simply because it means the Hawks got worse), but I think you are right. Schmaltz, despite the groans about him going into the corners, is a better overall player than Strome at this point.
- Chunk

Even if you are correct, I don't care what any of you say, if Stan had given Nick the contract he got in AZ, they'd both be annihilated here every day.

sevens goals - 19 points....

Was the above supposed to be in red?

- wiz1901

No. You were suppose to read the post I quoted first for context. I was referring to his D year with the Remparts.

Thanks for sharing that tidbit about Strome's advanced metrics.

So with the scenario being to either re-sign Strome to a bridge deal to see how he develops or trade him to gain something in return, what are the center options to replace him if the latter happens?

Kurashev is at least a year away, IMO. Same with Barratt.

Entwistle would thrive as a kickass 4th liner before seeing if he elevate his game to 3C.

Could Strome be traded for another center? On CapFriendly, I see countless trade proposals from Sabres fans trading Mittelstadt for Strome. Not saying that's the deal to take but that could be a template to consider, i.e. another 1st round reclamation.

Or could a new center be had in another deal? Consider the center depth on the Habs and the fact that Bergevin highly covets Beaudin. Others have suggested trading Beaudin for one of Suzuki, Poehling, or Kotkaniemi (as part of a larger deal with other assets).

Then there's this year's draft as a possible solution, i.e. Lundell.
- AEL_Fox

TBH, I don't know what to do with Strome. I think the answer lies in the abilities of the other 3 centers. Toews, Dach and Kampf give you 3 solid defensively centers.
That would leave Strome to anchor a bum slaying sheltered line. The question is what is that worth in terms of cap space?

I just don't see Strome being able to improve enough defensively to be worth a long term contract for the role he is best suited to play at the NHL level. He is willing but his skating is just not good enough to play well in his own zone. He can and will produce but if we are being objective, there were too many games this season where he was invisible. Plus, I want more speed in the line-up.

Buffalo is a bad trade partner. unless they are willing to give up a 1st. Which I highly doubt they would do.

I want nothing to do with guys like Montour/Risto or Middlingstats. Their available prospects don't excite me either. Johnson, maybe, but I think the Hawks have similar or better in their system.

The one guy off the 2010 team I am surprised never had much of a career is Hendry. He was pretty decent on that team and should have found a home as a 3rd pairing guy on some team.

In the current 2019-20 season, the Blackhawks rank:
-18th in goals scored per game at 2.97
-17th in goals against per game at 3.06

So they're equally good/bad at both. If that isn't a reason for taking the 'best player available' I don't know what is.
- scottak

Yeah, it really depends upon where you are selecting too, because the scouts stop the one two three rankings after awhile and even in the first round they start grouping so that they don't lock in and get disappointed

If you losing in the playing and drafting #9 or #8 (If Montreal wins) you simply take the best available, but the this anomaly goalie either IS or isn';t in your scope when it is your turn, IF he is still there, with my hunch being there are plenty of smokescreens and he is going higher than we are imagining.
If you are drafting at #19 (where I suspect a lot of defensemen are in the grouping with forwards, they say we need to get higher quality forwards and it looks like there is one here, OR they weigh out those defenders and dont look away from them being defenseman.
BUT...you have to think they are not unaware that they need to continue to add quality forwards.

And I dunno, before ever seeing Mitchell as a pro and knowing that Boqvist had yet another concussion, do you feel secure Vlasic and Moberg are you solid middle and 3rd pair additions, and that Beaudin and the farm fill the intermit needs or do you look at the value on the draft board at #19 and feel you can't look past Braden Schneider or
Ryan O'Rourke...which takes us all away around to centre Hendrix Lapierre who started on my list as the 5th best player and sat at slot 7 before Halloween...if you see this kid as c learned tom play and that it wasn't multiple concussion but crushed vertebrae that brought on concussion symptoms, you PASS on him?
Do you say we want to replace Shawzie with the Brad Brad Marchand clone Riley Greig? Do you see the Austrian forward John-Jason Peterka or the Czech kid Jan Myšák as sleepers?
Do you simply stay home and take a North American no matter if he is small but was productive?

Many draft years the forward class has been a bust after the first couple, but good scouting should eliminate errors at pick 19.

I was the one that was crazy angry they took Nick Schmaltrz at 20 in 2014..they left pastnak, Fabbri,Brendan Lemieux and Kapanen better and 2 oct them were on my radar anyway

TBH, I don't know what to do with Strome. I think the answer lies in the abilities of the other 3 centers. Toews, Dach and Kampf give you 3 solid defensively centers.
That would leave Strome to anchor a bum slaying sheltered line. The question is what is that worth in terms of cap space?

I just don't see Strome being able to improve enough defensively to be worth a long term contract for the role he is best suited to play at the NHL level. He is willing but his skating is just not good enough to play well in his own zone. He can and will produce but if we are being objective, there were too many games this season where he was invisible. Plus, I want more speed in the line-up.
- Elbows15

What you described seems like a good way to consider distributing the centers and build around them if Strome is retained. Assuming Strome and Kubalik are re-signed:

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Nylander - Dach - RW
Carpenter - Kampf - Highmore

Who plays with with Dach and Nylander? Or flip flop Saad and Nylander but that still requires another winger to complete Dach's line.

Perhaps Caggiula if he too is re-signed.

Or Shaw if he is medically cleared to play.

Maybe a prospect (like everyone's favorite Sikura) or a new face from outside the organization who would also need to be on the cheap.

There's also Euro free agents like the already signed Chalupa or the unsigned yet coveted Pius Suter.

Buffalo is a bad trade partner. unless they are willing to give up a 1st. Which I highly doubt they would do.

I want nothing to do with guys like Montour/Risto or Middlingstats. Their available prospects don't excite me either. Johnson, maybe, but I think the Hawks have similar or better in their system.
- Elbows15

I wouldn't trade with the Sabres either unless Jokiharju is coming back or there is a larger deal to snag Cozens.

Agree, Johnson is a good D prospect for Buffalo but the Hawks have good to great ones already in the system.

Also, I know I mentioned it in a prior post but I would be reticent to trade Beaudin so soon without seeing what we have in Mitchell.

It would suck majorly if the dice was rolled and Mitchell ended up flopping and Beaudin emerged as a solid NHL defender in the 2/3/4 spot for another team.

The one guy off the 2010 team I am surprised never had much of a career is Hendry. He was pretty decent on that team and should have found a home as a 3rd pairing guy on some team.
- Elbows15

Didn't Hendry have a serious knee injury the next season?

What you described seems like a good way to consider distributing the centers and build around them if Strome is retained. Assuming Strome and Kubalik are re-signed:

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
DeBrincat - Strome - Kane
Nylander - Dach - RW
Carpenter - Kampf - Highmore

Who plays with with Dach and Nylander? Or flip flop Saad and Nylander but that still requires another winger to complete Dach's line.

Perhaps Caggiula if he too is re-signed.

Or Shaw if he is medically cleared to play.

Maybe a prospect (like everyone's favorite Sikura) or a new face from outside the organization who would also need to be on the cheap.

There's also Euro free agents like the already signed Chalupa or the unsigned yet coveted Pius Suter.
- AEL_Fox

I don't like that 2nd line you listed at all. I thought Nylander and Kane were starting to find something before the season ended.
I really would like one of the young guys to step up and snag one of the 3rd line wing spots.

Caligula is another question mark for me. He is useful and can plug and play anywhere, but he also has some concussion concerns. A healthy Shaw would be a nice asset but man, I kinda hope he hangs them up for his long term health.

Didn't Hendry have a serious knee injury the next season?
- LAHawk

It appears he tore his ACL the next season. He is the guy I find myself noticing a lot during all the replays. He moved well. Played with an edge. Seemed like a pretty smart player, too.

I wouldn't trade with the Sabres either unless Jokiharju is coming back or there is a larger deal to snag Cozens.

Agree, Johnson is a good D prospect for Buffalo but the Hawks have good to great ones already in the system.

Also, I know I mentioned it in a prior post but I would be reticent to trade Beaudin so soon without seeing what we have in Mitchell.

It would suck majorly if the dice was rolled and Mitchell ended up flopping and Beaudin emerged as a solid NHL defender in the 2/3/4 spot for another team.
- AEL_Fox

I am not moving Beaudin as of right now. For years people have complained about the Hawks not developing D-men. Now, some are trowing them in deals.

In the current 2019-20 season, the Blackhawks rank:
-18th in goals scored per game at 2.97
-17th in goals against per game at 3.06

So they're equally good/bad at both. If that isn't a reason for taking the 'best player available' I don't know what is.
- scottak

The original post questioned to select another dman after we have a stockpile of promising early drafted players at this position. Totally understandable, rationale point. I am in favor of selecting the best player available, too, as LA poster has spoken for doing as well

I would be remiss however if no consideration is given for breaking this rule when an exceptional talented player is available whom you really desire more because you need someone to play that position for the next decade. You cannot be sure to find such a player in another draft at your turn, nor do you expect to be able to trade or sign such a key player via free agency.

So you have to be sold on the player. I believe power forward who can score and new age dmen whom are sound defensively are just not plentiful in the top tier any draft.

And goaltender is a position normally you do not want to take in round one. Unless you are sold you have a very good one, then you have to really focus upon him and your scouts should agree - most of them anyway

So after Perfetti at #4 on wiz list (updated June 7) CONSIDER

Drysdale & Askarov
You should know that Drysdale is the top rated dman. Does a team wanting a dman pluck him before #8 (wiz list)? And wiz has said that there is no surprise if at least a couple of teams decide Askarov is too good to pass as your goaltender for the next decade (how much seasoning does Askarov need...possibly only 1-2 years which is less than most goaltenders need)

It is a tough decision whether you go against the best player available rule. As I have stressed, it is a valid consderation;

The original post questioned to select another dman after we have a stockpile of promising early drafted players at this position. Totally understandable, rationale point. I am in favor of selecting the best player available, too, as LA poster has spoken for doing as well

I would be remiss however if no consideration is given for breaking this rule when an exceptional talented player is available whom you really desire more because you need someone to play that position for the next decade. You cannot be sure to find such a player in another draft at your turn, nor do you expect to be able to trade or sign such a key player via free agency.

So you have to be sold on the player. I believe power forward who can score and new age dmen whom are sound defensively are just not plentiful in the top tier any draft.

And goaltender is a position normally you do not want to take in round one. Unless you are sold you have a very good one, then you have to really focus upon him and your scouts should agree - most of them anyway

So after Perfetti at #4 on wiz list (updated June 7) CONSIDER

Drysdale & Askarov
You should know that Drysdale is the top rated dman. Does a team wanting a dman pluck him before #8 (wiz list)? And wiz has said that there is no surprise if at least a couple of teams decide Askarov is too good to pass as your goaltender for the next decade (how much seasoning does Askarov need...possibly only 1-2 years which is less than most goaltenders need)

It is a tough decision whether you go against the best player available rule. As I have stressed, it is a valid consderation;
- jhawk59

There are surprises in every draft. No one thought Bovquist would drop to 8th 2 years ago. Last year the Kings thought for sure at #5 would get Dach as theythought the Hawks would take Byram or Turcotte. And Detroit coming out of left field and picking Seider at #6.

I don't like that 2nd line you listed at all. I thought Nylander and Kane were starting to find something before the season ended.
I really would like one of the young guys to step up and snag one of the 3rd line wing spots.

Caligula is another question mark for me. He is useful and can plug and play anywhere, but he also has some concussion concerns. A healthy Shaw would be a nice asset but man, I kinda hope he hangs them up for his long term health.
- Elbows15

Kubalik-Toews-Saad/Caggiula/Shaw/prospect

Nylander-Dach/Strome-Kane

DeBrincat-Dach/Strome-Saad/Caggiula/Shaw/prospect

That would be my formula for the top 9 looking forward to next season and beyond.

In the current 2019-20 season, the Blackhawks rank:
-18th in goals scored per game at 2.97
-17th in goals against per game at 3.06

So they're equally good/bad at both. If that isn't a reason for taking the 'best player available' I don't know what is.
- scottak

Everyone here says they have a great offense not worried about it. When they went in to the end of the season tailspin in '18-'19 pushing for the playoffs it was because they couldn't score and Kane was gassed. I'm not convinced about their offense at crunch time.

Stas wise this year they are about the same, Strome with one more goal, Schmaultz has 8 more assists. But Schmaultz is signed for 7 more years at $5.85 mil. We talk about ADB at $6.4 for 3 years being bad? Oh and Arizona is right at $80 mil. with Hossa, even if they put him on LTIR, they won't have enought to pay Taylor Hall anyway unless they salary dump someone else.

Perlini got us Regula, who seems to have a future.
- LAHawk

I wouldn't want the Schmaltz contract Phoenix has either.