How do you get rid of Matta or deHaan?
- rpeters01

With Matts’s post season, he would be wanted by someone, Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton are possible stops. I agree that making $’s work will be tricky, but can make it work. Look at how Lehner ended up in Vegas, or how Toronto got rid of Marleau’s contract last year.

I agree......The emergence of Dach this last 2 weeks makes Strome an expendable asset IF bowman chooses to dump him and/or Strome's agent wants a decent raise. To me....the guy doesnt deserve a $0.01 north of 2 AAV. 2-3 year 2 AAV and allow Strome to find it and build a bigger case for higher end money? Sure.....I can stomach it.

I'll also add this.....we all speculated an offseason to add muscle would help 77 and 27, and I'll say it again........August Dach blows away Sept-March Dach.......so in those 4+ months 77 added some muscle and you can see the confidence.....so my question is what the hell was Boqvist doing during the EXACT time frame? Kid maybe weighs 140 lbs in equipment, and is a rag doll.......I'm not advocating dumping him already, but curious what he was doing during shut down.....I mean at some point do the Hawsk have to realistically look at moving this kid up to F based on his size?

Every D pairing he is on.....plumments. Dehaan and him had a train run on them all night.
- SteveRain

Not everyone adds muscle the same way. Dach is a big kid. For all we know Boqvist was in the weight room more than Dach. You see very few 21 year olds going into the NFL and none are linemen. The guys who do go early were mostly red shirted and really in their senior year. You can't take a 19 year old and wish he was 23.

With Matts’s post season, he would be wanted by someone, Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton are possible stops. I agree that making $’s work will be tricky, but can make it work. Look at how Lehner ended up in Vegas, or how Toronto got rid of Marleau’s contract last year.
- LAHawk

Any team with excess cap space will be very careful how they use it. I simply don't see trading players to gain cap space unless the guys we get came off an NHL roster and we send them to the AHL which is possible. I take 3 of your junk players and you take my $4m guy cause you want him and we send them to Rockford. That truly would be a salary dump.

Not necessarily junk players, not saying he goes to Pittsburgh for Bjugstead, often injured but same price as Matta for one year. Pittsburgh is losing Schultz, and Rutherford is open for business. Bjugstead has one year left. And if he works out, he is a big center/right winger who can score and would definitely be top 9 material.

Not necessarily junk players, not saying he goes to Pittsburgh for Bjugstead, often injured but same price as Matta for one year. Pittsburgh is losing Schultz, and Rutherford is open for business. Bjugstead has one year left. And if he works out, he is a big center/right winger who can score and would definitely be top 9 material.
- LAHawk

I thought you wanted to pick up cap space? I'm all for trading strength for weakness.

Has Mitchell been told he's with the big club next year?

I think that is the huge factor in what to do with Murphy

Where does he fall in the right side depth chart with Boqvist, Seabrook and then Mitchell?

Between Maata, Murphy and DeHaan- Murphy may get the most back in a trade rather than a bad contract for bad contract
- PatShart

Maybe Murphy to Montreal for Domi opening up a RD spot for Mitchell. Trade more or less cap neutral taking into account Domi's new RFA contract.

Strome and Nylander to the Rangers for 2 of Buchnevich/Andersson/Georgiev.
Maybe uniting Strome with his brother benefits both of them. If not enough going to NY, throw in a pick or 4K. Another cap neutral hockey trade.

I think Entwistle will get a sniff next year, but I don't think he'll be a full time guy unless he is a beast in camp and in RFD or there are a lot of injuries.

I struggle with Strome; on one hand, I don't think you'll be able to get someone of his talent for the price I think they can no get him for.

I say keep him for no more than 2-years on a bridge deal for $3M per. Any more term or AAV and I would have to think about moving him.

I also don't think Strome will ever be set up to be a strong playoff performer. I'd rather a faster, feistier, and tougher to play against centre in the mold of a Toews and - soon-to-be Dach. Can we somehow pry Adam Lowry away from WIN? I think he's a perfect guy for a 3C.
- Tyler Cameron

Agree. Strome would enhance his value he takes on a more fiesty style. He yule be worried that Kurashev, Entwhistle, zNarret and Johnson will each matriculation here. Although some of those players might turn up on wing, the writing is on the wall for him so he needs to respond. He cannot expect that once again he will team up with DCat fir much success..Actually both those two are weak defensively and if I were coach I would push for thisr aforementioned kids to try to take BOTH DCat and Strime job away. I woukd rather battle with the style thise kids bring than the weak defense and poor skating (particularly Strome).

How do you get rid of Matta or deHaan?
- rpeters01

One of them may go in the expansion draft.

I thought you wanted to pick up cap space? I'm all for trading strength for weakness.
- rpeters01

Not clear cap space, trying to make room on defense, and yes try to shore up forward. If you want to clear cap space, I am sure Detroit would take him, and flip him at the TDL like they did with Mike Green this year. Isn’t that the Theo Epstein way of rebuilding?

Maybe Murphy to Montreal for Domi opening up a RD spot for Mitchell. Trade more or less cap neutral taking into account Domi's new RFA contract.

Strome and Nylander to the Rangers for 2 of Buchnevich/Andersson/Georgiev.
Maybe uniting Strome with his brother benefits both of them. If not enough going to NY, throw in a pick or 4K. Another cap neutral hockey trade.
- boilermaker100

I doubt Montreal would do this. Murphy isn't worth Domi and they already have two better right handed dmen than Murphy in Weber and Petry.

I doubt Montreal would do this. Murphy isn't worth Domi and they already have two better right handed dmen than Murphy in Weber and Petry.
- GPHawksfan

Yeah, if we are trading a defenseman like Murphy to anyone it is going to be TOR. They've got no one back there.

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Better - and more consistent - would be two or three short quick passes to get out of the zone and behind the defense in transition.
- StLBravesFan

Definitely agree. Long outlet passes are fine once in a while but not as the primary source of exiting the zone, especially for a team that struggles with accepting passes.

If you can't throw and catch a ball long distances, start with shorter distances. Same goes for passing a puck. Quick, shorter passes to exit the zone would steadily improve the rush.

If you watch the Hawk forwards they are always standing still or skating back toward the Hawks goal line when they receive passes from the defense. Their needs to be some movement. Receiving a pass when at a full stop is easy defend and difficult to turn into a transition attack.
- -Doh-

When you see breakout drills in practice, you see the players constantly skating then pick up steam once they receive the pass.

But for whatever reason, they don't do this in actual games. They're stationary or moving slowly which makes it easy to defend.

Yeah, if we are trading a defenseman like Murphy to anyone it is going to be TOR. They've got no one back there.
- Chunk

Calgary needs defenseman, they only have 3 signed for next year. Of course they probably will re-up Gusto

Haven't posted in a long time, hello everyone!

Great write-up Tyler. I agree that this team needs more players who can cycle the puck and wear a team down in that way.

A cursory look at the system says only Mac Entwistle brings that flavor of game. That means they need to get some folks. Guys like Pierre Engvall or Nick Paul could be had pretty cheap. I'd bet Sikura+Nylander gets it done for either.
- Bjm84

There are a few other forward prospects who could bring the same heavy, cycling style as Entwistle.

Chalupa is a physical, industrious winger with a nice scoring touch.

Hagel, Suter, and Soderlund are much smaller but all play a hybrid style of finesse and power. All are willing to engage in 50/50 battles.

Barratt could be a Caggiula clone or Shaw lite: agitator with flexibility to play on any line and be effective.

Strome?

You mean the guy skating with 2 grand pianos on his back?

Wearing #17 and also dragging along a trailer up a hill?

That guy?

Pretty sure there are plenty of guys on this board still playing that could outrace him.
Makes Brad Richards, Artem Anisimov and Michal Handzus appear lightning fast.
Loved (NOT) the play when he was just off the side of the net on the PP and had enough time/space to go right to the front for a stuff attempt and proceeds to throw the pass out.

I hope Stan ships that guy off the Blackhawk steamboat.
- savvyone-1

Strome reminds me of the rec league hockey teammate who is skating to just keep up and tries to make a play but often gets turnstiled. The head knows what to do but the body can't move as fast.

On that play where Strome could have tried to stuff it home with a wrap-around but made a pass out instead, the Hawks are notorious for that.

In the last game, there were a few attempts to take it from behind the net straight to the goalie with bodies in front for rebounds. Yet, the puck carrier elects to pass it out to the top of the circles.

So frustrating.

So, combining this quote and your comments about the Vegas 4th line, what is the case for keeping him? He's is a 3rd center on this team, is big - but slow, and can't seem to win the 1-on-1 battles to keep possession. I've been lukewarm on Strome for a while. I like his vision, and IQ, but you can't have a 6'3" 200lbs center that gets pushed around and is slow.
- Chunk

Exactly. If he had the size he needs to use it. Only way he gets a pass on that is if he is a superstar. He is a poor second line center who better adf some pbydicality else he will be leaving town eventually

Tyler, although I’ve supported Strome in the past, with Dach’s emergence as a 2C we really need a different type of center for our third line. We need a more defensively responsible center, with size, more speed and good at the dot, Strome only has one of those attributes. Thanks for all you do.
- Angotti

While Kurashev is a natural center and could eventually be the 3C, he is still at least another season away.

Suter, on the other hand, has center experience and is likely to make the team out of camp. He could be a possible temporary 3C option if the Hawks look to trade Strome for better assets.

Maybe Murphy to Montreal for Domi opening up a RD spot for Mitchell. Trade more or less cap neutral taking into account Domi's new RFA contract.

Strome and Nylander to the Rangers for 2 of Buchnevich/Andersson/Georgiev.
Maybe uniting Strome with his brother benefits both of them. If not enough going to NY, throw in a pick or 4K. Another cap neutral hockey trade.
- boilermaker100

Why would Montreal trade their best player? I like Murphy but he's not going to get that kind of return.

Why would anyone offer anything for Nylander?

Strome is still a 50 point player over 80 games and those are kind of important to have. He's proven to be at least a NHL player. None of the other players mentioned have really done that yet. Not dissimilar to Debrincat, he looks a hell of a lot better when you get him away from Nylander.

If he wants 5 million, ok fine move him, but if you can sign him for 6 or 7 total over 2 years then its fine.

I know it is very early in this kid's career, but I'm getting a slight sense that he is Bickell-ish in that he doesn't show great in practice or the reg season, but when the playoffs start, he turns into this magic piece that everyone wants/needs. Granted, he has put up some nice point totals, but most of his notoriety comes from his playoff performances.
- Chunk

One criticism of Entwistle that Derek King has pointed out is Mac doesn't show off his offensive gifts as often as they would like. He tends to defer to defensive play which isn't a bad thing.

So yes, Entwistle could be a much needed cluth performer who is so reliable on defense but can also be a hero offensively. He will be one to lean on in tight games.

Why would Montreal trade their best player? I like Murphy but he's not going to get that kind of return.

Why would anyone offer anything for Nylander?

Strome is still a 50 point player over 80 games and those are kind of important to have. He's proven to be at least a NHL player. None of the other players mentioned have really done that yet. Not dissimilar to Debrincat, he looks a hell of a lot better when you get him away from Nylander.

If he wants 5 million, ok fine move him, but if you can sign him for 6 or 7 total over 2 years then its fine.
- fattybeef

Strome for 3-3.5 is a gross overpay for what you get back.

His best stretch of a Hawk was right after getting in here from Arizona. Since then....he's meh.....and these playoffs its more apparent that if he's not getting point blank looks for tap ins, he really offers nothing else.....Hes too damn slow to generate a rush, win a 50/50 loose puck, win a key draw....I mean he's likely a F...and with Saad/Kubalik, Kane, Debrincat.....he's at best bottom 9.....and call me crazy but I think Nylander has a greater ceiling IF 92 figures out the mental game.

Im sure with all that said Bowman will sign him. I just hope it doesn't sniff north of 4 AAV for those same 2 years.

Strome reminds me of the rec league hockey teammate who is skating to just keep up and tries to make a play but often gets turnstiled. The head knows what to do but the body can't move as fast.

On that play where Strome could have tried to stuff it home with a wrap-around but made a pass out instead, the Hawks are notorious for that.

In the last game, there were a few attempts to take it from behind the net straight to the goalie with bodies in front for rebounds. Yet, the puck carrier elects to pass it out to the top of the circles.

So frustrating.
- AEL_Fox

Agreed on the PP look. Dach and Toews have had opportunities as well. If they do that at least time per PP, that'll suck down the defensmen a little further and hopefully open up a soft spot in the crease for somebody to snipe one in.

Strome skates like he has new skates he's trying to break in....every game/every shift.

Agreed.....I think the league knows what 17 is.......

Great hockey mind (knows where to go IF he can get there in time, and good hands) but his physical limitations and compete level don't warrant or justify any GM hitching their wagon to his guy to build around.

He needs massive power skating and even muscling up so he's heavier to play against. I think back to my favorite game as a kid....NHL94 for the genesis, and Strome would have a sub 40 speed rating. He is THAT slow.
- SteveRain

I agree I think Strome has a chance if he makes himself into a "hybrid" finesse power player. Otherwise he's not good enough to win with 2c,3c4c it doesn't matter.

Not clear cap space, trying to make room on defense, and yes try to shore up forward. If you want to clear cap space, I am sure Detroit would take him, and flip him at the TDL like they did with Mike Green this year. Isn’t that the Theo Epstein way of rebuilding?
- LAHawk

Much different cap situation in baseball and Cubs have consistently been over because the genius can't develop pitching. Bryant has become a non factor quickly in his career. Again they will hang it on an injury but I digress.