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.
- SteveRain

I don't think Strome sees $3.0-3.5 except in a wet dream.

hearing alot that the hawks need to get bigger and tougher to play against...

didn't we here this last year when the hawks brought back shaw and traded for zach smith? and got dehan cheap...and before that it arte to fill that 2nd line center role..

big forwards who can skate has not been the hawks MO for the last 10 years...hossa retired and never replaced (of course thatsa tough guy to replace)

i don't see how this transformation into a knights like team is suppose to happen: certainly not in rck presently, the draft? okay cya in 3-4 years...trade? tough to do in the beancounting cap world. RFA or UFA? who is out there they can afford that would be such a fit...

are they going to move strome and say uncle to another former #1 reclamation project? I doubt it.

is ADB now a another small expensive 20 goal guy or does he get the magic back..thats a question woth pondering

will crow comeback for say around 3 mil to stay in chicago?

does seabs suddenly become seabs of 5 years ago...i doubt it..

the hawks cap does not give them a whole of options to transform their forward group...

hearing alot that the hawks need to get bigger and tougher to play against...

didn't we here this last year when the hawks brought back shaw and traded for zach smith? and got dehan cheap...and before that it arte to fill that 2nd line center role..

big forwards who can skate has not been the hawks MO for the last 10 years...hossa retired and never replaced (of course thatsa tough guy to replace)

i don't see how this transformation into a knights like team is suppose to happen: certainly not in rck presently, the draft? okay cya in 3-4 years...trade? tough to do in the beancounting cap world. RFA or UFA? who is out there they can afford that would be such a fit...

are they going to move strome and say uncle to another former #1 reclamation project? I doubt it.

is ADB now a another small expensive 20 goal guy or does he get the magic back..thats a question woth pondering

will crow comeback for say around 3 mil to stay in chicago?

does seabs suddenly become seabs of 5 years ago...i doubt it..

the hawks cap does not give them a whole of options to transform their forward group...
- bogiedoc

Sharp has not been replaced either 6' 200# very fast skater, killed penalties early in his career, played 2c 2010, 25-35 goals a year.

in the FWIW dept...

NHL Department of Player Safety announces Max Pacioretty has been fined $2,500 for slashing Alex DeBrincat on this goal.

Corey Crawford is now 14-5 (.737) in playoff elimination games in his Blackhawks career.

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).
- jhawk59

They're not that bad in their own zone.

Based on the numbers, no one on that team can defend or flip the ice, not Toes or Dach. Strome and El Gato are better in terms of relative corsi\fentwick\shot share statistics as well. I guess that's like being the least stinky fart.

And based on what can be seen from Toews chasing Karlsson all over the ice or Dach getting pinned in by whom ever DeBoer decides he wants to send out there - who on this team is actually defending well?

I get those guys have grit and jam and and an aggressive stride that makes them look like they're trying harder but it doesn't seem like anyone on the team is a good 3 zone player right now.

in the FWIW dept...

NHL Department of Player Safety announces Max Pacioretty has been fined $2,500 for slashing Alex DeBrincat on this goal.
- bogiedoc

Going with his cap hit of $7,000,000:

That’s about $85,000 per game, or about $1,400 per minute for a 60 minute game.

So - $2,500 is less than he earns in 2 minutes during a game.

That sounds like a good punishment and deterrent to me.

Nylander was on the ice for 1 shot attempt for and 15 against.
De Haan: 1 for, 14 against
Strome: 2 for, 16 against
DeBrincat: 2 for, 10 against
Boqvist: 2 for, 10 against

it looked bad...it was

You can't experience playoff hockey, it's matches, the change in pace and penalties, etc., if you never get tom play in the playoffs.

You think Boqvist (especially) found out the areas he needs to work on to BE an NHL playoff defenseman?

You think Kubalik knows now you simply have to be able to handle the hard pass and how quick decisions must be the route or things dry up?

Every game a younger guy plays in the post season there has to lights going on inside that player that signal I gotta get better play better if I want this.

This is a valuable series for the Hawk team.

And I for one am glad they got to go.

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.
- AEL_Fox

Especially true in the bubble with bad ice after a game or two have already been played.

I don't think Strome sees $3.0-3.5 except in a wet dream.
- rpeters01

Well, the team, the situation, and the production in the playoff with the current conditions doesn't bode well for Strome negotiating team drawing a line in the sand.

Does he want to stay?

Can he win here?

A lot for him to think about.
(his brother with Rangers,
too)

Going with his cap hit of $7,000,000:

That’s about $85,000 per game, or about $1,400 per minute for a 60 minute game.

So - $2,500 is less than he earns in 2 minutes during a game.

That sounds like a good punishment and deterrent to me.
- StLBravesFan

He makes more sitting in the penalty box for a 2 min. minor than the fine. I want that job!

Corey Crawford is now 14-5 (.737) in playoff elimination games in his Blackhawks career.


- bogiedoc

Gonna be 17-5 by Saturday, eh? Wooooooooooo!

Nylander was on the ice for 1 shot attempt for and 15 against.
De Haan: 1 for, 14 against
Strome: 2 for, 16 against
DeBrincat: 2 for, 10 against
Boqvist: 2 for, 10 against

it looked bad...it was
- bogiedoc

Are you talking shots or Corsi?

Corsi numbas and shot numbers 5v5 last night from Natural Stat Trick

De Haan: 4/38 1/16
Strome: 9/21 4/11
Toews: 6/16 4/7
Nylander: 4/21 2/10
Debrincat: 11/20 6/9 (haha)
Boqvist: 3/21 2/11
Dach: 4/17 2/9

All of those are very very very embarrassingly bad.

You can't experience playoff hockey, it's matches, the change in pace and penalties, etc., if you never get tom play in the playoffs.

You think Boqvist (especially) found out the areas he needs to work on to BE an NHL playoff defenseman?

You think Kubalik knows now you simply have to be able to handle the hard pass and how quick decisions must be the route or things dry up?

Every game a younger guy plays in the post season there has to lights going on inside that player that signal I gotta get better play better if I want this.

This is a valuable series for the Hawk team.

And I for one am glad they got to go.
- wiz1901

He's pretty bad at receiving passes while moving and has found a lot less space against a team that can defend.

On the bright side, at least we are not Minnesota.

They've got Suter and Parise locked up to age 40-41 at $7.5M per each.
Zuccarello through age 36 at $6M, and
Spurgeon through age 37 at $7.5M/yr,

all with NMC's.

And they've barely won a series in the last 10 years.

I don't think Strome sees $3.0-3.5 except in a wet dream.
- rpeters01

I think Strome will get a 1 year deal between $2.0 - $2.5 million.

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.
- rpeters01

This is a good point. Sure, a guy can put on 20 pounds or so in a year. However, some of that is going to be fat, and that slows a person down. More importantly, rapid muscle gain outpaces join and ligament adaption.... and that is a recipe for injury.

I'd like to know what the plan is for beating the heavy Vegas forecheck.
- bhawks2241

Colliton is supposed to be bright young mind, I hope he can figure out that Vegas forecheck .... which is what got them so much time in the Hawks offensive zone and all those shots on goal. Tried to get handle on the forecheck, seems one guy goes after puck carrier ... second guy not far behind him ... and third guy lurking in deep slot. On top of that defense pinches in during the game at times. If they could figure out how to pop a few quick breakouts ... breakaway or two on one .... maybe Vegas will have to pull back slightly on that forecheck ??????

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.
- AEL_Fox

Barratt could be a good snag but he needs seasoning and I heard he has skating challenges.

Bolland was a horse. Don't see that guy on the team?
- rpeters01

Also pretty damn good scorer at the Jr level. He had offensive skill... he just enjoyed doing other things on the ice. Like pissing off Jumbo Joe and Sedins.

I'm not sure. WIN really likes him and the dude is built for playoff hockey. You might have to send Strome there and hope WIN offers Lowry+ in return. They need Dmen so can they take Maatta off our hands? ha.
- Tyler Cameron

What about copp?

Cirille from Tampa? Tampa is going to have major cap problems and might not be able to afford him plus the their russian goalie new contract goes into effect next season and have to sign the young Russian. D man to an extension.
- Scott1977

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

Opening night next seadon a reasonably good wager:
Seabrook not quite ready
BOQVIST TO AHL
Mitchell.starts at AHLlevel

The one constant is change. The team will change up some of the roster year over year. They always do.

Expect the typical 3-5 rookies to play more than an audition next year. Suter will be one of those guys almost guaranteed. Expect 1-2 spots on forward and probably 1 D spot to be held down by rookies next year.

The Hawks have had Boqvist playing with Keith, not because he is the best defender for that pair, but to help him absorb and learn. Maybe next season Boqvist will be paired with someone who is more "Stay at home".

The Front Office has had some changes and I expect some of that will trickle into the roster decisions.