What is the deal with Rockford and the AHL for the upcoming season?

Thought most of their revenue comes from ticket sales.....

No tickets no revenue no season?????

Nice write up Tyler . Only hope.... find a way to get Seabs n Shaw to retire to get much needed cap space. Seriously not looking too good . Don't think this will be a playoff team.
Love Crawford but no more then 2.5 . I would keep Maata over DE Haan .
Defence needs speed though and forwards with size and speed not an easy task without much cap space.

Dolphins just announced they'll have 13,000 in attendance to start this fall. Cowboys say they'll have fans, too.
- mohel

I think he Chiefs said they expected 25% capacity as well. We have no idea how it will all work, but at least that is what they expect.

Tyler Cameron: What could the Blackhawks look like next year?
Now with the season officially over in Blackhawks-land, I wanted to take a glance forward to see how this offseason could play out for Stan Bowman and Co.

I will begin to answer the key questions and comments boilermaker100 has asked as I reveal what I think will happen this offseason
- Tyler Cameron

Just throwing this out there, do we really have to sign Corey. We are still a couple of years away why not spend the money on RFAs and go from there. It's obvious this team can compete against softer teams like the Oil but not mature enough for the big time teams like Vegas and Boston.

I believe this team needs to put some more miles on it, the forwards spacing is horrible on offense and defense. The rub is it takes the defense longer to develop and we have so many young ones to develop is there a way to fast forward a defensemans development?

Just throwing this out there, do we really have to sign Corey. We are still a couple of years away why not spend the money on RFAs and go from there. It's obvious this team can compete against softer teams like the Oil but not mature enough for the big time teams like Vegas and Boston.

I believe this team needs to put some more miles on it, the forwards spacing is horrible on offense and defense. The rub is it takes the defense longer to develop and we have so many young ones to develop is there a way to fast forward a defensemans development?
- BetweenTheDots

Nope, and nope. I like Crawford, and think he is still a really good goalie, but they don't need to sign him if the number is out of line.

My guess is at least one (if not both) of Maatta and de Haan are gone to start next year. The FO knows where this team is, and it is not ready to contend. Hence those players are extra salary that are unnecessary. Keith, Seabrook and Murphy offer enough experience to help the younger players through. The one thing I would really like to see next year is more consistency with the pairings.

Tyler,

Glad I was able to get a discussion going and I appreciate your thoughts on my subject matter.

Regarding next year's team. I envision about the same team. Smith to be bought out replaced by Suter and a vet defenseman out replaced by Mitchell. Seabrook if healthy to be 6 or 7D sitting out second games of back to back with Carlsson getting some playing time. If Shaw is healthy, fine and dandy, but if injured that opens a spot for a Hagel or Entwistle to get some NHL experience. I expect Strome, Kubalik and Crawford to sign. No idea how much but Stan will find a way to keep under the cap.

Nope, and nope. I like Crawford, and think he is still a really good goalie, but they don't need to sign him if the number is out of line.

My guess is at least one (if not both) of Maatta and de Haan are gone to start next year. The FO knows where this team is, and it is not ready to contend. Hence those players are extra salary that are unnecessary. Keith, Seabrook and Murphy offer enough experience to help the younger players through. The one thing I would really like to see next year is more consistency with the pairings.
- Chunk

That's what I'm afraid of and actually believe, i wonder if the FO thinks by throwing them into the NHL it will?

Perfect example was Hughes last night, he struggled, maybe he bounces back but have to believe the forecheck will continue to bother him

I'd like to see a trade down in the 1st round and then select Marat Khusnutdinov. Wiz has him going 30th so maybe the Hawks can package #17 and Maatta for NJ's #20 and Jesper Boqvist.

And yes, I know, Khusnutdinov is only 5'9" but he plays bigger than that. Very good quickness and speed and skill, win draws, plays very well defensively and he has a non-stop motor and sticks his nose in it all over the ice. I just watched all of his shifts in a game and he is now on my wish list.

The leafs are looking for right handed defencemen,why not trade Murphy to them and pick up kapenen.I think that the Hawks wil give Mitchell a chance to make the team and we get more scoring for our top 9.

Dolphins just announced they'll have 13,000 in attendance to start this fall. Cowboys say they'll have fans, too.
- mohel

I’m doubtful that it will get started - or last.

This is a team that I have eyed up to potential ask for a guy like Maatta. He would fit in nicely there.
- Tyler Cameron

The LA Kings are interested in him...

How about Saad to Boston for Wagner, Ritchie, Kuraly. Hawks then sign Dadonov as a free agent. Dadonov has scored 28 goals the past 2 seasons, and upgrade their 4th line with size, grit, and snarl.
- LAHawk

Daddy doesn't play of 4th lines or even on 3rd lines unless he is in the dog house...not that type player

That's what I'm afraid of and actually believe, i wonder if the FO thinks by throwing them into the NHL it will?

Perfect example was Hughes last night, he struggled, maybe he bounces back but have to believe the forecheck will continue to bother him
- BetweenTheDots

Most if not all young defensemen struggle in their own end. Seth Jones, for as good as he looks now, was not great in his own end for the first 3 or 4 years. There are still plenty of Norris Trophy Candidates who have never been good in their own end, like Karlsson, and others like Doughty who it took a while for their defensive games to catch up with their offensive side. The game is changing also, many teams are willing to overlook defensive abilities for the promise of quick transition and offensive prowess. Sure, there are times when you catch lightning in a bottle and have a guy like Hjalmarsson step into the league at 22 and be a pretty solid defenseman, but look what he was surrounded by.

Hawks are hoping that some of these young guys can be better defensively by driving the offense. If you can posses the puck and transition to offense, you have less to worry about actually defending in your own end. Its hard to take the reins off of a Boquist completely, when the rest of the defense is still too much of a dumpster fire when it come to high danger chances against.

Stan needs to do something bold. If he brings back the same guys, they're again a bubble payoff team. And they're clearly not ready to contend for the Stanley Cup.


Kane & Towes aren't going anywhere. Faces of the franchise, it's likely they retire as Blackhawks. Seabrook isn't waiving, and no GM would want him until they see if his surgeries have taken him back in time. That leaves Duncan Keith.

I DO NOT WANT TO THE HAWKS TO TRADE DUNCAN KEITH. But, he's the one guy that can bring something valuable back. He has 3 years left at $5.5M. He has stated he wants to win. He also sounds disenchanted with the current head coach. He's bitter JC favored Gustafsson over him, stated that the NHL isn't a developmental league, stated he wants to win, etc. He might be enticed to waive if he doesn't think the Hawks can get back to being contenders before his career ends.

TOR has glaring needs at defense, and a plethora of young, dynamic forwards. Would they want an experienced vet to help them down the playoff road. Would Duncan waive to go there? I'd say yes. Perhaps their are other teams that would desire a 3 time SC Champ, Norris & Conn Smythe winning, Gold Medal winning, 'A' wearing defenseman.

Keith + for a TOR forward +.

Daddy doesn't play of 4th lines or even on 3rd lines unless he is in the dog house...not that type player
- wiz1901

The 3 from Boston is the 4th line. Daddy plays top 6.

I'd like to see a trade down in the 1st round and then select Marat Khusnutdinov. Wiz has him going 30th so maybe the Hawks can package #17 and Maatta for NJ's #20 and Jesper Boqvist.

And yes, I know, Khusnutdinov is only 5'9" but he plays bigger than that. Very good quickness and speed and skill, win draws, plays very well defensively and he has a non-stop motor and sticks his nose in it all over the ice. I just watched all of his shifts in a game and he is now on my wish list.
- EbonyRaptor

I've seen his name brought up a number of times. What is so intriguing about him? Certainly not prolific. More of a defensive specialist?

The NBC announcers kept talking that Vancouver is like the 09 Blackhawks. If that is the case, I feel better about the Hawks, because I think Vancouver looked worse in game 1 than anyy of the 5 Hawk games against Vegas

I've seen his name brought up a number of times. What is so intriguing about him? Certainly not prolific. More of a defensive specialist?
- Chunk

Nothing overwhelmingly intriguing ... yet. More upside potential than he's shown so far. And, it's more about unloading Maatta's cap hit and taking an ELC back.

Detroit signs Fabbri 2 x 2.95M. I'm sure Strome's agent will bring that up in his contract negotiations

Stan needs to do something bold. If he brings back the same guys, they're again a bubble payoff team. And they're clearly not ready to contend for the Stanley Cup.


Kane & Towes aren't going anywhere. Faces of the franchise, it's likely they retire as Blackhawks. Seabrook isn't waiving, and no GM would want him until they see if his surgeries have taken him back in time. That leaves Duncan Keith.

I DO NOT WANT TO THE HAWKS TO TRADE DUNCAN KEITH. But, he's the one guy that can bring something valuable back. He has 3 years left at $5.5M. He has stated he wants to win. He also sounds disenchanted with the current head coach. He's bitter JC favored Gustafsson over him, stated that the NHL isn't a developmental league, stated he wants to win, etc. He might be enticed to waive if he doesn't think the Hawks can get back to being contenders before his career ends.

TOR has glaring needs at defense, and a plethora of young, dynamic forwards. Would they want an experienced vet to help them down the playoff road. Would Duncan waive to go there? I'd say yes. Perhaps their are other teams that would desire a 3 time SC Champ, Norris & Conn Smythe winning, Gold Medal winning, 'A' wearing defenseman.

Keith + for a TOR forward +.
- scottak

Hearing his last interview, I think Seabrook is more willing to waive than many think. He was emphatic that he thinks he can be a plus defender and that he wants to play, not just be on the roster.

On the flip side (and I've been trying to find the article) Keith was warmer to the direction of the team and had no intention of going anywhere when asked if he would consider going to a team in better position.

I'm sure a lot of that is just talk, but I don't think it can be completely discounted. That said, Keith for Kapanen would be something to consider if on the table.

And DarthKane in 3... 2... 1.

The NBC announcers kept talking that Vancouver is like the 09 Blackhawks. If that is the case, I feel better about the Hawks, because I think Vancouver looked worse in game 1 than anyy of the 5 Hawk games against Vegas
- LAHawk

I thought the same but didn't want to make too much of it because it's only one game. But, you're right, Vegas dominated play for the majority of the games, even the one the Hawks won, but the Hawks had some good stretches in each game that I didn't see Vancouver have last night. Vegas dominated for the full 60 minutes.

The thing we lamented the most was our d-zone play and Vancouver didn't handle their forecheck puck possession game any better than the Hawks did. We'll see how Vancouver does in Game#2.

Let's be brutally honest:
The entire Hawk defense is in need of an upgrade.

There are no parts that, at this juncture, are untouchables.

That doesn't mean that they are not locked in on vets, mid level contracted defenders and the youth movement, but I really don't see enough there to safely say the unit is going to lead the team to an upward trajectory.

I am not sure the new NHL, the present NHL, is one where teams can make sweeping overalls at a position.

I just keep thinking about various defenseman who fell out of favor with their original teams and were able to improve enough to fit into other team's systems, and surrounded by strong depth at dee now succeed in their own right.

When I look at other teams, I see more than one bigger defender who has managed to fit nicely in rotations and are pluses on their teams.

Without getting into specifics (b/c I can't take the time to review my brains on them all) I am talking how everybody from newbies like John Marino, Jake Whitecloud, rebuilds Jamie Oleksiak, to 3rd rounders like Colton Parayko & Joel Edmundson, and the under-rated Marco Scandella all added some size and enough skate and skill to handle play-off duties.

Sure, it is difficult to get bigger guys and you are better tp grow your own, but if what we have back there truly doesn't seem to be working at handling the attackers and you can get guys who push the pace and meet out playoff contact, I am not locked on keeping any hawk defender during the rebuild.

Stan needs to do something bold. If he brings back the same guys, they're again a bubble payoff team. And they're clearly not ready to contend for the Stanley Cup.


Kane & Towes aren't going anywhere. Faces of the franchise, it's likely they retire as Blackhawks. Seabrook isn't waiving, and no GM would want him until they see if his surgeries have taken him back in time. That leaves Duncan Keith.

I DO NOT WANT TO THE HAWKS TO TRADE DUNCAN KEITH. But, he's the one guy that can bring something valuable back. He has 3 years left at $5.5M. He has stated he wants to win. He also sounds disenchanted with the current head coach. He's bitter JC favored Gustafsson over him, stated that the NHL isn't a developmental league, stated he wants to win, etc. He might be enticed to waive if he doesn't think the Hawks can get back to being contenders before his career ends.

TOR has glaring needs at defense, and a plethora of young, dynamic forwards. Would they want an experienced vet to help them down the playoff road. Would Duncan waive to go there? I'd say yes. Perhaps their are other teams that would desire a 3 time SC Champ, Norris & Conn Smythe winning, Gold Medal winning, 'A' wearing defenseman.

Keith + for a TOR forward +.
- scottak

Maatta and Nylander to the Leafs for two of Kerfoot, Johnson, Kapanen. Hawks get 2 top 9 forwards. Leafs get a capable D, 2M in cap space and the potential upside of Nylander.

Leafs fans will go ballistic with 2 Nylanders on the team.

I'd like to see a trade down in the 1st round and then select Marat Khusnutdinov. Wiz has him going 30th so maybe the Hawks can package #17 and Maatta for NJ's #20 and Jesper Boqvist.

And yes, I know, Khusnutdinov is only 5'9" but he plays bigger than that. Very good quickness and speed and skill, win draws, plays very well defensively and he has a non-stop motor and sticks his nose in it all over the ice. I just watched all of his shifts in a game and he is now on my wish list.
- EbonyRaptor

Khusnutdinov is a C prospect I would consider in the 20-range but could be a dark horse at 17th. What you described is what attracted me to his style, too.

Can you imagine a line with Khusnutdinov with Altybarmakyan? Foley would have a field day.

Wait for 2017 draftee Parker Foo to develop to balance out letter overload.

Khusnutdinov - Foo - Altybarmakyan

The leafs are looking for right handed defencemen,why not trade Murphy to them and pick up kapenen.I think that the Hawks wil give Mitchell a chance to make the team and we get more scoring for our top 9.
- Tatoo

If Murphy is traded to the Leafs, salary would come back in the form of Johnsson, Kapanen, or Kerfoot as each earns around the same amount Murphy does (# of years vary).