One snippet from a joint article in the Athletic by Powers and Lazerus:

"A source recently indicated the Blackhawks’ priority is to give more and more younger players NHL opportunities next season. They know what they have in their veterans. They want to find out what they have in their prospects. They believe it’s going to be through the younger players that they’ll find success again."

Glad to hear Bowman state that the team is trending toward the youth who will be given the chance to play and be the next leaders of the Hawks.

Fleury - 2 years left at $7MM each - how does that work?

And if Vegas agrees to eat - what - half of his salary - what asset(s) do the Hawks have to give up to get him?

For me, it’s either Crawford at a reasonable price, a cheap UFA, or Subban-Delia-Lankinen-Tompkins.
- StLBravesFan

Sorry, I thought the original question was a hypothetical where Fleury was bought out.

Fleury - 2 years left at $7MM each - how does that work?

And if Vegas agrees to eat - what - half of his salary - what asset(s) do the Hawks have to give up to get him?

For me, it’s either Crawford at a reasonable price, a cheap UFA, or Subban-Delia-Lankinen-Tompkins.
- StLBravesFan

You totally misread my post. First my thesis is Fleury gets bought out. Second, if you were let’s say Carolina, who would you sign for a year at minimum? Fleury, Lundqvist or Crow?

Sorry, I thought the original question was a hypothetical where Fleury was bought out.
- Chunk

Well, maybe it was and I misunderstood.

A sound byte from Bowman in the Powers/Lazerus article in the Athletic:

"Nobody’s injured right now. You’re looking at your team and trying to see how you might make some changes."

If that's true, then Seabrook and Shaw are ready to go for training camp.

Also, no major injuries seemed to have been sustained during the two series played in the postseason.

Fleury - 2 years left at $7MM each - how does that work?

And if Vegas agrees to eat - what - half of his salary - what asset(s) do the Hawks have to give up to get him?

For me, it’s either Crawford at a reasonable price, a cheap UFA, or Subban-Delia-Lankinen-Tompkins.
- StLBravesFan

You totally misread my post. First my thesis is Fleury gets bought out. Second, if you were let’s say Carolina, who would you sign for a year at minimum? Fleury, Lundqvist or Crow?

That is if Croe decides greener pastures elsewhere

You totally misread my post. First my thesis is Fleury gets bought out. Second, if you were let’s say Carolina, who would you sign for a year at minimum? Fleury, Lundqvist or Crow?
- LAHawk

My error, then.

My error, then.
- StLBravesFan

No problem. I can see Vegas signing Lehner, buying out Fleury, and bring Lundqvist in at a million.

And then Murray getting traded and Pittsburgh signs Fleury for a million.

"We don't have any forwards with size", but trading two of the ones we do have to get one? Size - to a degree - is overrated. We've had big guys on the team who can't play hockey. John Q, John Scott, Bollig, Mashinter. If you can find a guy with size that can play, great, but you will have to pay up for him as well.

I also think the "we don't have any size" mantra is a bit overblown.

Toews: 6'2" - 201
Strome: 6'3" - 200
Saad: 6'1" 206
Nylander: 6'1" 195
Kubalik: 6'2" 185
Kampf: 6'2" 190
Dach: 6'4" 200
Carpenter: 6' 200

de Haan: 6'1 200
Maatta: 6'2 206
Keith: 6'1" 195
Murphy: 6'4" 212
Seabrook: 6'3" 220

End of the day... find good hockey players. If they have notable size, great, that's a bonus.
- Chunk

So you think these guys with so called "size" play a big or heavy game then? Because that's how Greenway plays.

One sound byte from Bowman today (pulled from a joint article in the Athletic by Powers and Lazerus):

"A source recently indicated the Blackhawks’ priority is to give more and more younger players NHL opportunities next season. They know what they have in their veterans. They want to find out what they have in their prospects. They believe it’s going to be through the younger players that they’ll find success again."

Glad to hear Bowman state that the team is trending toward the youth who will be given the chance to play and be the next leaders of the Hawks.
- Theo Fox

If they actually go this route, then I am all in! There are tons of built in excuses structures that allow for flexibility. Condensed schedule? Give some guys a night off. Possible shorter season with no fans in the stands? You can (sort of) hide a bad season without losing ticket sales. The only thing they would need to do is go on a bit of a run to end the year to keep people interested and hopeful, and show some progression from the young guys.

I'm simplifying here, but I think this is absolutely the way to go.

No problem. I can see Vegas signing Lehner, buying out Fleury, and bring Lundqvist in at a million.

And then Murray getting traded and Pittsburgh signs Fleury for a million.
- LAHawk

You think they'd buy Fleury out and have four years of dead cap space? They'll need cap space as much as anyone.

My gut is that Schneider, Guhle, and Askarov won't be available once we get to 17th so by default the Hawks will be drafting a forward. There are more F options to consider in the teens than D and G.
- Theo Fox

I think Kaiden Guhle may be there at slot #17 because he really doesn't have offensive game close to in place. His shot is accurate but below average, he hasn't developed the jump in the play skill and really is far from a guy you consider an attacker. A superior skater and physical MF.

One snippet from a joint article in the Athletic by Powers and Lazerus:

"A source recently indicated the Blackhawks’ priority is to give more and more younger players NHL opportunities next season. They know what they have in their veterans. They want to find out what they have in their prospects. They believe it’s going to be through the younger players that they’ll find success again."

Glad to hear Bowman state that the team is trending toward the youth who will be given the chance to play and be the next leaders of the Hawks.
- Theo Fox

Great Blog Theo!
Problem is, I know you build a team from more than the AHL, but when was the last time Rockford was any good, even above average let alone top echelon?

You think they'd buy Fleury out and have four years of dead cap space? They'll need cap space as much as anyone.
- GPHawksfan

How else are they going to get rid of that contract?

If they actually go this route, then I am all in! There are tons of built in excuses structures that allow for flexibility. Condensed schedule? Give some guys a night off. Possible shorter season with no fans in the stands? You can (sort of) hide a bad season without losing ticket sales. The only thing they would need to do is go on a bit of a run to end the year to keep people interested and hopeful, and show some progression from the young guys.

I'm simplifying here, but I think this is absolutely the way to go.
- Chunk

If that is the case, Saad to Montreal for the 15th pick, Murphy to Toronto for the 16th pick.

If that is the case, Saad to Montreal for the 15th pick, Murphy to Toronto for the 16th pick.
- LAHawk

I think the Bruins did that a few years ago and botched that draft. Would Stan do better with Holloway, Guhle, and Zary for example?

If that is the case, Saad to Montreal for the 15th pick, Murphy to Toronto for the 16th pick.
- LAHawk

That would be like the Bruins drafting Zboril, DeBrusk, and Senyshyn 13th, 14th, and 15th in 2015. Can you imagine the Hawks drafting 3 in a row at 15th, 16th, and 17th?

Imagine something like this: Mercer, Lapierre, and Holloway. Or any other trio that tickles your fancy.

I think the Bruins did that a few years ago and botched that draft. Would Stan do better with Holloway, Guhle, and Zary for example?
- ikeane

Beat me to it -- nice post!

Great Blog Theo!
Problem is, I know you build a team from more than the AHL, but when was the last time Rockford was any good, even above average let alone top echelon?
- rpeters01

Ever since the Hogs became the Hawks AHL affiliate in 2007-08, here are the numbers in 13 seasons:

Made the playoffs 6 times with the deepest run in 2017-18 when Jeremy Colliton was head coach getting them to the conference finals.

Missed the playoffs 6 times and this year there were no playoffs at all.

The Hogs won 40 or more games 7 times with the last time being Colliton's first season (again in 2017-18).

Then the Hogs won 35 or more games 11 times in 13 seasons.

The only losing seasons were Ted Dent's final season as head coach in 2016-17 and this past season with a 29-30-0-2 record under Derek King.

Also, the AHL regular season is a tad shorter than the NHL regular season. Used to be 80 games but has been 76 games ever since 2011-12.

That would be like the Bruins drafting Zboril, DeBrusk, and Senyshyn 13th, 14th, and 15th in 2015. Can you imagine the Hawks drafting 3 in a row at 15th, 16th, and 17th?

Imagine something like this: Mercer, Lapierre, and Holloway. Or any other trio that tickles your fancy.
- Theo Fox

Saad will most likely be gone either in the off season or at the TDL. If what Bowman said is true, your RD is Bovquist, Mitchell, Seabrook, and maybe KK. Do you think you could get more for Murphy? Might as well stock piling picks if the Hawks want to get younger.

"We don't have any forwards with size", but trading two of the ones we do have to get one? Size - to a degree - is overrated. We've had big guys on the team who can't play hockey. John Q, John Scott, Bollig, Mashinter. If you can find a guy with size that can play, great, but you will have to pay up for him as well.

I also think the "we don't have any size" mantra is a bit overblown.
Toews: 6'2" - 201
Strome: 6'3" - 200
Saad: 6'1" 206
Nylander: 6'1" 195
Kubalik: 6'2" 185
Kampf: 6'2" 190
Dach: 6'4" 200
Carpenter: 6' 200

de Haan: 6'1 200
Maatta: 6'2 206
Keith: 6'1" 195
Murphy: 6'4" 212
Seabrook: 6'3" 220

End of the day... find good hockey players. If they have notable size, great, that's a bonus.
- Chunk

Its really not about size but mentality and commitment to playing physical and winning board battles and compete hard every shift like its the last shift.

Corey has more competition. Lundqvist bought out, Fleury probably being bought out, both have made are making plenty of money so money would be no issue with either. And both have had better health the last few years than Crow. If you had the pick of the 3, which would you take for a season?
- LAHawk

Fleruy crow lundqvist in that order

Its really not about size but mentality and commitment to playing physical and winning board battles and compete hard every shift like its the last shift.
- Scott1977

Exactly. In the 1st round series versus the Golden Knights, I kept cursing a certain player who was dishing out hits and playing a suffocating style on both ends of the rink.

When I looked closely to see who it was, it ended up being Jonathan Marchessault. All 5'9" 180 pounds of him. Pesky and skilled.

And that's saying a lot from a team that also has Ryan Reaves and William Carrier.

Saad will most likely be gone either in the off season or at the TDL. If what Bowman said is true, your RD is Bovquist, Mitchell, Seabrook, and maybe KK. Do you think you could get more for Murphy? Might as well stock piling picks if the Hawks want to get younger.
- LAHawk

I would think with his contract, he would be a very sought after player. You could probably get a really good haul for him.

Fleruy crow lundqvist in that order
- Scott1977

Trade Murphy and prospect and 4th to Toronto for 15th saad and 2nd and 3rd to Montreal for 16th and poheling Matta and 5th to Detroit cap dump buy out smith sign Kubalik to 2 year 3.5 million per year. Strome to minn for greenway and 2nd draft holloway lappierre and gulie. Now i ll stop drinking my whiskey.