The Hawks could always sign him as a free agent for less than the qualifying offer. They can probably get him for less than 1M.
- boilermaker100

Rather a bigger version of Caggulia plus has concussion issues love what he brought but move on imo.

Rather a bigger version of Caggulia plus has concussion issues love what he brought but move on imo.
- Scott1977

Can't disagree wait and see what's out there? If he takes QO you are stuck with him if something better comes along.

While he's not the same type of player, would Kahun be a better depth forward for the Hawks? He's not as physical, but he'll play more and have more offensive output.
- DarthKane

Yes and no i think hawks need to add some sandpaper and grit to their line cannot count on shaw and hate to say it brace yourself elbows smith to be that sandpaper and grit the hawks need.

Can't disagree wait and see what's out there? If he takes QO you are stuck with him if something better comes along.
- rpeters01

If nothing really makes sense then always circle back to Caggulia if he still available.

Good stuff, I saw that and tried to figure out why. My guess is that the guys in R3-7 have one thing that they do really well, and teams hope they can round out their games, while the undrafted guys are much more well rounded, but do not have any 1 really strong attribute. They end up being the muckers and grinders, that are essential to winning teams, while the 1 dimensional guys never seem to improve their deficiencies.
- scottak

Many of the undrafted are probably guys like Panarin?

While he's not the same type of player, would Kahun be a better depth forward for the Hawks? He's not as physical, but he'll play more and have more offensive output.
- DarthKane

Would he want to come back? I always liked Kahun & he'd have a fellow buddy in our new draft pick, in due time, & I think Kampf.

Idk, not the same type of player, it erases one need (physicality) & replaces it with another need (better scorer.) We have Highmore & Shaw for physicality ... how long or hard to play against is that? I guess you could ask the same questions with Caggiula in the line-up too with his health.

Youth movement is slowly happening. You can only do so much with Kane, Toews, Keith, & Seabs. I'm in favor of them retiring hawks, but at the same time, they fully inhibit injecting youth in the lineup & rebuilding. Great mentors, imo. Plus, no one would take them in a trade/the return would be nowhere near what we would want back.

While he's not the same type of player, would Kahun be a better depth forward for the Hawks? He's not as physical, but he'll play more and have more offensive output.
- DarthKane

the non-tendered that would interest me are Elie, Verhaege, Walmark, and Hawryluk, each for a different reason.

Good stuff, I saw that and tried to figure out why. My guess is that the guys in R3-7 have one thing that they do really well, and teams hope they can round out their games, while the undrafted guys are much more well rounded, but do not have any 1 really strong attribute. They end up being the muckers and grinders, that are essential to winning teams, while the 1 dimensional guys never seem to improve their deficiencies.
- scottak

When you hear guys like Wiz talk about "tiers" of talent in the draft, this is a perfect indication. Most times, there is a HUGE gap in the talent between the Tiers. While in a deep draft the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 may not seem like much, the drop to Tiers 3, 4, etc. is significant. It's sometimes difficult to project where kids 18-20 years old will be when they fully mature, and there are always cases of guys who develop later, hit a late growth spurt, work their asses off, etc. which is where you see many of the 3-7 round guys.

Undrafted guys are various reasons, they come from small programs or haven't had great exposure, they start late in Hockey so develop a little later, they had injury concerns, etc.

As an example, I have a kid who played Club Hockey in college at a major D1 Hockey school. The teams in the league are packed with AAA and Jr. players so plenty of quality talent. One year a kid recruited for the D1 team joined the school mid year. To keep him skating, they placed him on the Club team. He lit the league up, averaging like 3 points a game, you could see his talent. The next couple of years on the D1 team, he played in only a handful of games and scored only a few goals in his D1 college career. The jump from D1 Club to NCAA D1 was HUGE. Only a few of the guys on the D1 team were drafted, Only a couple made it to the NHL, Only 1 can be considered a star. The gaps between each level are significant.

"Normal times" is key. Stagnat cap is forcing a lot to happen.
- I Am The Breadman

Arbitration will be interesting. If arbitrator's use past salaries, what else are they going to do they will turn the players into UFA's because nobody will be able to pay it. Same as Chicago did with Niemi after 2010.

Arbitration will be interesting. If arbitrator's use past salaries, what else are they going to do they will turn the players into UFA's because nobody will be able to pay it. Same as Chicago did with Niemi after 2010.
- rpeters01

When you find out how loyal a player really is. I see something similar happening as well.

When you hear guys like Wiz talk about "tiers" of talent in the draft, this is a perfect indication. Most times, there is a HUGE gap in the talent between the Tiers. While in a deep draft the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 may not seem like much, the drop to Tiers 3, 4, etc. is significant. It's sometimes difficult to project where kids 18-20 years old will be when they fully mature, and there are always cases of guys who develop later, hit a late growth spurt, work their asses off, etc. which is where you see many of the 3-7 round guys.

Undrafted guys are various reasons, they come from small programs or haven't had great exposure, they start late in Hockey so develop a little later, they had injury concerns, etc.

As an example, I have a kid who played Club Hockey in college at a major D1 Hockey school. The teams in the league are packed with AAA and Jr. players so plenty of quality talent. One year a kid recruited for the D1 team joined the school mid year. To keep him skating, they placed him on the Club team. He lit the league up, averaging like 3 points a game, you could see his talent. The next couple of years on the D1 team, he played in only a handful of games and scored only a few goals in his D1 college career. The jump from D1 Club to NCAA D1 was HUGE. Only a few of the guys on the D1 team were drafted, Only a couple made it to the NHL, Only 1 can be considered a star. The gaps between each level are significant.
- TheTrob

Paraphrasing what someone once said, even if you play only 1 game in the NHL you are a great hockey player.

Not so sure if "great" is a accurate term, but anyone who plays a NHL game is better than 99.9% of anyone that has played the game.

Perlini another ex-Hawk RFA that wasn't qualified.

Paraphrasing what someone once said, even if you play only 1 game in the NHL you are a great hockey player.

Not so sure if "great" is a accurate term, but anyone who plays a NHL game is better than 99.9% of anyone that has played the game.
- boilermaker100

Correct. So what the percentage of players that become stars or even career NHL players?......its such a small percent, which means fretting over the picks in rounds 3-7 is an exercise in futility. You pick what you think will project to NHL, and you hope, knowing the percentages are very small.

the non-tendered that would interest me are Elie, Verhaege, Walmark, and Hawryluk, each for a different reason.
- LAHawk

Walmark center if remember really good on face offs. 2 way player but i could be wrong

people that had ARB rights people did not want to qualify. because no one knows how they are going to use other salaries compared to the cap. even if they say the the cap is down 4-5% from last year and they feel the kK and Cags would have gotten $2 mil last year that means they get 1.9 (ie 5% less) but with the cap actually going down the real amount people like them is going to get is more like 1.2. or 40% less once the UFA starts. I think its possible 1 or both could be back depending on what people offer on the UFA market.

Correct. So what the percentage of players that become stars or even career NHL players?......its such a small percent, which means fretting over the picks in rounds 3-7 is an exercise in futility. You pick what you think will project to NHL, and you hope, knowing the percentages are very small.
- TheTrob

Well said. Even with advancements in scouting, metrics etc., it's still pretty much a crapshoot.

Good stuff, I saw that and tried to figure out why. My guess is that the guys in R3-7 have one thing that they do really well, and teams hope they can round out their games, while the undrafted guys are much more well rounded, but do not have any 1 really strong attribute. They end up being the muckers and grinders, that are essential to winning teams, while the 1 dimensional guys never seem to improve their deficiencies.
- scottak

Drafted players are generally 18 year olds. Undrafted players are much older. (UFA's from EU or college juniors and seniors.) The older the player the better idea you have of what you are getting in that player.

Walmark center if remember really good on face offs. 2 way player but i could be wrong
- Scott1977

Yes would be a nice 3/4 line center.

11:26am et - Aaron Portzline of the Athletic reports the Columbus Blue Jackets will waive Alex Wennberg for purposes of a buyout at Noon et. today.

TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli reported earlier this week the Blue Jackets were heading towards a buyout for Wennberg with no takers on the trade front.

Wennberg, 26, 6'2" 197 lb, is signed through the 2022-23 season at a $4.9 million cap hit. A buyout would save Columbus $10.7 million in real cash and result in clearing $4.46 million in cap space in each of the next three seasons.

Wennberg had five goals and 22 points in 57 games this past season, adding three goals and five points in 10 games during the Return to Play.

Interested? If you are, what would be a reasonable offer? Better or worse than Strome at this point in their careers.

The New Jersey Devils will place goaltender Cory Schneider on waivers Thursday for purposes of a buyout.

The New Jersey Devils will place goaltender Cory Schneider on waivers Thursday for purposes of a buyout.
- LAHawk

Avoid at all costs

11:26am et - Aaron Portzline of the Athletic reports the Columbus Blue Jackets will waive Alex Wennberg for purposes of a buyout at Noon et. today.

TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli reported earlier this week the Blue Jackets were heading towards a buyout for Wennberg with no takers on the trade front.

Wennberg, 26, is signed through the 2022-23 season at a $4.9 million cap hit. A buyout would save Columbus $10.7 million in real cash and result in clearing $4.46 million in cap space in each of the next three seasons.

Wennberg had five goals and 22 points in 57 games this past season, adding three goals and five points in 10 games during the Return to Play.

Interested? If you are, what would be a reasonable offer?
- -Doh-

I would not be, not the skillset the Hawks need, even if they trade/lose Strome to an offer sheet.

I wonder if Troy Stecher (apologies if I misspelled it) is worth kicking the tires on.

11:26am et - Aaron Portzline of the Athletic reports the Columbus Blue Jackets will waive Alex Wennberg for purposes of a buyout at Noon et. today.

TSN Senior Hockey Reporter Frank Seravalli reported earlier this week the Blue Jackets were heading towards a buyout for Wennberg with no takers on the trade front.

Wennberg, 26, 6'2" 197 lb, is signed through the 2022-23 season at a $4.9 million cap hit. A buyout would save Columbus $10.7 million in real cash and result in clearing $4.46 million in cap space in each of the next three seasons.

Wennberg had five goals and 22 points in 57 games this past season, adding three goals and five points in 10 games during the Return to Play.

Interested? If you are, what would be a reasonable offer? Better or worse than Strome at this point in their careers.
- -Doh-

At the right price, sure. But where does he play? 3rd line (no longer second line center) Problem is he's 45% at the dot, and his scoring has been on the decline. With a number of RFA's on the market rather take a chance on one of them.

I wonder if Troy Stecher (apologies if I misspelled it) is worth kicking the tires on.
- hpk90

Would be a good partner for Murphy imo