Really? Cause they lost Pietro and Krug is no Pietro.
- Elbows15

Yes this is true . I feel a little better .

I think many people underestimate zadorov imo . He plays solid hockey defensively wise. I'd pair him with boqvist

As far as chicago pipeline I honestly don't think anyone currently their is either ready or a game changer .
- Taylorst1

He plays solid defense when facing the lowest QOC of other teams, though. He hasn't shown much yet to warrant a trade for a top 6 defender, especially to retain. Why not retain more to get a better deal somewhere? Imo waiting until Hall was settled might have been best since the rest would have been looking to alternatives, like Saad.

I mean, they pretty much turned Panarin into a bottom pairing d-man. That's not great, no matter how you slice it.

Not thrilled with the trade. Gilbert is the one player who will stand up for guys and is cheap and we include him when we didnt have to. Z can hit but cant fight for poop. Lindbohlm is a spot filler in the ahl. Should of got a pick or another player in the trade like aj Greer or compher. And we retain how does stan still have a job?

As currently constructed, who is your top 6?

Kubalik Toews Pius
Cat Dach Kane ?
- SoftServe

Was thinking they must be really high on Suter when they made this trade.

Honestly I've never seen him, so can't say. Never saw Kubalik either though.

How does Bowman still have a job?

Not thrilled with the trade. Gilbert is the one player who will stand up for guys and is cheap and we include him when we didnt have to. Z can hit but cant fight for poop. Lindbohlm is a spot filler in the ahl. Should of got a pick or another player in the trade like aj Greer or compher. And we retain how does stan still have a job?
- vandymeer23

Gilbert, really?

The bis difference between Maatts and Zadorov is the much needed physicality that Zadorov brings and Maatta doesn't. That's been a theme for years around here - need more physicality. Well now we have some.
- EbonyRaptor

But they lost some of the only physicality they had in the forward group with Saad. And not to mention defensive capability. Suter gets his chance at the top 6, which is good, but you've lost size with that swap since Suter is Kane sized.

Maatta is on par defensively (better on the PK) and offensively but slightly less physica than Zadorov but you've subtracted defense from the forward group so ultimately made the team worse for only minimal cap space to show for it.

Gilbert, really?
- vabeachbear

Who else in the system is a tough willing player? Riley McKay who we just signed in rockford

Well, at least they recognized they got shoved around in the playoffs. Not sure trading one of your strongest forwards is a way to rectify it, tho.

Have to wonder what Wyatt Kalnyuk is thinking with the Blackhawks stockpiling defensemen. Maybe should have signed elsewhere....

You're really not happy about this are you
- vabeachbear

You don’t F over guys that won you Cups. There was a deal for CC between what Stan offered and what he got from NJ. And this deal isn’t good.

They’re going to lose the support of the core. M6 fear is they get off to a slow start 1.1.21, and ‘Good Ship Blackhawk’ heads straight for the iceberg.

Well, at least they recognized they got shoved around in the playoffs. Not sure trading one of your strongest forwards is a way to rectify it, tho.
- Elbows15

They dealt from one area of weakness to try to cover another area of weakness. This hurts more than it helps, short or long term imo.

Unless something magical happens with the cap space which seems unlikely.

Zadorov signed a 1-year deal but then he's still RFA so the Hawks still own his right after the 2021 season.
- EbonyRaptor

The point remains. Zadorov is a flip candidate at the TDL.

Can Stan be preparing an offer sheet. Barzal Corelli Reinhardt, DuBois.

The point remains. Zadorov is a flip candidate at the TDL.
- Elbows15

Saad was a better candidate for that.

Know if the Hawks made this move, (spend all of Pietro money on Krug and Faulk) this board would be going nuts.

But ignore that, as I know, Armstrong is the smartest GM in the league...........
- vabeachbear

Very true, no problem with the Z trade, i think he's better than Maatta and he's entering his prime as a dman. If he's consistent in his own end I'm good with this trade. Nice to have a guy with size and some skill on the back end

Who else in the system is a tough willing player? Riley McKay who we just signed in rockford
- vandymeer23

You really think Gilbert was ever going to be up with the Hawks?

They dealt from one area of weakness to try to cover another area of weakness. This hurts more than it helps, short or long term imo.

Unless something magical happens with the cap space which seems unlikely.
- L_B_R

Oh. I am not happy about the trade at all. I am trying not to over-react since it really doesn't matter in the short-term. They are not going to be good next season.

I am more concerned cause I thought they could get a better return for Saad in the terms of future assets. I.E, picks/prospects. Especially with retaining.

Nylander. Its sink or swim, kid.
- Elbows15

That’s not gonna end well.

I get the reaction to the trade, but lets wait for the team to fully come together before judging too much. Plus, I recall the initial reactions to acquiring Murphy and Oduya (the first time) were quite negative but they worked out ok.

Could Stan have done better? Possibly. Probably. I would have rather a 1st round pick or Jost, but I don’t think the deal is horrible.

Saad was a better candidate for that.
- Tyler Cameron

I know. But Zadorov is big and tuff and playoff teams like that going into the playoff so maybe the Hawks can get some future assets for him since they pissed away the chance to do it with Saad.

How does Bowman still have a job?
- Bhawks2585

Nepotism.

He plays solid defense when facing the lowest QOC of other teams, though. He hasn't shown much yet to warrant a trade for a top 6 defender, especially to retain. Why not retain more to get a better deal somewhere? Imo waiting until Hall was settled might have been best since the rest would have been looking to alternatives, like Saad.

I mean, they pretty much turned Panarin into a bottom pairing d-man. That's not great, no matter how you slice it.
- L_B_R

I would of waited till the trade deadline myself but maybe Bowman is tired of not getting what he wants at the trade deadline. Could be he shopped Saad last year deadline and was offered crap in return

Can Stan be preparing an offer sheet. Barzal Corelli Reinhardt, DuBois.
- LAHawk

Highly doubtful

He plays solid defense when facing the lowest QOC of other teams, though. He hasn't shown much yet to warrant a trade for a top 6 defender, especially to retain. Why not retain more to get a better deal somewhere? Imo waiting until Hall was settled might have been best since the rest would have been looking to alternatives, like Saad.

I mean, they pretty much turned Panarin into a bottom pairing d-man. That's not great, no matter how you slice it.
- L_B_R

We both agree stans signings and trades have not worked out in Chicago favor. While everyone applaud stan for his ability to be the gm who s tean won 3 cups. We all know Chicago talent level was amazing , not much changed a few pieces here and their but stan moved out plenty of young talent and the returns we have nothing to point to at this point to say that move 5 years ago is paying off.


I blame Rocky ultimately for putting loyalty above winning . Its one thing to allow stan some leeway but after 2017 stan should have been released