What will they do with Nylander is my question?

If these are the top 6 forwards, Nylander is on the outside looking in as he doesn’t fit the 3/4 lines.

Kubalik/Toews/Kane
ADB/Dach/Strome
- Assman22

The Strome at wing experiment didn’t work out well last season, he’ll be back down the middle on the 3rd line. Janmark will move to wing.

Looking at Capfriendly to see what teams need to get under the cap, and Vegas stood out to me. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THEY ALMOST $2M UNDER THE CAP WITH $12M IN NET?????

Looking at Capfriendly to see what teams need to get under the cap, and Vegas stood out to me. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THEY ALMOST $2M UNDER THE CAP WITH $12M IN NET?????
- tvetter

They shaved 5.6M off their cap by trading Stasny's 6.5M and got ex Hawk Dahlstrom in return.

Looking at Capfriendly to see what teams need to get under the cap, and Vegas stood out to me. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THEY ALMOST $2M UNDER THE CAP WITH $12M IN NET?????
- tvetter

They were able to offload Stasny for nothing.

Highmore is not a stud. He should be in Rockford. He gives you 100 percent which all NHL players should. But he is nothing special.

The Strome at wing experiment didn’t work out well last season, he’ll be back down the middle on the 3rd line. Janmark will move to wing.
- DarthKane

It was tried on the fly in the middle of the season. I think he could do alright on the wing, if he goes into the season knowing that's his position. Sign him, and tell him he's moving to wing, give him a training camp, and see how it goes. I only say this because I see Dach as 2C, and don't see Strome being an effective 3C.
Personally I would love to see Toews-Kane-Kubalik for the entire season. When's the last time Toews had 2 linemates who had plus shots?

I’d rather have Kahun over Janmark.

During his time here Kahun and DeBrincat played together a lot and experienced success. Bring back Kahun and reunit him with the Cat.
- DarthKane

Kahun is the better player - no doubt. Better offensively by leaps and bounds, and gets paid more for it. Janmark is faster, plays with an edge and is better defensively than Kahun. I'd rather have Janmark in this case.

They may need it at the TDL to pick up a bad expiring contract and another asset.
- -Doh-

Having Cap Space in the current environment can be very, very beneficial.

They were able to offload Stasny for nothing.
- LAHawk

Oh yeah, forgot about that! Thanks

Highmore is not a stud. He should be in Rockford. He gives you 100 percent which all NHL players should. But he is nothing special.
- vandymeer23

Ya, I wouldn't say a stud, but there were nights where the 4th line was to best to watch.

Thought they were better when Hagel was up also.

Not a Kampf or Carpenter fan.

They shaved 5.6M off their cap by trading Stasny's 6.5M and got ex Hawk Dahlstrom in return.
- boilermaker100

so if Paul Stasny is worth Carl Dahlstrom, maybe Brandon Saad is only worth Nikita Zadorov.

Highmore is not a stud. He should be in Rockford. He gives you 100 percent which all NHL players should. But he is nothing special.
- vandymeer23

Kampf I’d keep on the 4th line, I like Highmore but he can go, same with Carpenter. A 4th line of Janmark-Kampf-Shaw is much better than Highmore-Kampf-Carpenter.

so if Paul Stasny is worth Carl Dahlstrom, maybe Brandon Saad is only worth Nikita Zadorov.
- LAHawk

The thing about Zadorov that’s interesting is the one year deal. Was that signed pre or post trade?

Correction

Cap update

14 forward - With Strome (at $2.5mil), Suter, and Smith included.
Kane, Toews, ADB, Carp, Dach, Kampf, Nylander, Highmore, Shaw, Janmark, Suter, Kubalik, Smith, and Strome.

7 defenders -
Seabs, Keith, Murphy, Zadorov, DeHaan, Boqvist, and one of Carlsson, Mitchell, Kalynuk.

2 goalies -
(pick your poison from Delia, Lankinen, Subban)

Plus salary retained on Saad/Maatta.

$77.9 mil
$81.5 mil Cap ceiling
$ 3.6 mil available under the cap

You can decide when they LTIR Smith (or what they do with him). But that is another $3.25 mil.
- -Doh-

I believe the Hawks, knowing Smith is goin on LTIR on Day 2, could keep the 13th forward (Suter) and the 7th defender (Carlsson) at the Rock for day 1 and thereby create about another $1.8mil in Summer cap space. I could be wrong.

Stan's previous boss was into retooling (nibbling around the edges because "one goal"). Rocky and Danny have given Stan a new business plan. He is starting to implement that. Weather you agree with this years deals or not, you cannot say Stan is not capable or does not have the stomach for it, because he was told not to do it.
- LAHawk

This.

And of those ten teams, who knows how many had cap space and were looking to add a veteran winger? One, two? - certainly not all ten.

Sakic knew the situation Stan was dealing with - and used his leverage well.

I hope Stan starts to realize that NMCs/NTCs are sometimes worse than going a little more on $/term with a player’s contract.
- Chief4Feathers

SAad received this contract from Columbus but your point is valid

Kampf I’d keep on the 4th line, I like Highmore but he can go, same with Carpenter. A 4th line of Janmark-Kampf-Shaw is much better than Highmore-Kampf-Carpenter.
- DarthKane

I'd get rid of kampf and carpenter to. Play youngsters out there resign caggigula because shaw wont make it through the year. Barratt is the guy I'm looking forward to most. Our bottom 6 forwards are looking incredibly soft.

Below are charts about Janmark's transition and offense for micro stat tracking (i.e. people watch the game to track stats and then others peer review).

In the seasons when he was scoring goals, he exceeded his xGF by a good margin and so a regression was expected. He's always been below average at shot generation, shot quality, and passing. So inflation for two seasons and then the bubble popped.

However, he's gotten extremely good in transition with carry and passings. He does have some turnover issues when it comes to exits but he's still above average by a decent margin. Not shown in the charts, but he's also been good with puck retrieval for dump/chase situations.





Imo Janmark is an ideal checking line player that will also contribute 25-30 ish points depending on the quality of competition and teammate he is given. If the Hawks had the right mix of forward options to have an elite checking line 3L (ala 2010), this would be an even better signing but they don't really have that setup - it's more 2013-2015.

I feel the same way about Zadorov - that he would have been good on a previous Hawks team looking to round out the group but that it's not ideal for what they have currently.

If they're both TDL flip candidates, I think 3rd (Zadorov) - 5th (Janmark) round picks are probably their range unless they just exceed expectation (which is possible - it's why they play the games).

Hawks have 4 NMC contracts. Each player that has them has 3 Stanly Cup rings. Smith has a NTC, but he is untradeable anyway, especially if he is on LTIR.
- LAHawk

And IIRC, the Hawks never had more than 6 at any one time - which was not out of line with how many most other teams in the league had.

The thing about Zadorov that’s interesting is the one year deal. Was that signed pre or post trade?
- DarthKane

Signed as PART of the trade, from what I read DK.

Below are charts about Janmark's transition and offense for micro stat tracking (i.e. people watch the game to track stats and then others peer review).

In the seasons when he was scoring goals, he exceeded his xGF by a good margin and so a regression was expected. He's always been below average at shot generation, shot quality, and passing. So inflation for two seasons and then the bubble popped.

However, he's gotten extremely good in transition with carry and passings. He does have some turnover issues when it comes to exits but he's still above average by a decent margin. Not shown in the charts, but he's also been good with puck retrieval for dump/chase situations.





Imo Janmark is an ideal checking line player that will also contribute 25-30 ish points depending on the quality of competition and teammate he is given. If the Hawks had the right mix of forward options to have an elite checking line 3L (ala 2010), this would be an even better signing but they don't really have that setup - it's more 2013-2015.

I feel the same way about Zadorov - that he would have been good on a previous Hawks team looking to round out the group but that it's not ideal for what they have currently.

If they're both TDL flip candidates, I think 3rd (Zadorov) - 5th (Janmark) round picks are probably their range unless they just exceed expectation (which is possible - it's why they play the games).
- L_B_R

How does Zadorov compare to Oleksiak who was a #4 for Dallas in the playoffs?

Theo -- whom I like -- writes that in rebuilding, teams should look for prospects and draft picks. He is mildly critical of the Saad trade because the trade brought back neither. It's not a terrible point.

But there's also value in getting younger veterans. I have no idea how good Zadorov can be, but he's 25, with a lot of hockey life ahead of him, and he's a different type of defenseman than they currently possess. He may be able to be a solid middle-pair D, while being a mentor that is more relatable to the younger defensemen than Keith DeHaan, and especially to the European kids.

I'm not sure that the Hawks are rebuilding the right way either, but just adding a perspective.

This team has to rebuild. They can add free agents and make trades BUT I don't think they would gain enough of the sort of players needed to seriously challenge in the playoffs. Let alone making the playoffs.

A new #1 dman is necessary. By default Keith still resided. He is at his best when he challenges and gambles. Keith always has made bone head plays even in his Norris Trophy season. Keith is a weak #1 dman and needs the reliability that existed when he was paired with Seabrook. What we can hope for is that a couple of kids would emerge. Hope Mitchell becomes a solid #2 pair. How long until that happens.

With Zadorov here and if on a third pair, obviously Carlsson has to be placed on a #2 pair. His style is a fit to be paired with an offensive young kid. He has played with Carlsson back in Sweden

But entering next season what complicated everything is, Boqvist needs more strength. He needs to have a swagger. Until he is better able to deal with the physical checking, Boqvist is a liability. An accident or bad result waiting to happen. How much better can he become, how much stronger in only a couple months or so in the off season?

I believe he does best to add strength this off season and next off season. The additional strength probably is more helpful and noticeable after next off season

I could continue to explain how this team could compete. But it is really ridiculous to form conclusions now since we do not know a couple of important things

First, what other moves will be made. And how is the veteran core guys going to pull through. If they expected this team to be acseriois playoff contender after three Cups and late round draft choices, they are needing a wake up call.

I have no time for soothing their attitude. Games will be played and if they are not all in, then they have to sit or be traded. They only hurt themselves and the team with a poor attitude.

The second thing to know is that until we have a few more tough players who can cycle along boards and possess grit, this team is going nowhere

DeBrincat needs to gain his 40 goal form or he is not much help. Strome is a liability with hus skating so he must score plenty to be considered a worthwhile part of the team. Strome and DeBrincat represent two players whom would not be the physical players cycling the puck. So that means if they are in the lineuo, what position on what lines do wr find players who grind.

That is what Bowman needs to address. So far Janmark has to be the replacement for Saad. Or else the 4th line checker.

I really like the smarts and skill both Kalynuk and Beaudin possess. But how you can break them in with Mitchell too - that us too much youth at the same time. And with Biqvist uncertain performance level an issue, there is going to be some developments which impact what kids play. Boqvist could even wind up in Rockford if he is hurting us defensively.

Of the team defense is descent, then I expect our goaltenders can develop into descent NHL caliber. Not top half of the better goaltenders, but not bad either. Right now this team is a mess. Wr have some nice parts, some promising young talent. But we MUST get tougher and have no bad attitude among veterans

Obviousky all we can do is just stay tuned in and see what Bowman does. I am not expecting him to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Overall if I am to guess I say he.falls short in some areas. I do believe, however, it is asking a lot to think Bowman can get prime draft picks or top prospects in trading. You have to trade something of great value to get such. Even Saad was questionable to bring but a late (not mid) first round pick..Saad has his good and bad features. Bloggers were expecting too much for him

Signed as PART of the trade, from what I read DK.
- hawk35

I wonder if he’s truly part of the Hawks long-term plans.

Ricky out as Sox manager - who's next?
- glennjpawlak22

A to B to C....

Possibly Colliton’s ultimate fate too.