Players "break out" when they are utilized correctly. Maybe that doesn't happen in Chicago, we'll see.

But if the alleged rumblings of him being misused in Colorado and not getting a fair shake from Bednar are true, I'm willing to see how he plays in a different system before formulating an opinion.
- TommyHawk

yeah, no, I think he's been able to hide out a bit behind all that talent they have in Colorado. Dude has been at this a long time now.

Big, strong, hits like a goddamn freight train, not particularly good at the hockey part though.

yeah, no, I think he's been able to hide out a bit behind all that talent they have in Colorado. Dude has been at this a long time now.

Big, strong, hits like a goddamn freight train, not particularly good at the hockey part though.
- BINGO!

But, the Hawks have the defenseman whisperer in Sheldon W. Brookbank. So there is that.

I don't know how "disgruntled" Kane is. Or at least he is playing nice.

"I (Zadorov) got a text from Patrick Kane right after I got traded. He said he's really excited he doesn't have to play against me anymore," he continued. "I feel like that's a really good thing to hear from one of the best players in the world. My biggest goal is (that) I can play against top lines, and that's what I want to bring to this team, to play big minutes, play in big situations and try to shutdown the best players on the opposite team."
- LAHawk

As I said yesterday, only one I saw whining about anything was Toews.

Nikita Zadorov is not a good defenseman.
- BINGO!

That alone as a statement doesn't say much. He may lack in some areas but he also checks some boxes in others. That's like me saying Teravainen isn't a good NHL forward. He won a cup on a very good Hawks team behind some great talent but he has holes in his game. He checks some boxes but lacks in others.

I'm not comparing the two players, but without any reasoning, the statement isn't gonna really tell anyone anything useful.

What do you feel Zadorov does poorly and why?


I'm not arguing that Zadorov is a breakout star or some great Dman, but he fills a need in some ways. He brings some of what the Hawks don't have much of. Hard to really say what the Hawks will get when he will be in a different situation, with different coaches and a fresh start. He was a former 1st round pick for a reason and as long as the Hawks don't expect him to play 23 minutes a night, he shouldn't hurt the team. He didn't really hurt the Avs who played well.

Yes, the Swedes do have multiple S's in their names on occasion.

Some may recall this story but Craig Anderson at one point early in his career spelled his name with two S's because he felt that he would get more notice from scouts.

Guessing his thought process was scouts would pay attention to a Swedish goalie prospect than a goalie prospect from the suburbs of Chicago.

When you look at historical records of NHL draft picks, Anderson's name is listed with two S's.
- Theo Fox

As a 1st generation Swede in the US (my father came from Sweden in the 40's), many of the single "s" in names ending in "son" came about because when they came through Ellis Island (or wherever), the American checking them in, not understanding the purpose of the second "s", "Americanized" it by taking out the redundant "s". The second "s" is the possessive, as in Ander's son, Peter's son, Johan's son, etc.

I think Stan saw the writing on the wall if he had to negotiate with Saad again:



Brandon Saad in his 1st Colorado presser: "You definitely have memories there, and I had a lot of success. But at the end of the day, it's a business... It makes it easier the second time around, especially when I'm going to a team that's going to compete for a championship."

IMHO - Knee jerk reaction by Toews. Stan/Rocky will talk this out with the core. They are big boys and understand this is a business. After a little time they will get over it. I would not be shocked to have one or more of the core make very different statements in interviews in the coming days/weeks ahead.

Also they have NMC's and contracts that would be very hard to unload in the current economic climate.
- -Doh-

It was "multiple sources" taking the same story and trying to add their hot take onto it.

When in reality both Toews and Kane reached out to Zadorov almost immediately after the trade to welcome him to the team..

To answer your question, I would like to think that there is another trade coming up to ship out one of the veteran defenders whether de Haan or Murphy. Would rather keep Murphy, of course, but he could net the better return.

I don't think trading de Haan would garner anything more than a draft pick but things could change if the deal is expanded to additional assets.
- Theo Fox

They would get out from under his contract for 2 seasons less whatever the return would be or replacement player.

He is the perfect giveaway player. I am trying not to judge him too much on his return but what was very concerning was how slow he looked.

I think Stan saw the writing on the wall if he had to negotiate with Saad again:



Brandon Saad in his 1st Colorado presser: "You definitely have memories there, and I had a lot of success. But at the end of the day, it's a business... It makes it easier the second time around, especially when I'm going to a team that's going to compete for a championship."
- LAHawk

Toffoli just signed for 4ishM with the Hab. I have a feeling that will be a pretty good indication of what Saad can expect on his next contract.

That alone as a statement doesn't say much. He may lack in some areas but he also checks some boxes in others. That's like me saying Teravainen isn't a good NHL forward. He won a cup on a very good Hawks team behind some great talent but he has holes in his game. He checks some boxes but lacks in others.

I'm not comparing the two players, but without any reasoning, the statement isn't gonna really tell anyone anything useful.

What do you feel Zadorov does poorly and why?


I'm not arguing that Zadorov is a breakout star or some great Dman, but he fills a need in some ways. He brings some of what the Hawks don't have much of. Hard to really say what the Hawks will get when he will be in a different situation, with different coaches and a fresh start. He was a former 1st round pick for a reason and as long as the Hawks don't expect him to play 23 minutes a night, he shouldn't hurt the team. He didn't really hurt the Avs who played well.
- breadbag

To your point:STILL GROWING
With 356 NHL games under his belt already, the 25-year-old Zadorov is an established veteran with still perhaps some of his best years ahead of him. A byproduct of a growingly crowded Colorado blue line, the defenseman saw a diminished role in 2019-20 than in season's past, but still knows he can take his game to a different level.

"It's a fresh, new opportunity to get on another level in my game," he said. "There's still lots of things I can do better, what I haven't reached yet. I think my peak is still a long way ahead of me."

And the Blackhawks are confident that the tools are not only there to fit into the lineup today, but that Zadorov can continue to develop into an even bigger part of their youthful blue line.

"I spoke to Jeremy (Colliton) this morning. He told me he's really excited," Zadorov said. "He wants me to play big minutes. He wants to bring me to the next level of shutdown D, also playing in all sort of situations on the ice. I'm really excited about that. He said pretty much they're going to do whatever it takes to open all my potential I still have."

Sometimes fancy stats, etc. doesn't tell the whole story:

Mattias Janmark
The Swede was a third-round pick of Detroit in 2013, but began his career with the Stars where he scored 15 times in 2015-16. After sitting out the next season, Janmark pumped in 19 more goals.


His role changed after a sluggish start to the 2018-19 campaign.

"(Ken) Hitchcock ... really trusted me (in 2017-18) and I played heavy minutes and a lot on the PK and power play," said Janmark, who had 7 assists during the Stars' run to the Stanley Cup Final earlier this month. "Then we switched coaches again and I had a rough start the first 10 games. ... Since then, I didn't really get back to where I was before offensively."

A funny thing happened along the way, though, with Janmark saying he has "become a much more reliable player and a better player" all over the ice.

While Jeremy Colliton and GM Stan Bowman have made no promises, Janmark is hoping to get more opportunity with the Hawks.

"I hope to play a lot and play offensive minutes," Janmark said. "But they said they needed some help on the PK and that's what I've been doing mostly in Dallas, so I'll do that for sure. But I hope to get my offensive game going and hopefully I'll play up in the lineup."

de Haan has 2 more years at $4.55M per.
- Theo Fox

Ouch!!!

Toffoli just signed for 4ishM with the Hab. I have a feeling that will be a pretty good indication of what Saad can expect on his next contract.
- Elbows15

I would have never given him what he was making prior.

4 sounds about right, but not sure he thinks it would be.

Ouch!!!
- glennjpawlak22

Ya his Salary is a bit high, but i thought he was pretty good in the Edmonton series. nothing flashy but got the job done.

As a 1st generation Swede in the US (my father came from Sweden in the 40's), many of the single "s" in names ending in "son" came about because when they came through Ellis Island (or wherever), the American checking them in, not understanding the purpose of the second "s", "Americanized" it by taking out the redundant "s". The second "s" is the possessive, as in Ander's son, Peter's son, Johan's son, etc.
- EbonyRaptor

Awesome history lesson! Thanks for sharing, ER.

Yesterday Darth shared that the Hogs signed goalie Cale Morris (played 4 years at Notre Dame). I haven't found much on this and not much as far as press releases by the Hawks, Hogs, AHL, etc.

Either way, great to have another goalie in the system. Can never have enough especially since they didn't retain Alexis Gravel or Wouter Peeters.

Gravel was a surprise to just let him go but didn't care for Peeters. I don't think he cared either whereas Gravel did.

Yesterday Darth shared that the Hogs signed goalie Cale Morris (played 4 years at Notre Dame). I haven't found much on this and not much as far as press releases by the Hawks, Hogs, AHL, etc.

Either way, great to have another goalie in the system. Can never have enough especially since they didn't retain Alexis Gravel or Wouter Peeters.

Gravel was a surprise to just let him go but didn't care for Peeters. I don't think he cared either whereas Gravel did.
- Theo Fox

Proof that Morris did in fact sign with the Hogs or else he's really good at staging a fake signing!

https://www.instagram.com...m_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ya his Salary is a bit high, but i thought he was pretty good in the Edmonton series. nothing flashy but got the job done.
- SaskHawkFan

de Haan was terrible in the playoffs. He was the worst D-man on the team. Which coming off of major surgery wasn't too big of concern but my issue was he looked really slow. He has always been a pretty decent skater.

I would have never given him what he was making prior.

4 sounds about right, but not sure he thinks it would be.
- vabeachbear

FTR, it was Columbus that gave him that contract and the amount may have been a t bit time but they paid for potential, too.

@DhaliwalSports

Hearing contract talks between the Habs and Brendan Gallagher have stalled and now broken off.

Perhaps not in the cards but something to keep an eye on is the Brendan Gallagher situation with the Habs. He has one year left at $3.75M. Bringing him to Chicago would fit the "one-year left" mold that Zadorov, Janmark, and Wallmark are in.

Gallagher would be a nice addition to the top 6 although he is a RW and the Hawks already have Kane and Kubalik. Not sure if Gallagher can play either wing.

There's also the head injuries and long-term concern with his health.

Oof, just read that Stutzle broke his arm training in Germany. Should be OK to go by end of December, but that sucks.

As a 1st generation Swede in the US (my father came from Sweden in the 40's), many of the single "s" in names ending in "son" came about because when they came through Ellis Island (or wherever), the American checking them in, not understanding the purpose of the second "s", "Americanized" it by taking out the redundant "s". The second "s" is the possessive, as in Ander's son, Peter's son, Johan's son, etc.
- EbonyRaptor

.

Interesting. What do the qvist and mark endings
mean?

I like Hagel and would have him further up ,don't know why he did not replace Nylander in the tournament . And Highmore needs to be in there he should have had PP time in the tournament who knows were Shaw will be health wise .
- oldduffman

I would flip nylander and shaw like the 4th line little bit of everything.

Ouch!!!
- glennjpawlak22

FYI. capfriendly.com is a great reference for rosters, salaries, team cap space, and much more. Check it out you have time.

@DhaliwalSports

Hearing contract talks between the Habs and Brendan Gallagher have stalled and now broken off.

Perhaps not in the cards but something to keep an eye on is the Brendan Gallagher situation with the Habs. He has one year left at $3.75M. Bringing him to Chicago would fit the "one-year left" mold that Zadorov, Janmark, and Wallmark are in.

Gallagher would be a nice addition to the top 6 although he is a RW and the Hawks already have Kane and Kubalik. Not sure if Gallagher can play either wing.

There's also the head injuries and long-term concern with his health.
- Theo Fox

No. Stan doesn’t win trades with Bergevin.