Who is "they"?

So i guess not getting Guhle, they decided to pull the trigger on Zadorov as the comliment to Bovquist and Mitchell, and Reichel as the eventual top 6 replacement to Saad.
- LAHawk

Presumably, the “they” is the front office below Danny, starting with Stan. That’s all I know.

As for Guhle, if that report is true (which I did say in my original post), they apparently could have gotten the Habs pick for cheap and assured themselves of getting Guhle, but somehow were misinformed about who Montreal wanted to pick. Again, if true.

As for game breakers - yeah, you want a deep, balanced team up front and in the back end, but I still think it’s important to have a game breaker, someone to whom you can go when all else isn’t working. How many games did Kane or Toews take over in the past 10 plus years.

Did that just happen? I went sailing over the weekend (friend's boat) and also a few weeks before that. Plenty of boats out near Soldier's Field and Navy Pier area.
- Popsghostly

I don't think they came from Chicago harbors they came from up north? I'm going by what I read i don't live in illinois now?

Sucess in all sports is about BALANCE throught the lineup. How you achieve that balance has different ways to go about it .... as Theo explained at the start of this blog. Great blog by the way !! Chemistry should factor into the make up of the line up but I can see where if everyone is competing, the team chemistry will be throughout the entire team .... and not just a particular line or defensive pairing
- chuckdahammer

Exactly, cdhammer. As LAHawk said, you need a team to win championships, not a group of game breakers.

If the entire team can bust their tails to compete hard every shift and in all zones, then elite talent level is more a bonus rather than a requirement.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have more game breakers. Just not at the expense of having these players plus the rest of the team not playing cohesive, fundamental hockey that suffocates the opponent.

We've seen what the result is when you have a collection of game breakers and role players who mail it in: the 2017 team that got embarassingly swept by the rival Predators.

You know everyone, myself included, believe the Hawks won the Saad trade.
- BluemanGuruu

and you know ll of here, myself included, believes the Blues won the 2020 Stanley Cup. Congrats!

It has crossed my mind that the angles of community engagement and being more innovative with making hockey more inclusive could be factors for the Hawks re-signing Subban.

Mayers is a great team ambassador but he can't do it all himself. Plus, Jammer isn't a player anymore either so he may not resonate as much with fans who only know the players.

It's also not good to tokenize one individual to carry that load.
- Theo Fox

Since it’s now been brought up:

Hockey Diversity Alliance has apparently severed ties with the league, saying that the league was more interested in the PR aspect of the relationship than in actually accomplishing something.

I have no idea if the rationale is true or not.

But the league needs something. The first round of the draft last week: except for the young man announcing the Blackhawks’ pick, and, of course, Quentin Byfield, there were no blacks in any of the “war rooms” around the league. The only woman I noted was Dale Howerchuck’s widow, who made the announcement of Winnipeg’s pick. Of course, I could have missed one or two.

I’m sure we’d see similar from the other major sports league’s (maybe the NBA would be more diverse). They all need to work on inclusion.

I don't think they came from Chicago harbors they came from up north? I'm going by what I read i don't live in illinois now?
- rpeters01

Chicago harbors have been open since July - with certain CDC-guideline restrictions, like other open entertainment situations.

Who is "they"?

So i guess not getting Guhle, they decided to pull the trigger on Zadorov as the comliment to Boqvist and Mitchell, and Reichel as the eventual top 6 replacement to Saad.
- LAHawk

I think the Guhle not being available may have helped the Zadorov move.

Guhle is pretty close to playing in a year...but I really truly doubt a leap frog with a team I n front of M Montreal was going to be an inexpensive one.

I agree, and pigeonholing Zadorov as a 5/6 defenseman I don't think is correct either, at least until he makes his first mistake as a Hawk in a game

- LAHawk

Well, he's better than any 5 6 defenseman we've had for 4 years now.

Chicago harbors have been open since July - with certain CDC-guideline restrictions, like other open entertainment situations.
- StLBravesFan

Since it’s now been brought up:

Hockey Diversity Alliance has apparently severed ties with the league, saying that the league was more interested in the PR aspect of the relationship than in actually accomplishing something.

I have no idea if the rationale is true or not.

But the league needs something. The first round of the draft last week: except for the young man announcing the Blackhawks’ pick, and, of course, Quentin Byfield, there were no blacks in any of the “war rooms” around the league. The only woman I noted was Dale Howerchuck’s widow, who made the announcement of Winnipeg’s pick. Of course, I could have missed one or two.

I’m sure we’d see similar from the other major sports league’s (maybe the NBA would be more diverse). They all need to work on inclusion.
- StLBravesFan

Thanks for the update on the Hockey Diversity Alliance's relationship with the NHL. Definitely something to keep an eye on.

With the short time frame of a season, games played will be much less than anticipated. Covid takes 4-5 days for symptoms to show & the NFL game timeframe falls within that.

The league will need at least a 2-3 day buffer for testing to minimize spread and maintain whatever schedule they put together

With the short time frame of a season, games played will be much less than anticipated. Covid takes 4-5 days for symptoms to show & the NFL game timeframe falls within that.

The league will need at least a 2-3 day buffer for testing to minimize spread and maintain whatever schedule they put together
- TheDrumonMadison

Yes, it can't be understated either that the teams will no longer be in two bubbles and ne "on their own" so to speak like the NFL and MLB for the regular season.

If the Hawks are looking to flip some one year deals at the TDL next season I would take a flyer on Soderberg. He can play 3C/4C and he could certainly bring a mid-round pick back to a team looking to sure up their center depth.

He would bring more back then Kampf or Carpenter would at the TDL. My hope is Shaw comes back and has a decent start and the Hawks can move him too.

I don't think outside of Hagel the kids that project bottom/middle six are ready for the NHL yet.

Highmore is but I really don't see any upside to him other than an average 4th line guy. Hagel has more offensive upside. I'd prefer to see Hagel get time over Highmore.


The bottom 6 needs to be youth or guys you can move for draft picks at the TDL. The Kampfs and Carpenter types are useless in my opinion. I think there are value adds that can be made on the cheap like Soderberg.

and you know ll of here, myself included, believes the Blues won the 2020 Stanley Cup. Congrats!
- wiz1901

Wait ... I thought Tampa won the 2020 Stanley Cup.

If the Hawks are looking to flip some one year deals at the TDL next season I would take a flyer on Soderberg. He can play 3C/4C and he could certainly bring a mid-round pick back to a team looking to sure up their center depth.

He would bring more back then Kampf or Carpenter would at the TDL. My hope is Shaw comes back and has a decent start and the Hawks can move him too.

I don't think outside of Hagel the kids that project bottom/middle six are ready for the NHL yet.

Highmore is but I really don't see any upside to him other than an average 4th line guy. Hagel has more offensive upside. I'd prefer to see Hagel get time over Highmore.


The bottom 6 needs to be youth or guys you can move for draft picks at the TDL. The Kampfs and Carpenter types are useless in my opinion. I think there are value adds that can be made on the cheap like Soderberg.
- bhawks2241

Carpenter is a very good PK'er. However, I would rather have Wallmark and Janmark on my 4th line and a NHL quality 3rd line. Unfortunately, the depth on this team is gone, and it is going to be a long year in Chicago.

Yes, it can't be understated either that the teams will no longer be in two bubbles and ne "on their own" so to speak like the NFL and MLB for the regular season.
- Theo Fox

I’m surprised that football and baseball have done as well as they have. Like them, hockey and basketball - when the resume play outside of the bubble - will experience some COVID-19 positives - they will need to creatively struggle through it - as will we all, until next September (my “back to mostly normal” date).

Of all of the sports, I think hockey presented the best on TV without fans in the stands; basketball was ok. The outdoor sports suffered, I think - watching sparsely attended football games reminded me of the old Chicago Cardinal games in Sox Park back in the 50s. Baseball fares worst - many more TV shots of empty stands. Plus they’ve made the game too boring....

None of it is ideal; all of it is better than nothing.

I’m surprised that football and baseball have done as well as they have. Like them, hockey and basketball - when the resume play outside of the bubble - will experience some COVID-19 positives - they will need to creatively struggle through it - as will we all, until next September (my “back to mostly normal” date).

Of all of the sports, I think hockey presented the best on TV without fans in the stands; basketball was ok. The outdoor sports suffered, I think - watching sparsely attended football games reminded me of the old Chicago Cardinal games in Sox Park back in the 50s. Baseball fares worst - many more TV shots of empty stands. Plus they’ve made the game too boring....

None of it is ideal; all of it is better than nothing.
- StLBravesFan

That is because they are (primarily) playing outside. Indoors is where you will get the super spreader events.

That is because they are (primarily) playing outside. Indoors is where you will get the super spreader events.
- LAHawk

With no fans in very large spaces - and very good ventilation, which I assume the pro buildings have - I would think, with good procedures, NBA and NHL could have results similar to MLB and NFL.

There is apparently good evidence that airplanes - with extensive sanitation procedures and high-quality ventilation and air replacement systems - are very safe small enclosed spaces, even with full passenger loads.

With the short time frame of a season, games played will be much less than anticipated. Covid takes 4-5 days for symptoms to show & the NFL game timeframe falls within that.

The league will need at least a 2-3 day buffer for testing to minimize spread and maintain whatever schedule they put together
- TheDrumonMadison

Perhaps they're looking at the baseball model, 2 months, 60 games?

Since it’s now been brought up:

Hockey Diversity Alliance has apparently severed ties with the league, saying that the league was more interested in the PR aspect of the relationship than in actually accomplishing something.

I have no idea if the rationale is true or not.

But the league needs something. The first round of the draft last week: except for the young man announcing the Blackhawks’ pick, and, of course, Quentin Byfield, there were no blacks in any of the “war rooms” around the league. The only woman I noted was Dale Howerchuck’s widow, who made the announcement of Winnipeg’s pick. Of course, I could have missed one or two.

I’m sure we’d see similar from the other major sports league’s (maybe the NBA would be more diverse). They all need to work on inclusion.
- StLBravesFan

I'm not sure that there is much more the league can do to help diversify. One of the biggest problems with hockey is that it is very expensive to play and even more so to get really good. Another is that there are very few ice rinks as compared to baseball diamonds or basketball courts. There is less marketing, less fanfare, and less knowledge of the sport in general, not to mention the viewership demographics.

Dealing with the Bill Peters of the world is one thing. Shifting the economics of playing hockey is entirely another. I would venture to say that availability of qualified personnel (at any level of the hockey operation) is more likely the biggest contributing factor.

I don't think its a secret that hockey has long been a sport dominated by rich white people. I personally don't have a problem with that. Football, basketball and baseball surely aren't that way. From what I've seen there are several existing and new outreach programs to get more people involved. Sustaining that interest is the problem when it is harder to afford to play.

I agree with we have no game breakers in the pipeline and are in trouble if we are depending on Dinky and Hossa Light for our offense in the future. The rest is pure speculation.
- rpeters01

Dach not part of the ADB/Kubalik future?

Dach not part of the ADB/Kubalik future?
- -Doh-

Dach has a bright future... in Rockford.

Both teams won. As an Avs fan it made a lot of sense for the Avs to trade Zadorov. He has his moments where he dominates games but it’s just not consistent. Long stretches of poor games over the course of few years was enough for Sakic to make the move. Saad is the type of player that fits our top 6, great two way player who can score. Avs have plenty of defensive talent making Zadorov expandable. Chicago needed some size on the back end.

Both teams benefit from the trade

Both teams won. As an Avs fan it made a lot of sense for the Avs to trade Zadorov. He has his moments where he dominates games but it’s just not consistent. Long stretches of poor games over the course of few years was enough for Sakic to make the move. Saad is the type of player that fits our top 6, great two way player who can score. Avs have plenty of defensive talent making Zadorov expandable. Chicago needed some size on the back end.

Both teams benefit from the trade
- Avstacular[/quote

Chicago fans .... you will soon develop a love/hate relationship with Zadorov

@PuckReportNHL

Evgenii Dadonov 3x$5M with OTT