Geez, the kid is 19 years old and a 4th round draft choice. Do you think he should be the second coming of Ovechkin. He is right now who he is, a prospect (probably not even a top 15 prospect in the system) with a big frame who has good hands, and is a minus skater. What was ADB considered at that age? You can argue ADB still doesn't know how to pick up a loose puck along the boards, and he is making $6 mil. per.
- LAHawk

That is correct LA, the kid has some real good skills with some skating deficiencies, hence a 4th round pick. Due to his age there’s still an opportunity for him to improve his skating. He has good edge work, however his start up acceleration is an issue, if he can improve that aspect of his game he can be an asset to the Hawks.

Which would you rather have?
- vabeachbear

If i can get Dylan for $3 mil or less, I'll take Strome. For even money and winning today definitively Cirelli. For future player i lean towards Strome i believe his ceiling is higher than Cirelli's.

Tepley is a fourth round draft choice. He was picked right around where he was rated. Scouting reports say he has to work on his acceleration, but has elite puck handling and hockey sense. We didn’t t draft him #3 overall. Too bad others that we drafted last year (Saarela, Dach, Vlasic) are not playing in the Tourney due to injury, COVID restrictions, etc..to evaluate. To base all decisions on foot speed is stupid, IMO. Would you like a team full of Jack Skille, Andreas Anthanoseau’s?
- LAHawk[img][/img]

I'm not basing "all decisions on foot speed" - it was merely my first impression on watching him play. What round he was picked in had nothing to do with my observation that he looked lumbering and slow. My hope is every Hawks draft pick makes it to the NHL but that obviously doesn't happen - so when I watch a player I look for plusses and minuses and his lack of foot speed looked very noticeable to my untrained eyes.

I'm not basing "all decisions on foot speed" - it was merely my first impression on watching him play. What round he was picked in had nothing to do with my observation that he looked lumbering and slow. My hope is every Hawks draft pick makes it to the NHL but that obviously doesn't happen - so when I watch a player I look for plusses and minuses and his lack of foot speed looked very noticeable to my untrained eyes.
- EbonyRaptor

Comment was not meant to your post specifically, seems to me everyone is calling a 4th rounder a bust because he shows slow acceleration, which is clearly stated in the scouting reports about him. With his hands, if he did skate better, he probably would of jumped up a round or 2 in the draft.

On another note, Starman was all googly eyes over Landon Slaggert. Seems the Hawks have 3 of the same type of player in the system, Slagget, Barrett, and Slavin.

I give Guerin credit for correct move on goaltenders. Dubnyk long in tooth, performance had dipped, was not long term solution. Could have taken Askarov; opted to upgrade center position first. Stalok and Talbot are middling fill ins until a quality NHL or top prospect becomes available. Meanwhile perhaps Kahkonen develops. The 2021 draft has a top goaltender & what about the Slovakian netminder in the WJC. Guerin acquired an offensive dman prospect when he unloaded one of his veterans. I say Guerin would like to draft a goaltender or dman in 2021.
- jhawk59

I think all the teams that passed on Askarov will regret it as he is likely going to be the next Vasilevskiy or Price. I am sure the Wild wanted him real bad but Rossi was so hard to pass up. In hindsight they may have wishied they took Askarov who without a doubt in my mind will be somebody's elite nhl goalie for a decade or more. They must have felt Kahkonen will grow into a bonafide #1 and Talbot can hold the fort till then.

Anyone seen the final verdict on the Dach injury and timeline to return
all i have heard is that its a fracture

I give Guerin credit for correct move on goaltenders. Dubnyk long in tooth, performance had dipped, was not long term solution. Could have taken Askarov; opted to upgrade center position first. Stalok and Talbot are middling fill ins until a quality NHL or top prospect becomes available. Meanwhile perhaps Kahkonen develops. The 2021 draft has a top goaltender & what about the Slovakian netminder in the WJC. Guerin acquired an offensive dman prospect when he unloaded one of his veterans. I say Guerin would like to draft a goaltender or dman in 2021.
- jhawk59

A little off topic here but I think San Jose is going to be a gong show in goal with Jones and Dubnyk providing on again off again type of goaltending. Miracle do happen but both of them are trending down big time. The dark horse here is going to A. Melnichuk who was a ufa signing last spring. This kid appears to be solid as he posted four shutouts in 16 KHL games as a rookie last year and number one goalie for his team in KHL this year.

Canadians sign Corey Perry, 1 year $750K

If i can get Dylan for $3 mil or less, I'll take Strome. For even money and winning today definitively Cirelli. For future player i lean towards Strome i believe his ceiling is higher than Cirelli's.
- BetweenTheDots

Sorry but I respectfully disagree. I highly doubt you watch very many Tampa games if any. Cirelli skill level is just about as good as Strome but when playing in a real game Cirelli just brings all the intangibles you are looking for, a clear cut winner. I will give your Strome's talent is undeniable but so was Kenny Yaremchuk and you know the story. Some guys just have what it takes when the battle is on and to me Dylan is just not a complete player and you have to question his heart a little. He needs to become hungry and want the puck more and go after it. JMO

If i can get Dylan for $3 mil or less, I'll take Strome. For even money and winning today definitively Cirelli. For future player i lean towards Strome i believe his ceiling is higher than Cirelli's.
- BetweenTheDots

I should add I hope I am wrong and having him develop into that OHL star that he was would be amazing. It is up to him but same old same old, he did nothing in Arizona and was considered a bust. He has shown well initially being reunited with ADB but he took them both down last year.

Is Gaborik finished. Over the hill? If he has anything left, here is a good fit. Neilsson is a plus but not this season and if he can return from concussion
- jhawk59

Graborik and Nilsson dead from the game save for injured reserve…Coburn's been a stiff for awhile. Paquette was a good soldier for years and is a good fit for Ottawa (withStepan) to provide leadership…they may not be the bottom dweller, we will see..if Calgary mine their defense subtractions and with no new forward line influx are going to be in trouble...if Strome and his agent want to wait around and be unsatisfied my the Covid cap, that's on them. If the kid wants to stay show erm you deserve a long term deal....
Attempting to compare the Cirelli signing to the Strome signing is a totally different team situation and Cirelli wasn't;'t shopping for a new team was he?

When we know Strome's intentions, then we v=can talk about it.

I dont think teams were viewing Cirelli as an equal as his upside is clearly evident, and with Strome we already knowmhe is a BIGGER skilled finesse guy, I think.
I am not giving him away, like Tampa is not shopping Cirelli.

Sorry but I respectfully disagree. I highly doubt you watch very many Tampa games if any. Cirelli skill level is just about as good as Strome but when playing in a real game Cirelli just brings all the intangibles you are looking for, a clear cut winner. I will give your Strome's talent is undeniable but so was Kenny Yaremchuk and you know the story. Some guys just have what it takes when the battle is on and to me Dylan is just not a complete player and you have to question his heart a little. He needs to become hungry and want the puck more and go after it. JMO
- joegreif17

Remember when everyone fell in love with Saad in 2015 because he played so well in the playoffs?

Same argument could of been made, he's an intangible guy, he plays winning hockey, blah blah blah

I'm not basing "all decisions on foot speed" - it was merely my first impression on watching him play. What round he was picked in had nothing to do with my observation that he looked lumbering and slow. My hope is every Hawks draft pick makes it to the NHL but that obviously doesn't happen - so when I watch a player I look for plusses and minuses and his lack of foot speed looked very noticeable to my untrained eyes.
- EbonyRaptor

At 18 or 19 all the Hawks are hoping for is the kid improves his all round game to the point he might be good enough to play at the NHL level. Being able to put the puck in the net on a consistent basis is a pretty good starter item on the toolbox.

Corey Perry has never been able to skate worth a lick; nobody thought Patric Hornqvist would ever be an NHL player when he was drafted 230th about 800 NHL games ago. Where there's a will there's a way. Or Teply might turn out to be a Radko Bondra or Graham Knott.

Remember when everyone fell in love with Saad in 2015 because he played so well in the playoffs?

Same argument could of been made, he's an intangible guy, he plays winning hockey, blah blah blah
- BetweenTheDots

Are you favoring Strome over Cirelli here?

if soderberg and wallmark are worth 1 year $1mil how is Janmark with 2.25? seems like a massive overpay? thought he was the worst of the 3?
- kmw4631

Janmark is better than Walmark

Graborik and Nilsson dead from the game save for injured reserve…Coburn's been a stiff for awhile. Paquette was a good soldier for years and is a good fit for Ottawa (withStepan) to provide leadership…they may not be the bottom dweller, we will see..if Calgary mine their defense subtractions and with no new forward line influx are going to be in trouble...if Strome and his agent want to wait around and be unsatisfied my the Covid cap, that's on them. If the kid wants to stay show erm you deserve a long term deal....
Attempting to compare the Cirelli signing to the Strome signing is a totally different team situation and Cirelli wasn't;'t shopping for a new team was he?

When we know Strome's intentions, then we v=can talk about it.

I dont think teams were viewing Cirelli as an equal as his upside is clearly evident, and with Strome we already knowmhe is a BIGGER skilled finesse guy, I think.
I am not giving him away, like Tampa is not shopping Cirelli.
- wiz1901

Lots of factors surrounding Strome. Rick Tocchet had little or no appreciation for Strome's game and sent him to the AHL right away and I suspect Colliton feels about the same way after watching him for a year and a half. He knows you can't ever beat teams like Vegas or Dallas or St.Louis with Strome occupying the 2 hole.

Ya BIGGER skilled finesse guy - he doesn't hit anybody with that size, he gets outmuscled on the puck because he isn't strong and he can't skate at an NHL level. On a positive note, he is a pretty decent playmaker in the O zone with the puck on his stick. Once the play goes the other way, he's f$cked.

So what's Bowman to do - he is going to leave him unprotected in the Seattle draft and if he overpays him in salary or term, he won't be able to trade him anywhere. Thats why he is unsigned, Bowman & Co. are probably not buying into the offensive stats argument from his agent.

Are you favoring Strome over Cirelli here?
- Chunk

Here i am comparing him to Saad of 2015

Lots of factors surrounding Strome. Rick Tocchet had little or no appreciation for Strome's game and sent him to the AHL right away and I suspect Colliton feels about the same way after watching him for a year and a half. He knows you can't ever beat teams like Vegas or Dallas or St.Louis with Strome occupying the 2 hole.

Ya BIGGER skilled finesse guy - he doesn't hit anybody with that size, he gets outmuscled on the puck because he isn't strong and he can't skate at an NHL level. On a positive note, he is a pretty decent playmaker in the O zone with the puck on his stick. Once the play goes the other way, he's f$cked.

So what's Bowman to do - he is going to leave him unprotected in the Seattle draft and if he overpays him in salary or term, he won't be able to trade him anywhere. Thats why he is unsigned, Bowman & Co. are probably not buying into the offensive stats argument from his agent.
- RickJ

With Dach out you need Strome for the PP. He is very good from behind the net. Toews will have to play out front. ADB and Kane on the face-off dots, and hopefully Bovquist at the point. But of course then you are going to get the same stationery power play cause no matter how many times they change it, they default after one game to the stationery look for the back-door pass that worked for them in 2010.

Are you favoring Strome over Cirelli here?
- Chunk

Strome has better offensive skill. Cirelli is better at pretty much everything else.

Here i am comparing him to Saad of 2015
- BetweenTheDots

I would argue Saad of 2015 is a strong contributor to the team. I also think you need as many guys like him as possible. Maybe not needed at this particular juncture of the Blackhawks development, but ultimately I'd stock up on them.

Remember when everyone fell in love with Saad in 2015 because he played so well in the playoffs?

Same argument could of been made, he's an intangible guy, he plays winning hockey, blah blah blah
- BetweenTheDots

What does Saad have to do with whether Strome is better than Cirelli?

I'm a Jets fan and I come here in peace.

I'm just baffled by the number of Hawks fans that are ready to move on from Strome, even though Toews has some good years left he'll be 33 soon, he's in the backend of his career and time catches up to all of us, crazy to move Strome when center is the hardest position to fill, he's only 23, keeping him for a future 2C makes a lot of sense and who knows how Dach will progress when he returns from this injury.

Also the Hawks have a lot of cap space opening up in two years so a two year bridge deal for Strome and a reevaluation then makes the most sense for Chicago.

Just my $0.02.

What does Saad have to do with whether Strome is better than Cirelli?
- mohel

Because the player surrounded by better hockey players most times looks better than the one that is not surrounded by better players

I also don't know where i said he was better but whatever

I'm a Jets fan and I come here in peace.

I'm just baffled by the number of Hawks fans that are ready to move on from Strome, even though Toews has some good years left he'll be 33 soon, he's in the backend of his career and time catches up to all of us, crazy to move Strome when center is the hardest position to fill, he's only 23, keeping him for a future 2C makes a lot of sense and who knows how Dach will progress when he returns from this injury.

Also the Hawks have a lot of cap space opening up in two years so a two year bridge deal for Strome and a reevaluation then makes the most sense for Chicago.

Just my $0.02.
- JetFuel

Jet Fuel

Your outside perspective is welcome, however you do not understand the psyche of the Chicago sportsfan. There will always be something or someone to complain about. Last year it was Zach Smith, with him on IR, this year it will be Strome. It is always Bowman's and Colliton's fault, and maybe even McDonough still.

I'm a Jets fan and I come here in peace.

I'm just baffled by the number of Hawks fans that are ready to move on from Strome, even though Toews has some good years left he'll be 33 soon, he's in the backend of his career and time catches up to all of us, crazy to move Strome when center is the hardest position to fill, he's only 23, keeping him for a future 2C makes a lot of sense and who knows how Dach will progress when he returns from this injury.

Also the Hawks have a lot of cap space opening up in two years so a two year bridge deal for Strome and a reevaluation then makes the most sense for Chicago.

Just my $0.02.
- JetFuel

Thanks for stopping in, JetFuel. You're always welcome here!

What you shared is primarily why I would retain Strome on a sensible bridge deal, i.e. around $3M for a year or $2.5-$2.75 for 2 years. Guessing he might get more than that given what Kubalik got, though, but your premise still holds true.