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

Exactly! Well said!

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

Spit water all over the computer laughing at this.

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

Strome will be 24 soon and has played in 164 NHL games. How much better is he going to get. Some of his offensive numbers have been boosted by playing with Kane and Debrincat. Although some on this blog are ready to move on from Strome, most would like to see him signed at a reasonable cap hit. The question is term. 1 year? 2 years? or 3 years (Toews, Kane, Keith, and Kubalik contracts are up after 22/23 season). Is Strome going to be a 2C? He would have to improve a lot? 3C? He is not an energy player, not a shut down player, nor good at faceoffs, and can't carry a line.

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.
- joegreif17

I'll take the Czeck guy playing net last night.

Janmark is better than Walmark
- GPHawksfan

I have not watched either play but if you look at stats he is not. walmark is 3 years younger had 12 G 13A +/- 0 and 50.9 fenwick in 12:47 ice time 50.3 FO

janmark was 6G 15A 14:37 ice time -5 and with 50.7% fenwick and 43.5% fO

Strome will be 24 soon and has played in 164 NHL games. How much better is he going to get. Some of his offensive numbers have been boosted by playing with Kane and Debrincat. Although some on this blog are ready to move on from Strome, most would like to see him signed at a reasonable cap hit. The question is term. 1 year? 2 years? or 3 years (Toews, Kane, Keith, and Kubalik contracts are up after 22/23 season). Is Strome going to be a 2C? He would have to improve a lot? 3C? He is not an energy player, not a shut down player, nor good at faceoffs, and can't carry a line.
- -Doh-

There is clearly a risk of retaining Strome because what if he doesn't ever pan out. That's what puts the "cautious" in the cautious optimism I have about him.

But now there's a risk that Dach could not be the same player he was on a trajectory to be if his injury is severe. Hopefully not the case but the risk is still there.

Worst case scenario: Strome is traded and Dach regresses so the Hawks have zero top 6 centers on the big club or in the system.

This is a reason why investing in a 1-2 year bridge deal may be worth it for the Hawks. Stretch him as far as he can go to see if he can consistently untap his potential. If not, trade him.

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

I guess but how many people were female doging and moaning about teuvo? That definitely didn't age well, so i don't see the harm in a 2 year contract that's fair and see where he's at. By then you will really have a good idea what kind of NHL player he will be. It's not like he's taking a position from someone. I just see the chemistry he has with Cat and if he can become that player with more forwards he can become a really good NHL player, i believe the defense will come as he gains more experience he's only 23.

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.
- LAHawk

Well to be fair all fanbases are like that and I'm no different, we all have opinions on who we like or don't like or who should be playing where in the lineup, etc but I just don't get the desire to move on from Strome so quickly when Toews is soon to be 33, Dach might miss an entire season of development and as I understand the Hawks don't have any overly promising center prospects in the pipeline, just makes no sense to me.

Spit water all over the computer laughing at this.
- 6628

Ummmm why?

There is clearly a risk of retaining Strome because what if he doesn't ever pan out. That's what puts the "cautious" in the cautious optimism I have about him.

But now there's a risk that Dach could not be the same player he was on a trajectory to be if his injury is severe. Hopefully not the case but the risk is still there.

Worst case scenario: Strome is traded and Dach regresses so the Hawks have zero top 6 centers on the big club or in the system.

This is a reason why investing in a 1-2 year bridge deal may be worth it for Strome. Stretch him as far as he can go to see if he can consistently untap his potential. If not, trade him.
- Theo Fox

Agree. Or lose him in the expansion draft.

Well to be fair all fanbases are like that and I'm no different, we all have opinions on who we like or don't like or who should be playing where in the lineup, etc but I just don't get the desire to move on from Strome so quickly when Toews is soon to be 33, Dach might miss an entire season of development and as I understand the Hawks don't have any overly promising center prospects in the pipeline, just makes no sense to me.
- JetFuel

Well we can still have Schmautz who statistically is the same as Strome, and is at $5.8mil. for the next 7 years (but he skates so purdy). And is always injured.

There is clearly a risk of retaining Strome because what if he doesn't ever pan out. That's what puts the "cautious" in the cautious optimism I have about him.

But now there's a risk that Dach could not be the same player he was on a trajectory to be if his injury is severe. Hopefully not the case but the risk is still there.

Worst case scenario: Strome is traded and Dach regresses so the Hawks have zero top 6 centers on the big club or in the system.

This is a reason why investing in a 1-2 year bridge deal may be worth it for Strome. Stretch him as far as he can go to see if he can consistently untap his potential. If not, trade him.
- Theo Fox

Your last paragraph is all my point is about Strome and makes the most sense for the Hawks imo.

Your last paragraph is all my point is about Strome and makes the most sense for the Hawks imo.
- JetFuel

What are you guys going to do about Roslovic. don't you need to shed some salary to sign him?

Strome will be 24 soon and has played in 164 NHL games. How much better is he going to get. Some of his offensive numbers have been boosted by playing with Kane and Debrincat. Although some on this blog are ready to move on from Strome, most would like to see him signed at a reasonable cap hit. The question is term. 1 year? 2 years? or 3 years (Toews, Kane, Keith, and Kubalik contracts are up after 22/23 season). Is Strome going to be a 2C? He would have to improve a lot? 3C? He is not an energy player, not a shut down player, nor good at faceoffs, and can't carry a line.
- -Doh-

To me a two year bridge deal in the $2.5-3M range makes the most sense but he could get something between three and four mill and it'd still be fine imo, look at what Mangiapane got in Calgary and Strome has done a lot more than he has.

I also think the return for Strome in a trade would be okay but not overly great so better to bridge and reevalute in a couple years.

What are you guys going to do about Roslovic. don't you need to shed some salary to sign him?
- LAHawk

Well it sounds like he wants out, think he feels his usage is stunting his growth and earning potential and I don't think he's wrong about that but if he's not traded I think he gets a bridge deal of some sort and see how it goes, the expansion draft is looming and Laine's future with the Jets probably factors in for management as well.
I'm hopeful they keep him but I feel he'll be gone within a year or two at most, Maurice picks his favorites and Roslovic isn't one of them for some reason.

As for affording him I think they have the space they just haven't put Little on LTIR yet, really think they're trying to grind Roslo down to take his qualifying offer or something close to it and his agent (Claude Lemieux) is pushing for a change of scenery for his client, will be interesting to see where it all ends up with him.

Well it sounds like he wants out, think he feels his usage is stunting his growth and earning potential and I don't think he's wrong about that but if he's not traded I think he gets a bridge deal of some sort and see how it goes, the expansion draft is looming and Laine's future with the Jets probably factors in for management as well.
I'm hopeful they keep him but I feel he'll be gone within a year or two at most, Maurice picks his favorites and Roslovic isn't one of them for some reason.

As for affording him I think they have the space they just haven't put Little on LTIR yet, really think they're trying to grind Roslo down to take his qualifying offer or something close to it and his agent (Claude Lemieux) is pushing for a change of scenery for his client, will be interesting to see where it all ends up with him.
- JetFuel

Is Cheveldayoff still looking to add an NHL quality defenseman?

Athanasiou signs a one-year deal with the Kings.

Ummmm why?
- JetFuel

Guess you didn't watch the game last night.

There is clearly a risk of retaining Strome because what if he doesn't ever pan out. That's what puts the "cautious" in the cautious optimism I have about him.

But now there's a risk that Dach could not be the same player he was on a trajectory to be if his injury is severe. Hopefully not the case but the risk is still there.

Worst case scenario: Strome is traded and Dach regresses so the Hawks have zero top 6 centers on the big club or in the system.

This is a reason why investing in a 1-2 year bridge deal may be worth it for the Hawks. Stretch him as far as he can go to see if he can consistently untap his potential. If not, trade him.
- Theo Fox

The sensible approach. But in games where the opponent is hard on the cycle and or has many good skaters on ice against Strome, you know whom is going to struggle. So Strome becomes a specialist. Because do you realign.three other lines just to put Strome in a place where he might find more success. The real issue is that Strome has too many negative points.against him for line three. Strome ought to wake up and get stronger and make effort in performing physical checking..If he thinks he can survive on his current make.up then he will be toast at each NHL stop

Guess you didn't watch the game last night.
- 6628

I watched some of the World Juniors games if that's what you're talking about but sorry I don't know what you're getting at.. Lol

Is Cheveldayoff still looking to add an NHL quality defenseman?
- LAHawk

By the looks of the current D core is would think so but I really don't know.. Lol

In all seriousness if Roslo is traded I do think a dman is what they'd want in return.

The sensible approach. But in games where the opponent is hard on the cycle and or has many good skaters on ice against Strome, you know whom is going to struggle. So Strome becomes a specialist. Because do you realign.three other lines just to put Strome in a place where he might find more success. The real issue is that Strome has too many negative points.against him for line three. Strome ought to wake up and get stronger and make effort in performing physical checking..If he thinks he can survive on his current make.up then he will be toast at each NHL stop
- jhawk59

Didn't he work out with the same trainer as Kane and ADB last year? Strome and ADB are best buds, I am sure he trains. More I think of it, I believe his ankle injury had much to do with his skating. Rereading his scouting report out of junior, yes he has a slow first step, but no scout had any concern about him keeping up in the NHL. Please point me to where there is any indication that Strome loafs, or slacks in his on or off ice work?

I have just come to the conclusion that Strome is the new Teuvo, and when he is traded and puts up 60 points consistently, the board will villify Stan for trading him.

Interesting to me that everyone talks about how the league is getting faster, and you need faster players, yet the last 2 Stanley Cup champions (St. Louis and Tampa Bay) are more grit than speed. didn't Tampa give up 2 first round picks to get Goodrow and Coleman for their size, not whether they can beat Kendall Coyne Schofield in a race? Dallas, the runner up last year had Perry, Pavelski, Benn, Radulov etc as forwards, not exactly Indy 500 worthy skaters.

Did Vegas outskate the Hawks or beat them into submission? You can argue both, but I would say beat the Hawks into submission as opposed to outskating them.

Defensive weaknesses or not, 60 point producers do not grow on trees. Due to unfortunate circumstances Strome is the Hawks #2 center. Depending on the severity of the injury, Dach's future might be as a right winger (which he was playing in the Canada Cup, and he played a good portion fo the season last year as.) Are you expecting Soderberg to be the #2 center next year? Or maybe Casey Middlestat, who has been a huge disappointment for Buffalo? 32 yo Michael Grabner skates like the wind, kills penalties and is a UFA. Maybe the Hawks should pick him up in their youth movement and give up on Strome?

Look at Mika Zibenejad. Took him 6 full years to find himself, now is a legit 30 goal 75 point player.

I haven't given up hope for a Kane for Cozens trade. It makes even more sense for the Hawks now with the uncertainty of Dach's injury/recovery. Do it Stan.

I guess but how many people were female doging and moaning about teuvo? That definitely didn't age well, so i don't see the harm in a 2 year contract that's fair and see where he's at. By then you will really have a good idea what kind of NHL player he will be. It's not like he's taking a position from someone. I just see the chemistry he has with Cat and if he can become that player with more forwards he can become a really good NHL player, i believe the defense will come as he gains more experience he's only 23.
- BetweenTheDots

Don't you think thats really what is holding things up - the gulf between what the Hawks are willing to invest in Strome on a show us contract and what the player/agent thinks he should be paid based on now outdated comparables?

Both Bowman and Strome are caught between a rock and a hard place. Based on their evaluation of the player's on ice ability, my guess is if Bowman could move him and get decent value back in return he likely wouldn't hesitate. He and Colliton could care less about the chemistry with Dinky of yesteryear. And Strome can't get the money he wants because of Covid related financial issues and the flat cap. Same problem Barzal is having with Lamoriello and P.L. Dubois is having in Columbus. And both are much better players than Strome.

So what's fair?

Dietz tweeting that Dach is out for 4-5 months.

Apparently had successful surgery today.