Hey Darth, question for you. Why would you want to see Shaw in the lineup over some kids, especially with the situation now without Dach and Toews? What business does Shaw have in the line-up now?
- powerenforcer

I think the team needs some experience in the lineup, they can’t go with all youth. Edmonton tried that years ago and it didn’t worth. Plus, with Toews out of the lineup there’s a huge gap in leadership and locker room presence, Shaw will help with both aspects.

Even with Shaw playing there’s plenty of opportunity for young forwards. If the team is looking to sit veterans to make room for youth then guys like Smith, Carpenter, Kampf and Soderberg should sit before Shaw.

Its a nice deal for both sides under today's conditions.

But the GM is going to have his hands full in the summer of '22 negotiating new deals for Dubois, Werenski and Seth Jones. One of those guys will probably be leaving.
- RickJ

About the time when our next Hossa (big FA signing) will be needed.

I think the team needs some experience in the lineup, they can’t go with all youth. Edmonton tried that years ago and it didn’t worth. Plus, with Toews out of the lineup there’s a huge gap in leadership and locker room presence, Shaw will help with both aspects.

Even with Shaw playing there’s plenty of opportunity for young forwards. If the team is looking to sit veterans to make room for youth then guys like Smith, Carpenter, Kampf and Soderberg should sit before Shaw.
- DarthKane

This is a throw away, transition year, everybody around the team knows it. But the Hawks have something very few bad teams usually have - veterans with NHL experience and what it takes to win know how.

So if the GM and Coach have any brains at all they bring in Keith, Kane, Seabrook, Shaw, DeHaan, and even guys llike Soderburg and Carpenter and remind them they are very well paid and tell them their main job for the season is to support the coaching staff and show the youth how to compete hard every night - kids like Boqvist, Mitchell, Beaudin, Highmore, Kurashev, Entwistle and the goalies.

If they get that buy in from the vets, the team will at least make the games worth watching to see what kids have a longer term future in Chicago.

If you believe in quantity over quality, there is absolutely no issue up the middle of the ice:

Soderburg
Carpenter
Kampf
Shaw
Suter
Pirri
Z.Smith
Highmore
Janmark
Walmark
Kurashev
Barratt

That's depth man!
- RickJ

Entwistle

I think the team needs some experience in the lineup, they can’t go with all youth. Edmonton tried that years ago and it didn’t worth. Plus, with Toews out of the lineup there’s a huge gap in leadership and locker room presence, Shaw will help with both aspects.

Even with Shaw playing there’s plenty of opportunity for young forwards. If the team is looking to sit veterans to make room for youth then guys like Smith, Carpenter, Kampf and Soderberg should sit before Shaw.
- DarthKane

OK thanks for that, but if the taxi squad players can practice with the team, I would think Shaw would be better suited there for this season. But that is just my opinion.

OK thanks for that, but if the taxi squad players can practice with the team, I would think Shaw would be better suited there for this season. But that is just my opinion.
- powerenforcer

Watch the cap hits: players on the Taxi Squad have their cap hits charged as if they were in Rockford - Shaw and Smith Taxi’d would cost about $3.9 and $3.2, less whatever they could bury.

I also think (only think) they would have to clear waivers (altho that shouldn’t be a problem, even if they were claimed.

Entwistle
- scottak

Played a mean bass

Another question mark to throw into the mix, do you play or sit players that you might think of trading? Zach Smith, is healthy and if you want to gain about 3 million in cap space, would be smart to trade him but until the league sees that he can play again, who will trade for him ? Maybe before the injuries, they might have thought of trading Shaw, given his injury history, but now with the loss of Toews, team could use his veteran leadership. DeHaan too, must prove he is healthy before he is moved, but if you play him, somebody must sit. The kids must really show that they can not only play but make some kind of an impact. Hawks bottom six should be alright, it's the top two lines, with the departures of Toews and Dach, that need somebody to step up

Another question mark to throw into the mix, do you play or sit players that you might think of trading? Zach Smith, is healthy and if you want to gain about 3 million in cap space, would be smart to trade him but until the league sees that he can play again, who will trade for him ? Maybe before the injuries, they might have thought of trading Shaw, given his injury history, but now with the loss of Toews, team could use his veteran leadership. DeHaan too, must prove he is healthy before he is moved, but if you play him, somebody must sit. The kids must really show that they can not only play but make some kind of an impact. Hawks bottom six should be alright, it's the top two lines, with the departures of Toews and Dach, that need somebody to step up
- chuckdahammer

There is no way Smith can be traded without adding a large sweetener.

There is no way Smith can be traded without adding a large sweetener.
- mohel

you never know, teams can get pretty desperate at trade dead line. But you have to show case him before that

Played a mean bass
- Ogilthorpe2

Thunder fingers

you never know, teams can get pretty desperate at trade dead line. But you have to show case him before that
- chuckdahammer

With over 10 years in the league, I am sure other teams know about Zach Smith that a couple of showcase games isn’t going to make a difference. His trade value is zero. Why would some team trade for him to be on its taxi squad?

With over 10 years in the league, I am sure other teams know about Zach Smith that a couple of showcase games isn’t going to make a difference. His trade value is zero. Why would some team trade for him to be on its taxi squad?
- LAHawk

Scouts would follow him for a few games, maybe more just to see if he is the same player he carved out his niche. Also if he is not regressed too much into a turtle on skates. Smith could be had real cheap and if we retained part of salary. Say a 5th or lower.

Scouts would follow him for a few games, maybe more just to see if he is the same player he carved out his niche. Also if he is not regressed too much into a turtle on skates. Smith could be had real cheap and if we retained part of salary. Say a 5th or lower.
- jhawk59

Maybe Smith is untradeable. How many years remain on contract. If another year, nobody will take him. Smith is an extra body for grinding long playoffs. A veteran. Insurance due to pandemic if the cost is not prohibitive. Even a 7th and we retain some salary but no deal if Smith has too much term left.

There is no way Smith can be traded without adding a large sweetener.
- mohel

Agreed, the idea of showcasing him will magically make him tradable in a flat cap world I have a better chance of hitting the Powerball.

you never know, teams can get pretty desperate at trade dead line. But you have to show case him before that
- chuckdahammer

They were so desperate before flat cap we got less for fatso and Gus last year and a healthy Saad this year albeit after flat cap than everyone here thought they were all worth.

I think the team needs some experience in the lineup, they can’t go with all youth. Edmonton tried that years ago and it didn’t worth. Plus, with Toews out of the lineup there’s a huge gap in leadership and locker room presence, Shaw will help with both aspects.

Even with Shaw playing there’s plenty of opportunity for young forwards. If the team is looking to sit veterans to make room for youth then guys like Smith, Carpenter, Kampf and Soderberg should sit before Shaw.
- DarthKane

Shaw should be on the team if he earns a spot otherwise like Seebs he can sit . I think Shaw will be in the top six if healthy

For the record, I don't have any substantiated info or rumors to back this up but one guess as for the hold up with Strome is that there could be a sign-and-trade in the works.

Maybe the Hawks need to ensure the contract terms fit the cap structure of the team where Strome is headed. Those terms may also dictate what assets are coming back to the Hawks.

Taking this a step further, Strome's departure would create a 3rd big hole at center so there could be another deal that needs to be made to acquire a new center who is more than just a one-year stop gap (i.e. a young center with upside) unless that new center is part of the Strome deal.

If not obtaining a new center, then the Hawks would roll with Soderberg, Wallmark, Kampf, and either Pirri, Carpenter, or Kurashev. That's not good depth no matter how you slice it.
- Theo Fox

Couple of comments on podcasts re: this. 1) money is the issue (duh, I guess) and 2) his agent quit to go work for Tampa, so that set them back a bit.

For the record, I don't have any substantiated info or rumors to back this up but one guess as for the hold up with Strome is that there could be a sign-and-trade in the works.

Maybe the Hawks need to ensure the contract terms fit the cap structure of the team where Strome is headed. Those terms may also dictate what assets are coming back to the Hawks.

Taking this a step further, Strome's departure would create a 3rd big hole at center so there could be another deal that needs to be made to acquire a new center who is more than just a one-year stop gap (i.e. a young center with upside) unless that new center is part of the Strome deal.

If not obtaining a new center, then the Hawks would roll with Soderberg, Wallmark, Kampf, and either Pirri, Carpenter, or Kurashev. That's not good depth no matter how you slice it.
- Theo Fox

Possibly. Or, Strome’s motivation is to fill the Brink’s truck. Strome and his agent overvalue themselves. The sign and trade market is tough for players looking for the huge payday, post COVID.

Possibly. Or, Strome’s motivation is to fill the Brink’s truck. Strome and his agent overvalue themselves. The sign and trade market is tough for players looking for the huge payday, post COVID.
- Aurora Hawk

Say there is a sign and trade in the works regarding Strome ( who i think they should not move imo) what teams would be involved? What kinda of return could the hawks get? And how do other GM's view Strome? To me the return possibly be a 3rd line center type and solid prospect or 2nd or 3rd pick in return. Or package strome in a deal in which hawks take a bad contract back to up the value of the return. So to the panel what could a trade look like for strome? Thoughts and opinions are welcomed.

With over 10 years in the league, I am sure other teams know about Zach Smith that a couple of showcase games isn’t going to make a difference. His trade value is zero. Why would some team trade for him to be on its taxi squad?
- LAHawk

Yes you are correct in that aspect but with missing so much playing time because of a bad back, teams would hesitate for trading for "damaged goods". Would anyone trade for a guy coming off major injury, without seeing him play, just believing what doctors say

Shaw, supposedly is healthy, so you almost have to put him in top six role. If Strome is signed, what they could wind up doing, on the first and second lines, Strome center one line, and Pious Suter center the other. Suter played center in Europe, and was pretty good. Split Kane and Debrincat, so pair Strome with Debrincat and Suter with Kane. Kubalik has to be in top six, so put him on one of those lines and Shaw on the other. That's about the best you can do, unless one of the kids can stand out. The bottom six should actually be in good shape. You can have Soderburg-Walmark-Janmark on third on 4th would be pretty much like last year, maybe young guy like a Hagel can crack the fourth line. This is pretty balanced line up ..... that's all you got ... unless one of more of the kids can stand out.

Say there is a sign and trade in the works regarding Strome ( who i think they should not move imo) what teams would be involved? What kinda of return could the hawks get? And how do other GM's view Strome? To me the return possibly be a 3rd line center type and solid prospect or 2nd or 3rd pick in return. Or package strome in a deal in which hawks take a bad contract back to up the value of the return. So to the panel what could a trade look like for strome? Thoughts and opinions are welcomed.
- Scott1977

Only 1 trade I'd make, sign Strome add a 2nd rounder and try a trade for Dubois.

If Strome wants a ton of money that Dubois deal did not help him

Only 1 trade I'd make, sign Strome add a 2nd rounder and try a trade for Dubois.

If Strome wants a ton of money that Dubois deal did not help him
- BetweenTheDots

It will take a lot more than that for Dubois.

It will take a lot more than that for Dubois.
- Angotti

Unfortunately but i sure wouldn't settle on trading Strome away for parts, no way I'd give up a 1st since we might be picking 1st.