I see this board has the "Sikura Syndrome". Just give Hagel more ice time/play with Kane, and he will get off the schneid. Maybe if he would not try and go 5 hole on every breakaway and shoot it directly into the goalie's crest, he might have 3 or 4 by now. it isn't because of lack of chances, it is lack of finish.

He is not a top 6 forward. I sure hope JC doesn't plug him in a such.

I am like everyone else on the board, i like the guys grit and hustle, but lets not make him out to be what he is not.
- LAHawk

Definitely when I see the board prefer to protect a "dime a dozen hustle machine" over a legitimate D-man, Zad, the kind of D-man we haven't had in ages in the expansion draft.

Your thoughts i echo. So Strome is here only until someone whom can do some of the things he doesn't do....replaces him. I do not know if Barret could step in; however, the replacement might be from a #1 draft choice.
- jhawk59

You may have high hopes for Barratt, but expecting him to step in for Strome is a bit of a stretch. While Strome's game may not be what everyone desires, he IS a 3rd overall pick that has showed he CAN play a contributing role in the NHL. Barratt so far has exceeded expectations of a 3rd round pick, but lets see him produce at even the AHL level before we pencil him into a top 6 NHL role.

That's true but i was talking about someone like Cat, Jokiharu, Boqvist, guys signed at 18-19 and thrown into the NHL
- BetweenTheDots

Cap issues drive guys in earlier.

Cap issues drive guys in earlier.
- rpeters01

As does a 30+ team league.

If JC had his top two centers, my guess is Soderberg and/or Wallmark wouldn't be on the team. Strome would be the 3C like he was (ultimately) last year.
- Chunk

If JC had his top two centers, you could also guess Strome may not have been signed to the contract he got just before camp opened.

If JC had his top two centers, you could also guess Strome may not have been signed to the contract he got just before camp opened.
- RickJ

Spot on Rick. I think without the injuries to Toews, Dach and even Nylander then the contract to Strome would have been closer to the $2-2.5 as opposed to the $3 he wound up getting. Or he signs a one year show me deal at $2.5 max.

Cap issues drive guys in earlier.
- rpeters01

Well it's something definitely the Hawks are doing, whatever the excuses everyone has.

Definitely when I see the board prefer to protect a "dime a dozen hustle machine" over a legitimate D-man, Zad, the kind of D-man we haven't had in ages in the expansion draft.
- rpeters01

Dime a dozen? Don't think so

You may have high hopes for Barratt, but expecting him to step in for Strome is a bit of a stretch. While Strome's game may not be what everyone desires, he IS a 3rd overall pick that has showed he CAN play a contributing role in the NHL. Barratt so far has exceeded expectations of a 3rd round pick, but lets see him produce at even the AHL level before we pencil him into a top 6 NHL role.
- TheTrob

If the first 4 AHL games are any indication, Barratt definitely hustles but is not yet an impact player. He will need at least a year in the minors if not two.

As of now, I don't see top or middle 6 in his future. Bottom 6 grinder with a yapper, sandpaper, and offensive jam.

If JC had his top two centers, you could also guess Strome may not have been signed to the contract he got just before camp opened.
- RickJ

Then why did they give him a 2 year deal? Toews and Dach going to be hurt next year to?

Krutil signed an AHL contract today after being on an ATO. I hope that Moberg (PTO) and Phillips (ATO) also get AHL deals soon. Both have been better than Krutil so far in Rockford.

IMO, Phillips has the most intrigue of the Hogs defensemen and that includes Regula (Kalynuk is on the Hawks active roster now). I like Moberg's simple game a lot, too.

Krutil signed an AHL contract today after being on an ATO. I hope that Moberg (PTO) and Phillips (ATO) also get AHL deals soon. Both have been better than Krutil so far in Rockford.

IMO, Phillips has the most intrigue of the Hogs defensemen and that includes Regula (Kalynuk is on the Hawks active roster now). I like Moberg's simple game a lot, too.
- Theo Fox

Either way, the Hogs need numbers on the blueline. If they had let Krutil go back to Junior and same with Phillips, they'd only have 5 back there.

One of those 5 being Osipov. The Hogs need to do anything to keep him from playing. He's exactly what Hawks fans fear the most in Zadorov not playing up to expectations, i.e. hits a lot but constantly out of position.

Watching Osipov makes you appreciate Zadorov a ton more, actually.

Definitely when I see the board prefer to protect a "dime a dozen hustle machine" over a legitimate D-man, Zad, the kind of D-man we haven't had in ages in the expansion draft.
- rpeters01

Hawks have had many marginal D-men over the years.

If JC had his top two centers, my guess is Soderberg and/or Wallmark wouldn't be on the team. Strome would be the 3C like he was (ultimately) last year.
- Chunk

Maybe Strome would be the one not here?

Maybe Strome would be the one not here?
- mohel

My guess is that if Stan could have gotten any kind of return, Strome would not be here.

My guess is that if Stan could have gotten any kind of return, Strome would not be here.
- LAHawk

That's my sense, too. I hope he plays well enough to get something back.

That's my sense, too. I hope he plays well enough to get something back.
- mohel

Conditional 7th rounder?

Then why did they give him a 2 year deal? Toews and Dach going to be hurt next year to?
- BetweenTheDots

Sorry I wasn't there so don't know for sure. If it was left up to me I would have offered him a PTO on a take it or leave it basis, but that dumb ass Bowman had already qualified him as an RFA.

More realistically, a 2 year deal is about a minimum term deal for a 23 year old with some reasonable NHL tenure.

Conditional 7th rounder?
- HawkintheD

A weight set. WTF else?

A weight set. WTF else?
- mohel

There was this guy who used to post here who recommended cement filled buckets.

There was this guy who used to post here who recommended cement filled buckets.
- HawkintheD

Genius!

Sorry I wasn't there so don't know for sure. If it was left up to me I would have offered him a PTO on a take it or leave it basis, but that dumb ass Bowman had already qualified him as an RFA.

More realistically, a 2 year deal is about a minimum term deal for a 23 year old with some reasonable NHL tenure.
- RickJ

Hahaha, i thought you were going to say for the expansion draft. I just hope the kid gets better.

Definitely when I see the board prefer to protect a "dime a dozen hustle machine" over a legitimate D-man, Zad, the kind of D-man we haven't had in ages in the expansion draft.
- rpeters01

Wait so you weren't being sarcastic? You actually like Zadorov? "a legitimate defenseman, the kind we haven't had in ages".....That's not sarcasm???

Of all the players for you to actually show some optimism towards.....you pick him?



You'd rather protect him....instead of Hagel? With all the promising up and coming defenseman we have in our system? With Keith, Seabs, Murphy, de Haan, etc...there's a logjam. And Zadorov is below average at best.

Makes ZERO sense

Hahaha, i thought you were going to say for the expansion draft. I just hope the kid gets better.
- BetweenTheDots

Hope is not a plan!

Why isn't Bowman using Kendall Coyne to assist? Drag her butt out of the front office and have her teach him how to skate. And then 150 miles a day up and down the Chicago River until his slow, weak ass way of playing changes for the better.

No big deal as far as impact on the current roster but still news:

@goicehogs

Medical Update: Defenseman Anton Lindholm sustained an injury on February 12th and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks recovering from a fractured left thumb.