Why would Toews waive? , not like he is playing and is benched? I wonder if his illness will be cured before training camp next year, or it's the last we have seen of Captain Serious. There has not been a peep from anyone (management/players) saying they can't wait for him to start skating and join the team. Although "not life threatening", it must be serious if he is able to be kept on LTIR.
- LAHawk

because no team would ever claim a 10.5 mil 33 year old player that cannot play. he would be 13% of the cap. because he wants to help the hawks out.

https://www.tsn.ca/los-angeles-kings-eye-dynamic-left-shot-defenceman-ahead-of-nhl-trade-deadline-1.1599391

Does Zadorov qualify?
- LAHawk

It would work for me, but I do not think it would work for the Kings. Maybe deHaan? They have an extra 2nd round pick next year (from the Blues)!

Why? Walmark is useless.
- GPHawksfan

I would like to see more of Wallmark before making a judgement like that.

one thought I had with Subban playing well and we can only protect one goalie. the best player we might expose in the EXP draft might be a goalie signed for next year.
assuming Seabrook waives. I also wonder if Teows would waive.
- kmw4631

Isn't Lankinen exempt from the expansion draft? If so that would mean we could protect Subban.

Surprisingly, it seems like the Hawks have found a pretty capable backup goaltender that can take some minutes off of their surprising #1 goaler. Jimmy Waite doing some good coaching work with these 2 guys.

Forgotten little fact about Subban - the Bruins tried to sneak him thru waivers a couple of years ago and were PO'd when Vegas claimed him. Originally he had been a Boston #1 round draft pick in 2012.
- RickJ

Probably too early to anoint Lankinen the #1.

Subban is quicker, more athletic & a better puck handler.
Lankinen is more technically sound.

I’d like to see them get equal starts the remainder of the season, and see how it shakes out.

I’m happy with either, as long as Delia never pulls on a Blackhawk sweater again.

Isn't Lankinen exempt from the expansion draft? If so that would mean we could protect Subban.
- -Doh-

this is his 3rd year with the club so he would not be exempt I dont think.

Today @ 8:58 AM ET
Bettman Cup Standings (Biggest Loser GP/Pts)
1) 0.682 Wings
2) 0.682 Sens
3) 0.750 Canucks
4) 0.800 Ducks
5) 0.842 Preds (lol)
6) 0.882 Rangers
7) 0.882 Sabres
8) 0.941 Sharks
9) 0.952 Flames
10) 1.000 Jackets
11) 1.067 Devils
12) 1.067 Stars
13) 1.100 Blues
14) 1.105 Yotes
15) 1.158 Canadiens
16) 1.167 Kings
17) 1.167 Pens
18) 1.188 Av's
19) 1.211 Islanders
20) 1.238 Hawks 4th in their division
21) 1.250 Wild
22) 1.263 Caps
23) 1.273 Oilers
24) 1.313 Flyers
25) 1.316 Jets
26) 1.316 Canes
27) 1.412 Bruins
28) 1.438 Knights
29) 1.474 Panthers
30) 1.500 Lightning
31) 1.524 Leafs
- -Doh-


Who are the biggest surprises on the list, up and down? I think the Hawks, Wild and Jets are better than anyone expected, in some cases way better. I think the Panthers were projected to be good, not this good. On the down side, I think the Canucks are way worse than expected, Preds and Stars worse but maybe the most surprising is the AV's who many predicted at the top of the league.

It's tough to read based on the limited opponents, division makeups and schedule changes due to covid. Heck, the Blues and Yotes played each other 7 times in a row. Hawks meanwhile thru the first 14 games had played each team in the division twice. That makes it harder to read exactly who is playing good/bad.
Maybe the Jets and the Wild have improved or maybe it’s due to them playing in the weaker West, or a combination of both.

Hawks are now 7-1-2 in the 2nd game of the 2-game sets this season, and 6-0-0 for their last 6. Statistical anomaly? Players adjusting / learning their competition better than the other team? Dare I suggest – coaching?
- LAHawk

I think it's just effort/willpower and goaltending. Not enough of a sample to really say a lot statistically other than they are stepping up IMO.

Today @ 8:58 AM ET
Bettman Cup Standings (Biggest Loser GP/Pts)
1) 0.682 Wings
2) 0.682 Sens
3) 0.750 Canucks
4) 0.800 Ducks
5) 0.842 Preds (lol)
6) 0.882 Rangers
7) 0.882 Sabres
8) 0.941 Sharks
9) 0.952 Flames
10) 1.000 Jackets
11) 1.067 Devils
12) 1.067 Stars
13) 1.100 Blues
14) 1.105 Yotes
15) 1.158 Canadiens
16) 1.167 Kings
17) 1.167 Pens
18) 1.188 Av's
19) 1.211 Islanders
20) 1.238 Hawks 4th in their division
21) 1.250 Wild
22) 1.263 Caps
23) 1.273 Oilers
24) 1.313 Flyers
25) 1.316 Jets
26) 1.316 Canes
27) 1.412 Bruins
28) 1.438 Knights
29) 1.474 Panthers
30) 1.500 Lightning
31) 1.524 Leafs
- -Doh-


Who are the biggest surprises on the list, up and down? I think the Hawks, Wild and Jets are better than anyone expected, in some cases way better. I think the Panthers were projected to be good, not this good. On the down side, I think the Canucks are way worse than expected, Preds and Stars worse but maybe the most surprising is the AV's who many predicted at the top of the league.

It's tough to read based on the limited opponents, division makeups and schedule changes due to covid. Heck, the Blues and Yotes played each other 7 times in a row. Hawks meanwhile thru the first 14 games had played each team in the division twice. That makes it harder to read exactly who is playing good/bad.
Maybe the Jets and the Wild have improved or maybe it’s due to them playing in the weaker West, or a combination of both.
- Angotti

Slide the Canadiens lower, 4 of their 9 wins have been over Vancouver. They don't win very often against any other teams.

Although it was just based on the eyeball test, I've always thought if you give MS consistent time in the pipes, he'll emerge. This is obviously a small sample size, but I think he's got the ability to be a 40-game 1B. Starter? Who knows until he gets the ice time he's never been afforded.

NOW Ek the hawks looking at Johnny hockey

I look at a game like last night and consider they won a tight game without their top 3 centers. Toews/Dach/Strome all out of the lineup. The vet guys on D did the heavy lifting and the young guys got lighter minutes. That is good for development of those guys.

We are seeing the depth start to build as we get to around the halfway point of 3rd year of the rebuild. If the Hawks could get Dach/Toews/Strome all back into the lineup before the end of the year, they could be a tough match up for many teams on a nightly basis.

i.e.

Kubalik - Toews - Suter
Debrincat - Dach - Kane
Strome - Soderberg - Kurashev
Janmark - Kampf - Hagel

Wallmark, Carpenter, Highmore


I know Dach is skating but still some time away. Toews we don't know anything concrete, so he is an unknown.

But they would actually have some punch on the lower lines for a change and likely get back to have a more possession style.

https://www.tsn.ca/los-angeles-kings-eye-dynamic-left-shot-defenceman-ahead-of-nhl-trade-deadline-1.1599391

Does Zadorov qualify?
- LAHawk

I bet they would love Kubalik in the line up now. Sure not a dman but sure has a dynamic left handed shot. Nice move by Bowman and Co

Probably too early to anoint Lankinen the #1.

Subban is quicker, more athletic & a better puck handler.
Lankinen is more technically sound.

I’d like to see them get equal starts the remainder of the season, and see how it shakes out.

I’m happy with either, as long as Delia never pulls on a Blackhawk sweater again.
- scottak

Agreed, I would not say Lanks has outplayed Subs anymore.

I look at a game like last night and consider they won a tight game without their top 3 centers. Toews/Dach/Strome all out of the lineup. The vet guys on D did the heavy lifting and the young guys got lighter minutes. That is good for development of those guys.

We are seeing the depth start to build as we get to around the halfway point of 3rd year of the rebuild. If the Hawks could get Dach/Toews/Strome all back into the lineup before the end of the year, they could be a tough match up for many teams on a nightly basis.

i.e.

Kubalik - Toews - Suter
Debrincat - Dach - Kane
Strome - Soderberg - Kurashev
Janmark - Kampf - Hagel

Wallmark, Carpenter, Highmore


I know Dach is skating but still some time away. Toews we don't know anything concrete, so he is an unknown.

But they would actually have some punch on the lower lines for a change and likely get back to have a more possession style.
- breadbag

If Strome is not playing center, he's not all that effective. The team, coach, and he himself have all said as much. Let's see how he does when he comes back.

If Strome is not playing center, he's not all that effective. The team, coach, and he himself have all said as much. Let's see how he does when he comes back.
- Chunk

If Strome is playing center he’s not all that effective. Hopefully he comes back and puts up some points, then “Hasta la vista baby”, bring us back an asset.

If Strome is playing center he’s not all that effective. Hopefully he comes back and puts up some points, then “Hasta la vista baby”, bring us back an asset.
- Angotti

He started the year quite well. He was much more engaged over the entire ice surface and was producing much better chances. He fell off a little bit before he went on the shelf (possibly due to the concussion). Like I said, I'd like to see how he does after coming back. The problem is that no one knows how long that will take.

He started the year quite well. He was much more engaged over the entire ice surface and was producing much better chances. He fell off a little bit before he went on the shelf (possibly due to the concussion). Like I said, I'd like to see how he does after coming back. The problem is that no one knows how long that will take.
- Chunk

Many teams would like to give away a player to the Kraken just so they agree not to draft a certain other unprotected player. Blackhawks offer up Strome.

Schedule breakdown:

Against the top three in the division - TBL, Car, FLA - teams clearly better than the Hawks - they are 1-4-2=4 points.

Against three teams we thought would be better than the Hawks - but maybe aren’t - Dal, Nash, CBJ - 6-2-2=14 points.

Against the one team we thought they were better than - Det - 4-0-0=8

So, 35 games remaining: 17 (half) against the top group, 14 against the middle group - the ones competing with the Hawks for a tournament spot - and 4 against the bottom.

Gonna b tuff.
- StLBravesFan

The Hawks have definitely gotten better as the season has gone along, and especially after those first 5-6 games.

So, to be fair, chances are if the Hawks(in their current form) had to play 2 vs TB followed by 2 vs FLA they wouldn't get absolutely destroyed the way they did to start the season. We'd probably be a much tougher opponent. As i expect us to be when we play those 2 teams again soon.

I look at a game like last night and consider they won a tight game without their top 3 centers. Toews/Dach/Strome all out of the lineup. The vet guys on D did the heavy lifting and the young guys got lighter minutes. That is good for development of those guys.

We are seeing the depth start to build as we get to around the halfway point of 3rd year of the rebuild. If the Hawks could get Dach/Toews/Strome all back into the lineup before the end of the year, they could be a tough match up for many teams on a nightly basis.

i.e.

Kubalik - Toews - Suter
Debrincat - Dach - Kane
Strome - Soderberg - Kurashev
Janmark - Kampf - Hagel

Wallmark, Carpenter, Highmore


I know Dach is skating but still some time away. Toews we don't know anything concrete, so he is an unknown.

But they would actually have some punch on the lower lines for a change and likely get back to have a more possession style.
- breadbag

I would have Dach anchor that 3rd line, because it would make us that much more dangerous(having 3 lines with elite talent like that leading the way). I think Dach is the real deal, and he would be a monster against other team's 3rd lines.

I would like to see the lines setup where Toews/Kubalik anchor a line, Cat and 88 anchor a line, and Dach also anchors a line. (then Kampf as the 4C again anchoring that 4th line)

So something like this:

Suter/Kurashev-Toews-Kubalik
Cat-Suter/Kurashev-Kane
Janmark-Dach-Hagel/Shaw(if he returns)
Soderberg-Kampf-Carpenter
Strome, Nylander(give these 2 opportunities somewhere in the top 9, but don't count on them earning those roles permanently. Consider it a bonus if either pans out).

I was speaking of all teams, not just the Hawks. A whole lot of the TDL moves do not necessarily translate into playoff success for the buyers, though I am sure many of the sellers are happy with the inflated returns.
- TheTrob

I got that. My question was (because I don't recall) if any of the TDL deals panned out as well for other teams? The Hawks are the only ones I can recall in recent memory where it did (2015).

JC was pulling from his inner Q. After the first period he kept the wingers the same, but the centers were being flipped based upon where the face offs were being taken. Several times, Kampf was between ADB and Kane. Was sometimes hard to tell because we have 3 centers with #’s 24,34 and 64

I got that. My question was (because I don't recall) if any of the TDL deals panned out as well for other teams? The Hawks are the only ones I can recall in recent memory where it did (2015).
- HawkintheD

Last year Goodrow to Tampa for a #1

I got that. My question was (because I don't recall) if any of the TDL deals panned out as well for other teams? The Hawks are the only ones I can recall in recent memory where it did (2015).
- HawkintheD

It’s a little unfairly stacked for deals to not work out, if the criteria for ‘working out’ is winning the SC. Only 1 team can, and 15 teams don’t win it.

So, if all 16 teams playoff made a deadline move, it would only ‘work out’ 6% of the time (1 / 16 = 6.25%).

I would like to see more of Wallmark before making a judgement like that.
- -Doh-

You really need to watch a slow player with zero offensive instincts, a weak shot and not particularly good at anything? There is a reason that two other teams let him go.