What about the Leafs????
- boilermaker100

Based on their 54 year Past Performance chart I ignore that possibility.

Trocheck is such a game-changer for them.

Being able to put J.Staal full time as the 3C AND letting Aho take on the hard match-ups changes so much for Staal because now he's getting the opportunity to just grind out the opposition's 2nd,3rd or 4th lines instead of having to focus on shutting down their stars.

That depth down the middle is huge.

Aho - 55 points in 52 games
Trocheck - 41 points in 43 games
Staal - 38 points in 50 games

Not to mention Necas is a natural C and you can use TT there in spot duty if need be.
- BINGO!

What a deal at last TDL, Trochek for Walmark and Haula. Probably the last nail in the coffin for Tallon.

Trocheck is such a game-changer for them.

Being able to put J.Staal full time as the 3C AND letting Aho take on the hard match-ups changes so much for Staal because now he's getting the opportunity to just grind out the opposition's 2nd,3rd or 4th lines instead of having to focus on shutting down their stars.

That depth down the middle is huge.

Aho - 55 points in 52 games
Trocheck - 41 points in 43 games
Staal - 38 points in 50 games

Not to mention Necas is a natural C and you can use TT there in spot duty if need be.
- BINGO!

I hammered on this a bit during the game last night. The Hawks have one guy playing close to average center position. Kampf, Suter, Kurashev, Strome, Dach are all struggling to anchor their lines (regardless of which line they are playing on.

It says something what Gaudette and Hagel are the only ones who can enter the zone with some regularity. The Hawks need Dach to turn into a competent center. Ideally Toews can come back and be as good as he was. Otherwise, this team is going to be struggling for a long time to control any amount of play.

Delia starting tonight. Lineup TBD.

I hammered on this a bit during the game last night. The Hawks have one guy playing close to average center position. Kampf, Suter, Kurashev, Strome, Dach are all struggling to anchor their lines (regardless of which line they are playing on.

It says something what Gaudette and Hagel are the only ones who can enter the zone with some regularity. The Hawks need Dach to turn into a competent center. Ideally Toews can come back and be as good as he was. Otherwise, this team is going to be struggling for a long time to control any amount of play.
- Chunk

Dach can get there. It's a brutal year for him all around. Real weird. Wouldn't judge much off of it.

Really like Hagel. He's got a lot of hustle.

Delia starting tonight. Lineup TBD.
- Chunk

Maybe he will play well enough that Seattle takes him.

What a deal at last TDL, Trochek for Walmark and Haula. Probably the last nail in the coffin for Tallon.
- LAHawk

Yeah. FLA fans point to the trade as a needed wake-up call but I dunno. When you trade a guy like that you should probably get back at least one piece that plays on your NHL team the next year.

Yeah. FLA fans point to the trade as a needed wake-up call but I dunno. When you trade a guy like that you should probably get back at least one piece that plays on your NHL team the next year.
- BINGO!

Well technically Walmark is back with the Panthers, won't see a second of ice time though

Well technically Walmark is back with the Panthers, won't see a second of ice time though

- LAHawk

Always liked him. Not the most talented guy but pretty smart.

Oh well.

And I'd say this Canes team has a more talented top 6 than what St. Louis had.
- BINGO!

Easily. It will come down to bottom 6, plus goaltending, like it usually seems to do.

Tom Wilson fined $5,000 for last night's shenanigans. No suspension.

Tom Wilson fined $5,000 for last night's shenanigans. No suspension.
- boilermaker100

What a complete GD joke. If the league actually gave 1/2 a poop about player safety/concussions, they would kick his ass out of the league. He's been suspended five (frank)ing times before this.

The crappy thing about it is that he can actually play hockey. He doesn't need to do any of this stuff, he's just a wiener.

Tom Wilson fined $5,000 for last night's shenanigans. No suspension.
- boilermaker100

Was anyone expecting more?

What a complete GD joke. If the league actually gave 1/2 a poop about player safety/concussions, they would kick his ass out of the league. He's been suspended five (frank)ing times before this.

The crappy thing about it is that he can actually play hockey. He doesn't need to do any of this stuff, he's just a wiener.
- Chunk

ANY time the league tries to say they care about player safety, they are bold faced lying. To erase stuff they don't want, just make the penalties so high - to the player, coach and organization - high enough that nobody would cross the line. Until they do, it is all PR.

Was anyone expecting more?
- powerenforcer

If he were a Hawk.....

Was anyone expecting more?
- powerenforcer

One of these days he'll be on the receiving end of a hit that he usually doles out. I don't wish injury upon a player, but if the department of player safety won't take steps, I think some opponent will eventually.

One of these days he'll be on the receiving end of a hit that he usually doles out. I don't wish injury upon a player, but if the department of player safety won't take steps, I think some opponent will eventually.
- boilermaker100

Somebody is going to go full Boulerice and drop him with a crosscheck to the face.

Boqvist just keeps getting hammered and the strange thing is he seldom ventures to loose pucks first, he allows the opponent to go after loose pucks and yet he still takes bigger hits than Keith ever did. Not sure if moving Boqvist to wing would help because all the hits he takes are when he’s carrying the puck. Maybe the hawks should register Boqvist onto a lacrosse team where he can learn how to roll off hits?
- paulr

100% very timid to the corner.....he plays smaller than his size which isnt saying a lot. That's my major concern about him, which as you said, will likely lead to a short career if he doesn't learn how to use his stick to move the puck to avoid being smoked which made Keith so good for long.

Keith, Seebs, Buff and Wiz didn't start putting up decent numbers until their second years or so. We'll see how our young D perform next season.

Edit-

Seabrook actual did put up some nice numbers his rookie year:

G5 A27 P32 +5
- Popsghostly

Exactly...that was my point....I know NHL isn't a developmental league, but if you are rebuilding what is the point blowing salary cap space on aging veterans who won't be much better and not allowign guys to gain experience?

One of these days he'll be on the receiving end of a hit that he usually doles out. I don't wish injury upon a player, but if the department of player safety won't take steps, I think some opponent will eventually.
- boilermaker100

Didn't Reaves give Wilson a concussion in a scrap?

This is a very unusual year and the NHL, AHL NCAA and the junior leagues have had to deal with crazy circumstances they have never experienced before.

Overall I think the Hawks have done a decent job moving young players up and down to give them some basic experience (and an NHL paycheque since their AHL wages have been impacted very negatively).

But the facts remain, the NHL isn't a development league. Playing at lower levels until ready for the NHL is the proven method of player development.
- RickJ

To an extent but I also think learning on the job with the understanding that you have veterans will to be a mentor during practice/games and after/before, as well as a coaching staff who if they see a guy start to hit a wall they pull him so it doesn't do long term damage....see Mitchell.

Think you can do both, but I just recall a young Hawks team before the dynasty run where you would see a flash from a Buff, Bolland, etc and just wanted more consistency....that's why I am hoping for next year here.

If certain players aren't adjusting/learning and coaching/management views it as a long term block then you need to sell high....sorta like what the Avs did with that Russian turd we have now......

Well said. Or have they simply reached their ceiling hustle only gets you so far? Too many one dimensional players don't do multiple things well. Too slow to be small, too small to be slow. One trick ponies. Like Chunk said, this will take longer than we want. Drafting at the bottom so long. Didn't expect core to age so quickly. Slow to embrace the rebuild.
- rpeters01

Yeah, that's why I am always a bit surprised when after a loss people get bent out of shape. This team wasn't making the playoffs, etc this year.

IMO they exceeded my expectations. I fully expected a lottery pick. I thought JC did a guy job rotating kids in and out. I thought they did a good job selling on veterans as they realized they were out of it, realistically, for playoffs at the deadline.

The only thing I am down about are 16 and 44......16 I was hoping would be a larger bodied, defensive sound, physical D man...instead, he just needs to go. As in yesterday.....And 44.....IMO, I will be FLOORED if Seattle takes him.....he's past his prime and I get he's a veteran, but I'd rather play a kid all day long vs him.

ANY time the league tries to say they care about player safety, they are bold faced lying. To erase stuff they don't want, just make the penalties so high - to the player, coach and organization - high enough that nobody would cross the line. Until they do, it is all PR.
- mohel

If Panarins shoulder doesn't hit the ice first, he may have been killed. That;s not overstating it. Anyone who has been slew footed or fallen with a helmet on and hit ice first, knows it hurts like hell.....imagine doing it without a bucket on.

I don't care what the meatheads say, or Whitney on twitter.....I always gave Wilson a pass but last night....he needs to go and needs to go away for a LONG time.

If I were the Rangers, I would send out my 5 toughest guys on the opening draw and start a melee....if the Caps dont' want to get that idiot under control, you now pay the price as Rangers season is over. That's the only way you start to force Washington to get the goof in line. Backstrom, Oshie, Ovechkin, whoever.....

What a complete GD joke. If the league actually gave 1/2 a poop about player safety/concussions, they would kick his ass out of the league. He's been suspended five (frank)ing times before this.

The crappy thing about it is that he can actually play hockey. He doesn't need to do any of this stuff, he's just a wiener.
- Chunk

Agreed.....and I hope the Rangers beat the living piss out of him and the Caps best players Wednesday. Wilson will answer the bell, but IMO that's not good enough...you go punish a few other guys so the internal pressure rises in that room to tell that dippoop to cut the poop out.......

If Panarins shoulder doesn't hit the ice first, he may have been killed. That;s not overstating it. Anyone who has been slew footed or fallen with a helmet on and hit ice first, knows it hurts like hell.....imagine doing it without a bucket on.

I don't care what the meatheads say, or Whitney on twitter.....I always gave Wilson a pass but last night....he needs to go and needs to go away for a LONG time.

If I were the Rangers, I would send out my 5 toughest guys on the opening draw and start a melee....if the Caps dont' want to get that idiot under control, you now pay the price as Rangers season is over. That's the only way you start to force Washington to get the goof in line. Backstrom, Oshie, Ovechkin, whoever.....
- SteveRain

Wednesday evening at 6 central, NYR and WSH game on NBCSN. Must watch hockey.