I guess my expectations for a guy with 400+ games and making $3.2M are just vastly different. In Zadorov I see a guy who is not a great skater, is a nightmare with the puck on his stick, and worst of all has no Hockey sense whatsoever. Was he better than deHaan, I would say probably, Carlsson he of 18 pro games, non-issue, Keith, no way was he better.

I understand mistakes, all players make them, but, the expectation for me is that a guy you are paying to be a 2nd pairing defenseman is not making the same mistakes as a kid with <40 games. I expect a guy with 400+ games not to make the fundamental mistakes he makes on a regular basis. Does anyone here seriously see him as a 2nd pairing D-man?
- TheTrob

A real 2nd pairing D-man is easily making $4M even now unless you have a young guy without too many years in the league and that guy will really cash in next contract.

At the time Keith's front loaded contract was signed would it not fall under a heavy penalized cap hit clause for us for the duration of his contract if he were to retire? In that case it would be better for us if he just played out the rest of his contract.
- 67hawks

Or he could be hired by the league.

Even though the Hawks are miles from being a contender, I don't think too many would disagree that the team played hard for JC over the whole 56 game season. I can't think of too many games where the team got waxed and quit on him or didn't give great effort in a game following a lopsided loss. They played hard to the end and many of the kids (who belong in Rockford) were given some games with the big club.

Meanwhile teams like the Kings, Sharks. Blue Jackets cashed it in early and made their coaches look real bad.
- RickJ

I watched a few of the Kings games this year (about 5-6), and it looked like they were playing like they knew they weren't good enough. I rarely saw a lot of urgency with them (outside of a few players).

keith would have a recapture cap hit if he retires. my guess is it more likley he gets traded to a contender that can absorb his cap hit but is ok him being a 4-5 D at under $2 mil per year in real dollars. maybe a bad contract comes back.

looks like shalunov is playing top line center for Russia at WC.

clearly this team needs impact players. When I say impact it does not have to be top line guys only. Kruger was a impact player. IE one of the best 4th line D Centers in the league. I look impact is what you give the team compared to what you are paid and where you play. in comparison to Kruger. kampf and carpenter are not impact 4th liners. and they even played up many times which makes it even worse.
that said reichel, nylander borgstrom could be impact players figuring they will all be making $1mil or less the next couple years. Shalunov at 1.5 could be. Suter at 3.5 mil is not (some discussions on what he could get in ARB)

Or he could be hired by the leagues.
- powerenforcer

Come on PE, do you think Bettman would hire a Blackhawk?

A real 2nd pairing D-man is easily making $4M even now unless you have a young guy without too many years in the league and that guy will really cash in next contract.
- rpeters01

For the majority of teams at the top of the league in defense this is not the case. Most of them their 4th highest paid defenseman is making less than $3M

Some here believe that Keith wants to play forever, with only $3.5M in total salary the next two years, I’m not so sure. Don’t be surprised if he hangs up his skates.
- Angotti

Keith is an interesting case.
1) He will be 38 at the beginning of next season. Should he be playing 23 to 24 minutes per night. I would say no. Maybe 20 minutes per night would raise his game. Although older, he still moves pretty well, just not near what he used to.
2) Did he forget how to play D or make passes. I would say no. Maybe the excessive minutes, the revolving door of young inexperienced D partners, centers that lose the man they are supposed to cover, and wingers that are inexperienced or not playing a 200' game are a contributing factor.
3) Could he retire. Maybe.
4) Could he tell Stan that if he had an opportunity to play for a serious contender he would consider waving his no trade clause. Maybe.

But he is a pretty private guy and I do not think anything will be spoken publicly until after the fact.

I watched a few of the Kings games this year (about 5-6), and it looked like they were playing like they knew they weren't good enough. I rarely saw a lot of urgency with them (outside of a few players).
- Chunk

Exactly, and Kopitar was getting 22 minutes of ice time a game and Doughty 27, and they are in a stated rebuild also, with a veteran coach, a former player as GM, and a HOF player as its President. Everything a lot of Hawks fans say the Hawks need.

I guess my expectations for a guy with 400+ games and making $3.2M are just vastly different. In Zadorov I see a guy who is not a great skater, is a nightmare with the puck on his stick, and worst of all has no Hockey sense whatsoever. Was he better than deHaan, I would say probably, Carlsson he of 18 pro games, non-issue, Keith, no way was he better.

I understand mistakes, all players make them, but, the expectation for me is that a guy you are paying to be a 2nd pairing defenseman is not making the same mistakes as a kid with <40 games. I expect a guy with 400+ games not to make the fundamental mistakes he makes on a regular basis. Does anyone here seriously see him as a 2nd pairing D-man?
- TheTrob

I don't really understand all the angst about Big Z. Big picture he is/was a 1 year experiment in adding a big physical player that Stan hoped would add some snarl and some policeman type protection to his grossly undersized, non physical team, even though his salary far exceeded his skill set and hockey ability. Further to that, it meant he could dump Saad and never have to deal with his agent again.

If Z was all Stan the great trader and hockey talent evaluator could get for Saad, shame on him. But Joe Sakic knows when he has a sucker on the end of his fishing pole and Joe knows talent and exactly what his club needs. So he jumped at the deal.

I'm fine with Z as a 3rd pair guy at $2M for a year or 2. More $ than that turn the page and let him walk. And then he can address where he has real problems - center ice. Hopefully he straps useless #17 to the end of his boot and drop kicks him into the middle of Lake Michigan.

Come on PE, do you think Bettman would hire a Blackhawk?
- paulr

Now you are sounding like me.....

I don't really understand all the angst about Big Z. Big picture he is/was a 1 year experiment in adding a big physical player that Stan hoped would add some snarl and some policeman type protection to his grossly undersized, non physical team, even though his salary far exceeded his skill set and hockey ability. Further to that, it meant he could dump Saad and never have to deal with his agent again.

If Z was all Stan the great trader and hockey talent evaluator could get for Saad, shame on him. But Joe Sakic knows when he has a sucker on the end of his fishing pole and Joe knows talent and exactly what his club needs. So he jumped at the deal.

I'm fine with Z as a 3rd pair guy at $2M for a year or 2. More $ than that turn the page and let him walk. And then he can address where he has real problems - center ice. Hopefully he straps useless #17 to the end of his boot and drop kicks him into the middle of Lake Michigan.
- RickJ

I am in basic agreement. However if there was significant interest in Z at the deadline, but Stan was just not able to get the return he wanted before time ran out, maybe he is able to get something done in the off season. In my opinion if you get a 4th round pick and the use of that cap space it is a win. I am afraid Stan will pay him $3 mil to $3.5 mil for a year or two and I feel that is a big overpay that will be tough to unload at the TDL.

For the majority of teams at the top of the league in defense this is not the case. Most of them their 4th highest paid defenseman is making less than $3M
- TheTrob

Oduya was over that 7 years ago.

I am in basic agreement. However if there was significant interest in Z at the deadline, but Stan was just not able to get the return he wanted before time ran out, maybe he is able to get something done in the off season. In my opinion if you get a 4th round pick and the use of that cap space it is a win. I am afraid Stan will pay him $3 mil to $3.5 mil for a year or two and I feel that is a big overpay that will be tough to unload at the TDL.
- -Doh-

100% agree that doing a $3-$3.5M new deal wouldn't be wise. Let Z find those dollars elsewhere in a flat cap world, escpecially when there will be players available in the summer very anxious to sign on somewhere.

My guess is Stan overpriced Z at the trade deadline and that prevented him from getting a deal done with Boston, Winnipeg, Edmonton and maybe Montreal.

Button has Carson Lambos going 12th and Kent Johnson going 13th. If memory serves, Wiz is high on both.

100% agree that doing a $3-$3.5M new deal wouldn't be wise. Let Z find those dollars elsewhere in a flat cap world, escpecially when there will be players available in the summer very anxious to sign on somewhere.

My guess is Stan oveqrpriced Z at]the trade deadline and that prevented him from getting a deal done witeh Boston, Winnipeg, Edmonton and maybe Montreal.
- RickJ

Pretty sure I've never heard that about Stan here before.

I always look forward to reading the message board and mostly agree with what's being written. It reminds me of a big family sitting around the dinner table on Sunday night. A couple of things to add. It makes sense now that I know Kane played hurt because he looked really disinterested the last half of the season. Get rid of Delia. The man can't keep his net. Say goodbye to Zadorov and deHahn and let keith play fewer minutes. Time to let the kids play on defense and see what we have but it's also time to get rid of Brookbank as coach and bring in someone who can teach these kids something(like protecting the net). I would love to see Chelios as the D coach. One final thing. Foley's comments about taking a bullet were way over-blown. He was speaking to the players frustration. He probably shouldn't have said it and he apologized. Let it go.

Button has Carson Lambos going 12th and Kent Johnson going 13th. If memory serves, Wiz is high on both.
- LAHawk

Speaking of another button, every time I push it on Tankathon, it has the Hawks picking Cole Sillinger at 13 (Ari forfeits 12).

If Cole is anything like his father and the Hawks pick him, he'll go on to playing for 12 different teams over a nearly 20-year career that spanned from the Roenick days to the beginning of the Kane/Toews dynasty.

I heard Colliton on the Score this morning talking about the biggest issue with the defense and giving up high danger chances. He said the biggest issue was being unable to transition the puck cleanly through the neutral zone and being unable to sustain pressure in the ozone.

Not sure if that is what the organization thinks of or if that is just JC.... the biggest issue seems to be a break down in structure and guys not doing what they are supposed to be in the d zone.

I get that maintaining possession helps keep the puck out of your own net. See 2010-2015 Hawks. The issue is the Hawks don't seem to be constructing a group of forwards that play possession style hockey.

Stan finally started listening to me. The Hawks signed Arvid Soderblom (goalie) to a 2 year deal ($883,750).

The timing of this deal is impeccable.

Stan finally started listening to me. The Hawks signed Arvid Soderblom (goalie) to a 2 year deal ($883,750).

The timing of this deal is impeccable.
- DarthKane

Elliotte Friedman called this back in February.

Elliotte Friedman called this back in February.
- TommyHawk

I was talking about it before then.

via GIPHY

Stan finally started listening to me. The Hawks signed Arvid Soderblom (goalie) to a 2 year deal ($883,750).

The timing of this deal is impeccable.
- DarthKane

About time!! Too bad Bergevin and not Bowman listened about Caufield though.

It truly pains me to link anything to Lazerus, but this was about as good of an explanation as I've seen regarding the state of the Hawks D.

https://twitter.com/MarkL...tatus/1392890538223980544

Stan finally started listening to me. The Hawks signed Arvid Soderblom (goalie) to a 2 year deal ($883,750).

The timing of this deal is impeccable.
- DarthKane

I guess that will stop Delia knocking on JC's door asking when his next game would be.

And in news that no one cares about:

Henrik Borgstrom just wrapped up his media availability.

He said he went to high school with Kevin Lankinen in Finland. Cool connection. #Blackhawks