I'm not trying to be insulting here, most of these kids have just barely gotten a taste of NHL action. How can you make any real assessment of their ceiling?

If you look at the vast majority of defensemen, they all started out slow. Even when you look at Hughes, Makar, Dahlin, they may put up points, but their work in the D-zone needs a lot of work.
- Chunk

Hughs and Maker are elite skaters and elite OFF look at there off #'s 2 years in. Maker is .9pts per game hughes is .8. .4 is Adam. boquist has played 2 years but the only thing he has the borders elite is his shot. he is not a great skater for his size and does not look like he has the frame to get much bigger. I think he can be a good Off Dman but I have seen nothing that would make me think he could be eilte on the OFF side and he will at best will only be passable on D. Beudin and mitchell are OK. I just do not see anything elite about there physical or skill makeup. Most guys that end up elite you see something in them very quickly. I think they are all NHL players.

I think it depends on whether or not Toews returns. Then there's Nylander returning and possibly Strome on the team still. If those 3 are in the lineup, Kurashev may not have a spot.

It gets muddier when factoring in the future of Kampf, Hagel, Gaudette, Hinostroza, and Suter as well as Carpenter and Connolly.

I wouldn't mind if Kurashev made the Hawks roster again but it's a matter of where he plays. If there's no spots, it doesn't hurt for him to play 1C in Rockford until there's an opening.

DeBrincat - Dach - Kane
Nylander - Toews - Kubalik
Suter - Strome - Hagel
Entwistle - Kampf - Hardman

Kurashev?

Possibilities: Carpenter, Connolly, Gaudette, Hinostroza
- Theo Fox

I would not count on Toews returning. My bet is its a CTE related issue from repeat concussions. Dont be shocked if he medically retires this summer.

I would not count on Toews returning. My bet is its a CTE related issue from repeat concussions. Dont be shocked if he medically retires this summer.
- z1990z

Wouldn't he have been in concussion protocol? And he said his symptoms were present against Edmonton - was he playing with a concussion? Were the statements about fatigue a lie? A misdirection?

I'm ok with those lines, but would prefer:

ADB-Toews-Kubalik
Hagel-Dach-Kane
Suter-Strome-Nylander
Entwistle-Kampf-Hardman

1) Toews and Kubalik showed great chemistry in those last couple of months before the COVID shut down.
2) I think Toews would thrive with 2 shooters given his playmaking ability
3) This could be a really good shut down line with the improvements ADB and Kubalik showed on the defensive side.
4) If Kane can't get Dach going, who can?
5) Hagel and Dach retrieving the puck for Kane can get him back to scoring 25+ goals per year, while still getting almost an assist per game.
- tvetter

Good ideas about reuniting Toews and Kubalik. I also like Hagel and Dach as a pair.

The one pair I don't like is Strome and Nylander as that has a couple of players whose compete level have been questionable.

However, if both can find that spark and consistency, then they could be a formidable duo. Otherwise, they each need complementary linemates unless they're together and the 3rd forward can really carry them.

Wouldn't he have been in concussion protocol? And he said his symptoms were present against Edmonton - was he playing with a concussion? Were the statements about fatigue a lie? A misdirection?
- mohel

In the absence of information... just make poop up.

In the absence of information... just make poop up.
- Chunk

The internet abhors a vacuum.

Trade kurashev in a package deal to get something hawks need power forward top 3 veteran d man to steady the defensive core. Or something else. All depends on towes and whether he comes back and if strome stays. Hate to lose him seems to have a lot of potential and upside. And maybe another season in the rock will better for development
- Scott1977

I think that's realistic for Kurashev to be part of a bigger deal but doubt he's the centerpiece of one.

Kurashev could be in a 1-for-1 trade of youngster for youngster, though, but so could others like Beaudin, Mitchell, Entwistle, Hardman, etc. who aren't pending free agents this summer (unless their rights are traded).

Could there by another Nylander/Jokiharju trade on the horizon?

I would not count on Toews returning. My bet is its a CTE related issue from repeat concussions. Dont be shocked if he medically retires this summer.
- z1990z

A part of me wants to have faith that Toews will return but another part of me doesn't pencil him into next year's projected roster.

Whenever I fiddle around with the roster, I also tend to not pencil in one of either Strome or Nylander (sometimes both of them).

IMO, at least one of Strome or Nylander is not on the team come training camp.

Wouldn't he have been in concussion protocol? And he said his symptoms were present against Edmonton - was he playing with a concussion? Were the statements about fatigue a lie? A misdirection?
- mohel

Not sure, but that seems to be a logical explanation.

A part of me wants to have faith that Toews will return but another part of me doesn't pencil him into next year's projected roster.

Whenever I fiddle around with the roster, I also tend to not pencil in one of either Strome or Nylander (sometimes both of them).

IMO, at least one of Strome or Nylander is not on the team come training camp.
- Theo Fox

All things considered, I would medically retire. Guy has done it all and is still very young. Go enjoy life. He played the game as a complete 2 way clutch goal scoring Captain. Stud and HOF player.

I think that's realistic for Kurashev to be part of a bigger deal but doubt he's the centerpiece of one.

Kurashev could be in a 1-for-1 trade of youngster for youngster, though, but so could others like Beaudin, Mitchell, Entwistle, Hardman, etc. who aren't pending free agents this summer (unless their rights are traded).

Could there by another Nylander/Jokiharju trade on the horizon?
- Theo Fox

Theo that was what i getting at shoulda emphasized that more in by post. maybe package of big z strome and kurashev for fill in the blank or kurashev for fill in the blank?

Highly doubt that, he was going to the highest bidder.
- LAHawk

I remember him stating when he was in Columbus he expected to be the highest paid Forward in the league.

A part of me wants to have faith that Toews will return but another part of me doesn't pencil him into next year's projected roster.

Whenever I fiddle around with the roster, I also tend to not pencil in one of either Strome or Nylander (sometimes both of them).

IMO, at least one of Strome or Nylander is not on the team come training camp.
- Theo Fox

Not hearing anything yet about Toews is concerning to me. It has likely been six months since the docs have been on the case and he wasn't able to play before the end of the season. Will there be any new medical info/answers after this amount of time? If I had to bet it all right now, I'd have to say we've seen the last of him in a Hawk sweater. I'm nowhere near certain about that, just leaning that way.

I'm not trying to be insulting here, most of these kids have just barely gotten a taste of NHL action. How can you make any real assessment of their ceiling?

If you look at the vast majority of defensemen, they all started out slow. Even when you look at Hughes, Makar, Dahlin, they may put up points, but their work in the D-zone needs a lot of work.
- Chunk

Well, you can call Jammer and Oduya 3-4's. I'll take it.

Not sure, but that seems to be a logical explanation.
- z1990z

It is? He was playing with a concussion, but he, the team and the league conspired to not put him in concussion protocol? With symptoms that reappeared after a years long absence? When the only stated symptom is fatigue? I, personally, don't see the logic there.

Well, you can call Jammer and Oduya 3-4's. I'll take it.
- rpeters01

Sure. I probably read too much into what they were saying. I don't really care where they are slotted. I was taking issue with the insinuation that these players were average due to their performance in an abbreviated, condensed schedule on a bad team starting 6-8 rookies a night.

Canucks are up 2-0 after 1

It is? He was playing with a concussion, but he, the team and the league conspired to not put him in concussion protocol? With symptoms that reappeared after a years long absence? When the only stated symptom is fatigue? I, personally, don't see the logic there.
- mohel

If you read another blog, it is not a medical issue it is because Toews hates JC, and so he took his puck and went home. I was going to open an account and post but why bother, but that blog had to be one of the more assinine that I have ever read. But he got what he wanted I clicked it to read it.

Wouldn't he have been in concussion protocol? And he said his symptoms were present against Edmonton - was he playing with a concussion? Were the statements about fatigue a lie? A misdirection?
- mohel

Look at Moh! Going all Bilderberg Group on us.

Well, you can call Jammer and Oduya 3-4's. I'll take it.
- rpeters01

Jamal Mayer's never played defense

Look at Moh! Going all Bilderberg Group on us.
- Rota's Rooter

Are those guys friends with those Illuminati ice holes?

If you read another blog, it is not a medical issue it is because Toews hates JC, and so he took his puck and went home. I was going to open an account and post but why bother, but that blog had to be one of the more assinine that I have ever read. But he got what he wanted I clicked it to read it.
- LAHawk

And the Hawks decided to pay him anyway? And the teammates don't mind him walking out on them?

C'mon man....

Are those guys friends with those Illuminati ice holes?
- mohel

Yup. Pulling the world's strings along with the Rosicrucian Order and Masons.

Canucks are up 2-0 after 1
- HenryHockey

We need someone to get Foley to make a comment how the Canucks have never blown a 2-0 lead to the Flames after the first period or how terrible X Flame player has been in the past 15 games, not scoring.

I'm sure the Flames know how important it is not to win this game.

If you read another blog, it is not a medical issue it is because Toews hates JC, and so he took his puck and went home. I was going to open an account and post but why bother, but that blog had to be one of the more assinine that I have ever read. But he got what he wanted I clicked it to read it.
- LAHawk

Ha ha. I think I read that one too this morning. Why JC is not the coach for the Hawks. My pops sent it to me and I thought it was a real story of the Hawks firing JC.