Go back to the playoffs the Leaves played in. All the teams, beginning with Boston used the same strategy. Contain Marner, keep him bottled up and take his passing lanes away. Both Tavares and Matthews had their best regular seasons with Marner on their lines. Because the leaves have no defense to speak of its an easy team to contain. Identify the player that stirs their drink and stop him. That player is Marner.
- paulr

In fairness I get that....and I don't dispute it.....but he has to produce. Being a regular season god is great, but the elite players produce come playoff time.

Marner is too good to be held scoreless in back to back years in the playoffs. He has to and coaches need to as well, figure out ways to get him free and producing....thats the biggest beef I have with Marner......Out of those 12 games...how many did he have at home where he likely had a favorable matchup? At least half?

Article about what Tort's thinks about Jones

https://www.1stohiobatter...es-should-be-next-captain
- LAHawk

Thanks for sharing that article. Hope this quote about Jones needing procedures done isn't anything serious and can be done and over with so he's ready to go by training camp.

"Tortorella also confirmed that Jones will need some sort of procedure(s) over the summer, like Werenski."

I imagine it's nothing serious or else more news would be out about it. The season is long over so it's not like having to be hush hush about an injury during a playoff run.

Fair point on Keith....he was exceptional at transition and passing. Leddy.....didn't have interest in him returning (sorry Savvyone) but I get the lure to him when you watch him skate effortlessly.

I have nothing to go by but it just "feels" like the hawks are pushing to ramp up their rebuild. Again....no idea if it's internal pressure to start winning NOW or they feel guys are a lot closer than we as fans see....or a combo of both....but that Jones trade and what they gave up tells me they are going to push to win here sooner than what most of us thought.

Not saying I agree with it, but now that the lane has been picked....see how this goes....I have a guess DeHaan stays on this team unless Bowman is blown away by a trade AND he can find a close replacement to DeHaan at a lower cost.
- SteveRain

If DeHaan can stay healthy, he forms a really good 3rd line with Stillman.

I fully endorse this take.
- mohel

Kidding...thank you.....hopefully some time to think reduced the hatred of it since the Friday/Saturday takes I read.

If DeHaan can stay healthy, he forms a really good 3rd line with Stillman.
- CSKA1981

That's the huge IF though.....he seems fragile to me.

Go back to the playoffs the Leaves played in. All the teams, beginning with Boston used the same strategy. Contain Marner, keep him bottled up and take his passing lanes away. Both Tavares and Matthews had their best regular seasons with Marner on their lines. Because the leaves have no defense to speak of its an easy team to contain. Identify the player that stirs their drink and stop him. That player is Marner.
- paulr

That's a weak excuse. The same can be said about teams trying to contain Kane, Crosby, Kucherov, Ovechkin, etc. Being able to perform under pressure is what separates great players from good.

That's the huge IF though.....he seems fragile to me.
- SteveRain

We are all fragile

In fairness I get that....and I don't dispute it.....but he has to produce. Being a regular season god is great, but the elite players produce come playoff time.

Marner is too good to be held scoreless in back to back years in the playoffs. He has to and coaches need to as well, figure out ways to get him free and producing....thats the biggest beef I have with Marner......Out of those 12 games...how many did he have at home where he likely had a favorable matchup? At least half?
- SteveRain

In his first five years in the league Marner has better offense numbers than Kane. He did it with no Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, oduya etc.. Now add in Kane had Toews, Hossa, Sharp etc. Etc. Etc. getting him the puck, Marner is the guy retrieving and feeding pucks to Matthews and Tavares. Add to that Marner is used on the first powerplay and first penalty killing line AND he’s on the ice if the leafs are tied, down by one or up by one. Marner because of his versatility is the key player on Toronto. Do you think if Marner played in Kane’s place during the Hawk’s heyday that he wouldn’t produce in the playoffs? Allot of Kane’s success was a well balanced lineup where he didn’t have to do everything. Marner is similar to Kane offensively except in stick handling ability and he’s miles better defensively. If he were available I’d overlook the fact he’s done poorly in the playoffs and pick him up in a heartbeat.

Powers has confirmed that the Hawks have qualified Zadorov.

Powers has confirmed that the Hawks have qualified Zadorov.
- DarthKane

Now give him a five year deal and full NMC.

Boston will not qualify Nick Ritchie. Get’er done Stan!!!

Now give him a five year deal and full NMC.
- paulr

Why go 5 years when he can go 8???

Fair point on Keith....he was exceptional at transition and passing. Leddy.....didn't have interest in him returning (sorry Savvyone) but I get the lure to him when you watch him skate effortlessly.

I have nothing to go by but it just "feels" like the hawks are pushing to ramp up their rebuild. Again....no idea if it's internal pressure to start winning NOW or they feel guys are a lot closer than we as fans see....or a combo of both....but that Jones trade and what they gave up tells me they are going to push to win here sooner than what most of us thought.

Not saying I agree with it, but now that the lane has been picked....see how this goes....I have a guess DeHaan stays on this team unless Bowman is blown away by a trade AND he can find a close replacement to DeHaan at a lower cost.
- SteveRain

Besides DeHaan's inability to stay healthy for any length of time, he has just been plain bad. He was playing well when Keith was hurt, before the pandemic shutdown, but then he got hurt and when he came back he was bad, was bad in the bubble and was bad last year. I would rather see the Hawks roll the dice and hope for organic improvement and development at the NHL level for some of the young D-core than continuing to roll deHaan and Zadorov out there.

In regards to Leddy, other than being a beautiful skater, he is not great offensively, maybe average at his best defensively but above all else he is extremely Hockey dumb, which is why he has never really improved in any area significantly after all these years in the league.

Just a perspective on the Seth Jones contract. In 2008 the Hawks signed Brian Campbell 8 years at 7.14M. Campbell was 29 years old at the time and the deal was 12.6% of the Hawks cap space based on the cap at the time.

I know Jones deal was technically an extension, but he was essentially going UFA after this season without an extension. Jones will be turning 28 when next season starts and his deal will take up 11.66% of the cap.

I'm not saying these guys are identical players but it's a comparison for deals with high profile dmen.

Now give him a five year deal and full NMC.
- paulr

And if he has a brother, get him too.

Powers has confirmed that the Hawks have qualified Zadorov.
- DarthKane

$3.2 is not a bad number. If Zad tries for Arbitration, Stan must make sure he gives a number high enough that he can walk away but even so, it's only for one year.

Suter was not qualified and he’ll become a UFA

Suter was not qualified and he’ll become a UFA
- DarthKane

Ugh. Hope the picture of what they are trying to do becomes clear really soon.

Suter was not qualified and he’ll become a UFA
- DarthKane

Extremely poor asset management by Stan.

Why not trade him if you didn't think you could get a deal done? He had a perfect opportunity at the entry draft to recoup a pick or two.

Suter must have value to a lot of teams out there.

Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus
Did the following Blackhawks receive qualifying offers?

Nikita Zadorov: YES
Brandon Hagel: YES
Alex Nylander: YES
Adam Gaudette: NO
David Kampf: NO
Pius Suter: NO
Josh Richardinson: NO

No QO for Kampf and Gaudette.

$3.2 is not a bad number. If Zad tries for Arbitration, Stan must make sure he gives a number high enough that he can walk away but even so, it's only for one year.
- rpeters01

Still can trade him

Extremely poor asset management by Stan.

Why not trade him if you didn't think you could get a deal done? He had a perfect opportunity at the entry draft to recoup a pick or two.

Suter must have value to a lot of teams out there.
- Tyler Cameron

Agreed. Darth is not a happy camper right now.

Kidding...thank you.....hopefully some time to think reduced the hatred of it since the Friday/Saturday takes I read.
- SteveRain

Yeah, that was some wild #hottakes. Of course, they may be correct. We shall see.

Mark Lazerus
@MarkLazerus
Did the following Blackhawks receive qualifying offers?

Nikita Zadorov: YES
Brandon Hagel: YES
Alex Nylander: YES
Adam Gaudette: NO
David Kampf: NO
Pius Suter: NO
Josh Richardinson: NO
- breadbag

I don't get why you don't qualify Kampf if he was on the protected list for expansion draft.