My point still remains that they don't need to make any moves. They can gain some space based on the amount you can bury, which is 1,075,000. Also don't forget that Kalynuk is exempt as well and they can have a roster of 20 players, so they don't need to have 22 active players.
- breadbag

I'm sure more moves coming and they will ice at least 22 maybe 23.

Agree, Stillman is one of the starters on D regardless of de Haan's status. If de Haan is gone, I could see Bowman finding one more free agent D-man on the cheap for one year.

If there is a youngster to play in the top 6, it's Kalynuk then have Mitchell and Beaudin be the top pair in Rockford to play big minutes and in all situations. I also wouldn't mind if all 3 started in the AHL.
- Theo Fox

Kalynuk won't get a spot. He is the only D-man exempt from waivers. C. Jones will make the team is my guess.

He can't park his ass anywhere. He knocked over by a whisper.

He had a huge opportunity last season to prove something. Even before his injuries he was scratched. He just doesn't move well enough for today's NHL.


Also, I already have enough players on this team I dislike, I need one less. lol
- Elbows15

I agree with you on his speed. I think he knows this might be his last season, so we shall see

I don't like some players too, I just don't have him on my list like you.

I already mentioned Kalynuk is exempt. So he won't be here. You can go with 20 but the Hawks won't do that and most teams won't unless they absolutely have to. The Hawks don't have to as I explained about using Shaw's LTIR. The problem is they won't be accruing any cap space during the season.
Still don't have Hagel signed, tho. My guess is he going to come in ~2M.
- Elbows15

Teams often bury young players at the start of the season to be compliant until they can the most out of LTIR. It's not that uncommon or unlikely. Doesn't change the point I made so I'm not sure where you are going with this. Like I said, the Hawks probably aren't signing anyone new unless they make a trade to move out some assets (or something silly like MAF deciding to retire). Unless they overpay their two remaining RFA, they can make it work on day one of the season and then have their full roster in place for game 1. Nothing unusual about it.

Not anti stats, too stupid/not patient enough to understand most of them. I remember Grant Mulvey as an 18 year old, big body, was like a large puppy for the first couple of years before becoming a 30 goal scorer. I do see Dach as a Wheeler type, drafted as a natural center but has found more success on the wing.
- LAHawk

Dach and Wheeler are interesting comparisons in most every way. Wheeler just recently became a high volume shooter but most of his career was maybe 2 SOG per game, more a dish man. ..... He never has scored 30 goals but has hit 90 points a couple times.

Never say never and Dach could flourish on the wing with the right teammates but I think the Hawks would have gone Zegras had they wanted a high points wing. I don't think the Hawks drafted Dach thinking he'd be an 82 point guy. More like a 70 point, 3 zone player with size and shut down top lines.

But once StanBow is out the next regime just might try Dach at wing.

Have heard that somewhere about the first rounder. While I wasn't happy about that part of the trade, I'm hopeful Jones can regain his form from a couple years ago.

Much like Toews who people were writing off at 28 or whatever age it was his production dipped for a couple seasons, I think Jones still has some good to great hockey in him.
- HawkintheD

I really do appreciate the advanced metrics that Elbows, LBR, and others share about Jones as they help me to gain a more fuller understanding of his body of work in the NHL and how he's trending.

At the same time, though, I am excited for Jones to be the team's top defenseman now and be a leader for the Hawks. There's something about the irrationality of sports fandom that I love thus tend to be more optimistic than I probably should.

Either way, Jones is on the team and it's the team I cheer for so I will root for him and hope for the best.

If he flops, that would suck majorly but it wasn't that we weren't warned!

I'm sure more moves coming and they will ice at least 22 maybe 23.
- rpeters01

I'm not saying they won't carry 22 players like they usually would, but on paper to start the season, they might juggle around to take advantage of Shaw's LITR best.

No arrows. I agree on Strome. I actually am okay with him on the team. More so if Toews is not 100%.

I think Dach can be on a strong line with Adb & Kane. They showed signs of it in the bubble. My knock on Dach is carrying the puck, trying to slip past defenders. He gets stripped & loses the puck every time. That is a trend that needs to stop. Other than that, I like where he is heading.
- I Am The Breadman

Kirby and Colton Dach are the same in that regard of not being very good at stickhandling through traffic. They need to keep it simple and use their big frames more than use strictly finesse. Chip the puck ahead and just plow through the defense to retrieve it.

Theo, great piece. It is obvious the Hawks want even more leadership and character with the additions being made. This will help with development of the younger players, and also maximize the final chances of Nylander/Strome dedicating themselves in a manner that takes advantage of their natural skill.

But what do you make of the purge of almost all Euro players from the roster? I think only Kubalik, Kurashev, and Lankinen remain.
- gmurban

To answer your question, I think the purse of Euro players is just coincidental. Hinostroza left, too, and other North American players like de Haan and Strome could soon follow. Nylander is Swedish ethnically but born in Canada.

BTW, your "purge" comment made me think of Bowman being the Emperor (Palpatine) executing Order 66 to start the Jedi purge. Sorry for the random Star Wars reference if you're not a fan.

Corey Perry in TB. I guess they really didn't like playing against him.

Hi, Bread. I think the opposite of the bolded. The Hawks didn't try to play hardball with Suter; they didn't value him as highly as he saw his own value, and they made him a UFA to allow him to get the best deal for himself. If I'm a Euro FA, I like that.
- mohel

Good post. I also recall reading a few years ago that the Hawks are also cognizant when they sign older Euro free agents to 1-2 year contracts knowing that they may not be able to afford them once those lapse.

So the Hawks do what they can to give these players the best chance to break into the NHL then either stay with the organization or get a chance elsewhere to stay in the league. That's gotta be a plus to European players.

Kirby and Colton Dach are the same in that regard of not being very good at stickhandling through traffic. They need to keep it simple and use their big frames more than use strictly finesse. Chip the puck ahead and just plow through the defense to retrieve it.
- Theo Fox

Scouting reports (and some limited video that I've seen of him) say that Borgstrom has very good hands and has the ability to get hard, accurate shots off from a variety of areas. He's my most interesting playing when camp starts.

Hey LA. My previous comment wasn't an argument against keeping him, but more reading the tea leaves. Looking at the type of players they've brought in, and the current roster overall, I didn't think that the Hawks would like to keep him around. If Toews is out, and Strome gets another chance, it will likely be his last (in Hawk sweater). He needs to show something more than he has. At the same time, JC needs to put him in a position to succeed. Playing him at wing does nothing for him or the Hawks at this point.
- Chunk

Good post here, too. You summarized it well what Strome's situation is. Yes, Strome needs to crap or get off the pot but Colliton also needs to put him in a situation to succeed.

I had a thought last night about this upcoming season...maybe I'm wrong/right or somewhere in between. I think this upcoming season is a bridge year and a chance to give the younger players a chance to get a full or mostly full season in RFD. There are still a lot of open slots after this year. Maybe there is something to "giving Toews/Kane" another chance at the cup while their prospect get more development. Jones & McCabe are both still you. Toews will be in his last year after this season and very could retire after his contract expires or do a series of 1 year contracts.
Kane, who I anticipate still playing at a top level will either be traded or extended after this year. You will have Tyler Johnson for two more years, hopefully he is still serviceable but in the end not a bad thing. I think we may be thinking to much about next year and not the big picture. After this season we have 1 long term contract.
- NamedSources

Exactly, this season could be an all-in one to take advantage of a closing window for Toews at least and possibly Kane.

Who knows for Toews that he could hang up the skates once his contract is over so 19 and 88 seeing that they're the last of the core remaining want one last campaign to the Cup together.

Like you said, one advantage of how the roster is being reconstructed is that it allows the youth to properly develop in Rockford the be better for it in 2022-23 and beyond. Kick the youth movement can down the road a bit.

2012-2013 Team USA Under 20 Gold Medal Team featured...
Captain Jake McCabe
Asst Captain Seth Jones

And current Dman Connor Murphy

Is it simply coincidence that once the connection between the Hawks, the USA program, that once Jones became available that HE became the target as he has been scouted for years by them?

And the wait and see if Boqvist can ever play a full season healthy and/or reach 17min a night and not be sheltered was scrapped- once this trio (all about to hit their prime) became available?

All winners. All leaders. All....kind or 'similar' (not the SAME, crybabies, so keep up) but all rather same to the roles of...
Keith - Jones
Seabrook- Murphy
Hjarll - McCabe

While the cup Hawks all developed in CHI system, those 3 developed in the USA system - and are now reunited and all about to hit thier prime years.

If anything now, the clock should be ticking on JC

And Tortella (Team USA guy) and he has evolved through the years....is available

Kirby and Colton Dach are the same in that regard of not being very good at stickhandling through traffic. They need to keep it simple and use their big frames more than use strictly finesse. Chip the puck ahead and just plow through the defense to retrieve it.
- Theo Fox

True, I think they need a lot more of that throughout the lineup. I also hope they don't pass up opportunities to shoot. Just a couple of rookie habits that should hopefully be broken in a full season.

True, but I could see the reason they kept the youngsters on the NHL roster/taxi squad. They weren't even sure that they were going to have a season in the A, how many teams didn't even play and the NHL team had to find a place for their farmhands to play?

The upside/downside also was the Canadian jrs./ some leagues played some didn't, and the Hawks tried to squeeze some of the juniors on the rock to see how Tepley/Phillips/Chytl played against men. Looks like we found Phillips could be a good D prospect out of it. The downside is I think the Rockford roster had too many players on it to give enough playing time to the prospects.
- LAHawk

This is all very true for all teams and especially the Hawks. Hogs head coach Derek King even commented on your last part during this past season that healthy scratches weren't an indication of each player's current productivty but more so they had so many players and wanted to give everyone a chance to play.

Theo, thanks for continuing to keep the content rolling and writing up with solid details.

I've been wondering if may be the will now just keep De Haan, since they moved Zadorov. I was thinking it was maybe trade De Haan and keep Z or the opposite depending on the return for each.

Feels like the team is at a point where they won't be signing anyone else unless they do trade more assets.

I think on the blueline we are going to see Stillman/C Jones/Kalynuk/Mitchell battle out for the the 5D, 6D and 7D spots with Jones probably a lock IMO.
- breadbag

That sounds about right as far as who will be competing for the 5/6/7 spots on the blueline. I'm leaning towards Stillman and C Jones are in the starting 6.

Kalynuk perhaps if de Haan is gone and no other D-man is brought in. Mitchell and Beaudin play top pair in Rockford.

Kalynuk won't get a spot. He is the only D-man exempt from waivers. C. Jones will make the team is my guess.
- Elbows15

I agree and really think Kalynuk is best off marinating more in the AHL with Mitchell and Beaudin.

Starting 6 for the Hawks:

S Jones
McCabe
Murphy
de Haan
Stillman
C Jones

Hayden is in Buffalo also.

I agree and really think Kalynuk is best off marinating more in the AHL with Mitchell and Beaudin.

Starting 6 for the Hawks:

S Jones
McCabe
Murphy
de Haan
Stillman
C Jones
- Theo Fox

What are we going to do without big Z to complain about?

Hayden is in Buffalo also.
- I Am The Breadman

As is The Drake.

Scouting reports (and some limited video that I've seen of him) say that Borgstrom has very good hands and has the ability to get hard, accurate shots off from a variety of areas. He's my most interesting playing when camp starts.
- Chunk

Good stuff on Borgstrom. He and Reichel are the top of my list of players I'm most interested in seeing in camp.

Borgstrom isn't waiver exempt so he is almost a lock to make the team regardless of his performance but think he will have plenty of intrigue and could be a possible boon for the team.

Reichel, like the other youngsters, should at least start in Rockford unless he's just a lights-out savant where it would be crazy to demote him.

As is The Drake.
- Chunk

The Arizona of ex hawks

Scouting reports (and some limited video that I've seen of him) say that Borgstrom has very good hands and has the ability to get hard, accurate shots off from a variety of areas. He's my most interesting playing when camp starts.
- Chunk

i Agree. i spent some time watching him on youtube and if he can even do 50% of what he did in College he will be a good one.