Didn't say anything about needing to make a move to be cap compliant. That isn't a problem. It is if they want to sign anybody else. Though, one could argue how much garbage does a team need?
- Elbows15

Last season's team was not going.to win much given the personnel and capacity to perform well. The full league- wide schedule, still weighed heavily with intra division games,, is tougher competition than last year too.

Radical change was necessary.Bowman had drafted fairly well, identifying talent and constructing a deeper better list of prospects than previously since he took over

What was missing is an ingredient each team needs to compete fairly. S Jones gives us a heavy big size defender with willing full degree of nasty.. Teams need to be tough enough as in physicality. The greatest concern was to bring in someone whom could handle the big size bodies. Our smallish defense was not going to fare well enough even should prospects develop nicely.

There is no Seabrook on a top pair. Now Murphy has adequate quotient of physicality. Stillman retained does and McCabe appears willful and effective. They join S Jones and together we can compete fairly, evenly. Kalynuk is so so (canblive with this puck mover); only Beaudin fails miserably

We know there is a list of bottom line calibre players whom will filter in during the next three seasons. The new kids will propel us somewhat but we need also one or two forwards on top two lines whom can play a cycle game

So now this roster will hold up much better; we shouldn't be pushed around or taken advantage of as was sometimes pathetic last season

Heavy price to pay for the catalyst Jones. But worth it....... Look around the league and see the larger, good physical players on other teams. What would it cost to acquire them? That's right you pay for what you get. Bowman overpaid, but I won't complain as we are on the road to respectabiity NOW. We were derailed last season. Bowman made a necessary adjustment to the roster.

Just calling it out as obvious it appears to be

That is a rather uninspiring group of FAs Theo mentioned. Frolik has been done for 2 years at least.
- Elbows15

via GIPHY

That is a rather uninspiring group of FAs Theo mentioned. Frolik has been done for 2 years at least.
- Elbows15

https://twitter.com/NHL/s.../1423314416301481990?s=01

For all the Strome fans out there

https://twitter.com/BySco.../1423304347782455298?s=01

Don't know what the hell or how the hell they base this but, all those moves get us 3. Something wins this year?

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1423314416301481990?s=01

For all the Strome fans out there
- BetweenTheDots

That defender is really hounding him....

That defender is really hounding him....
- breadbag

Hahaha sure is, little mouthy too

@MarkLazerus
Stan Bowman still being extra cautious with Jonathan Toews' timetable, but says, "Where we are today, things are looking good."

It has seemed like they've been careful not to get hopes up just in case he suffers a setback. Nothing really saying he will or will not start the season.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1423314416301481990?s=01

For all the Strome fans out there
- BetweenTheDots

Dog plays better D than Strome.

Dog plays better D than Strome.
- Elbows15

The dog for sure has more determination

Dog plays better D than Strome.
- Elbows15

Probably better than Jones too

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1423314416301481990?s=01

For all the Strome fans out there
- BetweenTheDots

Nice pup. Quicker than his owner!

Dog plays better D than Strome.
- Elbows15

That’s a low bar.

Probably better than Jones too
- Ogilthorpe2

See my previous post, apply it to Jones too.

@MarkLazerus
Stan Bowman still being extra cautious with Jonathan Toews' timetable, but says, "Where we are today, things are looking good."

It has seemed like they've been careful not to get hopes up just in case he suffers a setback. Nothing really saying he will or will not start the season.
- breadbag

Good thing the Hawks have 20 centres on the team.

Any deal involving Strome won’t likely happen until Toews’ health is more clear.

Johnson and Dach would be 1C and 2C if Toews is out. 4C is probably Khaira or maybe Kurashev. 3C would be between Borgstrom, Strome, Gaudette and Reichel (long shot). My money would be on The Borg to prevail.

Good thing the Hawks have 20 centres on the team.

Any deal involving Strome won’t likely happen until Toews’ health is more clear.

Johnson and Dach would be 1C and 2C if Toews is out. 4C is probably Khaira or maybe Kurashev. 3C would be between Borgstrom, Strome, Gaudette and Reichel (long shot). My money would be on The Borg to prevail.
- DarthKane

Khaira is not a center.

I don't Strome being here has anything to do with Toews. I think its more a case of no one wants him.

Khaira is not a center.

I don't Strome being here has anything to do with Toews. I think its more a case of no one wants him.
- Elbows15

Khaira took 378 face offs last year. That seems like a lot for a winger.
He might not be a good center. But he played a lot with two wingers.

Khaira took 378 face offs last year. That seems like a lot for a winger.
He might not be a good center. But he played a lot with two wingers.
- Ztra

How many did he take in the previous 2 seasons? If they signed him to play center, they are going to severely disappointed. Not that he is much better at wing, anyway.

He is going to be part of a very bad 4th line as it stands now.

Yo, Theo, haven't read the thread so not sure if this has been mentioned. In preparation for the 2021 WJC U-20 SWE, FIN, USA met in Plymouth, MI for the WJSS. Canada is usually there but cuz of the Covid they stayed home and had their own thing. They combined those vying for spots on both the WJC-18 and WJC-20 squads and had a camp.

I was able to stream the WJSS games but not Canada's so I was happy to see Wheeler do a solid write up in the Athletic about the Canadian camp. ...... Saw nothing on Hawks pick Dman Nolan Allan so I asked if he was at camp and Wheeler replied he didn't get an invite. This despite playing for Canada's 2021 WJC U-18 squad..... So no Allan with Canada's WJC club this yr is the news.

But I will copy and paste what Wheeler saw in my guy Sillinger:

C/LW Cole Sillinger: Sillinger disappointed me a little in the first two games. There were some moments where his skill shone through or he was engaged physically, but I didn’t think he was much of a factor and he’s still got some work to do to fix his forward skating mechanics. But he was outstanding in the closer, scoring four (!) beautiful goals (including one from a one-timer in the high slot, another off a wrister in the low slot that cleanly beat Brett Brochu and one that he just exploded into the net).


And just for fun this kid here played for the Mighty Chicago Steel last yr as a 16 yr old and will play for them again this yr. No such thing as a lock but Adam Fantilli is said to go at least, minimum, top 5 in the 2023 draft.... If you got 10 bucks and a few spare hours go take a look at Fantilli play for the Mighty Steel this yr and see what the organIzation that had the most NHL draft picks of any jr team on earth the last TWO years in a row looks like:

U18 Standouts

C/RW Adam Fantilli (2023): Fantilli was one of only five 2023 prospects at the U18 game and he was the best player on the ice all week whether he was at centre or right wing. He blew me away. He looked comfortable inside the offensive zone. He kept his feet moving (which makes him a lot to handle). He scored multiple goals with low, hard shots and created multiple others off impressive sequences inside the offensive zone. He showed he could protect the puck and shade in and out of coverage with it. His curl and drag shot really popped. His skating looked powerful, beating whoever he wanted wide at will. He was a monster in transition. He led his teammates with passes when plays to the slot for himself weren’t there. And it was just about every single shift, right through to the game against some U20 competition (where he scored twice). As one source described him: “He’s a horse.” He was named the player of the game in the finale.

Good thing the Hawks have 20 centres on the team.

Any deal involving Strome won’t likely happen until Toews’ health is more clear.


- DarthKane

Johnson and Dach would be 1C and 2C if Toews is out. 4C is probably Khaira or maybe Kurashev. 3C would be between Borgstrom, Strome, Gaudette and Reichel (long shot). My money would be on The Borg to prevail.

So Johnson goes from being a 4C in Tampa to 1C on the Hawks should Toews be out

Would #ASF apply?

So Johnson goes from being a 4C in Tampa to 1C on the Hawks should Toews be out

Would #ASF apply?
- gazza53

Absolutely. It always does.

Absolutely. It always does.
- mohel

Goes without saying…but now it’s been said.

So Johnson goes from being a 4C in Tampa to 1C on the Hawks should Toews be out

Would #ASF apply?
- gazza53

Tampa’s 6C would be Chicago’s 1C if Toews is out.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1423314416301481990?s=01

For all the Strome fans out there
- BetweenTheDots

If a dog can defend against him, no wonder he doesn’t do so well on the ice against men.

Tampa’s 6C would be Chicago’s 1C if Toews is out.
- DarthKane

Tampa’s 6C would still be Hawks 1C even with Toews on board, Toews is 3C remember.