Zach Jarom: Game Day: Hawks vs Lumbus

First.

Don't look now but the Hawks have a chance to move to the 2nd worst record today. They are tied with the Sharks in points (San Jose has two games in hand though). While the Hawks play the Blue Jackets tonight, San Jose plays at the Stars.

There is a 12 point gap between these two and the 3rd worst team. It will be hard for the Hawks to make up that many points with 22 games left even with the "easy" schedule coming up. Looks like a definite top 4 pick this summer.

For those that care, looks like the BIG10 tourney matchups are set for next week even with one last regular season game tonight.

Michigan State will finish 1st and get a bye. #2 Wisconsins plays host to #7 Ohio State. #6 Penn State will play at #3 Minnesota, and #4 Michigan plays host to #5 ND. All of the above will be best 2 of 3 series.

Michigan State will play the lowest remaining seed the following week, while the remaining 2nd and 3rds seeds go against each other in a single game elimination.
Then the winners play each other for the championship.

Columbus has really turned into a poop show of an organization. They really need to clean house from the front office to the coaching staff.

Should be a decent opportunity for Bedard to put up some points at least.

For those that care, looks like the BIG10 tourney matchups are set for next week even with one last regular season game tonight.

Michigan State will finish 1st and get a bye. #2 Wisconsins plays host to #7 Ohio State. #6 Penn State will play at #3 Minnesota, and #4 Michigan plays host to #5 ND. All of the above will be best 2 of 3 series.

Michigan State will play the lowest remaining seed the following week, while the remaining 2nd and 3rds seeds go against each other in a single game elimination.
Then the winners play each other for the championship.
- boilermaker100

If they lose is that the end of their season then?

Columbus has really turned into a poop show of an organization. They really need to clean house from the front office to the coaching staff.

Should be a decent opportunity for Bedard to put up some points at least.
- fattybeef

CBJ will name Bowman as their GM and his first trade will be getting Seth Jones. Seth will waive his NMC in thanks to Stan for giving him that contract.

P.S. Fatty, Thanks for that in-depth look at Jones in the last blog. Those were interesting articles you linked.

If they lose is that the end of their season then?
- fattybeef

ND is not ranked in the national top 16, so if they lose in the tourney their season is likely over since they won't get invited to the NCAA tournament. Then we'll see what Slaggert wants to do.

Michigan was ranked 16th nationally before this weekend. If they win the BIG10 tourney they get an automatic qualifier slot to the NCAA's. If not they will be a bubble team as far as getting into the NCAA's.

Today @ 9:39 AM ET
First.

Don't look know but the Hawks have a chance to move to the 2nd worst record today. They are tied with the Sharks in points (San Jose has two games in hand though). While the Hawks play the Blue Jackets tonight, San Jose plays at the Stars.

There is a 12 point gap between these two and the 3rd worst team. It will be hard for the Hawks to make up that many points with 22 games left even with the "easy" schedule coming up. Looks like a definite top 4 pick this summer.
-boilermaker100

I’m thinking that the Hawks win more games than the Sharks down the stretch, so they’ll finish second from the bottom.

I am intrigued by A Boqvist over the past couple of weeks after he has been averaging 20 TOI (and even more at least once). He is the anti S Jones if you grade that trade now a few years after it went down.

I realize that Columbus got a first round choice in that trade. I realize too that neither dman has lived up to their lofty early draft expectations

In no way am I predicting either dman is going to turn a corner. S Jones will always be what he is as defined by his performance as a Blackhawk. Perhaps he is a tad more helpful and less a hindrance if he played fewer minutes. However his inability to tie up an oncoming forward is disheartening given his skating and size which obviously he doesn’t use to his advantage in such situations.

Boqvist has always been a tease with his great offensive ability to maneuver and his good shot. He gets injured or concussed so darn often so I kind of doubt that he ever has a career season where he figures out how to survive and play well against stronger big men. Yet suddenly the extra TOI and not bad plus minus just intrigues me

So let us keep an eye on him today because watching S Jones is annoying. I have always cheered and hoped that Boqvist would get stronger and better defending against strong big forwards

Oh and btw just curious how Clarke for LA Kings develops as he too is a smallish dman who is able to get rag dolled but lately as a rookie has been in and out of the Kings lineup. Like Boqvist yet even an earlier slot draft choice (4th overall compared to Boqvist 8th overall) they both are at a disadvantage against large rough NHL forwards when along the wall

Today @ 9:39 AM ET
First.

Don't look know but the Hawks have a chance to move to the 2nd worst record today. They are tied with the Sharks in points (San Jose has two games in hand though). While the Hawks play the Blue Jackets tonight, San Jose plays at the Stars.

There is a 12 point gap between these two and the 3rd worst team. It will be hard for the Hawks to make up that many points with 22 games left even with the "easy" schedule coming up. Looks like a definite top 4 pick this summer.
-boilermaker100

I’m thinking that the Hawks win more games than the Sharks down the stretch, so they’ll finish second from the bottom.
- Angotti

Agree. San Jose has some trade chips like Duclair, Hoffman, Granlund and Rutta so their team will become weaker over the next week.

From Ben Pope
Blackhawks lines in morning skate vs Columbus:

Donato-Bedard-Kurashev
Blackwell-Richardinson-Anderson
Foligno-TJohnson-Raddysh
Katchouk-Beauvillier-RJohnson

Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Phillips-Crevier

Soderblom

CBJ will name Bowman as their GM and his first trade will be getting Seth Jones. Seth will waive his NMC in thanks to Stan for giving him that contract.

P.S. Fatty, Thanks for that in-depth look at Jones in the last blog. Those were interesting articles you linked.
- boilermaker100

That would be a pretty funny scenario. Though Ottawa had interest this year or last year in him, can't remember off the top of my head. I'd think a team like Vegas may bite with a lot of their blue line aging out and them wanting to stay competitive. Seattle maybe.

Should be interesting to see what Kyle does there. He can sit on his hands which is probably a good one to have.

NP - my Friday evening to work and there usually isn't a lot going on. Interesting way to look at players who look like they have all of the tools but opinions are contentious to say the least.

ND is not ranked in the national top 16, so if they lose in the tourney their season is likely over since they won't get invited to the NCAA tournament. Then we'll see what Slaggert wants to do.

Michigan was ranked 16th nationally before this weekend. If they win the BIG10 tourney they get an automatic qualifier slot to the NCAA's. If not they will be a bubble team as far as getting into the NCAA's.
- boilermaker100

Cool thanks. Slaggert I think is an interesting prospect. Not highly touted but seems like he knows how to finish and moves reasonably well.

My version of “What I did on my summer vacation aka project the future…the gut whom hates posts with LINES in them
Bedard Kurachev
Moore Celebini Nazar
=================================================
Eiserman Bedard Kurachev
Moore Nazar
=================================================
Lindstrom Bedard Kurachev
Moore Nazar
OR

Bedard Kurachev
Moore Lindstrom Nazar
================================================ Demidov Bedard Kurachev
Nazar Moore

================================================
Nazar Bedard Kurachev
Moore Helenius Roman Kantserov in the future[/I]

================================================

I think we NEED more than one forward and the very fact our skill guys are mostly smaller, a couple big forwards in the future mix.

Oh and btw just curious how Clarke for LA Kings develops as he too is a smallish dman who is able to get rag dolled but lately as a rookie has been in and out of the Kings lineup. Like Boqvist yet even an earlier slot draft choice (4th overall compared to Boqvist 8th overall) they both are at a disadvantage against large rough NHL forwards when along the wall
- jhawk59

jimbo, Brandt Clarke is Doug Wilson size:

https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/336887/brandt-clarke

Columbus has really turned into a poop show of an organization. They really need to clean house from the front office to the coaching staff.

Should be a decent opportunity for Bedard to put up some points at least.
- fattybeef

I was there for the Patrick Kane draft and the fan base was knowledgable, passionate, and there, supporting a team, and all they have gotten was their first rounders dying, unable to get primary support on the top six, and one shake-up trade after another, all resulting in no big steps forward.

I really like what Jarmo drafted and was attempting, but I bet all of the above and the Johnny Gaudreau signing is what sealed their fate, besides hiring the red head phone voyeur coach Babcock.

Those fans deserve better.

At least there is talent in the works.

Could the Blackhawks find a trade deadline discard who isn't too old that they can get for a second rounder where some team needs to make CAP space for their super new prayers answered add that they need space to fit?

Teams do discard prior if they can get something instead of paying for 3rd party cap swallowers.

Vancouver inks Pettersson to 8 year, 11.6M AAV contract.

Next season, Canucks have 24M in cap space with 12 players signed. They'll need several defensemen to fill out the roster. Wonder if they'll move Garland or Mikheyev. Each will have two years left at around 4.75M/year.

Vancouver inks Pettersson to 8 year, 11.6M AAV contract.

Next season, Canucks have 24M in cap space with 12 players signed. They'll need several defensemen to fill out the roster. Wonder if they'll move Garland or Mikheyev. Each will have two years left at around 4.75M/year.
- boilermaker100

...and all but Q Hughes is signed for next season on their backline.

So is this the year?
Do they go out of their way with adds this deadline?

Vancouver inks Pettersson to 8 year, 11.6M AAV contract.

Next season, Canucks have 24M in cap space with 12 players signed. They'll need several defensemen to fill out the roster. Wonder if they'll move Garland or Mikheyev. Each will have two years left at around 4.75M/year.
- boilermaker100

The Canucks can give the Hawks a 2nd to take Garland. 😀

Washington placed Kuznetsov on waivers today. Hope KD stays clear.

...and all but Q Hughes is signed for next season on their backline.

So is this the year?
Do they go out of their way with adds this deadline?
- wiz1901

Hronek will be line for a big raise too. Cap-wise the Canucks will be in a tough spot next season. They’ll be prime to take advantage of in the off season.

The Canucks can give the Hawks a 2nd to take Garland. 😀

Washington placed Kuznetsov on waivers today. Hope KD stays clear.
- DarthKane

Or if some team desperate enough to take Kuznetsov, but not at 7.8M, Caps trade him, retain 1/2, Hawks get a 2nd or decent prospect for retaining 1/4 (1.95M).

The Canucks can give the Hawks a 2nd to take Garland. 😀

Washington placed Kuznetsov on waivers today. Hope KD stays clear.
- DarthKane

Instead of a 2nd rather a prospect if possible. Be interesting what Ottawa does.

Instead of a 2nd rather a prospect if possible. Be interesting what Ottawa does.
- Scott1977

Fair, but Vancouver’s prospect pool is fairly shallow.

Raty would be a nice add, Silovs could have potential. Lekkerimäki or Willander would be home runs (especially Willander), but I doubt Vancouver deals them.

Maybe they target Aiden Celebrini so the Hawks can have both Celebrini brothers.

Or if some team desperate enough to take Kuznetsov, but not at 7.8M, Caps trade him, retain 1/2, Hawks get a 2nd or decent prospect for retaining 1/4 (1.95M).
- boilermaker100

Even at 1/4 cap hit I don’t see any team taking Kuznetsov, maybe if he was a UFA in the summer but not with 1 more season left.

If Washington is looking to unload Kuznetsov then the Hawks should make them pay for it. Chicago can afford the full cap hit for 1 season, but the better option is a Bailey type of trade. Acquire him for an asset them buy him out, the cap hit would be $3.8 million in year 1 and $2 million in year 2.

The Capitals can part with a 2nd or Miroshnichenko.