Pass.

It’s time to move on and build the perennial contender. No more retreads.
- DarthKane

Kane is no retread compared to some of these bums that are available this summer

For the right price and term... hell yes to Kane. If he were to come back, he would know the situation he is getting himself into. He is a 35-year-old veteran who can still produce. His coming back isn't breaking off from the path they are on.

The Hawks need offensive help. He would help this team and a very young roster greatly.

We are now in the Connor Bedard era. Kane's return only opens up the past for those who want to discuss it from that perspective.

I think very highly of Patrick Kane. But he will be 36 in November. He is not a 200' player. He fits on a line with a solid 2 way center. Playing on a line with Bedard would be a disaster.
He would also take PP time away from a younger player.
If the Hawks had a young 2way center on the 1st or 2nd line it would make more sense.
I love you Patrick. Thanks for the great years and the cups. But find a better place to finish you career.
Playing in Nashville on a line with O'Reilly might be a good idea. They are expected to be active this offseason. They have cap space.

Stamkos (3 x 7.5M) - Bedard - Kurashev
Hall - Nazar - Kane (2 X 6.5M)
Reichel - D!ckinson - AA
Slaggert - Donato - Foligno
Anderson - Raddysh

If Hall unable to go, move Reichel up to 2LW and Foligno to 3LW.

Trade Jones to Utah for their 1st. Draft a defenseman with the 6th pick after selecting Dedimov or Lindstrom at 2. If Levshunov is picked at 2, select the best remaining forward at 6.

Sign 2 free agent RD's.

Vlasic - Pesce (6 x 7.5M)
Kaiser - DeMelo/Carrier/Roy (4 x 4-5M)
Korchinski - Murphy
Phillips

With DelMastro/Allen/Rinzel and the 2024 pick, the defense should be set for several years. Trade off pieces as necessary to shore up weak spots.

About 10M in cap space left. (Can retain on Marner for the right price if he's being traded to a contender who is short on cap space.)

Still got this year's 20th pick, two 2025 1sts and several 2nds and 3rds that can keep the pipeline filled or traded off.

And finally, replace Vosters.

Stamkos (3 x 7.5M) - Bedard - Kurashev
Hall - Nazar - Kane (2 X 6.5M)
Reichel - D!ckinson - AA
Slaggert - Donato - Foligno
Anderson - Raddysh

If Hall unable to go, move Reichel up to 2LW and Foligno to 3LW.

Trade Jones to Utah for their 1st. Draft a defenseman with the 6th pick after selecting Dedimov or Lindstrom at 2. If Levshunov is picked at 2, select the best remaining forward at 6.

Sign 2 free agent RD's.

Vlasic - Pesce (6 x 7.5M)
Kaiser - DeMelo/Carrier/Roy (4 x 4-5M)
Korchinski - Murphy
Phillips

With DelMastro/Allen/Rinzel and the 2024 pick, the defense should be set for several years. Trade off pieces as necessary to shore up weak spots.

About 10M in cap space left. (Can retain on Marner for the right price if he's being traded to a contender who is short on cap space.)

Still got this year's 20th pick, two 2025 1sts and several 2nds and 3rds that can keep the pipeline filled or traded off.

And finally, replace Vosters.
- boilermaker100

I have this sneaking suspicion that KD will move AA out.

Stamkos (3 x 7.5M) - Bedard - Kurashev
Hall - Nazar - Kane (2 X 6.5M)
Reichel - D!ckinson - AA
Slaggert - Donato - Foligno
Anderson - Raddysh

If Hall unable to go, move Reichel up to 2LW and Foligno to 3LW.

Trade Jones to Utah for their 1st. Draft a defenseman with the 6th pick after selecting Dedimov or Lindstrom at 2. If Levshunov is picked at 2, select the best remaining forward at 6.

Sign 2 free agent RD's.

Vlasic - Pesce (6 x 7.5M)
Kaiser - DeMelo/Carrier/Roy (4 x 4-5M)
Korchinski - Murphy
Phillips

With DelMastro/Allen/Rinzel and the 2024 pick, the defense should be set for several years. Trade off pieces as necessary to shore up weak spots.

About 10M in cap space left. (Can retain on Marner for the right price if he's being traded to a contender who is short on cap space.)

Still got this year's 20th pick, two 2025 1sts and several 2nds and 3rds that can keep the pipeline filled or traded off.

And finally, replace Vosters.
- boilermaker100

Is Jones really in Play to Utah for their first?

Is Jones really in Play to Utah for their first?
- glennjpawlak22

I think Kyle would have to get more than a 6th overall pick for him. His value with the fanbase might be one thing, but I don't see him being moved straight up for a 1st.

I think Kyle would have to get more than a 6th overall pick for him. His value with the fanbase might be one thing, but I don't see him being moved straight up for a 1st.
- breadbag

I think they should take a 6th overall for Jones and use the cap savings for a solid D man that might better mentor the young guys and they'd have cap space still available
for other improvements.

I think very highly of Patrick Kane. But he will be 36 in November. He is not a 200' player. He fits on a line with a solid 2 way center. Playing on a line with Bedard would be a disaster.
He would also take PP time away from a younger player.
If the Hawks had a young 2way center on the 1st or 2nd line it would make more sense.
I love you Patrick. Thanks for the great years and the cups. But find a better place to finish you career.
Playing in Nashville on a line with O'Reilly might be a good idea. They are expected to be active this offseason. They have cap space.
- Ztra

You make a very good point about how bad a line with Bedard and Kane would be, they'd never be able to get the puck out of their own zone. Maybe on a PP unit they could make some magic, but I don't see it working unless you move Bedard to wing and bring in some stud center in free agency to carry the work load for those guys.

Funny you should bring up Nashville. I wonder if they still have the same organ player they did 15 years ago who played the theme to Taxi when Kane got sent to the box. With all of the loud, annoying pre-produced garbage coming from the PA systems in NHL rinks these days, I really miss going to a game and it just be about the hockey and some local charm. I think Nancy Faust used to sub on some games at the old stadium.

Is Jones really in Play to Utah for their first?
- glennjpawlak22

One of my pipe dreams.

A. Probably the only player on the Hawks who is worth a 1st (excluding Bedard, Vlasic). Personally I want to move him for futures rather than have him around for 6 more years. His play will eventually decline.

B. I believe Utah's new owner wants to make a splash with a big acquisition.

C. Utah needs bodies on defense. They have none signed for next year, albeit 3 RFA's.

D. Utah has the cap space and draft picks/young players which could be used in the trade.

E. Seth may waive for Utah. He seems like a low profile guy that stays out of the limelight so he would fit in there.

F. I thinks he has family ties to the Denver area, so closer to home.

G. Jones wants to play for a winner. I think Utah is closer to playoff contention than the Hawks. And I think the new owner will be more aggressive in building a winner than Merulo was in Arizona.

H. There's are several free agent right D available this summer, so this is a good time to move Jones and obtain a couple of decent replacements. KD will have the cap space.

I have this sneaking suspicion that KD will move AA out.
- Chunk

Maybe, but I don't think so. The Hawks still have a ways to go to get the cap floor, they'd need to take salary back.

(not directed at you) I see the lure of trading Jones, but in addition to needing his salary to get to the cap floor the Hawks would also need another top RHD. The free agent market for d-men is worse than the market for forwards this summer, especially RHD. Montour is a good option, but he'll want a long term $8+ million contract. I like the idea of signing Jalen Chatfield (Carolina), but he's a depth d-man, he can't replace Jones' ice time.

Maybe, but I don't think so. The Hawks still have a ways to go to get the cap floor, they'd need to take salary back.

(not directed at you) I see the lure of trading Jones, but in addition to needing his salary to get to the cap floor the Hawks would also need another top RHD. The free agent market for d-men is worse than the market for forwards this summer, especially RHD. Montour is a good option, but he'll want a long term $8+ million contract. I like the idea of signing Jalen Chatfield (Carolina), but he's a depth d-man, he can't replace Jones' ice time.
- DarthKane

Pesce, DeMelo, Roy, Carrier, Walker, Tanev. Two of them would exceed Jones' cap hit.

Regarding ice time, Jones averaged 25 minutes a game. Let's assume 4 minutes of PP time, so down to 21 minutes. One of the above can handle that. Put KK and Vlasic on the PP and see what they can do.

Maybe, but I don't think so. The Hawks still have a ways to go to get the cap floor, they'd need to take salary back.

(not directed at you) I see the lure of trading Jones, but in addition to needing his salary to get to the cap floor the Hawks would also need another top RHD. The free agent market for d-men is worse than the market for forwards this summer, especially RHD. Montour is a good option, but he'll want a long term $8+ million contract. I like the idea of signing Jalen Chatfield (Carolina), but he's a depth d-man, he can't replace Jones' ice time.
- DarthKane

Yes, the problem with all these trade proposals for Jones is you have to convince a good player with a NTC or a UFA (even with an overpay) to play on a loser for two years. Good luck.

Still like Seth Jones to Utah for their 6th overall. 20 and 34 to San Jose for 14.

Hawks walk away with Dedimov/Levshunov/Lindstrom
D!ckinson/Buium/Yakemchuk
Catton/Eiserman
- boilermaker100

Don't think either team bites...

I'm sure we'll find someone like that by the time Bedard turns 34.
- BetweenTheDots

Fixed.

I have this sneaking suspicion that KD will move AA out.
- Chunk

I was thinking the same thing after reading the post. Without AA the whole thing falls apart.

I think they should take a 6th overall for Jones and use the cap savings for a solid D man that might better mentor the young guys and they'd have cap space still available
for other improvements.
- 6628

I may be extrapolating what you are saying here, but why is Jones not considered a good mentor? Several players (including Luke Hughes on TEAM USA) have said that he is a good teammate/mentor. Not to mention, he just finished a season paired with a guy who was considered one of the top defensive D-men in the entire league in his first full season. I'd guess there was quite a bit of mentorship and communication to achieve that.

I don't think they move Jones this summer unless he asks out.

They understand just what they have in him, a slightly overpaid under producing #2 or 2nd pair dman. He paired well with Vlasic. They will draft Levshunov. They will upgrade the forwards and hope that will also help the Dmen. Let the young dmen get additional experience and the reassess at the 2025 TDL or the summer of 2025.

Pesce, DeMelo, Roy, Carrier, Walker, Tanev. Two of them would exceed Jones' cap hit.

Regarding ice time, Jones averaged 25 minutes a game. Let's assume 4 minutes of PP time, so down to 21 minutes. One of the above can handle that. Put KK and Vlasic on the PP and see what they can do.
- boilermaker100

IMO, Not much offensive punch in that group of Dmen. Vlasic on the PP wasn't a good experiment. Not saying he is a bad player or dman, but he was basically a passenger on the PP. KK, maybe, but could be another year or two down the road based on his age and progression.

I like your ideas, I hope we focus on UFA more in the 27-30 age and also fix the goaltending situation. I hope we don't just bank on Mrazek to give his best (good but not elite goaltending) and just run with inconsistent behind him.

We were bottom 10 in the league in goaltending, with Mrazek having his best season in a while. Yes, the team in front of him needs to be better, but let's also not kid ourselves Mrazek has a large body of work and has never been much better than average to slightly above average or a 1b guy at best.

If his game slips back into 2021-2023 Mrazek territory, without improving our situation in net, we are picking top 5 again.

This time of the season has all dozen playoff losers and the other 16 teams deciding on their long range plans.
What they want to acquire, who might be a true chip, or who might be very interested to improve on how they finished the year or improve to offset the roster changes they have to deal with.
Carolina signed a young Swedish pro defenseman Joel Nyström, their 7th rounder who is 22 and has a four SHL seasons under his belt.

They probably know who are closer to keepers after the exit interviews and where they “feel” the larger part of the forward group will come from.
Pretty much sure the team will “say” win jobs, but probably have Rockford supplementary plans in place and already have a cut bait plan on one player every time they see a new forward who is considered as an in the NHL kid getting experience and going from there.

I don’t doubt they might go Euro UFA at forward.
I don’t doubt they attempt to sign or trade for younger NHL forward, who looks like a possible dominant addition with the kids on the way.

It is kinda of a no-brainer they try and trade young dee surplus for young Forward surplus, but you still need to get an add worth trading for, just a body for body change of scenery.

So curious how they think they can re-shape this year’s team with true talent that elevates the group…becasue that is true team building masterwork.

As some here have said, I too am feeling better being awful and getting to reap quality chances at just about any position, instead of watching the draft tiers fly off like they do to the teams selecting who are lumped in need like Seattle, who do not get the opportunity to elevate via draft position.

I don't think they move Jones this summer unless he asks out.

They understand just what they have in him, a slightly overpaid under producing #2 or 2nd pair dman. He paired well with Vlasic. They will draft Levshunov. They will upgrade the forwards and hope that will also help the Dmen. Let the young dmen get additional experience and the reassess at the 2025 TDL or the summer of 2025.
- Ztra

How many under-producing #2 dmen average between 0.5 to 0.6 points per game in their career? I get that his points were down the last two seasons, but that has more to do with the fact that Chicago has the worst offense in the entire NHL for two straight seasons.

I may be extrapolating what you are saying here, but why is Jones not considered a good mentor? Several players (including Luke Hughes on TEAM USA) have said that he is a good teammate/mentor. Not to mention, he just finished a season paired with a guy who was considered one of the top defensive D-men in the entire league in his first full season. I'd guess there was quite a bit of mentorship and communication to achieve that.
- Chunk

Good point, I don't "know" anything about this, but what I "think" is that Jones isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer at his position. To me he looks half asleep and unaware a lot of the time. He may have a good attitude off the ice, but IMHO he's no roadmap for the young guys on the ice. Add to that he seems overpaid to me so I think he's not absolutely necessary.

What did everyone think about the Dallas game last night? Dallas sure looked like they were putting out about 80% effort and the Oil sure pounced on that. If Dallas gives the effort they gave in game 6 of the AV series, the series will be much different.

IMO, Not much offensive punch in that group of Dmen. Vlasic on the PP wasn't a good experiment. Not saying he is a bad player or dman, but he was basically a passenger on the PP. KK, maybe, but could be another year or two down the road based on his age and progression.

I like your ideas, I hope we focus on UFA more in the 27-30 age and also fix the goaltending situation. I hope we don't just bank on Mrazek to give his best (good but not elite goaltending) and just run with inconsistent behind him.

We were bottom 10 in the league in goaltending, with Mrazek having his best season in a while. Yes, the team in front of him needs to be better, but let's also not kid ourselves Mrazek has a large body of work and has never been much better than average to slightly above average or a 1b guy at best.

If his game slips back into 2021-2023 Mrazek territory, without improving our situation in net, we are picking top 5 again.
- breadbag

Linus Ullmark probably available from the Bruins. Not a big financial commitment for 1 year. He's one way to improve the team a little bit.

You make a very good point about how bad a line with Bedard and Kane would be, they'd never be able to get the puck out of their own zone. Maybe on a PP unit they could make some magic, but I don't see it working unless you move Bedard to wing and bring in some stud center in free agency to carry the work load for those guys.

Funny you should bring up Nashville. I wonder if they still have the same organ player they did 15 years ago who played the theme to Taxi when Kane got sent to the box. With all of the loud, annoying pre-produced garbage coming from the PA systems in NHL rinks these days, I really miss going to a game and it just be about the hockey and some local charm. I think Nancy Faust used to sub on some games at the old stadium.
- Dieselhead

Is Demidov considered a 200 foot player? If not, wouldn't a Bedard/Demidov combination be considered just as bad? Maybe Bedard will wind up on wing.