I admit it. I don't get the infatuation over Laine. Dude has has averaged 17 goals over the last 4 years. Oh, and is owed $9.1M in salary for the next two years. Let's say he pots 25. That's a mere $364,000 a goal. I mean, he's not being paid for his all around play. Just my opinion, people are reaching far too deep into the way-back machine. What the actual F?
- MartiniMan

He scored about a point per game in 2022 and 2023, though he only played about two thirds of each of those seasons. Not too way back, anyway.

The Hawks don't have the space to take on his entire cap hit, so it would mean trading an asset and/or salary retention by Columbus. Wouldn't surprise me if the tradable assets have Columbus on their NTC lists, to add to such a challenge. Also, Laine has a 10 team no trade list of his own. The Hawks could be on that. I mean he seems to have his best games against the Hawks, so why would he want to give that up?

Especially if there is any sweetener(s) involved, and the Hawks aren't on his NTC list, I would expect the front office to give this a real look. How badly does Columbus want to move him?

He scored about a point per game in 2022 and 2023, though he only played about two thirds of each of those seasons. Not too way back, anyway.

The Hawks don't have the space to take on his entire cap hit, so it would mean trading an asset and/or salary retention by Columbus. Wouldn't surprise me if the tradable assets have Columbus on their NTC lists, to add to such a challenge. Also, Laine has a 10 team no trade list of his own. The Hawks could be on that. I mean he seems to have his best games against the Hawks, so why would he want to give that up?

Especially if there is any sweetener(s) involved, and the Hawks aren't on his NTC list, I would expect the front office to give this a real look. How badly does Columbus want to move him?
- 333inthe3rd

The Laine to the Hawks rumor came from Eklund, which guaranteed it will never happen.

Totally disagree with this being luck. Making maybe top 2 or 3 trades in the history of the sport to get those picks is not luck. It is a masterful job by a GM that you could have only dreamed about before it happened.

And neither is anything KD has done since he took over.

This narrative that a GM in Chicago only gets the credit when bad stuff happens is total BS.

Both Poles and KD have done very well overall since they took over. You can say that haven't won anything yet, you can say in your opinion they never will, but anyone who believes each hasn't done a wonderful job with the poop they were handed is just two seasons ago, is just not looking at it objectively.
- vabeachbear

I agree on Poles but Derrick Rose was luck. The Bulls had the lowest probability of any team.

Davidson got lucky with Bedard

This offseason is D-

Goaltending will be better & Bertuzzi is ok but overpaid

The rest is HOT GARBAGE

Maroon is the slowest player in NHL by miles
Not even a 4th liner on a good Beer league team

Davidson is in over his head
- Goalie-33

LOL.

Hot takes

I agree on Poles but Derrick Rose was luck. The Bulls had the lowest probability of any team.
- rpeters01

I agree, that's why I only bolded part of your post, and only mentioned Poles and KD in my response.

The Laine to the Hawks rumor came from Eklund, which guaranteed it will never happen.
- ObeseOprah

Not least - googling Laine brings up absolutely no one mentioning Chicago -pretty much Minnesota within the last few weeks --- so mind-boggling how people that post here regularly, all of a sudden seem like they are entirely new to this site.

Not least - googling Laine brings up absolutely no one mentioning Chicago -pretty much Minnesota within the last few weeks --- so mind-boggling how people that post here regularly, all of a sudden seem like they are entirely new to this site.

- SC116

And how many google searches had KD sign Bertuzzi, Martinez, Brodie and Maroon, etc. before it happened. It is just a discussion point, I don't see any post discussing a Laine trade as a fact, just about if on the radar, what a return would be. It is the dog days of August, would you rather read more posts on if KK should be playing with the Icehogs next year? I think most that post on this blog have opined multiple times on. This gives us something different to post about. relax. Or should we start positng again about S. Jones being overpaid and is a detriment to the Hawks for the infinitum

OK: I only have one small, teeny criticism of John Toews. After games, he should have mentioned to the media he was simply telling the refs he disagreed with their preference in Chicagoland restaurants. That Rosebud's on Clark was the one to go to! And that was what he was talking to them about on the ice during stoppages in play.

Not least - googling Laine brings up absolutely no one mentioning Chicago -pretty much Minnesota within the last few weeks --- so mind-boggling how people that post here regularly, all of a sudden seem like they are entirely new to this site.

- SC116

:I'mNewHere: I was kinda bored. Just had to look at the angles on this possibility, however remote, regardless of whether or not Eklund started the rumor.

I just read that a judge was finally picked to hear the case of the five players accused of rape. It said it would be in Ontario and probably take place in 2025 due to the backlog in court cases.

And how many google searches had KD sign Bertuzzi, Martinez, Brodie and Maroon, etc. before it happened. It is just a discussion point, I don't see any post discussing a Laine trade as a fact, just about if on the radar, what a return would be. It is the dog days of August, would you rather read more posts on if KK should be playing with the Icehogs next year? I think most that post on this blog have opined multiple times on. This gives us something different to post about. relax. Or should we start positng again about S. Jones being overpaid and is a detriment to the Hawks for the infinitum
- LAHawk

Well I've been told- fine jump at every E1-E5 clickbait infused rumour - your choice.

But for the record, there were a number of places posting about Bertuzzi to the Hawks.

Well I've been told- fine jump at every E1-E5 clickbait infused rumour - your choice.

But for the record, there were a number of places posting about Bertuzzi to the Hawks.
- SC116

Isn’t that Eklund’s business model? Start a rumor so this or any of the other blogs get more posters reading and commenting?

Is Laine to the Hawks any more ridiculous as the big hot summer rumor of Necas to the Hawks promulgated by a lot of other bloggers, which I never believed was going to happen.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION: My Day With the Cup
Jim Lang, published May 2024

Stories from 18 Cup winners of what they did with their day with the Cup, starting in 1995 which is when the tradition started, thru 2023. Plus stories of the Keepers.

I read it non-stop on the plane to and from Montana a couple weeks ago. But no surprise: they totally skip over all 3 years of the Hawks win.... not one story from our 3. Like Kane or Shaw didn't have any interesting stories? Hoping maybe for another volume?

But a very good read. Really interesting was reading about coach Jon Cooper, learned lots of stuff about him, considered a really nice guy apparently.

St Louis had offer sheeted Broberg and Holloway?

St Louis had offer sheeted Broberg and Holloway?
- DarthKane

Holloway (2x $2,290,457) and Broberg (2 x$4,580,917)

I would resign Hollaway and let Broberg walk

Compensation is 3rd rounder for Hollaway, second rounder for Broberg.

St Louis had offer sheeted Broberg and Holloway?
- DarthKane

That's crazy especially Broberg. Can't wait to see how this comes back on the Blues in the future.

Holloway (2x $2,290,457) and Broberg (2 x$4,580,917)

I would resign Hollaway and let Broberg walk

Compensation is 3rd rounder for Hollaway, second rounder for Broberg.
- LAHawk

I bet one of them is the true target.

When the Sharks offer sheeted Hjalmarsson they knew they’d get him or Niemi and that was their goal.

St Louis had offer sheeted Broberg and Holloway?
- DarthKane

Nice. Good for them for doing something entertaining.

Nice. Good for them for doing something entertaining.
- fattybeef

If you are going to offer sheet anyone i would have tried to sign Bouchard last year.

That Vlasic deal is looking better and better now.

An okay playoffs gets you $4.5 per x2.

Isn’t that Eklund’s business model? Start a rumor so this or any of the other blogs get more posters reading and commenting?

Is Laine to the Hawks any more ridiculous as the big hot summer rumor of Necas to the Hawks promulgated by a lot of other bloggers, which I never believed was going to happen.
- LAHawk

I don't think the "old" Laine is KD type player. Who knows about a new Laine? Does a Leppard change its spots? I can't think of a trade yet KD was on the wrong end of? I'm not too worried.

If you are going to offer sheet anyone i would have tried to sign Bouchard last year.

That Vlasic deal is looking better and better now.

An okay playoffs gets you $4.5 per x2.
- BetweenTheDots

Different situation. The Blues made a strategic move to get Broberg by offering him a number that they know the Oilers can't really match. The Blues have room under the cap for the next two years without any main pieces needing notably bigger money. If they get either one, they get a two year try-out period to make sure they are worthy of good money, and they can sign them for longer.

Krug possibly out for the year (maybe for his career), and Broberg theoretically offers more offense than Vlasic... It really is a solid business move.

I think as we move along here, the strength of the scouting departments is going to be the absolute key to teams becoming and remaining strong competitors. Identifying players that will become major contributors early on and signing them to reasonable deals is pretty much the only way to remain a strong team. The Hawks may have a bit of a buffer initially with the sheer volume of prospects they have, but they ultimately will likely fall into the same predicament once they start winning.

Nice. Good for them for doing something entertaining.
- fattybeef

So Stan can beat it by giving 8 x $xxx and full NMC's this is right in his wheelhouse.

I don't think the "old" Laine is KD type player. Who knows about a new Laine? Does a Leppard change its spots? I can't think of a trade yet KD was on the wrong end of? I'm not too worried.
- rpeters01

I'm not weighing in at all on the Laine thing, but regarding KD's trades, he's not had to do any real talent acquisition through trades yet. It's been pretty much all picks and taking cap dumps thus far outside of a few emergency acquisitions because of all the injuries last year.

No one can say (yet) that the ADB or Dach trades are wins. Thus far, Kk has proven to be a young defenseman who made some improvements in his own zone last year, but has not shown all that much of the talent that got him drafted so high. Nazar looks promising, but so have a ton of players in their first few games.

It's all sunshine and rainbows now because we don't really have much in the way of expectations. If this year looks too much like last year, I think the mood will sour quickly.

I'm not weighing in at all on the Laine thing, but regarding KD's trades, he's not had to do any real talent acquisition through trades yet. It's been pretty much all picks and taking cap dumps thus far outside of a few emergency acquisitions because of all the injuries last year.

No one can say (yet) that the ADB or Dach trades are wins. Thus far, Kk has proven to be a young defenseman who made some improvements in his own zone last year, but has not shown all that much of the talent that got him drafted so high. Nazar looks promising, but so have a ton of players in their first few games.

It's all sunshine and rainbows now because we don't really have much in the way of expectations. If this year looks too much like last year, I think the mood will sour quickly.
- Chunk

Small sample to be sure. But trades like:

Lafferty for Nylander
D!ckinson and #2 for Stillman
Hall and Foligno for Mitchell and Regula

are a good start.

https://nhltradetracker.c...by_GM/Kyle_Davidson/315/1

Small sample to be sure. But trades like:

Lafferty for Nylander
D!ckinson and #2 for Stillman
Hall and Foligno for Mitchell and Regula

are a good start.

https://nhltradetracker.c...by_GM/Kyle_Davidson/315/1
- totem

As Chunk posted, these were cap dump trades. He has not made any trade to acquire a core piece. Every trade was made to weaken the team in the short term, in order to draft higher/acquire more picks for the future.

In that respect KD has done what he set out to do, so he "won these trades", hopefully in a few year's that is still the case.