And he plays very small regardless of his height. See what Chuck posted.
- paulr

Sometimes I get the feeling you guys do this on purpose, like with that guy Edzo..er Enzo.

From the KD presser seams the Hawks are going to keep giving some opportunities to the young guys as this season progresses, given that they are out of a playoff picture. I think (depending on his play) that could mean Levshunov gets a taste of NHL hockey before we end the season. It would be interesting to see him, even if he isn't ready.

Help.

I read the Kyle from Chicago presser comments, well, did I hear Kyle say, “Davidson’s explanation included that he didn’t want to use one salary retention spot on the trade and another later on Hall, so it made sense to use one in the deal.?”
Does that imply they have ONE MORE salary retention spot?
Cap wages on Puckpedia has terrific explanations and salary retention & tarde return s, but did I not understand Kyle or what?
- wiz1901

They have one slot left. He basically said he wanted to move Hall sooner rather than later, as his value wasn't heading in the right direction, so he felt the deal they made was the value he was expecting. Basically, they expected to retain salary on Hall, so retaining on Mikko Rantanen was essentially the same thing, allowing them to move Hall now rather than risk injury or his value dropping.

Sometimes I get the feeling you guys do this on purpose, like with that guy Edzo..er Enzo.
- Chunk

I already fixed it. It was autocorrect I swear.

https://thehockeynews.com...season-nhl-draft-rankings

If the Hawks select first, it would be a tough decision for me. At 2 or 3 the team should get a needed piece assuming Schaefer goes first. I think the Hawks have similar players in stature as Hagens and would rather obtain one of the other three. My preference - Martone, Schaefer, Misa, Hagens.
- boilermaker100

We are getting back to my daily routine of deciding of who the Hawks pick, if theget bounced down from current 31/ slotv #2.

And I can watch more of them, sure, but the facts are clear that there are is a defined top four that shuffle through my mind.


Hers's what I think:
When I watch the smaller Chicago-area prospect currently driving play in Montreal by the name of Lane Hutson who drives play and has such a fast pair of hands on the the stickhandle.
I think Matthew Schaefer thinks and drives with that fervor (and maybe how that goal post broke his shoulder...)
I think that Schaefer is bigger, and handles both ends with speed and efficiently.
He has no compunction to stop when he can attack the front with the puck.
It is difficult to try and rethink the Artie Levshunov could have been a forward, but Matt Schaefer just exploded this season to grasp n grab that top spot by looking like the best junior player, and a specially skilled attacker and defender.

He is not a guy you pass on, I think, as much as I do not want more backline logjam.
(No one thought this club was going to have this top four player luxury.)

Since I cannot control the ping pong ball telekinetically, I keep my focus that we pick 4th and who I hope drops to them, and all else is a bonus.

We can debate the point that Porter Martone is there.
Let's use the Duck early 2024 pick Brent Sennecke as the comp.
Martone is big and physcially bullish already, where Sennecke needs more muscle.
But getting this name called where Sennecke was caught mumbling wtf as he hears it.
Does Martone have hands that equal Sennecke's?, b/c if he does, you are getting a future NHL top 6 prospect.
(And this was the easiest to analyze for me of the forwards.)
It's very easy to project Hagens as the best offensive player, albeit one who isn't going to bowl over anyone, but can set up or score and think at a very high level and has had little difficult against bigger college opponents.
(I am not sure how many NHL teams would pass on him if they were in a position to pick the first forward in the shindig.) Can Hagens be an NHL centre effectively at both ends?
Micheal Misa I believe can be. He can start on the wing, and progress to a strong scoring centre and offense generator too b/c he has the tools also.

So currently I am happy with Misa at the Hawks picking at slot #4.

They have one slot left. He basically said he wanted to move Hall sooner rather than later, as his value wasn't heading in the right direction, so he felt the deal they made was the value he was expecting. Basically, they expected to retain salary on Hall, so retaining on Mikko Rantanen was essentially the same thing, allowing them to move Hall now rather than risk injury or his value dropping.
- breadbag

yeah read dat. So someone here mispoke when they said the one retention in the deal used up our three retentions.
The Josh bailey was a buyout, not a retention, right?

yeah read dat. So someone here mispoke when they said the one retention in the deal used up our three retentions.
The Josh bailey was a buyout, not a retention, right?
- wiz1901

Correct.

The Hawks were required to find a new platform for TV because NBC basically moth-balled all of their regional sports channels (i.e. NBCSports Chicago).

For certain, there is plenty of blame to go around, but the main point of contention was that Comcast/Xfinity would not budge on having CHSN in their highest tier package after NBCSports being in their lower tier the entire time. Once that became the reality and stuck, there really wasn't a good solution. It's either a one-time $25-50 purchase of a digital antenna (if you can get it to work where you live - I found one place in my house that gets a great signal, but it's really not in a favorable place), or you pay stupid money - $20 per month - for 82 games (I guess technically less since they are nationally televised at times) of bad hockey.

There is no real leverage for the Hawks against Comcast, so here we are.
- Chunk

Correct.

yeah read dat. So someone here mispoke when they said the one retention in the deal used up our three retentions.
The Josh bailey was a buyout, not a retention, right?
- wiz1901

Correct. Hawks have two of three retained spots taken up for just this season: McCabe & Rantanen. One spot still open and would bet they'll use it on Martinez next month. Then next season Hawks will have all 3 spots open again.

From the KD presser seams the Hawks are going to keep giving some opportunities to the young guys as this season progresses, given that they are out of a playoff picture. I think (depending on his play) that could mean Levshunov gets a taste of NHL hockey before we end the season. It would be interesting to see him, even if he isn't ready.
- breadbag

If you watch him in the AHL, you wouldn't bring him up to NHL this season at all. He's got a long ways to go thanks to being on the shelf for most of camp/preseason/first part of the regular season. Leave him there and let him focus on what's in front of him in hopes he could come up the 2nd half of next season if he continues to progress.

He also doesn't play big... but I'm just being a jackass now.
- Chunk

Patience grasshopper.

Sometimes I get the feeling you guys do this on purpose, like with that guy Edzo..er Enzo.
- Chunk

Paul and Wiz share the same keyboard...and glasses too apparently.

If you watch him in the AHL, you wouldn't bring him up to NHL this season at all. He's got a long ways to go thanks to being on the shelf for most of camp/preseason/first part of the regular season. Leave him there and let him focus on what's in front of him in hopes he could come up the 2nd half of next season if he continues to progress.
- Assman22

You are probably right and I'm not saying he is ready to be called up, but the possibility of seeing him is there. They've been letting guys come up more lately. He might be seeing guys being called up and step up his game to the point where he is rewarded with a game or two at the NHL level, not with the expectation that he sticks, but that he gets an experience to build on. I do agree with you, he isn't NHL ready, but maybe he will earn taste to help him progress to that next step.

The approximately 6' 1'' Kevin Korchinski was named to the 2025 AHL Allstar team.

You are probably right and I'm not saying he is ready to be called up, but the possibility of seeing him is there. They've been letting guys come up more lately. He might be seeing guys being called up and step up his game to the point where he is rewarded with a game or two at the NHL level, not with the expectation that he sticks, but that he gets an experience to build on. I do agree with you, he isn't NHL ready, but maybe he will earn taste to help him progress to that next step.
- breadbag

His last couple of outings he's played a more direct game. Still taking and getting a ton of SOG, but defensively he's less floaty and more "see puck carrier and eliminate the threat". He's not always successful, but it's an interesting development.

It would not surprise me if one or both of Rinzel and/or Lev show well enough at the beginning of next year to at least give them a good run of games to see if they can establish themselves.

If the morning skate lines are accurate, Dach and Allan are taking a seat for the evening with Slaggert filling in for Dach (and Maroon staying in which hurts my soul). and... yes.... Brodie back in. Murphy still not ready.

Throw it at the wall and see if it sticks:
https://nhlrumors.com/nhl...or-seth-jones/2025/01/28/

If the morning skate lines are accurate, Dach and Allan are taking a seat for the evening with Slaggert filling in for Dach (and Maroon staying in which hurts my soul). and... yes.... Brodie back in. Murphy still not ready.
- Chunk

Sorenson says Dach needs to "have a little more presence, physicality-wise".

Two bits of non-Hawks news:


Kaprizov out at least 4 weeks after getting surgery.

Cam Robinson reporting that teams expect Boeser to be available at the deadline if the Canucks don't turn things around. If he does stay through the season, he'll likely be available on July 1 with several suitors. Canuck apparently wary of giving him a long term deal.

Throw it at the wall and see if it sticks:
https://nhlrumors.com/nhl...or-seth-jones/2025/01/28/
- Chunk

I still think if a move happens the off season is way more likely and I can't see that Hawks being willing to retain 50%. I can't see salary retention of more than 1-2 million making sense for the Hawks.

Hawks don't have an internal replacement for Jones yet. UFA will be pricey. For reference here are the UFA dmen signed last summer.

Montour 7.14 M
Skjei 7 M
Roy 5.75 M
Pesce 5.5 M
Zadorov 5 M
Tanev 4.5 M
Dillon 4 M
Martinez 4 M
Edmundson 3.85 M

How expensive are 0.5+ point per game D who can play in the top 4? With the cap likely rising another good chunk probably 6 million probably bare minimum and probably 7-8+ for someone who is good. Short term, likely wouldn't be an issue, but 5 years....not good.

Sorenson says Dach needs to "have a little more presence, physicality-wise".
- Chunk

But, but, but he's 6-4 195lbs.

Saad going on waivers today. KD NEEDS to make this claim. It’s just too perfect. 😁

Saad going on waivers today. KD NEEDS to make this claim. It’s just too perfect. 😁
- Chunk

*giggles*

Saad going on waivers today. KD NEEDS to make this claim. It’s just too perfect. 😁
- Chunk

3rd time is a charm.

Saad going on waivers today. KD NEEDS to make this claim. It’s just too perfect. 😁
- Chunk

At least Saad goes to the net and occasionally wins board battles. I’d take him over Mikheyev, Dlckinson, or Maroon any day. Miss seeing him skate down the wing.
The second Murphy becomes healthy I want to see Kyle working the phones. RHD with ‘real leadership’ (can’t skate) qualities.