Tyler Cameron: Mailbag - Blackhawks Postmortem Edition What a great time to have a dedicated mailbag article. Well, that's at least what I thought and you all seemed to agree.

Let's not waste any time… here we go!

Buffalo desperately needs a 2C. A deal around Strome and Ristolainen(or Jokiharju) appeal to anyone? Or for a completely different direction, Strome for Ryan Strome. Hawks get a more typical 3C they need; Rangers get the more typical 2C they need.

Sorry but was answering this back in the last one:

Isnt Boqvist known for his ability to get shots through?
- just69sayin

Actually his biggest strength in past leagues is attacking the net.
Actaully taking the shot.

Sure finding teammates too, but I am pretty certain that the team's emphasis with him was to have him stay back learn the position as a defender and take the occasional chance in.

I am pretty sure there was a leash.

Maybe it was around the game before last, I posted that they ought to simply let him abandon the back and go to the net, as a set play.

It happened once after that, and like Dach, and all the kids they are hesitant to NOT pass it to the stars. Part is reverence, part of it is confidence in those big guys abilities over their own, and after a awhile they all have to see themselves as difference makers, or they won't be.

There were plenty of comparison in their draft year with Vancouver's Hughes always being the better, but there was strong value in the things Boqvist could do as well.

Well, here is what happens. A year of college gave Hughes needed developmental time and didn't stifle his offensive side.

The Hawks felt injuries HAD to advance Boqvist to the bigs and I am sure it wasn't a relaxing comfortable situation that a college year would be in that comparison/

BUT the results so far---> What you see when Hughes has the puck is not the opposition thinking soon the puck is gone and we can run him small ass to submission...the opposition, due to Hughe's excelled offensive results with passes and shots and moves...Hughes gets respect to where they back off of him, more respectful that they will be out of the defense of his actions. (did that make sense?)

Hughes already gets less targets, and it is BECAUSE he was let loose to create.

Buffalo desperately needs a 2C. A deal around Strome and Ristolainen(or Jokiharju) appeal to anyone? Or for a completely different direction, Strome for Ryan Strome. Hawks get a more typical 3C they need; Rangers get the more typical 2C they need.
- DarthProbert

Except the difference is Strome has a basic CAP $$ number that will be short term will manageable by any team, while Ristolainen already getting 5.4 million for two seasons and simply hasn't played big or solid enough to secure that paycheck which really doesn't fit the hawks.

and Jokiharju is a defender who doesn't excel with physicality either.

One name not mentioned in any of the mailbag questions and answers was Brendan Saad. He's another piece of the off season puzzle Stan has to figure out what to do with.

He's got a limited no trade (he can list 10 teams to be traded to) kicking in sometime this off season. I know he's a valuable top 9 solid 2 way winger, but I think if the Hawks trade him that will be a strong signal that a rebuild is on.

Would he allow a trade back home to the Penguins? Rutherford has indicated changes will be made to the Penguins. Maybe Saad will be amenable to a home town discount contract extension with the Pens.

But Pens have cap problems of their own so they can't just bring in a 6M salary in return for prospects or picks. Some salary would be coming back. Maybe a dead contract like Bjugstad, one year left at 4.1M in return as long as the Hawks also get back a pick and a decent prospect or young forward or two such as Teddy Blueger (1 year at 750K then RFA) who could slot in at 3C making Strome available.

Also I doubt if the Hawks will be a playoff contender next season, so Saad would be one of the top rental forwards next TDL. Maybe he would be traded at that time.

Am I the only one who thinks that Beaudin was drafted simply to be included in a trade for someone else? He seems like he was a good idea that no one really cares about.

With Bowman's history of moving overseas players after they show a little success (make the roster), should we be concerned that he will move Kubalik this offseason ala Panarin, Kempny, Kahun, Terevainen, etc.?

Am I the only one who thinks that Beaudin was drafted simply to be included in a trade for someone else? He seems like he was a good idea that no one really cares about.
- Chunk

This goes back to what Tyler mentioned about the Hawks direction. They got 5 veteran defenseman signed for at least 2 more years with a cap hit of about $25M. Keith and Seabs have NMC's, de Haan is injury prone, Maatta is a 3rd pairing guy and Murphy a 2nd pairing guy.

They also have several defenseman - Beaudin, Mitchell, Carlsson, Regula, Kalynuk who should be NHL ready within a year or two, if not next season. Then there's also Boqvist who I don't know is ready for the NHL after his play during the recent playoff games. 4K is in the mix too.

So do the Hawks go young by trading a veteran or two to make room for the kids and begin going through their inevitable growing pains? Maintain the status quo by keeping the vets? Or trade a D prospect to help improve another area?

Wondering if Tyson Jost may be available. Throw him on a line with ADB and Kubalik and see what happens ?

Capfriendly has a nice feature. When you select a team and go to depth charts, it shows the players' stats for just the recent play in and playoff games.

Check out some of the plus/minuses. Nylander and Carpenter at -4, Strome at -3 among the forwards. Dach the best forward at +3.

On defense, Keith a -7, Boqvist a -5, Koekkoek a +4 and Maatta a +7.

I was on record as wanting the Hawks to lose the series against the Oilers to have a chance at drafting Lafreniere. I'm happy it worked out the way it did because even though the 4 games against the Oilers wasn't typical playoff games (because the Oilers didn't play with typical playoff intensity) - the 5 games against Vegas were just what was needed to show our young players what playoff hockey is all about. That experience is worth more than the 1-in-8 chance the Hawks would have had to draft Lafreniere. I was wrong, but I'm glad for it.

Another aspect of the young players getting playoff experience to self-evaluate, it also gave Hawks management a chance to evaluate the players under playoff intense conditions - something they wouldn't have had if they didn't advance past the Oilers. That should bring the picture of each player a little more into focus and help them to construct a playoff ready roster.

One name not mentioned in any of the mailbag questions and answers was Brendan Saad. He's another piece of the off season puzzle Stan has to figure out what to do with.

He's got a limited no trade (he can list 10 teams to be traded to) kicking in sometime this off season. I know he's a valuable top 9 solid 2 way winger, but I think if the Hawks trade him that will be a strong signal that a rebuild is on.

Would he allow a trade back home to the Penguins? Rutherford has indicated changes will be made to the Penguins. Maybe Saad will be amenable to a home town discount contract extension with the Pens.

But Pens have cap problems of their own so they can't just bring in a 6M salary in return for prospects or picks. Some salary would be coming back. Maybe a dead contract like Bjugstad, one year left at 4.1M in return as long as the Hawks also get back a pick and a decent prospect or young forward or two such as Teddy Blueger (1 year at 750K then RFA) who could slot in at 3C making Strome available.

Also I doubt if the Hawks will be a playoff contender next season, so Saad would be one of the top rental forwards next TDL. Maybe he would be traded at that time.
- boilermaker100

IF Crawford goes elsewhere, something around Saad for Murray?

With Bowman's history of moving overseas players after they show a little success (make the roster), should we be concerned that he will move Kubalik this offseason ala Panarin, Kempny, Kahun, Terevainen, etc.?
- ChiTownHawkFan

And yet Kampf is still on the team...

Wondering if Tyson Jost may be available. Throw him on a line with ADB and Kubalik and see what happens ?
- ikeane

I like Jost. He could be available. Not sure what CHI would have to give up to get him but definitely doable.

Am I the only one who thinks that Beaudin was drafted simply to be included in a trade for someone else? He seems like he was a good idea that no one really cares about.
- Chunk

I was screaming at the TV for Joe Veleno (who went 3 picks later) because he is a C and the Hawks just took Boqvist in the same round.

Beaudin is coming along nicely. He actually looked really good in the training camp. But yes, I predict he is a part of a trade eventually.

Damn, Veleno would be a nice-to-have right now as a 3C option if the Hawks wanted to move Strome.

One name not mentioned in any of the mailbag questions and answers was Brendan Saad. He's another piece of the off season puzzle Stan has to figure out what to do with.

He's got a limited no trade (he can list 10 teams to be traded to) kicking in sometime this off season. I know he's a valuable top 9 solid 2 way winger, but I think if the Hawks trade him that will be a strong signal that a rebuild is on.

Would he allow a trade back home to the Penguins? Rutherford has indicated changes will be made to the Penguins. Maybe Saad will be amenable to a home town discount contract extension with the Pens.

But Pens have cap problems of their own so they can't just bring in a 6M salary in return for prospects or picks. Some salary would be coming back. Maybe a dead contract like Bjugstad, one year left at 4.1M in return as long as the Hawks also get back a pick and a decent prospect or young forward or two such as Teddy Blueger (1 year at 750K then RFA) who could slot in at 3C making Strome available.

Also I doubt if the Hawks will be a playoff contender next season, so Saad would be one of the top rental forwards next TDL. Maybe he would be traded at that time.
- boilermaker100

Hard pass for me. I keep Saad for the purposes of attempting to clone him.

Hawks need a couple more guys like him.

Could CHI lose Saad for nothing in a couple years? Maybe. But they maybe get him to sign for the same amount? I think it's worth waiting to see.

Hard pass for me. I keep Saad for the purposes of attempting to clone him.

Hawks need a couple more guys like him.

Could CHI lose Saad for nothing in a couple years? Maybe. But they maybe get him to sign for the same amount? I think it's worth waiting to see.
- Tyler Cameron

Not advocating trading Saad, but IMO if traded for some younger talent, it's a sign that the rebuild is on. Bowman has used the contract cost certainty angle before so he may trade 1 year at 6M for 2-3 years at 4M? Think Hammer for Murphy. Do you get the same skill set back? Probably not.

Wondering if Tyson Jost may be available. Throw him on a line with ADB and Kubalik and see what happens ?
- ikeane

Good call on Jost. He and Kerfoot are two C/W 3rd liners who think would be worth considering (one or the other, not both).

Jost is most attractive because he's ending his ELC and his next contract shouldn't break the bank, i.e. possibly 2-3 years at no more than $2M.

Kerfoot is more experienced and offensively productive but also more expensive in his post-ELC contract at $3.5M for the next 3 seasons.

Of course, I would want to do this if Strome is out or else there's an overload on the roster and wouldn't help the cap.

Not advocating trading Saad, but IMO if traded for some younger talent, it's a sign that the rebuild is on. Bowman has used the contract cost certainty angle before so he may trade 1 year at 6M for 2-3 years at 4M? Think Hammer for Murphy. Do you get the same skill set back? Probably not.
- boilermaker100

Ironically, wasn't Saad also reacquired in the Panarin trade for the exact same reason of cost certainty for more years?

My preference is to retain Saad and have a gut feeling that his camp won't play hardball again (you never know, though, especially if his dad is at the table).

Don't think it's that unrealistic for him to re-sign at no more than his current $6M salary.

While valuable as a 200-foot power winger with scoring punch and PK prowess, he hasn't pushed the envelope enough during his 2nd tour of duty in Chicago to warrant a substantial raise.

I would go $5.5-$6M for more years or $6.5M for less years to keep him in the fold. Can't see him going that low.

I was screaming at the TV for Joe Veleno (who went 3 picks later) because he is a C and the Hawks just took Boqvist in the same round.

Beaudin is coming along nicely. He actually looked really good in the training camp. But yes, I predict he is a part of a trade eventually.

Damn, Veleno would be a nice-to-have right now as a 3C option if the Hawks wanted to move Strome.
- Tyler Cameron

You were not alone on that one at the time. Just looking at the numbers, it seems he struggled a bit with GR this year, but that's not an indication of much.

Thanks for the reminders on the larger D-men they drafted. I completely forgot about Moberg, and didn't know anything about Regula.

I saw an interview with Adam Boqvist from his draft year and he said he has always played with his brother. Maybe Jesper could be acquired from NJ in a prospect for prospect swap. Not sure who the Hawks send the other way. Also, would love to see them get Georgiev. Seems like a backup with starter potential. Wonder if Virtanen could be picked up as an inexpensive reclamation project too

A few ideas as to what trades may look like:

Sikura and rights to Koekkoek for Virtanen
Saad for J. Boqvist and a 2nd?
Strome for Georgiev and Howden
2nd/3rd round pick for Jost

Hard pass on Murray, he is injured more often than Crawford.

Bowman and Colliton having their year-end presser now:


@BenPopeCST

Bowman: "We're going to have a similar group back next year. Not the same group, we're going to have some new faces." Implies the new faces will mostly be prospects/AHL promotions, though.

Bowman and Colliton having their year-end presser now:


@BenPopeCST

Bowman: "We're going to have a similar group back next year. Not the same group, we're going to have some new faces." Implies the new faces will mostly be prospects/AHL promotions, though.
- Tyler Cameron

@BenPopeCST
·
13m
Bowman on the goalie situation: "We have an idea what we want to do. Now we're going to talk to the agents and see where that goes."

"There's no question Corey [Crawford] played excellent for us" in the playoffs.


--

I'll leave you guys to head to Twitter for the entire scoop, but some interesting tidbits coming out in the presser.

I saw an interview with Adam Boqvist from his draft year and he said he has always played with his brother. Maybe Jesper could be acquired from NJ in a prospect for prospect swap. Not sure who the Hawks send the other way. Also, would love to see them get Georgiev. Seems like a backup with starter potential. Wonder if Virtanen could be picked up as an inexpensive reclamation project too

A few ideas as to what trades may look like:

Sikura and rights to Koekkoek for Virtanen
Saad for J. Boqvist and a 2nd?
Strome for Georgiev and Howden
2nd/3rd round pick for Jost
- ikeane

Vartinen I believe is an upcoming UFA. Pass on him anyway. Hawks have enough of broken down defensemen.

Strome may not be enough for Georgiev and Howden. Could throw in Sikura and 4K since they're wont be used in that Vartinen trade. Lol.