Theo Fox: Catch One's Eye
A look at how acquiring new players can be exciting at first but -- if not managed well -- can get messy down the line as has recently been the case a few times for the Blackhawks.

Great read, yet again!

I know that Strome didn't do well on the wing last year, but that was whe it watrie mid-season. I would like to see what he could do if he knew going into the season that he was going to be on the wing. He could improve with a full training camp to work out his issues.

Another fine read, Theo! Thanks much.
It would be great for his career should Strome make/improve himself into a player where he is not considered a defensive liability.
Before the ankle injury last year, my eye test said he was doing that.
After the injury, it did not look to me like he was 100%....even after the extended hiatus.

Strome is not a bad player, the issue is that due to Dach’s improvements in his first year, Strome doesn’t really fit this team any longer. Strome has some challenges, skating being one of them, it takes him too long to get up to speed, not a strong cycle game and weak defensively. He basically has a couple of good attributes, one he puts up points and two he has physical size. Those attributes are worth something, but not to the Hawks, in my opinion they need to move on from him. Because Strome puts up points, is only 23, and was a high draft pick, we must get value for him. Another good blog Theo, thanks for all you do.

Strome is not a bad player, the issue is that due to Dach’s improvements in his first year, Strome doesn’t really fit this team any longer. Strome has some challenges, skating being one of them, it takes him too long to get up to speed, not a strong cycle game and weak defensively. He basically has a couple of good attributes, one he puts up points and two he has physical size. Those attributes are worth something, but not to the Hawks, in my opinion they need to move on from him. Because Strome puts up points, is only 23, and was a high draft pick, we must get value for him. Another good blog Theo, thanks for all you do.
- Angotti

Agree with you on the latter Lou...great stuff Theo!

I don't necessarily disagree with the rest of your post, but I think Strome's young enough to try to adapt his game a bit.

He seems like a decent kid who wants to work on his craft, so maybe he's able to put on a little muscle and become tougher to play against.

Also, to Theo's point, maybe his line can be made a bit better defensively with a more defensively responsible linemate.

If they do trade him at some point, I'm hoping he's able to increase his value a bit more. Not sure how much he has right now.

All WJC games are being played in the Edmonton bubble (one of the Rogers’ Place arenas) and all will be televised beginning Christmas Day (NHL Network in the US).

US - Russia at 9:30 on the first day.

Thanks, Theo, for keeping our hockey spirits up with your blogs. We should be discussing why the Hawks won’t make the playoffs after watching the first 30+ games of the 2020-21 season, but....

Several question marks in your proposed lineup - is Suter a top-line wing - or is he the next Marko Dano?

Will Nylander develop into a Show-worthy top-6er?

Does Shaw come back from however manu concussions?

And, of course, the point of your article - Strome...?

I do think the deBrincat should be on one of the top-two lines with either Toews or Kane - he’s a sniper who needs to get to a scoring position and then receive the puck. He’s worked well with Strome in the past, but you want AdB to get back to 30. He can more likely do that with Kane.

And I don’t think that Nylander can make the most of Kane’s feeds.

Giannis A. - Milwaukee Bucks - 5 year extension for $228MM - AAV $45.6MM.

And no escrow....

Hope a devalued Looney doesn’t screw up their salary cap.

Theo Fox: Catch One's Eye
A look at how acquiring new players can be exciting at first but -- if not managed well -- can get messy down the line as has recently been the case a few times for the Blackhawks.
- Theo Fox

Thanks Theo! You’re churning out content like it’s the middle of the season. Your work has definitely helped fill the void during the pandemic.

Thank you.

Giannis A. - Milwaukee Bucks - 5 year extension for $228MM - AAV $45.6MM.

And no escrow....

Hope a devalued Looney doesn’t screw up their salary cap.
- StLBravesFan

Bettman needs to get in with Silver's friends in China. Doesn't the NBA get about $1B per year from the Chinese government?

$500M toward HRR would solve a lot of escrow issues.

Theo Fox: Catch One's Eye
A look at how acquiring new players can be exciting at first but -- if not managed well -- can get messy down the line as has recently been the case a few times for the Blackhawks.
- Theo Fox

I don't know Theo, to me it's one thing to sign a big money free agent to fill a position then to luck into the 3rd pick in the draft.

I usually don't give up on players but watching Schmaltz avoid contact at all costs in a contact sport was very disturbing to me, understood and supported the trade.

He's still young and a bigger/taller body some of those guys take a little longer to get more comfortable in their own body, the best years are still in front of him.

I guess for me i bet on Strome and try to keep him let's face it Toews is not getting any younger and based on statistics 32 is the age most, turns 32 this season, forwards play begins to diminish, hope it doesn't happen to Toews but father time is batting a 1000.

Agree with you on the latter Lou...great stuff Theo!

I don't necessarily disagree with the rest of your post, but I think Strome's young enough to try to adapt his game a bit.

He seems like a decent kid who wants to work on his craft, so maybe he's able to put on a little muscle and become tougher to play against.

Also, to Theo's point, maybe his line can be made a bit better defensively with a more defensively responsible linemate.

If they do trade him at some point, I'm hoping he's able to increase his value a bit more. Not sure how much he has right now.
- HawkintheD

I hope you’re right, if Strome can elevate his defensive game, it would be very beneficial to the Hawks, but like you mentioned, he needs defensively responsible line mates on his side. We’ll see, I can’t wait for hockey to start, looking forward to seeing their young players grow.

Bettman needs to get in with Silver's friends in China. Doesn't the NBA get about $1B per year from the Chinese government?

$500M toward HRR would solve a lot of escrow issues.
- mohel

Plus having multiple TV networks fighting for your TV rights.

Plus having multiple TV networks fighting for your TV rights.
- StLBravesFan

My Chinese sources tell me that NBA revenue from China is only $500M per year.

Plus having multiple TV networks fighting for your TV rights.
- StLBravesFan

2.6 billion is a wee bit more than 200 million

My Chinese sources tell me that NBA revenue from China is only $500M per year.
- mohel

Better they pay for it then steal it.

My Chinese sources tell me that NBA revenue from China is only $500M per year.
- mohel

That's why - when Cuban, I think (it may have been a different owner, I don't exactly remember which one) criticized the Chinese government for its actions against the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, and the Chinese government reacted negatively - the league quickly backed off - even the players, through their agents, did so.

That's why - when Cuban, I think (it may have been a different owner, I don't exactly remember which one) criticized the Chinese government for its actions against the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, and the Chinese government reacted negatively - the league quickly backed off - even the players, through their agents, did so.
- StLBravesFan

An important note, this would be the final year of the hockey/tv deal. So the league and players will play this season out. To much money on the table and i don't know how it would work but i imagine if the league didn't play this year nbc would have every right to claim to have the rights to the next season played. Estimates of next contract are at least double the current tv deal.

An important note, this would be the final year of the hockey/tv deal. So the league and players will play this season out. To much money on the table and i don't know how it would work but i imagine if the league didn't play this year nbc would have every right to claim to have the rights to the next season played. Estimates of next contract are at least double the current tv deal.
- BetweenTheDots

And - I have read - just as important - they are looking to add a network (Fox, IIRC) to the NBC deal.

Rick Hahn hired Tony LaRussa (or did he not have a say in that)?

And - I have read - just as important - they are looking to add a network (Fox, IIRC) to the NBC deal.
- StLBravesFan

I hope they are able to really get a nice tv deal. I saw news reports that said over 20% new viewership over the past 10 years. That's great news for the league.

Internationally i wonder what money is being generated by the owners i know that was a complaint in either the previous nba contract negotiations or the one prior to that and why wasn't it included in the cba, it's included now.

Just think next season new tv deal fans back in the stands, the hockey business will be booming

Great article Theo....however, McCann was drafted by the Tigers...not the Sox. He was a Free Agent signing 2 years ago.

I would venture to guess that McD had a decent say in the concept of the team, which is one of the reasons why Lehner was signed (not to mention some of the other vets). He also was signed to a 1-year deal which made him all the more likely to be traded if the Hawks fell out of contention (which at the time, they were). On it's face, I have no issue with the Lehner signing. The Hawks got a good tender who was turned into solid assets. If Subban (I know it's a big if) is able to hold down the starter's spot, then the trade looks even better.

I don't think it is a coincidence at all that once McD was out there was a more open dialogue with the fans/media and a notable shift in direction. I'm not pinning all the issues on McD, but he was a big contributing factor in trying to keep competing with diminishing returns.

I would venture to guess that McD had a decent say in the concept of the team, which is one of the reasons why Lehner was signed (not to mention some of the other vets). He also was signed to a 1-year deal which made him all the more likely to be traded if the Hawks fell out of contention (which at the time, they were). On it's face, I have no issue with the Lehner signing. The Hawks got a good tender who was turned into solid assets. If Subban (I know it's a big if) is able to hold down the starter's spot, then the trade looks even better.

I don't think it is a coincidence at all that once McD was out there was a more open dialogue with the fans/media and a notable shift in direction. I'm not pinning all the issues on McD, but he was a big contributing factor in trying to keep competing with diminishing returns.
- Chunk

I have no problem with the signing of Lehner - it's Rocky's money, not mine (and he still has lots of it) - and the cap hit didn't particularly screw anything up for the Hawks.

They got an experienced quality goalie who (had things worked out) could have been in net for them for another 5-6-7 years.

Didn't work out.