I don't know why but my gut feeling is NY takes bowen or the Russia and kaappo or hughes drops to the hawks. Rangers have a strong Russia environment and have hardly any high end d prospects in their system so I would not be shocked if hughes or kaappo drops to us. Caulfield is going to be the next dcat but the hawks do not need 2 dcats I still say draft a center whether that's Cozens Turcotte Dach Zegras if they select bowen that's good to then I would explore maybe trading boqvist maybe to see what the hawks could get or keep him. Should be exiting the next 3 weeks leading up to the draft and the draft it self. I m expecting lots of trades and hopefully the hawks can acquire a top 4 d man 3rd line center.

I proposed a couple of trades in the last blog:

miller callhan tampa 1st for sikrau hayden and 2nd 2019
AA to montreal for a 2nd and 3rd

forsling and Montreal we Acquire 2nd and 4th for mcnabb and eakin

Fixed!!
- paulr

- Rota's Rooter

Peter Sellers at his best.

Dominik Kubalik signs a 1-year / 925k contract.
- Tyler Cameron

Wasn't overly impressed with what I saw in the game vs Team Canada last week. But it's a low cost/short term commitment worth taking. Maybe they can blow off that slug Hayden now and I'm sure he can match Kunitz's offensive totals.

Wasn't overly impressed with what I saw in the game vs Team Canada last week. But it's a low cost/short term commitment worth taking. Maybe they can blow off that slug Hayden now and I'm sure he can match Kunitz's offensive totals.
- RickJ

Kubalik has a stellar WC, that's not a guarantee he'll translate his game into the NHL but it's a good sign.

The issue with Saad is expectations. He was essentially our best PK forward last year and got what he should get 20-25 goals and about 50 points. That is fine for a guy who didn't get much time on PP unit one and spent a lot of time dragging around Anisimov and our underwhelming 3rd line.
- breadbag

His first year back was bad, but last year he was right back to where he had been in his career. He probably is overpaid but if they trade him that's another hole to fill in the lineup.

Dominik Kubalik signs a 1-year / 925k contract.
- Tyler Cameron

Interesting that it's only a 1 year deal. At age 23 they could have signed him to a 2 year deal. 1 year is the max for ages 24+.

Interesting that it's only a 1 year deal. At age 23 they could have signed him to a 2 year deal. 1 year is the max for ages 24+.
- DarthKane

Stan (frank)ed up yet again!

Kubalik has a stellar WC, that's not a guarantee he'll translate his game into the NHL but it's a good sign.
- DarthKane

We"'ll see, I'm not expecting a great deal but you never know when a guy might surprise.

Dominik Kubalik signs a 1-year / 925k contract.
- Tyler Cameron

I wonder how soon they sign (if they sign) Perlini, Kampf, Forsling, Sikura, Hillman, Johnson. Any chance their rights are traded after the Stanley Cup Finals or at the draft to teams with cap issues? Maybe as part of a bigger package to land a top 4 dman or 3C?

Interesting that it's only a 1 year deal. At age 23 they could have signed him to a 2 year deal. 1 year is the max for ages 24+.
- DarthKane

Quite likely the wanted to free up the 1 million for NEXT year when the Strome and D-Cat contracts will be up. They can always sign him to another one-year if they have the money and interest next year.

Somewhat true...BUT, exactly WHO you take at #3 is HUGE....even when the Top 2 are sure things.

Remember the Taylor/Tyler year...2009 or 2010....The Blues get Tarasenko at 15th or 16th or something. The dozen picked ahead of him were not nearly as impactful. Skinner (7th or 8th maybe) was ok...and a couple more. But, there were also 2-3 duds who hardly played in the NHL.

Make no mistake, the pick at 3 is HUGE. Could be a franchise player for the next decade....or a total bust. Sure hope our scouts don't "whiff" on this one!!!
- hawk35

I don't disagree but you have to trust your scouts and hockey ops. That's up to them and assuming said player isn't "NHL ready" asap, he just drifts away until he is in my mind. All these prospects are just that, until they play with the big boys and see how they hold their own.

Biggest thing also is......1. IF the Hawks have the right coach at the AHL level to help these guys maximize their talents for the NHL game......2. IF the Hawks have the right coaches at the NHL level to evaluate and fit these players in roles they can help the team long term.

Remember when Ulf Samuelsson was supposed to be some defensemen whisperer when the Hawks hired him? Those were fun times.....

The issue with Saad is expectations. He was essentially our best PK forward last year and got what he should get 20-25 goals and about 50 points. That is fine for a guy who didn't get much time on PP unit one and spent a lot of time dragging around Anisimov and our underwhelming 3rd line.
- breadbag

Eh.....being the best PK guy on a dumpster fire unit doesn't do much for me. Blame it on others (fair point), on the system (fair point) but mostly....Saad didn't carry his weight when he was paired with skill guys and why he found himself on the line with AA.

Sorry....the ROI vs what he's being paid makes him a trade candidate for me. Not saying you give him away, but Bowman's first instinct on NOT paying this kid massive money after 2015 was the correct one...….

Interesting that it's only a 1 year deal. At age 23 they could have signed him to a 2 year deal. 1 year is the max for ages 24+.
- DarthKane

Exactly my thoughts I posted on Twitter.

I thought it would have been a 2-year for sure.

Wasn't overly impressed with what I saw in the game vs Team Canada last week. But it's a low cost/short term commitment worth taking. Maybe they can blow off that slug Hayden now and I'm sure he can match Kunitz's offensive totals.
- RickJ

I watched him closely and thought overall he was really good. He didn't play super well against Canada but he's got a nice overall skill set.

I've heard Stan is banking on sliding him right into the lineup.

He looks like a 3rd liner to me with the ability to move up the lineup if needed, as well as play PP2 on the right-side.

Exactly my thoughts I posted on Twitter.

I thought it would have been a 2-year for sure.
- Tyler Cameron

Maybe that was a condition his agent had for signing and it could be a reason he did not sign with the Kings.

I wonder how soon they sign (if they sign) Perlini, Kampf, Forsling, Sikura, Hillman, Johnson. Any chance their rights are traded after the Stanley Cup Finals or at the draft to teams with cap issues? Maybe as part of a bigger package to land a top 4 dman or 3C?
- -Doh-

I'm curious as well.

Of the guys you listed above, I believe all of them sign.

I think there are a lot of trade conversations happening as well right now.

I wonder how soon they sign (if they sign) Perlini, Kampf, Forsling, Sikura, Hillman, Johnson. Any chance their rights are traded after the Stanley Cup Finals or at the draft to teams with cap issues? Maybe as part of a bigger package to land a top 4 dman or 3C?
- -Doh-

Further on these RFAs... I can't think that Forsling is overly happy with the Koekkoek re-signing.

Not that he's proven that a spot in the top 6-7 should be his, but I'm sure he and his agent are wondering what his future holds with this team. He is a guy I see being packaged out. Maybe a sign and trade in a larger package.

Hawks sign Stanley Kubrick. Not a lavender sniffer.
- mohel

I hope he has the shining!

What's cooking Mo Money? How have you been?

I watched him closely and thought overall he was really good. He didn't play super well against Canada but he's got a nice overall skill set.

I've heard Stan is banking on sliding him right into the lineup.

He looks like a 3rd liner to me with the ability to move up the lineup if needed, as well as play PP2 on the right-side.
- Tyler Cameron

Book a cameo on the 1st line for the game in Prague.

Dominik Kubalik signs a 1-year / 925k contract.
- Tyler Cameron

Good stuff! Must be wanting big money sooner, because 1 year?

Further on these RFAs... I can't think that Forsling is overly happy with the Koekkoek re-signing.

Not that he's proven that a spot in the top 6-7 should be his, but I'm sure he and his agent are wondering what his future holds with this team. He is a guy I see being packaged out. Maybe a sign and trade in a larger package.
- Tyler Cameron

It’s inevitable. It has been inevitable for quite some time.

The epitome of a “change of scenery” candidate. Not a matter of if, but when.

For fun I did, yes.

If I'm being completely honest though, I'm go and forth between a few guys still.

Not a clear cut choice in my mind.
- Tyler Cameron

Byram or Cozens.

Those are my picks.

Exactly my thoughts I posted on Twitter.

I thought it would have been a 2-year for sure.
- Tyler Cameron

ELC contracts are set on the number of years they have to be. you cannot pick and choose. its not based on the age they are in when they sign them I believe its the age as of sept 15th on the year they start and kubalik turns 24 in Aug.

Players younger than 25 years of age as of September 15 during the year of their first NHL contract must sign an entry-level contract which have set limitations - all entry-level contracts are two-way contracts and the maximum allowable salary for players drafted until 2022 is $925,000.

The length of the entry-level contract is also dependent on the player’s age:
18-21 years of age: 3 years
22-23 years of age: 2 years
24 years of age: 1 year

Quite likely the wanted to free up the 1 million for NEXT year when the Strome and D-Cat contracts will be up. They can always sign him to another one-year if they have the money and interest next year.
- hawk35

He's a RFA next year so maybe he's betting on himself to have a good year and negotiate a higher contract next season.