I don't know that much about the prospects NOT in Rockford, but how many are top-6? Maybe / possibly / probably Sikura.
- StLBravesFan

Sikura and Wise as potential top 6. The Russian prospects as well as Soderlund, Kurashev, and Edjsell have middle 6 potential.

How many are top-pairing defensemen? Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell maybe.

Yes to Boqvist. Maybe to Beaudin and Mitchell; at least top 4 for them.

How many goalies could replace a Cup-winning-level Crawford? Delia, Lankinen maybe.

Not confident that any goalie prospects will be Crawford level or close to it. Solid backups and serviceable starters but no one all star level.

Quality NHL level talent, possibly, but not much in the way of "stars".

I don't think....

Maybe Boqvist? Generally agree that no superstars.

First lets stop with the Panarin trade talks he is not coming back and doubt in the offseason. The money the hawks would have to pony up to sign needs to be allocated to other positions of need. For example top 4 d top 6 winger and second line center, and stop living in the past with all of Bowman failures in trades and free agents signings bad contracts handed out. We now look forward Bowman wanted full power and the spotlight now he has it. Lets see what becomes of this going forward lot of holes that need to be filled to just to become a playoff contender. As currently put together this is not a playoff team not even close but McEgo and Bowman think so now they have to prove it or they should also be fired like Coach Q. So a question to Justin and the panel what trades and moves have to be made to make this a playoff contender and what would those moves look like. So lets be arm chair gm's and see how we can make the hawks better, just for fun and discussion sake.

Bowman the puck is your rink what are you going to do with it!!!
- Scott1977

In scanning the league, Duchene is one name that comes to mind to check the box of a top 6 F and a 2c. Duchene for Schmaltz and a third round pick.

Rockford has some solid prospects that could make an impact within the next few years. For instance:

F: Sikura, Highmore, Ejdsell, Knott
D: Forsling, Carlsson, Dahlstrom, Hillman, Gilbert
G: Forsberg, Delia, Lankinen (ECHL)

That's just Rockford. There are many potentially promising prospects in the NCAA, juniors, and Europe:

F: Wise, Barratt, Kurashev, Soderlund, Shalunov, Kayumov, Altybarmakyan, Entwistle, Slavin, Hakkarainen
D: Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell, Krys
G: Gravel, Nalimov

Then there's the newly acquired Hagel kid from the Sabres organization.
- AEL_Fox

I'm really interested in Kurashev. Could he be the hawks 2nd line center next year or the year after?

Sikura and Wise as potential top 6. The Russian prospects as well as Soderlund, Kurashev, and Edjsell have middle 6 potential.

Yes to Boqvist. Maybe to Beaudin and Mitchell; at least top 4 for them.

Not confident that any goalie prospects will be Crawford level or close to it. Solid backups and serviceable starters but no one all star level.

Maybe Boqvist? Generally agree that no superstars.
- AEL_Fox

I agree with your previous post that said you were interested in seeing how they develop.

I am too - maybe one or two will surprise on the positive side - because certainly one or two will surprise on the negative (that's the nature of the game).

And - it's a major reason to keep watching while the Big Team is struggling.

In scanning the league, Duchene is one name that comes to mind to check the box of a top 6 F and a 2c. Duchene for Schmaltz and a third round pick.
- nickmo2699

Duchene is also one of those dudes that has been labeled as a locker room problem and after leaving Colorado they took a step forward and his recent antics in Ottawa don't help that claim. I'd probably pass on that one.

For what they would have to pay I'd take the risk and go after Nylander. At least you know what motivates him and theyll have space. 8 million is preposterous but I could see him signing for 28ish over 5 to get him out of that RFA status with a fair amount of his prime left to cash in.

If you read my post, the time horizon I give is two years, not "all of a sudden."

Why would the core believe that suddenly Stan is going to get talent to add to the roster when he hasn't for the past year when he had a HOF head coach? Why would any free agents come here when there is so much uncertainty with the future of the organization?

Do you think this roster is good enough to make the playoffs this year competing in the division they do? I don't. So that's two years in a row missing the playoffs and Corey Crawford heading into his final contract year. If they resign Crawford, that would be a good sign. But given his past with the club, and McD holding a grudge for what he said at the rally a few years back, the more likely scenario is they trade him - maybe even before the coming TDL - and let the younger guys compete for the goaltending duties. But is there anyone in the organization ready to fill his skates? Not for a few years.

If the CBA gets opened next fall and buyouts are allowed again, isn't Seabrook a good candidate? He's probably the third best Dman on the team right now, and the fourth best is a drop-off, even if Murphy and Forsling come back strong. So, a couple / few years before the defense corps develops in to a contender, best case.

Meanwhile, 2, 19, and 88 see their careers winding down. Why would they stay? Loyalty to whom?
- matt_ahrens

No members of the core are going to ask to be moved “all of a sudden” or within the next five years.

Sikura and Wise as potential top 6. The Russian prospects as well as Soderlund, Kurashev, and Edjsell have middle 6 potential.

Yes to Boqvist. Maybe to Beaudin and Mitchell; at least top 4 for them.

Not confident that any goalie prospects will be Crawford level or close to it. Solid backups and serviceable starters but no one all star level.

Maybe Boqvist? Generally agree that no superstars.
- AEL_Fox

I don't know...I have been liking Delia the past couple of years. He seems to keep improving. May be 2-3 years away yet, but...

I don't know that much about the prospects NOT in Rockford, but how many are top-6? Maybe / possibly / probably Sikura.

How many are top-pairing defensemen? Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell maybe.

How many goalies could replace a Cup-winning-level Crawford? Delia, Lankinen maybe.

Quality NHL level talent, possibly, but not much in the way of "stars".

I don't think....
- StLBravesFan

A bit early to say on some of these guys. I mean, Sikura is maybe a top prospect right now, but he was a 6th rounder in 2014 and didn't have many expectations early on. Some guys like Wise, Hagel, Kurashev, Nordgren, Slavin or others could emerge as very good players in coming seasons.

Philipp Kurashev is one I'm keeping my eye on because I think he looked really good in camp this season. A lot can change in a year or two.

For anyone saying that Keith isn't one of the best in the league anymore: https://www.sportsnet.ca/...defencemen-three-seasons/

#15: Duncan Keith: Duncan Keith had a rotten season last year with huge drop offs in offensive and defensive impact. But after breaking down the numbers I found that his season looked a lot worse on the surface that it actually was. By no means was Keith at peak performance, but he remained one of the NHL’s premier puck mover. A combination of absurdly bad luck and his specific struggles of repeatedly being exploited made him look like he was finished.

The prime years for Keith are gone, but I don’t believe he is finished yet. He’s still the top combined neutral zone and defensive zone passer at his position when you account for both volume and success rate and that launches the Blackhawks’ transition game, which is still their strength. Keith is smart at both blue lines — he rarely commits turnovers, constantly recovers loose pucks, is an above average puck battler, and rarely takes penalties. I could be wrong and he could be even worse this season because age is a killer, but I think there’s some kind of rebound coming.





AIN'T THAT A BISCUIT?
- ObeseOprah

If you go thru all their rankings, Kane #2, Toews and Saad both in the top 20.

Some mistakes?

SOME!?!?!?!

How can you defend him at this point...honestly?

The Kane/Toews contracts

The Seabrook contract

Bickell contract, and subsequent loss of Teravainen

The Leddy trade

The Hammer trade

The Sharp trade

The Saad trade

The Danault trade

The Panarin trade

The loss of role guys like Hartman, Hinstroza(to get rid of Hossa's contract only to not use the cap space and/or do little with it), Panik, Duclair, etc.

Rundblad(enough said)

Timonen(enough said)

Kunitz signing, overpaying Kruger and bringing him back, Ward signing, letting Raanta go .....it goes on and on and on and on and on and on.

What were his good moves?

How in gods name this guy has a job still is beyond me.

He systematically destroyed our roster, slowly, methodically, and without mercy. He tortured and ravaged us. The pain. The anguish. Its been BRUTAL what he's done to this team. My god there's no other words for it.

And yet you wanna brush it aside and act like it was mainly the head coaches fault!?!?!?!



Look....you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. We're not gonna "turn it around" gimme a break. No other way to put it, we're finished. And your best bet is to root for as many losses as possible, see my other post.
- SimpleJack

This is good.

Some like to say the Hawks have achieved great things so Stan can't have been doing that badly.

I would think that the core has been so good, despite the fact that he has bled the organization dry of any depth of talent for 3 years running now, they still are competitive as they have been. If there was a less talented core on this team (or if they didn't have Patrick Kane), how bad would be really be by now?

Stan would have been gone years ago.

In scanning the league, Duchene is one name that comes to mind to check the box of a top 6 F and a 2c. Duchene for Schmaltz and a third round pick.
- nickmo2699

Duchene is a disloyal, under-achieving pain who views himself as one of the world’s great players, who should be paid huge money. He was actually more impactful in Colorado and wore out his welcome. No loyalty. Ottawa gave up a lot for him and again no loyalty. Has given zero indication he will re-sign. This will eventually force a trade to another “sucker” team. The Hawks should not be that next “sucker” team.

I know you're just poking fun but definite no on Duchene. Someone else mentioned this yesterday but drama seems to follow him.

It is interesting how the Avs took off after he got traded and the Sens continue to not be a good franchise on and off the ice. Not saying Duchene is the catalyst for the Sens issues as those existed before he got there but he's not helping either.

And I wouldn't go as far as say he's a cancer but there isn't a lot of positive news that surround him either. Heckuva gifted player, otherwise.
- AEL_Fox

For sure poking fun, but agree with you and saying "no" to Duchene.

I think he's in the perfect place in Ottawa right now. Actually, it's too bad StL didn't trade for him and then he could have really torpedoed the team under weak leadership from Yeo.

Like you said, heckuva a player but anecdotally, trouble seems to follow.

that's just false...he didn't trade him for "nothing" he got a young big body power forward under contract control (and former contributor to two cups) and a young goalie prospect in forsberg given the uncertainty to sign panarin long term...of course you obviously had the foresight on saads performance drop off coming...

have your opinions but don't mischaracterize the facts...

Shaw, Tevo, TVR , Leddy, Raanta,,,, denault these trades in context have all been dealt and explained before but posters like you refuse to understand comprehend
- bogiedoc

Taylor - when was Panarin, under any definition, ever, even for a second, the best player on the Hawks?

Duchene is also one of those dudes that has been labeled as a locker room problem and after leaving Colorado they took a step forward and his recent antics in Ottawa don't help that claim. I'd probably pass on that one.

For what they would have to pay I'd take the risk and go after Nylander. At least you know what motivates him and theyll have space. 8 million is preposterous but I could see him signing for 28ish over 5 to get him out of that RFA status with a fair amount of his prime left to cash in.
- fattybeef

Who do we offer for Nylander?

I agree with your previous post that said you were interested in seeing how they develop.

I am too - maybe one or two will surprise on the positive side - because certainly one or two will surprise on the negative (that's the nature of the game).

And - it's a major reason to keep watching while the Big Team is struggling.
- StLBravesFan

Agree. Some good surprises and some (or many) not so good surprises. That's just how prospect pipelines work for all teams.

And amen to your last point! That's why it was exciting to follow the Hogs Calder Cup run last spring after the Hawks packed up after their regular season ended.

I think you may be on to something. After your enlightenment I now wish the Hawks had not won two more cups but had won those trades instead. Stupid Blowman, imagine him losing those trades when the world knew he wasn't cap compliant and gave him pennies on the dollar. I bet Uncle Dale would have got back Crosby, Malkin, Doughty and had those teams eat large parts of those contracts just so they could help the Blackhawks.
- paulr

The point still stands. We gave away one of the unique talented players in the entire league, a big mean guy with skill who can play F or D, and got back nothing that helped us. The fact we won a couple cups is kudos to the guys that were still here, not to the skill shown by the GM at giving a guy like Buff away for exactly zero useful parts.

Stan's mistakes have been greatly buffered by the immense talent of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crow, Seabs, etc. while in their primes. People say Q doesn't deserve credit for winning with such a talented roster, well Stan doesn't either then. In fact there is more evidence, like the Buff trade, that Stan was inept and they won despite him.

Who do we offer for Nylander?
- nickmo2699

At $8M a season??? No chance!

This all started with someone stating that Stan got Nothing for them, but my argument is any GM would have gotten nothing for them, as the rest of the league knew the situation the hawks were in.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Honestly I think that's a cop out. Wait and see what the Leafs get for Nylander. Everyone knows they are going to have to trade him. I bet is isn't nothing.

I'm really interested in Kurashev. Could he be the hawks 2nd line center next year or the year after?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Kurashev has been a fast riser since prospects camp as far as Hawks prospects. My guess is he could knock on the NHL door in at least 2 years. Don't think he has an ELC yet; if not, I can see him getting inked to one by the spring if not earlier.

I don't know...I have been liking Delia the past couple of years. He seems to keep improving. May be 2-3 years away yet, but...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Of the goalie prospects, Delia and Nalimov seem to have most promise to be potential starters.

Gravel is improving quite a bit this season like Kurashev has. Maybe getting drafted and having a taste of the big club vis-a-vis prospects camp was enough to give certain prospects like them the extra oomph to take their games to new heights.

The point still stands. We gave away one of the unique talented players in the entire league, a big mean guy with skill who can play F or D, and got back nothing that helped us. The fact we won a couple cups is kudos to the guys that were still here, not to the skill shown by the GM at giving a guy like Buff away for exactly zero useful parts.

Stan's mistakes have been greatly buffered by the immense talent of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crow, Seabs, etc. while in their primes. People say Q doesn't deserve credit for winning with such a talented roster, well Stan doesn't either then. In fact there is more evidence, like the Buff trade, that Stan was inept and they won despite him.
- hereismike1

It is. It's also kudos to the guys Bowman drafted or acquired to augment a great nucleus: Shaw, Saad, Frolik, Richards, Vermette, TT, Dezy, Oduya, Rozy, Zus.

I've seen it here a number of times how you win with depth. The Hawks were able to role four lines in both the latter two Cups with depth supplied by Bowman. So to say they won in spite of him after the selloff is revisionist history. I think Q deserves credit for winning the Cups just as much as Stan does but I know some will never see it that way...but whateves.

The point still stands. We gave away one of the unique talented players in the entire league, a big mean guy with skill who can play F or D, and got back nothing that helped us. The fact we won a couple cups is kudos to the guys that were still here, not to the skill shown by the GM at giving a guy like Buff away for exactly zero useful parts.

Stan's mistakes have been greatly buffered by the immense talent of Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, Crow, Seabs, etc. while in their primes. People say Q doesn't deserve credit for winning with such a talented roster, well Stan doesn't either then. In fact there is more evidence, like the Buff trade, that Stan was inept and they won despite him.
- hereismike1

Do you think Bowman gave Buff to the first offer he was presented with without looking around the league? Do you not think that maybe other GMs could see that Bowman was over a barrel, had to be cap compliant and lowballed him? Come on man, Bowman had less than zero leverage. Unless a second team came on the scene to help raise Buff's trade value Bowman had to take what was offered. Or did you think that maybe Dudley's was the best offer of many?

I think we give Colliton (Smith I should really say) until Christmas to validate a few things:

What do they really have in Saad and Schmaltz?

Let's be honest - their collective failure to produce this season renders their "top six" to a top three (uniquely impacting Kane), and truly changes the personnel landscape in terms of what is needed.

I think Q already did that, and the FO doesn't want to admit it.

Can systemic/scheme changes with the same player mix achieve better results?

In other words do they have the right guys (two keys are above) and it really was just what system they were playing. If so, great, build on that.

Otherwise...

Can systemic/scheme changes with different players achieve better results?

Are there horses in Rockford or elsewhere in the system that can solve personnel problems identified? If Saad and Schmaltz can't get it together, you know Rockford will be no help. If they do, but the rest of the supporting cast is too weak, then Rockford may help fill a few holes there. At least enough to fight for the first round. If not....

Answering these three questions should tell the FO if it is blow up time or not pretty quickly. My fear is that since Saad and Schmaltz are Stan's guys that they may have been, and may still yet be overvalued to a point where they will be depended upon in ways that ultimately demonstrate these guys not only are the wrong fit for the Hawks, but may end with having no trade value either.

I still want to know the details on Colliton’s contract!

Honestly I think that's a cop out. Wait and see what the Leafs get for Nylander. Everyone knows they are going to have to trade him. I bet is isn't nothing.
- hereismike1

Far different situation. The Leafs have leverage, they are cap compliant and Nylander is an RFA.

A head coach who is new to the league probably doesn't have a book on him yet. The advantage is other teams most likely don't know his tendencies.