Justin Lowe: Year-End Mailbag
It's been a week. First, the Blackhawks win the biggest at the draft lottery going from 12th to 3rd and then immediately after, playoff hockey kicked off.

Well, I promised you a year-end mailbag edition, and it was delayed due to the lottery winnings, but without further ado… here we go:

first!

First. Offer sheet Marner please

First. Offer sheet Marner please
- Assman22

He's such a good all round player. Unusual for a kid with such good offensive skills to dedicate himself and play such a good defensive game. He is the Leafs best player and he has to be in the top 10 in the league. High praise for someone who can't stand the leaves.

He's such a good all round player. Unusual for a kid with such good offensive skills to dedicate himself and play such a good defensive game. He is the Leafs best player and he has to be in the top 10 in the league. High praise for someone who can't stand the leaves.
- paulr

Elbows has his jersey in the basement man-cave.

Elbows has his jersey in the basement man-cave.
- mohel

Along with a box of tissues.

He's such a good all round player. Unusual for a kid with such good offensive skills to dedicate himself and play such a good defensive game. He is the Leafs best player and he has to be in the top 10 in the league. High praise for someone who can't stand the leaves.
- paulr

How is life at the office this morning? If you can tolerate it for one series, I’d like to see the Leafs beat the Bruins. I’d have to reassess after that.

I can only imagine, but I have enjoyed this period of Wings suckage and more resembling the Dead Things than the perennial powerhouse they became. Here’s hoping they don’t find their next Yzerman at 6 because the Hawks nab that player at 3.

Thanks for the mailbag blog Ty! Really enjoy this installment in the blog rotation.

I saw in the Athletic or Herald that Strome is going to stay in Chicago this summer and it looks like he’ll work out with Dcat and his guy.

Maybe they could convince Perlini to follow suit. Maybe Kane hangs around and works out with all of them.

Looking forward to seeing how Strome and Perlini both develop. If they can both get a bit stronger along the boards and in one on one puck battles, will only be a positive for the Hawks going forward,

Along with a box of tissues.
- Ogilthorpe2

Fer sure. That sick bastage.....

Fer sure. That sick bastage.....
- mohel

Ewww...gross.

Along with a box of tissues.
- Ogilthorpe2

I heard only half are left.

How is life at the office this morning? If you can tolerate it for one series, I’d like to see the Leafs beat the Bruins. I’d have to reassess after that.

I can only imagine, but I have enjoyed this period of Wings suckage and more resembling the Dead Things than the perennial powerhouse they became. Here’s hoping they don’t find their next Yzerman at 6 because the Hawks nab that player at 3.

Thanks for the mailbag blog Ty! Really enjoy this installment in the blog rotation.

I saw in the Athletic or Herald that Strome is going to stay in Chicago this summer and it looks like he’ll work out with Dcat and his guy.

Maybe they could convince Perlini to follow suit. Maybe Kane hangs around and works out with all of them.

Looking forward to seeing how Strome and Perlini both develop. If they can both get a bit stronger along the boards and in one on one puck battles, will only be a positive for the Hawks going forward,
- HawkintheD

Not getting any grief today, now if the Hawks had played them .....

Of course Leaf fans will have ready excuses should they lose. And one such excuse is, believe it or not, Bettman doesn't like Canadian teams and the Leafs in particular. Stupid Leaf fans are already talking about the next series.

Ty said: Honestly, this might be a weird answer, but I think the biggest adjustment on the ice will be mental. The emotional toll of firing Quenneville took a lot out of that team. However, as the season went on, they were reborn and a new team emerged – one that was having fun again and one that had new chemistry building. Colliton can continue that momentum as he appears to be very good at communicating on/off the ice, as well as on-the-fly with all his players.

I say - yes, the new mental approach we saw since January or so was an important “adjustment”.

Now I’d like to see a major emphasis on forwards being more defensively responsible - making sure to come back hard when the puck goes the other direction - dramatically reducing the times the slot is left open, fewer “two Hawks covering one opponent” on the boards or behind the net leaving an opponent wide open at the net, much more “muscling” opponents away from Crawford / Delia, more responsible leaking out in anticipation of a clearing move.

Elbows has his jersey in the basement man-cave.
- mohel

He’s working on the blow-up doll.

Yes - let’s offer sheet him and give up three first round draft picks going forward - a good way to rebuild the team.

I read on SecondCityHockey that in Denver's loss last night Ian Mitchell was hit in the head when checked, left the game for the remaining of the 2nd period, then returned to the start the 3rd period. I'm assuming that the NCAA has concussion protocols in place so it looks like he's okay.

We'll soon see if he signs with the Hawks or returns to Denver for another year.

Ty said: Honestly, this might be a weird answer, but I think the biggest adjustment on the ice will be mental. The emotional toll of firing Quenneville took a lot out of that team. However, as the season went on, they were reborn and a new team emerged – one that was having fun again and one that had new chemistry building. Colliton can continue that momentum as he appears to be very good at communicating on/off the ice, as well as on-the-fly with all his players.

I say - yes, the new mental approach we saw since January or so was an important “adjustment”.

Now I’d like to see a major emphasis on forwards being more defensively responsible - making sure to come back hard when the puck goes the other direction - dramatically reducing the times the slot is left open, fewer “two Hawks covering one opponent” on the boards or behind the net leaving an opponent wide open at the net, much more “muscling” opponents away from Crawford / Delia, more responsible leaking out in anticipation of a clearing move.
- StLBravesFan

Hopefully in their exit interviews the Hawk forwards were told to watch as much video as possible of Marian Hossa's 200 foot game.

He’s working on the blow-up doll.

Yes - let’s offer sheet him and give up three first round draft picks going forward - a good way to rebuild the team.
- StLBravesFan

Would you trade 3 first round picks for a 22 year old Patrick Kane?

Edit: a 22 year old Patrick Kane that is above average defensively?

Hawks need to pick whichever center they deem the best. If Hughes falls or if it’s Cozens,Turcotte,Dach etc and if they they like another and can possibly drop to get another pick .org player and get your man that’s what they need to do. Being strong down the middle should be a priority as toews transitions down the line up we will have a #1 center whether it be 17 or the draft pick.

Would you trade 3 first round picks for a 22 year old Patrick Kane?

Edit: a 22 year old Patrick Kane that is above average defensively?
- paulr

Yes and wouldn't think twice. Also it wouldn't be 3 first rounders. I believe any offer sheet between $6.088-$8.118 million AAV would be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Anything north of $10.148 would be 4 first rounders.

Hawks need to pick whichever center they deem the best. If Hughes falls or if it’s Cozens,Turcotte,Dach etc and if they they like another and can possibly drop to get another pick .org player and get your man that’s what they need to do. Being strong down the middle should be a priority as toews transitions down the line up we will have a #1 center whether it be 17 or the draft pick.
- Abadseed

All for trading back a few picks if Kakko is gone by #3. NYR taking Podkolzin would be a Godsend.

Yes and wouldn't think twice. Also it wouldn't be 3 first rounders. I believe any offer sheet between $6.088-$8.118 million AAV would be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Anything north of $10.148 would be 4 first rounders.
- Assman22

There is no one in this draft who will be as good as Marner.

All for trading back a few picks if Kakko is gone by #3. NYR taking Podkolzin would be a Godsend.
- Assman22

Unlikely, but not impossible.

It appears that Hughes and Kakko and the consensus #1 and #2, but they're not on the Matthews and Laine scale (circa 2016) so who knows.

Hawks need to pick whichever center they deem the best. If Hughes falls or if it’s Cozens,Turcotte,Dach etc and if they they like another and can possibly drop to get another pick .org player and get your man that’s what they need to do. Being strong down the middle should be a priority as toews transitions down the line up we will have a #1 center whether it be 17 or the draft pick.
- Abadseed

Cozens and Dach seem to be the best options for centre, but I still think the Hawks have to look at Bowen, that kid has skill. I know they have lots of d-men in the pipeline, but Bowen is ahead of almost all of them (expect maybe Jokiharju). You can always trade of the prospects for a forward.

Yes and wouldn't think twice. Also it wouldn't be 3 first rounders. I believe any offer sheet between $6.088-$8.118 million AAV would be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Anything north of $10.148 would be 4 first rounders.
- Assman22

And it would be the 4 - Marner is going to want to at least approach Matthews’ $11.6 per.

And anything between about $8.5 to $10.5 (assuming an increase over last summers’ compensation levels) would be two 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd.

Not sure I’d do either even for a young defensively responsible Kane.

There is no one in this draft who will be as good as Marner.
- paulr

The comp picks wouldn’t be in this draft - they’d be in the 2020 draft.

There is no one in this draft who will be as good as Marner.
- paulr

Agreed. Offer sheet him at $8.117 for 5-6 years and see what happens.