Why not. Nylander 5 X $7.0
- Ogilthorpe2

Don’t forget the NMC.

Any chance the Central gets both wild card spots. Pacific team are just so so. Nashville, Peg, and dare I say the Hawks are beginning to look a little better.

Playoffs. PLAYOFFS!! Did I say playoffs. I apologize.

I know 1st and 2nd years pros like Dach and Boqvist are exempt from the expansion draft and don't have to be protected. Does the same hold true for Kubalik or do his pro years in Europe count? If so, looks like he'll have to be one of the 7 protected forwards.

Although still a work in progress, I have been impressed by Boqvist's defensive development on the big stage. He made a few great defensive plays against the Leafs and has generally been improving his decision making with how to defend in different scenarios.

He doesn't just rely on stick checking and uses his skating to manage gaps and angle skaters off of pucks. Plus he hasn't been shy to use his body to defuse an opponent.

Let him continue to work on his defense and incrementally unleash him on the offensive attack. Not worried about his offense.

If he becomes reliable defensively, watch out as he could become a true #1 rearguard and not just a high octane 1st pair player who needs a partner to be his defensive conscience.

I know 1st and 2nd years pros like Dach and Boqvist are exempt from the expansion draft and don't have to be protected. Does the same hold true for Kubalik or do his pro years in Europe count? If so, looks like he'll have to be one of the 7 protected forwards.
- boilermaker100

Are you sure that second year players are also exempt from the Expansion Draft?

How long are we sticking with Carpenter at 2C? Can’t be forever. I’d like to try this when everyone is healthy:

Kubalik-Toews-Caggiula
Saad-Shaw/Dach-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Shaw/Dach
Smith-Carpenter-Kampf
Nylander

Keith-Boqvist
Gustafsson-Murphy
Maatta-(TDL acquisition/Mitchell??)
Koekkoek/Gilbert

Lehner
Crawford

If we do stay on this run and do decide to upgrade at the TDL what options are out there to help further strengthen the defense??

I believe he would have been up last year if not for the injury. He definitely can find a career and 4th line/PK guy. He even has some offensive skills. At least did at the AHL level. I really want He and Kampf to form the start of a 4th line.
- Elbows15

Both those guys suck. Ahl quality

How many chances does Kampf need to get the puck out of his zone? Hes been atrocious
- PatShart

Kampf was on DeBrincat's line, right?

If so, I saw it being DeBrincat's fault - he was having a terrible night passing -and this is over and above the shift that Pat and Steve were talking about (in the 2nd I think) ... He was awful in the neutral zone as well - worse, on some fairly routine passes.

Either he's hurt, or he needs to take a game time out to uncork his sphincter with his head. I know he's better than that -might need the reminder it seems like.

Although still a work in progress, I have been impressed by Boqvist's defensive development on the big stage. He made a few great defensive plays against the Leafs and has generally been improving his decision making with how to defend in different scenarios.

He doesn't just rely on stick checking and uses his skating to manage gaps and angle skaters off of pucks. Plus he hasn't been shy to use his body to defuse an opponent.

Let him continue to work on his defense and incrementally unleash him on the offensive attack. Not worried about his offense.

If he becomes reliable defensively, watch out as he could become a true #1 rearguard and not just a high octane 1st pair player who needs a partner to be his defensive conscience.
- AEL_Fox

Agreed- Boq was looking pretty good.

Why?

I mean if a good deal presents itself fine, but there’s no need to sell, just to sell...unless it’s Nylander.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agree with the good deal, but i definitely don't want to be buyers at the TDL.

Enjoying this line-up of rag tag Blackhawks play hard 9n the puck battles and give effort with each players improving commitment to the group.

I caught the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast and heard that things were aligned to my hearing the Blackhawks were talking trade with the Hawk return being specific in asks for various already selected kids.

You have to think that the talk is about Gustafsson, who said he would like to stay, but the management wasn't beating his reps door down.

Dunno if the Hawks have nailed down one trade partner or if Gus has a bevy of interest where the hawks can raise the return through that interest.

Gus is sure trying to be totally involved in winning, so that helps.

No time to trash these hawks...the wins show there IS improvement all around.

Nice win last night, need to win tonight against a division opponent. We should not be buyers at TDL, only add if we get a young player back that will be with the team for at least the next 2-3 years. Stan better not trade away draft picks. Go Hawks and Go Hossa lite(there, I said it). One more thing, Crow is not done.

Didn't get to watch last night, but just watched the extended replay package. Toews seemed damn good out there; really moving well.

Agree with Wiz - improvement is afoot. Not sure how that idiot JC is pulling it off, given that he's an amateur who has lost the room....

Also agree with Lou and others above about aiming further down the road regarding TDL deals.

I know 1st and 2nd years pros like Dach and Boqvist are exempt from the expansion draft and don't have to be protected. Does the same hold true for Kubalik or do his pro years in Europe count? If so, looks like he'll have to be one of the 7 protected forwards.
- boilermaker100

Boilermaker, great question. Just curious if you or anyone else can answer this question, if Seabrook never returns and is sidelined on LTIR does he count towards the number of players protected or not?

6 out of the last 7 hawks have held opponents to 2 or less...things are looking better defensively..
- bogiedoc

Going deeper - in the last 10 games (7-3) they’ve given up an average of 31.4 SOG per game - including a 44 given up against Calgary.

Enjoying this line-up of rag tag Blackhawks play hard 9n the puck battles and give effort with each players improving commitment to the group.

I caught the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast and heard that things were aligned to my hearing the Blackhawks were talking trade with the Hawk return being specific in asks for various already selected kids.

You have to think that the talk is about Gustafsson, who said he would like to stay, but the management wasn't beating his reps door down.

Dunno if the Hawks have nailed down one trade partner or if Gus has a bevy of interest where the hawks can raise the return through that interest.

Gus is sure trying to be totally involved in winning, so that helps.

No time to trash these hawks...the wins show there IS improvement all around.
- wiz1901

Delight for me when the Loafs get whacked on Saturday night at home against an Original 6 team. You could have heard a pin drop in the rink in the 3rd period.

Very solid game last night in all 3 zones. Surprisingly even Gus in his own end.

And for those who whine about #19 being overpaid and washed up - did anybody even notice his Team Canada buddy John Tavares out there going up against him?

Are you sure 5hst second year players are also exempt from the Expansion Draft?
- jhawk59

jhawk, If I read your question right,, yes, 1st and 2nd year pro players in the minors and/or NHL are exempt from the draft and do not have to be protected. So guys like Dach and Boqvist who are in their 1st pro year this year and will be in their 2nd pro year next year are exempt from the Seattle draft in the summer of 2021. This also holds true for Rockford players like Entwistle, Hagel, Kurashev and Beaudin who are in their 1st year at Rockford.

Kubalik played a few years as a pro in the Czech and Swiss leagues before signing with the Hawks prior to this season. I'm going under the assumption those European years count and he will have to be protected.

Didn't get to watch last night, but just watched the extended replay package. Toews seemed damn good out there; really moving well.

Agree with Wiz - improvement is afoot. Not sure how that idiot JC is pulling it off, given that he's an amateur who has lost the room....

Also agree with Lou and others above about aiming further down the road regarding TDL deals.
- mohel

I've pretty much been a Stanbo supporter but I'll be pissed if he trades away anything that looks like a future piece or picks for a short term gain to get a ticket to the dance.

Boilermaker, great question. Just curious if you or anyone else can answer this question, if Seabrook never returns and is sidelined on LTIR does he count towards the number of players protected or not?
- Taylorst1

That's a good question. Seabs has a NMC which he has to waive to be exposed to the draft in the summer of 2021. So if he hasn't retired and doesn't want to waive he has to be protected. If he is on LTIR, I don't think it makes any difference. The ball is in his court.

Someone suggested a while back that Seabs may take one for the team and waive his NMC and be exposed to the draft so the Hawks can protect someone else with the understanding that the Hawks do not entice Seattle to take him. So if Seattle doesn't get a sweetener, there probably is little chance that they will take him considering his age and salary. The Hawks would then lose someone else in the draft.

I know 1st and 2nd years pros like Dach and Boqvist are exempt from the expansion draft and don't have to be protected. Does the same hold true for Kubalik or do his pro years in Europe count? If so, looks like he'll have to be one of the 7 protected forwards.
- boilermaker100

Besides Kane what players do we need to protect?

Kubalik may not be fast, but he goes hard when he needs to get back on D. He also is very aware in all 3 zones. He just doesn’t float out there.

jhawk, If I read your question right,, yes, 1st and 2nd year pro players in the minors and/or NHL are exempt from the draft and do not have to be protected. So guys like Dach and Boqvist who are in their 1st pro year this year and will be in their 2nd pro year next year are exempt from the Seattle draft in the summer of 2021. This also holds true for Rockford players like Entwistle, Hagel, Kurashev and Beaudin who are in their 1st year at Rockford.

Kubalik played a few years as a pro in the Czech and Swiss years before signing with the Hawks prior to this season. I'm going under the assumption those European years count and he will have to be protected.
- boilermaker100

Thanks for the explanation. Going into next season how rosters shape up and may be altered during the season is going to be impacted by the Expansion Draft - which follows after the season.

I could imagine Boqvist and Mitchell are descent defensively by February 2021. Factor in Keith and Murphy. Koekkoek and XeHahn would be my choice if both are healthy and Koekkoek playing well. This leaves Seabrook and Maata to substitute or as depth. Probably Carlsson gets a look and could be depth. I do not foresee Gilbert unless all others are out injured. Beaudin would have to be really steady and impressive in Rockford so given this group Beaudin is not yet promoted. It Beaudin and even Kyrs could be close to ready

So this would be your blueline on a team that hopefully is better than this year's squad. DeBrincat bounce back and Dach improving gives a boost. I assume Saad and Gus gone. Lehner in net backup one of the Icehogs

Big game tonight against a division opponent just ahead of them in the standings. Let's hope the Hawks get a regulation win and don't lay an egg on home ice like they are prone to do.

Kane with his 1000th career point at home tonight?

Delight for me when the Loafs get whacked on Saturday night at home against an Original 6 team. You could have heard a pin drop in the rink in the 3rd period.

Very solid game last night in all 3 zones. Surprisingly even Gus in his own end.

And for those who whine about #19 being overpaid and washed up - did anybody even notice his Team Canada buddy John Tavares out there going up against him?
- RickJ

I was thinking that this morning, Matthews was a pain in the ass but Tavares other than a great keep in the zone was very quiet last night

Besides Kane what players do we need to protect?
- rpeters01

The Hawks HAVE to protect players with NMC's so as of now there are Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook. Teams have a choice to protect 1G/7F/3D/or 1G/8 skaters (combination of F and D). These players have to be signed for the 21/22 season. So if the Hawks opt for the 1G/7F/3D package the protected players may look something like this.

Forwards - Kane, Toews, Debrincat, Strome, Kubalik, ???, ???
If Nylander eventually comes around and is still with the Hawks he'll be eligible for the draft and could be protected and would be a 6th protected forward. Maybe Saad as another if he is given an extension after his current contract is up.

Defense - Keith, Seabrook, 1 of Murphy, Maata, deHaan