Scottie murdering me with the pessimism.

I wasn't saying that they were going to be a playoff team with the same group. I was just wondering what others thought about the line changes to try and be more effective overall.
- Chunk

I m not trying to be a Debbie downer but on paper its the team just moving deck chairs around. Dcat and towes don't fit but it worth a look and try and see. Strome is not. 3rd center or wing needs to play with high end talent to be affective. Let me know of these lines:
Saad towes kubalik
Dcat strome kane
Nylander dach suter
Highmore kampf hagel/ quenville
Carpenter x
Keith Mitchell
Matta/ dehann boqvist
Matta/ dehann Seabrook
Carlson x
Crawford
Subban
Feel free to criticize

Technically, no. McD is gone.
- Chunk

All McD said was okay guys do whatever you think needs to be done

I think either I wrote my argument incorrect or you misunderstood my point. Chicago has some talent , and I believe that Chicago could win more games but not enough to make any noise if they make the playoffs. Therefore why would any experienced head coach looking at the team and it's well known issues take a job that as of right now even if they exceeded expectations they will still fall far short of the ultimate goal of winning a cup.

That's why JC is just a placeholder
- Taylorst1

Under this logic, anyone in the head coach seat right now is a placeholder.

Let's pretend that theoretical coach A (let's call him Merald Mallant) can squeeze an extra 5 wins out of the team but is either one-and-done or maybe gets to the second round. Sure, that is technically better, but no one cares. You still technically suck. Until you get the right mix of players to where you no longer suck, said coach is only going to get you so far and thus is a placeholder (under this logic).

The reason that experienced coaches take any job is because they are good coaches that want to coach NHL hockey. It is a rare event (WSH and Trotz) where a top level talent team is looking for a coach. Sure they try to find the best situation, but there are only so many spots available.

All of us know the Hawks certainly have holes to fill, and better players will of course make the coach look better too. But there are coaches in the league, and there have been others coaches over the years, that have that ability to get more out of less talen. Unfortuneately, Colliton is definately not one of the coaches. Don't know who is responsible for the power play, but let's take that aspect of the game as smaller example of the team performance. The Hawks, "on paper" have plenty of talent on the powerplay ... certainly more than many teams. But every year there is this lack of production on the powerplay. That part of the game should be better, based on the talent that is on the ice. I think you can attribute that to coaching. There are teams that do not have "number one defensemen" or "number one center" but some how their coach gets them to play as a unit and balances the lineup.

All McD said was okay guys do whatever you think needs to be done
- BetweenTheDots

That can't be. I read it here hundreds of times that he had his fingers in everything.

Talon was the guy who built Chicago's dynasty , sometimes you cant replicate that same outcome . It wasn't imo coach q who failed him but his tenure after 10myears to draft , develop and put together a successful team his time ran out.

Like any job your resume with accomplishments earn you a opportunity ahead of a unproven new guy.

Coach Q I'm sure would be hired over JC in a heartbeat based on his proven track record.
- Taylorst1

No, it was Mike Smith that drafted Keith, Seabrook, burish, Byfuglien , Crawford, Pulford was the GM when they drafted Bolland, Bickell, and Brower.

I m not trying to be a Debbie downer but on paper its the team just moving deck chairs around. Dcat and towes don't fit but it worth a look and try and see. Strome is not. 3rd center or wing needs to play with high end talent to be affective. Let me know of these lines:
Saad towes kubalik
Dcat strome kane
Nylander dach suter
Highmore kampf hagel/ quenville
Carpenter x
Keith Mitchell
Matta/ dehann boqvist
Matta/ dehann Seabrook
Carlson x
Crawford
Subban
Feel free to criticize
- Scott1977

AND CRITICIZE I WILL!

I was just trying to make chicken salad out of what was currently listed on the roster (although Suter is currently loaned back to EU). I personally think there will be more new faces on the team (some youngsters and others through trade) than many expect.

Like I mentioned, Toews and ADB scored a ton of points a the beginning of the year with Kahun the year Q got fired. Put Kane on that line and I think it would be even more powerful. I wanted to get Dach going out of the gates, so I put him with the two most effective wingers on the team. I think that line would be a possession monster. My 3rd line sucked. There is no getting around that. Yours is better, but in my opinion your top two are diluted a bit (mostly because I'm done with Strome).

AND CRITICIZE I WILL!

I was just trying to make chicken salad out of what was currently listed on the roster (although Suter is currently loaned back to EU). I personally think there will be more new faces on the team (some youngsters and others through trade) than many expect.

Like I mentioned, Toews and ADB scored a ton of points a the beginning of the year with Kahun the year Q got fired. Put Kane on that line and I think it would be even more powerful. I wanted to get Dach going out of the gates, so I put him with the two most effective wingers on the team. I think that line would be a possession monster. My 3rd line sucked. There is no getting around that. Yours is better, but in my opinion your top two are diluted a bit (mostly because I'm done with Strome).
- Chunk

Fair enough but also don't if any trades ir low cost free agents will be done for now it is what it is. Plus i think strome is traded along with matta and smith is bought out plus the status if shaw is big question along with Seabrook.

Eric Staal traded from the Wild to the Sabres for Marcus Johansson.

Both players are UFAs next year and each had a 10-team no trade list.

Eric Staal traded from the Wild to the Sabres for Marcus Johansson.

Both players are UFAs next year and each had a 10-team no trade list.
- Theo Fox

Yet Staal didn't have Buffalo on that list? Something does not add up.

Yet Staal didn't have Buffalo on that list? Something does not add up.
- powerenforcer

Kevin Adams is the Sabres GM and former teammate of Staal in Carolina (so is Skinner). Wonder if that played into it

Yet Staal didn't have Buffalo on that list? Something does not add up.
- powerenforcer

Future moves. Salary expected next contract is ? For both players. Staal near the end of career ? But could havr a couple des ent years left. A lot depends on the role, how goid is the team and avoiding concussiob and injuries..

I bet The Wild knows that they need to change the dynamic of their tip scorers, hence trade an older for a younger player? As I said, though, agree with you something dies not add up. Future moves coming both teams. New GM both teams amid change(s) in strategy in working with salary cap as it relates to the affect on revenue during covid19.

I would be cautious, too, e en should an inoculation work fairly well next year. There could be aong time to knock out this covid and another covid type could emerge out of China. This is difficult times we live as well as future generations

Kevin Adams is the Sabres GM and former teammate of Staal in Carolina (so is Skinner). Wonder if that played into it
- ikeane

Buffalo got their 2nd line center

Interesting passage from the Detroit blogger Jeremy Laura:

In the past 2 days, I’ve spent several (too many) hours trying to scour for any real indicator on what the NHL revenues are looking like as the playoffs wind down. Basically, any quotes you find read like an injury report. You either find nothing, or someone saying “unfit to play”. you will find some interesting glimpses in this CBC article. In general, GMs seem to be saying, “buckle up. Everyone is going to take a hit.” Players seem to be a bit more optimistic with “yeah, it won’t be like I thought it would (free agency) but we’ll figure it out. At this point 17 teams have made cuts with salary and/or personnel. Ottawa got in a bit of trouble for slashing coaching salaries by 50%. The league stepped in and that was amended. Interestingly, Detroit hasn’t made any significant changes.

So, why would someone with chronic headaches and issues spend so much time pouring over numbers? I’m trying to develop a thermometer. Some sort of reading on what “reality” will look like in a couple weeks. In my past life of outside sales, understanding numbers and environmental factors helped to make projections that you would pass on to managers and VPs. If you were going to say, “we’re going to be short this month” you’d better have a darn good reason. Looking at the big picture, GMs are going to be scrambling up until draft day and beyond. One team representative (anonymous of course) feels that more RFAs than usual will go unqualified. The indicator may be that salaries will need to be below a players qualifier.

I agree with most (if not all) of this. That being the case, I think Stan gets to play a bit of hardball (and they will likely go with several shorter term deals).

I think they get Corey at (or very close to) what they offered.
I think they simply qualify Strome as he is not arbitration eligible (although, I still think they should trade him).
Kubalik gets 2 years max
Caggiula (I believe) is gone - unfortunately
- Chunk

If the market is an indicator, everything is fine nobody is losing any money, honestly i don't understand the market today, I've pulled back the reigns on all of it. Doing a Warren Buffett and waiting to buy low once again

That can't be. I read it here hundreds of times that he had his fingers in everything.
- Chunk

Very true btw fan of Albert as well, he does a nice job and doesn't try to over sell it

Future moves. Salary expected next contract is ? For both players. Staal near the end of career ? But could havr a couple des ent years left. A lot depends on the role, how goid is the team and avoiding concussiob and injuries..

I bet The Wild knows that they need to change the dynamic of their tip scorers, hence trade an older for a younger player? As I said, though, agree with you something dies not add up. Future moves coming both teams. New GM both teams amid change(s) in strategy in working with salary cap as it relates to the affect on revenue during covid19.

I would be cautious, too, e en should an inoculation work fairly well next year. There could be aong time to knock out this covid and another covid type could emerge out of China. This is difficult times we live as well as future generations
- jhawk59

Dumba is being shopped with lots of interest as to be expected.

The Wild really need a top 6 center with Staal moving to Buffalo. Their centers are now Johansson, Eriksson Ek, Galchenyuk, and Koivu. Good candidates for 2C but no clear 1C.

I believe Sturm can play center but seems to be playing wing.

EDIT: Sorry, was looking at their playoff roster; the Wild also now have Bjugstad. But still, no clear 1C.

All of us know the Hawks certainly have holes to fill, and better players will of course make the coach look better too. But there are coaches in the league, and there have been others coaches over the years, that have that ability to get more out of less talen. Unfortuneately, Colliton is definately not one of the coaches. Don't know who is responsible for the power play, but let's take that aspect of the game as smaller example of the team performance. The Hawks, "on paper" have plenty of talent on the powerplay ... certainly more than many teams. But every year there is this lack of production on the powerplay. That part of the game should be better, based on the talent that is on the ice. I think you can attribute that to coaching. There are teams that do not have "number one defensemen" or "number one center" but some how their coach gets them to play as a unit and balances the lineup.
- chuckdahammer

Wasn't there a stretch of games in 2018-19 after Colliton took over when the players had a chance to develop the PP strategy and it seemed to work for a bit? Maybe I'm making that all up.

Either way, I agree that something needs to change because the current strategies aren't working.

Dumba is being shopped with lots of interest as to be expected.

The Wild really need a top 6 center with Staal moving to Buffalo. Their centers are now Johansson, Eriksson Ek, Galchenyuk, and Koivu. Good candidates for 2C but no clear 1C.

I believe Sturm can play center but seems to be playing wing.

EDIT: Sorry, was looking at their playoff roster; the Wild also now have Bjugstad. But still, no clear 1C.
- Theo Fox

Seeing a rumor that Dumba is being shopped for a center with possible options being Domi, Danault, or Monahan.

Joel Edmundson signs 4-year deal with the Habs for $3.5M AAV after his right were acquired in a trade with the Canes last week for a 2020 5th round pick.

Dumba is being shopped with lots of interest as to be expected.

The Wild really need a top 6 center with Staal moving to Buffalo. Their centers are now Johansson, Eriksson Ek, Galchenyuk, and Koivu. Good candidates for 2C but no clear 1C.

I believe Sturm can play center but seems to be playing wing.

Fo
They also have a really good Rusdian.prospect to step right in. That is the scuttlebut...they wanted him to play in the summer but the league ruled against it. The Wild have at least one prospect - his name is Goldy - whom they are also quite high on

EDIT: Sorry, was looking at their playoff roster; the Wild also now have Bjugstad. But still, no clear 1C.
- Theo Fox

A #1 round draft Goldy and the Russian kid they wanted to play this summer, are two very good forward prospects. Top line future?

Joel Edmundson signs 4-year deal with the Habs for $3.5M AAV after his right were acquired in a trade with the Canes last week for a 2020 5th round pick.
- Theo Fox

If Joel Edmondson is worth 4 years @$3.5 mil., there is a market for Matta, maybe a third rounder, but I do not see why he needs to be bought out.

Eric Staal traded from the Wild to the Sabres for Marcus Johansson.

Both players are UFAs next year and each had a 10-team no trade list.
- Theo Fox

Other GMs are making moves and Stan keeps napping.

Scottie murdering me with the pessimism.

I wasn't saying that they were going to be a playoff team with the same group. I was just wondering what others thought about the line changes to try and be more effective overall.
- Chunk

Those lines actually look promising. I do t know why everyone is pencilling this Suter guy into a for sure position though. He's an unknown

I m not trying to be a Debbie downer but on paper its the team just moving deck chairs around. Dcat and towes don't fit but it worth a look and try and see. Strome is not. 3rd center or wing needs to play with high end talent to be affective. Let me know of these lines:
Saad towes kubalik
Dcat strome kane
Nylander dach suter
Highmore kampf hagel/ quenville
Carpenter x
Keith Mitchell
Matta/ dehann boqvist
Matta/ dehann Seabrook
Carlson x
Crawford
Subban
Feel free to criticize
- Scott1977

This is the same poop as last year and you think his lines won't work?

Those lines actually look promising. I do t know why everyone is pencilling this Suter guy into a for sure position though. He's an unknown
- GPHawksfan

I've been doing it after watching a lot of tape and reading as much as possible. He is more of a playmaker, but can fill the net as well. He is very defensively sound. Unfortunately, he is not the biggest or the fastest, but is fantastic positionally and at reading where the opposition is going with the puck. He breaks up a lot of passes and steals a lot of pucks. He also is pretty adept on the walls.

He could just as likely be a bust, but from what I am seeing, he is at minimum better than Nylander and at best a more complete version of Kubalik (again with less goals and more assists).