Theo Fox: Free Agency: Day 1 Review A review of the Blackhawks trade and free agent signings from yesterday.

IN: Jake McCabe, Jujhar Khaira
OUT: Nikita Zadorov, Pius Suter, Vincent Hinostroza, David Kampf

Plus, a brief look at 2020 6th rounder Chad Yetman.

Thank you, Theo.
I listened to an interview with Gaudette on the Blackhawks website. He said he's gained 20 lbs. this offseason. Sounds like he's overcome his physical malady.
Him and all the newcomers have me looking forward to the upcoming season.

This off season is still under construction I believe Stan has a few more surprises that will definitely get the board here going.

Keep up the great work Theo!!!

Thank you, Theo.
I listened to an interview with Gaudette on the Blackhawks website. He said he's gained 20 lbs. this offseason. Sounds like he's overcome his physical malady.
Him and all the newcomers have me looking forward to the upcoming season.
- 35Tony0

That's good news on Gaudette. He looked pretty good in the handful of games he played. With all the moves made, I think the playoffs are possible and if Toews is healthy even more so.

It should allow a number of the younger guys an opportunity to marinate in RFD for a year til they are a bit more physically mature and ready to make the leap.

Theo, you are the bomb! Great write-ups, and also so frequent. Way to stay on top of things.

The big move to remain is Fleury. Assuming he doesn't report (and that seems certain)....we have 3 scenarios:
1. He retires....we have 7 million to further add to line up....or to take an expiring bad contract and grab a sweetener.
2. He is traded with nothing retained, we get some player back with salary, and maybe a pick or two.
3. He is traded with a chunk of salary retained...in which we should get good pick(s) and prospect(s).

The Fleury 7 million can be used so many ways. Think I am leaning to RATHER see him NOT report and to flip him for some assets.

Thank you Theo for the review of the day. I was trying to keep up with everything, but work kept getting in the way.

It is yet to be seen if Jones is an overpayment, but i do know that I am happy that Chicago did not get Hamilton for what he signed for. Way over payment for him.

Thanks Theo!

I expect Carpenter to stick around, maybe he gets dealt at the trade deadline but likely not before. The Hawks will need Carpenter on the 4th line and PK.

I like the signings yesterday, other than the questionable timing of course. It’s clear that Stan wants the Hawks to be harder to play against.

Great write up as always Theo.

Interesting thought about the Hawks bringing in another vet goalie in case Fleury doesn't work out. I really hope he doesn't sit on his decision for 2 weeks, but I guess that's up to him. So, who do they bring in? Dubnyk, Schneider? Or do they throw that same money at somebody like Rask for a year if Fleury retires?

I would love to see them deal de Haan. Philly signed a bunch of garbage defensemen yesterday: Seeler, Clendening, Yandle. They have revamped their entire defense. Maybe Stan can retain 25% and send de Haan to Philly.

At this point, Strome has to be gone, right? You've now got Dach and Johnson who are clearly ahead of him, Kurashev, plays a better overall game with speed and hustle, toews if he comes back, and another high end lottery ticket in Borgstrom (and an outside shot of Riechel, but like may have alluded, I think he at least starts at wing).

Strome needs to play top six to be effective ("better" linemates and theoretically a more offensive role). I can't see him beating out Dach, Johnson, Toews (if he plays) and possibly even Kurashev. Borgstrom is a complete unknown at this point, but he is an offensive generator as well.

Good points which I agree are made in each blog entry so far today.

Carpenter makes sense to stick around on 4th line and pk role.His pay rate is low, which makes him a worthy acquisition at trade deadline for any draft choice.

Gaudette probably already beat Connelly out of a job. Perhaps the decision comes down to money. At least one reason would be the money angle. Connelly the veteran would get about double Gaudette's salary. Gaudette is young with a promising goal scoring future. I like Connellly though and hope we get a draft choice for him.

deHahn: I would prefer to see how well Stillman improves at the NHL level and beside that, deHahn is injury prone. Take another draft choice for deHahn. The flip side of course is depth and whether Stillman might benefit playing say half a season in the AHL.

Mitchell is another whom might play for a spell in the AHL. I remain a Mitchell fan; I like his attitude and skill set/he battles! Beaudin should stay in the AHL for at least half a season. He needs to panic less when pressured

Of course the entire team needs to work together on break outs. Colliton must enforce proper positioning and a great reduction in the telegraph of stretch passes - the other team was looking for us to do this last year!

Lastly, I am intrigued if now or at trade deadline we could send Fleury either back to Vegas, to the Penguins, or Avalanche. If we retain salary cap hit, could we garner a #2 or #3 for the 37 yr old Fleury. Yes- due to his track record?

LATE ADD please get rid of Strome the no compete physical boards and slow skating Strome. Give Barret and even McLaughlin a look

Good points which I agree are made in each blog entry so far today.

Carpenter makes sense to stick around on 4th line and pk role.His pay rate is low, which makes him a worthy acquisition at trade deadline for any draft choice.

Gaudette probably already beat Connelly out of a job. Perhaps the decision comes down to money. At least one reason would be the money angle. Connelly the veteran would get about double Gaudette's salary. Gaudette is young with a promising goal scoring future. I like Connellly though and hope we get a draft choice for him.

deHahn: I would prefer to see how well Stillman improves at the NHL level and beside that, deHahn is injury prone. Take another draft choice for deHahn. The flip side of course is depth and whether Stillman might benefit playing say half a season in the AHL.

Mitchell is another whom might play for a spell in the AHL. I remain a Mitchell fan; I like his attitude and skill set/he battles! Beaudin should stay in the AHL for at least half a season. He needs to panic less when pressured

Of course the entire team needs to work together on break outs. Colliton must enforce proper positioning and a great reduction in the telegraph of stretch passes - the other team was looking for us to do this last year!

Lastly, I am intrigued if now or at trade deadline we could send Fleury either back to Vegas, to the Penguins, or Avalanche. If we retain salary cap hit, could we garner a #2 or #3 for the 37 yr old Fleury. Yes- due to his track record?

LATE ADD please get rid of the no compete physical boards and slow skating Strome. Give Barret and even McLaughlin a look
- jhawk59

I think Stillman is likely one of the starters regardless of de Haan's status. I think he showed really well and was a very willing defender.

I think the only way you see Mitchell in the starting lineup to begin the year is if de Haan is gone (with no other defenseman coming back) or there is an injury. Without that, he needs to be able to beat out Kalynuk and/or C. Jones which he may or may not be able to do. I think he showed pretty well last year under the circumstances, but he'll need to take another step or two to secure regular time.

If other teams are interested in Fleury at the TDL (assuming he plays), the Hawks would not have to retain any salary to move him.

At this point, Strome has to be gone, right? You've now got Dach and Johnson who are clearly ahead of him, Kurashev, plays a better overall game with speed and hustle, toews if he comes back, and another high end lottery ticket in Borgstrom (and an outside shot of Riechel, but like may have alluded, I think he at least starts at wing).

Strome needs to play top six to be effective ("better" linemates and theoretically a more offensive role). I can't see him beating out Dach, Johnson, Toews (if he plays) and possibly even Kurashev. Borgstrom is a complete unknown at this point, but he is an offensive generator as well.
- Chunk

I'm hoping. He certainly doesn't fit the mold of what they seem to be trying to do in terms of icing a team that's tough to play against.

Is there a metrics chart for that? A redass chart? He'd have to be pretty low on the totem.

On the Athletic's depth chart they had Dach, Toews, Johnson and Kurashev as the centers. If Toews is good to go, that looks pretty good to me. They had Strome possibly lining up at RW on the 3rd line and Carpenter on the 4th with Khairea (sp?) and Nylander as extras. I'd prefer to flip those and give Nylander a chance to stick or not.

Idk...maybe Strome takes the benchings to heart and works out with JJ over the summer but I just don't see him in the lineup going forward. Maybe the Hawks could get another third and continue to accumulate picks in that round til they are the only one picking in it.

AS some of you may know I am not a big fan of Stan , but , you have to give him credit when he deserves it . I like a lot of his moves this week. McCabe signing was nice even if it is a little rich. Khaire I consider a good steal for the price. Johnson pick up for nothing u have to like evening if it could have been a first round pick to go with it . ( Brent Seabrook is Happy saves about 350,000 a year in state taxes ).
And Fleury trade, well the hawks May have to get some player like Toews to go Play a round of golf with Fleury to sell him on thee city of Chicago. All in All pretty good Stan witth the regression of the Blues , Preds, Wild and Jets . Maybe a playoff team yet !! Solid B+

I'm hoping. He certainly doesn't fit the mold of what they seem to be trying to do in terms of icing a team that's tough to play against.

Is there a metrics chart for that? A redass chart? He'd have to be pretty low on the totem.

On the Athletic's depth chart they had Dach, Toews, Johnson and Kurashev as the centers. If Toews is good to go, that looks pretty good to me. They had Strome possibly lining up at RW on the 3rd line and Carpenter on the 4th with Khairea (sp?) and Nylander as extras. I'd prefer to flip those and give Nylander a chance to stick or not.

Idk...maybe Strome takes the benchings to heart and works out with JJ over the summer but I just don't see him in the lineup going forward. Maybe the Hawks could get another third and continue to accumulate picks in that round til they are the only one picking in it.
- HawkintheD

One summer of that and he's Lindros, Chief.

AS some of you may know I am not a big fan of Stan , but , you have to give him credit when he deserves it . I like a lot of his moves this week. McCabe signing was nice even if it is a little rich. Khaire I consider a good steal for the price. Johnson pick up for nothing u have to like evening if it could have been a first round pick to go with it . ( Brent Seabrook is Happy saves about 350,000 a year in state taxes ).
And Fleury trade, well the hawks May have to get some player like Toews to go Play a round of golf with Fleury to sell him on thee city of Chicago. All in All pretty good Stan witth the regression of the Blues , Preds, Wild and Jets . Maybe a playoff team yet !! Solid B+
- Ging72

Glad you found the caps button.

Would hope for Ritchie as a 3rd line addition


Since Sens need to get towards the cap floor, how about Shaws contract and DeHaan for Logan brown?

If Flower retires, flip brown to the Rangers for Georgiev? Something like that? Would rather have Georgiev than Dubnyk

It looks like the Devils and Canes (and possibly the Avs still) are the main suitors for Saad.

I've been reading Penguins blogs, comment boards, etc. and for some reason, they think they have some kind of leverage or power over the Hawks in the MAF situation lol Thinking they can fleece the Hawks and get them to take back Tristan Jarry or some other atrocious contract because the Hawks would 'have to accept it'. Do they realize that the Hawks are the ones in control? They can tell Fleury to report and do not have to trade him, if he doesn't report/retire, then hello 7m cap space

I've been reading Penguins blogs, comment boards, etc. and for some reason, they think they have some kind of leverage or power over the Hawks in the MAF situation lol Thinking they can fleece the Hawks and get them to take back Tristan Jarry or some other atrocious contract because the Hawks would 'have to accept it'. Do they realize that the Hawks are the ones in control? They can tell Fleury to report and do not have to trade him, if he doesn't report/retire, then hello 7m cap space
- Hossa1881

That fanbase is uneducated.

I am ready this morning for all the arrows to sling my way:

IMO you need to keep Strome until you have a good idea what the availability of Toews is like. Stan in his presser wasn't optimisitc that just because he started skating, that he will be able to play NHL hockey this year.

Speaking of overly optimistic, what indications are there that Dach is a #1 center, let alone a #2? Injury or no, he had his lunch handed to him playing in that role last year.. His chemistry with Kane is zero, Dach loves to carry the puck, and if you play him with Kane and ADB, they don't allow you to play with 3 pucks, because ADB likes to lug the puck also. Then you have the fact that Dach is right handed, and his passes to Kane will mostly be backhanded, that is why Kane likes to play with left handed center iceman (only right handed center that worked for a few games was during the playoffs when they threw Kane/Shaw/Saad together).

I have no advanced stat or metrics to back any of this up, except for my 55 years of watching and 30 years of playing hockey (when there was no face shields, an external mouthguard, and Northland sticks). In addition I probably took too many shots to the head

I'm hoping. He certainly doesn't fit the mold of what they seem to be trying to do in terms of icing a team that's tough to play against.

Is there a metrics chart for that? A redass chart? He'd have to be pretty low on the totem.

On the Athletic's depth chart they had Dach, Toews, Johnson and Kurashev as the centers. If Toews is good to go, that looks pretty good to me. They had Strome possibly lining up at RW on the 3rd line and Carpenter on the 4th with Khairea (sp?) and Nylander as extras. I'd prefer to flip those and give Nylander a chance to stick or not.

Idk...maybe Strome takes the benchings to heart and works out with JJ over the summer but I just don't see him in the lineup going forward. Maybe the Hawks could get another third and continue to accumulate picks in that round til they are the only one picking in it.
- HawkintheD

Good morning. Did you know the hawks traded away their 1st round pick next year? It hasn’t been said in 10 minutes so I wanted to make sure everyone knew. 😉

I’m curious to see what nylander can do. Still hoping he can hit a poor mans versteeg level.

Good morning. Did you know the hawks traded away their 1st round pick next year? It hasn’t been said in 10 minutes so I wanted to make sure everyone knew. 😉

I’m curious to see what nylander can do. Still hoping he can hit a poor mans versteeg level.
- SteveRain

Have heard that somewhere about the first rounder. While I wasn't happy about that part of the trade, I'm hopeful Jones can regain his form from a couple years ago.

Much like Toews who people were writing off at 28 or whatever age it was his production dipped for a couple seasons, I think Jones still has some good to great hockey in him.

I would take that comp as far as Nylander goes.

I am ready this morning for all the arrows to sling my way:

IMO you need to keep Strome until you have a good idea what the availability of Toews is like. Stan in his presser wasn't optimisitc that just because he started skating, that he will be able to play NHL hockey this year.

Speaking of overly optimistic, what indications are there that Dach is a #1 center, let alone a #2? Injury or no, he had his lunch handed to him playing in that role last year.. His chemistry with Kane is zero, Dach loves to carry the puck, and if you play him with Kane and ADB, they don't allow you to play with 3 pucks, because ADB likes to lug the puck also. Then you have the fact that Dach is right handed, and his passes to Kane will mostly be backhanded, that is why Kane likes to play with left handed center iceman (only right handed defenseman that worked for a few games was during the playoffs when they threw Kane/Shaw/Saad together).

I have no advanced stat or metrics to back any of this up, except for my 55 years of watching and 30 years of playing hockey (when there was no face shields, an external mouthguard, and Northland sticks). In addition I probably took too many shots to the head
- LAHawk

Good morning.

Maybe I was drunk during the bubble, likely so, but I thought Kane dach debrincat looked good together. Dach was far better than 4-5 months since we last saw him in March. I’m hopeful he can show that form and progress vs last years injury riddled season.

If he doesn’t well….everyone bemoaning the lost of that pick for Jones can add dach to the list of recent misses. I am dach fan. I think he can park his ass in front of the net and create room for Kane and pick up garbage goals off debrincat rebounds and set screens

Strome…..he’s so damn slow that he’s usually half a zone away entering or leaving to play center. Like the older guy trying to hang on and play under 30 men’s league. No chance. Doesn’t finish enough for me to warrant top 6 minutes. Think he exerted whatever he had left to get this contract and I’ll be shocked if he’s still in the league in 3-5 years.

Toews…..I go by the player and what he says. Fact toews came out and made that little montage tells me he feels as good as he can and bowman is doing to cya maybe until toews is done or retired. I just don’t want cya in strome. Toews may be the new hossa where he’ll miss a random game and have numerous “‘maintenance” days off.

I am ready this morning for all the arrows to sling my way:

IMO you need to keep Strome until you have a good idea what the availability of Toews is like. Stan in his presser wasn't optimisitc that just because he started skating, that he will be able to play NHL hockey this year.

Speaking of overly optimistic, what indications are there that Dach is a #1 center, let alone a #2? Injury or no, he had his lunch handed to him playing in that role last year.. His chemistry with Kane is zero, Dach loves to carry the puck, and if you play him with Kane and ADB, they don't allow you to play with 3 pucks, because ADB likes to lug the puck also. Then you have the fact that Dach is right handed, and his passes to Kane will mostly be backhanded, that is why Kane likes to play with left handed center iceman (only right handed center that worked for a few games was during the playoffs when they threw Kane/Shaw/Saad together).

I have no advanced stat or metrics to back any of this up, except for my 55 years of watching and 30 years of playing hockey (when there was no face shields, an external mouthguard, and Northland sticks). In addition I probably took too many shots to the head
- LAHawk

Fair points. Despite the board narrative that Stan has no plan, I'm sure he knows what he's going to do if Johnny can't play.

Would like to see Nylander resigned on a Show Me 1 year deal. Earn your next contract for around the same deal Gaudette got you little spoiled female dog!