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With two bold—and already unpopular moves—Stan Bowman has begun the "retool on the fly" that has been predicted here (at least) all summer.

Artemi Panarin (told ya it could happen) and Tyler Motte (meh) to Columbus for Brandon Saad (have to admit, I didn't see THAT coming) and a nice developable goalie prospect in Anton Forsberg—something the Hawks did not have when you roused out of bed this morning, Hawk fans.

Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona for two young—also developable—current NHL players and a little bit of cap savings.

On paper, the Hawks might look like a lesser team right now. And although I am a fan of these deals in totality, I will be the first to admit, Murphy does not—at present—replace Hjalmarsson on the right side of the Hawk blueline. But I don't think Stan Bowman is done.

First, some scoop on what the Hawks got:

Dauphin is a guy the Hawks liked alot in the 2013 draft with their second round selection—before Arizona swooped in and took him. He is smallish, very fast, and plays much bigger than his size. A lefty centerman, he could be the guy the Hawks see replacing marcus Kruger. Not great so far on faceoffs, but still slightly better as a rookie than Artem Anisimov and Tanner Kero.

Murphy is big, athletic and uses his size well. he needs work in the defensive zone but he is a legitimate, projectable top 4 defenseman from the right side with all the tools.

Aside from Dauphin, Forsberg is another asset in these deals who could be a steal. Likely expendable in Columbus due to Joonas Korpisalo sitting ahead of him on the depth chart, Forsberg is big, very aggressive, plays a classic butterfly style and has something called talent. I would have to think Jimmy Waite has either scouted him or looked at tape and said this is a guy the hawks can develop into a #1—if not Corey Crawford's backup this season.

Like I said, I don't believe Bowman is done and I have a hunch Anisimov is next, going to Las Vegas, Buffalo (possibly for Evander Kane) or to Montreal. Nick Schmaltz is the likely backfill here.

Make no mistake, the Hawks' roster is not perfect yet—but they got younger, faster, deeper (at more positions) and more cost-controlled going forward with these moves. They also added back an importnat piece to get Jonathan Toews going again in Saad.

The above is what i have been saying all summer is the strategy. And like I said, i don't think they're done yet. Kruger likely wil be and Anisimov could be next.

More as I hear it.


Wow.



JJ

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