I JUST NOW heard that the Hawks did indeed talk to NYR about Hjalmarsson, Hawks asked for Boyle and/or Krieder (which made sense). No deal.
- John Jaeckel

No deal as in, "not now, give us more than Hammer", or "no deal, period".

"Hit a leg Keith"? More like hit the glass Keith.
- nickmo2699

Put it this way... Duncan Keith would have had no problem sweeping the leg.

Really, Oduya, Frolik and Leddy are the only meaningful additions he's made via trade.

There have been no significant FA acquisitions.

I will grant, he has made a few nice draft picks—thank you, Norm McIver and Euro scouting.

The results (or lack thereof) over the last two seasons, speak volumes. That said, although we would all like to see the Hawks make moves to improve, you do need to get fair value in return.

I JUST NOW heard that the Hawks did indeed talk to NYR about Hjalmarsson, Hawks asked for Boyle and/or Krieder (which made sense). No deal.

Lots of conversations going on by the way. Hawks are actively trying to upgrade G especially with an eye to the future, in spite of the expected "we like our team" crap.

I am inclined to give Bowman a little bit of slack on this until they drop the puck. He has time to get a deal done and I think he might.

That said, when you have an area as deficient as the Hawk goaltending, and you identify a guy you think can anchor the position for the next 5-10 years, you don't quibble about throwing in a 2nd round pick.
- John Jaeckel

I agree that an upgrade in goal is necessary JJ. However, Crawford as a rookie was sensational, Regular season and playoffs. Last year was the first year he got the label as the hawks "#1." I feel like we need to watch him this year and worry about the goaltending further down the road. He has shown he has the ability to play big. I think the only real thing we can do is give him this final shot.

I worry about trading hammer bc idk if we have many guys in the system or on the roster that play the same style. Kreider wont go anywhere and like someone mentioned earlier neither will Stepan. Boyle is a nice pickup but not for hammer. Maybe a team like Florida or Philly could be a better target for a center.

You know I respect you and that we go toe to toe a lot. But this HUGE ASSUMPTION that we are sitting on our hands and our phones don't dial out is nuts. Seriously, point to me 5 big trades in NHL over the last few years? Talking about the kind of trades you want to see. These trade partners are not morons dieing to give the Hawks their best players for a bag of pucks. This phycology is worse than the tax cuts for the rich BS everyone has been brain washed to believe.
- TrueGrit

I must admit, that is my assumption - certainly, perhaps, an incorrect one.

Most of what we hear is "they were offered this deal", implying incoming calls.

Don't really know how true that is.

I agree that an upgrade in goal is necessary JJ. However, Crawford as a rookie was sensational, Regular season and playoffs. Last year was the first year he got the label as the hawks "#1." I feel like we need to watch him this year and worry about the goaltending further down the road. He has shown he has the ability to play big. I think the only real thing we can do is give him this final shot.

I worry about trading hammer bc idk if we have many guys in the system or on the roster that play the same style. Kreider wont go anywhere and like someone mentioned earlier neither will Stepan. Boyle is a nice pickup but not for hammer. Maybe a team like Florida or Philly could be a better target for a center.
- nickmo2699

The Crawford you saw last year was the Crawford that has been around since the Hawks drafted him. He always had these issues. That's why he was in the AHL until age 26.

That said, when you have an area as deficient as the Hawk goaltending, and you identify a guy you think can anchor the position for the next 5-10 years, you don't quibble about throwing in a 2nd round pick.
- John Jaeckel

I hope that wasn't the "minor tweak" the Hawks were stuck on. Without knowing the specifics of the potential deal, those are obstacles good GMs get over to make a deal happen.

Another FAILED, RETREAD, PHUCKING BUM.
- philco28

A cruel assessment, but accurate.

Would love to know who hired him and why.

A cruel assessment, but accurate.

Would love to know who hired him and why.
- RickJ

He came cheap?

No deal as in, "not now, give us more than Hammer", or "no deal, period".
- blackhawk24

Not sure, but I think more the latter

A cruel assessment, but accurate.

Would love to know who hired him and why.
- RickJ

No one did. He just started showing up one day. The Hawks FO is so cluttered no one knew that he wasn't actually hired, everyone just assumed someone else probably did. It's like the reverse of Office Space. Instead of fixing the glitch, they have created one.

That said, when you have an area as deficient as the Hawk goaltending, and you identify a guy you think can anchor the position for the next 5-10 years, you don't quibble about throwing in a 2nd round pick.
- John Jaeckel

Using those criteria I would think that Lehner has to be their #1 target.

Others I could see may be Bernier (LA), Hackett (MIN). If they are looking for a 5-10 year anchor, I can't see that being a 31 year old Anderson, a 26 year old Bishop, so of the names mentionned from the Sens by you JJ I would think StanBo is thinking Lehner is a 5-10 year starter?

A cruel assessment, but accurate.

Would love to know who hired him and why.
- RickJ

Same question could be asked of Stan Bum too RJ.

Using those criteria I would think that Lehner has to be their #1 target.

Others I could see may be Bernier (LA), Hackett (MIN). If they are looking for a 5-10 year anchor, I can't see that being a 31 year old Anderson, a 26 year old Bishop, so of the names mentionned from the Sens by you JJ I would think StanBo is thinking Lehner is a 5-10 year starter?
- ikeane

He was.

My understanding is they have inquired about Bernier as well but LA is not taking offers on him at this time.

It's time or Bolland to get an extended, legit shot to be the 2C...he's earned the opportunity. They need to know if he can handle the job, so they know if his Blackhawk future extends beyond his current contract or not. This is a question that MUST be answered.
- Ogilthorpe2

Sorry to disagree with you Ogie, but how has Bolland "earned" the opportunity to be the 2C?

Has the guy improved on faceoffs?
Other than his cup yr playoff performance, has he wowed anyone with his post-seasons?
Does he really show up to play during the regular season?
Unless I've missed something, he still has a bad back, one subject to flaring up at almost any time.

I give the 10-36-88 line combination no more than 2 periods in LA. Then I think you will either see 16 moved up to 2C or Kane shifted over.

And . . . who in this crowd thinks Kane on the half-boards with an undersized set of linemates (neither Sharp nor Bolland nor Krueger qualify as a road-grader) is going to have much success? I think you will see Kane move back to 2C with Hossa and either Stalhberg or Carcillo manning up alongside.

I'm not anti-Barry Trotz by any means, I like him. But check his playoff record - got beat by Q in 2010 when he had Game 5 won. Thanks Martin Erat. Got beat by AV in 2011 - nobody should ever lose to that idiot, Q included. Got waxed by Dave Tippett last year with the best team he ever had. Thanks Mr. Radulov.

Conclusion - Dave Tippet does more with less than any coach in the league. Not sure I like his style of play, but he's the guy that would shape up this Hawks team.
- RickJ

Trotz is a good coach but is overrated by many...

Not in the top group of mine. He helped the Hawks win the Cup in 2010 more than anything else. Players who were on the ice on that power play in Game 5 should not have been out there....And that is all on him.

He escapes a lot of criticism because Nash is a budget club that until recently, and couldn't spend.

But let's call it like it is ....He has one of the top 5 goalies in the game plus he had the top d-pairing in the NHL but could not make a long playoff run.

I like him but he hasn't done enough to say he is in the top group of NHL HC's imo.

Sorry to disagree with you Ogie, but how has Bolland "earned" the opportunity to be the 2C?

Has the guy improved on faceoffs?
Other than his cup yr playoff performance, has he wowed anyone with his post-seasons?
Does he really show up to play during the regular season?
Unless I've missed something, he still has a bad back, one subject to flaring up at almost any time.

I give the 10-36-88 line combination no more than 2 periods in LA. Then I think you will either see 16 moved up to 2C or Kane shifted over.

And . . . who in this crowd thinks Kane on the half-boards with an undersized set of linemates (neither Sharp nor Bolland nor Krueger qualify as a road-grader) is going to have much success? I think you will see Kane move back to 2C with Hossa and either Stalhberg or Carcillo manning up alongside.
- savvyone-1

Would be really nice to see someone other than 19-88-81-10 doing the scoring...waiting on the secondary players to be consistent for quite some time now.

Would be really nice to see someone other than 19-88-81-10 doing the scoring...waiting on the secondary players to be consistent for quite some time now.
- philco28

Careful putting those two items in the same sentence....

If Montador is out of the remainder of the season what are the odds that Stan signs Campoli to a 1 year (pro-rated) deal? The two side parted amicably a couple years ago and I doubt Campoli will get a longer contract. Campoli could be a decent 7-8 defenseman if needed.

Edit: LA placed Thomas Hickey on waivers today, would he be worth a pick-up?

Would be really nice to see someone other than 19-88-81-10 doing the scoring...waiting on the secondary players to be consistent for quite some time now.
- philco28

Phil, agree with you here. You might (I say "MIGHT") get the chance to see some other guys step up (let's say, like my boy Leddy on 1st unit PP) IF Q's boy Tampon has a brain cell or 2 and realizes that Duncan Keith's minutes should NOT be spent on the PP hitting the glass or shins of defenders but instead, getting a breather to better go against the top lines on those brutal back-2-back games.

Then again, what makes any of us think Q's boy Tampon will be any smarter than Q? From what I've learned in my life, the sign of a really smart person is that they surround themselves with people that are smarter than they are so they look like a freaking genius!

Hmm, what does that say about Q . . .

If Montador is out of the remainder of the season what are the odds that Stan signs Campoli to a 1 year (pro-rated) deal? The two side parted amicably a couple years ago and I doubt Campoli will get a longer contract. Campoli could be a decent 7-8 defenseman if needed.

Edit: LA placed Thomas Hickey on waivers today, would he be worth a pick-up?
- DarthKane

Isles put Ty Wishart on waivers today too. Thought he was supposed to be one of SJ's big young guys. Would Wishart be worth a sniff?

https://twitter.com/TSNBo...Kenzie/s...71330935549952


I thought Hickey was another small PMD. Fits Stan's MO then.

Careful putting those two items in the same sentence....
- furso27

Isles put Ty Wishart on waivers today too. Thought he was supposed to be one of SJ's big young guys. Would Wishart be worth a sniff?

https://twitter.com/TSNBo...Kenzie/s...71330935549952


I thought Hickey was another small PMD. Fits Stan's MO then.
- ikeane

If nothing else I thought we could use Hickey in Rockford. Can't say I know much about Wishart.

Saw this on the 300 Level boards. Adam might look nice in the #2 center spot.

ADAM FALLING OUT OF FAVOR WITH SABRES
Center Luke Adam made a promising debut early last season with the Buffalo Sabres, netting nine points in October playing alongside stars Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville and earning 19 points in his first 30 games.

His production declined after he was moved off their line and he finished the season with the Sabres’ American League farm team in Rochester.

Still, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound Adam had shown enough promise to prompt expectations of earning a regular roster spot this season with the Sabres.

Unfortunately, the combination of the lockout, a continuing decline in production and a weak defensive game resulted in Adam not being called up for Sabres training camp this week.

This has sparked speculation that Adam's days with the Sabres may be numbered. WGR 550 suggested he and the club have “gone as far as they can with each other” and called upon management to ship him to another NHL team that could use him.

The report noted Adam's trade value isn't high, but the longer he remains in Rochester, the worse it will get. His status will be worth keeping an eye on throughout this shortened NHL season, especially leading up to the April 3 trade deadline.

http://www.thehockeynews....-Trade-talks-pick-up.html

If nothing else I thought we could use Hickey in Rockford. Can't say I know much about Wishart.
- DarthKane

I don't either, but remember him being a big tough dman prospect. Not sure if he never fully developed that though

Isles put Ty Wishart on waivers today too. Thought he was supposed to be one of SJ's big young guys. Would Wishart be worth a sniff?

https://twitter.com/TSNBo...Kenzie/s...71330935549952


I thought Hickey was another small PMD. Fits Stan's MO then.
- ikeane

Minor trade: Fistric to EDM for a 3rd rd. pick