Just curious, but what makes you think that Johns is "on the cusp?"

As for the idea of next season's blue line and its depth, why trade Leddy or Oduya? There's cap room to keep both and then some. Brookbank & Kostka are both UFAs at the end of the season. Are they sticking around or are they gone? Beyond Dahlbeck & Clendening, there isn't a whole lot of depth at defenseman in Rockford that can step in and play. Honestly, Dahlbeck could be on the 3rd paring in Chicago right now. I would imagine that the blue line corps next season could look something like this:

Keith - Seabrook
Oduya - Hjalmarsson
Leddy - Roszival/Dahlbeck

I could live with that as the defense next season. Clendening can still work out some of the bugs in his game, and signing another veteran (not named Peckham) to a two way deal and stashing him away in Rockford would be ample depth.
- EKolb13

Maybe Johns isn't the *cusp*... but four years starting in a good collegiate program, big, physical, not asked to be Brian Campbell out there, 8-10 minutes a game... if he doesn't get out of position much he could impress at tryout... It would be nice to have a mini-Seabrook on the team.

No I agree - the lineup is better with Oduya but to me he's the most expendable on that list based on his salary and what he brings. Clendenning is redundant as a puck moving dman with lots of defensive deficiencies but perhaps with the Hawks style it helps to have another good prospect in the pipeline...

Since when is a GAA of 1.96 and a Save % of .936, lights out?
- paulr

Those are pretty good numbers...arent they? Am i missing something?

Since when is a GAA of 1.96 and a Save % of .936, lights out?
- paulr

Hey Pauline, if Price was playing for the Hawks he would be 1.00 and .975

Crawford could not even get the job done if he was in Montreal. Just look at Emery last year, piece of cake playing goal in Chicago. Enough said

1) This FO has ALWAYS made moves to win this season.

2) You forget that by trading for Miller you're going to have to trade two significant pieces already on the "big league" roster plus a draft pick or two. I'm not sure how that helps you this season winning especially with how well Raanta is playing. The league has already seen Raanta and he was heavily wanted by many teams before the Hawks signed him. Burying him isn't going to help the Hawks "sign him on the cheap".
- CaptainBlackhawk

I wouldn't consider it for anyone more valuable than guys like Pirri, Morin, Clendenning and a second rounder. So maybe this is a moot point.

Those are pretty good numbers...arent they? Am i missing something?
- BlazinMike

Yeah, a couple dudes saying Carey Price is not as good as Crawford. Too much Hawk Koolaid and not seeing the real world as it is, ie the NHL

E,

What's the knock on LeBlahhhh's game? Where do you see his deficiencies? Skating? Handling the puck? Is he getting accustomed to the pro game or do you see real talent deficiencies that will keep him from being a serviceable NHL forward? Thanks. I'll hang up and listen for your answer.
- Baaaaaaannerman!

LeBlanc avoids contact at all costs. He skates well with average speed, but skates with his head down. He doesn't seem like he's aware of everything that goes on around him on the ice. Also, he seems like he can't win a faceoff to save his life.

Who knows if he's NHL material or if he does straighten out the flaws in his game or not in the future? As of right now, from what I've seen, he's not NHL material.

I think Raanta has progressed but he would benefit from a AHL schedule to be able to practice...

Too many penalties again and Raanta was vg early and that led the way.

I think the plan will be to bring LaBarbera up until the trade deadline or Khabby returns....But Raanta will likely be here when the roster expands and maybe even before.

All is well in Blackhawk land with 3-1 win in Nashville. Kane/Keith with MVP years-On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1i1r6Bs
- Al

Would you not think Al that if Raanta continues to win every game that it is conceivalbe the net would be his to share with Crawford despite Kabby or Labarbera being healthy and available. If Raanta continues to play superb there is no better experience than playing in the NHL. Demotion to AHL could have some negative effects. Raanta will be 25 soon and is not a teenager.

Maybe Johns isn't the *cusp*... but four years starting in a good collegiate program, big, physical, not asked to be Brian Campbell out there, 8-10 minutes a game... if he doesn't get out of position much he could impress at tryout... It would be nice to have a mini-Seabrook on the team.

No I agree - the lineup is better with Oduya but to me he's the most expendable on that list based on his salary and what he brings. Clendenning is redundant as a puck moving dman with lots of defensive deficiencies but perhaps with the Hawks style it helps to have another good prospect in the pipeline...
- busmaster

I'm hoping that those deficiencies straighten out. I have seen improvement over last season, so that's a good sign.

So if Clendening is redundant, who steps in for Oduya once his deal is up after '14-'15?

He is stating facts.
- paulr

No, he's trolling.

Maybe Johns isn't the *cusp*... but four years starting in a good collegiate program, big, physical, not asked to be Brian Campbell out there, 8-10 minutes a game... if he doesn't get out of position much he could impress at tryout... It would be nice to have a mini-Seabrook on the team.

No I agree - the lineup is better with Oduya but to me he's the most expendable on that list based on his salary and what he brings. Clendenning is redundant as a puck moving dman with lots of defensive deficiencies but perhaps with the Hawks style it helps to have another good prospect in the pipeline...
- busmaster

No....Johns IS on the cusp. Almost everybody thinks he's heading straight to the Blackhawks once his Notre Dame season is over. The Hawks have been trying to sign him for the past year and were quite disappointed when he went back for his senior year. And since Johns could go the "Justin Schultz" route the Hawks have made it more than clear that they would add him to the big club once he was done at ol' ND.....

Jesus you guys are boring.
- TheSabresTaco

I wouldn't say boring. We just don't like talking (even hypothetically) about trading away key pieces to this squad. We just got over a "hypothetical" Seabrook trade... you know who you are...

Yeah, a couple dudes saying Carey Price is not as good as Crawford. Too much Hawk Koolaid and not seeing the real world as it is, ie the NHL
- flyerdude17

Price : RS/PO SV% 915/905
CC: 913/924

Roughly the same number of PO games.

Not the biggest CC fan but Price is middle of the pack - and in a significantly crappier conference.

No....Johns IS on the cusp. Almost everybody thinks he's heading straight to the Blackhawks once his Notre Dame season is over. The Hawks have been trying to sign him for the past year and were quite disappointed when he went back for his senior year. And since Johns could go the "Justin Schultz" route the Hawks have made it more than clear that they would add him to the big club once he was done at ol' ND.....
- yahoodi

I haven't seen Johns play, so I'll take your word for it.

He is stating facts.
- paulr

My apologies paulr, I take back the Pauline. I thought you were calling me a troll which I am not. Just an avid nhl fan and my closet is full of Kane and Toews jersey and lots of Hawk hats and a belt buckle I wear daily. Don't call me a troll as I strongly resent that. Thank you.

LeBlanc avoids contact at all costs. He skates well with average speed, but skates with his head down. He doesn't seem like he's aware of everything that goes on around him on the ice. Also, he seems like he can't win a faceoff to save his life.

Who knows if he's NHL material or if he does straighten out the flaws in his game or not in the future? As of right now, from what I've seen, he's not NHL material.
- EKolb13

In the limited amount of times I have seen him in action, I was always concerned that he's one giant concussion waiting to happen.

I'm hoping that those deficiencies straighten out. I have seen improvement over last season, so that's a good sign.

So if Clendening is redundant, who steps in for Oduya once his deal is up after '14-'15?
- EKolb13

Good to know about Clendening, thx..

The obvious answer is Leddy, right? no way he stays at 5-6 for much longer. He's too expensive.

Good to know about Clendening, thx..

The obvious answer is Leddy, right? no way he stays at 5-6 for much longer. He's too expensive.
- busmaster

Okay, I see where you're going with that. However, who steps in to fill Oduya's roster spot?

Price : RS/PO SV% 915/905
CC: 913/924

Roughly the same number of PO games.

Not the biggest CC fan but Price is middle of the pack - and in a significantly crappier conference.
- busmaster

No disrespect but goalie stats can be very deceiving. You put a great goalie on a crappy team and you get lousy goalie stats. The Habs cannot score like the Hawks and Price has lost several games by one goal when his team can't get more than one or two. The Hawks have a tremendous offence and goaltenders tend to have inflated stats in Chicago, example Emery last year to this year.

In the limited amount of times I have seen him in action, I was always concerned that he's one giant concussion waiting to happen.
- eburgio

I keep thinking the same thing.

Don't forget....A guy that Q trusts
- eburgio

AND...... He improves our overall quality of playoff facial hair...

Would you not think Al that if Raanta continues to win every game that it is conceivalbe the net would be his to share with Crawford despite Kabby or Labarbera being healthy and available. If Raanta continues to play superb there is no better experience than playing in the NHL. Demotion to AHL could have some negative effects. Raanta will be 25 soon and is not a teenager.
- flyerdude17

+1. My thoughts exactly.

My apologies paulr, I take back the Pauline. I thought you were calling me a troll which I am not. Just an avid nhl fan and my closet is full of Kane and Toews jersey and lots of Hawk hats and a belt buckle I wear daily. Don't call me a troll as I strongly resent that. Thank you.
- flyerdude17

No Biggie, we've talked before. I'd take Price in a heartbeat.

Price : RS/PO SV% 915/905
CC: 913/924

Roughly the same number of PO games.

Not the biggest CC fan but Price is middle of the pack - and in a significantly crappier conference.
- busmaster

Price is a very good goalie. There is a reason he will make Team Canada and Crawford won't.

Nobody would disagree with the line above, but I guess you didn't see what they got for Pominville and Vanek on those deals. It was a substantial return each time, especially with how the Islanders have played this year.
- kingcong39

I did see and could turn out well you hope....but I don't know if I would have traded Vanek but that isn't my point...

The point is you didn't need Miller the last 2 years if there wasn't a likelihood of being a Cup contender soon...Now he is wasted asset. If you combine his salary and what he would have fetched that is a significant mistake.

Not to mention keeping the front office the same....

There was a scattered plan at best and the people making the decisions shouldn't have been.

The same things has happened other places with new ownership...

The reason it was different here is the person taking control had been around the team for his entire life although from a distance.

The first thing he did was put management people in place that were proven and could implement a plan...and then got rid of those who were involved for years and hadn't succeeded.

When you put yourself in position to succeed then getting lucky in the draft with a Toews and Kane can put you over the top.

But a plan is needed and if Miller wasn't part of the future that should have been determined a couple of years ago.

All is well in Blackhawk land with 3-1 win in Nashville. Kane/Keith with MVP years-On The Blackhawks: My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1i1r6Bs

Would you not think Al that if Raanta continues to win every game that it is conceivalbe the net would be his to share with Crawford despite Kabby or Labarbera being healthy and available. If Raanta continues to play superb there is no better experience than playing in the NHL. Demotion to AHL could have some negative effects. Raanta will be 25 soon and is not a teenager.
- flyerdude17

He has only played in North America for a few months...

Khabby could disappear and depending on cap implications Raanta could stay before the TD.

My take is LaBarbera was brought here to backup Crawford for awhile...

Raanta has looked good and has progressed but I don't see any downside in going back to Rockford....I am sure they will whisper a plan to him so he isn't discouraged. 25 is still young for a goalie....Crawford played almost 5 years in Rockford.