Um, not really. Kane is much improved. Even Hossa and Sharp are better than they were last year. Part of the loss has been taken up by Smith. I'll also take Versteeg over StAHLberg any day of the week.

Realistically, they need one player to staple Handzus to the bench, playoff Bickell to be the one from past springs, and to play focused D. When they have done that this year, they have rolled through the league. Pirri finally got back on the ice last night. Is a recall in the offing?

So, of the players you say they need, Smith replaces Frolik at a slight loss, Versteeg replaces StAHLberg at a gain. Shaw moves to the Bolland role at a slight loss, IMO, but that is countered by the improvement from Kane and others.

They need 3 things, as I see it:
1) Bickell to regain his form for the playoffs.
2) Someone to force Handzus off the ice.
3) A better focus on defense.

Say what you want about the players' ability to "flip the switch" but I think last
weekend showed that they can beat anybody when they're fully engaged.
- NewToHockey

Best post in a month!!!
A Blue Print for the trade deadline and beyond. 2 and 3 are doable .....not sure about about no 1

TT update: After two periods his team Jokerit leads the worst team at moment in Finnish League TPS 0-6 and Teuvo has 0+3 so far. He is leading candidate for the player of the month nomination.

Biggest problem in my opinion is the 3rd line. Last year's was so much more effective they shutdown everyone and anyone and created a lot of offense. This year's third line isn't taking the pressure off lines 1 and 2. Do I want Stalberg back? Nope, but I wouldn't mind that grit again.

On other notes:

Rosival - definitely not the same and has lost a step

Zeus - totally innefective in what I have seen this year

Steeger - is steeger. Still manages to stichandle himself into corners anywhere on the ice and cough it up at the blue lines but was a worthwhile aquisition.

However on the bright side they still have 1/3 of the season to make adjustments, rest some guys, and maybe see what they can trade for.

A whole bunch of teams out there are looking fatigued.

A whole bunch of teams out there are looking fatigued.
- golfingsince

Thank you!

When has fatigue NOT been a factor? Everyone knew with the short off season that the Hawks were going to hit some kind of wall. It's actually surprising it's happening this late.

Part of the reason I wish Q would have worked a couple more of the rookie forwards into the lineup. But Q is point chasing, which is his right and what he does, so he plays his 9 forwards while shortening his third line, even though the third line has been dominating in puck possession while it's been on the ice. ( 29-26-23 has been the leading Corsi CF 5-0n-5 the past two weeks.....I know, I know, Corsi is a relative stat blah blah....)

Hopefully the three weeks is exactly what Bicks needs to mend his knee.
- yahoodi

Having just read that, i am literally NEVER taking advanced stats into consideration when judging certain players ever again. EVER. Thats pathetic. Worst line we've rolled out all year by far, and theyre tops in CF? lol....

Perhaps my math is wrong, but I do not see the issue as you have described.

1. Versteeg replaces Stalberg = Advantage Versteeg
2. Smith replaces Frolik = push
3. Bollig has replaced Bollands roster spot (not saying they are similar players) Factoring in injuries and actual on ice time....push to advantage Bolland

As for Bickell and Handzuis, you just need to have a few of your AHL guys (not unlike every other team) come and go, here and there, to spot guys time. Bickell will come around or it is next man up. If the team and organization can not handle that, then that is how it goes.

And if Handzuis is part of the win now strategy, count me out as a believer. No need to debate it, just my position, will be happy to be proven wrong in May.
- TrueGrit

If Stan makes some kind of deal - for depth, for a center, whatever - fine.

If not, Hawks should bring up Pirri or Nordstrom or Morin or some forward (other than TT) to give them a 13th forward so that after the O-break - for the last 22 games - some guys can get a couple of days off.

Hossa, Handzus could use three or four days off before the play-offs; Toews could probably use some; Bickell, if his knee can't get fully resolved by then.

I wouldn't mind seeing 15 games from the chosen a AHL forward, resting a valuable starter in the process, as well as giving the newcomer a good opportunity to showcase his skills.

If Stan makes some kind of deal - for depth, for a center, whatever - fine.

If not, Hawks should bring up Pirri or Nordstrom or Morin or some forward (other than TT) to give them a 13th forward so that after the O-break - for the last 22 games - some guys can get a couple of days off.

Hossa, Handzus could use three or four days off before the play-offs; Toews could probably use some; Bickell, if his knee can't get fully resolved by then.

I wouldn't mind seeing 15 games from the chosen a AHL forward, resting a valuable starter in the process, as well as giving the newcomer a good opportunity to showcase his skills.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed, but from what im understanding aren't we kinda stuck with 8 Dmen? Wouldnt we have to do something about that first before adding a 13th forward?

Agreed, but from what im understanding aren't we kinda stuck with 8 Dmen? Wouldnt we have to do something about that first before adding a 13th forward?
- SimpleJack

Why?

Still have an open roster spot and (apparently) sufficient cap space for a 13th forward.

Agreed, but from what im understanding aren't we kinda stuck with 8 Dmen? Wouldnt we have to do something about that first before adding a 13th forward?
- SimpleJack

Teams can carry 23 not 22 players. It is choice. Obviously we have been conserving cap space.

Agreed, but from what im understanding aren't we kinda stuck with 8 Dmen? Wouldnt we have to do something about that first before adding a 13th forward?
- SimpleJack

The Hawks can add a forward as long as his annual NHL salary is less than $1.1M. That is the amount of overflow from Khabibulin's LTIR that is left. There is no cost for this other than money and it wouldn't affect anything but cash flow. Stan could still make all the same trades (limited by being tight to the cap as he is) and would just have to send said player back to Rockford when the trade falls, provided it doesn't move a rostered player.

Teams can carry 23 not 22 players. It is choice. Obviously we have been conserving cap space.
- TrueGrit

But conserving cap space doesn't work with Chicago because of the LTIR situation, I thought.

Seems that Q and Stan just don't think any Hog forwards are ready.

Not sure it matters now (or, actually, after the O-break: regulars are going to need rest.

Teams can carry 23 not 22 players. It is choice. Obviously we have been conserving cap space.
- TrueGrit

We are over the cap. Raanta and the Versteeg acquisition has us into the LTIR space from Khabibulin. There is no cap space to conserve.

But conserving cap space doesn't work with Chicago because of the LTIR situation, I thought.

Seems that Q and Stan just don't think any Hog forwards are ready.

Not sure it matters now (or, actually, after the O-break: regulars are going to need rest.
- StLBravesFan

My guess is we would have seen Pirri back once Handzus showed he's moving at the speed of continental drift, but Pirri has been hurt. Now that he's back on the ice? I wouldn't be surprised if he's with the team by the end of the road trip if he can show he's healthy in a few games at Rockford.

We are over the cap. Raanta and the Versteeg acquisition has us into the LTIR space from Khabibulin. There is no cap space to conserve.
- NewToHockey

Capgeek says there is 1.14M

But conserving cap space doesn't work with Chicago because of the LTIR situation, I thought.

Seems that Q and Stan just don't think any Hog forwards are ready.

Not sure it matters now (or, actually, after the O-break: regulars are going to need rest.
- StLBravesFan

Correct. There is no conserving cap space this year. I'm still hoping for the Olympics to be cancelled due to the threat of terrorism.

If Stan makes some kind of deal - for depth, for a center, whatever - fine.

If not, Hawks should bring up Pirri or Nordstrom or Morin or some forward (other than TT) to give them a 13th forward so that after the O-break - for the last 22 games - some guys can get a couple of days off.

Hossa, Handzus could use three or four days off before the play-offs; Toews could probably use some; Bickell, if his knee can't get fully resolved by then.

I wouldn't mind seeing 15 games from the chosen a AHL forward, resting a valuable starter in the process, as well as giving the newcomer a good opportunity to showcase his skills.
- StLBravesFan

Agreed.

Miller for Craw and a first, throw in Pirri, Morin, Clendening, Hayes and anyone not named TT if you have to.

Capgeek says there is 1.14M
- golfingsince

With Khabibulin on LTIR we are allowed to go over the cap by the amount of his contract. There's 1.14M of that "space" left, but because we are technically over the cap, our space won't grow as the season progresses.

With Khabibulin on LTIR we are allowed to go over the cap by the amount of his contract. There's 1.14M of that "space" left, but because we are technically over the cap, our space won't grow as the season progresses.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes, that much is made clear.

The Hawks can add a forward as long as his annual NHL salary is less than $1.1M. That is the amount of overflow from Khabibulin's LTIR that is left. There is no cost for this other than money and it wouldn't affect anything but cash flow. Stan could still make all the same trades (limited by being tight to the cap as he is) and would just have to send said player back to Rockford when the trade falls, provided it doesn't move a rostered player.
- NewToHockey

Ahhh i see. Ya learn somethin new every day. So, what are we waiting for then?

With Khabibulin on LTIR we are allowed to go over the cap by the amount of his contract. There's 1.14M of that "space" left, but because we are technically over the cap, our space won't grow as the season progresses.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes - saving cap space /roster position is not - and has not been - an issue: Q/Stan confidence in who's available is.

Thoughts on Konopka? Cheap ($925k and soon to be UFA) and stout at the dot.
- Assman22

I like you guys too much to encourage this

I like you guys too much to encourage this
- SotaPopinski

Yeah, a couple of years ago maybe, but now?

Pass.

Thoughts on Konopka? Cheap ($925k and soon to be UFA) and stout at the dot.
- Assman22

Before Stan pulls the trigger on a deal I'd like to see some guys in Rockford get another shot. Particularly Nordstrom and Mills (when healthy).

When you guys say "I want to see ____ given a chance before Stan pulls a deal" .... you guys do know that by "deal" it's nothing more than a cheap veteran with an expiring contract who has just as much of a chance to play as he does being a healthy scratch?

Doesn't matter if he gives the kids in the minors a shot or not because Stan hasn't, and I don't think he will, make an acquisition that could really be called dynamic.

Come playoff time, the team will be the exact same with likely a 35-year-old forward who provides grit and can win face-offs, but the only thing gone from the organization will be a mid-round draft pick in the upcoming draft.

That 35-year-old may be Handzus 2.0, or Brendan Morrison 2.0.

Regardless, it'll be another snooze fest.