Thanks, Randy! Wish the news was better, though.
- NewToHockey

5 years from now it will be Demko Hawk fans wish was drafted. A SEVENTEEN year old that went in and took over the #1 job for a powerhouse Boston College program as a true freshman, the youngest player in D1 last year. ...... But take consolation in the fact I ain't no scout, ain't no GM (not even in cyberspace) but I've seen Schmaltz 10 times the last two years at The Edge and besides seeing him look as graceful as a gazelle in warmups never showed much.

Now I'm hopin the kid proves a lot of people wrong.

‏@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said he has fired goaltender coach Steve Weeks.

@ESPNChiPowers
Quenneville said he could see Morin moving up the ladder on the team next season.
- L_B_R

Thanks to the one-way contract, that is!

‏@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said he has fired goaltender coach Steve Weeks.

@ESPNChiPowers
Quenneville said he could see Morin moving up the ladder on the team next season.
- L_B_R

While he is at it, how about firing his PP coach.

Got it. You don't like the pick. Thanks. Got that.
- stp1978

You're a sharp fella. You fit right in.............

‏@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said he has fired goaltender coach Steve Weeks.

@ESPNChiPowers
Quenneville said he could see Morin moving up the ladder on the team next season and getting a shot at towel boy.
- L_B_R

Fixed

If I were a betting man, I believe that the Hawks were indeed hot for Kessler today and came up short.

As such, I am certain that they have had preliminary conversations with UFAs and have some contingent plans in place to pursue. The NHL draft typically does not provide any impact players beyond the 5th pick, so it is not as if the draft is going to change what teams are looking to do to fill immediate needs.

No doubt, they will have to move some salary. I believe that Oduya and Rosival will be gone next season.
- TrueGrit

Indeed I think they were...but Hwks didn't have the picks or the roster players that Nucks were looking for. And it looks like they were not going to offer TT...did the Nucks even want TT?

Would TT + Krugs + prospects beat the ducks offer?? Who the hell knows!!

with all due and humility and respect...I know nothing about drafting highschool kids...but Bowman traded up to get this kid and I only saw 1 mock draft that had him in the 1st round and that was around 26.

Curious what he sees in this kid that no one else seems to have seen.
- bogiedoc

Probably the same intangibles he saw in Kevin Hayes in his first raft as a Blackhawks GM

Thanks to the one-way contract, that is!
- stp1978

Yeah, but Morin's contract is pretty nice.

You're a sharp fella. You fit right in.............
- Mr Ricochet

And you fit in with everyone else angry on the ledge. Just saying. All good.

I'm sure we're both good enough to be GMs, since we're here online together.

That happens and I will start drinking a shot every time Leddy adjusts his helmet. I will be hammered by the first intermission.
- Elbows15

LOL...Leddy is NOT a freaking top 4 on a Cup contender. It's laughable to consider and people can spare me the "he needs a good partner"...

Don't be surprised to see Saad at C. At this point if Shaw fails he's about it. Plz tell me Stan is not this incompetent??
- z1990z

Stan is not incompetent. Share your disappointment after the games start in the fall and by then it is clear no legitimate #2 center is aboard. You have to put yourself in Stan's shoes, however, and know without any question that he did his best and made as good an offer for Kesler, Spezza, Statsny, whomever else.

You know Stan is not stupid. He can see this team needs help at center and more physical forwards. Scotty knows,,too. So they have a tendency for small, quick, forwards. So f- ing what. You or I could be GM and we have our tendencies how to shape a roster. What I hope to see, however, is a cooperation or willingness between coach and GM to try a line combination later in a season like the Kings did with their 70's line.

That line created match ups, energized all,the lines in part because ideal or nearly ideal,,better line combinations worked well.

This new center is comparable to some things and magical talent of a Kane. Maybe he will be a skill #2 center one day. Too small. That can be overlooked if Chg has the ideal style centers at 1c, 3c, and 4c

Nordstrom will be cheapest to retain and is your future #4. This just makes a lot of sense. It will be up Q and Kruger, himself, to show he can be the regular #3c. Q has to,give him that opportunities. That is something he may be more inclined to do than give Morin a fair opportunity. But Morin is a topic for another future blog...maybe by Philco.

Well the handwriting is on the wall....soon enough we will all be screaming for more size on wings or,just more size in forward lines. Kane, TT need some larger players. But do not scream at Bowman just yet. Let us see how it all pans out. Then grab a bullhorn if you want to.

Yeah, but Morin's contract is pretty nice.
- L_B_R

Certainly, I don't disagree at all. I certainly thought it would be higher. Now every few $100k they can save will matter a great deal.

While he is at it, how about firing his PP coach.
- 67hawks

Kitchen & Kompon both should be gone imo. Goal tending wasn't the issue as much as special teams, and the PP has especially been bad since Kompon was brought on.

Indeed I think they were...but Hwks didn't have the picks or the roster players that Nucks were looking for. And it looks like they were not going to offer TT...did the Nucks even want TT?

Would TT + Krugs + prospects beat the ducks offer?? Who the hell knows!!
- bogiedoc

According to JJ, Bowman let the Canucks know right away that TT was unavailable.

His words: "Bowman wouldn't budge"...that was a few days ago.

Thanks to the one-way contract, that is!
- stp1978

Even if he had a two-way contract, they still couldn't send Morin down. He'd have to pass through waivers, and I'd doubt he'd make it through without a team putting in a claim on him.

‏@MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville said he has fired goaltender coach Steve Weeks.
- L_B_R

There's the sacrificial lamb.

Even if he had a two-way contract, they still couldn't send Morin down. He'd have to pass through waivers, and I'd doubt he'd make it through without a team putting in a claim on him.
- EKolb13

Yeah, thanks on that -- I had forgotten that and you're right.

I do hope that he gets some regular time, and with an offseason to work on defensive awareness he'll escape the line blender to the pressbox ...

Indeed I think they were...but Hwks didn't have the picks or the roster players that Nucks were looking for. And it looks like they were not going to offer TT...did the Nucks even want TT?

Would TT + Krugs + prospects beat the ducks offer?? Who the hell knows!!
- bogiedoc

Starting to think that's true as well. Not sure TT would've gotten it done anyway. Bonino steps right in as the Nucks 2C and I watched a lot of Ducks games last year, he's a good player. The Ducks had the one thing the Hawks didn't have which is a young 2C for the Nucks to plug right in. Kruger is a nice player but he's not a #2C. I trust JJ that Kruger was part of the Hawks deal and in the end Bonino > Kruger. Saad may have turned the tables but that was never going to happen and SB should've been fired if it did.

LOL...Leddy is NOT a freaking top 4 on a Cup contender. It's laughable to consider and people can spare me the "he needs a good partner"...
- kwolf68

I'll laugh with ya, but only if they try him with a Seabrook or Hammer for 20 games or so and it still blows up. Until then, my mind is open.

Even if he had a two-way contract, they still couldn't send Morin down. He'd have to pass through waivers, and I'd doubt he'd make it through without a team putting in a claim on him.
- EKolb13

he makes it here next year or he ends up with Uncle Dale where all hawk busts get exiled to...

I miss Dale Tallon.
- Hawkster

Tallon wanted to go with Havlet rather than Hossa. Fortunately he got overruled by the Bowmans.

‏@ChrisKuc
#Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said negotiations with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane continue. "We're definitely going to get them re-signed."

Pulling Matt Carey and Trevor Van Riemsdyk out of nowhere a couple months ago is better than most of the players being drafted tonight who's names you won't remember on Monday.
- RickJ

Like this comment a lot.

‏@ChrisKuc
#Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman said negotiations with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane continue. "We're definitely going to get them re-signed."
- L_B_R

Guessing 11m per......


Because what else could go wrong ?

Not that I think the Hawks can fit Spezza in anyway, but update on that front.


@renlavoietva
5 teams made offers for Spezza. 3 were serious but B. Murray felt it was not enough. If he can't trade him, Spezza will have to play in Ott.