ALL IN !!!
JVR is still the perfect candidate for the HAWKS, with increased value down the road.
- oldduffman

Toronto has said multiple times JVR is not available.

If Kruger was healthy bottom 6 could be something like:
Panik-Rask-Sekac
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw
- Dabearshawks

That would be awesome!!! a match up nightmare for opposing team/coaching staff

This was a great read. Don't know what to think of the Montréal rumor..


I want Ladd back, badly.
- SUDA88

Jacob de la Rose would be a nice pickup. Plays LW, good size, and good contract.

All in it is!

Teuvo, Bickell, 1st rd pick, mid round pick, & Hartman for Skinner and Rask.

If Hossa is out:
Skinner-Toews-Shaw
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Desjardins-Rask-Panik
Rasmussen-Danault-Sekac

With Hossa:
Skinner-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Desjardins-Rask-Shaw matchup problem deluxe!
Panik-Danault-Sekac
- Dabearshawks

Don't think Carolina would do this.

Don't think Carolina would do this.
- DarthKane

Add Pokka to the deal.

I do fine sir. Was paired against Mike and his partner last year in our Thompson Cup (top IL amateurs against the top pros) matches. My Dad (Lou Esposito) and uncle (Emil) were/are friends with him, as am I now, LOL. Small freaking world!!!

Now it all makes sense, advertising field......no wonder you've got that silver tongue/pen/key strokes.
- ILGolfer

Next time you see Mike, say hi for me. I think he will remember me. Nice guy, nice family. His dad taught me a halfway decent golf swing with a lot of patience. His dad also basically coached up Andy North for many years.

Vandy, here is one for you, Rogers sports net.CA, shows this kid Petrovic going 3times in one game with Evander Kane, I don't think this latest version has 3fights all season, Q was talking about this team , waking up, getting dirty, working hard where a potential scrap may happen , still say to passive and soft. I would like a Kid likeTom Wilson or Mashintor to play like Tom Wilson for a change, I thought he was supposed to have an A game when it comes to fighting. It's a matter of time before Andrew Shaw takes on one of these bigger guys and gets the livin piss beat out of him. I miss some of the old time hockey.

Edit:I would take John Scott back right now, pay him the minimum ,dress him when needed, that would make some of these other guys play ALot bigger knowing that is sitting on the bench an has their backs, problem is, we got no one now so these guys just stay on the perimeter when it gets alittle hairy!
- wonthecup10

Yeah I saw that the fights weren't that great kane is a tough dude and petrovic wasostly trying to hug the last two fights. 1st time it's happened since Bret gallant and krys batch in the pre season and regular season the late great Bob Probert went with Jody Shelley. Shaw needs to be on the 3rd line so he can play his game and hit and mix it up. He's not a top six winger long term. This team needs a wake up call if it wasn't for kane panarin and Crawford we would be bottom 5 in the nhl now.

Jacob de la Rose would be a nice pickup. Plays LW, good size, and good contract.
- DarthKane

Hawks had some interest in him last year. They've talked about a lot of guys with Montreal.

Add Pokka to the deal.
- Dabearshawks

I was thinking of adding Rundblad instead.

Jacob de la Rose would be a nice pickup. Plays LW, good size, and good contract.
- DarthKane

He's only played 3 games this season.

Next time you see Mike, say hi for me. I think he will remember me. Nice guy, nice family. His dad taught me a halfway decent golf swing with a lot of patience. His dad also basically coached up Andy North for many years.
- John Jaeckel

Will do, see him in June/July for this year's Thompson Cup. If you get here in the summer, I'll call Mike and we can go play 18. Of course, with snow on the ground and a wind chill of 0......summer seems a long way away.

He's only played 3 games this season.
- Dabearshawks

Dano's only played 13 and many are suggesting he should be recalled. Not saying they're wrong.

Another young guy I'd like to see Stan go after is Curtis Lazar in Ottawa. Although he may be a bit too costly.

Dano's only played 13 and many are suggesting he should be recalled. Not saying they're wrong.

Another young guy I'd like to see Stan go after is Curtis Lazar in Ottawa. Although he may be a bit too costly.
- DarthKane

The next "Jonathan Toews"?
According to sens fans.

Scouts/ Scratches at the Icehogs game ......anyone ?

Hossa has a deal (at his age) that can't be traded, IMO. I believe that Hoss will attempt to fulfill his contract to its end, and over the next couple of seasons, we will see him drop down a notch or two in the lineup to reflect his lack of statistical production. And you are quite right, Hoss' skill set makes him an IDEAL 3rd liner for the Hawks. Personally, I don't know that Hoss can make another 5 seasons after this one, but if there is one player who can, it's Marian Hossa.
- MexicoHawk

This was kinda my point. I don't want to trade Hossa and the way his contract is I doubt they can, but we are talking about him being an ideal 3rd liner. I think his defensive game is tops in the game, and we have seen a couple games where he puts it together with some offense. I'm just saying that if the return is great enough, virtually anyone should be considered... And yes that stops at Toews, Kane, Keith, and imo Crawford.

I'm on the fence, low level prospect second round pick, I'm in

1st round pick and low level prospect, better be a good contributing player

Possible top 6 prospect like TT Dano or Gusto, no thanks not for a rental unless like Al says you know and are for certain any of these players won't be a top 6 forward.

What if we get desperate trade TT or Dano for whoever and we don't win the cup and 2 years later the traded player is an impactful top 6 player I know for one I'll be pissed because in essence the front office panicked and hurt our chances to win any SC going forward

So I'm one of the few that say Hell to the NO, TT, Dano, Gusto for a rental no thank you
- BetweenTheDots

Two years later Hossa is 40 and Keith is 34, Seabs 33, Tazer and Kaner are 30. I think the chances to win a SC going forward are much lower because of the 2 years of aging. The one thing that could make up for the drop are if TT and Dano are as talented as Kane and Hossa, respectively.

Are they that talented? I think if they were, they would be contributing much more to the team RIGHT NOW. At age 20, Hossa put up 30 points in 60 games and then got 56 points in 78 games the next year. At age 19, Kane put up 72 points and won ROY.

Maybe TT and Dano have more of an Andrew Ladd ceiling, and Ladd has been a great depth player on two SC-winning teams. But we can't wait 2 years for them to reach that ceiling as the core is two years older. Hence, the time is NOW.

Scouts/ Scratches at the Icehogs game ......anyone ?
- mrpaulish

Can't tell you which scouts, but Labrie was injured in MIL, so he's out today, as well as Visentin and Cumiskey.

Then there's Vinnie Hinostroza. Unless HE'S hurt, which I don't recall him being, makes me think he's going to Chicago.

Can't tell you which scouts, but Labrie was injured in MIL, so he's out today, as well as Visentin and Cumiskey.

Then there's Vinnie Hinostroza. Unless HE'S hurt, which I don't recall him being, makes me think he's going to Chicago.
- HelloFriend

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers 11m11 minutes ago
Vinnie Hinostroza is out of the lineup for the IceHogs today. Would expect he's getting recalled by the Blackhawks.

I agree with those who say go for it now. The team is in a position to repeat with a little more help. Heck even is they stand pat they would still have a shot. I don't think any of their prospects are or should be untouchable even for a rental player like Ladd. The Stanley Cup window won't stay open forever so I think you go for it while you can.

The "mortgaging the future" meme is a bit dated. A few things are different now:

1. Some first rounders carry real risk of not signing within the window, such as Kevin Hayes.

2. The universe has expanded beyond the draft. Witness players like TVR and Artemi Panarin. Even Erik Gustafsson. None of them were drafted by anybody. And more of this universe will jump at the chance to play for a team like the Hawks when it comes time to choose a destination.

3. Drafting 18 year olds has always been fraught with tremendous uncertainty. It's not by accident that drafting is less exact in the NHL and MLB than it is in the NFL and the NBA, where most draft picks have played at least some college ball. This point is not a new one, though. It is easier to gauge the ceiling with a 21 year old than an 18 year old.

With a trade like Vermette, what does a late 1st round pick usually bring? Even with Timonen, what do second round picks usually yield? We all know the average second rounder is not Brandon Saad. Just go through past entry drafts and you'll see that there aren't a ton of difference makers happening late in the 1st or beyond. We hear about the ones who make it, but so many don't. Difference makers usually happen early in the 1st round. That's where the real value is in a draft, because it's much easier to find a proven NHL talent at that point.

All that being said, if you believe in your evaluators enough that they will find enough prospects outside of the draft, and I think the Hawks' evaluators have proven themselves, then trading the picks is much more doable. They can play for today, and they can still plan for tomorrow.

The question comes, how much does overpaying for rentals now improve the chances of winning this year? There has to be a balance between taking advantage of the window and keeping the window open.

Give up too much now and next year will be another purge of a couples vets you can't keep (Rentals or not) and suddenly no more inexpensive talent to fill the holes.

Personally, I'd love to see them win another cup, but not if it means watching Kane/Toews spend the rest of their careers trying to carry this team because they got nothing left for a supporting cast.

Right now, this year, the Hawks are not the favorites to win. We are in the mix, but Washington, Dallas, LA, Anahiem, Tampa, Florida... there as some real contenders. I don't see 1-2 players putting us ahead of all these teams. In three games this year, Dallas has mostly outplayed us. We haven't had a good game against Washington since I don't know when. LA and Anahiem are no easy task to beat. Tampa and Florida both have increasing young talent that can do damage.

I just hope Stan makes smart moves and doesn't give away all the future. The prospect cupboard is nearly bare after all these years of purging talent and players.
- breadbag

This x 10!! Well said sir.

Where is that middle, the balance that the Hawks can improve the club just enough by not giving up too much to have a very good chance to win this year and leave enough to be competitive 2-3-4 years out?

How injured is Hossa and when will he be back and even then will he be 100%?

Besides Q what is the organizational opinion on TT long term? Same for Dano as these two are probably the most coveted, maybe even Denault and Gus in that group.

Which player or prospect can be moved that they have rated lower than the rest of the league does for the right piece(s) that will fill a hole(s) today and leave in tact players of use 2-3-4 years out.

Walking that thin line. Just enough to win today but keep just enough to win tomorrow too. This where where organizational expertise wins cups and still stays a threat over a decade of time in the cap world.

The question comes, how much does overpaying for rentals now improve the chances of winning this year? There has to be a balance between taking advantage of the window and keeping the window open.

Give up too much now and next year will be another purge of a couples vets you can't keep (Rentals or not) and suddenly no more inexpensive talent to fill the holes.

Personally, I'd love to see them win another cup, but not if it means watching Kane/Toews spend the rest of their careers trying to carry this team because they got nothing left for a supporting cast.

Right now, this year, the Hawks are not the favorites to win. We are in the mix, but Washington, Dallas, LA, Anahiem, Tampa, Florida... there as some real contenders. I don't see 1-2 players putting us ahead of all these teams. In three games this year, Dallas has mostly outplayed us. We haven't had a good game against Washington since I don't know when. LA and Anahiem are no easy task to beat. Tampa and Florida both have increasing young talent that can do damage.

I just hope Stan makes smart moves and doesn't give away all the future. The prospect cupboard is nearly bare after all these years of purging talent and players.
- breadbag

This x 10!! Well said sir.

Where is that middle, the balance that the Hawks can improve the club just enough by not giving up too much to have a very good chance to win this year and leave enough to be competitive 2-3-4 years out?

How injured is Hossa and when will he be back and even then will he be 100%?

Besides Q what is the organizational opinion on TT long term? Same for Dano as these two are probably the most coveted, maybe even Denault and Gus in that group. What NCAA and Euro free agents are targeted?

Which player or prospect can be moved that they have rated lower than the rest of the league does for the right piece(s) that will fill a hole(s) today and leave in tact players of use 2-3-4 years out.

Walking that thin line. Just enough to win today but keep just enough to win tomorrow too. This where where organizational expertise wins cups and still stays a threat over a decade of time in the cap world.

From the Blackhawks on Twitter:

#Blackhawks recall center Vincent Hinostroza from the @goicehogs and place forward Marian Hossa on Injured Reserve.

The time and the window is now not next year or two three years down the road.
Nothing is a given in the coming seasons.

I hope mgt. does the right thing here. Vermette was certainly a home run last season. And I pray that Stan doesn't trade for Kimmo Timonen part II.

It'll be interesting to see what Hossa's injury and status are moving forward here.
It's a huge loss for the present time.

Any word on whether Dano is going to be called up with Hossa out?
- DK002

Count me as a fan of this kid until he proves otherwise but as has been mentioned lately Q didn't dig this kid. And as we know once Q sees you as a 4 minute guy it's tough to get out of that doghouse.

Conversely when he digs you as you float for 15-20-37 games and he still gives you 15:00 minutes a guy like TT has a chance here. He's got a guy like Shaw to open space, Toews to dig out pucks and dish while he's on his preferred right side.

As much as it's been painful for me to see TT play hockey this year I say give him the first (5 shifts?) shot at 1RW.

81 placed on IR....