Wouldn't be able to get like a Hanifin or Faulk, obviously...but maybe a little older prescience like Hainsey or Wisniewski (again; but he struggles to stay healthy). Slavin and Pesce are younger guys with big frames and some potential.
- Hank3Henshaw

Ya, they'd be some good options. I think that is the route Stan needs to go, trade a young forward for a young defenseman. I'm a TT fan but I wouldn't be surprised if he was moved for a defenseman.

If Hossa retires early, does the team get penalized for his declining contract structure? If so, does that carry forward to a new team if he's traded?
- Jackman

Chicago would get hit with all the penalties at this point, traded or not.

John Jaeckel: So 'It' Ends
- John Jaeckel

Great game, great series & great blog..... The players, coach & organization is top notch and nothing can compare. A dynasty team in a cap era is amazing itself.....

Seldom do $5 mill goalies get moved and Bowman can't risk trading away arguably his best playoff player the last 2 years unless they are all out rebuilding-Which will not happen yet.
- Al

Then its going to be an eerily similar looking roster next year. Top heavy on both forward and defense.

Does Shaw get moved or resigned?? Like him as a player so interested... Thx

JJ, just wanted to say thanks for all the great blog work this season, and congrats on the nuptials!
- Hank_Greenberg

Agreed!

The worst case came true throughout the series, the Blackhawks were victimized by their rookie defensemen, with Gus making 2 horrible decisions on the winning goal.

I'm not so sure that with some patience and coaching, Daley could have been the veteran puck moving #4 they needed. Seems to be thriving in PIT.

TT will need to go, probably a year too late, as the bloom is off the rose.

Fill the #4, they'll contend again.

Every team I dislike is advancing... Thought for sure Hawks would dispatch the Blahs. Oh well, good season Hawks fans, tough to win that cup every year!

I'd see if Soupy wouldn't mind taking a cheap spin with the Hawks.

Then its going to be an eerily similar looking roster next year. Top heavy on both forward and defense.
- EnzoD

Unless they find a couple of affordable surprises.

Is it time to look to move hossa?
- Tumbleweed

no

Does Shaw get moved or resigned?? Like him as a player so interested... Thx
- Ur Not Me

There isn't much they can get for Shaw as he is an upcoming RFA....I think they should resign him...Try to get him to do a Kruger like one year deal.

TT is still an interesting player for a lot of teams...Decision time is now before he will have to be given away. Can't win another Cup using primarily 4 dmen as last year was a once in a lifetime experience.

Hawks used Rundblad 10 mins last night and Gustafsson 8:48...Blues had 5 dmen go over 16 mins and to be honest neither Rundblad or Gustafsson should dress in a game 7 situation.

Bowman will have to find a couple of uncut diamonds on the cheap that turn into gemstones. Dmen can play effectively well into their 30's but Seabrook and Keith aren't getting younger and trading away Leddy and Johns for nothing is done but hurts....So now is the time for Bowman to figure a way out of the corner he is in.
- Al

Rosy must have been near death for Q to dress Rundblad ahead of him last night. And then he puts him out there with Keith most of the time to ruin his game too. There isn't a person in hockey that doesn't know #5 is out on NHL ice playing frightened and the Blues knew that and just pounded him.

Need a 4 defenceman which I think they had with Daley, a big mean defenceman, .With Ladd and Weise and perhaps Shaw leaving they will need a lot of grit and toughness. Did not like how Brouwer, Upshall and Ott were running around and the Hawks noone really responding.
Rest no doubt be a big help.
Just say no to the stupid ASS world cup

no
- Crawford

Hossa can't be moved unless they eat a bunch of his salary and he is still too valuable,

Ya, they'd be some good options. I think that is the route Stan needs to go, trade a young forward for a young defenseman. I'm a TT fan but I wouldn't be surprised if he was moved for a defenseman.
- DarthKane

I think this series cemented what TT is: a guy that has flashes of good play, but can be trumped easily by bigger/physical players and teams with a tendancy to disappear. I still think he would fair better in a different system like the Coyotes, Oilers, Hurricanes etc., where he can just go out and focus on playing offense and a "prettier" game.

How many posts did the Blues hit during the series?

Over all of the games played during the regular season and in this playoff series it's fair to say the Blues were the better team. Not by a huge amount but better. And they still only won last night by a goal on a turnover.
- RickJ

I agree with you. The Blues the better team. Crawford kept them in the series and their defense took them out of it.

There isn't much they can get for Shaw as he is an upcoming RFA....I think they should resign him...Try to get him to do a Kruger like one year deal.
- Al

Gotcha, would u happen to know maybe approximately how much cap space Hawks will have to work with..??

Every team I dislike is advancing... Thought for sure Hawks would dispatch the Blahs. Oh well, good season Hawks fans, tough to win that cup every year!
- MnGump

I really wanted Minny to beat Dallas too so our teams could meet again in the second round. Willing to bet that series would have played out differently with a healthy Parise and Vanek in the lineup. You guys had it tough without your best player/PP specialist and still made it a very interesting series. I thought Nino played great and it doesn't get any closer than that waved off goal that was 1-2 mm away from sending that game 6 to overtime.

There isn't much they can get for Shaw as he is an upcoming RFA....I think they should resign him...Try to get him to do a Kruger like one year deal.
- Al

Just call Allan Vigneault - Kevin Hayes is available.

Rosy must have been near death for Q to dress Rundblad ahead of him last night. And then he puts him out there with Keith most of the time to ruin his game too. There isn't a person in hockey that doesn't know #5 is out on NHL ice playing frightened and the Blues knew that and just pounded him.
- RickJ

Agree on Rozsy..

I said after the opening frame Hawks can't win with Rundblad playing almost 6 mins at even strength....Well he played about another 5 mins for the entire game but it was still too much and Gustafsson shouldn't' have been dressed either.

Loved watching Ladd lose. Thanks for Dano.
- jtuzyk

Ahhh! Nothing like a wiener-ish comment from the peanut gallery!

the positive here is: The Hawks made the trade to try to win another Cup. Note the word ANOTHER in that statement. Good luck w/ your organization attempting to win one - they aren't close.

There isn't much they can get for Shaw as he is an upcoming RFA....I think they should resign him...Try to get him to do a Kruger like one year deal.
- Al

Didn't the Kruger signing effectively spell the end for shaw?

Gotcha, would u happen to know maybe approximately how much cap space Hawks will have to work with..??
- Ur Not Me

Not much but too many moving parts to know for sure now.

Shaw after Kane-Toews makes more commercials than any other player. That could factor into him wanting to stay on a favorable deal.

For who?
- Bjm84

I am also interested in this. Not so sure you'd get Severson without giving up a good amount, as the devils are very high on him and dont have any other guys on the back end expected to bring offense. A guy i think would be great for you is Schlemko, he is an UFA who was paid dirt by us last year and had a really great year. I thought for sure you guys would get him at the deadline as it made a lot of sense. He is highly underrated.

Tough loss last night, was rooting for you, but can't win them all and can't hang your head as that Blues team is awesome. Was an amazing series, one that really shouldn't have been a first round matchup but what can ya do.