This has to bring back a legit, cost-controlled D. And maybe even a decent backup goalie.
- DMChi2010

Who would that be and why would another team want to give them up?

Scratch one option:

Dale Weise in a radio interview on TSN690 yesterday afternoon expressed his interest to return to the Canadiens when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
- Return of the Roar

no loss there.

Who would that be and why would another team want to give them up?
- DarthKane

Hamonic, oh wait never mind.

Who would that be and why would another team want to give them up?
- DarthKane

because we want them to.

Someone else(?) asked about Q's comments about the team not doing the right things/having the excitement or investment needed to win (hence, my "didn't want it badly enough" interpretation), so I'll address both here.

No surprise, the BH media team edited (sanitized?) the players' exit interviews posted on the team's site. They cut into Q's when he was talking about the (lack of) injuries, so I'm not sure if anything was edited out. Unfortunately, I can't find the full-length, raw video anymore.

Q's presser following the loss in game 7 has some of his comments: https://www.nhl.com/black...ia/t-277512494/c-43741103

Here were some direct Toews quotes from the media sitting in the interviews:



So, don't think it was personality issues as much as not having the time he would have like to have had as a team leader to make that happen.
- pdx2ord

How about Q holding a (frank)ing practice every now and then so the new guys can learn the system?

because we want them to.
- TTtime

That seems to be a prevailing thought.

While the idea of trading Crawford for a young d-man may be intriguing the reality of the situation is something different. Just because fans want something done (i.e. sign Toews & Kane at $8.5 million) doesn't mean its actually possible.

no loss there.
- TTtime

Agreed.

I will conceed that Q mis-used Weise and Fleishmann, but neither showed much of anything while they played. They certainly didn't show that they provided anything more than the like of Panik or that it's worth re-signing them over giving a young guy a shot.

How about Q holding a (frank)ing practice every now and then so the new guys can learn the system?
- DMChi2010

Maybe, just consider the possibility that Q knew he had a tired core on his hands and was trying to conserve them for a playoff run?

Panarin is a keeper. He is a 1/2LW on any team, more importantly this team. Again it would be trading one need for another. Plug one hole and create another.
- 93Joe

You are right,Panarin is a keeper. The question will be how can Stan crunch the numbers to be able to sign Panarin( 5.5 / 6.5 Mil) and still have money to sign a 2n'd line defensman and a top 1s't left winger?

You are right,Panarin is a keeper. The question will be how can Stan crunch the numbers to be able to sign Panarin( 5.5 / 6.5 Mil) and still have money to sign a 2n'd line defensman and a top 1s't left winger?
- spanky

When the Vegas team enters the league, the cap will rise to 100 million. That's how!

You are right,Panarin is a keeper. The question will be how can Stan crunch the numbers to be able to sign Panarin( 5.5 / 6.5 Mil) and still have money to sign a 2n'd line defensman and a top 1s't left winger?
- spanky

I don't think that will be enough. Panarin will want Tarasenko type money and he'll get it - $7.5 million.

That seems to be a prevailing thought.

While the idea of trading Crawford for a young d-man may be intriguing the reality of the situation is something different. Just because fans want something done (i.e. sign Toews & Kane at $8.5 million) doesn't mean its actually possible.
- DarthKane

The return for goalies is generally pretty meh. Any thing they get for Crawford would most likely be far below what is expected. You can be sure some crappy goalie is coming back so the cap savings would be minimal at best.

It for sure won't be a cost controlled promising D-man. Look around the league. There is a whole bunch of crappy D-men everywhere. There probably isn't a more valuable commodity in hockey then young, promising, cost controlled D-men.

I don't think that will be enough. Panarin will want Tarasenko type money and he'll get it - $7.5 million.
- DarthKane

Agreed and I eluded to this earlier today. Another 70pt season and he will certainly get over $7mil/year next summer. If somehow Panarin+his agent are open to an extension THIS summer, he might accept a long term deal for $5-6mil/year.

Agreed.

I will conceed that Q mis-used Weise and Fleishmann, but neither showed much of anything while they played. They certainly didn't show that they provided anything more than the like of Panik or that it's worth re-signing them over giving a young guy a shot.
- DarthKane

Q got what he could from Condiments. His pattern the last 5 years has been a short spurt where he appears to be more then what he is these days. Then he falls off the face of the Earth. He did the same thing in Montreal.

Weise?, Maybe. Though his production as a Hawk is right in line what he has done in the league when he plays bottom 6. Some were fooled by his numbers in Montreal this season. It was a blip due to their injuries and him getting PP time and playing on their 6.

Though, he produced something like 3 goals in the last 40 games he played there. So he went back to being what he is.

Agreed.

I will conceed that Q mis-used Weise and Fleishmann, but neither showed much of anything while they played. They certainly didn't show that they provided anything more than the like of Panik or that it's worth re-signing them over giving a young guy a shot.
- DarthKane

If you concede they were misused (which they were), then they were not set up to succeed, and it goes a long way to explaining the limited effectiveness of Weise or Fleischmann. Add in Weise's comments late in the regular season about the lack of practices and time to learn the system, and you can see why they could never add much. Those two guys combined for 50 points in 57 games with MTL this year.

Secondly, if you really think ANY of the Rockford crew beyond maybe Rasmussen has anything resembling an NHL level game in them, let alone more to offer than Weise or Fleischmann did, then you need to watch more Icehog games. It is no mystery why McNeill, Hino, Hartman, Gus, Sved, Ross, Baun, Pokka, etc never got a permanent spot - they all are either too raw, or have gaping holes in their games.

Motte, Forsling and Schmaltz all need at least a year in the AHL to evaluate what they have.

If you concede they were misused (which they were), then they were not set up to succeed, and it goes a long way to explaining the limited effectiveness of Weise or Fleischmann. Add in Weise's comments late in the regular season about the lack of practices and time to learn the system, and you can see why they could never add much. Those two guys combined for 50 points in 57 games with MTL this year.

Secondly, if you really think ANY of the Rockford crew beyond maybe Rasmussen has anything resembling an NHL level game in them, let alone more to offer than Weise or Fleischmann did, then you need to watch more Icehog games. It is no mystery why McNeill, Hino, Hartman, Gus, Sved, Ross, Baun, Pokka, etc never got a permanent spot - they all are either too raw, or have gaping holes in their games.

Motte, Forsling and Schmaltz all need at least a year in the AHL to evaluate what they have.
- Return of the Roar

Does anyone have more insight into why Danault and a pick were traded for these guys?? JJ? Mex?? DaBearsHawks?? I mean... yikes. Just yikes...

Acquiring Ladd was a no-brainer, but was the Montreal trade supposed to be outside the box?

Agreed and I eluded to this earlier today. Another 70pt season and he will certainly get over $7mil/year next summer. If somehow Panarin+his agent are open to an extension THIS summer, he might accept a long term deal for $5-6mil/year.
- EnzoD

I'm starting to wonder if Panarin will be around long-term. I love watching the kid play, but he may have priced himself out of the market.

No, but Keith, Seabrook, Hammer is a great start. #5 and #6 need to be guys that are effective come playoff time and eat up more minutes so the top 4(mainly TVR) doesn't have to shoulder such a huge load. Gotta come up with better options than Gus/Svedberg/Runblad/Rozsival. Preferably adding someone who can skate. So, in the grand scheme of things, needing to upgrade the bottom of the D isn't at all impossible, and i think we'll find better answers next season.
- SimpleJack

Fixed.

Use some logic.

Did TVR adequately replace Oduya this past season? Answer: No, he did not.

The third pair in the regular season was essentially what it was the year before, and it was actually slightly better in round one of the playoffs that what the Hawks had in rounds 2-4 last year.

The problem (and solution) is not swapping out some Euros and rookies and retreads on the third pair. It's guys like TVR playing over where they should be, because they didn't replace Oduya.

Will TVR replace Oduya next season? No. He was force fit to play left side (Oduya's spot) and he is not as good there as he is on the right. Not a condemnation of TVR, just acknowledging that the role has not been adequately filled.

You will believe what you want to believe.

Someone else(?) asked about Q's comments about the team not doing the right things/having the excitement or investment needed to win (hence, my "didn't want it badly enough" interpretation), so I'll address both here.

No surprise, the BH media team edited (sanitized?) the players' exit interviews posted on the team's site. They cut into Q's when he was talking about the (lack of) injuries, so I'm not sure if anything was edited out. Unfortunately, I can't find the full-length, raw video anymore.

Q's presser following the loss in game 7 has some of his comments: https://www.nhl.com/black...ia/t-277512494/c-43741103

Here were some direct Toews quotes from the media sitting in the interviews:



So, don't think it was personality issues as much as not having the time he would have like to have had as a team leader to make that happen.
- pdx2ord

There were a ton of players on the Rockford Shuttle for a cup of coffee (or a quick lunch) in the show this past year - the following played 30 or fewer games with the parent club:

Tikhonov (since traded), McNeil, Hinostroza, Baun, Hartman, Rundblad (mostly Sweden, not Rockford), Dano (since traded), Kero, Svedberg, Danault (since traded) - that's 10 - add Mashinter (41 games), Rassmussen (44 games), Gustafsson (41 games) - and the TTL adds - that's a lot of skaters in and out, up and down, with very little time to get acclimated and show what they can do - especially on a team that limits practices to save the legs of its core.

Perhaps - next year - they should identify a couple/3/4/5 - however many needed to fill holes - potentials in Screw City and give them extended time in Chicago instead of running so many through for short auditions.

If the coaching staff / front office have the patience.

Would it be possible they trade Crawford for a draft picks/prospects and then trade for a lesser priced vet goalie or grab a FA goalie as indicated or take a run with Darling and Leighton? Lot of cap room freeing up beyond 2016.

I could see Crow and Shaw being being packaged together before RFA hits.
- stan-ley-cups

Yes

I'm starting to wonder if Panarin will be around long-term. I love watching the kid play, but he may have priced himself out of the market.
- DarthKane

Well, that escalated quickly.



Seems a lot is being based on some poorly translated article.

Well, that escalated quickly.



Seems a lot is being based on some poorly translated article.
- TTtime

77points as a Rookie will raise those kinds of concerns....

BTW, did anyone have a more under-the-radar season than Johhny "Hockey" Gaudreau with 30G, 48A and 78 points?? He's a player.

The return for goalies is generally pretty meh. Any thing they get for Crawford would most likely be far below what is expected. You can be sure some crappy goalie is coming back so the cap savings would be minimal at best.

It for sure won't be a cost controlled promising D-man. Look around the league. There is a whole bunch of crappy D-men everywhere. There probably isn't a more valuable commodity in hockey then young, promising, cost controlled D-men.
- TTtime

I generally agree with this post, but if the contract of said crappy goalie is expiring next summer, it could basically mean signing Panarin, not to mention freeing space to re-up Shaw this year.

The more you know . . .

These are the things NHL cap and personnel people have to think about.

77points as a Rookie will raise those kinds of concerns....

BTW, did anyone have a more under-the-radar season than Johhny "Hockey" Gaudreau with 30G, 48A and 78 points?? He's a player.
- EnzoD

Thinking he is going to command Tarasenko money after one season? I don't think Panarin is a flash in the pan BUT Tarasenko has a body of work.

Panarin's playoff performance paled in comparison.

Well, that escalated quickly.



Seems a lot is being based on some poorly translated article.
- TTtime

No, I'm not basing another off that translated article. I'm just assuming that Panarin wants a fair contract based on his contributions to the team. If that's the case a fair contract comparison would be Tarasenko at $7.5 million. Without some significant cap growth it will be very challenging for Stan to re-sign the Breadman at that price. It would be great if Panarin accepted less, but I'm not expecting him to.