I think Gus has left a lot a people with a bad taste in their mouth because of the stupid turnover that lead to the game winning goal in the Blues series. But if you look at his over Rookie season, I personally think he has a lot of potential and I am excited to see how his game improves. Maybe he can train with Hammer in the off-season work on his defensive game.

In regards to Panik, any production we get from him is a plus. With his speed and aggressiveness, he is a perfect 3L winger that can play up if needed. Expecting 25+ goal is probably not realistic, but he should be able to get 15+ next season.

What about getting a real top 6 LW?
- John Jaeckel

JvR would do the trick!

Kinda seems like anyone that was on Toews' line this year turned into a black hole - not just TT

Hossa looked good off it. Kane struggled when put with him in the playoffs

While everyone looks to "not having a LW to play with Toews" - well, the common denominator to that line.....was....Toews

I agree, I just thought it was an interesting article to share, nothing more.

One of the main knocks against Teuvo in the past has been his lack of scoring, not necessarily his defensive play. This article shows that if secondary assists are removed then Teuvo's scoring is better than most us think.

I like that Teravainen has been developing/enhancing the defensive part of his game. Even if his point production doesn't improve he offers value to the team in a defensive role.
- DarthKane

His scoring was ok during the regular season but if you look at what he did during the playoffs, it wasn't much. He had 1 assist in the series. And that's really his problem. He completely disappears when the going gets rough. Like JJ said, the guy needs to work out and become stronger.

I do think he played a better defensive game this year and hopefully next year he puts everything together.

Not sure why many have been ragging on Gustafsson.

He was a rookie this past season who had 14 points and was a +11 in exactly half of a season this year. If he would have skated in all 82 games and would have finished with ~25 points, that would have been a pretty solid rookie campaign for a player that skated third-pairing minutes.

Not every rookie is going to have an all-star type campaign. He had a fine season overall. Sure he had his fair share of rookie mistakes, but that's not something that he can't build off of. Look at the growth that TvR had from last season to this season. If we can see something similar of Goose that will go a long way towards stabilizing the back end.

If Kempny lives up to the profile and his work in the KHL translates to the NHL, this defense should be much better heading forward and shouldn't be a concern.

The attention should absolutely turn to finding that first-line winger to play with Toews and provide offense. Can't expect Kane to have another 100+ point campaign to magically carry the offense again.
- TommyHawk

I like your words, Tommy...along with the rationale behind them. Way too early IMO to throw out Gus. Rundblad, again in my opinion, is a different sort of discussion

Agreed again and Stan commented on the same during one post-season interview. Teuvo has played his best hockey for Chicago at RW, but I don't think he's been too bad at centre either. My preference would be to stick at RW, especially if that means he can have more consistent line mates throughout the season.
- DarthKane

And here's the debate.....

1. In 2014 they lost to LA mainly because of their lack of size down the middle per Scotty Bowman. So to slot 86 down the middle after 19/15 then puts 16 down as a 4th line center which I am fine with....but you also have him rebounding from a major wrist injury, and I just can't see 86 being productive in the spring vs the centers in the central and in the pacific.

2. We can all agree that 88 is 1 of 2 top RWs on this team. Then it comes down to 86 vs 81 and if you slide 86 up with 19 and say 14, as others want, you put puck retrieval and cycling solely on 19, with 14 HOPEFULLY adding what he did in a small sample size vs STL. You also put a diminishing finisher in 81 down with say 16, and you have to expect those numbers to drop further.

If you keep 81 with 19, and slot 86 with 16 well it's the same again, as 86 has proven to not be able to produce with lesser skilled guys.

So IMO this is quite the quagmire for this team and I dont' know how you solve it UNLESS you get a proven 1LW for 19 and then sliding 86 up there isn't a detriment, but given cap space I just dont' see how that happens.

Kinda seems like anyone that was on Toews' line this year turned into a black hole - not just TT

Hossa looked good off it. Kane struggled when put with him in the playoffs

While everyone looks to "not having a LW to play with Toews" - well, the common denominator to that line.....was....Toews
- PatShart

I have nothing to back it up, but to me the eye test told me the chances for the Toews line was still there, the ability to convert was not. Maybe slightly down but not dramatically.

again, nothing to rely on just my memory.

I like your words, Tommy...along with the rationale behind them. Way too early IMO to throw out Gus. Rundblad, again in my opinion, is a different sort of discussion
- grinder10

Gustafsson has upside, both offensively and defensively. He just needs to improve with practice. Was solid midway through the season and struggled a bit at the end. The first round wasn't bad at all. One bad turnover that led to a goal in game 7. Keith and Seabrook had worse looks throughout the series and game 7. Gus > Rundblad.
Kid is young and can smooth out his game.

Kinda seems like anyone that was on Toews' line this year turned into a black hole - not just TT

Hossa looked good off it. Kane struggled when put with him in the playoffs

While everyone looks to "not having a LW to play with Toews" - well, the common denominator to that line.....was....Toews
- PatShart

Man, your constant anti-Toews rhetoric really gets old after a while.

There is no question Toews had a slightly down season, but the constant argument that somehow he didn't "earn" his salary is somewhat comical. Please enlighten us all as to 1) What the acceptable scoring level is. 2) who would be a better replacement and/or 3) what package of players are you trading him for?

The fact that Hossa looked better on line 3 or Kane struggled on line 1 has less to do with the players and more to do with the matchups. Have you watched the playoffs? Games are decided by 3rd and 4th line players, because teams do their best to matchup and stop lines 1&2. Do Crosby and Malkin all of a sudden stink and Kessel is the best player, or is more because the matchups favor him on the 3rd line. Where has Tarasenko gone? Did he forget how to play all of a sudden, or does the matchup just favor the Sharks.

Everyone has their whipping boy and their favorites. We get it, yours is Toews, but while every player is open to criticism, Toews game has a lot less holes in it than just about anyone in the league, and thats just not my opinion but that of a whole bunch of GM's in this league.

And here's the debate.....

1. In 2014 they lost to LA mainly because of their lack of size down the middle per Scotty Bowman. So to slot 86 down the middle after 19/15 then puts 16 down as a 4th line center which I am fine with....but you also have him rebounding from a major wrist injury, and I just can't see 86 being productive in the spring vs the centers in the central and in the pacific.

2. We can all agree that 88 is 1 of 2 top RWs on this team. Then it comes down to 86 vs 81 and if you slide 86 up with 19 and say 14, as others want, you put puck retrieval and cycling solely on 19, with 14 HOPEFULLY adding what he did in a small sample size vs STL. You also put a diminishing finisher in 81 down with say 16, and you have to expect those numbers to drop further.

If you keep 81 with 19, and slot 86 with 16 well it's the same again, as 86 has proven to not be able to produce with lesser skilled guys.

So IMO this is quite the quagmire for this team and I dont' know how you solve it UNLESS you get a proven 1LW for 19 and then sliding 86 up there isn't a detriment, but given cap space I just dont' see how that happens.
- SteveRain

If we have 19/15/22 as the top 3 centres, 88/81/86 as the top 3 RWs, and 72/14 as the top 2 LWs (14 on the 3rd line) I think the top 9 is solid. There is a need at LW, but Shaw can be used there if Stan can re-sign him (fingers crossed). Shaw may not be the ideal LW but he deal well last season and I don't think the salary cap will allow for anything more. I'm not so worried about the combination of the top 3 forwards, Q will try every combination under the sun

Man, your constant anti-Toews rhetoric really gets old after a while.

There is no question Toews had a slightly down season, but the constant argument that somehow he didn't "earn" his salary is somewhat comical. Please enlighten us all as to 1) What the acceptable scoring level is. 2) who would be a better replacement and/or 3) what package of players are you trading him for?

The fact that Hossa looked better on line 3 or Kane struggled on line 1 has less to do with the players and more to do with the matchups. Have you watched the playoffs? Games are decided by 3rd and 4th line players, because teams do their best to matchup and stop lines 1&2. Do Crosby and Malkin all of a sudden stink and Kessel is the best player, or is more because the matchups favor him on the 3rd line. Where has Tarasenko gone? Did he forget how to play all of a sudden, or does the matchup just favor the Sharks.

Everyone has their whipping boy and their favorites. We get it, yours is Toews, but while every player is open to criticism, Toews game has a lot less holes in it than just about anyone in the league, and thats just not my opinion but that of a whole bunch of GM's in this league.
- TheTrob

Could someone post that slow clap gif please!!! This is perfect!!!

What about getting a real top 6 LW?
- John Jaeckel

Can we afford that though?

JvR would do the trick!
- RayA

Salary cap.

Could someone post that slow clap gif please!!! This is perfect!!!

- spudrock512

I don't have a slow clap, but I have a Deadpool clap (which is much better anyway).

What about getting a real top 6 LW?
- John Jaeckel

Gonna have to be creative to do something like that with the cap situation being what it is. Id love for that to happen, but i think we might have to work with what we have.

And here's the debate.....

1. In 2014 they lost to LA mainly because of their lack of size down the middle per Scotty Bowman. So to slot 86 down the middle after 19/15 then puts 16 down as a 4th line center which I am fine with....but you also have him rebounding from a major wrist injury, and I just can't see 86 being productive in the spring vs the centers in the central and in the pacific.

2. We can all agree that 88 is 1 of 2 top RWs on this team. Then it comes down to 86 vs 81 and if you slide 86 up with 19 and say 14, as others want, you put puck retrieval and cycling solely on 19, with 14 HOPEFULLY adding what he did in a small sample size vs STL. You also put a diminishing finisher in 81 down with say 16, and you have to expect those numbers to drop further.

If you keep 81 with 19, and slot 86 with 16 well it's the same again, as 86 has proven to not be able to produce with lesser skilled guys.

So IMO this is quite the quagmire for this team and I dont' know how you solve it UNLESS you get a proven 1LW for 19 and then sliding 86 up there isn't a detriment, but given cap space I just dont' see how that happens.
- SteveRain

I think what a lot of us are disappointed with in terms of TT is that what should have been a year in which he improved and developed, it turned out to be one in which he stagnated. Now the question is whether this is what can be expected from him going forward, or if he can improve on what has been seen. The skills are there, the question is more if there is either a willingness to get bigger/stronger, or failing that, the heart to play into the dirty areas and engage play when the going gets tough.

It's not necessarily strictly a size thing. It's a mentality. We can all list plenty of smaller or slightly built players who have no problems when the physical play starts.

Kinda seems like anyone that was on Toews' line this year turned into a black hole - not just TT

Hossa looked good off it. Kane struggled when put with him in the playoffs

While everyone looks to "not having a LW to play with Toews" - well, the common denominator to that line.....was....Toews
- PatShart

Agreed. Down year for Toews, and i think that changes next season with the added rest and hunger to win back the title. I think 19 and 81 specifically bounce back and find their form. I also think TT will recover from the sophomore slump and contribute somewhere on the top 3 lines.

Gotta find a way to bring back Shaw, whatever it takes.

Also it would be amazing to get Schmaltz or Motte to burst onto the scene and contribute as well. And if we can get all of those things to go our way, we should have a solid group of forwards:

Panik/Panarin-Toews-Hossa/TT/Kane
Panik/Panarin-AA-Hossa/TT/Kane
Schmaltz/Motte-Shaw/Kruger-Hossa/TT/Kane
Desi-Shaw/Kruger-Fleishmann/Moose?

Lots of options

I think what a lot of us are disappointed with in terms of TT is that what should have been a year in which he improved and developed, it turned out to be one in which he stagnated. Now the question is whether this is what can be expected from him going forward, or if he can improve on what has been seen. The skills are there, the question is more if there is either a willingness to get bigger/stronger, or failing that, the heart to play into the dirty areas and engage play when the going gets tough.

It's not necessarily strictly a size thing. It's a mentality. We can all list plenty of smaller or slightly built players who have no problems when the physical play starts.
- TheTrob

Sophomore slumps are quite common, and its not like he really slumped either(his PPG increased). We don't need TT to be anything spectacular, he just needs to get back to playing the way he did in the 2015 playoffs and i think he will. Still very young, no need to act like he's a lost cause(SteveRain).

#Blackhawks sign goaltender Lars Johansson, defenseman Michal Kempny and forward Martin Lundberg to one-year deals.

Anyone have insight into Lundberg and how/if Johansson signing means anything to Craw.

Sophomore slumps are quite common, and its not like he really slumped either(his PPG increased). We don't need TT to be anything spectacular, he just needs to get back to playing the way he did in the 2015 playoffs and i think he will. Still very young, no need to act like he's a lost cause(SteveRain).
- SimpleJack

Not a lost cause. Still a productive player for the amount he is being paid.

The questions are: 1) can he take the next step 2) what will his salary expectations be and most importantly 3) is his value in a trade worth more than his performance ceiling is percieved to be, especially at a higher salary

#Blackhawks sign goaltender Lars Johansson, defenseman Michal Kempny and forward Martin Lundberg to one-year deals.

Anyone have insight into Lundberg and how/if Johansson signing means anything to Craw.
- Bjm84

Upon very little research:

Lundberg seems to be a player with limited upside offensively so he's probably a bottom-six player. He looks aggressive and gritty though, and here's a video of a fight he was involved in a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LwZ38bvtnM He had 21 points in 44 games this year.

Johansson is 28 so he's definitely going to get a serious look. If not to replace Crawford, maybe Darling?

Sweet we got Lumbergh...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVmC0ktznNo

Man, your constant anti-Toews rhetoric really gets old after a while.

There is no question Toews had a slightly down season, but the constant argument that somehow he didn't "earn" his salary is somewhat comical. Please enlighten us all as to 1) What the acceptable scoring level is. 2) who would be a better replacement and/or 3) what package of players are you trading him for?

The fact that Hossa looked better on line 3 or Kane struggled on line 1 has less to do with the players and more to do with the matchups. Have you watched the playoffs? Games are decided by 3rd and 4th line players, because teams do their best to matchup and stop lines 1&2. Do Crosby and Malkin all of a sudden stink and Kessel is the best player, or is more because the matchups favor him on the 3rd line. Where has Tarasenko gone? Did he forget how to play all of a sudden, or does the matchup just favor the Sharks.

Everyone has their whipping boy and their favorites. We get it, yours is Toews, but while every player is open to criticism, Toews game has a lot less holes in it than just about anyone in the league, and thats just not my opinion but that of a whole bunch of GM's in this league.
- TheTrob

Is it as old/comical or less than the constant bagging on Runblad, Q, Stan, Mashinter, Bickell? Or are those still approved by your standards? And what is the actual shelf life? Let me know.

As far as your questions of my expectations of the highest paid player who's point production has decreased each of the last 4-5 years when he should be hitting his prime?
1) What the acceptable scoring level is. - Zero reason he shouldn't be around the Jaime Benn level - 35-40g - 75-80pts
2) who would be a better replacement and/or what package of players are you trading him for - I'm assuming this is more of the "fantasy talk" realm where both you and I know they aren't trading him....but Crosby/Malkin both come to mind as 2 better right off the top. Toews' numbers have been more in line with Bergeron (very good player at 6.875mil) than at superstar payday level. And if EDM called and offered McDavid - or TOR wants to give Matthews, I'd make the deal before the phone was hung up.

But it's TT's fault he wasn't producing with Toews. Or Hossa couldn't finish on that line. Or because Saad wasn't there. Or Shaw wasn't skilled enough. Or the matchups didn't favor him. Or...or...or....

Maybe less jet skiing and more off ice workouts for Toews this summer and hopefully the points don't keep decreasing as they have.

#Blackhawks sign goaltender Lars Johansson, defenseman Michal Kempny and forward Martin Lundberg to one-year deals.

Anyone have insight into Lundberg and how/if Johansson signing means anything to Craw.
- Bjm84

I have heard two trains of reasons behind the Lundberg signing when it came out last month the Hawks were close to signing him:

1. Trade options to move Crawford if they really need to move cap
2. Goalie depth in case one of Crawford/Darling get taken in expansion draft

I think what a lot of us are disappointed with in terms of TT is that what should have been a year in which he improved and developed, it turned out to be one in which he stagnated. Now the question is whether this is what can be expected from him going forward, or if he can improve on what has been seen. The skills are there, the question is more if there is either a willingness to get bigger/stronger, or failing that, the heart to play into the dirty areas and engage play when the going gets tough.

It's not necessarily strictly a size thing. It's a mentality. We can all list plenty of smaller or slightly built players who have no problems when the physical play starts.
- TheTrob

Here's what I don't understand. You blast me because I'm disappointed in Toews' lack of production. And then it's ok on your end to be "disappointed" in what TT's development should have been?

First year here...............played in 34gms - 4g- 5a- 9pts (.26ppg)
Then this season - First full year - 78gms - 13g-22a-35pts (.45ppg)

He played PP, PK, RW, LW and C - shifting around all four forward lines. Is the sole disappointment that he's not Andrew Shaw? Because he never will be.

Don't label me on the TT bandwagon or anything. If they can trade him and improve the team at his low cap hit - I won't lose a minutes sleep. But my disappointment in a guy anointed the "best player in the league by all GM's" allegedly can't crack 60pts is comical - but the agreement with everyone on a guy that's undersized that just played his first full season, still on his ELC that increased his point production x2 while playing multiple roles - simply because he doesn't go in dangerous areas to get killed?