Hockey logic says to me it is easier to trade a 2nd line center at $4.5 without taking money back than a $6 million goalie.
- Al

Al, do you think the Hawks could get a first round pick for AA? I have to think one of AA or Crawford HAS to be moved to fit a Panarin extension in and have some room for this year.

He's 5'11" 180lbs and not a complete pansy like Tuevo. I have watched only a handful of North Dakota games but he was just silky smooth with the puck. He also impressed me at the World Junior Championships this past year. He has a chance of making the team out of camp with his high end puck skill/playmaking, but who knows if he can adjust to the speed/physicality right away...TWT. Someone mentioned it after the Tuevo trade, and I think that was a huge factor in him signing this year and not going back to college.
- EnzoD

Thanks, I'm at a loss reading all this stuff not knowing what to think . Guess well just have to see what it looks like around the 4th of July and go from there.
I hope they some how convince Vesey he d be better off playing with 19&88 here than Frank Vatrano in Boston.

Grit is something the team needs more of so we don't put all of our eggs in Shaw's basket. Most of you have seen this video before, but I believe Motte stayed in the game after getting obliterated by a Penn State player. Grit + skill will be his calling card to the NHL and why he is likely to be a fan favorite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjVF8J6Yxmo
- AEL_Fox

Hopefully that Penn St guy ended up spitting out some chicklets after that crap.

Thanks, I'm at a loss reading all this stuff not knowing what to think . Guess well just have to see what it looks like around the 4th of July and go from there.
I hope they some how convince Vesey he d be better off playing with 19&88 here than Frank Vatrano in Boston.
- wonthecup10

If Vesey wants a real shot at winning, he will sign here. From all that I have read, it is likelier that the Hawks trade for Malkin than sign Vesey I guess he really wants to play for his hometown Bruins....

Hopefully that Penn St guy ended up spitting out some chicklets after that crap.
- 35Tony0

What a franking scumbag hit. That's Raffi Torres level dirty.

Is Schmaltz being looked at primarily as a center for us?

Is Schmaltz being looked at primarily as a center for us?
- z1990z

I think he gets a look but they always START them on the wings b/c it is less thinking and the kid played there already.

I would say things have changed since I write this after the selected him:

http://www.draftsite.com/...ayer/nick-schmaltz/19500/

Al, do you think the Hawks could get a first round pick for AA? I have to think one of AA or Crawford HAS to be moved to fit a Panarin extension in and have some room for this year.
- hawks2010

I think it is very possible...He's a good 2 way center, although he can't win draws. He's not inexpensive but there is cost certainty for the acquirer.

Is Schmaltz being looked at primarily as a center for us?
- z1990z

I think he gets a look but they always START them on the wings b/c it is less thinking and the kid played there already.

The kid has always been able to make plays while engulped by checkers, in traffic etc.

It just that he always was a perimeter player.

He has learned to execute the defensiev side and last year was actually pretty effective all over.

The kid has great hands and that is the part they drafted - the high skill level.

Has he got a few goals in him? Sure, but right now, he is more of a play generator...I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a shot with Toews off the bat...

I would say things have changed since I write this after the selected him:

http://www.draftsite.com/...ayer/nick-schmaltz/19500/

After I wrote that last post-- what came to mind was something that JJ alluded to in a blog-- using a bleach bottle to bail out the Titanic-- which I would apply to the Bettman era Cap model and forced expansion money grab--

Surely my lens is filtered by being a fan of the Hawks-- but every off season since the Hawks have won the Cup in 2010-- which one would say is a highly successful season-- they have had the immediate sobering reality that they had to dump key players instrumental in that success--

Now those players likely didn't want to leave -- nor did it seem the Hawks wanted to lose them--

So the business comp would be that you had a successful year and met the goals that were set-- but now you have to replace your key staff--- rather than reward them for that success-- How can you run a business that way?
- jb3333

How can you run a biz that way?

When your overriding goal is equal outcome regardless of skill and effort, you get the NHL FO. Its a rampant disease everwhere, which just so happened to infect the "braintrust" of the NHL. Period. And that disease is present even in youth sports.

Anyone take a 2 year deal on Soupy??

So, barring a major blockbuster trade, here is my projected depth chart...

Panarin-Toews-Kane
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Hossa
Panik-Kruger-Motte
Hartman-Desi-McNeil

Keith-Hammer
Kempny-Seabs
Gustaffson-TVR

Crow
Darling


Thoughts?

So, barring a major blockbuster trade, here is my projected depth chart...

Panarin-Toews-Kane
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Hossa
Panik-Kruger-Motte
Hartman-Desi-McNeil

Keith-Hammer
Kempny-Seabs
Gustaffson-TVR

Crow
Darling


Thoughts?
- EnzoD

Needs a lot of tweaks. Hammer and Keith should never be partners for one

Needs a lot of tweaks. Hammer and Keith should never be partners for one
- ikeane

I agree completely, but I don't think Q trusts Seabrook to match up against the Top Line of the opposition. Since losing Oduya, Q has gone with 2-7 as the shutdown pairing (it used to be Oduya-Hammer). I prefer 2-7 together but I'm not sure Q does....Also, you might swap Schmaltz with Panarin in the top 6 but I'd like to see 72+88 separated to create two scoring lines instead of one.

I agree completely, but I don't think Q trusts Seabrook to match up against the Top Line of the opposition. Since losing Oduya, Q has gone with 2-7 as the shutdown pairing (it used to be Oduya-Hammer). I prefer 2-7 together but I'm not sure Q does....Also, you might swap Schmaltz with Panarin in the top 6 but I'd like to see 72+88 separated to create two scoring lines instead of one.
- EnzoD

But Q hasn't given up on Seabrook otherwise he wouldn't pair him with every young pup and those that are old and can barely stand.

But Q hasn't given up on Seabrook otherwise he wouldn't pair him with every young pup and those that are old and can barely stand.
- Al

I'm not saying Seabrook isnt still a very good two-way defenseman, but wouldn't you agree as far as usage against higher quality of competition last year?

But Q hasn't given up on Seabrook otherwise he wouldn't pair him with every young pup and those that are old and can barely stand.
- Al

I think R&R over the summer and not playing with guys who need to be on the 3rd pair or who have been benched for 5-6 game for a turnover will do him well. He is still a top 2-3 dman. Any team would slot him in their top 3 IMO.

Fun little exercise the NHL is doing leading up to the draft:

https://www.nhl.com/news/...006-nhl-draft/c-280992506

Al, do you think the Hawks could get a first round pick for AA? I have to think one of AA or Crawford HAS to be moved to fit a Panarin extension in and have some room for this year.
- hawks2010

I still feel like Kruger or Anisimov is gone in the expansion draft. I think both have a much higher upside and appeal to other teams unless TVR makes a huge leap this next year.

So... keep Kruger, Anisimov, and Crawford for one more year. Try to win a Cup. Maybe oil rebounds a little, the CAD increases, and the cap increases. Maybe Panarin finishes 11th in scoring rather than in the top 10. Then you can use whatever money is freed up from the expansion draft + the cap increase to sign Panarin.

Again... if we can hold onto Crawford for one more year, that increases the chances of a deep run.

2things.....1) Schmaltz is another of what we have too many of....a perimeter player if I read correctly, and 2ndly) I think SB has enough egg on his face already with enough botched up trades.... Why in the hell would he trade AA? Then he totally lost the Saad trade also if he does that. I don't understand that talk especially with a White Sox looking cupboard up in Rockford being full of more players eventually destined for The business world and Beer leagues vs.NHL!

So, barring a major blockbuster trade, here is my projected depth chart...

Panarin-Toews-Kane
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Hossa
Panik-Kruger-Motte
Hartman-Desi-McNeil

Keith-Hammer
Kempny-Seabs
Gustaffson-TVR

Crow
Darling


Thoughts?
- EnzoD

Some toughness on the 4th line don't think McNeil is worthy of a spot from what I've seen of him. He's got the tools needs more snarl a big winger who can hit an f fight on that line would help Hartman out and if desi can keep up he looked like crap most of last year. And a physical 7th dman younger than 35 would be nice too. No rozival [to old] or mashinter [didn't enforce]

So, barring a major blockbuster trade, here is my projected depth chart...

Panarin-Toews-Kane
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Hossa
Panik-Kruger-Motte
Hartman-Desi-McNeil

Keith-Hammer
Kempny-Seabs
Gustaffson-TVR

Crow
Darling


Thoughts?
- EnzoD

Subtract Crawford and add Shaw and Ladd instead? Maybe....possibly....

Ladd-Toews-Schmaltz
Panik-Shaw-Kane
Panarin-Anisimov-Hossa
Desi-Kruger-Motte/Hartman

Championship caliber forward depth is what I'm hoping for...

I still feel like Kruger or Anisimov is gone in the expansion draft. I think both have a much higher upside and appeal to other teams unless TVR makes a huge leap this next year.

So... keep Kruger, Anisimov, and Crawford for one more year. Try to win a Cup. Maybe oil rebounds a little, the CAD increases, and the cap increases. Maybe Panarin finishes 11th in scoring rather than in the top 10. Then you can use whatever money is freed up from the expansion draft + the cap increase to sign Panarin.

Again... if we can hold onto Crawford for one more year, that increases the chances of a deep run.
- DMChi2010

I don't know how to build a serious cup contending roster keeping all those guys. With the cap likely to settle in at $72.8M and many WC teams having caught the '15 'Hawks, it just seems close to impossible.

Why would a team with the NHL's leading scorer ever think about breaking up his line, the first line he has had year long success with these kind of results and trade away the centre of that line?

Fun little exercise the NHL is doing leading up to the draft:

https://www.nhl.com/news/...006-nhl-draft/c-280992506
- pdx2ord

Since there are folks here who like this sort of thing, well, I have been doing it for EVERY DRAFT from 2005 to 2014

if you are truly interested:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2005/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2006/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2007/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2008/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2009/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2010/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2011/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2012/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2013/

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/redraft/2014/


Of course I don't work for the NHL, my name isn't Adam Kimelman, but I know for certain every year since he started doing mock drafts, I have beat the pants off him...