Wish Philip Danault was still a Blackhawk...
- 93Joe

If Kruger gets traded, then we all will really miss Danault.

KANER MVP HART TROPHY! NOW TRADE HIM!

Congrats to BreadMan on the Calder, too!

If Kruger gets traded, then we all will really miss Danault.
- EKB13

2016 HERO Chart comparison

Marcus Kruger VS Phillp Danault


http://public.tableau.com...3SRS5D?:display_count=yes


You should already miss him.

7th rounder maybe...
- Al

I think more, depending on the likelihood of Shaw signing with the club.
- John Jaeckel

That would make absolutely no sense, just give him a qualifying offer, guaranteed a minimum of a 2nd round pick if he's offer sheeted. 1st and 3rd more likely.

They have to qualify him at a minimum $2.5 million per. What if they end up having to pay him that?
- John Jaeckel

That'd be great with me!

I guess if you move Kruger and don't resign Shaw...you are setting up for getting Campbell back and maybe have 4 to 4.5 for a top six winger....while calling up a few guys from Rockford. Makes sense I guess. You still keep Crawford.
- onehundredlevel

...and your 4th line becomes Rasmussen, McNeill, and Hartman - kids all learning on the job. Kinda makes me think of the '10-'11 season when Q was skating a 4th line of StAHLberg, Dowell, and Skille.

You should already miss him.
- EnzoD

I do, but I understood the impetus of the trade (too bad the plan didn't work out) and the idea that Kruger was staying softened the blow of losing Danault.

Johnson could be a possibility as well. He plays a well rounded game and led North Dakota in faceoff %
- Dabearshawks

I could see Shaw or Kruger getting dealt, but not both. Unless on the outside chance that Stan decides to trade them both and kept Ladd.

I'm sure Stan's having discussions about both guys. He'd have to factor in the return for trading each player when deciding who to keep.

Storms are popping off everywhere.... Hope everyone and their families are safe...

...and your 4th line becomes Rasmussen, McNeill, and Hartman - kids all learning on the job. Kinda makes me think of the '10-'11 season when Q was skating a 4th line of StAHLberg, Dowell, and Skille.
- EKB13

Very happy to see Rasmussen back, I think he'll be a solid 4C. At least he has 40+ games under his belt already.

...and your 4th line becomes Rasmussen, McNeill, and Hartman - kids all learning on the job. Kinda makes me think of the '10-'11 season when Q was skating a 4th line of StAHLberg, Dowell, and Skille.
- EKB13

The "unknown" makes that line interesting to me. I mean, there are two first round draft picks on that line, so there has to be some modicum of talent.

He's slightly better than Brandon Pirri. Sorry, that's all I got.
- EKB13

You've looked over Gagner's stats, role played, minutes played, gave him an eye test and found him not an option? Don't think a 26 yr old drafted 6th overall is worth a PTO if he goes unsigned? If so fair enough. Any other vets you have in mind for a PTO, since you've ruled out Gagner?

I just don't think he does what Kruger does. I have no issue with signing him as a 4th line guy, who plays C or W. None.
- John Jaeckel

I'm with Mr Ricochet on this one. The other question is what can we get in turn for a Kruger/Shaw package.

I would like to point out that the Hawks record last year with Danault+Moose as the bottom 6 centers was better than with Kruger+Shaw/Desi. Check out the HERO charts comparing Kruger and Danault. Considering neither Kruger or Danault offer any offense, I think Montreal got a long-term shutdown C with ELITE level possession and shot suppression metrics.

http://public.tableau.com...3SRS5D?:display_count=yes

StanBo and Q (for not playing Weise more) really franked up bc I think a bottom 6 with Danault+Moose for a combined $1.5mil cap hit this year would have been a better option than what we are currently looking at.
- EnzoD

Blaming Q for not playing that pantload Dale Weise more? He basically did squat when he got ice time. If anything, Stanbo & Co. made the evaluation error at the TDL.

And I'm sure you have noticed there has been no talk of even discussing a contract with him.

Blaming Q for not playing that pantload Dale Weise more? He basically did squat when he got ice time. If anything, Stanbo & Co. made the evaluation error at the TDL.

And I'm sure you have noticed there has been no talk of even discussing a contract with him.
- RickJ

There was NEVER a real need for bottom 6 wingers that couldn't have been as ably addressed with some of the very players Bowman is now saying can step in and do the job. NO, the resources given up for those guys in Montreal (either of which were in the press box nearly every night) could have possibly been used to get a capable veteran for the blueline, since the blueline was heavily taxed when Bowman made the incredible Daley/Scuderi move, which would lead to a kid making a grave error in Game 7 versus St. Louis as well as dressing the incompetent Rundblad.

Blaming Q for not playing that pantload Dale Weise more? He basically did squat when he got ice time. If anything, Stanbo & Co. made the evaluation error at the TDL.

And I'm sure you have noticed there has been no talk of even discussing a contract with him.
- RickJ

Did you look at the Shot Suppression and Possession numbers for Danault? No wonder the Hawks took a nosedive when Danault was traded for old man Flash and Dale Weise. While I do not wish to re-hash the Weise/Q debate, it is objectively a bad trade.

I do, but I understood the impetus of the trade (too bad the plan didn't work out) and the idea that Kruger was staying softened the blow of losing Danault.
- EKB13

I thought that was one kid who was really going to stick. Kid was aggressive and put effort into every shift. Was hoping one day he would anchor the 3rd line. But to your point, Eli, it is completely understandable for the reason he was traded. Bowman tried to go all in, respectfully so, but came up short. Hopefully he can rebound in the next 2-3 days to make us a more competitive team.

Lucic fits like a glove next to Toews and Hossa. Big body that can skate, win board battles, be part of the cycle, establish net front presence, and has 20G finishing ability. I don't think I would even want Malkin (if it were an option), with his cap hit and durability concerns. Lucic has not had any injury concerns...only inflicting pain on the opposition. Would be great to have Big Looch dishing out punishment on the Blues for a change.
- EnzoD

Gotta agree with this Enzo. The size and finishing ability would really make that 1st line a force. I keep vocaling guys like Ladd and McGinn because of their forecheck and finishing ability that would really suit the top line as a cycling machine.

Did you look at the Shot Suppression and Possession numbers for Danault? No wonder the Hawks took a nosedive when Danault was traded for old man Flash and Dale Weise. While I do not wish to re-hash the Weise/Q debate, it is objectively a bad trade.
- EnzoD

Is Danault RFA? He hasn't signed yet.

Is Danault RFA? He hasn't signed yet.
- JRoenick97

He is and I don't think he has signed yet.

I'm a nobody who saw something on Twitter two blogs ago and took loads of BS when I mentioned the possibility that Kane could be moved for Malkin.

Considering the nature of so many of JJ's blogs before last season, I figured it plausible that they'd sell high on Kane. To get a player of Malkin's caliber would be amazing.

While I am a Blues fan first, I actually really like the Hawks, the style of game they play. Living in Evanston from 2002 to 2012, I got to watch Toews and Kane develop, loving their play while cringing at the notion that that idiot Erik Johnson was picked over him. I cringed even more when he jacked up his knee in a offseason golfing incident.

Maybe Toews would've set Oshie straight. Who knows.

What I do know is my kids are lifelong Hawks fans after seeing them win three Stanley Cups and experiencing the parades.

Whatever happens with the Hawks this summer, it's going to be a fun year of hockey next year. Opening night will be the first salvo in a great set of games between the Hawks and Blues.

I thought that was one kid who was really going to stick. Kid was aggressive and put effort into every shift. Was hoping one day he would anchor the 3rd line. But to your point, Eli, it is completely understandable for the reason he was traded. Bowman tried to go all in, respectfully so, but came up short. Hopefully he can rebound in the next 2-3 days to make us a more competitive team.
- 93Joe

Dumbest "all in" ever. Got Ladd for line 1, who ended up on Line 3....got the two Habs players, either of which were in the press box nightly. Traded off capable/competent players for total garbage. Held back salary when he already got the raw end of the deal. The level of evident disconnect between Bowman and Q is very pronounced. And it damn well better get corrected or it's gonna go South bigtime.

Did you look at the Shot Suppression and Possession numbers for Danault? No wonder the Hawks took a nosedive when Danault was traded for old man Flash and Dale Weise. While I do not wish to re-hash the Weise/Q debate, it is objectively a bad trade.
- EnzoD

Yup, what's done is done and the idea to deepen the forward ranks didn't work out as hoped. We'll see what Danault becomes playing in Montreal under Therrien. Flash and Weise will be scrambling to find employment somewhere in the league.

I agree maybe a team like AZ would take him. They could use help on the PK.
- Dabearshawks

Makes sense. Maybe fetch more for Kruger than Shaw. Over 6 mill tied up in two bottom 6 forwards doesn't mesh with the current situation. Has to be one or the other.

Prohockeyrumors just came out with their top-50 NHL free agents and their predictions on where they will sign, and they have Ben Lovejoy (2-years; $2.1 million) and Sam Gagner (1-year; $1 million) signing with the 'Hawks.

Obviously it's just for fun and no one really has any guesses on who will sign where, but I wouldn't be opposed to a Lovejoy signing. He logged valuable minutes for the Pens and think he'd be a serviceable stay-at-home third pairing d-man.

Gagner on the other hand ... isn't really worth much of a look unless it was a PTO for training camp.
- TommyHawk

I suggested he could be an option on the last thread. Seems to have lost his way a bit when he got to Philly, but it seemed like just yesterday he had 8 pts vs. the Hawks (well it was 2012).