Feel bad for him in a way. Well... There goes another first round pick. Who knows, he might get full playing time elsewhere - say Arizona
- 93Joe

Which pick - 1st round or other - who has been traded away actually has performed well for his new organization?

Saad, yes - other than him...? Maybe Danault will...maybe Johns will...

Of the first round choices since 2009, which so far have shown first round results with any team:

Schmaltz - jury is out
Hartman - jury is out
TT - jury is out
McNeil - hasn't shown first round results in five years in the system
Danault - hasn't shown first round results in five years in the system
Hayes - has disappointed the Rangers in his second year there
Olsen - nothing
Pirri - nothing

The problem seems not to be that these guys need a chance to play - more that (somewhat due to low round picks recently) they haven't drafted that well, and / or the system below the Chicago level hasn't developed them very well.

Lazarus , another Blackhawks employee ......

Why comment on the rumors at all ? makes no sense
- mrpaulish

Stan is having a teleconference right now, all the scribes are reporting it on Twitter.

Lazarus , another Blackhawks employee ......

Why comment on the rumors at all ? makes no sense
- mrpaulish

Right, all of the rhetoric coming out is strange. Like a fire sale is going on.

If Stan is going to trade McNeill he should look to pull off a Clendening/Forsling type of deal. Trade McNeill for a younger prospect and hope they develop into something.
- DarthKane

How many times in the last two years do you think he has already been shopped? I'm guessing low pick, no market for this guy

See: David Rundblad, or Mashinster.

Isnt mcneill a rfa?
- ikeane

I believe he is.

Stan is having a teleconference right now, all the scribes are reporting it on Twitter.
- DarthKane

It definitely feels like some gamesmanship from Bowman.

I think a majority of the Penguins fans outrage is centered around 2 things.

1. People here are acting like we need to give Malkin away for cap concerns. Penguins are in a perfect cap situation. Right now they are over because they cant put Dupuis's 3.25 million on LTIR until the season. They also have 5.25 million they can dump with MAF. Pretty much their whole team is resigned and already in place for next year.

2. The idea that a deal centered around AA and Marcus franking Krueger is going to get a deal done. That's just laughable.

A lot of people here are right, Malkin's availability is a popular subject every summer. I have yet to see a realistic proposal any of those summers.

How many times in the last two years do you think he has already been shopped? I'm guessing low pick, no market for this guy
- phantasmo

Edmonton is kinda dumb . McNeil seems like a Calgary type player too.

I think a majority of the Penguins fans outrage is centered around 2 things.

1. People here are acting like we need to give Malkin away for cap concerns. Penguins are in a perfect cap situation. Right now they are over because they cant put Dupuis's 3.25 million on LTIR until the season. They also have 5.25 million they can dump with MAF. Pretty much their whole team is resigned and already in place for next year.

2. The idea that a deal centered around AA and Marcus franking Krueger is going to get a deal done. That's just laughable.

A lot of people here are right, Malkin's availability is a popular subject every summer. I have yet to see a realistic proposal any of those summers.
- SuperHenderson13

Not too sure that dump MAF at 5.25 mil is going to be all that easy. No one said it would be only be AA and Kruger. Finally, no one has said they need to move him bc of the cap. The rumor was that he was unhappy for whatever reason in Pitt. Whether that is true or not is unknown.

being a smart player and not making mistakes.

Also, lets all remember the hawks traded one Denis Savard back in the day for Chelios. They survived.

So I think anything and anyone is quite possible right now.
- SteveRain

Anyone is tradeable. Yes, Anyone. While some may be less likely to be moved, for the right package and reasons no one is un-touchable.

On some level any trade that is made needs to make sense. Not just fan-boy hopes and wishes, but actual, reasonable, sense. Gretzky was moved in a large part because Pocklington needed money badly.

Moving Kane because you feel he will mess up again, or moving Malkin because he supposedly "wants out of PIT" or "wants to be the man", or moving either for Cap considerations are all valid reasons why they could be moved. Trading them for each other makes little sense from either side.

If the Hawks were to decide to trade Kane, it needs to be one in which they get a perceived higher value in return, Such as a High pick, a top 6 forward and a top 4 d man. What team would do that and why? Same applies for Malkin.

Well something is up. Shaw, AA, possibly Kruger and now a former 1st rounder on the block? And all this after the possilbe movement of CC to help with the cap. And now two GM's saying most/all of these rumors are false?! Hmmm

It definitely feels like some gamesmanship from Bowman.
- JRoenick97

Typical from GMs. They'll never tip their hat. Plus while he may be negotiating with Shaw, all that can change quickly.

Bobby Mac shut that one down HARD. Nice try.

Kaner was fine....I'm sure there was a bit of nerves in trying to win the Hart trophy for a US born player - sitting front row. Having a comedian throw a mic in his face and not knowing what was going to be said.

Those situations/camera shots/interviews are MUCH different than after a game when they are in their working environment/talking about the game.

I wouldn't read much into nerves.
- PatShart

Oh.......he is a comedian. I thought he was the Clown College valedictorian. The NHL cannot even put together a good award show.

I was OK with Kaner. I look forward to him improving on his 106-point season in '16-'17.

I think a majority of the Penguins fans outrage is centered around 2 things.

1. People here are acting like we need to give Malkin away for cap concerns. Penguins are in a perfect cap situation. Right now they are over because they cant put Dupuis's 3.25 million on LTIR until the season. They also have 5.25 million they can dump with MAF. Pretty much their whole team is resigned and already in place for next year.

2. The idea that a deal centered around AA and Marcus franking Krueger is going to get a deal done. That's just laughable.

A lot of people here are right, Malkin's availability is a popular subject every summer. I have yet to see a realistic proposal any of those summers.
- SuperHenderson13

We hear ya pal.


Its the main stream hockey "beat" reporters here in Chicago that have started talking about Malkin specifically . We just want to know why . JJ , and others had the Malkin Blackhakws stuff 72 hours before any regular beat guy here in Chicago , but now the regulars (Most of which act as Blackhawks employees spineless coward mouth pieces not reporters) are talking about it .

So something is up . But what ?


Last blog I passed on what my 1 professional hockey employed buddy had to say about it , that the Hawks are feeding their mouth pieces this story because of the backlash they took from the TT trade.

So dont get upset but this will be a topic until it comes to a head .

Which pick - 1st round or other - who has been traded away actually has performed well for his new organization?

Saad, yes - other than him...? Maybe Danault will...maybe Johns will...

Of the first round choices since 2009, which so far have shown first round results with any team:

Schmaltz - jury is out
Hartman - jury is out
TT - jury is out
McNeil - hasn't shown first round results in five years in the system
Danault - hasn't shown first round results in five years in the system
Hayes - has disappointed the Rangers in his second year there
Olsen - nothing
Pirri - nothing

The problem seems not to be that these guys need a chance to play - more that (somewhat due to low round picks recently) they haven't drafted that well, and / or the system below the Chicago level hasn't developed them very well.
- StLBravesFan

Not disagreeing. The point I was trying to show was that TT, Danault, and now McNeill might be gone in a small time frame.

But you're right - there has to be concern with development or not drafting that well. Definitely drafting 20-30 is part of it for sure.

Bobby Mac shut that one down HARD. Nice try.
- SameOld

Oh so because he said that it must mean its false. Sadly you don't get the inner workings of media.

Typical from GMs. They'll never tip their hat. Plus while he may be negotiating with Shaw, all that can change quickly.
- golfbard

Not sure why people take what a GM says at face value. JJ was spot on. As a lawyer, I do that kind of stuff all the time. Client approves a settlement offer and I go back to the opposing side and say my client rejects it and make a counter offer to see if I can get more. I don't just run to the other side and say we accept. You work your hand to get the best outcome. You don't just tell everyone what is going on. A GM would be dumb if he went out and said oh yeah we are exploring a trade for this guy and these pieces are involved. This is a business run by very experienced and shrewd businessmen. They know how to play the game better than most that is why they run NHL franchises.

Bobby Mac shut that one down HARD. Nice try.
- SameOld

Remind me again what talking clown at TSN had the Hawks signing Hossa on 7/1/09

I wont' hold my breath waiting for your response........

Nice airplane reference JJ! Hope the back gets better (we need you healthy!).

I think the only way that the Malkin thing makes sense is if you are on the inside and know facts that we just don't have. There is a big piece of something that we just don't know. I am tired of people (unlike you and the majority of folks on this board) looking at the situation and making snap judgments without all the facts. I'm having fun trying to figure it out and puzzle solving. Thanks for keeping the discussion going.
- Marlowe

With any trade rumor nobody here has all the details, all we can do is make a judgement call in the information we have.

There is a big difference between what is possible and what is probable:

Is it possible that Stan acquires Malkin? Of course it is. It may cost more than fans are comfortable with and it could deplete the team's already shallow depth but it can be done.

Is it probable that a team that already commits $21 million to 2 players adds a player at $9.5 million? That's about 42% of the cap tied up in 3 guys. Would that be a logical move for a team already struggling to fit under the cap? No. I'm not saying the rumors aren't out there or certain discussions between teams aren't happening. But is trading for Malkin a realistic possibility?

Certain rumors make more sense than others. Acquiring Malkin and his $9.5 million cap hit doesn't make sense. Signing Campbell at the rumored $1.5 million makes sense.

Tracy :

Bowman on Schmaltz: "We're thrilled he made the decision he was ready for pro hockey. We’ve felt that way for a while here..." #Blackhawks

It definitely feels like some gamesmanship from Bowman.
- JRoenick97

100%. Bowman is a smart guy and knows how to use the media.

100%. Bowman is a smart guy and knows how to use the media.
- DarthKane

Thats part of the job...

Tracy :

Bowman on Schmaltz: "We're thrilled he made the decision he was ready for pro hockey. We’ve felt that way for a while here..." #Blackhawks
- mrpaulish

With TT gone, Schmaltz knew he had a very good chance of stepping right into the line up.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 1m1 minute ago

Stan Bowman on draft-week chatter: "Lots of rumors floating around. I would say the majority of those are false." #Blackhawks
- JRoenick97

CLASSIC GM speak... Do not say a damned thing. And this is the exact response I expected. No red font required. We'll find out a lot more in the next 36 hours.