If he was Kane's size he'd have been a top 10 pick (and Kane wasn't even big)....but DeBrincat is really small. What I notice also about this player is he really can find the ice well. He just knows where to be. Great instincts, great skill. I think he'll play NHL hockey one day.
- kwolf68

Hawks have another very small player that could sign next year in Anthony Louis.

Hawks have another very small player that could sign next year in Anthony Louis.
- Dabearshawks

Yea forgot about him. Well we do need our version of Connor Sheary.

Depends on WHY they don't make the playoffs, but .. players can get fired, coaches can, and GMs can too and all should be held accountable. We'll see how this off season rolls on
- kwolf68

Agree. I like the Shaw trade, although I'll miss him. If I was advising him, I'd have told him to get as much as he can, as guys with his physical style don't play forever, and he needs to cash in now. At least if it's Montreal, he should be playing on competitive teams through the course of a long contract.

Hawks have another very small player that could sign next year in Anthony Louis.
- Dabearshawks

The Chicago Smurfs...coming to an arena near you!

I do too and I agree. The stupidity of trading Garbutt for a guy you cut, which you then had to trade Danault+ to replace what Garbutt was going to give you, the same package that may have been able to get Dan Hamhius to sturdy up the blueline. Just a horrible situation all around...thank god for overtime points, Corey Crawford and Patrick Kane or we may have been picking in the top 10 today.
- kwolf68

The way the team is looking at this point we should have a nice top 10 pick in the draft next year

The way the team is looking at this point we should have a nice top 10 pick in the draft next year
- scott.jackson

I think the goalie, the top part of the roster IF HEALTHY will make sure that does not happen, but this team is even more top heavy now than at any point previously and one or two key injuries and yea the team will be in the lottery, that is unless some high quality depth arrives from outer space.

Hopefully they did.

How many guys have scored 50 or more goals two years in a row in the O? He's probably going back this year, so if he does it again, how many have done it 3 years in a row?
- vabeachbear

I see him 3 times a year when he plays Owen Sound. The kid is fast, and thinks game exceptional well. He carries the play every time he steps on the ice. He is small, but stocky and has a strong lower body. He was the 2C in Erie when McDavid was there and put up a lot of points. I am very happy the got this kid and he will definitely make the squad in a couple of years

This is a bit trivial in the overall scheme of things, but I saw that the Hawks traded their 5th round pick this year to the Blues for their 5th round pick next year. What goes into the thinking behind such deals? Anybody have an inside scoop on this process?

The Chicago Smurfs...coming to an arena near you!


- EnzoD

Refs might need to hold up on the early icing whistles if Louis is playing. He can absolutely fly!

Refs might need to hold up on the early icing whistles if Louis is playing. He can absolutely fly!
- Dabearshawks

The other thing I am thinking about with small guys...JUST MAYBE the Hawks see the future of the NHL and that is one of speed, open ice.....the NHL is trying to open new markets, you do NOT open that with clutch and grab, dump and chase, chip and change....you do it with speed, skill, dynamic talent and thrilling plays. If the NHL does get its crap together and the refs are instructed to start calling actual penalties (cue powerenforcer) then players like Louis and DeBrincat become even more interesting in terms of prospects. I applaud the Hawks for not getting wrapped around the 'prototypical size' axle and just took the kid who can play better.

The other thing I am thinking about with small guys...JUST MAYBE the Hawks see the future of the NHL and that is one of speed, open ice.....the NHL is trying to open new markets, you do NOT open that with clutch and grab, dump and chase, chip and change....you do it with speed, skill, dynamic talent and thrilling plays. If the NHL does get its crap together and the refs are instructed to start calling actual penalties (cue powerenforcer) then players like Louis and DeBrincat become even more interesting in terms of prospects. I applaud the Hawks for not getting wrapped around the 'prototypical size' axle and just took the kid who can play better.
- kwolf68

Surely you jest.

It would make too much sense, hence, it can't and will not happen!

This is a bit trivial in the overall scheme of things, but I saw that the Hawks traded their 5th round pick this year to the Blues for their 5th round pick next year. What goes into the thinking behind such deals? Anybody have an inside scoop on this process?
- 333inthe3rd

I read some place that the Blackhawks are stockpiling draft picks for next year because they are the draft hosts and want more podium time.

Surely you jest.

It would make too much sense, hence, it can't and will not happen!
- vabeachbear

LOL....I am trying my 'glass half full' mantra to see how it fits. But ya, you're probably right.

I read some place that the Blackhawks are stockpiling draft picks for next year because they are the draft hosts and want more podium time.
- matt_ahrens

I hope the hell not. You stock pile picks for reasons...'getting podium time' isn't the one I am thinking about.

I read some place that the Blackhawks are stockpiling draft picks for next year because they are the draft hosts and want more podium time.
- matt_ahrens

McD brand management is written all over that....in 12 languages.

I read some place that the Blackhawks are stockpiling draft picks for next year because they are the draft hosts and want more podium time.
- matt_ahrens

Interesting theory. My initial thought was that it was something like "We don't see anything in the remaining draft pool worth a 5th round pick, so we'll punt it to next year."

Well, their GM is Marc Bergevin.....
- blackhawk24

Maybe he's setting himself up for a job with the Hawks again after the habs fire him lol

So.... In the rock we have. Hartman.. Baun.. Moose... and McNeil if he's still here...Ross maybe... Man I don't think we can go into next year without another trade....

Stan better hit it dead center when it comes to signing some lower priced vets to help fill out this roster.

What about Labrie? The big LW in Rockford. He have the ability to come up and play some 4th line minutes?

So.... In the rock we have. Hartman.. Baun.. Moose... and McNeil if he's still here...Ross maybe... Man I don't think we can go into next year without another trade....
- southernhawk

Haggerty may also get a look.

I was a big fan of Ross about 2 years ago, not sure if his star has faded. He was another Shaw replacement potentially.

Stan better hit it dead center when it comes to signing some lower priced vets to help fill out this roster.

What about Labrie? The big LW in Rockford. He have the ability to come up and play some 4th line minutes?
- z1990z

Still need to move millions in current cap hit to ice a WC competitive team.

Yeah that would horrible....

And what confuses me is i thought the idea behind using TT to move Bickell was so we could at least resign Shaw. Guess not...
- SimpleJack

If the new reports are accurate do you think it was term the Hawks balked at? 3.2m doesn't sound terrible for what Shaw brings IMO. Werent most people here penciling him in at 3m in possible rosters?

I read some place that the Blackhawks are stockpiling draft picks for next year because they are the draft hosts and want more podium time.
- matt_ahrens

Since they only seem to go to the podium for the first round - and the other 6 rounds are basically more or less just reported by the TV anchors - and I would guess that public attendance for Day 2 would be minimal - doesn't seem to be a worthy goal.

The way the team is looking at this point we should have a nice top 10 pick in the draft next year
- scott.jackson

thats a little much, if we do miss the playoffs it will because of injury. If we do make the playoffs we will lose in the first round because of this team.

Unless Kempny is some sort of revelation and turns into czech lindstrom and Seabrook REALLY shapes up in his own end next year its going to be rough.

Since they only seem to go to the podium for the first round - and the other 6 rounds are basically more or less just reported by the TV anchors - and I would guess that public attendance for Day 2 would be minimal - doesn't seem to be a worthy goal.
- StLBravesFan

all I know is what I read in the papers