Baun is a body. At least that's all he's shown to this point. Maybe that's better than Mashinter. Zzzzzzzz.

If Crawford is being shopped, what kind of return does he net?

For what my novice eyes were worth, I caught Baun's first NHL game from the 100 level against the Wild. I was really impressed with his size, speed and positioning, but the dude has hands of stone. Could have been nerves, but I doubt it. Seems like a lot of these Rockford guys all have a fatal flaw that ultimately keeps them in the A.
- Return of the Roar

RotR, good comments.
Stalberg had hands of stone as well but ended up being a serviceable player while here. Stalberg didn't have a nose for the net initially so maybe Baun is 1-up on him at this point.

From my view, you can't teach/replace size or heart. He seemed to have both. Positionally wasn't bad but from what I saw got himself behind plays by being out of position, causing him to take dumb tripping penalties trying to get back in the play. VG speed and fearless in front of the blue paint. If he's done work, I'd give him a decent shot to make the squad -- certainly would like that over some of the smurfs we've got.

Tweet from Michael Russo says Hawks have reached out to Vanek.
- z1990z

Vanek
Hudler
McGinn
Staal
(repeat)

They're looking for a veteran LW to accept a low money deal for a guarantee to play in Chicago for at least one year with 19 and 81.

I have a feeling this will not get resolved until at least the third day of FA.

Hawks want someone to commit now for low $. Targets are probably going to wait and see what the broader market is for them.

At some point, someone will decide Chicago for low $ is better than nothing.

RotR, good comments.
Stalberg had hands of stone as well but ended up being a serviceable player while here. Stalberg didn't have a nose for the net initially so maybe Baun is 1-up on him at this point.

From my view, you can't teach/replace size or heart. He seemed to have both. Positionally wasn't bad but from what I saw got himself behind plays by being out of position, causing him to take dumb tripping penalties trying to get back in the play. VG speed and fearless in front of the blue paint. If he's done work, I'd give him a decent shot to make the squad -- certainly would like that over some of the smurfs we've got.
- savvyone-1

Agreed, but the challenge any system guy has in making a splash is that they must pass Qs value test EEMEDIATELY, or they get the I-Pass back just as quickly. Hard to make the cut if your audition does not come with a dash of patience and real coaching.

If Crawford is being shopped, what kind of return does he net?
- 93Joe

Depends on the team.

All I heard was a first round pick but that was a while back before TOR and CGY filled their needs. Now it may be whatever the Hawks can get and save some money.

OR, only if it's a pretty good deal.

The logistics of signing Campbell, a winger and filling out the rest of the roster are tough.

CC to BUF (as a conversation between the clubs) is a rumor that started in February 2015. It has not died since, right up to today.

Vanek
Hudler
McGinn
Staal
(repeat)

They're looking for a veteran LW to accept a low money deal for a guarantee to play in Chicago for at least one year with 19 and 81.

I have a feeling this will not get resolved until at least the third day of FA.

Hawks want someone to commit now for low $. Targets are probably going to wait and see what the broader market is for them.

At some point, someone will decide Chicago for low $ is better than nothing.
- John Jaeckel[/quote]

It's crazy to me to think that guys wouldn't take lower $ from the get go to possibly play with 81 & 19. Or for that matter, play on a team for less $ that has contended with this core for the last 7 or so years. I guess money talks...

What time does the free agency signing period start tomorrow? Is it right at midnight, or later in the day?

Depends on the team.

All I heard was a first round pick but that was a while back before TOR and CGY filled their needs. Now it may be whatever the Hawks can get and save some money.

OR, only if it's a pretty good deal.

The logistics of signing Campbell, a winger and filling out the rest of the roster are tough.

CC to BUF (as a conversation between the clubs) is a rumor that started in February 2015. It has not died since, right up to today.
- John Jaeckel

The reason I ask is because I'm looking at Buffalo's roster and... Idk maybe Deslauries? Johan Larsson? One of their goalies and a draft pick? Seems as if they can get at least $3M in cap space.

What time does the free agency signing period start tomorrow? Is it right at midnight, or later in the day?
- spudrock512

Noon est tomorrow

The reason I ask is because I'm looking at Buffalo's roster and... Idk maybe Deslauries? Johan Larsson? One of their goalies and a draft pick? Seems as if they can get at least $3M in cap space.
- 93Joe

The problem there is we should not want any of their goalies.

The reason I ask is because I'm looking at Buffalo's roster and... Idk maybe Deslauries? Johan Larsson? One of their goalies and a draft pick? Seems as if they can get at least $3M in cap space.
- 93Joe

Would say Jake McCabe. I thought Larsson as another option too

Depends on the team.

All I heard was a first round pick but that was a while back before TOR and CGY filled their needs. Now it may be whatever the Hawks can get and save some money.

OR, only if it's a pretty good deal.

The logistics of signing Campbell, a winger and filling out the rest of the roster are tough.

CC to BUF (as a conversation between the clubs) is a rumor that started in February 2015. It has not died since, right up to today.
- John Jaeckel

As I said eaerlier in this blog, Hawks, with signing of Mash and Rozy as 13F and 7D could build a roster w $4m to spend on a D (hopefully Campbell) and a LW. So give Soupy $1.5-2.0m, same for one of the long list of vet LWs, hold a few $$ in the back pocket for the season, and they're good to go.

I'd be really happy with that D group, improved over last year. F depth is diminished.

But if I'm a betting man, which I am, I'd bet on another trade, whether Craw or AA or Krug.

I really want the Hawks to trade Crow. I just feel he is the most "replacable" way to cut salary. Darling and a $2-3m goalie can handle this.

I also think the expansion draft next year will create a buyers market for goalies. If Hawks traded Crow, they could add one cheap from some team that would otherwise lose that G to Vegas.

Agreed, but the challenge any system guy has in making a splash is that they must pass Qs value test EEMEDIATELY, or they get the I-Pass back just as quickly. Hard to make the cut if your audition does not come with a dash of patience and real coaching.
- Return of the Roar

I have seen this a lot lately about Q and his system. Shouldn't this be Ted Dent's job? I mean, isn't the whole idea of a minor league system is to coach up your players to the system of the big club? Q, or any NHL head coach, shouldn't be teaching, they should be tweaking. Of course, the player might be put in a different situation on coming to the NHL, but they should know the system before driving down I-90, eh?

Noon est tomorrow
- ikeane

So is it going to be a (see gif#1) day:



OR:



OR:

What time does the free agency signing period start tomorrow? Is it right at midnight, or later in the day?
- spudrock512

11:00CT

HEY!

there's another example of how Crow is really not overpaid.

Varlamov is locked up at 5.9 mil a mere $100,000 per season and 2018-19...what has he won again?
oh...the court case against his battered girl friend.
- wiz1901

Really?

The problem there is we should not want any of their goalies.
- Return of the Roar

Your posts over the past couple of weeks have been stating that trading Crawford would be a mistake. I understand that and agree that the team would be weaker. Is it also not a concern that say, after this season, his value goes down and they won't be able to trade him? Or if they do wait, do they get taken to the shed again?

Respectfully, I see your POV. A trade has to take place, most likely this season to sign Panarin and fill the lack of depth. A bigger salary has to move and that is one of AA, Crawford, or Seabrook. So it's either weaken the blue line, the forward group, or the guy between the pipes? Definitely a tough decision. My stance is that you do not trade any of the top 3 because there are no replacements for eithet of them. Lose AA, another hole at 2C, penalty kill, and net front presence. Crawford is the least evil in this in my opinion.

3 way trade - E Kane to COL - C Crawford to BUF - Landeskog to CHI!!!

EDIT: apologies for any confusion. Posted at work and got called away on something and didn't not that it was a joke. The above was clearly LOL/red font worthy.
- Marlowe

Dang nabbit Marlowe! Stop that! I was popping open another beer already!

any interest from FO in Lee Stempniak as a bottom forward?

Your posts over the past couple of weeks have been stating that trading Crawford would be a mistake. I understand that and agree that the team would be weaker. Is it also not a concern that say, after this season, his value goes down and they won't be able to trade him? Or if they do wait, do they get taken to the shed again?

Respectfully, I see your POV. A trade has to take place, most likely this season to sign Panarin and fill the lack of depth. A bigger salary has to move and that is one of AA, Crawford, or Seabrook. So it's either weaken the blue line, the forward group, or the guy between the pipes? Definitely a tough decision. My stance is that you do not trade any of the top 3 because there are no replacements for eithet of them. Lose AA, another hole at 2C, penalty kill, and net front presence. Crawford is the least evil in this in my opinion.
- 93Joe

Barring an injury to a legit #1 elsewhere in the league, I would submit to you the market is finished spending money on goalies - especially those with higher price tags. The teams in greatest need of a #1 - TOR and CGY - already bought, and they went cheaper and/or younger.

With a market now flooded with goalies whom their teams would love to dump - Fleury, Bishop, Lehtonen, Niemi, Pavelec to name a few - not to mention those whom are "moveable" - the buyers have spoken.

Now we are on to expansion next year. Teams are positioning themselves to have their #1 in place. Moving CC exposes the Hawks to an unknown second goalie from the reject pile, as well as the very real prospect that if Darling can carry the ball and be lights out, he will demand #1 money as a UFA. Thus they may lose him before expansion, AND only have the pool of unprotected goalies available to reload with.

Now throw the whole issue of NMC/NTC in the mix where those players must be protected, and combine that with the universe of remaining teams that may or may not need a #1.....

I think the net is the most important position not to scrimp on. Especially since the net dollars gained after moving CC are not going to improve any area enough to offset the loss of quality in goal.

Im happy to agree to disagree on this, but i thnk the extended and intelligent dialogue on this issue is healthy if for no other reason than laying out fully the pros and cons of a move.

Bottom line is there is NO way to ice a better team this year than last, and NO way we ice a better team next year than this year just because of the reality of the cap, and contracts and clauses granted to the core to date.

As stands yes.

However, if we can get creative and spread out the depth, that might not be the case. I think its time to split up Panarin and Kane. Give Kane guys like Schmaltz and Panik to play with, he'll make them look good i guarantee. Then you've got a Toews/Hossa line and a Panarin/Anisimov line. Still leaves Desi and Kruger for the 4th line.

Just an idea, i think spreading out the depth like that and breaking up Toews, Kane, and Panarin into 3 lines might be our only hope.
- SimpleJack

88 has had noticeable dry spells, even with Tazer. In fact, he has not had sustained success till he got paired with 72 and 14.

I think if we mess with that line there will be no guaranteed production throughout the lineup....

Grusso retweeted a link that says Frans Nielsen will be signing with the Red Wings

Grusso retweeted a link that says Frans Nielsen will be signing with the Red Wings
- ikeane

Great pick up for the Wings