Aaron Ward
@NHL_AaronWard
Detroit Red Wings and Darren Helm agree to terms on a 5 year/ $3.85M AAV #DRW

Oh, the Hawks don't HAVE to deal him now.

You may well be right.

But don't be surprised either if they do.

AND not all teams have a top 4 of 2, 7, 4, and 51. In fact, I'm not sure anyone does.
- John Jaeckel

And let me add, the Hawks and some other teams who scouted Kempny think he is going to be a quality two-way blue liner in the NHL.

At this point Yakapov is a bust. Now maybe the EDM can't develop players argument can be made, but that's harder to accept as the years roll by. I'm pretty sure he has played exclusively RW so the thought the Hawks would acquire him to play LW doesn't seem like a good idea to me - which means the Hawks would still need a top-6 LW. The only place I could see Yak playing on the Hawks would be RW with 72-15, pushing 88 up with 19 and 81 down to the 3rd line. But again, there would still be a hole at 1LW.
- EbonyRaptor

A bust from the perspective of being the top pick in the draft? Sure, or at least it's a valid argument. But no hope of Yak being an effective 2nd line winger?

In terms of LW/RW - you work with what you see in camp. Perhaps you move Hossa over to 1LW, bump Kane up to 1RW, and then have a full Russian contingent of Panarin, Anisimov and Yak on the 2nd line? Looks really good to me.

Aaron Ward
@NHL_AaronWard
Detroit Red Wings and Darren Helm agree to terms on a 5 year/ $3.85M AAV #DRW
- golfbard

Kruger deal doesn't look too bad all of a sudden

Aaron Ward
@NHL_AaronWard
Detroit Red Wings and Darren Helm agree to terms on a 5 year/ $3.85M AAV #DRW
- golfbard

I heard on NHL radio that he was looking for close to $4M. Not a bad deal for him.

Brian Hedger
@BrianHedger
#Blackhawks lines as of today?

Panik-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Schmaltz-Rasmussen-Hinostroza
Mashinter-Kruger-Desjardins

#Sobering

Responding to C4F:

TVR to EDM for Yak - and EDM retains $750k. ???

Panarin at 1LW, Yak at 2LW, and Panik at 3LW.

Looks good to me.

-------

Makes sense especially if the Oil can move Ference elsewhere. Both he and TVR are RHers. The Oil gets over a decade youngdr and TVR can regularly compete for a lineup spot at 5/6D. Yak can fill in here at 2/3L. Gotta get Oil to retain 33-50%. Yak makes $2.5M in his final year before Arb eligible.
- blackhawk24

I think there is a good chance EDM overpays for Demers today and he's a right shot. If true and they acquire TVR that gives em 3 right shots on the blueline.

Yes.
Yes.
And.....nooooooooo !!!!! On Vanek.

Thought I told you JJ......NO Vanek!

Thanks....
- hawk35

What about going cheaper with a guy like Stempniak? I would love to have a guy like McGinn, but I think he is out of the Hawks price range

Oh, the Hawks don't HAVE to deal him now.

You may well be right.

But don't be surprised either if they do.

AND not all teams have a top 4 of 2, 7, 4, and 51. In fact, I'm not sure anyone does.
- John Jaeckel

Not the same experience or pedigree at this point, but I think the Hawks will find the Nashville D to present some unique challenges: Subban, Josi, Ekholm, Ellis, Bitetto....a lot of guys in their 20's that bring it and are aggressive offensively, too. They are going to be a Riverboat Gamblin' D.....I will definitely be interested to see how that group evolves.

I think Darling had permanent rust in 15/16 until Crawford went down late in the season. Crawford was making a case for the Vezina with the Hawks' urine-poor play of the 5v5.

When Darling started consecutive games? Much better positioning, calmer, less terrible rebounds. I thought he was pretty good late in the year.

JJ, has anyone contacted the Hawks about Darling?
- phantasmo

I have not heard that, doesn't mean they haven't.

I will also add, in fairness, guys I know who have played the position are not big fans of Darling technique-wise, not therefore his upside.

That said, goaltending experts were not big fans of Domink Hasek's technique early on either.

I am no expert, but I know what I see:

Darling is very big, he is pretty athletic for a guy his size, he can get very hot and seems to do so the more he plays, and the Hawks have a great goaltending coach.

Not the same experience or pedigree at this point, but I think the Hawks will find the Nashville D to present some unique challenges: Subban, Josi, Ekholm, Ellis, Bitetto....a lot of guys in their 20's that bring it and are aggressive offensively, too. They are going to be a Riverboat Gamblin' D.....I will definitely be interested to see how that group evolves.
- phantasmo

That's a good defense, for sure.

You HAVE to like what Nashville's doing.

I also think you can argue Seabrook has fallen off. Argue. Because th either side of that is the fatigue factor last year and his partners (the Little Sisters of the Poor).

But he and Campbell are both legit top 4, if not top pairing defenders on most teams.

And I would argue it's hard to beat each of your top two pairs being anchored by Keith and Hjalmarsson respectively: two of the smartest, best pure defenders in the game.

I prefer him in this over a Hawks sweater any day
- AusHawk

Well played, new guy. Well played.

I have not heard that, doesn't mean they haven't.

I will also add, in fairness, guys I know who have played the position are not big fans of Darling technique-wise, not therefore his upside.

That said, goaltending experts were not big fans of Domink Hasek's technique early on either.

I am no expert, but I know what I see:

Darling is very big, he is pretty athletic for a guy his size, he can get very hot and seems to do so the more he plays, and the Hawks have a great goaltending coach.
- John Jaeckel

That's the best argument to use against anyone who doesn't like Darling's technique.

Technique/style doesn't matter as long as you can keep the puck out of the net. Hasek proved that.

Campbell might only want one year so he can be a UFA during the draft
- Return of the Roar

Indeed. Only way Campbell will go to Vegas is if they cough 12 mil per, cuz Soupy thinks he should be grossly over paid his whole career.

Brian Hedger
@BrianHedger
#Blackhawks lines as of today?

Panik-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Schmaltz-Rasmussen-Hinostroza
Mashinter-Kruger-Desjardins

#Sobering
- golfbard

Lundberg will play in the bottom 6. Kruger will be 3C before Ras.

What about going cheaper with a guy like Stempniak? I would love to have a guy like McGinn, but I think he is out of the Hawks price range
- HossBoss

Yup. Stemniak over Vanek all day long. No doubt....

Rick, I responded in the last thread:

Rockford,
Switzerland
Or a fashion runway near you
- John Jaeckel

Please God! No Rundblad in Rockford!

Seriously. Scott Darling and Robn Lehner are going to back them up for a cup run?
- Return of the Roar

Yea, or probably no Panarin for a cup run the next 5-6-7 yrs.

That's a good defense, for sure.

You HAVE to like what Nashville's doing.

I also think you can argue Seabrook has fallen off. Argue. Because th either side of that is the fatigue factor last year and his partners (the Little Sisters of the Poor).

But he and Campbell are both legit top 4, if not top pairing defenders on most teams.

And I would argue it's hard to beat each of your top two pairs being anchored by Keith and Hjalmarsson respectively: two of the smartest, best pure defenders in the game.
- John Jaeckel

This type of discussion is why hockey is so cool. I wasn't challenging that NSH D>Hawks D, just that they are pretty friggin' dangerous in their own right. Could you imagine these guys playing each other in the first round in March? Holy cow, two very different, beautiful styles of hockey to watch. Best sport today.

That's a good defense, for sure.

You HAVE to like what Nashville's doing.

I also think you can argue Seabrook has fallen off. Argue. Because th either side of that is the fatigue factor last year and his partners (the Little Sisters of the Poor).

But he and Campbell are both legit top 4, if not top pairing defenders on most teams.

And I would argue it's hard to beat each of your top two pairs being anchored by Keith and Hjalmarsson respectively: two of the smartest, best pure defenders in the game.
- John Jaeckel

What are the odds that Q actually plays 2&7 together instead of force feeding us 2&4?

Lundberg will play in the bottom 6. Kruger will be 3C before Ras.
- John Jaeckel

Absolutely. Also think we see Motte before Mash.

What prospects are left that the Hawks can part with? I think this equation brings back too much salary, with no "bread" leftover for a "Breadman" signing in July
- phantasmo

Runblad and mash

Absolutely. Also think we see Motte before Mash.
- Return of the Roar

Why ??
Q friggin loves him some Mashtaters.

What about Korpikosi for a bottom 6 guy? Just got bought out s he's getting paid. Maybe a sub 1m kinda guy.

good fit


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Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun · 2m2 minutes ago

Add the Flyers among the teams showing interest in Dale Weise