That mix makes up a good 4th line. Still missing a Cup champion caliber 3rd line. Unless some guys really really shine. No one really replaces Shaw in that group.
- bhawks2241

Exactly. Those are all 4th liners.

We still literally need an entire 3rd line....

Not to mention his point totals are about the same with much worse linemates in CBJ. Frans Nielsen just got 5.25m for 6 years, 4.5 for AA isn't that bad.
- JRoenick97

Exactly.

Agreed with most of it, and I can handle the rebuild....I just can't stand everyone assuming all guys will slide right in with no problem, and the hawks are a cup contender with that bottom 6.

The only thing that I truly get negative about is the pending cap issue for next year and how they work Panarin in. Panarin is a legit star. No question. Just like Saad, and letting 2 guys walk in their primes would be tough to swallow while sitting on numerous bad deals to other guys......
- SteveRain

Hey SR
Thoughts on Blues freeing up monies of Backus and Brower to attempt offer sheet to Panarin next year ??????????? He and Tarasenko are best friends. Losing Panarin would be worse than Saad !!

Exactly. Those are all 4th liners.

We still literally need an entire 3rd line....
- SimpleJack

Panik will be on the third line. I would not assume he is at 1LW.

I would assume the Hawks, one way or another, will find someone who works there.

Hawks can always trade Panarin AFTER this season as they did Saad to keep him away from a team like STL

Love the guy, but he'll have to come down from that price.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yeah for sure. Maybe he is using the Kruger or Cizikas contracts as a comparison?

Motte will score more than Schmaltz early in their careers.
- vabeachbear

Yeah, two totally different type of players Motte's a grinder dig it out on the boards and head to the net. Nose for getting to the right spot. Good two way game was taught good D produces scoring opportunities. He could bring some much needed 3rd or 4th line scoring.

Scmaltz has more upside potential, but will he work hard to develop it who knows.

And if he gets offer sheeted then the Hawks could potentially get FOUR first round picks.
- kwolf68

Sweet...2020/21 would be awesome

So assuming the top 6 is Panarin-AA-Kane, Panik-Toews-Hossa.....What does the bottom 6 look like?
- SimpleJack

2 people there don't belong in top 6. Hossa in decline and Panik couldn't play for Toronto. Both are true bottom six guys now if we had the cap space to replace them up top.

Yeah for sure. Maybe he is using the Kruger or Cizikas contracts as a comparison?
- 93Joe

Could be. He's certainly an asset to a team, but just needs to come down a bit.

Wonder if purcell could be had for 1 year at 2 mil. Better than vanek flanking toews

Chris JohnstonVerified account
‏@reporterchris
Matt Martin gets four-year deal from #leafs at $2.5M AAV.

With respect, sir, I don't know, my wife is cool, but she's not going to tell me where to work.
- RedFeather

And, with the way he was talking up Rocky on the conference call this afternoon, maybe he's thinking of/planning on an eventual FO or broadcasting job here? Another potential motivator. After all, does Foley have much time left? Seems like Edzo is doing more national stuff and focused on the ponies.

Chris JohnstonVerified account
‏@reporterchris
Matt Martin gets four-year deal from #leafs at $2.5M AAV.
- hawksfan20

Good for him! Great pick up for a rebuilding club

Respectfully with 72% of the cap tied up in 7 players, the farm depleted of NHL ready players due to making a yearly run at the cup do you know of any other options or have any answers?

I'd direct this question to any poster commenting on 1LW or the bottom 6 as well.
- Mr Ricochet

You are right...there is no quick and easy solution. We have to take solace in the fact that our D group has improved quite a bit with Campbell and Kempny. You have to hope some of the youngsters grow quickly like Saad and Shaw did. And please, don't tell me that is improbable...or they have not played minor league hockey. No one knows the potential of these kids. They could stink...they could be Saad, TT or Shaw. Recall, a first round pick, a second round pick and a fifth round pick. No one knows.

Trading Panarin would be suicide....
- MichaeLionheart

Note: this is an example of too much pumping of the tires. Or maybe too early start to the 4th weekend 😉

Trading Toews: suicide
TrAding Kane: maybe suicide
Trading Keith: maybe suicide
Trading Panarin: loss of a really nice piece, but decidedly not suicide. He's had exactly one really nice year.

I guess it's time for me to add some perspective here.

1) The Hawks are NOT done.
2) DON'T believe what a GM says on 7/1. It is ALL posturing.
3) The salary cap, at present, does not look good, BUT . . .
4) And this is a big one . . .

The Hawks did NOT sign Brian Campbell, even at a relative bargain, so "Soupy can come home," or for some kind of media feel-good story.

And they did NOT sign him because they felt 4D was their most glaring need.

They signed him because he came at a tremendous value and yes he makes the defense deeper and better ATER they signed Kempny, because—MORE IMPORTANTLY—they fully intend to be a BETTER team in 2016-17 than they were win 2015-16.

And although Stanley is chirping how he likes the team today—Good GOD—that is CLASSIC GM posturing.

He doesn't.

He KNOWS he has a huge hole at 1LW. He knows he probably needs at least 1 veteran lower line winger.

They are working on it.

The strategy, I am 99% sure, is to wait out a Vanek or a Hudler and see if they will come on a 1-year, pad your stats playing with JT and Hoss, and cash in next year kinda deal.

OR, they will move a big contract, maybe Crawford's, and use the cap savings to go get a top free agent LW, who the Hawks LOVE, who was very interested in coming to Chicago last year, who no one has mentioned the last week or so:

Mikkel Boedker

OR, failing all that, they will grab a PA Parenteau from the clearance bin and plug him in there—a guy who can score 20 goals and 45 points and play with Toews and Hossa—and allow the kids to DEVELOP where they belong and Panik to play where he BELONGS.

PATIENCE. Don't believe the BS. They are not done yet.

2 people there don't belong in top 6. Hossa in decline and Panik couldn't play for Toronto. Both are true bottom six guys now if we had the cap space to replace them up top.
- Hawkytalk

Hoss is in offensive decline but his overall game is terrific still. Maybe the long offseason helps him most of all.

Detroit signs Vanek - 1 year @ $2.6 million.

You are right...there is no quick and easy solution. We have to take solace in the fact that our D group has improved quite a bit with Campbell and Kempny. You have to hope some of the youngsters grow quickly like Saad and Shaw did. And please, don't tell me that is improbable...or they have not played minor league hockey. No one knows the potential of these kids. They could stink...they could be Saad, TT or Shaw. Recall, a first round pick, a second round pick and a fifth round pick. No one knows.
- onehundredlevel

They're not done yet. Playing "the kids" is truly a LAST RESORT. Not good for the team and not for them.

Fortunately the Hawks know this.

Detroit signs Vanek - 1 year @ $2.6 million.
- DarthKane

Ugh, well, he probably wasn't the best option anyway.

Detroit signs Vanek - 1 year @ $2.6 million.
- DarthKane

Anyone want to still argue Holland isnt losing it?

Brutal day for Detroit fans

Wonder if purcell could be had for 1 year at 2 mil. Better than vanek flanking toews
- ikeane

They like Teddy, I haven't heard his name lately but they've liked him in the past. Good guy, too. Put him in that Parenteau class.

They're not done yet. Playing "the kids" is truly a LAST RESORT. Not good for the team and not for them.

Fortunately the Hawks know this.
- John Jaeckel

Of course, this is encouraging. My new question is what is wrong with Mikkel Boedker that no one has thrown stupid money at him yet?

Detroit signs Vanek - 1 year @ $2.6 million.
- DarthKane

After Soupy signing this is the very best news of the day. Love that he's playing for The Red army as much as I am that it didn't come down to the Hawks needing him.