I don't get why you think Tarasenko has a higher ceiling than Panarin when you admit Panarin is the more rounded player already. Both are the same age and Tarasenko has 3 more NHL seasons under his belt. Anyway, I'm sure the ONLY things Hawks and Blues fans would agree to is they'd really like the other guy on their team too.
- Kewl1

I did not say I'd rather have Tarasenko. I think Tarasenko has every offensive skill Panarin has except he's 30 pounds heavier and 4-5 inches taller. He's an ultra skilled beast. For that reason I think Tarasenko has a higher ceiling but TODAY I think Panarin is the better overall player.

IMO Tarasenko showed a lot of immaturity in last year's playoffs but he's nowhere near his prime physically or mentally, same for Panarin as well.

If you asked me who I'd take today I'd have to think on that awhile. Fortunately I won't ever have to make that decision.

Yep, and if it becomes apparent he wont sign a workable extension, then trade him before the midnight hour to try and get close to fair value in return. But, again, who scores the goals outside of 19+88 if 72 is moved?
- EnzoD

They don't have to make the decision just yet and have this season to let a multitude of things play out up and down the lineup to help evaluate........I'll say this though, the decision would be much much easier to make had they drafted Fabbri instead of Schmaltz!!

I don't think the Hawks will get full value if they move Panarin or the guy(s) they have to move to open space to sign him.

Quick question...who had the superior mustache in your guys opinion:

Michel Goulet or Dirk Graham?
- Hank3Henshaw

Quenville, of course!

Yep, and if it becomes apparent he wont sign a workable extension, then trade him before the midnight hour to try and get close to fair value in return. But, again, who scores the goals outside of 19+88 if 72 is moved?
- EnzoD

That could depend on where you trade him and what they get.

If they moved him to a team like MTL and get either Galchenyuk or Pacioretty - they could help. TOR for JVR or CAR for a guy like Skinner + ....those guys would make less and can fill the net.

Probably not, but remember what people said about Saad 18 months ago.

BTW, I just heard, the Blues are one team that plans to make a hard run at Panarin next summer if he is not re-inked in Chicago first.
- John Jaeckel

do they even have much more cap space than the Hawks to work with?

I wasn't really comparing the two. Tarasenko now reminds me of OV until Trotz came over and Crosby up until last year. Tarasenko is a beast, strong, as good a shot in the league but has a ways to go to learn to be a winner.

What goes unsaid too often is that little Panarin is a fierce little dude, as much so when he doesn't have the puck. He's a battler on all 200 feet of the ice, has a bit of an edge to him as well.

I saw both Crosby and OV grow in that way this year. The emphasis was on winning, ignoring the crap and upping the compete level to all 3 zones, especially Crosby.

IMO Tarasenko has to learn to compete in all 3 zones to become elite, he's not yet, but he is offensively. IMO Panarin is the more rounded player at this point but Tarasenko has a higher ceiling.
- Mr Ricochet

Tarasenko reminded me of a very young and whiny Sid when he threw that hissy fit at Hitch over his ice time (and as someone mentioned, his defensive play or lack thereof probably had a decent amount to do with that). I know Crosby still has a reputation as a whiner but from the games I've seen he is nothing like he used to be in that respect. As you point out, Tarasenko has to grow in a few areas and with both Ovie and Sid it appears that overall maturity was linked with their improvements in the other zones, as well as their compete level.

Which leads to something else that often goes unsaid about Panarin - his enthusiasm for the game (although I know it has been mentioned here before). The correlation between that and his compete level. Kid looks like he's on cloud 9 almost every time he touches the ice. He is never satisfied with his performance and always talks about ways he can improve his game. Which I think contributes to what you mention, that he is crazy tough for a small dude and he battles way more than I was expecting from a smallish KHL-export.

Look at how excited he is just to leave the box... like a puppy at the park

What if Stan gets Jimmy Vesey? Saucy mitts. Check out his play last night at the Foxboro Sports Center (where Stan supposedly was as well!)
www.thehockeyshow.net
- alty

I didn't watch the entire thing but my impression from the video is that Vesey doesn't backcheck. Time after time he dogs it getting back and is the last guy into the d-zone. He does have good speed but it's typical of a lot of offensive players where the speed going on offense far exceeds the speed going on defense, of maybe better put would be his determination going on offense far exceeds his determination going back on defense.

do they even have much more cap space than the Hawks to work with?



Tarasenko reminded me of a very young and whiny Sid when he threw that hissy fit at Hitch over his ice time (and as someone mentioned, his defensive play or lack thereof probably had a decent amount to do with that). I know Crosby still has a reputation as a whiner but from the games I've seen he is nothing like he used to be in that respect. As you point out, Tarasenko has to grow in a few areas and with both Ovie and Sid it appears that overall maturity was linked with their improvements in the other zones, as well as their compete level.

Which leads to something else that often goes unsaid about Panarin - his enthusiasm for the game (although I know it has been mentioned here before). The correlation between that and his compete level. Kid looks like he's on cloud 9 almost every time he touches the ice. He is never satisfied with his performance and always talks about ways he can improve his game. Which I think contributes to what you mention, that he is crazy tough for a small dude and he battles way more than I was expecting from a smallish KHL-export.

Look at how excited he is just to leave the box... like a puppy at the park




- maria_wyeth

Great gif. Kid is doing a dance seeing a play unfold right in front of him that he can be a part of but the damn door is closed. Look on his face as you mention is pure joy, oblivious to anything else on earth at that moment.

People can keep knocking Sid if they want to but that dude took every bit as many hacks, whacks, slashes, spears, elbows as Toews ever did these last playoffs and he just skated away for the most part. He refused to get knocked of his game and got a cup for his troubles.

IMO he matured at 28-29 yrs of age.

They don't have to make the decision just yet and have this season to let a multitude of things play out up and down the lineup to help evaluate........I'll say this though, the decision would be much much easier to make had they drafted Fabbri instead of Schmaltz!!

I don't think the Hawks will get full value if they move Panarin or the guy(s) they have to move to open space to sign him.
- Mr Ricochet

You can't really say that. Fabbri put up almost identical numbers to TT last year. I know TT was good and had high end talent, but Schmaltz could very well put up the same. Let's let him play a few games and see what happens shall we?

You can't really say that. Fabbri put up almost identical numbers to TT last year. I know TT was good and had high end talent, but Schmaltz could very well put up the same. Let's let him play a few games and see what happens shall we?
- Chunk

Tied for the STL team lead in playoff points with Tarasenko. Both had 15 points in 20 games, Tarasenko was a -5, Fabbri at 5ft 10in 180lbs, who knocked Rozival out of the series with a crushing clean check, was a +1. As a rookie straight up from Major Junior!

Time will tell and of course I'm pulling for Schmaltz but ain't holding my breath.

Great gif. Kid is doing a dance seeing a play unfold right in front of him that he can be a part of but the damn door is closed. Look on his face as you mention is pure joy, oblivious to anything else on earth at that moment.

People can keep knocking Sid if they want to but that dude took every bit as many hacks, whacks, slashes, spears, elbows as Toews ever did these last playoffs and he just skated away for the most part. He refused to get knocked of his game and got a cup for his troubles.

IMO he matured at 28-29 yrs of age.
- Mr Ricochet

Its laughable the criticism Crosby gets which usually ramps up if the team isn't going well. Is there a player in the league that the Penguins would trade even up for him? McDavid maybe but that's all.

Yep, and if it becomes apparent he wont sign a workable extension, then trade him before the midnight hour to try and get close to fair value in return. But, again, who scores the goals outside of 19+88 if 72 is moved?
- EnzoD

I think Panarin has just scratched the surface. He gets an offseason to adjust his workouts to help him through an NHL season. I think you see him with more confidence this season. I think he pots 40. He has the hands and release. He will get plenty of one timers from Kane and on the PP. I also think we see him attack more with the puck entering the zone. Instead of deferring to Kane we will see him try to get to the middle of the ice and find room to unleash that nasty wrister of his.

Tied for the STL team lead in playoff points with Tarasenko. Both had 15 points in 20 games, Tarasenko was a -5, Fabbri at 5ft 10in 180lbs, who knocked Rozival out of the series with a crushing clean check, was a +1. As a rookie straight up from Major Junior!

Time will tell and of course I'm pulling for Schmaltz but ain't holding my breath.
- Mr Ricochet

Fabbri did play great in the playoffs, but I'm waiting to see what he can do over time and see if he can keep that pace up for an 82-game season and year after year. Ville Leino had a monster playoff performance in 2010 but fizzled out since.

So the jury is still out on Fabbri versus Schmaltz. Fabbri is ahead right now merely because he's actually played an entire NHL season versus zero games for Schmaltz.

Al Cimaglia tweet:

"That's the Gary Bettman NHL - extol the virtues of parity and then consistently put the same teams on national TV."

The Hawks will be on national TV (NBC or NBCSN) 21 times this year - 11 exclusives.

My disagreement with Al on this - it's NBC, not Bettman, calling the shots.

Fabbri did play great in the playoffs, but I'm waiting to see what he can do over time and see if he can keep that pace up for an 82-game season and year after year. Ville Leino had a monster playoff performance in 2010 but fizzled out since.

So the jury is still out on Fabbri versus Schmaltz. Fabbri is ahead right now merely because he's actually played an entire NHL season versus zero games for Schmaltz.
- AEL_Fox

Fabbri is a tough little SOB. 5'10" 180lbs and he almost put the 6'2" 220lbs Rosival through the glass. I think it should have been a charge/head contact, but he is a scappy guy with nice mitts and a scorer's touch. I like his game, so hopefully Schmaltz can be everything StanBo hoped for when passing on Fabbri....

Al Cimaglia tweet:

"That's the Gary Bettman NHL - extol the virtues of parity and then consistently put the same teams on national TV."

The Hawks will be on national TV (NBC or NBCSN) 21 times this year - 11 exclusives.

My disagreement with Al on this - it's NBC, not Bettman, calling the shots.
- StLBravesFan

Bettman is still responsible for that deal being negotiated. The league could have added limits or clauses to include more teams. The league and Bettman do have some responsibility for the disparity in the nationally televised games.

Fabbri is a tough little SOB. 5'10" 180lbs and he almost put the 6'2" 220lbs Rosival through the glass. I think it should have been a charge/head contact, but he is a scappy guy with nice mitts and a scorer's touch. I like his game, so hopefully Schmaltz can be everything StanBo hoped for when passing on Fabbri....
- EnzoD

I was hoping someone would have throttled Fabbri after he took out Roszival like that, but nothing. Kind of a punk, but agree he's tough and will be a good player in the league.

I wonder how Schmaltz's older brother is doing in the Blues system? Haven't heard much about his upside or what he projects to be in the NHL.

Cindy Criesbaby was a very accurate moniker early in his career. Best scorer of the 21st Century, but he was a diving and Referee whining little punk for many years.


Case in Point...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhsYlz1mG1c
- EnzoD

Funny clip, first time I have seen it. LMAO.

Noticeably it left out any footage of him carrying 2 Stanley Cups, 2 Olympic Gold Medals, a World Championship and a bunch of other hardware he has won. He pretty much kept his mouth shut this playoff season, paid dividends.

I did not say I'd rather have Tarasenko. I think Tarasenko has every offensive skill Panarin has except he's 30 pounds heavier and 4-5 inches taller. He's an ultra skilled beast. For that reason I think Tarasenko has a higher ceiling but TODAY I think Panarin is the better overall player.

IMO Tarasenko showed a lot of immaturity in last year's playoffs but he's nowhere near his prime physically or mentally, same for Panarin as well.

If you asked me who I'd take today I'd have to think on that awhile. Fortunately I won't ever have to make that decision.
- Mr Ricochet

4-5 inches taller is an overstatement

Funny clip, first time I have seen it. LMAO.

Noticeably it left out any footage of him carrying 2 Stanley Cups, 2 Olympic Gold Medals, a World Championship and a bunch of other hardware he has won. He pretty much kept his mouth shut this playoff season, paid dividends.
- RickJ

He is a very different player after the concussions and nearing his 30th birthday. But come on Rick....the proof is in the pudding. He was a punk. He is a Hall of Famer(already) and the best player since he was drafted, but he was a punk. He is not that same kid, but there is a reason that so many people don't like him, count me as one of them.

4-5 inches taller is an overstatement
- LaheysBRandy

Ya Vladdy Taraenko is built like an NFL Safety at 6'0" 235lbs....vs Panarin at 5'11" 180lbs

I was hoping someone would have throttled Fabbri after he took out Roszival like that, but nothing. Kind of a punk, but agree he's tough and will be a good player in the league.

I wonder how Schmaltz's older brother is doing in the Blues system? Haven't heard much about his upside or what he projects to be in the NHL.
- AEL_Fox

He was only tough because douche bags like Backes, Ott and Brouwer had his back.

Fabbri is going to find life in the NHL a little more difficult going forward without those goons behind him.

Bettman is still responsible for that deal being negotiated. The league could have added limits or clauses to include more teams. The league and Bettman do have some responsibility for the disparity in the nationally televised games.
- Quicky72

from the Hockey Hangout

All the Vesey talk shows how things have really slowed to a crawl this summer.

Safe to say that's Stan's plan A over the next month. If the kid goes to free agency, which now is a given. Stan tells him he is in the mix with Toews, Kane, Panerin, Anisimov on the top 2 lines(seeing that Q now likes Hossa with Kruger). Add to that he tells Vesey he has a legit shot of being the NHL rookie of the year due to the players he will play with and power play time he will likely receive, wow, if he says no to that, then it really is about "region" of the country and not hockey success.

Amazing how Stan's mere presence is causing such angst in Buffalo and Boston. They are definitely jittery there.

"April 11th - NO GAMES, a three hour broadcast of the Blackhawks logo"

All the Vesey talk shows how things have really slowed to a crawl this summer.

Safe to say that's Stan's plan A over the next month. If the kid goes to free agency, which now is a given. Stan tells him he is in the mix with Toews, Kane, Panerin, Anisimov on the top 2 lines(seeing that Q now likes Hossa with Kruger). Add to that he tells Vesey he has a legit shot of being the NHL rookie of the year due to the players he will play with and power play time he will likely receive, wow, if he says no to that, then it really is about "region" of the country and not hockey success.

Amazing how Stan's mere presence is causing such angst in Buffalo and Boston. They are definitely jittery there.
- Omahawk

Was there a Q-quote somewhere I missed on that because last I knew was that Q liked Hossa with Toews. Not that I'm against Hossa playing with Kruger but I thought the idea of Vesey at 1LW was to play the Saad role and be the missing piece so the Toews-Hossa line can get back to their possession dominance of a couple seasons ago.

It's all academic anyway until Vesey signs with the Hawks which my guess is won't happen.