I have zero worry about Hank. And I think our defense will be fine. Staal and Girardi will improve. Skjei is a stud. McIlrath showed he can be reliable. And McDonagh is in the best shape of his life.

I think all the playoff hockey caught up to the defense and as a Hawks fan I'm sure you see the effect of it too. The Rangers have played the 2nd most playoff hockey than any other team the last 6 years behind the Hawks. The long summer will help a lot.
- rangerdanger94

Don't know if he's a stud but I will say when I watched him a couple times when he played with the NTDP I could not take my eyes off of him as his skating was mesmerizing. Didn't know him from Adam but one look at that kid skate and my eyes were glued to him. He ain't small either. Figure skater balance and speed skater push.

Good luck with Vesey by the way and it's now safe for me to come back to NHL message boards. Yeeeesh what a waste of summer NHL reading.

1) that logic applies to Darling too.
2) You can wait a couple of months to make the move but earlier is always better. And injuries or underperforming can happen. I wonder about NYI.

3) we do know the Blackhawks are up against the cap, no waiting required to figure that one out.if it weren't for the cap, I'd wa t to keep him.
- matt_ahrens

1) So have Darling play closer to half/half if you want to see him more in action because he had some bad stretches last year. There is nothing outside of a 3 games span in the playoffs that suggests Darling could back the Hawks fully. Make the decision on who to keep after you've got a bigger sample size, like closer to a full starter work load for the guy.

2) No, it's really not. Like, waiting too long is obviously bad and has bitten the Hawks in recent years, but shooting your load too soon is just as bad, dude. No one likes the mess.

3) We have no idea the degree of which the Hawks are up against the cap next year because, you know, no one knows what the cap will be. We don't know who else could be gone in the expansion draft (Kruger ), if Hossa will want to continue playing, if Anisimov is a better option for a trade, etc etc. We do know that the market for goalies is pretty crap rn.

One of the biggest advantages the Hawks have in the west is they have the most consistently good goalie of the past 3 years. Like I said, Crawford may ultimately be the most likely choice, but moving him in-season is silly if it's for cap relief in a different year. Unless they're getting back a JVR type player, it's better to sit until the variables are know to make an informed decision.

Vesey would have been great but let's be honest, he would have been great because of his contract situation moreso than the player himself. If he was a straight FA, in line for 2.5-3.5M per, would the Hawks have had interest? Exactly.

Hudler is the obvious name now but Fleischmann seems like the most likely addition outside of a possible trade.

You can mock me all you like, but the facts are there. If Q and Stan had held onto Jimmy Hayes for the rest of that season, Kevin signs with the Hawks, we have two big bodied players in the bottom six that have scored 20 goals in the NHL, AND Vesey likely signs here. It is what it is and Campbell/Kempny are very nice additions. Hawks couldnt score outside of Kane's line last year, and their forward group (as it stands today) is objectively inferior. So, ya, three Cups were amazing, but looking forward, the Hawks will have a very tough time finding goals.
- EnzoD

Yo Zo, is it time to "Panik"?...... Panik skates with Toews and Hossa, 15:00 TOI, puts up 43 points, 137 hits, 169 shots, a +6 or Q "Daley/Garbutt/Weise's" him and he skates 6:00 TOI.

Thank God this is over. Reminds me of Geraldo opening Al Capone's safe and finding a Meister Brau bottle.

What the???

How did this kid just go from being assuredly penciled in along Toews and solidifying our top six (prematurely), to being a moron and a likely bust (also premature)?

No one except the people in his room truly know what drove the decision. AV is not a bad coach and the Rangers have been solid in the playoffs the last few years (yes I know this past year wasn't great).

He didn't choose the Hawks. Let's move on to the next whether that means Hudler or some other unknown back room option (JJ... Anything?).

I'm not painting everyone here with this brush, but some of the comments...?

What the???

How did this kid just go from being assuredly penciled in along Toews and solidifying our top six (prematurely), to being a moron and a likely bust (also premature)?

No one except the people in his room truly know what drove the decision. AV is not a bad coach and the Rangers have been solid in the playoffs the last few years (yes I know this past year wasn't great).

He didn't choose the Hawks. Let's move on to the next whether that means Hudler or some other unknown back room option (JJ... Anything?).

I'm not painting everyone here with this brush, but some of the comments...?
- Chunk

Typical reactions regardless of sport, unfortunately. Love, Love, Love...wait, he signed elsewhere? Bum, Bum, Bum...

Vesey would have been great but let's be honest, he would have been great because of his contract situation moreso than the player himself. If he was a straight FA, in line for 2.5-3.5M per, would the Hawks have had interest? Exactly.

- TyYoungfelt

True that, he would have been nice for the price, but nada mas.

Have to give Rutherford credit yet again in Pittsburgh. They added a legit bottom 6 center in Thomas De Pauli, a high energy player who has the look of an NHL player given his 2-way playing ability and his skill on the faceoff dot. Not as sexy of a pick as Vesey, but a hell of a nice depth move for Pittsburgh to cover for injuries in their bottom 6. I see no reason they won't remain the favorites to win the Cup this year.

Personally i DO think he's a moron.. maybe he WONT be a bust but DEFINITELY a moron.... who misses out a chance to play with captain canada and the greatest american born hockey player to play the game lol. that's just me though.. wont be surprised if the kid ends up kicking himself for it.

Personally i DO think he's a moron.. maybe he WONT be a bust but DEFINITELY a moron.... who misses out a chance to play with captain canada and the greatest american born hockey player to play the game lol. that's just me though.. wont be surprised if the kid ends up kicking himself for it.
- MichaeLionheart

The Rangers are a good team. That's a good fit for him. Just because we think the Hawks are the greatest ever, players looking at their future don't see it that way anymore. Yea, goto Chicago 2 years play for cheap and if all goes well you may get traded off because they can't afford you. The league is now littered with NHL players who the Hawks couldn't afford to keep. Who wants to be the next in the line of the expendable?

Don't know if he's a stud but I will say when I watched him a couple times when he played with the NTDP I could not take my eyes off of him as his skating was mesmerizing. Didn't know him from Adam but one look at that kid skate and my eyes were glued to him. He ain't small either. Figure skater balance and speed skater push.

Good luck with Vesey by the way and it's now safe for me to come back to NHL message boards. Yeeeesh what a waste of summer NHL reading.
- Mr Ricochet

His comparable has always been McDonagh. Similar elite skating ability and games. Definitely has top pairing potential.

Personally i DO think he's a moron.. maybe he WONT be a bust but DEFINITELY a moron.... who misses out a chance to play with captain canada and the greatest american born hockey player to play the game lol. that's just me though.. wont be surprised if the kid ends up kicking himself for it.
- MichaeLionheart

I hope the first time Krieder runs a goalie, that someone takes JV's knees out. Ask the twins what AV ever did for them, except become cheap-shot artists. Harvard edumacation over-rated.

Maybe I can be an agent (to give out better advise). Earn your big contract in 2 years, play with your buddies, have fun. Future is set.

I guess what they say is true, you can be book smart, but lack wisdom. Good luck at being mediocre in NY

I hope the first time Krieder runs a goalie, that someone takes JV's knees out. Ask the twins what AV ever did for them, except become cheap-shot artists. Harvard edumacation over-rated.

Maybe I can be an agent (to give out better advise). Earn your big contract in 2 years, play with your buddies, have fun. Future is set.
- powerenforcer

Rooting for a guy to have his career ended just because he didn't choose your favorite team? Sad.

I guess what they say is true, you can be book smart, but lack wisdom. Good luck at being mediocre in NY
- BetweenTheDots

LOL. The Rangers have a good team, it's a great hockey market, it's close to home, Vesey gave it a lot of thought and did what was best for him. The petulant childishness over his decision by many in here is embarrassing to the Hawks fan base.

Rooting for a guy to have his career ended just because he didn't choose your favorite team? Sad.
- kwolf68

Did you read the entire post?
Having a coach like AV in the league that is sad. I am questioning his logic, his agents logic. Maybe he isn't as smart as everyone gives him credit for.

You can mock me all you like, but the facts are there. If Q and Stan had held onto Jimmy Hayes for the rest of that season, Kevin signs with the Hawks, we have two big bodied players in the bottom six that have scored 20 goals in the NHL, AND Vesey likely signs here. It is what it is and Campbell/Kempny are very nice additions. Hawks couldnt score outside of Kane's line last year, and their forward group (as it stands today) is objectively inferior. So, ya, three Cups were amazing, but looking forward, the Hawks will have a very tough time finding goals.
- EnzoD

Cant seem to find a 20 goal season from either Hayes but whatever. Boyh would probably priced themselves out of the Hawks system anyway by now.

LOL. The Rangers have a good team, it's a great hockey market, it's close to home, Vesey gave it a lot of thought and did what was best for him. The petulant childishness over his decision by many in here is embarrassing to the Hawks fan base.
- kwolf68

Indeed, quite a few posters lack any class. He picked up a good team, in the eyes of many non-Blackhawks hockey fans Blackhawks and Rangers are in a similar decline, so he will be playing with whom he enjoys to be and live in a city he likes. Good for him.

On the other topic - not sure how people think Stan can afford Hudler, I do not believe math will work out to sign him.

Indeed, quite a few posters lack any class. He picked up a good team, in the eyes of many non-Blackhawks hockey fans Blackhawks and Rangers are in a similar decline, so he will be playing with whom he enjoys to be and live in a city he likes. Good for him.

On the other topic - not sure how people think Stan can afford Hudler, I do not believe math will work out to sign him.
- vshun

#Tanguay watch

Oh well.


Add Hudler and lets go !!

Who else do you trade to keep Panarin?
- SimpleJack[/quote
At end of season. Not now or during season. There is no need this year. They both work fine this year with cap.

Indeed, quite a few posters lack any class. He picked up a good team, in the eyes of many non-Blackhawks hockey fans Blackhawks and Rangers are in a similar decline, so he will be playing with whom he enjoys to be and live in a city he likes. Good for him.

On the other topic - not sure how people think Stan can afford Hudler, I do not believe math will work out to sign him.
- vshun

Maybe the thinking is Hudler could be had for very cheap, ala Soupy....maybe even cheaper. I think Hudler would be a great addition, the guy may not be quite what he once was, but just a couple years ago he scored something like 74 points. The guy can still play and if you put him with 19 and 81, they'll do all the heavy lifting in the defensive zone, where Hudler is not known to be so great, but in the scoring zone, he can play.

I hope the first time Krieder runs a goalie, that someone takes JV's knees out. Ask the twins what AV ever did for them, except become cheap-shot artists. Harvard edumacation over-rated.

Maybe I can be an agent (to give out better advise). Earn your big contract in 2 years, play with your buddies, have fun. Future is set.
- powerenforcer

I hope the first time Krieder runs a goalie, that someone takes JV's knees out. Ask the twins what AV ever did for them, except become cheap-shot artists. Harvard edumacation over-rated.

Maybe I can be an agent (to give out better advise). Earn your big contract in 2 years, play with your buddies, have fun. Future is set.
- powerenforcer

I think Hudler will be a Blackhawk soon. That will be a good thing too. Proven scorer.

Didn't take long for the trade CC crowd to show up That only happens in video game GM world. You don't give him up without finding an equivalent replacement, and news flash - Darling aint that guy.

Next year would be an even worse time to move him, as the other 29 teams will have their #1s protected for expansion. So we would be shopping at slot #31 for his successor.

Aaaaaaand the NMC....

How about if Q and the coaching staff make something out of a few of these kids in Rockford, and/or find a new system that plays to the strengths of the team they have to work with.