Well, as it stands today, the Hawks are about as thin upfront as they have been in several years. The defense and the G is about as good as as it's been in several years.

But anyone buying in to the "Top 6 is set, it's only the bottom 6 that needs help" mantra needs to seriously get real.

Still need a top 6 LW in the worst way.

Gotta wait and see because I believe that the fact that Hudler has not signed anywhere yet has a lot to do with the Vesey situation and he will likely end up with one of the "runners up," and likely that one will be a perennial playoff team. Could easily be the Hawks.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah agree with this, the forwards are very thin not only need First line LW , I'm not sure where the offense will come from a third line. Forwards look weak not just not from what we're use to in Chicago but weak compared to a lot of teams.

Agreed those are 100% on Q . Weise more than Daley
- mrpaulish

C'mon Mr. P...

sure Q made some really bad decisions - there's no reason Mashinter should have been in there...but the reason this team didn't advance was lack of a #4 dman - would Daley have worked - he certainly was better than anything after the top 3.
Q has shown his stubbornness...the Vermette move against the Ducks almost
cost them that series.

Meantime Bowman knew at the parade he was going to need a #4, but his first instinct was to resign his pet Runstink while Oduya sat there...not buying out Bickell and the horrid Saad trade which he followed up with the Sharp fiasco. Yeah they hit a homerun with Panarin, but that was more Barry Smith than Stan. Point is Bowman didn't put his team in a position to repeat from the summer forward and again at the TDL - his priority should have been a dman and instead he gets three forwards...? Yikes.

Just when you thought we were getting a Jimmy Vesey-free speculation day since the decision will be here tomorrow or Saturday, yet another
sportswriter decides he knows who the final three teams in the running are.

Stephen Harris of the Boston herald is the latest soothsayer whose "inside source" says Bruins did good and these are the top three. Shut the F up already!

The final suitor was the Bruins, who, according to a well-placed source in the Vesey camp, made a strong pitch late Wednesday.

“Bruins did well today,” said the source in a text message.

There has been speculation the perennial Stanley Cup contender Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs — for whom Vesey’s dad, Jim, is a scout — were the frontrunners to sign the unrestricted free agent. But the encouraging word from the meeting with the Bruins may suggest the B’s are very much in the picture.

As I read more about JV I can't help but think IMHO he will be a buster on levels we have not seen if he signed with BO, NYI, BU, or TO. His offensive production as a man against kids at Harvard is weak. Never had more assists than goals so he is not a play maker. He is the tough guy against inferior players. How will he stand up when a Orpik or a Backes type nails him in the corner? And, with all this distraction he has to be somewhat of a head case... Just friggen choose.

My hope - the smoke is released today, comes out blue and the shape of a maple leaf - good riddance...
- riozzo

Dunno, a lot of good teams are going hard after this kid.

I'm not buying this whole "he's overrated, will be a bust narrative," at least not yet. I think his success will have a LOT to do with where he lands, and the situation he plays in. Which is WHY Chicago is potentially such a nice fit for him.

ALL THAT SAID, as I said on Twitter yesterday, if he goes to Boston, then there is at least a hint that he's sort of a third "Hayes Bro". Which does NOT bode well for his success, IMO.

Sure, hometown and all that, but WHERE this kid chooses to go also says something about his character and what he wants. Maybe, legitimately, he thinks Claude Julien and the B's culture will bring out the best in him. But if THAT is the primary thing he wants (as it should be), then it's hard to argue against Chicago. Or, say, Pittsburgh.

Yeah agree with this, the forwards are very thin not only need First line LW , I'm not sure where the offense will come from a third line. Forwards look weak not just not from what we're use to in Chicago but weak compared to a lot of teams.
- HamiltonHawk

Without a fairly significant add at LW, it is a thinner version of last year's forward group. Arguably, much thinner.

Seems funny to me that suddenly, Hinostroza, Motte and Hartman are "blue chip" prospects.

Don't get me wrong. Hartman, to me, looks like a kid who will be a good bottom 6 player. I've not seen enough of Motte to make a call. He had one good year in College.

Schmaltz looks like he can be a nice MOST LIKELY 3rd line player in the NHL—nothing to sniff at. But not a savior either.

But, it just seems way too desperate to be pinning a lot of hope on these guys. When Hinostroza came up last year, he showed a lot of speed and energy—and nothing else. How does that suddenly change if you plug him in at 1RW?

Meanwhile the Hawks, minus TT and Shaw (and Weise and Ladd and Fleischmann) really look RIGHT NOW like a thinner version of last year's 1 1/2 line team.

Sure, hometown and all that, but WHERE this kid chooses to go also says something about his character and what he wants. Maybe, legitimately, he thinks Calude Julien and the B's culture will bring out the best in him. But if THAT is the primary thing he wants (as it should be), then it's hard to argue against Chicago. Or, say, Pittsburgh.
- John Jaeckel

Chicago and Pittsburgh are amazing choices - anyone arguing that is just dumb and wanting to bash a team. There is a real criticism that's valid in regards to Chicago though, and quite recent (and and additional one currently in limbo), that being the talented Saad being traded away.

If Vesey took this all the way through college to be able to choose where he plays, I can't see him overlooking the fact that he doesn't control his destination anymore once he signs somewhere and can be traded at the team's whim. In Chicago, unfortunately that happens to good players due to the cap crunch.

I'm not someone who pays a lot of attention to many teams, but I have to imagine Saad >>> Vesey, so what assurance is there that Vesey will have a spot beyond the 16/17 season if he signs in Chicago?

As for the "in limbo" situation I mentioned, Panarin is still awaiting a new contract, and that situation is much closer to what Vesey will be facing.

Another factor is wondering how dumb his agent will look (sports agent, he won't care one bit) if Vesey signs in Chicago after saying Detroit was too far away.

That all said, I think the top spots any FA should go is a team like Chicago or Pittsburgh, due to their success. However, I think it's more likely his choices may boil down to Boston, NYR and Pittsburgh

Hinostroza didn't crack 20 in the A last year. And this source uses that metric to project Vesey. So maybe the source needs to check his own math.

There are a lot of very good hockey people representing about 8 NHL organizations who seem to disagree with this source.
- John Jaeckel

Sure but you could also say that Hinostroza had 51 points in A last year and is year younger than Vesey. I say two different style of players and it´s hard compare players when other is playing pro and other in college. No one is right now but we´ll see which one will be better.

C'mon Mr. P...

sure Q made some really bad decisions - there's no reason Mashinter should have been in there...but the reason this team didn't advance was lack of a #4 dman - would Daley have worked - he certainly was better than anything after the top 3.
Q has shown his stubbornness...the Vermette move against the Ducks almost
cost them that series.

Meantime Bowman knew at the parade he was going to need a #4, but his first instinct was to resign his pet Runstink while Oduya sat there...not buying out Bickell and the horrid Saad trade which he followed up with the Sharp fiasco. Yeah they hit a homerun with Panarin, but that was more Barry Smith than Stan. Point is Bowman didn't put his team in a position to repeat from the summer forward and again at the TDL - his priority should have been a dman and instead he gets three forwards...? Yikes.
- DK002

In game 1 vs . St. Louis I would have rather had someone on the ice that can score a little bit as opposed to Mashtaters that literally serves no purpose.

Q got a little more arrogant than normal this past season, hopefully he will continually put the best line up out night after night

Dunno, a lot of good teams are going hard after this kid.

I'm not buying this whole "he's overrated, will be a bust narrative," at least not yet. I think his success will have a LOT to do with where he lands, and the situation he plays in. Which is WHY Chicago is potentially such a nice fit for him.

ALL THAT SAID, as I said on Twitter yesterday, if he goes to Boston, then there is at least a hint that he's sort of a third "Hayes Bro". Which does NOT bode well for his success, IMO.

Sure, hometown and all that, but WHERE this kid chooses to go also says something about his character and what he wants. Maybe, legitimately, he thinks Claude Julien and the B's culture will bring out the best in him. But if THAT is the primary thing he wants (as it should be), then it's hard to argue against Chicago. Or, say, Pittsburgh.
- John Jaeckel

JJ-- wouldn't you say that signing with the team that drafted him and working his way up, may have shown more character...rather than using the college loophole and going to a team that is the best chance of winning?

If not Vesey, then Hudler is a solid pick up. Played great in Calgary a season and a half ago. I still think Vesey signs with the Hawks... I'm sure the Thursday night phone call by Jonathan Toews, if he wasn't on a conference call when they talked to him yesterday should help.

If not Vesey, then Hudler is a solid pick up. Played great in Calgary a season and a half ago. I still think Vesey signs with the Hawks... I'm sure the Thursday night phone call by Jonathan Toews, if he wasn't on a conference call when they talked to him yesterday should help.
- 93Joe

I agree. Hudler would be a solid add. He wont be a light it up guy stat wise, but he can really help the top 6.

...
Sure, hometown and all that, but WHERE this kid chooses to go also says something about his character and what he wants. Maybe, legitimately, he thinks Claude Julien and the B's culture will bring out the best in him. But if THAT is the primary thing he wants (as it should be), then it's hard to argue against Chicago. Or, say, Pittsburgh.
- John Jaeckel

It's a character thing with me, JV can choose, no need for a charade, he could have told NAS months ago he is signing with BOS TOR or whom ever... he knew then, nothing Tavaras or Kane says should/would change his mind especially if he is taking Hayes input... just my $0.02.

I mean signing in Chicago makes sense so it's possible the sources are right...but are they guessing or has there been tampering..
- Queenie_5_hole

Well, the scenario by which the leafs hired his father after drafting his brother is the one closet to any possible investigation if he goes to the Leafs.

If his father had long resume to prop up his hire, it might not look as suspicious.

I don't htink any of the other teams are in any situation that might be investigated.

I ma not really sure what officially would be called tampering, but some sort of collusion which set up a false process that eventually gets vesey to that team.

But seriously I don't know.
If Q or Stanbo say hello to the kid after watching him in Foxboro..is that tampering?
If his reps are with im and Q & Stan say hi, is that tampering?

if they say "We sure would like to have you on the Blackhawks!" prior to Aug. 15th now to me THAT might be.

But if a Boston kid Kevin Hayes, Jack Eichel start campaigning on their own accord, is that? I think not.

But the murmur for some time is that the Leafs hire of his father stinks of insider gamesmanship, and I have heard more than one agent/media guy suggest the league will not sit back if he signs there.

Dallas who they have going to finals, Nashville and St. Louie
- HamiltonHawk

Nashville I can see being very good this year, but Dallas and st.Louis??. Didn't both lose significant pieces of their team over the off season and replace them with nothing? Didn't Dallas lose2 of their top4 D and get hamhuis?

Without a fairly significant add at LW, it is a thinner version of last year's forward group. Arguably, much thinner.

Seems funny to me that suddenly, Hinostroza, Motte and Hartman are "blue chip" prospects.

Don't get me wrong. Hartman, to me, looks like a kid who will be a good bottom 6 player. I've not seen enough of Motte to make a call. He had one good year in College.

Schmaltz looks like he can be a nice MOST LIKELY 3rd line player in the NHL—nothing to sniff at. But not a savior either.

But, it just seems way too desperate to be pinning a lot of hope on these guys. When Hinostroza came up last year, he showed a lot of speed and energy—and nothing else. How does that suddenly change if you plug him in at 1RW?

Meanwhile the Hawks, minus TT and Shaw (and Weise and Ladd and Fleischmann) really look RIGHT NOW like a thinner version of last year's 1 1/2 line team.
- John Jaeckel

John, I don't see things as pessimistically at all on the offensive side.

The bottom six likely opens with Panik, Desi, Kruger, Lundberg, Tootoo and ONE of Rasmussen/Hartman/Schmaltz/Motte. The top six picks up either Vesey or Hudler.

I would argue that losing TT was addition by subtraction. Losing Shaw not a great thing, but the mileage and the stupid penalty gene might not be bad things to lose either.

The toughest scenario is if they can't find anyone for the top six. Even then, I would contend that having five of those slots filled with very good to HOF players puts the onus on those guys to step it up. Many teams have only one decent top six line.

As for the defense - still seeing that squad as deep as they have ever had, and that will reap big dividends for the possession game as well as less minutes on the top three guys.

Another factor is wondering how dumb his agent will look (sports agent, he won't care one bit) if Vesey signs in Chicago after saying Detroit was too far away.

- stashu

I think that was polite & diplomatic way of saying Detroit as a destination (and long term fit) isn't to their liking.

These agenst are not gonna rip or start throwing negative criticism towards NHL teams, it is bad business.

Nashville I can see being very good this year, but Dallas and st.Louis??. Didn't both lose significant pieces of their team over the off season and replace them with nothing? Didn't Dallas lose2 of their top4 D and get hamhuis?
- hawkitect

I think most of the time these so-called experts only look at offensive numbers. Dallas will not have a problem filling BOTH nets.

I think that was polite & diplomatic way of saying Detroit as a destination (and long term fit) isn't to their liking.

These agenst are not gonna rip or start throwing negative criticism towards NHL teams, it is bad business.
- wiz1901

Not disagreeing with you, I just think it will be hilarious if he signs with Chicago after saying that. If he does that, then that agent did exactly what you said is bad for business and is outed in that fashion.

Without a fairly significant add at LW, it is a thinner version of last year's forward group. Arguably, much thinner.

Meanwhile the Hawks, minus TT and Shaw (and Weise and Ladd and Fleischmann) really look RIGHT NOW like a thinner version of last year's 1 1/2 line team.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, I'm 100% in agreement with the bolded statement, as well as the mention that the improved D and strong goaltending will likely offset some ills caused by lack of forward depth.

While #1LW is a glaring concern (pending Hudler/Vesey), I also think that the Bottom 6 may give us some heartburn this year. Healthy Freddy? Big difference maker. However, there will be some guys with serious speed issues (Desi, Rass, Mash...Tootoo?) that will result in prolonged periods in the D zone. The Hawks are truly going to rely on a minimum of two rooks in the bottom 6 (Schmaltz, Hartman, Motte, Hino..?) on a regular basis. And this is while tolerating the play of some less-beloved players (Mash/Tootoo).

Lots of potential holes, but will be very interested to see how the Core pulls this group together for the regular season.

Who knows what caused the Nashville mishandle of communication about Vesey.

Sure, absolutely, he didn't man up and be straight up that he was going UFA, but maybe he was told to keep a lid on it, and the quiet approach best serves getting past the Nashville selection.

Tracey Myers tweeted Kevin Hayes wasn't signing with hawks as soon as the college season ended, so the hawks told her, but weren't broadcasting it.

So maybe Jimmy was advised to string them along, or he was very polite and never said he was doing anything other than....we will never know.

JJ-- wouldn't you say that signing with the team that drafted him and working his way up, may have shown more character...rather than using the college loophole and going to a team that is the best chance of winning?
- Hank3Henshaw

It's not a "college loophole" - it's a legitimate bargained part of the CBA - exercising his right to become a free agent does not show a lack of character - in fact, since the extra year or two in college could have been disasters for him, either in performance or because of injury - seems to me he showed a definite presence of character by having confidence in his abilities and the guts to get to free agency.

It's not a "college loophole" - it's a legitimate bargained part of the CBA - exercising his right to become a free agent does not show a lack of character - in fact, since the extra year or two in college could have been disasters for him, either in performance or because of injury - seems to me he showed a definite presence of character by having confidence in his abilities and the guts to get to free agency.
- StLBravesFan

I agree, Sage. I didn't begrudge K. Hayes or Reilly for exercising their contractual rights, and I wouldn't begrudge Vesey, regardless of where he signs.

Who knows what caused the Nashville mishandle of communication about Vesey.

Sure, absolutely, he didn't man up and be straight up that he was going UFA, but maybe he was told to keep a lid on it, and the quiet approach best serves getting past the Nashville selection.

Tracey Myers tweeted Kevin Hayes wasn't signing with hawks as soon as the college season ended, so the hawks told her, but weren't broadcasting it.

So maybe Jimmy was advised to string them along, or he was very polite and never said he was doing anything other than....we will never know.
- wiz1901

Wiz,

I'll throw this out to you because I feel like you're one of the few on here that might have a similar feeling...the whole Vesey sweepstakes feels very much like a work to me. I think he/his camp have known this whole time where he's going to sign (how could they not), and rather than just have signed on Tuesday, they've decided to build up this production--add on to that, the perfectly timed Players Tribune article that came out yesterday...

Now, I'm not saying he is not talented or attacking his character; however, I think there is something to be said about guys signing with who they're drafted by and working their way up, vs. guys using the college loophole. Vesey obviously has something that multiple teams see and want, but isn't it weird that a guy who has never played a minute of pro hockey, or shown he can compete in the league, is discussing minutes and second year contracts with teams?

I think where ever he signs, it'll be tough for him now. It's a dangerous path to take: completely unproven guy, putting the NHL on hold (granted, it's a slow offseason) until you make your selection. All it's done is put him under the microscope and make expectations that could be pretty hard to live up to/achieve.

It'll be interesting to see where he signs...

In game 1 vs . St. Louis I would have rather had someone on the ice that can score a little bit as opposed to Mashtaters that literally serves no purpose.

Q got a little more arrogant than normal this past season, hopefully he will continually put the best line up out night after night
- mrpaulish

I do not think Mashinter is all on Q... remember, they traded a number 1, eleventh overall, to get him, and the FO had to justify what they got for Beach.

I agree. Hudler would be a solid add. He wont be a light it up guy stat wise, but he can really help the top 6.
- z1990z

........... On the 2nd line if they move Panerin up withToews.
Anyone else buyin that there may be something alittle more to Toews stepping back, maybe re thinking all 8 years here, Let's see , sold the single family crib in Lincoln Park for a condo again, no convention, not around to try to help sell this kid Vesey on Chicago ect.
I get it about relaxing on the P.R. Stuff to an extent, but given the fact about him losing 2high end LW's in Sharp and Saad in 2years and they run hackers out there with him instead, I know he makes the good coin but hockey is a team game some of it built on chemistry so I get it he could've walking away for a bit to chill and maybere think his stuff ,and maybe the very slightest bit of doubt may have started to creep in on " do I want to do all 8 here if there just gonna give me midgets and journeymen on my LeftWing. Maybe I'll tell my agent season by season now and see how it plays out.Hate it if you want boys when you read this, but he did go and talk to the boss about Lobbying for Lucic if they let Ladd go which they did, so I could see this Vesey thing being very crucial to Tazer. L