Yeah, I think that's where all the talk started. They work out together or see each other in the gym all the time during the offseason. I can't remember all of the details.
- MNHawk

That's how Tootoo got recruited and eventually signed; he works out with Seabrook and Keith. Could this happen again with Hudler? Maybe if the math works out for what Hudler wants in a salary and term.

Winnipeg has some solid young prospects, they would be ripe for Stan to go in and poach a winger. Connor isn't going anywhere, neither is Laine or Ehlers. But guys like Dano, Lowry, Lemieux and Armia could be snatched up for a decent price. Chances are these guys are all bottom 6 forwards, but they could be an option if none of our own prospects are ready to step up.
- DarthKane

I love Lemieux's jam and Armia's versatility. Wonder if he could steal both?

If I had to bet a dollar today which of Schmaltz or Motte is more effective this coming year, just this one year, I think it will be Motte. He has the build and style to help more as an inexperienced NHL player.

North-south, low center of gravity and a style that isn't predicated on pure skill. Three years from now maybe a different story but this coming year IMO Motte, if he even makes the roster, will be more effective of the two.
- Mr Ricochet

My gut says the same thing. Motte may be similar to Sheary, Rust, and Kuhnhackl in that they're not going to be core or elite players who will be coveted for your fantasy team, all-star team, or international team, but they play hard, within a system, and within their means while complementing core players. Motte, IMHO, has that capacity to do that being an effective checker and versatile role player much like Shaw. And Shaw did that almost out of the gate once he got called up mid-way through his first year.

Schmaltz may have the better upside offensively and where he ends up (i.e. top 6). I think he will have value starting on the 3rd line given that he improved his play away from the puck last season at UND after the Hawks coaching staff gave him that feedback as something to work on. Who knows, he could surprise and bust out right away like Panarin but not likely.

Assuming nothing else changes, you can pretty much pencil in Desjardins, Panik, Rasmussen, Tootoo and Schmaltz. After that, there will be competition.
- John Jaeckel

That sounds pretty accurate to me, something like:

1LW - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Panik - Kruger - Schmaltz
Desjardins - Rasmussen - Tootoo

Panik could be the 1LW opening up 3LW.

The way I see it, the forwards who will play regularly (i.e. all 82 games barring injury) are Toews, Hossa, Panarin, Anisimov, Kane, Kruger, and Desjardins.

Then the forwards who will either platoon, ride the Rockford shuttle, or be eased into playing time are Panik, Schmaltz, Rasmussen, Tootoo, Lundberg, McNeill, Hartman, Hinostroza, and Motte. Possibly Kero and Baun. Then there's Mashinter, of course.

Tanner has Karlsson as the 3rd best defenseman ever
- bhawks2241

This just in: Tanner is a (frank)ing idiot.

But then again, he is a byproduct of the stupid criteria on how the Norris is awarded and that points count more than anything else.

I like Karlsson, he's a really good player and a good kid. But holy poop, 3rd all-time? Wow! Sure would like him on the 'Hawks. Even at this stage of the core, he is 2nd on D. Go back just a short couple seasons and he's 3rd or 4th ..... on this team.

That sounds pretty accurate to me, something like:

1LW - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Panik - Kruger - Schmaltz
Desjardins - Rasmussen - Tootoo

Panik could be the 1LW opening up 3LW.

The way I see it, the forwards who will play regularly (i.e. all 82 games barring injury) are Toews, Hossa, Panarin, Anisimov, Kane, Kruger, and Desjardins.

Then the forwards who will either platoon, ride the Rockford shuttle, or be eased into playing time are Panik, Schmaltz, Rasmussen, Tootoo, Lundberg, McNeill, Hartman, Hinostroza, and Motte. Possibly Kero and Baun. Then there's Mashinter, of course.
- AEL_Fox

Absent another acquisition I think we see Panik get the first shot on LW, with Lundberg and Motte on the bottom six. Maybe they shuffle the top five to put Panik at 2LW....

Not the ideal scenario, but I still think the possession/transition game tilts the puck toward more O zone play in favor of the Hawks against most teams. Especially now that you have enough depth at the blue line to move TVR from #4 to #6 on the depth chart.

That sounds pretty accurate to me, something like:

1LW - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Panik - Kruger - Schmaltz
Desjardins - Rasmussen - Tootoo

Panik could be the 1LW opening up 3LW.

The way I see it, the forwards who will play regularly (i.e. all 82 games barring injury) are Toews, Hossa, Panarin, Anisimov, Kane, Kruger, and Desjardins.

Then the forwards who will either platoon, ride the Rockford shuttle, or be eased into playing time are Panik, Schmaltz, Rasmussen, Tootoo, Lundberg, McNeill, Hartman, Hinostroza, and Motte. Possibly Kero and Baun. Then there's Mashinter, of course.
- AEL_Fox

Ohhhhhh, I think the last name will be in there most games.......

This reminds me of ,go back to 81-82 when they drafted Savard and Wilson, then add a bunch of under the radar guys like Larmer, Ludzik ect. Then mid season traded for.....Al Secord, well, gotta embrace the Idea of the Kids but WTF where is Hartman and McNeill in all of thesehockeycard line ups? We're giving some of these kids jobs without even spending a second or some just got a quick fart sniff of Rockford! I would like to see those 2get a true shot at the roster.

This reminds me of ,go back to 81-82 when they drafted Savard and Wilson, then add a bunch of under the radar guys like Larmer, Ludzik ect. Then mid season traded for.....Al Secord, well, gotta embrace the Idea of the Kids but WTF where is Hartman and McNeill in all of thesehockeycard line ups? We're giving some of these kids jobs without even spending a second or some just got a quick fart sniff of Rockford! I would like to see those 2get a true shot at the roster.
- wonthecup10

Quick! Trivia ..... and don't look it up. What did Al "Rocky" Secord accomplish in '81-'82 that was never done in the NHL, or since?

Quick! Trivia ..... and don't look it up. What did Al "Rocky" Secord accomplish in '81-'82 that was never done in the NHL, or since?
- blackhawk24

Let's see 3 fights in 1game? 3 goals and 3fights in 1game?, Got me buddy, I Give.

Absent another acquisition I think we see Panik get the first shot on LW, with Lundberg and Motte on the bottom six. Maybe they shuffle the top five to put Panik at 2LW....

Not the ideal scenario, but I still think the possession/transition game tilts the puck toward more O zone play in favor of the Hawks against most teams. Especially now that you have enough depth at the blue line to move TVR from #4 to #6 on the depth chart.
- Return of the Roar

I hope the 1LW is not on the team yet...or its gonna be another tough year for 19. You thought last years forward corp was weak...just look at what they have now.

Championships + cap + no development from picks + trading picks and prospects for no currently rostered players = the inevitable slide to mediocrity.

shaw, saad and kruger the only picks to become contributors in the last 5 years and now 2 of them are gone...

another big year from panerin and he gone too...

load up on those cup run videos

One more piece....just one more piece

That sounds pretty accurate to me, something like:

Hudler - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Desjardin - Kruger - Hartman
Panik - Rasmussen - Tootoo

Panik could be the 1LW opening up 3LW.

The way I see it, the forwards who will play regularly (i.e. all 82 games barring injury) are Toews, Hossa, Panarin, Anisimov, Kane, Kruger, and Desjardins.

Then the forwards who will either platoon, ride the Rockford shuttle, or be eased into playing time are Panik, Schmaltz, Rasmussen, Tootoo, Lundberg, McNeill, Hartman, Hinostroza, and Motte. Possibly Kero and Baun. Then there's Mashinter, of course.
- AEL_Fox

Hudler - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Desjardin - Kruger - Hartman
Panic - moose - tootoo

I hope the 1LW is not on the team yet...or its gonna be another tough year for 19. You thought last years forward corp was weak...just look at what they have now.

Championships + cap + no development from picks + trading picks and prospects for no currently rostered players = the inevitable slide to mediocrity.

shaw, saad and kruger the only picks to become contributors in the last 5 years and now 2 of them are gone...

another big year from panerin and he gone too...

load up on those cup run videos
- bogiedoc

Along the way, some of those cap-based trades needed to be the higher end salaries, while retaining the depth. Now they're trapped with one line and one pairing taking up way too much cap and not tradeable to fix the matter, and no depth to take their place anyway. It would've helped if some of those contracts involved actual negotiations instead of just backing up a dump truck full of money every time with no regard for the future.

Wasn't Hudler supposed to make his decision this weekend? Times a wastin!

Let's see 3 fights in 1game? 3 goals and 3fights in 1game?, Got me buddy, I Give.
- wonthecup10

Highest penalized 40-goal scorer. Potted 44, with 303 PIM.

Then to top it off, he became only the 2nd Hawk ever [at the time] to score 50+ goals in a season, during '82-'83.

EDIT: I gotta check now. The three fights in one game may be true as well. In that day, it earned you a one game suspension as well. Thee goals amd three fights? Don't think Mr. hockey even did that!

Highest penalized 40-goal scorer. Potted 44, with 303 PIM.

Then to top it off, he became only the 2nd Hawk ever
- blackhawk24[at the time] to score 50+ goals in a season, during '82-'83.

Talk about the epitome of a power forward!

This just in: Tanner is a (frank)ing idiot.

But then again, he is a byproduct of the stupid criteria on how the Norris is awarded and that points count more than anything else.

I like Karlsson, he's a really good player and a good kid. But holy poop, 3rd all-time? Wow! Sure would like him on the 'Hawks. Even at this stage of the core, he is 2nd on D. Go back just a short couple seasons and he's 3rd or 4th ..... on this team.
- blackhawk24

When did forever start?... 2012 and even then....

Along the way, some of those cap-based trades needed to be the higher end salaries, while retaining the depth. Now they're trapped with one line and one pairing taking up way too much cap and not tradeable to fix the matter, and no depth to take their place anyway. It would've helped if some of those contracts involved actual negotiations instead of just backing up a dump truck full of money every time with no regard for the future.
- DarthProbert

Indeed. This will be a thorn, or 30 foot lance, in the heart of the Hawks and their fans in 5 years.

Anyone who posts here could have signed players the way StanBowPops&McD did, it takes zero skill or intelligence. Watch Stevie Y's group down in TB for the next 5-6 years as a template for how to deal with 4-5-6-7 balls in the air and thinking through signing them.

Very good look at the Vesey signing from an array of angles: http://www.dobberhockey.c.../the-contrarian-oh-vesey/


No rookie (23-year-olds) jumping from the NCAA to the NHL has scored more than 30 points and winning the Hobey Baker award is no guarantee of success, with Jack Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, Matt Carle, Jordan Leopold, Ryan Miller, Chris Drury and Brendan Morrison being the most successful ones from the last 20 years.

In another article, the PuckStopsHere looks at when Vesey won the Hobey compared to others. He states, “Eichel was 18 years old when he was in his first year with Boston University. He scored 71 points in 40 games that season. Gaudreau was 20 years old in his third year at Boston College when he scored 80 points in 40 games. Meanwhile Vesey was 22 in his fourth year at Harvard when he scored 46 points in 33 games in his Baker-winning season. In fact Vesey is the lowest point scoring forward in his Hobey Baker Trophy winning season ever. Also as a fourth year player in college, he was older than the two previous Baker Trophy winners who significantly outscored him.”

Let me start by saying I don't WANT to trade any of the core, I just think that the Blackhawks need to resign Panarin and I'm assuming it'll cost close to $6m per.

So what about trading Seabrook for a cheaper, younger player who is still developing? It'll be a loss, obviously, but maybe it strengthens the team in the long run. Something like Seabrook & an AHLer to the NYI for Travis Hamonic & Cal Clutterbuck. Harmonic is $3m per year cheaper than Seabrook and Clutterbucks $2.8m salary expires at the end of the season but he can provide some depth in the meantime.

If the cap rises by $3m, that salary difference would be enough to resign Panarin and fill Clutterbuck's roster spot with a minimum salary guy - maybe Patrick Sharp on a discount.

Thoughts? Crucifixions?

Wasn't Hudler supposed to make his decision this weekend? Times a wastin!
- Marlowe

Probably watched the Vesey signing unfold and decided to drag his out a little longer.... free publicity and in Hudlers case , maybe a bigger paycheck.

Let me start by saying I don't WANT to trade any of the core, I just think that the Blackhawks need to resign Panarin and I'm assuming it'll cost close to $6m per.

So what about trading Seabrook for a cheaper, younger player who is still developing? It'll be a loss, obviously, but maybe it strengthens the team in the long run. Something like Seabrook & an AHLer to the NYI for Travis Hamonic & Cal Clutterbuck. Harmonic is $3m per year cheaper than Seabrook and Clutterbucks $2.8m salary expires at the end of the season but he can provide some depth in the meantime.

If the cap rises by $3m, that salary difference would be enough to resign Panarin and fill Clutterbuck's roster spot with a minimum salary guy - maybe Patrick Sharp on a discount.

Thoughts? Crucifixions?
- matt_ahrens

Months ago when Seabrook mock trade proposals were shared by posters here, one destination that I found intriguing was Edmonton where we would get Nurse in return. The trade may have other assets going both ways, not a 1-for-1 trade.

For your trade proposal, I'd say yes to Hamonic but would rather have someone else other than Clutterbuck who wouldn't last long in Q's system. He dishes out way too many hits that pull him out of position.

Months ago when Seabrook mock trade proposals were shared by posters here, one destination that I found intriguing was Edmonton where we would get Nurse in return. The trade may have other assets going both ways, not a 1-for-1 trade.

For your trade proposal, I'd say yes to Hamonic but would rather have someone else other than Clutterbuck who wouldn't last long in Q's system. He dishes out way too many hits that pull him out of position.
- AEL_Fox

But he's a big part of the best 4th line in the NHL