I wonder if tvr could fetch armia and Lemieux
- ikeane

Probably, but it is worth depleting our depth on defense for a bottom 6 (likely bottom 3 forward)? I'd part way with Svedberg or Gustafsson to land one of those 2.

"till the cows come home" nice.

Long story short: Will be better than last year but not a lot pushes them past the other contenders. Aside from the intangible crap. And Patrick Kane scoring all of the points.

Kind of excited to see Nashville play to be honest. If Johansen can find some consistency then they will be kind of good.

I thought Panik was a 1st line LW?
- walshyleafsfan

For what the Hawks gave up for him...he is worth every penny.

Thank you Leafs for giving away a quality player for a never was.

I thought Panik was a 1st line LW?
- walshyleafsfan

Who knows? If the Hawks don't find anyone else to play LW, he very well may be our 1st First Line Left Winger.

But on a serious note - Pokka, Forsling, Svedburg, even TVR - anyone see these as top-pairing defensemen?
And if not - why does some team send back a top-6 wing for one or even two of them?
- StLBravesFan

I think we need to monitor Gustav Forsling very carefully.

He has so many of the characteristics, and skills of our up ice attacking defenders and a deadly PP shot.

Everything I say is based on him in the Swedish leagues and his progression there.

That was why his contract is worded for his Swedish return if he doesn't make the parent club. Same way the Panarin deal was worded, right?
Think about that for a second...both sides open to the winning of a parent club spot or nothing.
That to me presumes there is a bit of confidence that the skills will match up with the bigs...but maybe he gives it a go, and then the decision is he does't make the cut, I believe he goes home with the idea to get stronger and bettere there.

We haven't seem him, and until we do we can't put a evaluation on ability cahnces, pairings, right?

But I think he is a high end skill shot, and speed player albeit a smaller one, but it hasn't seemed to deter so mnay newbies on dee around the league.

I broke the rumor.

What I HEARD was the Hawks had a deal with CGY if they wanted to do it, but declined. I did hear there was either doubt or certainty Crawford would not waive for CGY. What was unclear was whether the hawks would approach him to waive or if they had. I also did not hear, as I recall, a specific return like a top 10 pick.

The Hawks did have more than one convo with 2 other teams about Crawford going back to Spring 2015. That I am 99% sure. One was BUFF, the other EDM.

A source in position to know who has provided solid info many times.
- John Jaeckel

I believe the top 10 pick was mentioned elsewhere and then posted here.

Anyway, I hope someone in the front office actually reads these and seriously I can't imagine a GM not at least checking into all possibilities. You see it every day in the paper when they something like "We always are willing to listen".

So if the front office people are reading this then allow me to throw you some winks (with some humor): Let's get some enthusiasm going and let's get Reinhardt!!



When the God of Thunder winks it's him saying nicely to check it out.



Even the captain winks for such deals



For the female front office staff, I give you Tom Hardy. Don't get lost in his eyes otherwise you'll forget what I'm asking for:



And my ace in the hole: Don't break the heart of Pug when he winks it's with love.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/v...ing-with-canucks-1.553736

MacIntyre: Don’t see Hudler or Russell signing with Canucks

Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun says the Canucks will likely add a player or two before camp opens, but he doubts Jiri Hudler or Kris Russell will be in that mix.



the audio is at the 5 min mark.

It feels like the hawks know what they are willing to pay and Hudler is trying to get someone else to pay more and more term and If they don't he would sign with us.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040-i-1410/macintyre-don-t-see-hudler-or-russell-signing-with-canucks-1.553736

MacIntyre: Don’t see Hudler or Russell signing with Canucks

Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun says the Canucks will likely add a player or two before camp opens, but he doubts Jiri Hudler or Kris Russell will be in that mix.



the audio is at the 5 min mark.

It feels like the hawks know what they are willing to pay and Hudler is trying to get someone else to pay more and more term and If they don't he would sign with us.
- kmw4631

Issue with Hudler seems to be term, not AAV. I bet the Hawks are only offering a one year deal.

Step
Away
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Ledge

Nice write-up. So who do you think are Stan's best, young trade chips for someone who could play some 1L with two future HoF'ers? Edit: Outside of TVR.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040-i-1410/macintyre-don-t-see-hudler-or-russell-signing-with-canucks-1.553736

MacIntyre: Don’t see Hudler or Russell signing with Canucks

Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun says the Canucks will likely add a player or two before camp opens, but he doubts Jiri Hudler or Kris Russell will be in that mix.



the audio is at the 5 min mark.

It feels like the hawks know what they are willing to pay and Hudler is trying to get someone else to pay more and more term and If they don't he would sign with us.
- kmw4631

Thx for the Link KMW...as mentioned its gotta be term with Hudler. I'd love for them to get this guy.

Whatever happened to that Crawford to PHI rumor?
- wolphnuts12

THAT was never a "rumor."

It was a possible scenario I raised because the dollars and team needs seemed to work out.

Oh wait, are you trolling?

I thought Panik was a 1st line LW?
- walshyleafsfan

Not according to me. LOL

Powers on Q having more patience this year with the untested players/lineups:

https://theathletic.com//...e%20Referrer?redirected=1

In which Q claims he is always patient.

I think we need to monitor Gustav Forsling very carefully.

He has so many of the characteristics, and skills of our up ice attacking defenders and a deadly PP shot.

Everything I say is based on him in the Swedish leagues and his progression there.

That was why his contract is worded for his Swedish return if he doesn't make the parent club. Same way the Panarin deal was worded, right?
Think about that for a second...both sides open to the winning of a parent club spot or nothing.
That to me presumes there is a bit of confidence that the skills will match up with the bigs...but maybe he gives it a go, and then the decision is he does't make the cut, I believe he goes home with the idea to get stronger and bettere there.

We haven't seem him, and until we do we can't put a evaluation on ability cahnces, pairings, right?

But I think he is a high end skill shot, and speed player albeit a smaller one, but it hasn't seemed to deter so mnay newbies on dee around the league.
- wiz1901

Agreed. I think he and Svedberg both are the higher upside prospects. But both are kind of boom or bust. Each has unique qualities that can make them very good (in different ways). Each has some things to work on and overcome to reach that potential.

Powers on Q having more patience this year with the untested players/lineups:

https://theathletic.com//...e%20Referrer?redirected=1

In which Q claims he is always patient.
- pdx2ord

sooooo, I guess we can expect Q to be as patient as he has ever been.

Step
Away
From
The
Ledge

Nice write-up. So who do you think are Stan's best, young trade chips for someone who could play some 1L with two future HoF'ers? Edit: Outside of TVR.
- blackhawk24

TVR would be one. Pokka, Svedberg, or Forsling. Maybe one of the smurfy young forward prospects.

http://lastwordonsports.c...o-blackhawks-prospects-3/

here is a article about our prospect pool. which is not really very good. So any idea what offer we have out for Hudler? I would think a 1 year 2 mil deal would seem reasonable? Are there teams that are going to offer much more then that and give him a spot in the top 6.

I'm also a Big fan of moving panarin off the kane line and get 1 elite pair of hands on both the top 2 lines. Also TVR is signed for 2 more years at $825 and is a RFA after that. He should have pretty good value if you were going to move him.
- kmw4631

Pretty good and realistic piece. I think the assessments were generally spot on, maybe a bit optimistic.

TVR would be one. Pokka, Svedberg, or Forsling. Maybe one of the smurfy young forward prospects.
- John Jaeckel

I dont think Svedberg holds much weight in any trade.

Svedberg probably worth more to Stan than any other GM in the league.

Not many teams clamoring for a giant dman that isnt fast, isnt physical, no offensive skill and marginal defensively

I dont think Svedberg holds much weight in any trade.

Svedberg probably worth more to Stan than any other GM in the league.

Not many teams clamoring for a giant dman that isnt fast, isnt physical, no offensive skill and marginal defensively
- hawkeytalkman

I disagree there... it took ten years before Chara was Chara. NYI and OTT both did not see it coming. You cannot teach size. Is Sveddy a Chara? You just cannot say no yet.

Hossa in the top 6 >> Yakupov in the top 6

Not saying you're wrong, just a different POV.
- 93Joe

Not disputing you, but Hossa on the 3rd line >> No Hossa on the 3rd line.

I disagree there... it took ten years before Chara was Chara. NYI and OTT both did not see it coming. You cannot teach size. Is Sveddy a Chara? You just cannot say no yet.
- RedFeather

agree completely

Not disputing you, but Hossa on the 3rd line >> No Hossa on the 3rd line.
- busmaster

No disagreement here. Wouldn't taking him out of the top 6 make them collectively weaker?

How good is Hossa anymore? I don't watch much of the Blackhawks, but I just saw he still has 5 years left at $5.275 million per. Is that going to be a killer?
- wolphnuts12

It's certainly not going to be good. Hossa is still an all world player. But age is catching up and he is declining. The problem for the Hawks is two fold. One, if you put him down on the third line, where he would thrive, who do you bring up in his place? Who else plays smart two-way hockey like him and controls the puck with such grace? The second issue is the cap recapture penalty. That, more than anything, kills the Hawks. Whether he's on the ice or not, they are on the hook for those 5 million per year until the end of the contract. Even if they trade him...if he plays this year and then retires, the Hawks still have his 5 mil against the cap until the end of the contract. So you might as well keep him on your team since you are gonna pay for him no matter what. But then, as the Hawks, you have to ask yourself if you want a 5 million a year player playing on your 3rd line. So yes, Hossa still has value. But yes, his contract does hurt the Hawks long term. The only "hope" and I would never wish this on anyone, is that he gets hurt bad enough like Fransen in Detroit where he can go on long term IR. But again, let's not wish for that.

agree completely
- molly2522

Me too

It's certainly not going to be good. Hossa is still an all world player. But age is catching up and he is declining. The problem for the Hawks is two fold. One, if you put him down on the third line, where he would thrive, who do you bring up in his place? Who else plays smart two-way hockey like him and controls the puck with such grace? The second issue is the cap recapture penalty. That, more than anything, kills the Hawks. Whether he's on the ice or not, they are on the hook for those 5 million per year until the end of the contract. Even if they trade him...if he plays this year and then retires, the Hawks still have his 5 mil against the cap until the end
of the contract. So you might as well keep him on your team since you are gonna pay for him no matter what. But then, as the Hawks, you have to ask yourself if you want a 5 million a year player playing on your 3rd line. So yes, Hossa still has value. But yes, his contract does hurt the Hawks long term. The only "hope" and I would never wish this on anyone, is that he gets hurt bad enough like Fransen in Detroit where he can go on long term IR. But again, let's not wish for that.
- Shamz24

The bigger question is will hossa want to keep playing for the million a year in salary