Wouldn't say TT ever "dominated the puck". His puck possession skills were pretty meh. Some similar traits but I wouldn't say he is TT 2.0. I certainly hope not anyway bc the Hawks kind of need Schmaltz to add a little 5 0n 5 scoring punch to the bottom 6.
- bhawks2241

there were some times in the 2015 playoffs where from my cheap seats in the penthouse level that I thought TT was actually Kane. When he was playing at full speed and not afraid to take a hit he could hold the puck thru traffic pretty well for a 19/20 year old rookie.

Brian Costello ‏@bcostellothn 5m5 minutes ago
Dominic Moore signs 1-year deal with Boston. Bruins are his 10th NHL team, tying Lee Stempniak among active NHLers. Sillinger tops at 12.

Wouldn't say TT ever "dominated the puck". His puck possession skills were pretty meh. Some similar traits but I wouldn't say he is TT 2.0. I certainly hope not anyway bc the Hawks kind of need Schmaltz to add a little 5 0n 5 scoring punch to the bottom 6.
- bhawks2241

he sometimes shows the same old bad tendencies, such as not engaging his checks. He has played well, but you know that he could get to that higher level and simply hasn't done it yet.

Higher end prospect, perhaps not always all the way engaged I think draws some comparison.

NHL EXPERT PICKS ‏@NHLexpertpicks 36s37 seconds ago
#CBJ have offered Jarrett Stoll a PTO.

No, it must be this:

X X X
X X X
X X 81
X X X
16
- John Jaeckel

16 In goal or playing both D's

the woulda coulda shoulda lineup would be something like

20 X 86
10 X 88
X 19 81
X X X

6 34

Oh, and 19 pays back 5M a year...

Brian Costello ‏@bcostellothn 5m5 minutes ago
Dominic Moore signs 1-year deal with Boston. Bruins are his 10th NHL team, tying Lee Stempniak among active NHLers. Sillinger tops at 12.
- DarthKane

Cap Friendly has him at $900k, not bad. Could have been a 3/4L option.

he sometimes shows the same old bad tendencies, such as not engaging his checks. He has played well, but you know that he could get to that higher level and simply hasn't done it yet.

Higher end prospect, perhaps not always all the way engaged I think draws some comparison.
- fattybeef

I agree. Some similarities but you can say that about a lot of other talented players. I also have seen Schmaltz hold the puck down low and in high traffic areas and do things with it. I think he has parts of his game good and bad that could be TT like but I don't think he plays the same way. I don't think he survives college hockey playing as soft as TT played last year.

On other notes. Consensus on the newest Eklund blog is that Toews is not a top 10 player and arguably not a current top 10 NHL Centermen.

Hawks Talk-SiriusXM with Boomer Gordon-Changes-Campbell, TT, Shaw and more... http://chirb.it/MGJq06 #audio via @chirbit

Quick reactions to these scouting reports.

47. Alex DeBrincat, RW, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 18 | Ht: 5-7 | Wt: 163 | 2015-16 team: Erie (OHL)
Previous ranking: Not eligible

The diminutive Alex DeBrincat has been one of the top scorers in the CHL the past two seasons. He's a highly skilled winger who shows above-average to high-end speed, puck skills, vision and finishing skill. DeBrincat is constantly buzzing around the ice making all sorts of offensive plays. His elite hockey sense allows him to be in the right place and control the puck with confidence. In terms of the negatives, DeBrincat is very small, but he has a real tenacity to his game.

SOUNDS LIKE: A poor man's Theo Fleury


66. Gustav Forsling, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 20 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 183 | 2015-16 team: Linkoping (SHL)
Previous ranking: Not ranked

Forsling was one of the best teenagers in the SHL this past season and was very good at the WJC as well. He isn't incredibly fast, but his mobility is above average, with quick footwork. Forsling is a very skilled and intelligent puck mover who quarterbacks a power play with the best of them. His body is lean, and he isn't the best when it comes to winning battles on defense. That's the area that needs the most improvement at this point.

SOUNDS LIKEe: maybe a slightly more mobile . . . David Rundblad. I will just say these speed deficiencies tend to be more noticeable and magnified in the NHL versus the SEL.


77. Ville Pokka, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 22 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 214 | 2015-16 team: Rockford (AHL)
Previous ranking: 64

One of the top defensemen in the AHL this past season, Pokka got an invite to the world championship for Finland (and subsequently the World Cup) where he was solid. He's not the biggest or fastest player, but his great two-way hockey sense makes him a legit prospect. He moves the puck efficiently, he doesn't hurt his team, and he's capable defensively.

SOUNDS LIKE: Maybe a smarter version of . . . James Wisniewski


85. Nick Schmaltz, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 20 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 181 | 2015-16 team: U. of North Dakota (NCHC)
Previous ranking: Not ranked

I still don't know exactly what to make of Nick Schmaltz. There are times where I love watching him. He's an elite passer who can make really difficult plays seem easy and dominate the puck. While he has improved his play away from the puck during his time at North Dakota, even showing the ability during under-20 international play to be an OK penalty killer, he sometimes shows the same old bad tendencies, such as not engaging his checks. He has played well, but you know that he could get to that higher level and simply hasn't done it yet.

SOUNDS A LOT LIKE: (wait for it)

Teuvo Teravainen
- John Jaeckel

Rundblad's issues are between the ears. So I wouldn't stick that judgement on him yet...

16 In goal or playing both D's

the woulda coulda shoulda lineup would be something like

20 X 86
10 X 88
X 19 81
X X X

6 34

Oh, and 19 pays back 5M a year...
- riozzo

10 - 37 - 86
16 - 36 - 56
20 - 24 - 32/23 (Versteeg)
67 - 42 - 28 (Garbutt)
85, 27 (Morin), 29, 39 (Hayes)

52 - 6
47 - 8
44 - 34 (Johns)
34 (Erixon) - 5

31
33 (Hutton)

Rundblad's issues are between the ears. So I wouldn't stick that judgement on him yet...
- busmaster

Rundblad's issue are physical as well...He's slow to react and can't turn and chase...That's just a start.

Hawks Talk-SiriusXM with Boomer Gordon-Changes-Campbell, TT, Shaw and more... http://chirb.it/MGJq06 #audio via @chirbit
- Al

Thanks Al...always enjoyable and informative.

Thanks Al...always enjoyable and informative.
- ArlingtonRob

Welcome-Rob

I'll take that-- comparison to TT. But at 6' 1" and 181 pounds he's already 20 pounds bigger than TT will ever be...plus he has room to fill out.
- tompo1015

He's too big for the Blackhawks. Will be traded for nothing

Rundblad's issue are physical as well...He's slow to react and can't turn and chase...That's just a start.
- Al

Not only can't, he gives up on plays.

No, it must be this:

X X X
X X X
X X 81
X X X
16
- John Jaeckel

This needs to stop!

Hawks Talk-SiriusXM with Boomer Gordon-Changes-Campbell, TT, Shaw and more... http://chirb.it/MGJq06 #audio via @chirbit
- Al

Nice work, Al. I agree that Campbell and Hammer would be an effective pair -- who knows what Quenneville will do ....

Nice work, Al. I agree that Campbell and Hammer would be an effective pair -- who knows what Quenneville will do ....
- Hank_Greenberg

Figuring Hammer goes back to his off side which might be his best side...

Rocky has a lot of money and the Hawks have been very successful lately to help with that but I'm always interested in the way Stan structures his contracts.

A lot of talk has been focused on the players on the cusp making the team lately. I know this doesn't 100% dictate on who makes the opening night roster, but you would have to think it factors in. It also shows what Stan & Co. thought of the player during the time of signing, how they could fit into the salary cap issues that were bound to arise and their potential with this team.

Food for thought, salaries in NHL vs. AHL:

Mashinter - 575k NHL / 575k AHL (1-way deal)
Baun - 600k NHL / 600k AHL (1-way deal & waivers exempt)
Carrick - 575k NHL / 300k AHL (2-way deal)
McNeill - 600k NHL / 200k AHL (2-way deal)
Svedberg - 650k NHL / 650k AHL (1st) & 850k NHL / 850k AHL (2nd) (1-way deal)
Lundberg - 692k NHL / 70k AHL (waivers exempt)
Lars Johnsson - 575k NHL / 575k AHL (1 way deal & waivers exempt)

The Kempny structure looks great for Stan with some bonuses and a Euro clause to be able to head back if he doesn't make the team.

Schmaltz has some great looking performance bonuses (up to 850k in his 3rd year), but Motte doesn't have any perf. bonuses.

All info from CapFriendly.

Rocky has a lot of money and the Hawks have been very successful lately to help with that but I'm always interested in the way Stan structures his contracts.

A lot of talk has been focused on the players on the cusp making the team lately. I know this doesn't 100% dictate on who makes the opening night roster, but you would have to think it factors in. It also shows what Stan & Co. thought of the player during the time of signing, how they could fit into the salary cap issues that were bound to arise and their potential with this team.

Food for thought, salaries in NHL vs. AHL:

Mashinter - 575k NHL / 575k AHL (1-way deal)
Baun - 600k NHL / 600k AHL (1-way deal & waivers exempt)
Carrick - 575k NHL / 300k AHL (2-way deal)
McNeill - 600k NHL / 200k AHL (2-way deal)
Svedberg - 650k NHL / 650k AHL (1st) & 850k NHL / 850k AHL (2nd) (1-way deal)
Lundberg - 692k NHL / 70k AHL (waivers exempt)
Lars Johnsson - 575k NHL / 575k AHL (1 way deal & waivers exempt)

The Kempny structure looks great for Stan with some bonuses and a Euro clause to be able to head back if he doesn't make the team.

Schmaltz has some great looking performance bonuses (up to 850k in his 3rd year), but Motte doesn't have any perf. bonuses.

All info from CapFriendly.
- TyCamScore

Where the Rocky has money part comes in is he lets the GM pay up to keep guys like Baun-Svedberg-McNeill-Carrick as those AHL salaries are much more than the minimum and can add up.

Where the Rocky has money part comes in is he lets the GM pay up to keep guys like Baun-Svedberg-McNeill-Carrick as those AHL salaries are much more than the minimum and can add up.
- Al

True true. Fortunate to allow Stan to offer those contracts.

Could be one very expensive AHL team this year.

Wonder where they would compare to other AHL teams budgets?

This needs to stop!
- hocktock

relax, nothing interesting is going to happen until February mind as well have fun...

True true. Fortunate to allow Stan to offer those contracts.

Could be one very expensive AHL team this year.

Wonder where they would compare to other AHL teams budgets?
- TyCamScore

I would say expensive...Imagine if Bickell was there too!
Rocky swallowed hard on Drew LeBlanc too.

My sources have WIZ getting a PTO......

Q likes his experience......
- TrueGrit

What does Se brook think?

What does Se brook think?
- Ogilthorpe2

He can't remember anything.