It's very complicated...


- DarthKane

what if they retain some salary?
- TTtime

I know we'd all like to fix the offense, but not at the expense of the team defense, which was also an issue last year. I don't think Nash will compensate with enough production (esp in the playoffs) to overcome the loss of two key defensive players.

I know we'd all like to fix the offense, but not at the expense of the team defense, which was also an issue last year. I don't think Nash will compensate with enough production (esp in the playoffs) to overcome the loss of two key defensive players.
- L_B_R

I would not trade Hjalmarsson straight up (by himself) for Nash with NYR retaining the salary difference.

Nash would be a very nice to have for this team but not at any kind of significant price.

I would not trade Hjalmarsson straight up (by himself) for Nash with NYR retaining the salary difference.

Nash would be a very nice to have for this team but not at any kind of significant price.
- John Jaeckel

Maybe Nash ends up in AZ? It seems they are stockpiling $$$$ contracts of KHL players (PD) and players past their prime (Bolland).

Is he? Not sure where this is confirmed where he's a solid FO guy - EK you might now better than anyone.

I've seen McNeill 6+ times play live and not once has he played C, always on the RW.

Not disputing it... just wondering where this info of his faceoff prowess is coming from.
- TyCamScore

Hawks have tried McNeill in different spots and from what I hear they weren't overly thrilled with him at center or wing. Curiosity peaked for me when they moved him from center.

I would not trade Hjalmarsson straight up (by himself) for Nash with NYR retaining the salary difference.

Nash would be a very nice to have for this team but not at any kind of significant price.
- John Jaeckel

Hammer is a true value....

Hammer is a true value....
- Al

No doubt. $4.1M AAV for a stellar defenseman like that is a great deal for the Hawks.

I know we'd all like to fix the offense, but not at the expense of the team defense, which was also an issue last year. I don't think Nash will compensate with enough production (esp in the playoffs) to overcome the loss of two key defensive players.
- L_B_R

Nash is a good two-way player and has had some chemistry playing with Toews in tournaments. In the long run its easier to find someone to take D-Zone FO and kill penalties than put the puck in the net consistently. Cheaper moving forward. Nash also is a pretty good PK'er.

For all the griping about Seabrook and TVR, Hjalmarsson was complete dog crap all last year. The worse part is the effect he has on Keith and his usage. Keith is the engine that drives the Hawks' offense.

No doubt. $4.1M AAV for a stellar defenseman like that is a great deal for the Hawks.


- Hank_Greenberg

He was far from stellar last season.

He was far from stellar last season.
- TTtime

Agree but the only Hawk dman who was better last year than the year before was TVR.

Would Pirri have been a consideration for 1st line LW?

Just picked up the latest Sport Forecaster NHL Preview Magazine. From my perspective it's one of the better hockey pool magazines.

Here are some of the predictions

Toews - 67 points
Anisimov - 40
Kruger - 28
Desjardins - 16
Kane - 91
Panarin - 83
Hossa - 51
Motte - 42
Schmaltz - 40
Panik - 31

Keith- 42
Seabrook - 32
Campell - 27
Hjalmarsson - 24

Crawford - 33W 5SO 2.43GAA .921 SV%
Darling - 14 1 2.66 .912
- DarthKane

That would be great if true predictions. My expectation is that the Hawks goalies will have even better GAA. The team should be a bit better getting through the middle of the ice with Campbell back in the fold. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks move from 10th last year in GA per game to top 5 in the NHL.

Would Pirri have been a consideration for 1st line LW?
- index92002

Hopefully not.

Agree but the only Hawk dman who was better last year than the year before was TVR.
- Al

Therein lies one of the major reasons they lost to the Blues. Elliot forgetting he was Elliot also helped.

Hopefully not.
- DarthKane

In RFD maybe. There is a reason he was traded for next to nothing by the Hawks. Basically given away by the Panthers. Told to go away by a Duck team that is going to be starved for offense up front and signed at this last date by the Rangers as insurance in case Vesey isn't ready. He is a jerk.

In RFD maybe. There is a reason he was traded for next to nothing by the Hawks. Basically given away by the Panthers. Told to go away by a Duck team that is going to be starved for offense up front and signed at this last date by the Rangers as insurance in case Vesey isn't ready. He is a jerk.
- TTtime

That answers it! Thanks.

Therein lies one of the major reasons they lost to the Blues. Elliot forgetting he was Elliot also helped.
- TTtime

Seabrook was banged up in a big way...Keith wasn't Keith much of the time since his knee injury. Hammer was off much of the year....And they still went to 7 with the Blues

But the D wasn't good enough and for the first time in playoffs the big 3 looked spent.
Also...Teams that are basically scoring with only 1 line don't last long in the playoffs.

That would be great if true predictions. My expectation is that the Hawks goalies will have even better GAA. The team should be a bit better getting through the middle of the ice with Campbell back in the fold. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks move from 10th last year in GA per game to top 5 in the NHL.
- breadbag

I agree that the goalie stat predictions are much higher than I think they will be given the stronger blueline corps we have. Couple that with generally strong play by Crawford, I can see him having a GAA closer to 2.20-2.25 and SP around .925. Him and Darling together could get them to top 5 in the league as you said.

Seriously, I have no idea. Their numbers for the Blackhawks seems to be a bit high among the forwards. Two rookies getting around 40 points each would be massive! They do have the Hawks finishing 2nd in the Central (behind Nashville) so they would need to get offense from somebody (using their assumptions).
- DarthKane

I was reading that magazine recently too and saw that (at least according to their depth chart), the Predators top 6 are:

Forsberg - Johansen - Neal
Wilson - Fisher - Smith

That 1st line is lethal, but their 2nd line seems like a 3rd line. The reason I bring this up is because of the prediction of the Predators placing higher than the Hawks in the standings. I would argue our goalie is stronger and blueliners are at least on par with theirs if not better assuming Kempny plays as advertised and TVR continues to get better in year 3.

Then if you compare top 6, even with our hole at 1LW (or 2LW if we consider Panarin 1LW), the Hawks are way stronger. Wilson had a great playoff series against us in 2015, but has played average or below since then. Fisher is declining. Smith is the only one who I'd want if we could have a forward on their team other than Forsberg, Johansen, and Neal.

As for a bottom 6 comparison, I don't know enough about their bottom 6 players but I would for now say it could be a wash.

Overall, are the Predators a stronger team than the Hawks? They could very well be once the season plays out, but on paper the Hawks seem stronger (again even with our 1LW hole).

In RFD maybe. There is a reason he was traded for next to nothing by the Hawks. Basically given away by the Panthers. Told to go away by a Duck team that is going to be starved for offense up front and signed at this last date by the Rangers as insurance in case Vesey isn't ready. He is a jerk.
- TTtime

By about Oct 15, the great coach Vigneault will have seen all he needs to see of Pirri in his own zone and will lock him in the press box without a key or send him to the Connecticut Whale or whoever their AHL team is, never to be seen again.

Q probably just sent AV a good luck with that one message.

Seabrook was banged up in a big way...Keith wasn't Keith much of the time since his knee injury. Hammer was off much of the year....And they still went to 7 with the Blues

But the D wasn't good enough and for the first time in playoffs the big 3 looked spent.
Also...Teams that are basically scoring with only 1 line don't last long in the playoffs.
- Al

Any concern about Keith's knee going into this season - considering he backed off the World Cup?

Any concern about Keith's knee going into this season - considering he backed off the World Cup?
- StLBravesFan

Honestly no clue...

But if he misses time in camp and preseason that would be cause for concern.

If it was only a meniscus tear it should be good by then, or probably now.

Eh, that's a bit of a twist. Pirri, Clendening, and Raanta fit that narrative but the Hawks weren't disappointed by Hayes or Vesey though. I mean, they never got a chance to be disappointed by them but the Hawks were certainly high on both.
- L_B_R

Disappointed that Hayes and Vesey decided to sign with NYR and not the Blackhawks. Raanta disappointing more for his post-Blackhawks interview than his play here.

Seeing Hudler and Pirri sign for a combine $3.1M per makes me want to repeatedly hit my head against the wall when I think of what Stan is paying Marcus Kruger.
- acmidd28

I would take Kruger over Hudler and Pirri combined all day long

No doubt. $4.1M AAV for a stellar defenseman like that is a great deal for the Hawks.


- Hank_Greenberg

Absolutely. Just keep him on a different pair and without Keith.