Johansson seems to me to be an opportunity to move Darling before he demands more than the Hawks can afford to pay him as he becomes a UFA next season.


- Return of the Roar

I just dont see any scenario where CC is chucked aside.

It is not analagous to the Niemi situation in any way because when the Hawks moved him up it was a battle of the unprovens for the #1 role in 2010. In that season he was selected over Crawford.

Today the Hawks have Crawford as an established elite goalie and the battle is now for who will be #2 at a low price.

Connecting dots here could we see a package of Darling and some defensemen to sweeten the pot for that missing top six LW?

Find teams that need a goalie at a low fixed price for this year and the chance to offer Darling a #1 role and a new contract next year and you have found the dance partners for a deal.

This would be the scenario where they trade Crow and can pay Panarin the 6mil plus AAV he will want to stay a Hawk/Darling is your #1 in net. I don't see any of the other "core" members (Toews/Kane/Keith/Seabrook) being expendable with a replacement in the system. Hossa is obviously a non-starter with re-cap penalties.

Backup goaltenders have probably the lowest value across the league in terms of trade unless it is a guy ready to break out and be a starter somewhere like Martin Jones, and even then, they are had for single high picks or multiple lower picks. Rarely do they ever return an impact player like a top 4 dman or top 6 forward.

Most teams like to keep their backup goalies coming from within the system or if they are THAT desperate for a starter, they usually go out and sign one of the top goalie FAs on the market rather than coughing up high assets and giving a career backup a starting gig

You would really have to catch a GM sleeping or completely desperate to pull that kind of move off
- hawkeytalkman

So are you saying that Darling is not a guy ready to break out? If he isn't then they aren't promoting him to #1 in CHI. If he is ready to break out, then he has very high value in a trade, and his next contract.

This is the catch 22 the trade CC crowd doesn't seem to grasp at times.

This would be the scenario where they trade Crow and can pay Panarin the 6mil plus AAV he will want to stay a Hawk/Darling is your #1 in net. I don't see any of the other "core" members (Toews/Kane/Keith/Seabrook) being expendable with a replacement in the system. Hossa is obviously a non-starter with re-cap penalties.
- Murph76

Remember the last goalie the Hawks moved to #1 on the basis of one strong playoff run?

C. Huet

Remember the last goalie the Hawks moved to #1 on the basis of one strong playoff run?

C. Huet
- Return of the Roar

I am fairly positive Darling > Huet. He just needs more starts than they've afforded him to this point to get/keep his game where it needs to be.

I am fairly positive Darling > Huet. He just needs more starts than they've afforded him to this point to get/keep his game where it needs to be.
- Murph76

You honestly can make that prediction on the basis of 37 NHL starts over two years where he played worse last year than the year before?

OK, but my Stone of Zanzibar sees otherwise.

JJ - a couple corrections are needed - one in each of the paragraphs after "Forward".

"glut of left wings" - I'm assuming you meant glut of right wings.

"subtraction of 3 blames" - I'm guessing you meant "names".

I was always a fan of Mcneill, I think he will be a good player once he gets his feet wet.

I'm a little surprised to see he has only gotten one game in the NHL so far, is that just because your depth has been so good or has he had fallen out of favor with the organization?
- belcherbd

Depth has been the issue as to why McNeill hasn't seen much time in Chicago. Also, injuries to McNeill probably prevented a call-up or two.

Province Sports ‏@provincesports
Canucks invite Tuomo Ruutu, James Sheppard to training camp http://bit.ly/2cLbUcw

Has the prospect tournamant taken place yet - the one that had several Hawks players invited? I think Schmaltz and Motte may have been a couple Hawks prospects that were invited.

So are you saying that Darling is not a guy ready to break out? If he isn't then they aren't promoting him to #1 in CHI. If he is ready to break out, then he has very high value in a trade.

This is the catch 22 the trade CC crowd doesn't seem to grasp at times.
- Return of the Roar

I dont think he is close to ready to break out.

I think just like the guys like Cory Schneider, Jake Allen, Tukka Rask, etc, you need to see the backups timeshare a season first before thinking they can handle a full time workload of 50+ games

To date, Darling has never played 30 games in a season (he actually only has 43 career NHL games). He would likely struggle mightily if he went somewhere else and just doubled his career high games played in a season. He did decent in 29 games with a .915 sv pct, but I dont think that screams starter to any other GM in the league unless he is riverboat gambling

While its true that Martin Jones had less of an NHL resume when Doug Wilson was gambling on him, Martin Jones also won a WHL playoff MVP (which has a ridiculous list of players https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHL_Playoff_MVP ) on his way up and was an AHL all star. We all know Darling has far from proven path to success or impressive resume before landing in Chicago. I think he is still kind of a risk/unknown for most GMs if you are talking about him being a potential starter

You honestly can make that prediction on the basis of 37 NHL starts over two years where he played worse last year than the year before?

OK, but my Stone of Zanzibar sees otherwise.
- Return of the Roar

I don't think your stone understands how bad this team needs Panarin, and how there really is no other option but to trade Crow (as Darling is the closest thing to having a replacement for a high salaried player that we have).

Johansson seems to me to be an opportunity to move Darling before he demands more than the Hawks can afford to pay him as he becomes a UFA next season.

I just dont see any scenario where CC is chucked aside. It is not analagous to the Niemi situation in any way because when the Hawks moved him up it was a battle of the unprovens for the #1 role in 2010. In that season he was selected over Crawford.

Today the Hawks have Crawford as an established elite goalie and the battle is now for who will be #2 at a low price.

Connecting dots here could we see a package of Darling and some defensemen to sweeten the pot for that missing top six LW?

Find teams that need a goalie at a low fixed price for this year and the chance to offer Darling a #1 role and a new contract next year and you have found the dance partners for a deal.
- Return of the Roar

If the cap doesn't rise much next season, it is possible that Crawford becomes a cap casualty.

Whichever goalie might be on his way out, it seems to me that Johansson could be the guy that becomes the back-up - on paper. We'll see what he does in Rockford this season.

Has the prospect tournamant taken place yet - the one that had several Hawks players invited? I think Schmaltz and Motte may have been a couple Hawks prospects that were invited.
- EbonyRaptor

The Traverse City Tournament is this weekend, is it not?

I dont think he is close to ready to break out.

I think just like the guys like Cory Schneider, Jake Allen, Tukka Rask, etc, you need to see the backups timeshare a season first before thinking they can handle a full time workload of 50+ games

To date, Darling has never played 30 games in a season (he actually only has 43 career NHL games). He would likely struggle mightily if he went somewhere else and just doubled his career high games played in a season. He did decent in 29 games with a .915 sv pct, but I dont think that screams starter to any other GM in the league unless he is riverboat gambling

While its true that Martin Jones had less of an NHL resume when Doug Wilson was gambling on him, Martin Jones also won a WHL playoff MVP (which has a ridiculous list of players https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHL_Playoff_MVP ) on his way up and was an AHL all star. We all know Darling has far from proven path to success or impressive resume before landing in Chicago. I think he is still kind of a risk/unknown for most GMs if you are talking about him being a potential starter
- hawkeytalkman

Thank you for a very reasoned and well thought out response. You are absolutely right on every account.

Which all points to why Darling is also not ready to take over as the #1 in Chicago.

Worry about the Ivan next summer. Worry about this year this year.

The Traverse City Tournament is this weekend, is it not?
- EKB13

I did a little searching and the one I was referring to was the NHLPA Rookie Showcase which ran 8/27 - 8/30. Schmaltz and Motte joined about 25 other guys. I can't find much info on it - like what other players attended and reviews from the action.

http://thehockeywriters.c...-free-agent-forwards-pto/

this list makes you really wish we could have gotten Hudler.

Thank you for a very reasoned and well thought out response. You are absolutely right on every account.

Which all points to why Darling is also not ready to take over as the #1 in Chicago.

Worry about the Ivan next summer. Worry about this year this year.
- Return of the Roar

And lets not forget that the only reason Darling was given 29 games last year was because Crawford got injured, not because Darling played his way into more games or they were pushing to get him more action and/or phase Crawford out to the trade market

I don't think your stone understands how bad this team needs Panarin, and how there really is no other option but to trade Crow (as Darling is the closest thing to having a replacement for a high salaried player that we have).
- Murph76

Panarin is a next summer problem. For now, we have both. Any GM as close to the cap as the Hawks are would be a fool to sign a big deal any time before the new cap number is released - especially during an expansion year where the HRR gets shared with another team.

If Darling is good enough to replace CC, then the same logic says Gus can replace Seabrook. Not enough book on Darling to make the leap yet.

And that pesky NMC... Which CC already allegedly used to block a move to Calgary.

Panarin is a next summer problem. For now, we have both. Any GM as close to the cap as the Hawks are would be a fool to sign a big deal any time before the new cap number is released - especially during an expansion year where the HRR gets shared with another team.

If Darling is good enough to replace CC, then the same logic says Gus can replace Seabrook. Not enough book on Darling to make the leap yet.

And that pesky NMC... Which CC already allegedly used to block a move to Calgary.
- Return of the Roar

The other thing is that Panarin is in RFA status, no need to rush to sign him. They still have leverage and they could still get a haul in a trade for him with RFA status a-la Saad if they decide it wont get done. Its not like he will be a pending UFA and they need to crap or get off the pot with a new contract real soon or risk letting him walk for nothing

The other thing is that Panarin is in RFA status, no need to rush to sign him. They still have leverage and they could still get a haul in a trade for him with RFA status a-la Saad if they decide it wont get done. Its not like he will be a pending UFA and they need to crap or get off the pot with a new contract real soon or risk letting him walk for nothing
- hawkeytalkman

Exactly!

Good read JJ. Let's get the puck dropping soon...... After the World Cup of course. Still hoping no serious injuries when it actually starts. Kempny, Forsling, and Pokka intrigue me the most. Can't wait to see what they bring in the pre season.

Where is that elusive potential left wing? Wonder if a trade comes about after 25-30 games into the season so a LW can build chemistry with Toews and Hossa. Right handed defensive players definitely hold some value.

The other thing is that Panarin is in RFA status, no need to rush to sign him. They still have leverage and they could still get a haul in a trade for him with RFA status a-la Saad if they decide it wont get done. Its not like he will be a pending UFA and they need to crap or get off the pot with a new contract real soon or risk letting him walk for nothing
- hawkeytalkman

I'd really be curious to see what it consists of. Bowman better ask for a haul if they have to trade him.

I'd really be curious to see what it consists of. Bowman better ask for a haul if they have to trade him.
- 93Joe

Using the offer sheet rules, a player offered a salary of $5.6-7.5MM AAV is worth one first, one second and one third round pick.

Gives you a ball park value anyway.

Using the offer sheet rules, a player offered a salary of $5.6-7.5MM AAV is worth one first, one second and one third round pick.

Gives you a ball park value anyway.
- Return of the Roar

Right, we'd get PICKS guys!!! ie. players who are potentially years away from playing in the NHL Meanwhile, we would be down our only legit L1-2 left wing with 0 replacements in our system. If Bowman waits until last minute, he will get an offer sheet and we'll lose him.

Right, we'd get PICKS guys!!! ie. players who are potentially years away from playing in the NHL Meanwhile, we would be down our only legit L1-2 left wing with 0 replacements in our system. If Bowman waits until last minute, he will get an offer sheet and we'll lose him.
- Murph76

Bowman would never let Panarin get to offer sheets, same thing he did with Saad

He will trade him for the best package out there before the offer sheet window opens