I can't help but think it might be a lot like 2010-2011 where Tomas Kopecky found himself playing a lot with Hossa, Sharp, Toews. Slovakian guy, good size/speed but just the hands not quite there to compliment it.
- breadbag

I think Panik is a much better athlete and marginally better hockey player than Kopecky. If he gives consistent effort.

Q and Bowman have talked a lot about Vinny too. I think Vinny has a better than 50% chance of making the team on opening day.
- onehundredlevel

Yes, he's in the mix, for a lower line role

I think we need to reserve judgement until this year...to determine if Hawks are on a
slide or not. They had played a ton of hockey leading into last years playoffs. This summer of rest should do them good. Big upgrade on the D lines. Obviously some concern with the forward lines....but lets wait and see what the youngsters can do.
- onehundredlevel

They are, question is if it continues

Yeah, I wonder if all the NHL 17 trolls are going to come over to this thread today and talk about how overrated Toews is and how much he sucks etc.

Someone make some popcorn.
- John Jaeckel

But but but he's not a top 10 center in the NHL

They are, question is if it continues
- John Jaeckel

Don't disagree with this at all, only slight counter;

I would say over the years since the first cup, you could, at least at this point of each of those seasons, made this same argument.

I'm not expecting much out of the Hawks this year. IMO, the Preds and Stars are already ahead of the Hawks, if not also the Blues, with Minnesota at their heals, and the Jets and Avalanche on the rise.

Stan has gotten a pass from a lot of people, but let's see what the popular opinion is on him once the shine of 3 Cups wears off.

He had a chance to move TT for Drouin, as reported on this site, and that would have been a no brainer. Drouin still has a way to go, but certainly showed more during last years playoffs than TT did, specifically in heart. Expecting Stan to pull a rabbit out of his hat is an exercise in futility. Even when he makes a decent deal, Q seems to play his guys, and once you're a dog, you stay in the press box. Stan is usually either too cautious, or gets abused in deals, (with the Barker and acquiring Oduya his best deals) and his best moves seem to have been made in the draft, where at least he's been smart enough to grab guys who've fallen in the draft to him, TT, Saad, and Debrincat.

It was a great several years, but my hopes are not high at all this year. The depth is worse than it's been since 2009, and they're an injury to a significant player, from being an out of the playoffs team. Outside of some significant surprises from the kids, and I don't believe most are ready to play significant minutes, and my expectations are of a season watching the playoffs from the outside.

I would have loved to have seen another GM, and what he could have done, even with the financial constraints post Cup 1. Maybe he's been hindered by too my cooks in the stew, and he's been nothing more than a puppet for his dad, whose reign as the Buffalo GM wasn't all that great either.

Yes, he's in the mix, for a lower line role
- John Jaeckel

I'm coming around to not have too many youngsters, and like the idea of the best of the newbies spending some time in the "A", getting used to

1. Speed
2. Ice
3. Grind
4. Pro life style

Even if its a half a season. They'll be injuries and they can get some spot call ups, then maybe contribute by the end of the year.

Some youngsters are needed, but maybe keep that to the Hartman, Hino, and McNeill's, along with Pros like Moose, Lundberg, Tootoo.

Not sure a Schmaltz, Motte, Forsling, Pokka really have a big WAR stat anyway if they're up from the beginning.

Still would like to see Forsling play in the A, unless you believe he's two years away. Get time with team mates. playing together. Will help down the road.

Soooo my latest;

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/armchair-gm/team/193431

I'm not expecting much out of the Hawks this year. IMO, the Preds and Stars are already ahead of the Hawks, if not also the Blues, with Minnesota at their heals, and the Jets and Avalanche on the rise.

Stan has gotten a pass from a lot of people, but let's see what the popular opinion is on him once the shine of 3 Cups wears off.

He had a chance to move TT for Drouin, as reported on this site, and that would have been a no brainer. Drouin still has a way to go, but certainly showed more during last years playoffs than TT did, specifically in heart. Expecting Stan to pull a rabbit out of his hat is an exercise in futility. Even when he makes a decent deal, Q seems to play his guys, and once you're a dog, you stay in the press box. Stan is usually either too cautious, or gets abused in deals, (with the Barker and acquiring Oduya his best deals) and his best moves seem to have been made in the draft, where at least he's been smart enough to grab guys who've fallen in the draft to him, TT, Saad, and Debrincat.

It was a great several years, but my hopes are not high at all this year. The depth is worse than it's been since 2009, and they're an injury to a significant player, from being an out of the playoffs team. Outside of some significant surprises from the kids, and I don't believe most are ready to play significant minutes, and my expectations are of a season watching the playoffs from the outside.

I would have loved to have seen another GM, and what he could have done, even with the financial constraints post Cup 1. Maybe he's been hindered by too my cooks in the stew, and he's been nothing more than a puppet for his dad, whose reign as the Buffalo GM wasn't all that great either.
- howiehandles

I know it was mentioned as a possibility, just can't believe it was factual. Also was reported they could have acquired him for Gus. You really believe that?

A few points...

Yes, the D has been upgraded tremendously. The 4D looks to be resolved. Not only that, the third pair is much, much better. It could be the top third pair in the league. And if Forsling and/or Pokka are legitimate prospects (not my department), even better. It makes it easier to deal TVR, and it sets them up beyond this season. They will need the depth, because Campbell obviously is not a long term solution at 4D. For now, though, having a solid third pair sets off a positive chain reaction through the lineup. It puts less pressure on the top four, and it allows Q a lot more flexibility.

Obviously 1LW is a concern. I have no idea how this plays out. I wonder if Q even has any idea how this plays out. Sure, would be great if AA could play there and Kruger could play 2C. A nice fantasy, but what is the reality? I liked Kruger with Hossa and Ladd in the postseason, so it seems like it's a possibility. If Kane could play with Handzus, I have to think he could play with Kruger, also.

They had all those PTO's last year because they had to address the D issues. Now they have depth there. And as said before, they might not have a viable 1LW solution, but they probably don't see it among potential PTO's either.

As for Hudler, would he have been a fit here? Didn't his stock fall in Detroit a bit? I know a few Wing fans and I was usually told that his level of compete was not quite at the level of the core players. Who signs in Calgary as an FA, anyway? They didn't seem too sad to see him go.

NBA does, but its going up to like 200 mil for 15 guys, so really not an issue...........
- vabeachbear

it isn't an issue this year because their cap just rose by a lot so there is a lot of dumb money being spent. Give it a year or two of bad contracts and suddenly some teams - the Knicks come to mind - will have over spent on less than good players and be stuck against the cap again.

DK,

Good post. A couple of points:

Truth is, they needed both the top 6 LW and the #4D. They got one, tried to pull a rabbit out of their hat and get both (Hamhuis) but failed.

So in the offseason, they really nicely addressed the D.

I remain highly skeptical on the forwards There are some great pieces there, but the scoring balance is going to be even harder to achieve this year with the current cast of characters.

I will also add, what I heard this a few weeks back is that, privately, the Hawks were very disappointed and concerned that they struck out on Vesey and Hudler.

I think Hawk fans need to wake up to the fact that the Hawks are on a slide as an organization that started over a year ago. Some will really chafe at that. But . . . the cap bleeds of the last two summers have hurt this team tremendously (Sharp, Saad, Oduya, Shaw). Some of that has been somewhat replaced (Campbell, Kempny, Panarin) but some of it hasn't.

The other issue is in spite of some Vegas oddsmakers putting the Hawks in as Cup favorites, a lot of NHL and hockey people aren't. Remember, oddsmakers base things on where they think the money WILL go, not necessarily where it SHOULD go.

We are not the only ones who see the gaping hole in the top 6, the lack of scoring balance, the piss poor 5 on 5 numbers and over reliance on 3-on-3 OT for wins.

The Hawks apparently thought Hudler or Vesey would jump at the chance and in Hudler's case leave dollars on the table to play in Chicago. Didn't happen. Why? because the Hawks' luster has faded. A bit.

DOES NOT MEAN it can't be turned around real fast. BUT, Bowman and Co. need some things to fall their way and to maybe pull off a very smart deal or two.

People talk about Pittsburgh resurrecting themselves last year with 3-4 rookies, and as an organization, in terms of cap hit and roster structure, it's an apt comparison to the Hawks.

BUT . . . Rutherford also made a nice deal for Daley (a the Hawks' expense) in season—AND, his rookies were all 23 years old plus, with lots of pro experience, who were appropriately slotted in NHL roles they were ready to fill.
- John Jaeckel

I've written this before but I think Vesey and Hudler were scared off by how high the expectation would be that they fill the 1LW role thus creating balanced scoring and winning the Blackhawks another Cup. That's a lot of pressure for a rookie or a veteran on the downside of his career. With Q at the helm, players know they'll either make it (Panarin) or not (Daley) but they don't know what it'll be for them until they get here and play, that's risky for them.

So I think that means the best bet for the Blackhawks is a trade for a LW. There is some cap space so it might be someone pretty good.

I know it was mentioned as a possibility, just can't believe it was factual. Also was reported they could have acquired him for Gus. You really believe that?
- vabeachbear

TT & Gus for Drouin is delusional at best . He was never going to be traded ,just a game of chicken with his agent .Stevie won ..

I'm not expecting much out of the Hawks this year. IMO, the Preds and Stars are already ahead of the Hawks, if not also the Blues, with Minnesota at their heals, and the Jets and Avalanche on the rise.

Stan has gotten a pass from a lot of people, but let's see what the popular opinion is on him once the shine of 3 Cups wears off.

He had a chance to move TT for Drouin, as reported on this site, and that would have been a no brainer. Drouin still has a way to go, but certainly showed more during last years playoffs than TT did, specifically in heart. Expecting Stan to pull a rabbit out of his hat is an exercise in futility. Even when he makes a decent deal, Q seems to play his guys, and once you're a dog, you stay in the press box. Stan is usually either too cautious, or gets abused in deals, (with the Barker and acquiring Oduya his best deals) and his best moves seem to have been made in the draft, where at least he's been smart enough to grab guys who've fallen in the draft to him, TT, Saad, and Debrincat.

It was a great several years, but my hopes are not high at all this year. The depth is worse than it's been since 2009, and they're an injury to a significant player, from being an out of the playoffs team. Outside of some significant surprises from the kids, and I don't believe most are ready to play significant minutes, and my expectations are of a season watching the playoffs from the outside.

I would have loved to have seen another GM, and what he could have done, even with the financial constraints post Cup 1. Maybe he's been hindered by too my cooks in the stew, and he's been nothing more than a puppet for his dad, whose reign as the Buffalo GM wasn't all that great either.
- howiehandles

Did the Preds or Stars fix their goal-tending woes? They were both pretty awful in goal-tending last year. Plus the already weak Dallas D took a step back this off season. The Blues shipped off their most prove/reliable goaltender and lost their captain. Minnesota did barely anything, losing Vanek and adding E Staal. The Avs might improve, but yet to be seen and Winnipeg probably on the rise a bit. Most of the rivals in the Central took a step back, unless they get some breakout players.

I'm not expecting much out of the Hawks this year. IMO, the Preds and Stars are already ahead of the Hawks, if not also the Blues, with Minnesota at their heals, and the Jets and Avalanche on the rise.

Stan has gotten a pass from a lot of people, but let's see what the popular opinion is on him once the shine of 3 Cups wears off.

He had a chance to move TT for Drouin, as reported on this site, and that would have been a no brainer. Drouin still has a way to go, but certainly showed more during last years playoffs than TT did, specifically in heart. Expecting Stan to pull a rabbit out of his hat is an exercise in futility. Even when he makes a decent deal, Q seems to play his guys, and once you're a dog, you stay in the press box. Stan is usually either too cautious, or gets abused in deals, (with the Barker and acquiring Oduya his best deals) and his best moves seem to have been made in the draft, where at least he's been smart enough to grab guys who've fallen in the draft to him, TT, Saad, and Debrincat.

It was a great several years, but my hopes are not high at all this year. The depth is worse than it's been since 2009, and they're an injury to a significant player, from being an out of the playoffs team. Outside of some significant surprises from the kids, and I don't believe most are ready to play significant minutes, and my expectations are of a season watching the playoffs from the outside.

I would have loved to have seen another GM, and what he could have done, even with the financial constraints post Cup 1. Maybe he's been hindered by too my cooks in the stew, and he's been nothing more than a puppet for his dad, whose reign as the Buffalo GM wasn't all that great either.
- howiehandles

I don't know if you're first paragraph is true - we'll have to wait and see - I see a lot of parity in the division, one to five (leaving the Avs out, IMO) - but if they don't finish top-3 in the division, watch out for improving Edmonton and Calgary as Wild Card competition.

I have asked a couple of times for any "proof" or source or any kind of verification that Stan turned down an actual offer of TT for Drouin - more than just Stan and Steve talking and the two names came up - Yzerman was not going to move a 20 year old 3rd overall pick with all sorts of upside because of an immature move on the kids part, and I doubt that, if the deal was actually in play, even Stan would turn it down.

But - that's just my opinion, I have no sources.

I have said before (and agree with JJ completely on this) that the bloom is somewhat off of the rose when it comes to this being the (or even "a") desireable franchise for young or older free agents to want sign with, especially for short money. Whether because of cap limitations, or a perceived lack of real opportunity, or a perceived deterioration of Cup prospects, or the bad-mouthing of the team by a friend - we'll have to see if the slide can be halted, and turned around.

Did the Preds or Stars fix their goal-tending woes? They were both pretty awful in goal-tending last year. Plus the already weak Dallas D took a step back this off season. The Blues shipped off their most prove/reliable goaltender and lost their captain. Minnesota did barely anything, losing Vanek and adding E Staal. The Avs might improve, but yet to be seen and Winnipeg probably on the rise a bit. Most of the rivals in the Central took a step back, unless they get some breakout players.

- breadbag

The think the Blues and Stars took a step back while Nashville (overall) has stayed the same. Chicago has improved defensive depth but worse depth at forward, so overall I'd day they stayed the same too.

Minnesota and Colorado didn't do much, I still see them on the outside with the playoffs start.

I think the Jets situation could be interesting, but I don't know if they have improved enough to be a playoff team yet. Goaltending is still a major concern for Winnipeg, one of their youngsters has to step on and grab the #1 role permanently. Young forwards like Scheifle and Ehlers should be even better this season. Shawn Matthias helps improve their forward depth. They also have a plethora of young forwards who could contribute next season too - Laine, Connor, Armia, Dano, and Lowry. Little also missed 25 games last year, having him healthy will be a big benefit.

The think the Blues and Stars took a step back while Nashville (overall) has stayed the same. Chicago has improved defensive depth but worse depth at forward, so overall I'd day they stayed the same too.

Minnesota and Colorado didn't do much, I still see them on the outside with the playoffs start.

I think the Jets situation could be interesting, but I don't know if they have improved enough to be a playoff team yet. Goaltending is still a major concern for Winnipeg, one of their youngsters has to step on and grab the #1 role permanently. Young forwards like Scheifle and Ehlers should be even better this season. Shawn Matthias helps improve their forward depth. They also have a plethora of young forwards who could contribute next season too - Laine, Connor, Armia, Dano, and Lowry. Little also missed 25 games last year, having him healthy will be a big benefit.
- DarthKane

I agree. The Jets have a chance to really improve. The question marks for me start at their blueline defensively and back to their goal-tending. If they can find a way to defend better and handle speedy forwards, they have enough up front to win.

I was rooting for Team Youngster but was still surprised they were able to get past Sweden.

Since Bob McKenzie is going to do his top 15 list for the 2017 NHL entry Draft, i decided to make sure my first mock was up before his...of the first FOUR rounds:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2017/

I agree. The Jets have a chance to really improve. The question marks for me start at their blueline defensively and back to their goal-tending. If they can find a way to defend better and handle speedy forwards, they have enough up front to win.
- breadbag

The Jets might have the trade chips to get a solid goalie, but they have three under contract already and want to bring Connor Hellebuyck along so I am not sure they improve that position from the outside.

It is a ticklish situation with the good young talent and the fact they again last season went dark instead of becoming a constantent winner...

I was rooting for Team Youngster but was still surprised they were able to get past Sweden.

Since Bob McKenzie is going to do his top 15 list for the 2017 NHL entry Draft, i decided to make sure my first mock was up before his...of the firt FOUR rounds:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2017/
- wiz1901

Wiz, how can you not have the Hawks drafting in the top 5

The Jets might have the trade chips to get a solid goalie, but they have three under contract already and want to bring Connor Hellebuyck along so I am not sure they improve that position from the outside.

It is a ticklish situation with the good young talent and the fact they again last season went dark instead of becoming a constantent winner...
- wiz1901

Maybe some of the hype is just that

I was rooting for Team Youngster but was still surprised they were able to get past Sweden.

Since Bob McKenzie is going to do his top 15 list for the 2017 NHL entry Draft, i decided to make sure my first mock was up before his...of the first FOUR rounds:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2017/
- wiz1901

Toews great tonight...waiting on that idiot Coyote's blog about denigrating him.
- kwolf68

That guy needs to just go away.... forever

I know it was going back and forth, but isn't today the last day they can sign Fortin for him to be able to play in Rockford?

I see he's a camp invitee

I was rooting for Team Youngster but was still surprised they were able to get past Sweden.

Since Bob McKenzie is going to do his top 15 list for the 2017 NHL entry Draft, i decided to make sure my first mock was up before his...of the first FOUR rounds:

http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2017/
- wiz1901

Wiz, how could the Blackhawks leave a guy with the last name Mismash on the board?

[quote=DarthKane]The think the Blues and Stars took a step back while Nashville (overall) has stayed the same. Chicago has improved defensive depth but worse depth at forward, so overall I'd day they stayed the same too.

Minnesota and Colorado didn't do much, I still see them on the outside with the playoffs start.

I think the Jets situation could be interesting, but I don't know if they have improved enough to be a playoff team yet. Goaltending is still a major concern for Winnipeg, one of their youngsters has to step on and grab the #1 role permanently. Young forwards like Scheifle and Ehlers should be even better this season. Shawn Matthias helps improve their forward depth. They also have a plethora of young forwards who could contribute next season too - Laine, Connor, Armia, Dano, and Lowry. Little also missed 25 games last year, having him healthy will be a big benefit.







I completely agree. I don't know why everyone goes crazy over the Subban/Weber trade. PK is a lot like Karlsson great for the regular season stat sheet, but when the going gets tough and they have to really play well without the puck, they don't.

Last year our forwards couldn't make a mistake with 3 rookies playing defense, this year they can, they will but it won't be so costly as it was last year