Don't know if Kempny is hurt or just benched, but he hasn't played a shift for about 10 minutes now. The Czechs do have 7 D dressed for the game.

EDIT: of course after I type this, he gets a shift.

Dont destroy me for this, but is there any possibility that a Motte or Schmaltz becomes a trade chip should they not make the team? I understand they have a litany of defensemen they could part with, but would trading Schmaltz or Motte possibly yield more coming back? Again, just a tin foil hat idea though

Dont destroy me for this, but is there any possibility that a Motte or Schmaltz becomes a trade chip should they not make the team? I understand they have a litany of defensemen they could part with, but would trading Schmaltz or Motte possibly yield more coming back? Again, just a tin foil hat idea though
- cnfan261311

I think just about anyone is tradable outside of 19, 88, 2, 4, 7, and probably 50 for now; and I don't think 81 gets traded because of his contract. So, yes, I think they are potential trade chips.

Don't know if Kempny is hurt or just benched, but he hasn't played a shift for about 10 minutes now. The Czechs do have 7 D dressed for the game.

EDIT: of course after I type this, he gets a shift.
- breadbag

Well now he hasn't seen the ice again.

I wouldn't be too worried with no PTO's yet..however I think there are 2 players who haven't received a PTO yet that would fit in nicely with this team, albeit a reasonable contract..those two players are (time to cringe) Brad Boyes and Alex Tanguay. Both have veteran leadership along with playoff experience and both I think could benefit playing on a line with Schmaltz or Motte. Especially if the idea of moving Hossa down to give the rooks a veteran guy they can turn to on the line, doesn't happen. just spitballing, but I definitely wouldn't mind either as a bottom 6 winger or possibly spending some time with Toews on the top line.

I´m sure he doesn´t think like that at all. He was better because he played with better players and Finland found right role for him. Teräväinen has been good but his coming team mate in Carolina Sebastion Aho has been even better.
- MjulQvist

We are going to Regret moving TT ,he is a natural Center .Never given a full chance to play his role .To bad that is what it cost to move Bicks ,, overpayment for sure ...

Dont destroy me for this, but is there any possibility that a Motte or Schmaltz becomes a trade chip should they not make the team? I understand they have a litany of defensemen they could part with, but would trading Schmaltz or Motte possibly yield more coming back? Again, just a tin foil hat idea though
- cnfan261311

Please don't take this the wrong way as I am definitely not intending to destroy your point of view. IMHO, the farm system has been on the decline as far as forwards with top 6 forward potential and top 4 blueline potential. As much as we need a top 6 LW, I think a line in the sand needs to be drawn with when to stop depleting the viable prospect pool. I'd hate for the Blackhawks to go the way of the White Sox by literally trading the farm to fill every big league starting position with a player with an MLB resume. Likewise, are the Hawks that risk averse that we can't trust the kids to start filling roles sooner than later?

While I can see the argument for over-marinating prospects until they are truly ready and also understand the concept of the closing Cup window for our current core, there is also a case to be made for taking the training wheels off of some prospects so they can show their stuff on the big stage. Am I advocating a "sink or swim" mentality? Not really, or at least I personally don't think so.

With all due respect to all of you who have your own solid perspectives and insights, I guess I am in the minority of having more faith and optimism that a few of our youngsters will come through this season to help fill needed roles and contribute to the team now rather than wait for the core to be on their decline and a rebuild is necessary. Will the rookies who step up this season be Schmaltz and Motte? Maybe, but they could very well be McNeill and Hartman. Or Kero and Baun. Could be none at all and we're SOL. None of us really know what will happen. But a part of why I enjoy being a sports fan is the ability to dream on behalf of my favorite team even if my dreams are inconsequential to their success or failure.

Have you heard a rumor about Ribero from Nashville ( I think I missed an I)
- bjphawkfan

Let's just get this Ribeiro instead and call it a day.

We are going to Regret moving TT ,he is a natural Center .Never given a full chance to play his role .To bad that is what it cost to move Bicks ,, overpayment for sure ...
- oldduffman

A natural center plays in the slot TT runs from contact. Its like watching a RAID commercial when a defender gets near him.

A natural center plays in the slot TT runs from contact. Its like watching a RAID commercial when a defender gets near him.
- riozzo

Actually, and I have to admit I didn't see the game yesterday, in the highlights I saw TT was actually hitting. Now, I wouldn't say he was doing it well but he was trying to.

A natural center plays in the slot TT runs from contact. Its like watching a RAID commercial when a defender gets near him.
- riozzo

He took his fair share of hits , and avoided others .Why would you want to be hit .Keith avoids hit all the time, never here any complaints . Mark my words we will regret moving him .

Actually, and I have to admit I didn't see the game yesterday, in the highlights I saw TT was actually hitting. Now, I wouldn't say he was doing it well but he was trying to.
- hawkitect

I compare TT to Jay Cutler who has an all world arm and tries to throw passes yet the world would say he has a brain cramp twice a game that can cost his team a win. Likewise TT has undeniable offensive skills - but runs from contact. His game is suited for the large sheet. Nothing wrong with that - he just will not win more games than he may cost you on the North American Surface.

He took his fair share of hits , and avoided others .Why would you want to be hit .Keith avoids hit all the time, never here any complaints . Mark my words we will regret moving him .
- oldduffman

They may very well regret moving him in the long term, when he puts on some strength and learns how to play with his body - but this team, right now, is built for the short term - need to win with this core now - and the cap space that he helped clear will probably help more than Teravainen himself would have helped this year.

He took his fair share of hits , and avoided others .Why would you want to be hit .Keith avoids hit all the time, never here any complaints . Mark my words we will regret moving him .
- oldduffman

Big difference, Keith comes out of the corner with the puck - smartly avoids unnecessary hits - yet takes those that retain a posession. TT avoids the hit at all costs.

A pass for what? Only winning 3 Cups in 7 years? Rebuilding and retooling on the fly for the 2nd and 3rd Cups?

And if he's too cautious and always gets abused when making deals, then how do you explain the rebuild(s)?


- SimpleJack

Fair points, Jack.

I just don't see why it's an all or nothing choice. The truth is always in the gray area between the two. Bowman's had a lot of successes, some failures. And it has largely been committee decision-making, certainly more so with this FO than others.

JJ that Hotstove article is not going to help the crowd that thinks you are a homer Hawks blogger

Great points made. Has anyone heard anything on regarding an update on Keith at all? Or is everything hush hush still?

He took his fair share of hits , and avoided others .Why would you want to be hit .Keith avoids hit all the time, never here any complaints . Mark my words we will regret moving him .
- oldduffman

TT will probably fall into the same category as a bunch of other guys the Hawks moved, an average player, not a difference maker. Maybe at some point he will play to his potential, and then there is some "sellers remorse", but I don't see that breakout happening anytime soon. For all his supposed skill and vision, he plays way to soft, to the point of shying away from contact and the tough areas. Too many possessions end on his stick or his misplays.

Just as a side note, I heard from a very good source that several core players went to Q and mgmt to complain about TT's unwillingness to work to get stronger.

Well good to see Team USA crap the bed....badly. Even more so, just makes me respect the good coaches in the league. Can you imagine if the Hawks ever had Torch? Oh, the Ditka and 85 bears worshippers of the world and the people who still think it's 1984 hockey would cherish it, but my god....what a bafoon.

hawks wise....Saw they were Vegas favorites for cup odds. I have no clue how in the hell that is even possible, but god bless those who bet that. Gods speed.

These are the questions I will keep a close eye on until around Thanksgiving when you get a solid feel for what your team usually is....plus with their early exit the "so much hockey played since Y" pieces and arguments can't be used.

1. Who is skating with Toews? He needs to be better but if you put him between 2 rookies or a rookie and Panik and expect an uptick in production you are kidding yourself.
2. Where does Hossa slot? You hear the propaganda with skating with Kruger or Toews....which one is it?
3. Can Marcus Kruger become at least somewhat of an offensive threat? I know he is cherished because he's a checking mad man. Great. he battles. Fantastic. However, but now he he needs to elevate his offensive game or else.........
4. Hawks can't be a 1 line team again......88-15-72 need help.
5. Who is going to score the greasy goals on the PP in front of the net without 65?

No question...you have strength in goal, and if Kempy is the real deal with the addition 51 your back end, assuming 2's injury isn't serious, is much, much, much better.

I just worry about how this team will score 5 on 5, and there seems to be a lot of wrongful assumption popping in a lot of unproven NHL players who may have succeeded in very little sample sizes with the Hawks, Panik, thinking that will continue. Or that this rookie Hartman, will replace a known commodity like Shaw, without a skip or that Schmaltz or Motte can be the next Saad.

And again.....the biggest dark cloud hanging right in Bowman's shadow daily, is 72'x next deal........You lose 72 next season, and this team becomes an middle tear NHL team. How Bowman navigates those waters based on what lesser talent is siging for recently (6 AAV) is beyond me....

Should be a fun camp where for the 1st time in a long time, we have actual competition for a lot of KEY roster spots.

He took his fair share of hits , and avoided others .Why would you want to be hit .Keith avoids hit all the time, never here any complaints . Mark my words we will regret moving him .
- oldduffman

Sorry.....Not buying the TT haunting for any year....this year or down the line.

This team is already missing Saad on more levels then they ever will with TT. TT fell in the draft for a reason and the other 16-17 teams that passed on him aren't regretting it.

I think it's time to end the TT hype train. It never left the station here on the ice, and I highly doubt it will ever sniff what so many fans, wrong or right, envisioned this kid being....bottom line he's a 3rd line player on a championship caliber team.

I don't regret trading TT to get out from under Bickell's contract. Basically it's a reallocation of ~$5 mill in cap space for two slots, plus a 2nd and a 3rd, which matches up with average of potential RFA compensation scenarios were they to lose Teuvo after his current deal expires. Furthermore, if Teuvo ever truly makes it in the NHL, my guess it will be playing with Finnish players. He seemed a bit lonely here, and that couldn't have helped, either.

TT will probably fall into the same category as a bunch of other guys the Hawks moved, an average player, not a difference maker. Maybe at some point he will play to his potential, and then there is some "sellers remorse", but I don't see that breakout happening anytime soon. For all his supposed skill and vision, he plays way to soft, to the point of shying away from contact and the tough areas. Too many possessions end on his stick or his misplays.

Just as a side note, I heard from a very good source that several core players went to Q and mgmt to complain about TT's unwillingness to work to get stronger.
- TheTrob

His talent got him into the NHL, but his unwillingness to do anything after that got him to Carolina where he will probably linger until an eventual return to a European league down the line.

This team will miss Shaw much more this year then TT.

TT will probably fall into the same category as a bunch of other guys the Hawks moved, an average player, not a difference maker. Maybe at some point he will play to his potential, and then there is some "sellers remorse", but I don't see that breakout happening anytime soon. For all his supposed skill and vision, he plays way to soft, to the point of shying away from contact and the tough areas. Too many possessions end on his stick or his misplays.

Just as a side note, I heard from a very good source that several core players went to Q and mgmt to complain about TT's unwillingness to work to get stronger.
- TheTrob

That may very well be true ,did here some crumbling about his training .Would be a real shame his talent is obvious

His talent got him into the NHL, but his unwillingness to do anything after that got him to Carolina where he will probably linger until an eventual return to a European league down the line.

This team will miss Shaw much more this year then TT.
- SteveRain

I know I will miss Shaw ,his heart and love for the game were unmatched

JJ that Hotstove article is not going to help the crowd that thinks you are a homer Hawks blogger

Great points made. Has anyone heard anything on regarding an update on Keith at all? Or is everything hush hush still?
- bhawks2241

Keith at practice today

Whomever the Hawks promote to the big club, I hope they do it in a defense first mentality. Goals will come if the guys are defending well and getting the puck out of their own end. The hawks have goal-tending, they have depth on the blue line, if they can have each forward line defensively responsible, than the team should be able to win those close games.