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

I agree with this and have said so before. He had a bad year and I know there are flaws in his game.I just would not have given up on him for nothing. Still don't know how Florida was able to lose a 3 year 5.5 Boland contract for a prospect and we had to give up TT for a 1 year 4 million contract.

Keith at practice today
- pdx2ord

That's good. Very, very good.

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 don't think it'll quite be like that. I think the fact that Carolina has Aho will benefit TT - they'll apparently friends through family and both considered young, up and coming players. They'll likely get a lot of chances to succeed, possibly together, because Carolina has time and are not in a win now mode. I mean, when Teravainen is on, he's good (like the last two Finland games where he was one of the best guys on the ice). Carolina just has to figure out how to get that consistency.

I do agree that this team will miss Shaw more this year and the immediate years more than TT, though.

I agree with this and have said so before. He had a bad year and I know there are flaws in his game.I just would not have given up on him for nothing. Still don't know how Florida was able to lose a 3 year 5.5 Boland contract for a prospect and we had to give up TT for a 1 year 4 million contract.
- HamiltonHawk

They didn't give him up for nothing, though - they cleared $3.1 in dead cap space and got two picks (and Debrincat is looking like a good selection). Keeping Bickell, even buried, likely meant at least one other trade (of Kruger or Anisimov) from a position of weakness with little good return. Losing one potentially good but not there yet player is better for the immediate future of the Hawks.

As for Bolland, he's not that comparable to Bickell because his salary is being paid by insurance as long as he's on LTIR. Bickell is planning on playing, so Carolina is going to pay him $4.5m out of pocket. Cap space is irrelevant in a lot of ways because both those teams could take on as much cap as they wanted - it's the salary that matters to them, which is a big deal for budget teams. Between Datsyuk / Pronger / Bolland, the Coyotes are actually only paying $575k this year and then nothing the next two years. So, the fact that Florida had to give up Lawson Crouse, a prospect that's farther along in his development than TT was at his age, is a pretty fair and equivalent price to the Hawks giving up TT.

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

I just read this as well! No problems with the prediction or any of the points that have been rehashed in this space repeatedly.

Does anyone else feel that "the silence is deafening" regarding roster tweaks to a team with some glaring deficiencies? My gut says a couple of the young D are on the move for a forward (TvR, Sveddy, Gus, Forsling among the choices). Something to happen before Halloween.

They didn't give him up for nothing, though - they cleared $3.1 in dead cap space and got two picks (and Debrincat is looking like a good selection). Keeping Bickell, even buried, likely meant at least one other trade (of Kruger or Anisimov) from a position of weakness with little good return. Losing one potentially good but not there yet player is better for the immediate future of the Hawks.

As for Bolland, he's not that comparable to Bickell because his salary is being paid by insurance as long as he's on LTIR. Bickell is planning on playing, so Carolina is going to pay him $4.5m out of pocket. Cap space is irrelevant in a lot of ways because both those teams could take on as much cap as they wanted - it's the salary that matters to them, which is a big deal for budget teams. Between Datsyuk / Pronger / Bolland, the Coyotes are actually only paying $575k this year and then nothing the next two years. So, the fact that Florida had to give up Lawson Crouse, a prospect that's farther along in his development than TT was at his age, is a pretty fair and equivalent price to the Hawks giving up TT.
- L_B_R

Well said ,that does shine a better light on the deal .Believe TT was more the victim of a sophomore Jinks And will show some real growth this season .Shaw will be missed immediately but believe TT will down the road . Have High hopes for Debrincat could be a steal Time Will Tell

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'm out of town and late to post, but I was going to make the point about having a spark plug. Team USA had talent, sure not as much as some suggest, but they played as flat as a prairie outside Saskatoon. The hawks just let their spark plug go. Totally agree about Shaw being more valuable than TT.

From camp today:

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers 44m44 minutes ago
Kitchen mentioned Forsling, Motte & Schmaltz as players who stood out today.

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers 2h2 hours ago Chicago, IL
Alexandre Fortin scored twice in the scrimmage. PC Labrie & Andrew Desjardins also scored. Unsure about one other goal, possibly Motte.

John,
Agree with your assessment on the hot stove blog. I for one always think you tell it like it is, even if it means going against the grain. Can't call you a homer. Unlike some that act like you just shot one of their beloved Black Hawks with the " how dare you say that!" implied response .
I also agree with who ever said Stan may have a card up his sleeve for a forward for some of those D prospects. ,well see , I hope McNeill and Hartman have a great showing in camp and force the issue. Not sold on the other little rug rats yet.

From CSN article:

Keith pulled out of the World Cup of Hockey about a month ago, choosing to focus on his surgically repaired right knee and the Blackhawks. Keith said on Friday that he feels a lot better than he did a month ago.

“It's just kind of been basically going on for a while now. I tried to use some time this summer to rest it and do some different things. Once I started skating it didn't react very well so I had to do a few different things to try and get it ready,” Keith said. “It was disappointing I wasn't ready to go for the World Cup. But maybe I wouldn't be where I am right now if I didn't take the time to let it rest and not start skating again until a couple of weeks ago.”

Keith was part of the Blackhawks’ final practice, a 25-minute session. It wasn’t a lengthy outing but Keith was encouraged nonetheless.

“I've been skating a little here this month, just trying to get going, trying to take it one day at a time. I don't want to look too far ahead, but at the same time, I like the progression,” Keith said. “Today was good to get back out there and in the swing of things even though it was a short practice.”

John,
Agree with your assessment on the hot stove blog. I for one always think you tell it like it is, even if it means going against the grain. Can't call you a homer. Unlike some that act like you just shot one of their beloved Black Hawks with the " how dare you say that!" implied response .
I also agree with who ever said Stan may have a card up his sleeve for a forward for some of those D prospects. ,well see , I hope McNeill and Hartman have a great showing in camp and force the issue. Not sold on the other little rug rats yet.
- wonthecup10

Thx

I don't think it'll quite be like that. I think the fact that Carolina has Aho will benefit TT - they'll apparently friends through family and both considered young, up and coming players. They'll likely get a lot of chances to succeed, possibly together, because Carolina has time and are not in a win now mode. I mean, when Teravainen is on, he's good (like the last two Finland games where he was one of the best guys on the ice). Carolina just has to figure out how to get that consistency.

I do agree that this team will miss Shaw more this year and the immediate years more than TT, though.
- L_B_R

Actions speak louder than words.

Truth is, stranger things have happened than TT growing up emotionally and physically and becoming the next Pavel Datsyuk.

But you need to look real long and hard at what the Hawks did in the TT deal—with the caveat that NO ONE knows the ins and outs of TT better than they do.

And that is . . . he was a throw-in in order to lose the last year of Bryan Bickell's deal.

So time will tell on TT but methinks the Hawks had seen enough of something to say "good riddance."

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.
- John Jaeckel

I think when you rebuild TWICE for your 2nd and 3rd championships over a small 4year span that should be enough to shut up all doubter for good, permanently. I mean, what people don't realize is the crazy level of expectations they've become accustomed to because of that success. ONE year with no Cup, and its "well SB should have done this or that differently and he's ruined what could have been". That is so ridiculously unfair. The truth is the Hawks front office(including SB) has done an outstanding job, and in this era with the salary cap you can't possible expect anything better(look at the rest of the league over the same time span).

We came up short last year, some of the moves didn't pan out, it is what it is. Maybe if we had came up short year after year after year and made bad moves year after year leading up to last year's 1st round exit against STL, THEN it would make sense to question the GM. Not with this team, not after what they've accomplished. You simply respect the fact that they gave it their all and trust that they'll continue to do so. At least that's my opinion.

I think when you rebuild TWICE for your 2nd and 3rd championships over a small 4year span that should be enough to shut up all doubter for good, permanently. I mean, what people don't realize is the crazy level of expectations they've become accustomed to because of that success. ONE year with no Cup, and its "well SB should have done this or that differently and he's ruined what could have been". That is so ridiculously unfair. The truth is the Hawks front office(including SB) has done an outstanding job, and in this era with the salary cap you can't possible expect anything better(look at the rest of the league over the same time span).

We came up short last year, some of the moves didn't pan out, it is what it is. Maybe if we had came up short year after year after year and made bad moves year after year leading up to last year's 1st round exit against STL, THEN it would make sense to question the GM. Not with this team, not after what they've accomplished. You simply respect the fact that they gave it their all and trust that they'll continue to do so. At least that's my opinion.
- SimpleJack

Jack ,appreciate your passion ,even Ihave to agree with your last paragraph 100%, ,
My axe to grind is Bowman drafting these high school sized kids year after year, I understand the game is changing directions, but this is still the NHL, every team has a fair amount of the 6"2, 6"3 210. + forwards....... Except this one, look at the new adds for this years camp, am I watch the Black Hawk cup or the Chicago Black Hawks at the United center? Not every little guy is gonna be Johnny Hockey or Patrick Kane, Rozner said it last year, that if it is between small little perimeter players or Big guys who can play the game, he's taking the bigger players, ya need a mix, we don't have it! Dam I wish, Saad would have stayed, same with Kevin Hayes and maybe Vesey signs here then! Agree with JJ, Chicago ain't the desired number 1 destination anymore for NHL'rs, McD and Bowman have to get out there and sell sell sell the product!
And others agree with me that the longer They keep Rotating wings with Jonathen Toews,the more they are starting to piss him off privately as to where he will have more of an open mind as he gets older about moving on possibly back home to Winnipeg, not saying that is even in the picture now but food for thought down the road. He gives it his all, he is tired of getting his ass rung up with no one covering his back. At least Brandon Saad drew some of that onto him self away from Tazer with his dominate at times play when the 2were together. JMO buddy, that is all.

I forgot to mention that this 2017 Draft class includes the smaller younger brother of Eero Teravainen, who is 5 11- 170lbs.

He is ranked as a 5th to 7th round pick.

He has good head for the game and decent vision, and knows he isn't big, so he plays inside his limits.

My take on the draft is there is no generational player(s) at the top, and even though Bob McKenzie said his ten scouts rate this class as less than the 2016 crop.

Personally I think this class is stronger in prospects that aren't there yet, but have a high upside long term.
Maybe I am different, or dumber than the other guys, but I simply see a lot of potential draftees who are gonna get picked in the firt three rounds that a decade later the announcers are going to saying, ..."and they got him on the____round!"

You simply can't turn your nose up on the advancement of the US, Swedish, and Finnish programs and even the other Euro countries.

And goalies After years of drought even Canada has some nice prospects along with almost every county.

Maybe I should display my mock 5th round there are three more goalers in it besides that I slapped into the start of the 4th round...

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

I forgot to mention that this 2017 Draft class includes the smaller younger brother of Eero Teravainen, who is 5 11- 170lbs.

He is ranked as a 5th to 7th round pick.

He has good head for the game and decent vision, and knows he isn't big, so he plays inside his limits.

My take on the draft is there is no generational player(s) at the top, and even though Bob McKenzie said his ten scouts rate this class as less than the 2016 crop.

Personally I think this class is stronger in prospects that aren't there yet, but have a high upside long term.
Maybe I am different, or dumber than the other guys, but I simply see a lot of potential draftees who are gonna get picked in the firt three rounds that a decade later the announcers are going to saying, ..."and they got him on the____round!"

You simply can't turn your nose up on the advancement of the US, Swedish, and Finnish programs and even the other Euro countries.

And goalies After years of drought even Canada has some nice prospects along with almost every county.

Maybe I should display my mock 5th round there are three more goalers in it besides that I slapped into the start of the 4th round...

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

I hope Stan draft's him, just for the entertainment value alone.

That's good. Very, very good.
- John Jaeckel

He practiced, but not scrimmaging yet. Still good.

Jack ,appreciate your passion ,even Ihave to agree with your last paragraph 100%, ,
My axe to grind is Bowman drafting these high school sized kids year after year, I understand the game is changing directions, but this is still the NHL, every team has a fair amount of the 6"2, 6"3 210. + forwards....... Except this one, look at the new adds for this years camp, am I watch the Black Hawk cup or the Chicago Black Hawks at the United center? Not every little guy is gonna be Johnny Hockey or Patrick Kane, Rozner said it last year, that if it is between small little perimeter players or Big guys who can play the game, he's taking the bigger players, ya need a mix, we don't have it! Dam I wish, Saad would have stayed, same with Kevin Hayes and maybe Vesey signs here then! Agree with JJ, Chicago ain't the desired number 1 destination anymore for NHL'rs, McD and Bowman have to get out there and sell sell sell the product!
And others agree with me that the longer They keep Rotating wings with Jonathen Toews,the more they are starting to piss him off privately as to where he will have more of an open mind as he gets older about moving on possibly back home to Winnipeg, not saying that is even in the picture now but food for thought down the road. He gives it his all, he is tired of getting his ass rung up with no one covering his back. At least Brandon Saad drew some of that onto him self away from Tazer with
his dominate at times play when the 2were together. JMO buddy, that is all.
- wonthecup10

In this draft Debrincat was by far the best player available when looking at skill. Will his short stature prevent him from playing in the NHL? Time will tell, but it's not unheard of for someone of that size to make it.

In 2015 Stan drafted some size:
- Knott: 6'3" 190 lbs
- Gilbert: 6'2" 201 lbs
- Shea: 6'0" 175 lbs
- Bondra: 6'5" 220 lbs
- Radke: 6'2" 203 lbs
- Tuulola: 6'2" 180 lbs

In the two drafts before that Stan drafted size too:
- Starrett: 6'4" 197 lbs
- Soderberg: 6'4" 200 lbs
- Ramsay" 6'2" 175 lbs
- Dhalstrom: 6'3" 211 lbs
- Hayden: 6'2" 210 lbs
- Press: 6'2" 187 lbs

I agree with this and have said so before. He had a bad year and I know there are flaws in his game.I just would not have given up on him for nothing. Still don't know how Florida was able to lose a 3 year 5.5 Boland contract for a prospect and we had to give up TT for a 1 year 4 million contract.
- HamiltonHawk

Collusion I tell you. Anything involving the Arizona/Phoenix "franchise" is fishy at best.

I just read this as well! No problems with the prediction or any of the points that have been rehashed in this space repeatedly.

Does anyone else feel that "the silence is deafening" regarding roster tweaks to a team with some glaring deficiencies? My gut says a couple of the young D are on the move for a forward (TvR, Sveddy, Gus, Forsling among the choices). Something to happen before Halloween.
- phantasmo

Another good option would be Jannik Hansen from the Canucks. He has a manageable cap hit, $2.5 million for 2 more season and he can play either wing.

He practiced, but not scrimmaging yet. Still good.
- JRoenick97

Yeah, I have yet to hear from either of the guys who occasionally provide me decent medical scoop. The language sounds cautious. He has a few weeks.

A 100% Duncan Keith would be VERY helpful to a team with 2-3 rookies in the opening night lineup.

I don't know, it's starting to feel more and more (to me) like a lot of things need to fall just the right way for this to be a good year. Hopeful but not convinced at this point.

Collusion I tell you. Anything involving the Arizona/Phoenix "franchise" is fishy at best.
- powerenforcer

The Hawks did get a 2nd and a 3rd in the deal, also. That slots in between two tiers of the RFA compensation scheme.

Another good option would be Jannik Hansen from the Canucks. He has a manageable cap hit, $2.5 million for 2 more season and he can play either wing.
- DarthKane

Interesting. Great skater, played a lot with the Sedins. I didn't pay much attention beyond that. Can he defend and cycle?

Yeah, I have yet to hear from either of the guys who occasionally provide me decent medical scoop. The language sounds cautious. He has a few weeks.

A 100% Duncan Keith would be VERY helpful to a team with 2-3 rookies in the opening night lineup.

I don't know, it's starting to feel more and more (to me) like a lot of things need to fall just the right way for this to be a good year. Hopeful but not convinced at this point.
- John Jaeckel

I didn't realize that Keith was still not near 100%, World Cup absence aside. Too soon to start talking about who gets dealt at the deadline? (Edit: Is it possible that they are understating his status for the sake of his World Cup absence?)

2015 was a season where a lot of things fell just the right way, too. Let's not kid ourselves. Oduya belatedly made a full recovery from his foot injury, and Stanley hit on most of his deadline acquisitions. Kane had a full recovery from the broken clavicle, and his LTIR status enabled the Hawks to load up at the deadline. Easy to forget that horrendous slump in the spring, also.

Interesting. Great skater, played a lot with the Sedins. I didn't pay much attention beyond that. Can he defend and cycle?
- 333inthe3rd

Yes and he plays on the PK regularly.