Just a thought: Trouba plus for Seabrook? Lose an aging Seabrook with an 8 yr - 6.85 mil contract, 3 rings, experience, propensity for scoring timely goals, big hits...for a 22yr old with a bright future??? With the physical game he plays, will he be broken down in a few years? Solves the Panarin resigning issue. Gives the Jets another solid blueline leader. Maybe with the plus we get our missing top 6 winger? Would he waive his NTC? Might solve some of our issues...and create others. Again, just spitballing.
- Matt_Foleys_bro

I had this same thought. I really don't want any of the core to be moved but at some point you need to reload and this could be that opportunity.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 5m5 minutes ago
Spencer Abbott is a scoring machine. Clearly, the #Blackhawks top line this year will be Abbott-Toews-Fortin. For all 82 games.

The problem with the Hawks was giving Kane and toews those ridiculous contracts. Sure they could have gotten that or a little more in free agency, but you'd think they'd understand it would make things difficult for them in the future

The problem with the Hawks was giving Kane and toews those ridiculous contracts. Sure they could have gotten that or a little more in free agency, but you'd think they'd understand it would make things difficult for them in the future
- drummer829

Back then everyone was expected the cap to grow at the same rate it had over the past few years. If that happened then the Hawks would have been fine. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 5m5 minutes ago
Spencer Abbott is a scoring machine. Clearly, the #Blackhawks top line this year will be Abbott-Toews-Fortin. For all 82 games.
- DarthKane

From what I can gather from various tweets and random reports, a handful of Hawk prospects have scored multiple times during scrimmages: Fortin, Abbott, McNeill, Hinostroza. I know it's just training camp, but love to see that hunger and drive knowing that there are open spots on the roster to be had.

Anyone who also watched the exhibition games (Which were played in Russia), he was excellent and arguably the best dmen on the ice for those games. It wasnt until the games moved to North America that he kind of disappeared back into the fold.

Its harder to for him to adjust because its such a shock of what he is used to and the timing. Guys like OV, Malkin, Panarin, etc can adjust their games on the fly because they know how to play both sheets.

Right now Kempny only knows how to play Euro ice, and he does it very well. Give him a couple months to get comfortable and just pray Q doesnt doghouse him before then
- hawkeytalkman

^^^^^

The problem with the Hawks was giving Kane and toews those ridiculous contracts. Sure they could have gotten that or a little more in free agency, but you'd think they'd understand it would make things difficult for them in the future
- drummer829

My info. is at that time, the Hawk brass expected a more robust "rise" in the salary cap. Some scuttlebutt they felt they were misled by league officials based on all factors.

From what I can gather from various tweets and random reports, a handful of Hawk prospects have scored multiple times during scrimmages: Fortin, Abbott, McNeill, Hinostroza. I know it's just training camp, but love to see that hunger and drive knowing that there are open spots on the roster to be had.
- AEL_Fox

I think that says more about quality of competition at this point in camp than it does star turns for the prospects. It's silly scrimmage season, nothing more.

https://twitter.com/omgit...status/780447357829804034

Top performers at the WCH. Toews' Fenwick +18 blowing everyone away.

https://twitter.com/omgitsdomi/status/780447357829804034

Top performers at the WCH. Toews' Fenwick +18 blowing everyone away.
- JRoenick97

And he did that in an almost completely shutdown fashion. The reason Ovi was so neutered is because Toews' was covering him.

And Blackhawks nation rejoiced.
- Ogilthorpe2

And then had the best 9 years in their existence

And he did that in an almost completely shutdown fashion. The reason Ovi was so neutered is because Toews' was covering him.
- L_B_R

Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone, especially Tanner.
Toews isn't even a top 10 center anymore, don't cha know

Not that big a deal, b/c preseason, but:

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers 14s14 seconds ago
Kevin Dineen said Duncan Keith is expected to miss the first four preseason games.

and, as far as the WCH participants:
Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 35s36 seconds ago
Hjalmarsson, Kruger, Panarin and Anisimov will join camp on Friday. Pokka might play Wednesday, but not Kane or Kempny. #Blackhawks

Not that big a deal, b/c preseason, but:

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers 14s14 seconds ago
Kevin Dineen said Duncan Keith is expected to miss the first four preseason games.

and, as far as the WCH participants:
Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 35s36 seconds ago
Hjalmarsson, Kruger, Panarin and Anisimov will join camp on Friday. Pokka might play Wednesday, but not Kane or Kempny. #Blackhawks
- pdx2ord

Ugh, not the best news. I hope this isn't a nagging issue for him the whole season.

Can't wait for the season to start.

I was less than thrilled with his play in his own zone to be honest. He was over-matched in the game against Canada. Right now I see no chance he is on the 2nd pair....I think third pair will be OK for him though and we'll see if he can develop. I do like his offensive instincts though and he does not appear to be a cowardly wuss like Rundblad.
- kwolf68

Everyone should relax on Kempny. Guy played top pair and big minutes for CZE against the best in the world. The few gaffs in his game the last few weeks would likely have befallen any number of other D guys in that tournament.

He is slotted to be a third pairing guy with the Hawks this year and nothing more. To crack the top four he would have to be better than 2,7, 51 AND 4. Not going to happen. Should his game progress, maybe he is a keeper when 51 retires. If not, its a one year deal and he is gone. Low risk/high reward situation.

Kempny and TVR as the third pairing does however represent a HUGE upgrade over anything they have had depth wise since God knows when. The team finally has enough talent on the blue line to give the top four guys much needed lower minutes during the regular season. Just imagine what the bottom pair able to play a solid ten minutes a game will mean over the long haul.

My info. is at that time, the Hawk brass expected a more robust "rise" in the salary cap. Some scuttlebutt they felt they were misled by league officials based on all factors.
- John Jaeckel

I'm not sure "misled" is / was the correct term - not many economists saw the collapse of oil (and the Canadian dollar) back then.

In July, 2014:

Price of oil - US$ 106
Looney - US$.938667

Today:

Price of oil - US$ 46
Looney - US$ .756599 (a 19% drop)

Although oil did begin its big fall-off in September of 2014, and the looney followed it down.

I'm not sure "misled" is / was the correct term - not many economists saw the collapse of oil (and the Canadian dollar) back then.

In July, 2014:

Price of oil - US$ 106
Looney - US$.938667

Today:

Price of oil - US$ 46
Looney - US$ .756599 (a 19% drop)

Although oil did begin its big fall-off in September of 2014, and the looney followed it down.
- StLBravesFan

Winner winner! The next question is why did the NHL front office not mitigate this. The league's cap hinges on a currency and oil prices.... Don't see the other big 3 having issues with this. Have to think American owners of non-cap strapped teams are rooting hard for this economic trend to continue.

Jen ‏@NHLhistorygirl 12m12 minutes ago
On this date in 2007, #Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz died.
- DarthKane

Now if the same thing can happen at Halas Hall, the culture of failure.

Glad the Eastern Seaboard Programming Network decided to broadcast a baseball game from flyover country last night. I couldn't bear to watch the big-Debacle.

Everyone should relax on Kempny. Guy played top pair and big minutes for CZE against the best in the world. The few gaffs in his game the last few weeks would likely have befallen any number of other D guys in that tournament.

He is slotted to be a third pairing guy with the Hawks this year and nothing more. To crack the top four he would have to be better than 2,7, 51 AND 4. Not going to happen. Should his game progress, maybe he is a keeper when 51 retires. If not, its a one year deal and he is gone. Low risk/high reward situation.

Kempny and TVR as the third pairing does however represent a HUGE upgrade over anything they have had depth wise since God knows when. The team finally has enough talent on the blue line to give the top four guys much needed lower minutes during the regular season. Just imagine what the bottom pair able to play a solid ten minutes a game will mean over the long haul.
- Return of the Roar

That bolded part unfortunately

Hope everyone's summer/early fall is going well.

Everyone should relax on Kempny. Guy played top pair and big minutes for CZE against the best in the world. The few gaffs in his game the last few weeks would likely have befallen any number of other D guys in that tournament.

He is slotted to be a third pairing guy with the Hawks this year and nothing more. To crack the top four he would have to be better than 2,7, 51 AND 4. Not going to happen. Should his game progress, maybe he is a keeper when 51 retires. If not, its a one year deal and he is gone. Low risk/high reward situation.

Kempny and TVR as the third pairing does however represent a HUGE upgrade over anything they have had depth wise since God knows when. The team finally has enough talent on the blue line to give the top four guys much needed lower minutes during the regular season. Just imagine what the bottom pair able to play a solid ten minutes a game will mean over the long haul.
- Return of the Roar

Good post. As long as Kempny is better than what we had last season at 5-6-7, then that's a win right there. If he works with Q and the coaches to work out his errors, then I see icing on the cake.

I also concur with what a few have shared already that Kempny is basically defending against the world's best players (i.e. all-star teams) during the WCH. He won't have to do that for the Hawks as a bottom pairing blueliner. I'd be worried if we were expecting him to be the #1 defenseman but luckily we're not.

From what I can gather from various tweets and random reports, a handful of Hawk prospects have scored multiple times during scrimmages: Fortin, Abbott, McNeill, Hinostroza. I know it's just training camp, but love to see that hunger and drive knowing that there are open spots on the roster to be had.
- AEL_Fox

lets not collectively hold our breath about practice goals. Look who is not there that play tough D hockey

I agree with the hunger statements, however, . . .

Sounds like Gaborik has a broken foot. Going to miss the first 6 weeks of the season

Winner winner! The next question is why did the NHL front office not mitigate this. The league's cap hinges on a currency and oil prices.... Don't see the other big 3 having issues with this. Have to think American owners of non-cap strapped teams are rooting hard for this economic trend to continue.
- bhawks2241

The caps in football and basketball (baseball has no cap) is not dependant (except for the Raptors' revenues in basketball) on the Canadian dollar.

And - given the HRR split in the CBA, and the fact that all Canadian revenues have to be translated into US dollars (because players are all paid in US dollars) - there is little to be done: the cap is only an estimate of the final annual split of HRR, and 50% is 50%.

Finally, the owners of American NHL teams are probably not very happy about the situation either: since (I think) national TV contracts in Canada become part of the 30 team split, a low Canadian dollar results in a lower HRR, of which 50% goes to the owners.

Anyone else, besides me starting to worry about Keith's health?

I anticipate an "interesting" season if he's not 100%, or misses significant time.

Sounds like Gaborik has a broken foot. Going to miss the first 6 weeks of the season
- hawkeytalkman

...and that's why I loathe these tournaments.