It would probably require dropping the roster to 22. Capfriendly.com says they'll have $220K cap space, add to that the salary of the 23rd player dropped from the roster and the 22nd player who the new guy would replace, and you could get close to $2m of cap space for a new player. The trading team could keep up to half of the incoming salary, so that's a rental with a salary as much as $4m. Such a player could help a lot for a Cup run, especially if they can play top 6 LW. It'd be nice to add that player sooner rather than later so he could develop some chemistry with new line mates and the Q system.
- matt_ahrens

If you trade Panik (or a young forward) and TVR+ + and the team you are trading with takes back some salary it could work. You could get a pretty solid 1/2LW or 2/3CTR. Like you, I also would prefer an early January trade rather than a TDL deal.

In other news....Eklund reporting that the Hawks would want Ryan Miller at the Trade Deadline.

In other news....Eklund reporting that the Hawks would want Ryan Miller at the Trade Deadline.
- EnzoD

Miller for Kane!!!

Miller for Kane!!!
- DarthKane

Scott Darling is likely a better goalie than Ryan Miller today, and Corey Crawford is better than Darling. I wonder sometimes about Eklund....lol

Scott Darling is likely a better goalie than Ryan Miller today, and Corey Crawford is better than Darling. I wonder sometimes about Eklund....lol
- EnzoD

I have no idea where a rumor like that would come from, I agree that Crawford > Darling > Miller. When you factor in the Miller makes $6 million it makes him seem even less credible.

In other news....Eklund reporting that the Hawks would want Ryan Miller at the Trade Deadline.
- EnzoD

maybe he's thinking the Blackhawks would trade Crawford for Miller to save cap space to resign Panarin. I don't see it happening.

Or maybe Miller secretly plays LW?

It's evident that Panik can score goals. People keep saying he was in a slump, well its hard to score playing 7 minutes a night.
Give the guy a regular shift and he will score some dirty goals.
I still think he is a 20 goal guy if he plays some meaningful minutes.
- Boisy12

Problem is he's one of the worst forwards gathering the puck along the boards, where possession dies

Problem is he's one of the worst forwards gathering the puck along the boards, where possession dies
- BetweenTheDots

I also haven't seen the same energy level from Panik the last couple weeks. He was playing like a human wrecking ball on the forecheck, along the wall, and in the face of the opposing goalie to start the season. He was playing like he was fighting for his NHL future (which he was). He had a lot of success early on and now seems to have gotten a bit complacent. Thus the demotion to the bottom six. I think he is a solid depth forward, but his puck skill is not ideal for a Top 6 role.

Ehhhh, I think there are at least some "robust" arguments there. Nashville, Montreal . . .

You guys may want to heap shade on Rinne or Montreal's defensive depth, but the Hawks 5-7 is two rookies who are very up and down and a guy I can out skate. And like I said, Campbell is not exactly what you'd call "shutdown" or "spectacular" at this point of his career.
- John Jaeckel

The Athletic has a good "fancy stats" article that lines up with my eyeball test -- out of these three D-men, Kempny ain't the guy who should be in the press box.

https://theathletic.com/2...ne-who-should-be-sitting/

Funny you say that, I thought that was the worst game I've seen 72 play. Tried to do too much, didn't shoot, and bad turnovers.
- Antz96

I thought the same about Kaner and the bread man... Looked confused and lethargic most of the night. Panic had his best game in a month and does not get a star was either a mistake or whoever did the voting was drinking a lot of KoolAid for sure.

Problem is he's one of the worst forwards gathering the puck along the boards, where possession dies
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, fumbles a lot of chances with mishandles...that slows the attack.

In other news....Eklund reporting that the Hawks would want Ryan Miller at the Trade Deadline.
- EnzoD

Bait for Vegas?

I have no idea where a rumor like that would come from, I agree that Crawford > Darling > Miller. When you factor in the Miller makes $6 million it makes him seem even less credible.
- DarthKane

It may be a move to set them up for the expansion draft. They have to expose a goalie. If a team likes Darling and are willing to give up a decent draft pick for him and they can get Miller for less than they receive for Darling, it can make sense. It all depends on what they get for Darling and what they have to give up for Miller.

Give the team 5-8 games of
Hino-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Motte-Schmaltz-Hartman
Panik-Kruger-Ras

Keith-Hammer
Soupy-Seabs
Kempney-Switch this as needed

I love that third line and think they could build something. I think Toews needs continuity right now and really like what Hino brings there with speed and a little skill. Lets face it that we arent going to get size and speed and skill because there are not a lot of players like that and none on the Hawks who can play that left wing. Saad isn't getting replaced. I really think that the third and first line would be able to generate scoring chances if they had a lot of time to play together. The fourth hopefully turns into a shutdown line and be able to possess the puck in the O zone for extended time whether its scoring chances or not. We are in first place. Crow is insane. The d looks good. Just give the forwards some time to get use to playing with the same guys. 8 games ideally and if its working keep going if not change it up.

Give the team 5-8 games of
Hino-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Motte-Schmaltz-Hartman
Panik-Kruger-Ras

Keith-Hammer
Soupy-Seabs
Kempney-Switch this as needed

I love that third line and think they could build something. I think Toews needs continuity right now and really like what Hino brings there with speed and a little skill. Lets face it that we arent going to get size and speed and skill because there are not a lot of players like that and none on the Hawks who can play that left wing. Saad isn't getting replaced. I really think that the third and first line would be able to generate scoring chances if they had a lot of time to play together. The fourth hopefully turns into a shutdown line and be able to possess the puck in the O zone for extended time whether its scoring chances or not. We are in first place. Crow is insane. The d looks good. Just give the forwards some time to get use to playing with the same guys. 8 games ideally and if its working keep going if not change it up.
- kevndevries

Good luck with that

Schmaltz style reminds me of Kane when he was younger. (Bear with me here I know he isnt even close to the same level Kane is)...When Kane was younger he would look for the pass way way more than shoot. He would pass up good chances in favor of passing. Eventually teams got use to this and would play off him a little because they knew he was more likely to pass and it hurt his production. He eventually re molded his game in order to become a more well rounded player who would shoot more. Boom point totals go way up since he still had the elite passing but players had to respect his shot not only because he was shooting more, but because his shot was so much better than his younger years. I think Schmaltz has even more of an inclination to pass than Kane did and needs to develop in a similar way. I do not think it will happen this season or even next. Let the kid play his game right now. Hopefully he makes the same transformation Kane did and he can turn into a 20-25 goal guy along with having great passing ability. Obviously he won't be another Kane level player but I think a similar development to Kane.

Good luck with that
- 6628

I know Q wouldn't do that unless they were winning and playing really well. Thats why I said at the beginning 5-8...Not that he will do it but 5 would be more realistic at least.

My take regarding the team make up: Aren't we exactly who we thought they were at the beginning of the season? Short a top 6 winger, deeper on D, solid if not spectacular goaltending, with more rookies playing on a given night than anyone wants...thank you stagnant salary cap. But that's us. And the majority of our games have been 1 goal games, which fits our team make-up.

Yet we are leading the conference. Surprised, yes. Will we stay there? I wouldn't bet on it. Are we a playoff contender? Absolutely. Will we go far? Right now, I say no. But, every team has weaknesses. Most teams have slipped roster-wise, injecting unproven or less talented/cheaper players and hoping for the best...us maybe being the poster child. My point is that if our goaltending remains strong and the D can finally cut down shots on goal, we should win the majority of the games. And if we can turn into a multi-line scoring team, with the rookies continuing to gain experience and confidence, we just might do some damage in the playoffs. Just looking to inject some positive waves here. Have a little faith baby, have a little faith....

Give the team 5-8 games of
Hino-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Motte-Schmaltz-Hartman
Panik-Kruger-Ras

Keith-Hammer
Soupy-Seabs
Kempney-Switch this as needed

I love that third line and think they could build something. I think Toews needs continuity right now and really like what Hino brings there with speed and a little skill. Lets face it that we arent going to get size and speed and skill because there are not a lot of players like that and none on the Hawks who can play that left wing. Saad isn't getting replaced. I really think that the third and first line would be able to generate scoring chances if they had a lot of time to play together. The fourth hopefully turns into a shutdown line and be able to possess the puck in the O zone for extended time whether its scoring chances or not. We are in first place. Crow is insane. The d looks good. Just give the forwards some time to get use to playing with the same guys. 8 games ideally and if its working keep going if not change it up.
- kevndevries

I like this, except I would put Hartman on the first line and Hino on the third. I would also use Rozsival and Forsling before Kempny on defense. Has anyone noticed how good Rozsival has looked in his last three games? He's skating like he's 28 rather than 38.

“We need to shoot more,” Panarin said. “We get there, pass to each other a lot, and then they get the puck out. Then we have to run back, run back into attack, and then we’re tired. We just don’t shoot enough. [...] I would like to hope there’s going to be a change soon,” Panarin said. “All we have to do is work hard, put 100 percent into it, and get it into the goal.”

http://chicago.suntimes.c...to-be-more-trigger-happy/

I like this, except I would put Hartman on the first line and Hino on the third. I would also use Rozsival and Forsling before Kempny on defense. Has anyone noticed how good Rozsival has looked in his last three games? He's skating like he's 28 rather than 38.
- etchtech

I was going to say i like it....but i would put Schmaltz up there with 19 and 88, and keep Hartman and Hinostroza together.

“We need to shoot more,” Panarin said. “We get there, pass to each other a lot, and then they get the puck out. Then we have to run back, run back into attack, and then we’re tired. We just don’t shoot enough.
- pdx2ord[...] I would like to hope there’s going to be a change soon,” Panarin said. “All we have to do is work hard, put 100 percent into it, and get it into the goal.”

http://chicago.suntimes.c...to-be-more-trigger-happy/

I like that you post stuff that others don't, and that it's consistently interesting.

I like that you post stuff that others don't, and that it's consistently interesting.
- etchtech

Thank you. Made my night.

I don't have the long-time hockey experience or deep knowledge that you and the other posters on here do, so I try and contribute in other ways.

Know that I very much appreciate the things that I learn daily from all of you. Adds to my relatively newfound love for the sport.

You can argue the Hawks are conversely improved defensively, but while the depth MAY be better, i would argue the top 4 is still not what it was in 2015. Oduya was flat out better at stopping pucks from going your net than Campbell is. Campbell has not been a huge lift to the offense (overall) thus far either.

- John Jaeckel

Note that I've lifted just the paragraph that I wanted to respond to from John's original reply.

Campbell and Oduya are equally as skilled I think. Oduya is maybe better at blocking shots, but Campbell skates with the puck better. The stats for Campbell and Oduya are remarkably similar when you compare the data over the last five seasons. There's a summary table here:
http://quantcappers.com/campbell_oduya.PNG

Not really sure which metrics best represent defensive ability. Is it goals against, plus/minus, blocked shots? Or, as I've heard others say: they can't score if they don't have the puck -- so maybe it's the puck possession stats.

“We need to shoot more,” Panarin said. “We get there, pass to each other a lot, and then they get the puck out. Then we have to run back, run back into attack, and then we’re tired. We just don’t shoot enough.
- pdx2ord[...] I would like to hope there’s going to be a change soon,” Panarin said. “All we have to do is work hard, put 100 percent into it, and get it into the goal.”

http://chicago.suntimes.c...to-be-more-trigger-happy/

This post and watching the Hawks PP reminds me of the Simpsons episode when Kent Brockman is calling a soccer game. "Holds it, holds it, holds it..." Our PP scheme is so un-dynamic despite both 2 PP units are stocked with dynamic players. They hold and pass the puck way too much. Can't score if the puck isn't on net.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjp1Zrvn8VQ