Larrson is not a 3rd pair Dman but carry on.



- Garnie

He should probably stop playing like one then.

The Athletic's latest prospect report is out:

https://theathletic.com/3...in-continues-big-january/

A bunch of "IFs", but:

IF they have determined to not make a TDL move, because they wind up viewing this year as transitional, and -

IF both (or one of) Toews and Keith are carrying long term injuries (back, knee) -

THEN - why not LTIR both now and have them (hopefully) come back strong in nine months?

If surgeries are required, do them now.

The way they are playing (particularly Toews) now, they are not productive enough to be contributors to anything other than a one-and-done tournament anyways.

Ecklund: On Vanek...per a few sources, the Blackhawks..in what feels like such a typical and great Blackhawks move..are working hard to get Vanek, and sooner than later. The belief is that Vanek is a much better player when he plays alongside skilled players...Can't you just see Captain Serious handing the Cup off to Vanek?

wow...he beclowns himself again...

great move?? really alot of that depends on what they give up....

i don't see captain serious handing off cup to anybody...his back issues won't allow it..f

TBL suck again. Why not try trading for Drouin ?

Ecklund: On Vanek...per a few sources, the Blackhawks..in what feels like such a typical and great Blackhawks move..are working hard to get Vanek, and sooner than later. The belief is that Vanek is a much better player when he plays alongside skilled players...Can't you just see Captain Serious handing the Cup off to Vanek?

wow...he beclowns himself again...

great move?? really alot of that depends on what they give up....

i don't see captain serious handing off cup to anybody...his back issues won't allow it..f
- bogiedoc

Slinging bowling balls he can hoist the cup for a bit. He's had a lot of practice at it!

TBL suck again. Why not try trading for Drouin ?
- mrpaulish

TT for Drouin?

Well, I have watched him and this team closely, just my opinion, but more knowledgeable people than i will attest to this: he is the "engine" that drives most of the offense from the back-end. And I don't just mean points.

I mean: possession-changing defense, initiating the break, fast transition.

I don't see those things happening like they have in the past.

Keith also looks slow to pucks and seems to be getting beaten one on one a lot, which seems like it's due to a mobility limitation (injury) as opposed to a sudden decline in ability.

In fact, he and Toews both look really limited (compared to their historic norms) one on one and in traffic.
- John Jaeckel

I know I'm overstating it, but there have been a number of times that he has looked like TT lately going for pucks on the wall. Slow to the corners and making some really head scratching decisions in front of or very near his own goal.

The Athletic's latest prospect report is out:

https://theathletic.com/3...in-continues-big-january/
- pdx2ord

Fortin will be the 1LW next season....book it!

Would the HAWKS make a deal like Hammer for Landeskog . May have to throw in a pick or prospect . Landeskog decent contract and to way player ,think he would be amazing on a line with Toews and Hoss ..

Keith never got beat 1v1 during his run as a Top 3 Dman in the entire NHL from 2008-2015. He has been getting beaten far too often lately. I'd argue that an injury that limits mobility/quickness would in fact be a decline in ability. He injured the knee in the 2015 playoffs if I'm not mistaken. Once you lose a step due to injury, it's hard to get it back.
- EnzoD

Keith got beat sometimes and still does. Sure I think he has lost a step because of the knee, but I also thing he is smart with his positioning. He isn't the problem with this team. Keith at 90% is still a top 10 D in the NHL.

The issue is that Keith and the rest of the D used to get a lot more help from the forwards. We used to have guys holding the puck in the offensive zone more and providing more pressure on the backcheck. I think it is no surprise that a lot of the young or inexperienced forwards are the ones suffering in the advanced stats categories. There are less forwards on this team that play a solid 2 way game and that puts more pressure on the D.

Hawks have two areas to deal from:

Young bottom 6 forwards with potential (Hartman, Hino, Motte), a young sort of 2nd/3rd line forward with potential (Schmaltz), and young defensemen (TVR, Kempny, Forsling)

No one is going to give you crap for Svedberg or Gus. And yes there was a time when i thought Svedberg might have some value. He doesn't.

I have heard that right now, they do not wish to trade their 1st round pick this year.

So to get a guy like Vanek, do the math— Will probably take a young forward AND a young d-man, and likely at least one of those will be viewed as an "overpay" by Hawk fans.

It is . . . what it is.
- John Jaeckel

I see what you did there....

Would the HAWKS make a deal like Hammer for Landeskog . May have to throw in a pick or prospect . Landeskog decent contract and to way player ,think he would be amazing on a line with Toews and Hoss ..
- oldduffman

A solid top 4 defenceman like Hammer (also on a good contract) is in much higher demand than a good forward like Landeskog in today's NHL. There are just none available or you overpay badly like Edmonton did.
Chicago should not be adding -should be the other way around.

Would the HAWKS make a deal like Hammer for Landeskog . May have to throw in a pick or prospect . Landeskog decent contract and to way player ,think he would be amazing on a line with Toews and Hoss ..
- oldduffman

I suspect if the Hawks weakened their defense by moving Hammer for Landeskog...

...the Hawks play would more closely resemble the Avalanche.

Wrong direction in my opinion, unless the goal is a higher draft pick.

He should probably stop playing like one then.


- L_B_R

Strange how a lot of guys who play against the other teams best have worse #'s than the guys playing against the Matt Martins of the league.

Hmmmm, hopefully someday someone figures it out.

A solid top 4 defenceman like Hammer (also on a good contract) is in much higher demand than a good forward like Landeskog in today's NHL. There are just none available or you overpay badly like Edmonton did.
Chicago should not be adding -should be the other way around.
- 67hawks

Agree they are hard to find ,Landeskog is very well rounded player .And Hammer deal is up in two years .. I still believe the west is wide open this year and the HAWKS should be all in at this point .

Agree they are hard to find ,Landeskog is very well rounded player .And Hammer deal is up in two years .. I still believe the west is wide open this year and the HAWKS should be all in at this point .
- oldduffman

except the hawks have lost 8 straight to the Wild and have not shown any evidence to suggest they can beat the Blues when it matters (Winter Classic, home opener). So no they should not go all IN. you go all in when you have a solid top 6 and need depth guys/role players

Strange how a lot of guys who play against the other teams best have worse #'s than the guys playing against the Matt Martins of the league.

Hmmmm, hopefully someday someone figures it out.
- Garnie

That chart uses adjusted numbers, underling and high level, that takes into consideration things like quality of competition, zone deployment, and score etc and then compares them with their peers. It almost like we know how to account for context. Fact is, Larsson may be getting the minutes of a top 4 d-man, but he's not performing it well. Potential to be a #4 is there.

Other teams pairs in the Pacific:

except the hawks have lost 8 straight to the Wild and have not shown any evidence to suggest they can beat the Blues when it matters (Winter Classic, home opener). So no they should not go all IN. you go all in when you have a solid top 6 and need depth guys/role players
- arps714

The WC and home opener are games that matter? Huh.

The WC and home opener are games that matter? Huh.
- L_B_R

they're prime time event games with more media coverage, so yes they do matter. or do you prefer watching the hawks get embarrassed during national broadcasts?

the Atlantic division is still up for grabs for that #3 spot. Only an 8 point difference between #3 and #8 in that division. I doubt Detroit is going to dump any tradeable player without significant or equal return, unless they're fine with not making the playoffs and breaking their streak.

they're prime time event games with more media coverage, so yes they do matter. or do you prefer watching the hawks get embarrassed during national broadcasts?
- arps714

They're games in the regular season worth the same amount of points as any other. When was the last time a team won the WC or any outdoor game predict a cup winner? And I don't know any team that doesn't change, good or bad, after the first game of a season.

They're games in the regular season worth the same amount of points as any other. When was the last time a team won the WC or any outdoor game predict a cup winner? And I don't know any team that doesn't change, good or bad, after the first game of a season.
- L_B_R

Well, some are worth more and some are worth less.

Some are worth two and some are worth three - so it depends on whether or not they are tied after regulation.

Regular season games are not equal.

They're games in the regular season worth the same amount of points as any other. When was the last time a team won the WC or any outdoor game predict a cup winner? And I don't know any team that doesn't change, good or bad, after the first game of a season.
- L_B_R

there are such things as statement games. Home opener ya, every team is still figuring out their rosters, but what stats or indication make you think this team should try and go all in this season? because aside from one seven game winning streak against that ended early November, i'm just not seeing it. possession is awful, which is what this team's identity is based on. defense is spotty and guys signed to fix those holes keep getting benched by Q, and Toews is just not having a good year. The excuse before was that Hossa was too old and he didn't have a legit top 6 LW. Well Hossa has not been the problem so you'd think that line would be at least better than last year. I'm not buying the "they'll turn it on during the playoffs" excuse.

Well, some are worth more and some are worth less.

Some are worth two and some are worth three - so it depends on whether or not they are tied after regulation.

Regular season games are not equal.
- StLBravesFan

Eh, STL don't be a semantic boob, you know I was talking about them all being worth the same amount of potential points to a particular team as any other game in the regular season.