Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 1h1 hour ago
I asked Jonathan Toews if he had any lingering back problems: "No, it’s been really good, actually." #Blackhawks

Call me crazy and my insight is VERY limited from the small sample size we have seen, Schmaltz would be expendable in my book.

(Hides behind cover)


- 93Joe

If the return was more than just a rental I would have no issue parting with Schmaltz.

He is our only Forward prospect that at this point projects as possible a top 6. So if you are going top 3 and bunch of grinders in the bottom 9 I would agree. he is our best passing prospect and was the best player in Rockford in his 10 game stint.
- kmw4631

That's a fair assessment. He "projects" as a top 6 forward. AHL is different from the NHL. One monster is greater than the other by a mile. We can also say Fortin is a projected top 6 guy also. Additionally, Schmaltz has shown to be a bit timid in the NHL, the other two Hartman and Hino, not so much or as frequently. If it's a win now mode, then he is expendable. If they are gearing up for next year, then they should keep him.

Hypothetically, if it came down to it, say, for a top 6 forward, would you rather part with Forsling/Kempny or Schmaltz?

Defense beats the forwards in my opinion. But I definitely see where you are coming from.

If the return was more than just a rental I would have no issue parting with Schmaltz.
- DarthKane

No disagreement here Darth.

How about this:

Hjalmarsson and Schmaltz

for

Stralman and Drouin

Maybe Hawks add slightly, but hawks get a 1LW and a reasonable replacement for the loss of Hammer.

Tampa has offense to spare and they get a top shutdown dman that suddenly makes Tampas defense look cup worthy and they still have plenty of offense to get them to a cup

Hawks take a slight step back, but not huge, on defense, but address a much needed void on offense

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 1h1 hour ago
I asked Jonathan Toews if he had any lingering back problems: "No, it’s been really good, actually." #Blackhawks
- JRoenick97

That is good to hear. Which means it is something quite else that accounts for his performance.

Off topic but will take any input. Me, and five buddies, are going to Boston for the game this Friday night. Will be there Friday through Monday morning. Any thoughts on good eats or bars? We will be there for the AFC Championship on Sunday so our fear is the bars will be mobbed. Anything in Boston that is a must see? Taking a tour of Fenway on Saturday. Also the Sam Adams brewery on Saturday.
- onehundredlevel

You have to hit "The Fours" which is right down the street from TD Garden. Get yourself a #4 and some Sam Adams Brick Red. Been to Boston twice for sporting Events and have yet to find a place we didn't enjoy. Cask and Flagons right by Fenway is a nice spot. Also if you appreciate a great cocktail check out "Drink" its a basement cocktail bar where all the drinks are made by hand not poured out of a bottle.

Isles fire Jack Capuano.

Be interesting to see what else happens.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 1h1 hour ago
I asked Jonathan Toews if he had any lingering back problems: "No, it’s been really good, actually." #Blackhawks
- JRoenick97

So I guess that he's just mailing it in every night.

That is good to hear. Which means it is something quite else that accounts for his performance.
- 35Tony0

Then maybe he (and Duncs) need to get 'Offit' instead of Onnit for a while and see if that makes any difference. I find it coincidental that these two are Onnit disciples yet seem to have regressed rather than progressed.

Off topic but will take any input. Me, and five buddies, are going to Boston for the game this Friday night. Will be there Friday through Monday morning. Any thoughts on good eats or bars? We will be there for the AFC Championship on Sunday so our fear is the bars will be mobbed. Anything in Boston that is a must see? Taking a tour of Fenway on Saturday. Also the Sam Adams brewery on Saturday.
- onehundredlevel

For history, the Union Oyster House. And it's a little touristy, but Legal Seafood is still great for seafood, multiple locations, one is next to the Marriott Long Wharf downtown.
If the weather is decent, wandering around Harvard is pretty cool.

According to @championat,#Blackhawks director of player evaluation Barry Smith was at recent KHL games in which Shalunov and Tkachyov played

That's a fair assessment. He "projects" as a top 6 forward. AHL is different from the NHL. One monster is greater than the other by a mile. We can also say Fortin is a projected top 6 guy also. Additionally, Schmaltz has shown to be a bit timid in the NHL, the other two Hartman and Hino, not so much or as frequently. If it's a win now mode, then he is expendable. If they are gearing up for next year, then they should keep him.

Hypothetically, if it came down to it, say, for a top 6 forward, would you rather part with Forsling/Kempny or Schmaltz?

Defense beats the forwards in my opinion. But I definitely see where you are coming from.
- 93Joe

I'm with you on this assessment: if it comes down to this dichotomy, retain our top blueline prospects and consider trading a forward. Consider Schmaltz in a trade if:

1) As you said, we are in a win now mode but retain if we are not
2) As I believe Darth Kane said, the return in a trade is more than a rental

I believe others have commented that those leaving via trade are those who have replacements in the system. Not sure if Forsling or Kempny have any replacements in the system. Maybe Krys but he's many years away as he's only a freshman at BU. Is there a replacement for Schmaltz? Not really either, but thinking more broadly, the replacement could be in the KHL in a Shipachyov, Shalunov, and/or Tkachyov.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 1h1 hour ago
I asked Jonathan Toews if he had any lingering back problems: "No, it’s been really good, actually." #Blackhawks
- JRoenick97

That's disturbing. If it's not physical, it's declining skill.

That's disturbing. If it's not physical, it's declining skill.
- tompo1015

Could be many things. Kopitar is around the exact same production Toews is. Bergeron is even less. Maybe those guys roles are getting harder as players and teams systems change to account for them.

That's a fair assessment. He "projects" as a top 6 forward. AHL is different from the NHL. One monster is greater than the other by a mile. We can also say Fortin is a projected top 6 guy also. Additionally, Schmaltz has shown to be a bit timid in the NHL, the other two Hartman and Hino, not so much or as frequently. If it's a win now mode, then he is expendable. If they are gearing up for next year, then they should keep him.

Hypothetically, if it came down to it, say, for a top 6 forward, would you rather part with Forsling/Kempny or Schmaltz?

Defense beats the forwards in my opinion. But I definitely see where you are coming from.
- 93Joe

with Forsling/Kempny or Schmaltz (all of these guys are expansion exempt) I would not move any of these guys for a rental. I also think Hino is a 4th line undersized speed guy. I think Hartman and Motte are 3rd line wings that play with Grit but can also chip in with some O. Schmaltz is his limited sample size has shown. He has elite hands and passing. Has gotten better each year in regard to D and effort he is a year younger then Motte, hino, and Hartman. I think trading him right now is just selling to low to a team that is void of young cost controlled talent.

Could be many things. Kopitar is around the exact same production Toews is. Bergeron is even less. Maybe those guys roles are getting harder as players and teams systems change to account for them.
- JRoenick97

For $10 million per year, I think he needs more production.

Then maybe he (and Duncs) need to get 'Offit' instead of Onnit for a while and see if that makes any difference. I find it coincidental that these two are Onnit disciples yet seem to have regressed rather than progressed.
- conwell

Their inner pride could likely be shouting this at them, day and night.

For $10 million per year, I think he needs more production.
- tompo1015

Kopitar makes more this year.

That's disturbing. If it's not physical, it's declining skill.
- tompo1015

Or he could be lying. If I were him and had a nagging back injury I wouldn't exactly tell the media. Might as well skate around with a note taped to your back saying "cross check me here"

Could be many things. Kopitar is around the exact same production Toews is. Bergeron is even less. Maybe those guys roles are getting harder as players and teams systems change to account for them.
- JRoenick97

Kopitar is driving 60% of the play at evens with significantly more d zone starts. PDO under 100. Shooting percentage down as well but whatever.

He's not scoring but hes pretty much dominating every other measurable statistic that says he doesn't suck whilst dragging around Brown (ew gross) and whatever is duct taped together under Gaborik's jersey. There are signs of life and business as usual. With Toews... Not so much...

Edit: Bergeron sucks at shooting too this year. But is driving like 64% of play at evens though getting about the same amount of ozone starts as Toews. His PDO also is under 100.

Either way, Bergeron and Kopitar are at least doing other things to indicate a statistical anomaly rather than a degrading trend.

Or he could be lying. If I were him and had a nagging back injury I wouldn't exactly tell the media. Might as well skate around with a note taped to your back saying "cross check me here"
- Jance

I am placing my bet on this ....

IMO, the Hawks will not reach the promise land with the current roster because of the
following major shortcomings:


One of the slowest teams in NHL

2ndOLDEST ROSTER in NHL

ONLY HAVE 2 PLAYERS willing to consistently park in front of net

ONLY HAVE 1 LINE that can light the lamp

ROSTER INCLUDES 7 rookies/new players

ONLY HAVE 2 PLAYERS that have higher than 50% at the face off circle

TEAMS 2nd BEST PLAYER /highest salary is underperforming in all facets

TEAMS PLAY ON WINNING BATTLES AT THE BOARDS IS BELOW AVERAGE


Sure a few of these shortcomings can be corrected. Unfortunately, most of the other issues cannot be corrected unless multiple players are added to roster.

Kopitar is driving 60% of the play at evens with significantly more d zone starts. PDO under 100. Shooting percentage down as well but whatever.

He's not scoring but hes pretty much dominating every other measurable statistic that says he doesn't suck whilst dragging around Brown (ew gross) and whatever is duct taped together under Gaborik's jersey. There are signs of life and business as usual. With Toews... Not so much...

Edit: Bergeron sucks at shooting too this year. But is driving like 64% of play at evens though getting about the same amount of ozone starts as Toews. His PDO also is under 100.

Either way, Bergeron and Kopitar are at least doing other things to indicate a statistical anomaly rather than a degrading trend.
- fattybeef

Most of those stats are relative to teammates too and Toews relative to his team is actually pretty good. Plus to be fair to Toews linemates have typically been young players who have been putting up weak underlying stats the affect his.

i.e. below 50% possession players that Toews has played with.

Hinostroza
Motte
Panik
Schmaltz

At the end of the day, it is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Toews is in a slump but the whole female dog routine lately about him is blown so far out of proportion.

So I guess that he's just mailing it in every night.
- Dieselhead

After all, it's not the World Cup or Olympics so I guess why bother?

Guess he doesn't give a crap that the people in the stands made it possible for him to get that big overpayment he receives every other week with Rocky's signature authorizing its electronic transfer into his account.