I'll give it to the pitching staff and Paulie for that GM 2 GS-- they certainly went on a great run-- but not much drama--
- jb3333

Nope, they just beat ass like true champions

Lol.

Also


Eklund has Vanek connected to the Blackhawks.
- mrpaulish

Vanek would be a solid pick up. The guy knows how to get to the soft areas and has been a very consistent over his career.

Not sure how he can get up and down the ice at this point in his career but they could do worse (like doing nothing). And I think he would have a bigger impact than Andrew Ladd did.

Vanek would be a solid pick up. The guy knows how to get to the soft areas and has been a very consistent over his career.

Not sure how he can get up and down the ice at this point in his career but they could do worse (like doing nothing). And I think he would have a bigger impact than Andrew Ladd did.
- fattybeef

Hawks have had their eye on Vanek since the summer, and also this season.

Hawks have had their eye on Vanek since the summer, and also this season.
- John Jaeckel

and just think of the boon for all of the local bookies!

Was Tom Brady categorized a special talent except everybody forgot to draft him until the 6th round? He developed as a result of his work ethic and being determined as hell, by being around outstanding coaching and other great players.

Once the draft was over nobody cares whether Debrincat was drafted 1st overall or last in the 7th round. He's the guy who will make it or not from here forward. Luckily for him he's headed to a team that values skill first. He could have been very unlucky and wound up being picked by a team that values blocked shots and skating backwards in the neutral zone on his way back to his own zone - you know teams with coaches like Jacques Lemaire, Guy Boucher, Barry Trotz and a few others.
- RickJ

That's just it. I have to laugh at the Theo Fleury/Marty St. Louis comparisons. They were not just physically small players who succeeded. They were physically small players who had highly competitive natures that drove them to overcome and succeed in spite of their size limitations.

Bottom line for DeBrincat is how much he wants it. Just like any other kid coming to the NHL. And that's why, especially when I think about dogs like Kyle Beach who once scored nearly 60 goals in a junior season, I place almost zero value on junior numbers. When they go pro, that's when you begin to see what they really have.

Hawks have had their eye on Vanek since the summer, and also this season.
- John Jaeckel

Personally, knowing the logic behind the Hawks interest in Duchene, I think they are quite willing to "overpay" to acquire the right guy with a couple of years left on his deal.

JVR, Duchene, Tatar come to mind.

I know the rumor police will want to quash that line of thinking, but hey . . . Doesn't mean they won't have to default in the end to an expiring contract like Vanek, or (ugh) Sharp or Iginla.

But think about it, if the Hawks grab say Vanek this year, and he goes somewhere else this summer, then they have to overpay again next year for a left wing possibly. The "two year" investment actually makes some sense.

Nope, they just beat ass like true champions


- fattybeef

Loved that team.

https://greatest.info/zna...sh-stage-of-the-eurotour/

THe KHL is off for a week why they play in some tournament. Both Maxim and Vladimir Tkachev (“AK bars”) are on the Russian team-there are 2 Vladmir's one rights are owned one is a UDFA, and won signed a new deal with the KHL for next year. I know this is the one hawks were interested in. No idea which one signed a extension.

Maxim last 3 games are 2/14-16-18.

Personally, knowing the logic behind the Hawks interest in Duchene, I think they are quite willing to "overpay" to acquire the right guy with a couple of years left on his deal.

JVR, Duchene, Tatar come to mind.

I know the rumor police will want to quash that line of thinking, but hey . . . Doesn't mean they won't have to default in the end to an expiring contract like Vanek, or (ugh) Sharp or Iginla.

But think about it, if the Hawks grab say Vanek this year, and he goes somewhere else this summer, then they have to overpay again next year for a left wing possibly. The "two year" investment actually makes some sense.
- John Jaeckel

⬆THIS⬆

Please don't include him any deal. I know we need a LW (and 1 other forward , and maybe a D)
We went and got Ladd(which I was all for) last year to play with Toews and he really didn't play his best until he was on a line with Krug and Hossa

think the Hawks should target lesser players who we won'thave to give up our best prospects. Or young players on our roster.


Marcus Foligno, Tatar, Schenn
- HamiltonHawk

If including him vs not including him in a deal would mean getting Duchene, then I say trade him. The time is now! Once he is ready (if ever), the time of the Hawks winning cups will be over. Doesn't matter how good he is, because he won't replace Toews, Kane, or Hossa.

Loved that team.
- John Jaeckel

11-1

Team was a force.

That's just it. I have to laugh at the Theo Fleury/Marty St. Louis comparisons. They were not just physically small players who succeeded. They were physically small players who had highly competitive natures that drove them to overcome and succeed in spite of their size limitations.

Bottom line for DeBrincat is how much he wants it. Just like any other kid coming to the NHL. And that's why, especially when I think about dogs like Kyle Beach who once scored nearly 60 goals in a junior season, I place almost zero value on junior numbers. When they go pro, that's when you begin to see what they really have.
- John Jaeckel

Peter Lee, Alexandre Daigle, Stan Drulia, Patrick Lefebvre and many more as examples, ever heard of them doing much in the NHL? And all those guys and others ended up with about 200+ more points as juniors than Debrincat has now.

Personally, knowing the logic behind the Hawks interest in Duchene, I think they are quite willing to "overpay" to acquire the right guy with a couple of years left on his deal.

JVR, Duchene, Tatar come to mind.

I know the rumor police will want to quash that line of thinking, but hey . . . Doesn't mean they won't have to default in the end to an expiring contract like Vanek, or (ugh) Sharp or Iginla.

But think about it, if the Hawks grab say Vanek this year, and he goes somewhere else this summer, then they have to overpay again next year for a left wing possibly. The "two year" investment actually makes some sense.
- John Jaeckel

+1 to this logic

That's just it. I have to laugh at the Theo Fleury/Marty St. Louis comparisons. They were not just physically small players who succeeded. They were physically small players who had highly competitive natures that drove them to overcome and succeed in spite of their size limitations.

Bottom line for DeBrincat is how much he wants it. Just like any other kid coming to the NHL. And that's why, especially when I think about dogs like Kyle Beach who once scored nearly 60 goals in a junior season, I place almost zero value on junior numbers. When they go pro, that's when you begin to see what they really have.
- John Jaeckel

I rarely attend junior games, but purposely did when I had a chance to see Beach live. I was caught up in the Hawk fans hype about him. I had seen him on TV but never live.
I came away extremely disappointed and told the Hawk fan who attended with me that there was only one player on the ice that day that would be an NHL player and it was not Beach. And I was right because Luca Sbisa is the only player who has had meaningful time in the NHL.
Bottom line- don't get caught up with junior stats and player hype at below NHL playing levels.

Peter Lee, Alexandre Daigle, Stan Drulia, Patrick Lefebvre and many more as examples, ever heard of them doing much in the NHL? And all those guys and others ended up with about 200+ more points as juniors than Debrincat has now.
- RickJ

Rob Schremp

On a side note: I read about Curtis Lazar who could use a change of scenary.

http://www.silversevensen...at-historical-comparables

since Lazar has been in the league 288 Players have played 1500 5X5 mins. only 4 have scored less. Desi and tootoo are 2 of them. I guess I could see Desi in the playoffs but I would be fine if he was the 13 forward as well.

I rarely attend junior games, but purposely did when I had a chance to see Beach live. I was caught up in the Hawk fans hype about him. I had seen him on TV but never live.
I came away extremely disappointed and told the Hawk fan who attended with me that there was only one player on the ice that day that would be an NHL player and it was not Beach. And I was right because Luca Sbisa is the only player who has had meaningful time in the NHL.
Bottom line- don't get caught up with junior stats and player hype at below NHL playing levels.
- 67hawks

You can't, same with the NCAAs.

I know a guy in my Michigan days who was a helluva schoolboy player growing up. Guy was very athletic, in great shape, could absolutely fly on the ice. Big shot. He got a camp tryout with the Wings one year and he quit after a week or two. I asked him why and he said the physical toll that pro hockey takes is brutal. He could skate with those guys but the pounding was more than he wanted to deal with. OK, that's one guy and his dad was a multi-millionaire so he didn't need the money. But . . .

Around the same time, I heard ex-Michigan Stater Jim Cummins say the difference between pro hockey and NCAA is that the speed, style of play and the full cage makes guys in the NCAA skate around like they're ten feet tall. You just don't get away with things—and I mean just skating into certain spaces—in the pros like you do in the lower levels.

I am not predicting failure for DeBrincat by any means and I hope he succeeds, but he will also be targeted because of his size and gaudy junior numbers. Like Rick says, from there, it's up to him how good he wants to be and can be.

Nope, they just beat ass like true champions


- fattybeef

I was there...the weather was miserable. High 30's low 40's and a continual rain. The place went up for grabs after Scottie Pods hit that one out in the ninth.

I am causally optimistic that Debrincat will succeed in the NHL . Only because Scouting is much more advanced in the last little while . Although that could be telling as he also dropped in his draft year ,and was left off the World JR team at Christmas . He dose have a lot of same traits as Mitch Marner ,maybe not the same speed . And Marner is doing well this year .. I would hate to see him dealt ,but if he was in a package for Duchene or Landeskog I would be all for it ..

Personally, knowing the logic behind the Hawks interest in Duchene, I think they are quite willing to "overpay" to acquire the right guy with a couple of years left on his deal.

JVR, Duchene, Tatar come to mind.

I know the rumor police will want to quash that line of thinking, but hey . . . Doesn't mean they won't have to default in the end to an expiring contract like Vanek, or (ugh) Sharp or Iginla.

But think about it, if the Hawks grab say Vanek this year, and he goes somewhere else this summer, then they have to overpay again next year for a left wing possibly. The "two year" investment actually makes some sense.
- John Jaeckel

And that's the thing (and probably why you put it in quotes), if you are getting a controllable asset by giving up the same or just a little more, then it's worth the overpay in the long term. Seems like year taught StanBo a little something. I hope they can get JvR or Duchene...but I'm not sure they have the horses to do it.

Sorry, a bit off topic but I just read that if the LV Golden Knights pay their $500M expansion fee before 3/1 that they can make trades. People are saying that teams might trade them draft picks for promises they don't take one of their players in the expansions draft. How's that trade going to be listed as a transaction? LV gets CHI 4th rd pick, CHI gets promise not to take Hartman in expansion draft. Can there really be a deal like that?
- jeffshantz98

I read the same exact thing...so I am thinking we may have read the same article. we need to expose forwards and Hartman and Kruger are the likely ones. So we might deal them a pick to not take Hartman. So Kruger or TVR will be their choice. And who knows...if they really want Kruger, and our Front Office does not know that....then giving up a fourth for Hartman not being picked is a huge gain for Vegas. They get extra pick for not doing anything really.

I read the same exact thing...so I am thinking we may have read the same article. we need to expose forwards and Hartman and Kruger are the likely ones. So we might deal them a pick to not take Hartman. So Kruger or TVR will be their choice. And who knows...if they really want Kruger, and our Front Office does not know that....then giving up a fourth for Hartman not being picked is a huge gain for Vegas. They get extra pick for not doing anything really.
- onehundredlevel

Hartman I think will be one of the 7 forwards that we protect? Teows, Kane, Pan, AA,Hossa, Hartman, + 1 more.

Hartman I think will be one of the 7 forwards that we protect? Teows, Kane, Pan, AA,Hossa, Hartman, + 1 more.
- kmw4631

Duchene bruh

Duchene bruh
- mrpaulish

My guess is that Hartman would be involved in trade for Duchene level player.

I was there...the weather was miserable. High 30's low 40's and a continual rain. The place went up for grabs after Scottie Pods hit that one out in the ninth.
- DK002

Before the season they traded Carlos Lee. Then acquired (via trade or free agent or overseas) pieces like AJ, Iguchi, Pods, Vizciano. I remember telling my son they would be lucky to finish .500. But those guys gelled. And the main thing was that in the playoffs, Contrears, Buerhle, Garland and Garcia (along with Orlando Hernandez in Boston) all pitched their freaking butts off. That 11-1 pitching may be the most dominant post season pitching in MLB history....at least in the modern era. I know that is hyperbole but check out their stats. They were tough in those 12 games.

That said, we are rebuilding. And the Cubs are loaded. Epstein is amazing. Every move they have hit on. I'm not a Cubs fan....but they should be good for awhile and fun to watch.