Wow Montreal fired Michel Therrien and hired Claude Julien.
- golfbard

Again.

Lol Minnesota - its tough for me to take them seriously in the post season. The Bruce factor. And its Minnesota. Whose going to score the big goal for them? They're probably about even with San Jose. If only because they're deeper on the blue line.

I think with a faster team with more players with NHL experience in Washington and Pitt could be an issue when they get there but if the game is open and hardware is on the line I dunno.

A NHL body somewhere ought to be added. Even if its just a pro who can be a pro and eat 12 minutes.
- fattybeef

And who is signed for next year on the cheap.

Then you resign Rasmussen cheaply and you have your 2 F to expose to Vegas along with TVR and a goalie.

And who is signed for next year on the cheap.

Then you resign Rasmussen cheaply and you have your 2 F to expose to Vegas along with TVR and a goalie.
- SteveRain

You think Rasmussen's agent wouldn't be keen to that tactic?

Wow Montreal fired Michel Therrien and hired Claude Julien.
- golfbard

They have been floundering down the league standings since they got off to a hot start. While not as bad as last year, they can't blame it on Price being injured this time.

You think Rasmussen's agent wouldn't be keen to that tactic?
- JRoenick97

he's a RFA. What leverage does he have? We are talking about a fringe 4th line player here...going to an expansion team, if chosen, would probably be best for his client.

he's a RFA. What leverage does he have? We are talking about a fringe 4th line player here...going to an expansion team, if chosen, would probably be best for his client.
- SteveRain

He can wait to sign until after the draft, making him ineligible.

he's a RFA. What leverage does he have? We are talking about a fringe 4th line player here...going to an expansion team, if chosen, would probably be best for his client.
- SteveRain

He could opt to not sign and go back to Europe. I think the hawks would rather leave it the way it is. And figure Vegas would pass on him with out him being signed and bring him back next year at or around the league min. I think giving tootoo a new contract seems like a no brainer. My guess is that is they are waiting to keep there options open but if he was signed he already qualifies. And as long as its for less then what you can bury in the AHL its free money for tootoo

Wow Montreal fired Michel Therrien and hired Claude Julien.
- golfbard

Captain Pacioretty, key vets met with GM Bergevin without Therrien in the room last week. Substance of that meeting very apparent now. #Habs

Captain Pacioretty, key vets met with GM Bergevin without Therrien in the room last week. Substance of that meeting very apparent now. #Habs
- walleyeb1

In 1st place and can your HC!? Nice. Julien is a good HC. Be fun to see the Habs and Bruins meet in the playoffs.

This team is trending the right way and 19 and 2 appear to be turning the corner on whatever injury they were working through. We still need another top 6'ish LW to work with Toews. Someone that has been through the war and knows what to expect come playoff time. Of the three youngsters (Schmaltz, Hartman and Hino) playing, I see Hartman being ready to handle the playoffs. Not sure about Schmaltz and Hino. Not saying they cant, but its a giant ?.

Still think we end up trading with the Wings.. (Vanek/Tatar)
- z1990z

Tatar would be a good add... Vanek .... He is injured I believe. But wouldn't surprise me if he was the addition. It just shouldn't cost Schmaltz, Hartman, or Kempny (Ideally).

Nahhhhhhhhhhhhh

I think they get by with what they have. If Keith can't skate 30 anyway it doesn't matter.

I think one of the kids not named TVR steps up in a meaningful way and Campbell may be pacing himself not dissimilar to how Richards did.
- fattybeef

Campbell seems to be a smart fellow. For sure he's been pacing himself and saving what he has for the playoffs.

Who really thinks the team as constructed is better in 7 games than Pittsburgh or Washington?

Or even Minnesota or San Jose?

They would have to beat at least two of those teams in 7-game series.

I don't. Literally no one in hockey outside the Hawk fanbase does.

More importantly, I don't think the Hawks coaching staff and FO do either, in spite of Stanley's public statements (which is PROBABLY all bargaining positioning).

The goal is not to get to the second round and wait and see how good Nick Schmaltz ends up being.

It's to win Stanley Cups while you still have a productive 2,4,7,15,72,81,88 in the primes of their careers. Period.
- John Jaeckel

If I were placing odds right now with no roster changes I would have to go
1 Washington (has never won a cup)
2a/2b/2c Columbus (has never won a Cup), Pittsburgh (tough to repeat), Minny (has never won a Cup)
3a/3b Chicago, San Jose

You do not need a perfect roster to win a Cup. The Hawks won 2010 without Cup experience and with kids playing a major role. They won in 2015 with basically 3 defensemen. Pittsburgh won last year with kids playing a major role in the playoffs. Who is to say the Hawks kid's would not come through this year?

I would go one of two ways.
1. Make a big move Duchene, Landeskog, JVR (maybe I could be talked into Palat as being a big move at the right price)
2. Stand pat (instead of overpaying for marginal top 6 players. ie Tatar, Nyquist, Vanek.)
I would not want Sharp, Doan, Iginla because of cost or age or injury.

Teams looking into signing Chicago Blackhawks prospect John Hayden as a college free agent this summer are “losing hope,” reports Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Hayden could pass on signing with the Blackhawks to hit the open market in the offseason, but indications are that he’ll pass in order to sign an entry-level deal with Chicago.
- walleyeb1

Scott Powers has written several items on Hayden and Hayden has repeatedly said he's gonna sign with the Hawks.

So...if he's a man of his word....

Funny thing happened on the way to the Forum.

The other day the Hawks tweeted about the Hammer leading the team in BS and stated how he was second in league, well I went to check out who was ahead of him. Guess who was number three in the league? Yep. Erik Karlsson and ATT he was all of one block shot behind the Hammer.
- Beaver-Warrior

EK gets hit in the back by shots while he's trying to get back in position in the D zone.

If I were placing odds right now with no roster changes I would have to go
1 Washington (has never won a cup)
2a/2b/2c Columbus (has never won a Cup), Pittsburgh (tough to repeat), Minny (has never won a Cup)
3a/3b Chicago, San Jose

You do not need a perfect roster to win a Cup. The Hawks won 2010 without Cup experience and with kids playing a major role. They won in 2015 with basically 3 defensemen. Pittsburgh won last year with kids playing a major role in the playoffs. Who is to say the Hawks kid's would not come through this year?

I would go one of two ways.
1. Make a big move Duchene, Landeskog, JVR (maybe I could be talked into Palat as being a big move at the right price)
2. Stand pat (instead of overpaying for marginal top 6 players. ie Tatar, Nyquist, Vanek.)
I would not want Sharp, Doan, Iginla because of cost or age or injury.
- -Doh-

I wouldn't say those guys are marginal top 6 guys but I definitely see your perspective. Both would help the top 6. More so a LW (Tatar) as opposed to a RW (Nyquist).

Wow Montreal fired Michel Therrien and hired Claude Julien.
- golfbard

I would not be surprised if Montreal does not follow this up quickly with a major trade (Duchene).

Again.
- JRoenick97

I would not be surprised if Montreal does not follow this up quickly with a major trade (Duchene).
- -Doh-

If the Hawks can't get him I'd rather see him go to the Habs than Washington, Pittsburgh or anyone in the West.

Concerning Montreal,I think that Bergervin will pull off a major trade at the deadline and if they don't do well,you could say good bye to him.Now back to the Hawks,the more I read about the Hawks going after this guy and that guy,I think that they are going to stand pat.The kids that are playing right now for the Hawks,are doing ok.They will gain valuable experience in the playoffs and that will be bold well for the future of this team.The only way they will know if they could hold up with the grind of the playoffs is let them play.Do we have a chance to win,sure we do.Right now,we are using all 4 lines and if we do that in the playoff,not like last year,we have a chance.Go Hawks go.

Who really thinks the team as constructed is better in 7 games than Pittsburgh or Washington?

Or even Minnesota or San Jose?

They would have to beat at least two of those teams in 7-game series.

I don't. Literally no one in hockey outside the Hawk fanbase does.

More importantly, I don't think the Hawks coaching staff and FO do either, in spite of Stanley's public statements (which is PROBABLY all bargaining positioning).

The goal is not to get to the second round and wait and see how good Nick Schmaltz ends up being.

It's to win Stanley Cups while you still have a productive 2,4,7,15,72,81,88 in the primes of their careers. Period.
- John Jaeckel

ALL OF THIS^^^^ just add 19

I would not be surprised if Montreal does not follow this up quickly with a major trade (Duchene).
- -Doh-

They have to. NO REASON for the GM to hold prospects now. Better be all in.

But F the HABS


F MONTREAL

They have to. NO REASON for the GM to hold prospects now. Better be all in.

But F the HABS


F MONTREAL
- mrpaulish

Crow to Mtl. Stan should be discussing now that the team looks to be making changes.

Another good post from The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3...rade-talk-around-the-nhl/
- jt19

So we got Mirtle, Friedman, Stan Bowman, McKenzie, Mulberry and Jones all saying the Hawks won't go big and won't give up their young talent. Also, pretty obvious we need to keep Kruger to expose him to the expansion draft. Plus sign someone else to expose so we won't have to lose Hartman. I'm sorry, but in no way, shape or form are we getting a Palat or Duchene type player. And the article even states it will be hard to make major deals.

Now, that does not mean after the expansion draft trades are not done left and right by the Hawks and other teams. If Vegas takes TVR you can be darn sure that Kruger will be dealt to free up cap space.

But I am sticking with my UFA type guys who we might trade for before the deadline. Think Hanzal, Sharp, Oduya, Eaves, Iginla, and people of that ilk.

Ducks with a 1-0 regulation win in Minny which helps the Hawks. Gibson was great especially in the middle frame.

game 2 in hand is a loser...ducks 1-0 over wild...