The Habs haven't been much better lately. Bergevin gonna be swinging away in the trade market soon.
- RickJ

Bergeron is astute enough to reasess. The Habs are not that good. And were embarrassed by their nemesis tonight.

my 2 cents on a trade...and it may not be worth that much

I don't see anyway the hawks get net improved with any trade if any current top 12 roster player has to go in return; esp if its a rental..

but stanbow knows helluva lot more than any of us...he could pull another rabbit out of a hat...but it may be an expensive rabbit...
- bogiedoc

IN STAN WE TRUST

stars crap the ice again and blow a 3 goal lead to lose 5-3...

that team has some serious problems beginning with goaltending, defense and the run and gun style they like

If the Schmaltz-Toews-Panik line keeps playing this way, and we were to land Palat....I might be tempted to put Palat with Kruger and Hossa to create the ultimate shutdown 3rd line(that can also score). Hartman-Moose/Kero-Hinostroza would be a legit 4th line. That lineup top to bottom would be fast, versatile, and there would be scoring on all 4 lines. We're close already as is. But a piece like Palat would put us over the top .

every team wants the world hawks should stand pat they have a nice mixture without giving away their future . and their still in the window.
- lovinhawks

Agree. Unless and until the salary cap goes up, we need, every year, competent entry level players who can help now, and have the potential to get better with experience. We have those players now: Hartman, Schmaltz, Kero, Hino, and Kempny. (Not counting the not-playoff-ready but great potential of 20 yr old Forsling.) We should appreciate the terrific scouting and decisions to have these players to fill in around our core. Why trade any of them for anyone like Vanek who may or may not be marginally better than one of the rookies, but whose lazy habits would be a horrible addition to the togetherness and improvement the team is starting to show. They've only been together 58 games. What will they be like come April? Or next year?

Maybe the Hawks make a long playoff run this year, maybe not. But certainly, their future is much brighter with talented, cap-friendly rookies gaining experience while surrounding a tremendous core group that has at least several years left.

Thanks for all the rumor updates JJ. I know it must be getting crazy with the speculation out there.

Holding out hope that the Hawks can land Palat, Duchene, Langenskog or Tatar.

The second tier of Hanzel, Nyquist, Boyle and some other are OK, but not huge pieces and if Hawks can't land the first group, I hope they don't overpay for these middle guys. One of their good young prospects and a 2nd rounder is plenty, not more.

For the "Dud" group....Iginla, Vanek, Doan, etc....only if it cost next to nothing. None of the better prospects and no 1st rounders. I wouldn't include Hartman, Forsling, Schmaltz, DeBrincat in a trade for these guys....not even just one of them.

I trust Bowman will be going after the impact guys mentioned in the first group. And I know at the deadline Teams try to get the moon....so I don't blame him for maybe not landing one of the "studs"....My fear, I guess is he misses out on all the main guys and then feels he HAS to grab an Iginla or Vanek.....at the cost of too much....yup....THAT is what scares me....a lot!!!



- hawk35

Great post 35...If you can land one of the first group...great...I haven't heard JJ refer to anything regarding Landy...

The 2nd group - decent but not the homerun we need.
The dud group - pass.

As far as Stan and an overpay - I'm hopeful Stan is finally getting it. Moving Shaw at the draft was the right move (see Sharp, Leddy). Sad but the right call.

Of the older guys Sharp's numbers are pretty good since he came back from the concussion and he had another goal tonight...Oduya would be the other interesting chip there.

Who knows what they do...should be interesting though.

stars crap the ice again and blow a 3 goal lead to lose 5-3...

that team has some serious problems beginning with goaltending, defense and the run and gun style they like
- bogiedoc

A year ago James Nill was an absolute hockey genius who ripped off Stan for Stephen Johns. This year has been rather challenging for the Stars and some of Nill's mistakes are becoming more evident. Granted, this have had a lot of injuries. But even when healthy the team isn't playing well.

Year over year the Hawks are in the group of contenders. Sometimes they lead the pack, sometimes hey don't. But they're always there. The group changes too, teams like Boston, LA, Dallas and St Louis come and go. This year the Wild and Blue Jackets are the newest shiny object, how will they fare in the long term? Stan has done a great job keeping this team in contention for as long as they have been.

A year ago James Nill was an absolute hockey genius who ripped off Stan for Stephen Johns. This year has been rather challenging for the Stars and some of Nill's mistakes are becoming more evident. Granted, this have had a lot of injuries. But even when healthy the team isn't playing well.

Year over year the Hawks are in the group of contenders. Sometimes they lead the pack, sometimes hey don't. But they're always there. The group changes too, teams like Boston, LA, Dallas and St Louis come and go. This year the Wild and Blue Jackets are the newest shiny object, how will they fare in the long term? Stan has done a great job keeping this team in contention for as long as they have been.
- DarthKane

Yes, the front office has does a great job. The organization, top to bottom, is best ever in Chicago....along now with the Cubs.

Peter Budaj has 7 shutouts. Jeez...
- kinigitt

I see him backing up Darling next year...

Avs and Boston


Don Sweeney and Joe Sakic spoke for most of second intermission.

Fluto Shinzowa

stars crap the ice again and blow a 3 goal lead to lose 5-3...

that team has some serious problems beginning with goaltending, defense and the run and gun style they like
- bogiedoc

Yea , OMG JIM NILL BENT STAN OVER . ... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH hes the best oh my God , so many dudes on this thred were in line to give him handies .

How the Stars doin ?

JJ (or anyone)...

As it stands now, the Hawks would have to re-sign one of Desjardins or Tootoo or acquire someone (either at the deadline or post-season before the expansion draft) to fulfill the requirements of at least 2 forwards and 1 defenseman that are under contract and have played at least 40 games in 2016 or 70 the past 2 seasons.

Michael Latta could've fit that requirement had he been brought up 2 games ago (the Hawks have 25 games left and Latta needs 27 games to reach 70 over the last 2 seasons.) Does anyone know if playoff games count towards the expansion requirements?

Yea , OMG JIM NILL BENT STAN OVER . ... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH hes the best oh my God , so many dudes on this thred were in line to give him handies .

How the Stars doin ?



- mrpaulish

You're missing the point. Nill forced Stan to take his cap garbage back. Had Stan moved Sharp for picks at the draft instead of waiting just as he did w/ Leddy (the previous summer) the Hawks would have been in a much better situation cap wise. Meanwhile you lost Oduya and Stan failed to replace him...oh no wait he signed Rundblad right out of the box. Not having Oduya or a #4 cost them a real shot at back to back titles or did you miss Runny on the ice in game 7 against the Blues? Bowman knew all season he needed to fix that and he whiffed.

Stan finally got it this summer and moved Shaw for picks at the draft instead of waiting it out. Let's see what he does here in the next couple of weeks.

Except no one forced the Rundblad signing. Mind you that doesn't mean that I thought it was a good idea, more like a baffling one.

At least he was able to also get out of it with a mutual agreement to scrap it -when Rundblad could have just accepted a paycheck for not playing.

You're missing the point. Nill forced Stan to take his cap garbage back. Had Stan moved Sharp for picks at the draft instead of waiting just as he did w/ Leddy (the previous summer) the Hawks would have been in a much better situation cap wise. Meanwhile you lost Oduya and Stan failed to replace him...oh no wait he signed Rundblad right out of the box. Not having Oduya or a #4 cost them a real shot at back to back titles or did you miss Runny on the ice in game 7 against the Blues? Bowman knew all season he needed to fix that and he whiffed.

Stan finally got it this summer and moved Shaw for picks at the draft instead of waiting it out. Let's see what he does here in the next couple of weeks.
- DK002

G'Morning DK.

I think the point is more while Stan hasn't always been able to get max value for some of his trades, the Hawks have a team that's been competitive and a contender every year since 2010...ok maybe 2011's a stretch but that was a severe gutting.

While I'm not a fan of garbage...I mean Garbutt, he and Daley could have been useful players for the Hawks. It didn't work out but sometimes that's how it goes.

As far as a #4 dman, it's too bad Oduya could't be signed and I wish Stan had decided to let Rundblad go chase his dream in Switzerland a year early as well; but I think if you buy into the idea that Stan passed up two second rounders because he thought Sharp would fetch more, I think you have to give Stan the benefit of the doubt that he was trying to acquire Hamhuis last year which had been reported in a few places I believe.

If the Schmaltz-Toews-Panik line keeps playing this way, and we were to land Palat....I might be tempted to put Palat with Kruger and Hossa to create the ultimate shutdown 3rd line(that can also score). Hartman-Moose/Kero-Hinostroza would be a legit 4th line. That lineup top to bottom would be fast, versatile, and there would be scoring on all 4 lines. We're close already as is. But a piece like Palat would put us over the top .
- SimpleJack

Yes. And quite frankly...just what "Q" loves.

Pieces he can mix and match in his "blender" to counter other teams and to generate mismatches. Palat and Schmaltz and Hartman ALL have the skill sets to play up and down the top 3 lines. Very useful!!!

Palat 49 games 11 G 16 A 18 min TOI $3.3 mil cap hit RFA after this season
Hartman 52 Games 14 G 10 A 12 min TOI $863.000 cap hit RFA after next season.

I am not saying we should or should not trade one for the other. I am suggesting Palat could be a rental, his numbers are only a little better than Hartman and Palat is playing 50% more minutes per game.

I am still among the people that feel unless you get Duchene or Landeskog you are not improving the team that much.

Sharp - No
Tatar or Nyquist - No
Hanzal or Boyle - No

Of course if you get them for almost nothing (Pokka/McNeil and a 3rd rounder and their team retains the max on his salary) you do it. But other than that I say GO BIG or don't go.

I am liking Kero, Hartman, Moose, Panik, Schmaltz, Forsling, Kempny more and more. The average cap hit for these 7 players. $710,357. (Yep Bowman is a real "dummy"). I would be just how good these kids could be.
- -Doh-

You can't evaluate these two players against each other based on half a season playing with different line mates on different teams.

Also, I don't think you can (again) categorically say acquiring Palat means trading Hartman. Ehhhh, maybe?

But it's like saying the Hawks can't acquire Duchene because that means trading Hjalmarsson. Who says? Da interwebs? TSN?

Point is, there are a lot of potential scenarios out there as teams talk and the deadline gets closer.

Palat's a good player. PROVEN good. That has nothing to do with Hartman.

JJ (or anyone)...

As it stands now, the Hawks would have to re-sign one of Desjardins or Tootoo or acquire someone (either at the deadline or post-season before the expansion draft) to fulfill the requirements of at least 2 forwards and 1 defenseman that are under contract and have played at least 40 games in 2016 or 70 the past 2 seasons.

Michael Latta could've fit that requirement had he been brought up 2 games ago (the Hawks have 25 games left and Latta needs 27 games to reach 70 over the last 2 seasons.) Does anyone know if playoff games count towards the expansion requirements?
- 4_in_7

I don't think they do, but someone else may know better.

Yes, the front office has does a great job. The organization, top to bottom, is best ever in Chicago....along now with the Cubs.
- BMWChiFan

Ehhh, 6 Championships in 7 years kinda maybe says otherwise but no argument that the Hawks prove year in year out they are an excellent organization.

If the Schmaltz-Toews-Panik line keeps playing this way, and we were to land Palat....I might be tempted to put Palat with Kruger and Hossa to create the ultimate shutdown 3rd line(that can also score). Hartman-Moose/Kero-Hinostroza would be a legit 4th line. That lineup top to bottom would be fast, versatile, and there would be scoring on all 4 lines. We're close already as is. But a piece like Palat would put us over the top .
- SimpleJack

This is the right line of thinking overall. Add.

No one would suggest the Hawks downgrade the team just to add a piece, nor is Bowman going to do that. But to say he can't without downgrading the team is a really narrow line of thinking—and the same nonsense that gets repeated every year at this time.

my 2 cents on a trade...and it may not be worth that much

I don't see anyway the hawks get net improved with any trade if any current top 12 roster player has to go in return; esp if its a rental..

but stanbow knows helluva lot more than any of us...he could pull another rabbit out of a hat...but it may be an expensive rabbit...
- bogiedoc

Bogie,

Just a for instance. If that top 12 player was Kruger (obviously plus prospects) and you got Duchene?

It's a better team. As much as I like Kruger and what he brings. Because Duchene replaces a lot of that and adds more.

I am betting the deal to be done is already a done deal - merely waiting for the cap space to be created.

My gut tells me it is Palat + Boyle for Kruger and a youngin or two TBD not named Hartman or Fortin.

You make that deal because it makes the team a top to bottom threat to win it all.

Worry about this year this year, and next year next year.
- Return of the Roar

Highly doubtful.

I just see no way whatsoever that we get Duchene and his existing contract....or the RFA Palat that we won't be able to afford next year. To get either one we have to deal Kruger this year. So we would lose Kruger for the stretch run than lose either Duchene or Palat in the offseason. It just does not add up. I can see the Hawks dealing for a Vanek type forward....and by that I mean a UFA to be who we have no intention of resigning. I can also see the Hawks getting a 4-6 type D-Man who is also a UFA and who we will not sign back. If Oduya was healthy I would guess him...especially after Dallas lost tonight. But Oduya will need to play in a few games before the trade deadline in order for anyone to deal for him. Also, Hawks won't do a trade anytime soon as they are attempting to maximize as much salary cap space as possbile....which is really smart and the only way to go about this. So we sill have about 16 days to keep going over the same stuff.
- onehundredlevel

Duchene's contract runs through 2019. Palat is an RFA after this season—a more dicey proposition, but not like his being a UFA where you can be assured he gets full market value and you can't keep him.

Fairly significantly different in fact. The Hawks would have a fair amount of leverage.

I would not deal Kruger for Palat without backfilling the secondary face-off center somehow. However, if Kruger was part of a Duchene package, that problem is taken care of—which is why that's what the Hawks offered originally for Duchene (or so i was told).

I guess it comes down to this. A lot of analysts—and most importantly the Hawk FO themselves—are not sure the Hawk roster at present goes deep in the playoffs or wins a Cup. Yet some fans get all anxious (convinced) that they can't afford to upgrade. And the last two years, they have, in spite of that doubt.

Bowman may well end up pushing back from the table 3/1 doing little or no business. But they are by God pursuing bigger moves to improve the team until they run out of time.

Duchene's contract runs through 2019. Palat is an RFA after this season—a more dicey proposition, but not like his being a UFA where you can be assured he gets full market value and you can't keep him.

Fairly significantly different in fact. The Hawks would have a fair amount of leverage.

I would not deal Kruger for Palat without backfilling the secondary face-off center somehow. However, if Kruger was part of a Duchene package, that problem is taken care of—which is why that's what the Hawks offered originally for Duchene (or so i was told).

I guess it comes down to this. A lot of analysts—and most importantly the Hawk FO themselves—are not sure the Hawk roster at present goes deep in the playoffs or wins a Cup. Yet some fans get all anxious (convinced) that they can't afford to upgrade. And the last two years, they have, in spite of that doubt.

Bowman may well end up pushing back from the table 3/1 doing little or no business. But they are by God pursuing bigger moves to improve the team until they run out of time.
- John Jaeckel[/quote]