Solid blog as usual....

LIke their game of late but cautious as they aren't as good as they look when they are on fire, or as bad as they look when they drop 3-4 in a row. Somewhere in the middle lies the true version of this team, and getting more consistency will be the biggest challenge the last 25 games.

Hawks sent a ton of guys of down for more games with the hogs, but most importantly to bank the almost 500K in cap space for the deadline. Then again, they aren't making any trades........

Lastly, I cringe when I see biased tweets like that from Jud S pointing out skewed out stats when looking at Panik vs Saad. Just a moronic thing to do as I would bet my soul if you place 20 instead of 14 on this team, he produces MORE and 14 would produce LESS on Columbus........funny how Jud didn't go down the Nick Leddy avenue who is at 31 points, with 9 goals and playing very well.

Dont' count out the blues.......talented teams with veterans who get in-season coaching shakeups usually go on a little run.......Fascinating to watch Nash vs STL for the 3rd spot in the central the rest of the way.
- SteveRain

Right on, Steve.

Some GM-speak BS in there, but this last part i think is quite true:

"We're trying to win the Cup this year, absolutely, but it's not predicated upon a rental," said Bowman. "So I think that narrative is just false.''

My info. is the team would like to go big for a guy who will be around in 2017-2018, and possibly even beyond. That part he is not talking about as directly, but that is the main goal right now.
- John Jaeckel

Definitely a show for the league on a lot of those comments. It eventually drives conversation around the league with guys like LeBrun and Mackenzie reporting the same news.

LeBrun is getting it because what Bowman is saying is something he wants the other 29 teams to hear.

ANYONE assuming his statements that they likely won't to make a deal are anything but bargaining is insane. Think about it. If he came out and admitted: "We're pursuing a lot of trade options to acquire a top 6 forward."

1) It sets the bar of expectation of fans and the organization high—and he might not meet it
2) It possibly sends the wrong message to the team right now—a distraction
3) It underscores the tough position he's already in trying to get a deal
- John Jaeckel

Has anyone negotiated a car price? You don't walk in to a deal offering the highest price. You start low, within reason and somewhere meet in the middle. It's negotiations and posturing. It's not all that different.

16 will be exposed. They pretty much have to meet the requirements. Unless Bowman picks at least one more forward. That leaves Hartman exposed.
- TTtime

They could also resign some AHL players that are going RFA or UFA at the end of this year, and expose them. Such as Latta, Mcneill, Carrick, Mashinter, etc.

They could also resign some AHL players that are going RFA or UFA at the end of this year, and expose them. Such as Latta, Mcneill, Carrick, Mashinter, etc.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

2 of them have to have 40 games in the NHL the prior season, or 70 the prior 2.

The Athletic is really good. Local beat guys not so much. LeBrun is saying Hawks should be in on Patrick Eaves as he is a UFA and only has 1.0 million contract, easy to fit him with the cap space. Also, someone pointed out we do need to expose Kruger for the expansion draft so he probably won't get dealt either. Outside of draft picks and guys in minors....we are running out of assets to deal.

They have to have 40 games in the NHL the prior season, or 70 the prior 2.
- JRoenick97

I thought it was just 70 games of pro experience, not just NHL??

I thought it was just 70 games of pro experience, not just NHL??
- ToewsdNKanefusd

This article specifies NHL:

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-draft-rules/c-281010592

They could also resign some AHL players that are going RFA or UFA at the end of this year, and expose them. Such as Latta, Mcneill, Carrick, Mashinter, etc.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Hard part is resigning a player at a rate you could live with if/when Vegas doesn't take them. No guarantee who they'll take if it came down to say Kruger or TVR, given both are still around.

I think there will be a combination of guys available at low dollar hit (minimal if any cap hit if buried at the Rock), but you have to believe those guys know what it means as well getting resigned where the numbers are at.

The Athletic is really good. Local beat guys not so much. LeBrun is saying Hawks should be in on Patrick Eaves as he is a UFA and only has 1.0 million contract, easy to fit him with the cap space. Also, someone pointed out we do need to expose Kruger for the expansion draft so he probably won't get dealt either. Outside of draft picks and guys in minors....we are running out of assets to deal.
- onehundredlevel

Wouldn't they just try to re-sign Tootoo and Desjardins with a little bump up in pay to $950K each and if they aren't selected bury them in Rockford next year with little or no effect on the cap?

Great week of hockey for the Hawks and Jonathan Toews is finally looking like the guy that we all know and love. Toews was indisputably the best 200ft player in the NHL from 2009-2015, but had looked like a shell of his former self for the last 18 months. It is great to see 19 making an impact at both ends of the ice on every shift.

Schmaltz is playing with a ton of confidence and he has been much harder on the puck both while in possession, and defensively.

Keith has been bringing the offense all year, but it was great to see him (mostly) silence McJesus all night. If not for the lackadaisical play by Hammer where 97 stripped him of the puck, they would've kept the future Art Ross winner completely off the score sheet.

Ondrej Palat would be the dream acquisition, IMO. Dude has good size (6'2" 210lbs), has offensive skill, and is extremely competent defensively. He is also a Slovakian comrade, IIRC....

Wouldn't they just try to re-sign Tootoo and Desjardins with a little bump up in pay to $950K each and if they aren't selected bury them in Rockford next year with little or no effect on the cap?
- RickJ

I'm not sure Desi would agree to goto Rockford all year. He can probably get a NHL job. tootoo should take the $950 and run. The best he could get next year is probably a non guaranteed tryout.

Wouldn't they just try to re-sign Tootoo and Desjardins with a little bump up in pay to $950K each and if they aren't selected bury them in Rockford next year with little or no effect on the cap?
- RickJ

Exactly. Minimal effect on overall cap hit if buried, but numbers you can live with if they are on the active roster. Whether you actually want to do this will 22 or Desi is another question...

Great week of hockey for the Hawks and Jonathan Toews is finally looking like the guy that we all know and love. Toews was indisputably the best 200ft player in the NHL from 2009-2015, but had looked like a shell of his former self for the last 18 months. It is great to see 19 making an impact at both ends of the ice on every shift.

Schmaltz is playing with a ton of confidence and he has been much harder on the puck both while in possession, and defensively.

Keith has been bringing the offense all year, but it was great to see him (mostly) silence McJesus all night. If not for the lackadaisical play by Hammer where 97 stripped him of the puck, they would've kept the future Art Ross winner completely off the score sheet.

Ondrej Palat would be the dream acquisition, IMO. Dude has good size (6'2" 210lbs), has offensive skill, and is extremely competent defensively. He is also a Slovakian comrade, IIRC....
- EnzoD

Doesn't it feel great to be talking about how to take the step from playoff team to potential conference/Cup final? Lots of other teams are already out of the mix and many struggling just to get into the playoffs.

For all the dumpster fire talk, they continue to be successful this year. I am quite surprised at the performances from a number of the youngsters and definitely gives hope going forward.

Schmaltz is improving, but have to remember it's his first professional year whatsoever. Hartman and Hino showed what can happen over a summer after getting a taste of the NHL level and working hard on the weaknesses in their game with professional coaching/training - which Chicago is great at.

I look at this year as one of the tougher ones because of the transition to even more low-dollar contracts on the main roster. Hopefully they can continue to get some talent backfilling at Rockford to improve down the road and continue to churn the replacements out of there. At some point you're going to need "superstars" down the road, which will be the hardest to replace of all, especially with low picks year in and year out.

Exactly. Minimal effect on overall cap hit if buried, but numbers you can live with if they are on the active roster. Whether you actually want to do this will 22 or Desi is another question...
- gringointoronto

Both of those guys know the end of their NHL careers isn't far off and have seen how difficult it is to get a contract in August or September as UFA's. Better to have paper in hand in June than be looking around for a job 3 months later.

The Hawks would treat those guys right, ask them to play in Rockford for a year if they aren't claimed and help show younger kids the way. And they could bring them up occasionally where they have to pass thru waivers and some NHL team might claim them so they have another chance in the NHL.

This article specifies NHL:

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-draft-rules/c-281010592
- JRoenick97

Thanks for posting.

That clears up a lot......

I'm not sure Desi would agree to goto Rockford all year. He can probably get a NHL job. tootoo should take the $950 and run. The best he could get next year is probably a non guaranteed tryout.
- kmw4631

AT 31 and limited to no scoring ability, Desi is running out of racetrack in the NHL.

This article specifies NHL:

https://www.nhl.com/news/...n-draft-rules/c-281010592
- JRoenick97

Ah!, the pro experience (not just NHL), is just part of the eligibility. They then also need to have played 40 games this past year or 70 over the last 2 years in the NHL to also be eligible. Got it now!

1. Impossible to know how his cap hit vs cap ceiling will be relative. Hopefully the cap will be a lot higher by that point.

2. You could say the same about #2 who has more miles on him and is only 1.5ish cheaper.

3. While a workout fanatic, you could also look at 81 who has managed to stay productive at age 38 while carrying a significant cap hit.

4. Who takes 7s place on the back end since everyone seems so hell bent on trading on him? 57? 6? 42? Remember, the point in trading him is to clear cap room so to take back nhl ready talent might not save you a helluva lot.
- SteveRain

Probably the best NHL defender since Lidstrom retired. If he didn't have that knee injury you'd expect to get a high level of play from him until at least 35 and maybe one miracle out of the last 3.

Certainly a better gamble since he's shown no signs of slowing down until now. And perhaps he bounces back. For a player with his physical gifts he could still be quite productive into his later years. He's a 10 million dollar player they're paying 5 and change for...

Also, the success of this team is based more on Keith's game being at a high level than Seabs or anyone else on the blue line. He is the engine and when that breaks down the wheels and everything else fall off.

1) Yep
2) Ha, right.
3) That is ridiculous. I like me some Richard Panik—for what he is, a faster, bigger but slightly less skilled, less versatile version of Andrew Shaw, minus the homophobic slurs and f-bombs.
- John Jaeckel

16 will be exposed. They pretty much have to meet the requirements. Unless Bowman picks at least one more forward. That leaves Hartman exposed.
- TTtime

Probably wise to save posts like these til next month. Things may, uh, change.

Here's more stuff that Stan can't say....

....Whose gonna beat Warshington? (Who was gonna beat the Hocks in 2010? It was destiny.) Not saying you don't try, but this is a year that you consider rentals a bust, imo. If you can get a player you can sign beyond this season, that's the play.)

....The rest really helped these guys. (The whole point is the Cup. 2nd place is crap. If you can't win it all, a second round departure is more helpful than a fall in to the cup final.) I know. No one can compete that way, but it's true.

....We're gonna load up for next year. (4 cups in 9 seasons is just as good. 5 in 10 is better.) Can Hoss still be the boss for 2 more? (?)

Dats all.

G H

Has anyone negotiated a car price? You don't walk in to a deal offering the highest price. You start low, within reason and somewhere meet in the middle. It's negotiations and posturing. It's not all that different.
- golfbard

No, it pretty much isn't.

Probably the best NHL defender since Lidstrom retired. If he didn't have that knee injury you'd expect to get a high level of play from him until at least 35 and maybe one miracle out of the last 3.

Certainly a better gamble since he's shown no signs of slowing down until now. And perhaps he bounces back. For a player with his physical gifts he could still be quite productive into his later years. He's a 10 million dollar player they're paying 5 and change for...

Also, the success of this team is based more on Keith's game being at a high level than Seabs or anyone else on the blue line. He is the engine and when that breaks down the wheels and everything else fall off.
- fattybeef

Beg to differ with you here....

Keith isn't the best defender on the Hawks. That would fall to Hammer if we are being fair. If you are talking OVERALL game, keith Excels at a lot but isn't the best in one particular category....maybe skating and speed, assuming he has the right skates and his laces are nice and tight......

Shot, offense. physicality is to 7.....shot blocking, defensive awareness goes to 4.....keith is very good at a lot, just not the best in all........

You can't get a good hot dog around here.