We'll take TT, Versteeg*, and Bickell









* - indicates must be acquired from whatever roster he is on before/during the time of trade negotiations between Chicago and Carolina.
- TommyHawk

You aren't getting TT back.

What did you just call me?
- TommyHawk

A fish.

You aren't getting TT back.
- BINGO!

You can have him. Wait until you see him disappear in the playoffs..

oh. nevermind.

Guys. Oduya is hurt btw. Also questions about whether he will play again this season.

Not sure if its Ruff's system or not but Oduya is not the same player he was 2 seasons ago.
- TTtime

Then he shouldn't cost much to obtain. Let him heal. Already knows the system. He can come back and join Hammer when he's 100%

Is TT still playing with Aho and Staaaal?

You can have him. Wait until you see him disappear in the playoffs..

oh. nevermind.
- TTtime

I mean, he put up 10 points in 18 games with you guys the first time around... I dunno. Thinking it's pretty hard to make a call on the career of a 22 year old. Your expectations of him may have been a bit out to lunch.

Is TT still playing with Aho and Staaaal?
- SimpleJack

Nah. He's been floating all over the lineup, but most recently was with Rask and McGinn.

Tonight he's slotted at C between Skinner and Stempniak.

the Aho-Staal-Lindholm line has kind of become a defacto 1st line of late.

An update from the previous blog.....

Scott Powers at the Athletic: Could be two years before Blackhawks prospect Maxim Shalunov comes to the NHL

Agent: 10 percent chance Maxim Shalunov signs with Blackhawks now

https://t.co/KCCuP2ww2C

As I said in the previous blog - I was told Shalunov would not be in their plans this year - unless Shalunov wants to get an early start in Rockford to show his game can translate to the N.A. ice surface. Otherwise, he can come to rookie camp - and turn coaches heads like Fortin did last summer.

Looks like he doesn't want to take the risk.......

Cost-certainty is a big reason. And the Hawks def see Hartman as having upside.
- John Jaeckel

I guess dollars wise... but you guys could always dump a bad contract on them. Hartman will never be nearly as good as Duchense.

This is pretty funny.
Darling playing 50 games and finding a legitimate back up downgrade the team and it's chance.

How are Gibson, Elliott, Mzarek, Hellebuyck and Allen doing as newbies at playing bigger workloads.
- wiz1901

Cam Talbot and Martin Jones are doing pretty good. Chad Johnson too. Gibson has better stats than Crow, so I'm not sure what you're on about there.

UPDATE:

Hawks and Dallas did talk this AM. Eaves, Oduya. Not sure if that's "and" or "or." No Sharp as of yet.

More coming.
- John Jaeckel

Watching Sharp's play lately would have to say not very interested in offering much in return.

An update from the previous blog.....

Scott Powers at the Athletic: Could be two years before Blackhawks prospect Maxim Shalunov comes to the NHL

Agent: 10 percent chance Maxim Shalunov signs with Blackhawks now

https://t.co/KCCuP2ww2C

As I said in the previous blog - I was told Shalunov would not be in their plans this year - unless Shalunov wants to get an early start in Rockford to show his game can translate to the N.A. ice surface. Otherwise, he can come to rookie camp - and turn coaches heads like Fortin did last summer.

Looks like he doesn't want to take the risk.......
- dahawks8819

Assuming that holds true and Crow is the odd man out, that fits the Scotty Bowman profile with not putting a lot of dollars into that position. Darling has shown stretches of being able to carry the load so maybe they lock him up at 3-3.5M for 3-4 years and gain cost certainty around that spot (assuming he takes that deal) with a cheap vet as the backup while they continue to groom someone in the minors.

So the question becomes, do you trade Crow before or after the draft and what do you try and get in return? I can't seem them doing something like that at the draft in Chicago with Crow being a popular core guy. I could also be completely wrong and that might be the splash they want to make??
- blackhawks30

I think they wait until after the parade - let Crow drop a few more f-bombs on the way out of town after winning another Cup.

Maybe they do it AT the draft. More hometown excitement.

I wonder if the Stan already has an idea of who he trades him to and what he gets back. Maybe he gets more draft picks. Or packages it with the Hawks' #1 to move up.

Guys. Oduya is hurt btw. Also questions about whether he will play again this season.

Not sure if its Ruff's system or not but Oduya is not the same player he was 2 seasons ago.
- TTtime

Lindy Ruff has a system? Somebody better explain to him what it is.

I mean, he put up 10 points in 18 games with you guys the first time around... I dunno. Thinking it's pretty hard to make a call on the career of a 22 year old. Your expectations of him may have been a bit out to lunch.
- BINGO!

Was never really a fan of his going back to his junior days. He is about what I expected as a player. Has some skill for sure but he has a tendency to disappear for long stretches.

Lindy Ruff has a system? Somebody better explain to him what it is.
- RickJ

Its called the defense be damned system.

Was never really a fan of his going back to his junior days. He is about what I expected as a player. Has some skill for sure but he has a tendency to disappear for long stretches.
- TTtime

He's 22 and only in his 2nd full NHL season... not saying you're wrong, just that it's WAY too early to make that determination on him considering he doesn't even have 200 games under his belt.

Hard to argue with the sentiment but last year exactly 100 forwards scored 20 goals or 3.3 per team. I would say with about 90% certainty that any team considers a forward who scores 20 goals a top 6 guy, not a bottom 6 one. Of course, if a bottom 6 guy was scoring that well, he'd most likely be moved to a top 6 line anyway.
- ILGolfer

Great point. I may have inflated the bottom-6 goal totals too optimistically!

He's 22 and only in his 2nd full NHL season... not saying you're wrong, just that it's WAY too early to make that determination on him considering he doesn't even have 200 games under his belt.
- BINGO!

10 (3G 7A) of his 28 points this year on the power play. He likes open space and time. Take away those and he shrinks a little. Nice player. Maybe a 2C but more probably a 3C who will get PP time. A nice kid. I hope he does well.

10 (3G 7A) of his 28 points this year on the power play. He likes open space and time. Take away those and he shrinks a little. Nice player. Maybe a 2C but more probably a 3C who will get PP time. A nice kid. I hope he does well.
- -Doh-

The 2015 playoffs was such a tease.

He used his high end hockey IQ to compensate and it was glorious. That one assist he had against Minnie where he avoided an oncoming hit and quickly banked a puck against the boards to Sharp right at their blue line. Beauty of a play.

Nah. He's been floating all over the lineup, but most recently was with Rask and McGinn.

Tonight he's slotted at C between Skinner and Stempniak.

the Aho-Staal-Lindholm line has kind of become a defacto 1st line of late.
- BINGO!

I thought Lindholm was a center. Are the Canes testing him at wing? He had a slow start to the season but seems to be picking it up. I feel his ceiling is a really good 3C and possibly a 2C if he can gain consistency. The skill is there.

Thanks JJ for the info . I'm glad to hear Hartman will not be included.
Do the Hawks now try and just add so depth players at forward and perhaps D ?

Guys. Oduya is hurt btw. Also questions about whether he will play again this season.

Not sure if its Ruff's system or not but Oduya is not the same player he was 2 seasons ago.
- TTtime

I would ask those questions as well.

I thought Lindholm was a center. Are the Canes testing him at wing? He had a slow start to the season but seems to be picking it up. I feel his ceiling is a really good 3C and possibly a 2C if he can gain consistency. The skill is there.
- AEL_Fox

We have too many guys who were natural Centers.

Skinner, J. Staal, Rask, Lindholm, Aho and TT all have played C at various points over their careers.

Lindholm and Staal swap out on faceoffs depending on which side of the ice they're one.

Lindholm's offense has really taken off since he started playing with Aho though. He's been saddled with carrying depth lines more than he's been given the chance to play with skilled players. When he gets to use his body and create offense, he's tremendous.

From the Department of Duh.

Also just heard, the Hawks are looking for a new home for McNeill, guessing that will be a very minor deal or part of a lesser deal.