Last week I was watching the end of the Wings - Blues game where Detroit had their goaltender out trying to tie the game. Vanek was actually in the paint absolutely working his butt off and taking some real physical abuse. It was like he cared all of a sudden or maybe his father was in the stands watching. That kind of Vanek is very good, you just wonder how often he is willing to bring it like that.
- RickJ

He has always been a pretty good around the net and he is a good netfront presence... I'll give him that. He had a pretty good snipe on Matt Murray on Sunday . Vanek and Tatar had decent games.

Also, if Bowman goes out and gets Vanek, he obviously has a good reason for it. He isn't going to make a trade simply for making a trade, he's going to make one if it benefits the team. I'd be a lot less pessimistic about Vanek, the hawks are obviously looking into him because people paid to evaluate players in their organization believe he can help.

I can see the pragmatism in picking up Vanek for scraps. As a rental playing for his paycheque (with a deep playoff run representing serious leverage for the next team to overpay for)

I'd pinch my nose and do that deal, if it didn't send Forsling to Detroit.

Absolutely no question that the Hawks are better with Duchene on the roster instead of Hartman.

It isn't happening in a vacuum though. Are the Hawks better with Duchene or with Hartman + whatever they might aquire/keep with 5 167 500? If the decision was up to my (thankfully it's not) I would keep Hartman and try to patch the hole at LW with something that doesn't rob the Hawks of a very nice young complementary player. We'll see.

We all have our favorite Hawks and non-Hawks who we'd like to see in the Indian Head sweater but I have to agree with the sentiment that Rocky, McD and the rest of the front office has the number #1 goal of maximizing the number of playoff home games until we either have a lockout/strike come later this decade. Maybe I'm off target but I think that's the prism that we should be looking through regarding any movements on the roster.

starting to think about next year even though this year is very far from over. next year could be very fun too.

schmaltz toews panik
PAK
hoss kero debrincat
moose kruger/hayden hartman

fortin latta or FA

keith hjalm
seab forsling
tvr kempny

snug or gus or FA

crow
darling
(or darling/johansson if crow is traded which i think will happen)

love this future. lots of youth, tons of speed, high ceilings, and a couple young and tough guys who can score and get the dirty goals. love how this is shaping up.
- mattcav

Of course one of these players will be scooped up in the expansion draft, but I too am excited about the future with this team and wouldn't want to see any trade deadline deals made that jeopardize that future. Certainly I would consider both Hartman and Schmaltz to be off the table.

I think we are very close to competing for the cup this year and agree with those who feel just a tweak or two is all that is needed. I am not a fan of Vanek but the more I think about it he does seem to make sense and could be a nice addition for the playoffs at little cost.

We all have our favorite Hawks and non-Hawks who we'd like to see in the Indian Head sweater but I have to agree with the sentiment that Rocky, McD and the rest of the front office has the number #1 goal of maximizing the number of playoff home games until we either have a lockout/strike come later this decade. Maybe I'm off target but I think that's the prism that we should be looking through regarding any movements on the roster.
- ILGolfer

Tom Wilson

Not a Vanek fan either but he would fit money wise and not cost very much. The guy can score goals which I'm worried about with this team in the playoffs. If he only helped the PP that is reason enough to do it. The guy is running out of future contract options - that should be enough motivation for the lazy bastard to give it all he's got.
- RickJ

He is a fallback possibility for sure

2 thoughts i have -

Will there be any "giveback" from Philly for the trade of Timmonen a few years ago?
Will this FO finally provide Toews with a player he is asking for (Duchene)? This FO does back up the players, see Krueger, Campbell.

He is a fallback possibility for sure
- John Jaeckel

A big gulf of talent, but maybe this could be similar to Kessel in PIT? The guy wasn't a leader and turned it "off and on". Maybe the Hawks "core influence" could raise his game over a long playoff run? Stranger things have happened.

Tom Wilson
- mrpaulish

I can just see the quotes if he has a bad game mrpaul......."ah Mr. Wilson"! Of course you really have to be an old fart (probably even older than this old fart) to know where that quote comes from.

A big gulf of talent, but maybe this could be similar to Kessel in PIT? The guy wasn't a leader and turned it "off and on". Maybe the Hawks "core influence" could raise his game over a long playoff run? Stranger things have happened.
- phantasmo

Kessel wasn't ever as bad as the rabid Toronto media and fanbase made him out to be. He had a sense of humour about it and they didn't appreciate his "flippant" attitude. Watch him with the pens; he backchecks consistently and does it well. Smart hockey player. And it isn't because our Lord and Savior Crosby fills the locker room with the Holy Spirit.

I'd like to keep an open mind, but I'm convinced Vanek is who he is at this point.

A big gulf of talent, but maybe this could be similar to Kessel in PIT? The guy wasn't a leader and turned it "off and on". Maybe the Hawks "core influence" could raise his game over a long playoff run? Stranger things have happened.
- phantasmo

I like that theory/idea phantasmo. Guys who never have won the Cup would do just about anything to achieve that goal, ala Kessel. At least you'd hope they would.

Kessler wasn't ever as bad as the rabid Toronto media and fanbase made him out to be. He had a sense of humour about it and they didn't appreciate his "flippant" attitude. Watch him with the pens; he backchecks consistently and does it well. Smart hockey player. And it isn't because our Lord and Savior Crosby fills the locker room with the Holy Spirit.

I'd like to keep an open mind, but I'm convinced Vanek is who he is at this point.
- kinigitt

Yikes kinigitt.....you mean all Canadians don't worship at the alter of Sid the Kid?

Absolutely no question that the Hawks are better with Duchene on the roster instead of Hartman.

It isn't happening in a vacuum though. Are the Hawks better with Duchene or with Hartman + whatever they might aquire/keep with 5 167 500? If the decision was up to my (thankfully it's not) I would keep Hartman and try to patch the hole at LW with something that doesn't rob the Hawks of a very nice young complementary player. We'll see.
- IceTotoro

All great observations

Yikes kinigitt.....you mean all Canadians don't worship at the alter of Sid the Kid?
- ILGolfer

I've always considered Malkin to be better. Does that make me delusional?

I've always considered Malkin to be better. Does that make me delusional?
- kinigitt

Nah....the definition of delusional is the Chicago Bears front office.

Just sitting back watching the kid progress nicely ,along with the entire team beginning to Jell at the right time . The narrative around here is much like it was at the start of the year, were the HAWKS were consider to be a bubble team or worse with a youth movement under way . Well that has been far from the truth .Don't believe anything big will happen in the next couple of weeks ,maybe something cheap like Campbell this past summer will fall in their lap .The big move or moves will happen in the Summer around draft time .. Big game tonight ,HAWKS play there game they win 4 /1 ..GO HAWKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- oldduffman

Coming around to that same line of thought. Don't see Bowman overreaching/paying for a piece this season. If a GM comes to him with a deal that makes sense fine if not I'd look for a smaller depth type deal.

Totally agree. It could be a great, good, so so, or bad trade to acquire Duchene, Palat, Hanzal, Landeskog, Tatar, Vanek or anyone else. It depends on what you give up and it depends on how this effects your ability to make additional moves at the TDL, the expansion draft, or during the summer.

Nah....the definition of delusional is the Chicago Bears front office.
- ILGolfer

2 thoughts i have -

Will there be any "giveback" from Philly for the trade of Timmonen a few years ago?
Will this FO finally provide Toews with a player he is asking for (Duchene)? This FO does back up the players, see Krueger, Campbell.
- powerenforcer

Philly isn't giving back anything. Stan rolled the dice and lost on that one.

Adrian Dater: Hearing that trade talks between the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche have basically stopped. The Bruins won’t go to the high asking price the Avs want.

On the Colorado Avalanche …

Brian Wilde: “Negotiations with Avs going poorly. They want too much. Sakic needs to remember his team is terrible so not in a position of strength.”

We all have our favorite Hawks and non-Hawks who we'd like to see in the Indian Head sweater but I have to agree with the sentiment that Rocky, McD and the rest of the front office has the number #1 goal of maximizing the number of playoff home games until we either have a lockout/strike come later this decade. Maybe I'm off target but I think that's the prism that we should be looking through regarding any movements on the roster.
- ILGolfer

Let's hope Stan swings for the fences and gets an elite talent like Alex Burrows.

Another option from Vancouver would be Jannik Hansen. His cap hit is only $2.5 million and I'm sure the Canucks could retain some salary, for a price.

Hartman has become untouchable in my view. Young, cheap and productive players are gold.
- RomanF

"You have a really strong argument. That's why Sakic wants him and Stan doesn't want to deal him. Bear in mind, Duchene is a better player."

And Hartman a much cheaper player!
- walleyeb1

Better players win Stanley Cups. Cheaper players give you cap flexibility.

I get it, there's a trade off.

But 10 years from now when the Hawks are battling with Dallas for 11th in the conference, all the cap mopey you saved, possibly at the expense of a fourth Cup, won't matter.

Put another way, now is the time.

Because Hartman, Hinostroza, Mostte, Schmaltz , Forsling and even the Great Alex deBrincat are not going to be the core of a Stanley Cup team ten years from now. Anyone care to argue that? I'll take that bet.

Would love to see the Hawks come strong tonight.

Set the tone early and get a big win against these guys