I'm on board with Tatar and Palat. Hopefully TB loses a couple games this week.

I don't see Tatar as a fit on Toews LW

However, if they put him on another line -
Panarin -Anisimov - Kane
Tatar - Kruger - Hossa
Panik-Toews -Schmaltz
Hartman-Kero-Rassmussen/Hinostroza

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.
- John Jaeckel

That might be true but you never know. Just like ten years ago one could make that same argument with Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Kane etc..

That might be true but you never know. Just like ten years ago one could make that same argument with Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Kane etc..
- MjulQvist

Those guys - Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook are generational type players. None of the Hawks youths on the roster are those types

Those guys - Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook are generational type players. None of the Hawks youths on the roster are those types
- PatShart

Keith was a second round pick, 54th overall. He was hardly considered generational at the time. The others were know commodities though.

Those guys - Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook are generational type players. None of the Hawks youths on the roster are those types
- PatShart

I thought "generational" was reserved for describing the likes of McDavid or Crosby types.

JUST GOT A BIG UPDATE:

DUCHENE

Done. Over. Hawks are out. This time that looks solid.

PALAT

Hawks still interested but TB still sniffing the playoffs

DALLAS

Eaves a real possibility, some concerns about his health(?), but Hawks' not really interested in Oduya.

ARIZONA

Hanzal a possibility, price must come down health(?) also a concern allegedly

DETROIT

Tatar and Vanek now go to the top of the list.

MISC

Tonight's game is a HUGE measuring stick for how aggressive Stan will be. May do nothing and I am told if he does, that means perhaps another major move in the summer. May do something minor involving Desjardins and McNeill.


MY TAKE

Whoever theorized Vanek may end up being right. Right now, my spider sense is him or Hanzal. Possibly Eaves.
- John Jaeckel

What about a LW that hasn't been talked about yet? Someone from out of nowhere? (yes, I'm just pulling this out of, uh, thin air.) I saw a report that Phili was listening to offers for Giroux, who is too pricey for the Hawks, but what about Wayne Simmonds? Cap hit is just under $4m, two years left. If they are kicking the tires on a Giroux deal, maybe they're looking to shake things up and retool a bit. He'd be great.

Another out of the blue option, Evander Kane. More expensive but less term at $5.250m for another year. Buffalo would need to keep some of that. Unfortunately, he comes with his personality too.

Also wondering about Mike Cammalleri from the Devils. He's older, $5m, 2 years after this one. Probably too expensive / too old. I don't really know his game because I rarely watch the Devils.

I wouldn't be surprised to see AZ trade Hansal and then resign him this summer like they did with Vermette after he won the Cup with the Hawks.

This was someone just spitballing:

To Chicago Blackhawks = Martin Hanzal and Luke Schenn

To Arizona Coyotes = Alex DeBrincat, Ville Pokka and Mark McNeill
- walleyeb1

I wouldn't do it unless you felt pretty confident you could re-sign Hanzal. And even then, it depends on your scooting of your own guy (deBrnncat) who to this point is a Hall of Famer in junior hockey. Is he . . . all that and a bag of chips, or just another of the many guys who rack up big junior numbers but don't translate it to the NHL?

I wouldn't be surprised to see AZ trade Hansal and then resign him this summer like they did with Vermette after he won the Cup with the Hawks.
- matt_ahrens

Agreed.... I feel like Arizona does it on purpose.... Wait... What... I just sounded like Power Enforcer..... It's a conspiracy

For Vanek I can see the price being considerably lower. For Tatar I still have a hard time grasping why Detroit would want to trade him. If they're going to rebuild then it makes no sense to trade one of their best young guys. I can't imagine the asking price being that much cheaper than it is for Duchene.
- teh_HAWKZ

A "value for value" deal that Holland can't refuse. He HAS a lot of good young forwards. He NEEDS defense.

Forsling, TVR and a pick?

I wouldn't do it unless you felt pretty confident you could re-sign Hanzal. And even then, it depends on your scooting of your own guy (deBrnncat) who to this point is a Hall of Famer in junior hockey. Is he . . . all that and a bag of chips, or just another of the many guys who rack up big junior numbers but don't translate it to the NHL?
- John Jaeckel

I think it'd be a mistake to trade Debrincat, in general, but especially for a guy like Hanzal. Hanzal isn't that good. He's big, and can win faceoffs, but he's not really that good at anything else.

I wouldn't do it unless you felt pretty confident you could re-sign Hanzal. And even then, it depends on your scooting of your own guy (deBrnncat) who to this point is a Hall of Famer in junior hockey. Is he . . . all that and a bag of chips, or just another of the many guys who rack up big junior numbers but don't translate it to the NHL?
- John Jaeckel

2nd player in the entire History of the OHL to score 50+ goals in 3 different seasons. Again, doesn't mean he is a can't-miss NHL player like McDavid, Matthews, Laine or Eichel....BUT, its not something that "many guys" have done. Actually, nobody has done it in over 40 years and just the 2nd all-time to do so. I think that says a lot about his NHL potential.

Agreed.... I feel like Arizona does it on purpose.... Wait... What... I just sounded like Power Enforcer..... It's a conspiracy
- BGKarras

Smart Man.

What if it took Forsling to get Tatar, would you do it? Something like Forsling, mcneill, and a conditional 3rd for Tatar?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

That will probably get you extra "Tatar" sauce for your filet o fish. Not Tomas Tatar.
(sorry, couldn't help myself).

They can't give McNeill away at this point. That deal is basically Forsling, a somewhat unproven defense prospect who can definitely shoot and pass the puck, for a proven, solid, 2nd line, two-way winger. Unless Holland loved Forsling (BIGLY), I think that's a stretch to get that done.

Forsling, TVR, pick, something like that.

A "value for value" deal that Holland can't refuse. He HAS a lot of good young forwards. He NEEDS defense.

Forsling, TVR and a pick?
- John Jaeckel

Most of the young D depth in the org, and TVR is the only expansion draft eligible D man isn't he? Or at least he's the most likely to be picked, right?

Not that I wouldn't want to get Tatar for a run this year, but that deal specifically would be a no from me. Stan usually calls me for this kind of stuff so ill be sure to let him know my thoughts.

I don't see Tatar as a fit on Toews LW

However, if they put him on another line -
Panarin -Anisimov - Kane
Tatar - Kruger - Hossa
Panik-Toews -Schmaltz
Hartman-Kero-Rassmussen/Hinostroza
- PatShart

Why not?

Most of the young D depth in the org, and TVR is the only expansion draft eligible D man isn't he? Or at least he's the most likely to be picked, right?

Not that I wouldn't want to get Tatar for a run this year, but that deal specifically would be a no from me. Stan usually calls me for this kind of stuff so ill be sure to let him know my thoughts.
- BlazinMike

The first part is true only in the absence of other moves. Again, you can't pull a deal out of the larger context and say it won't work especially not when other moves are possible.

I think it'd be a mistake to trade Debrincat, in general, but especially for a guy like Hanzal. Hanzal isn't that good. He's big, and can win faceoffs, but he's not really that good at anything else.
- BlazinMike

How do you know deBrincat is good?

Same reason Kyle Beach was gonna be good?

Just saying.

How do you know deBrincat is good?

Same reason Kyle Beach was gonna be good?

Just saying.
- John Jaeckel

Nobody knows he will be good, but the beach comparison is pretty silly. Beach had a ton of warning signs.

2nd player in the entire History of the OHL to score 50+ goals in 3 different seasons. Again, doesn't mean he is a can't-miss NHL player like McDavid, Matthews, Laine or Eichel....BUT, its not something that "many guys" have done. Actually, nobody has done it in over 40 years and just the 2nd all-time to do so. I think that says a lot about his NHL potential.
- EnzoD

Sam Gagner, Rob Schremp, and many more legends of the OHL never amounted to much in the NHL. All the guys you compare him to have one thing he doesn't and that's NHL size.

As I've said all along on deBrincat, if he really has a lot of heart he could potentially be a great NHL player. It's hard to measure at his current level of competition. It's just not like the NHL where all the guys are good and most of them are big.

That will probably get you extra "Tatar" sauce for your filet o fish. Not Tomas Tatar.
(sorry, couldn't help myself).

They can't give McNeill away at this point. That deal is basically Forsling, a somewhat unproven defense prospect who can definitely shoot and pass the puck, for a proven, solid, 2nd line, two-way winger. Unless Holland loved Forsling (BIGLY), I think that's a stretch to get that done.

Forsling, TVR, pick, something like that.
- John Jaeckel

For sake of argument, let's say that happens.

With TVR AND Forsling gone, who steps up to take that blueline spot? Or, does Stan make another deal for a #6 dman?

Why not?
- John Jaeckel

I think Toews plays better with "north/south" players (preferably with speed...you know, they grow on trees). Or guys that play below the goal line/heavy forecheckers versus the guys that are more finese or creative that keep the puck on their stick/cycle higher in the zone

It's why I don't think he plays well with Panarin and when he's ever with he and Kane, the plays tend to die on his stick

Nobody knows he will be good, but the beach comparison is pretty silly. Beach had a ton of warning signs.
- JRoenick97

Beach was drafted 12th overall (and was projected higher), and please don't tell me he was going to drop to where deBrincat did.

So in spite of whatever "warning signs" you describe, and boy is hindsight 20/20, a lot of scouts and GMs thought he was going to be a good pro. So, no, that comparison is not silly in terms of junior production, which is the ONLY valid measuring stick you have for those two players at this point.

Argue this point all day but until you see how deBrincat does in pro hockey, you can't ordain him anything except a really good junior player.

I think Toews plays better with "north/south" players (preferably with speed...you know, they grow on trees). Or guys that play below the goal line/heavy forecheckers versus the guys that are more finese or creative that keep the puck on their stick/cycle higher in the zone

It's why I don't think he plays well with Panarin and when he's ever with he and Kane, the plays tend to die on his stick
- PatShart

I won't argue that. I think there's something to that.