I wonder if Bowman will call his buddy Francis to see if the 'Canes are open for business. Maybe Hainsey? 'Canes have young D who are in need of play time. Trading Hainsey opens a spot, and gives them an asset for a player they may or may not resign anyway.
- sofaking3

I could see a team like the Canes and Devils getting in the market as sellers—Bowman talks to Francis a lot too.

He's alleged to be looking at depth d-men, like Luke Schenn, FWIW. Good question, though.
- John Jaeckel

Luke Schenn, after being selected very high in the draft by the Maple Loafsters never really developed because he was rushed to the NHL immediately without any time in the minors. And then they got hugely lucky because the Flyers got fed up with JVR so they made a deal.

Schenn isn't much more than a #6 in the NHL now but he's a very tough nut and a veteran. He has his warts but I think he could really help the Hawks in the playoffs.

And I would use rushing Schenn before he was ready, as a good example of why it may be premature to give up on Ville Pokka. One day soon the light bulb may turn on and voila you have a reasonably good but unspectacular NHL Dman who can log good minutes at a reasonable price.

Well almost. Kane coming from OHL, Keith was clearly not sure thing and had his growing pains, Sharp had 35 points as season high and so on. Back then none of them was looked as a backbone of Cup winning team. Or least I can´t remember that being the case?
- MjulQvist

I agree completely with this point.

Since at that gtime it had been 35+ years of Cup futility why would anyone assume this group would end that streak in the very near future? Cynical me certainly didn't.

Ya just never know how things will turn out.

I hear ya on the health.

I think he's a better hockey player when healthy than you give him credit for. More importantly, if the Hawks acquire him, it'll be because they do. They are interested in him and they have been in the past.

I remember (both times actually) the Hawks acquired Handzus, people said the same. Truth is, although Hanzal is a much better skater), Handzus was a pretty good hockey player in a lot of ways.
- John Jaeckel

Meh, 2012 he was a solid member of that conference final team, but he hasn't done much of anything since then. I'd rather have Boyle from TB who is pretty similar with offensive skill, but will probably be cheaper to acquire and even re-sign if they wanted to.

I'm hoping they don't make a move. TDL moves are tough to get acclimated before the playoffs, and add that stress onto a team full of young/first year guys who have been trying like hell to get some chemistry going, its a tough sell for me.

They're finally starting to gel, and theyre gonna try to add some random piece to the mix now? It seems almost foolish

Luke Schenn, after being selected very high in the draft by the Maple Loafsters never really developed because he was rushed to the NHL immediately without any time in the minors. And then they got hugely lucky because the Flyers got fed up with JVR so they made a deal.

Schenn isn't much more than a #6 in the NHL now but he's a very tough nut and a veteran. He has his warts but I think he could really help the Hawks in the playoffs.

And I would use rushing Schenn before he was ready, as a good example of why it may be premature to give up on Ville Pokka. One day soon the light bulb may turn on and voila you have a reasonably good but unspectacular NHL Dman who can log good minutes at a reasonable price.
- RickJ

Which is kinda important in a hard cap league.

Well almost. Kane coming from OHL, Keith was clearly not sure thing and had his growing pains, Sharp had 35 points as season high and so on. Back then none of them was looked as a backbone of Cup winning team. Or least I can´t remember that being the case?
- MjulQvist

I'm sorry, no.

First, I never mentioned Sharp as a comparator. Keith is perhaps a sort of outlier due to his draft position. let me know when OFrsling is Duncan Keith.

But Kane was drafted first overall for the same reason he won the Hart Trophy last year. Toews was taken third overall because of all the tools he had. Who is the next Marian Hossa among the Hawks' rookies?

Let's not shift the goalposts. The original point was the current group of rookies and top prospects are not graded out by anyone who is not perhaps wearing rose-colored glasses (and more) as being the equal potentially of the current core.

They weren't drafted as high (for the most part). They didn't do as much in international junior competition. And with the exception of deBrincat, not as much in junior/college play. And not as much in the AHL or their rookie NHL years either.

I guess I would challenge you to find me a scout or GM or even, say, objective fans of other teams who would support that argument.

Luke Schenn, after being selected very high in the draft by the Maple Loafsters never really developed because he was rushed to the NHL immediately without any time in the minors. And then they got hugely lucky because the Flyers got fed up with JVR so they made a deal.

Schenn isn't much more than a #6 in the NHL now but he's a very tough nut and a veteran. He has his warts but I think he could really help the Hawks in the playoffs.

And I would use rushing Schenn before he was ready, as a good example of why it may be premature to give up on Ville Pokka. One day soon the light bulb may turn on and voila you have a reasonably good but unspectacular NHL Dman who can log good minutes at a reasonable price.
- RickJ

I think the issue with Pokka is his "game" requires at least competitive speed and footwork, which he is believed not to have at the NHL level.

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

I would think long and hard about it. But in the end no. I do not think Tatar changes our Cup chances significantly today and I think Forsling has a lot of upside potential and I would like to give him a chance to sink or swim on my team.

You have Forsling pretty much controlled through 2020. You have Tatar pretty much controlled only until 2018. Tatar is ready to contribute now, but he may not get much better than he is now. For Forsling it might be a year or two until he reaches his potential (or never) and he could be really good. Will Tatar make our top 6 that much better? With Tatar are we that much closer to a Cup?

McNeill needs a change of scenery. I am not sure you could get a 7th round pick for him. But maybe you could do a deal like we did with Panik and Morin (two guys that needed a change of scenery).

3rd round picks are not worthless, but it is a crap shoot if you get a solid NHLer in the 3rd round. Especially late in the 3rd round.

I think Tampa is the dark horse depending on their next few games

Kruger, Debrincat, 2018 1st

For

Palat and Paquette

By the way John, thanks for all the updates and your insight.

Debrincat maybe will become a good player in the NHL, but like I said a couple weeks ago, it isn't as if he really stood out in camp or preseason. He was okay, but not one of those guys going back to junior where everyone was floored by how good he might be.

Shouldn't that tell us to be cautiously optimistic....having two really good years in the OHL and then coming into the Hawks camp and just play "okay", then go back to the OHL and have a slightly better season.

That to me, says don't give up on the kid, but don't bet money on him being special either. He is an unknown and the reason why a lot of guys haven't done what he has done in the OHL is also because a lot of those caliber of players made the jump to the NHL rather than still in the OHL racking up points.

There is a reason why AD isn't on the Hawks roster despite all the openings at forward this year. He still has a lot to prove. Hopefully he can be a really good player.

7 days

23 hours to go

Debrincat maybe will become a good player in the NHL, but like I said a couple weeks ago, it isn't as if he really stood out in camp or preseason. He was okay, but not one of those guys going back to junior where everyone was floored by how good he might be.

Shouldn't that tell us to be cautiously optimistic....having two really good years in the OHL and then coming into the Hawks camp and just play "okay", then go back to the OHL and have a slightly better season.

That to me, says don't give up on the kid, but don't bet money on him being special either. He is an unknown and the reason why a lot of guys haven't done what he has done in the OHL is also because a lot of those caliber of players made the jump to the NHL rather than still in the OHL racking up points.

There is a reason why AD isn't on the Hawks roster despite all the openings at forward this year. He still has a lot to prove. Hopefully he can be a really good player.
- breadbag

This observation may be accurate, but DeBrincat entered camp as an 18 y.o.
No one is claiming he's another McDavid, and no one should expect that from a vast majority of 18 y.o. prospects.

That is all...

I suppose TVR is expendable to get you a forward, but I really like the way his game is progressing (in my far from hockey expert opinion). It really is a toss up for me on trading him. Not sure there is a steady "replacement" for him right now that Q feels comfortable with.
- hpk90

I'm with you, I like TVR's game. He's not flashy but he's a quality #6, plus Q likes him.

If you trade TVR and Forsling, any Dman Stan picks up, probably won't be as good as TVR.

I think the issue with Pokka is his "game" requires at least competitive speed and footwork, which he is believed not to have at the NHL level.
- John Jaeckel

Skating is probably the issue but he did make the Finnish National team at least once (which will get him an attaboy from Q).

He's as Gudas gone!
- DarthKane

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Thanks for the update JJ! As much as Duchesne would offer a lethal top 6, I think it would demolish the depth of the Hawks which is one of their reasons for success in the playoffs. It will be exciting to see what Stan does or does not do moving forward.

Thanks for the update JJ! As much as Duchesne would offer a lethal top 6, I think it would demolish the depth of the Hawks which is one of their reasons for success in the playoffs. It will be exciting to see what Stan does or does not do moving forward.
- ikeane

Isnt it spelled Duchene?

I've seen the Duchesne spelling a lot the last few weeks.

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.
- John Jaeckel

I did qualify saying that nobody know if he will be good, but Beach was nowhere near the production of Debrincat, even in his best season of 84 points, which was in my home town and I had season tickets. Beach was though to be a good pro because he played with a snarl and could score. He was a pure power forward in junior. Unfortunately, that's all he was. He used his size and skill against smaller players, but he was really, REALLY, bad at decision making and was kind of a head case. I hated having him on our local junior team because he was prone to being a bonehead, but a lot of scouts overlooked that because he had pure talent.

http://www.tsn.ca/who-are...ating-in-the-nhl-1.677389

they came of a list of the top prospects not skating in the NHL and Debrinct came in at 23. Not sure if forsling would be considered. I think not. Looks like all guys that have not played any NHL games.

Skating is probably the issue but he did make the Finnish National team at least once (which will get him an attaboy from Q).
- RickJ

I read recently that Pokka was inured recently, and that hampered his development a bit

Thanks for the update, JJ! Other than the playoffs, this is my favorite time of the hockey season ....
- Hank_Greenberg

and July 1 . . .

Vanek--

Eaves-- he's olier, but good size. I just hope Stan doesn't over pay cuz he's having a big year.

Vanek--

Eaves-- he's olier, but good size. I just hope Stan doesn't over pay cuz he's having a big year.

Vanek--

Eaves-- he's olier, but good size. I just hope Stan doesn't over pay cuz he's having a big year.