No, I didn't say anything about whether or not the Hawks had discussions regarding Handzal and Duchene -- I only said I'm glad we didn't waste young talent to get them.

Did you wake up on the wrong side of bed today, JJ? Sorry I think Kruger is overrated and overpriced. Sorry I think your incessant clamoring for a 1LW failed to recognize that young players on the roster could fill the role once they gained some experience. Sorry that you minimized Panik's talents as well until you finally couldn't ignore them any longer. So you can keep on touting Kruger even though he's no longer able to take face-offs, has largely been replaced by Kero on the PK, and is a black hole offensively. He was acceptable at a $1.5M cap hit, not at $3M.
- BMWChiFan

Hmm I'm not sure where you're seeing Kero replace Kruger on the PK? It's certainly not based on TOI as Kruger has averaged about a minute more per game on the PK than Kero (most of the season, but also the last 20 games). The only time Kero has more PK time in a game is when Kruger takes a penalty and the Hawks only take a couple of penalties overall.

Kero is 5th for PK time among forwards for the season, and while his time on the PK has increased slightly, he's never moved above 5th.

exactly

He is a perfect shutdown center...The Blackhawks should not trade this guy while he is still in his prime
- captainserious

Well, there is a REASON they paid him what they did in the first place.

All that said, I will be honest—as much as I like the player—they were trying pretty hard to move him before the TDL. And I was told it was becuase they acknowledged they can't afford him at his current salary.

Well, there is a REASON they paid him what they did in the first place.

All that said, I will be honest—as much as I like the player—they were trying pretty hard to move him before the TDL. And I was told it was becuase they acknowledged they can't afford him at his current salary.
- John Jaeckel

That is a shame to hear...so it looks like another one will bite the dust...this league and the salary cap in this league is a joke...instead of rewarding teams for investing in players and developing them so they can stay with the team they are punishing them and allowing other teams who probably don't care to invest in scouts or the right coaches to snap up solid/good players

I hope the salary cap goes up a bit more than expected and that the Hawks can afford to keep Kruger around...because if Toews has to take on his role next season or the year after this team will be in big trouble

and just to mention...I liked seeing Hayden getting dirty in front of the net on 2 of the goals last night...could be a solid 3rd liner next year or the year after

That Duchene is a loser? Really?
- John Jaeckel

Well, i did say i toootally agree so i guess im stuck with that. I toootally agree that I'm glad we didn't make the trade(s). Look at the wild since acquiring hanzel. Locker room? Coach? Did the chemistry get messed with? Dunno.

As far as dutch, i haven't seen him pay enough. I know i'd rather have saad for the money and he is part of the avs core and the avs suck, soooo....

....he sucks. Loser is harsh. Sucks as part of a sucky core. O.k. i'm happy with our team.

GO HOCKS

p.s. was dutch on Canada's last team?

One huge plus of AA there for me is how good he is around and in ftont of the net and creating space for the other two.
- John Jaeckel

He does do that well. What can be frustrating to watch however is when he is doing that and 72 and 88 skate around just trying to pass to each other and the Hawks accomplish zero shot attempts for a long time.

I just find the Schmaltz can join the play a bit more and be creative with his play making. Maybe it isn't always going to work and you may be 100% right on the fit come playoff time. I just also remember 72-15-88 doing pretty much nothing in the first round last year, until Q shook things up with the top 3 lines. I just like Hossa and AA together at times too.

Anyway, I feel like the Hawks have options and things are good when they are winning games.

He does do that well. What can be frustrating to watch however is when he is doing that and 72 and 88 skate around just trying to pass to each other and the Hawks accomplish zero shot attempts for a long time.

I just find the Schmaltz can join the play a bit more and be creative with his play making. Maybe it isn't always going to work and you may be 100% right on the fit come playoff time. I just also remember 72-15-88 doing pretty much nothing in the first round last year, until Q shook things up with the top 3 lines. I just like Hossa and AA together at times too.

Anyway, I feel like the Hawks have options and things are good when they are winning games.
- breadbag

#Blender

He does do that well. What can be frustrating to watch however is when he is doing that and 72 and 88 skate around just trying to pass to each other and the Hawks accomplish zero shot attempts for a long time.

I just find the Schmaltz can join the play a bit more and be creative with his play making. Maybe it isn't always going to work and you may be 100% right on the fit come playoff time. I just also remember 72-15-88 doing pretty much nothing in the first round last year, until Q shook things up with the top 3 lines. I just like Hossa and AA together at times too.

Anyway, I feel like the Hawks have options and things are good when they are winning games.
- breadbag

I liek 8 on line 2, but I like him more on Toews wing as Toews was on another lever with Schmaltz out there. Line 2 doesn't gain as much as line 1 with 8 on it.

He does do that well. What can be frustrating to watch however is when he is doing that and 72 and 88 skate around just trying to pass to each other and the Hawks accomplish zero shot attempts for a long time.

I just find the Schmaltz can join the play a bit more and be creative with his play making. Maybe it isn't always going to work and you may be 100% right on the fit come playoff time. I just also remember 72-15-88 doing pretty much nothing in the first round last year, until Q shook things up with the top 3 lines. I just like Hossa and AA together at times too.

Anyway, I feel like the Hawks have options and things are good when they are winning games.
- breadbag

That's my take on the improved depth of the team as the season has progressed. Ideally, I would keep Anisimov with Kane and Panarin given the big physical centers of the Western Conference, but if the blender needs to come out to shake up a stale offense during the playoffs, then there are quite a few options Q has to roll out 3 top lines that can still be effective.

The last thing we want is a lack of depth where the blender puts someone like Desjardins or Tootoo (who are effective in the right roles) on the top lines. In that case, you definitely shake things up but the results will still be paltry if not more so.

Tough crowd today JJ.
- Hossa1881

I know man... what the (frank).

People take poop way too seriously.

Haven't been on here for about a week and a half and seems like conversations are turning up into critical and not constructive.

Team is playing well and when AA and Hossa come back there are definitely options out there which is a nice thing to see.

Saw that Schmaltz was battling in front of the net A LOT. Very encouraging so far.

Does anyone actually expect 15 to be back in the lineup for Game 1 of the Playoffs? I'd think he suffered a Grade 2 Sprain/Strain and is more in a 6 week timetable, but i dont have the MRI in front of me.... It would be great to have a healthy and rested Big Art come Round 1, but I'm not sure I see it happening. What date does Round 1 start?

Does anyone actually expect 15 to be back in the lineup for Game 1 of the Playoffs? I'd think he suffered a Grade 2 Sprain/Strain and is more in a 6 week timetable, but i dont have the MRI in front of me.... It would be great to have a healthy and rested Big Art come Round 1, but I'm not sure I see it happening. What date does Round 1 start?
- EnzoD

They said 3-4 weeks, so maybe just grade 1?

Does anyone actually expect 15 to be back in the lineup for Game 1 of the Playoffs? I'd think he suffered a Grade 2 Sprain/Strain and is more in a 6 week timetable, but i dont have the MRI in front of me.... It would be great to have a healthy and rested Big Art come Round 1, but I'm not sure I see it happening. What date does Round 1 start?
- EnzoD

Looks like 4/13

Hawks are definitely contenders. A core group of proven Cup winners gives them an edge over most opponents. I think it's going to come down to the Hawks and Sharks in the West. I give a slight edge to Chicago but that series could go either way. I still like the Pens in the East. Until the Caps prove they can do it, I don't think they can do it. A Pens-Hawks SCF is what I'm predicting. Who wins? Another tough call. My gut says Pens. But I like the fact the last team to repeat as Cup champs is still the Red Wings in 97 and 98. So I'd actually cheer for Chicago in this series. Either way just be grateful Hawks fans for the team you have. There will come a day where your core guys are no longer stars and the inevitable decline will follow. Looking back at it, I think most Wings fans took for granted how many great teams we had year after year. It changes your perspective. It makes you spoiled. Not looking at the big picture. Now that my Red Wings have been on decline since 2009, I wish I had appreciated the great years a little bit more. My team is very bad now. This is the first time i won't see the Wings in the playoffs since 1990. It will be very weird. Anyway, just enjoy it Hawks fans. Even if you don't win the Cup this year, there's always next year and most likely the year after that. You have a team that has a legit chance of winning the Cup. As a fan that's all you can ask for.

Does anyone actually expect 15 to be back in the lineup for Game 1 of the Playoffs? I'd think he suffered a Grade 2 Sprain/Strain and is more in a 6 week timetable, but i dont have the MRI in front of me.... It would be great to have a healthy and rested Big Art come Round 1, but I'm not sure I see it happening. What date does Round 1 start?
- EnzoD

Dr. Rosen-enzo reviewing Anisimov's chart:

Hawks are definitely contenders. A core group of proven Cup winners gives them an edge over most opponents. I think it's going to come down to the Hawks and Sharks in the West. I give a slight edge to Chicago but that series could go either way. I still like the Pens in the East. Until the Caps prove they can do it, I don't think they can do it. A Pens-Hawks SCF is what I'm predicting. Who wins? Another tough call. My gut says Pens. But I like the fact the last team to repeat as Cup champs is still the Red Wings in 97 and 98. So I'd actually cheer for Chicago in this series. Either way just be grateful Hawks fans for the team you have. There will come a day where your core guys are no longer stars and the inevitable decline will follow. Looking back at it, I think most Wings fans took for granted how many great teams we had year after year. It changes your perspective. It makes you spoiled. Not looking at the big picture. Now that my Red Wings have been on decline since 2009, I wish I had appreciated the great years a little bit more. My team is very bad now. This is the first time i won't see the Wings in the playoffs since 1990. It will be very weird. Anyway, just enjoy it Hawks fans. Even if you don't win the Cup this year, there's always next year and most likely the year after that. You have a team that has a legit chance of winning the Cup. As a fan that's all you can ask for.
- gergeswillems

Well said!

They said 3-4 weeks, so maybe just grade 1?
- JRoenick97

That would be great, if so. 15 plays a heavy game along the wall and in front of the oppositions net. IF it is actually a minor strain/sprain, then 15 can come back to the lineup for the Playoffs with every other part of his body fresh and ready to be an impact player. Im just thinking from experience, I had a Grade 1 MCL sprain and it didnt feel good, but nowhere near the level or pain that 15 exhibited on the ice. When he does come back, I'd think Q would go back to that Schmaltz-Toews-Panik line as would the PAK line. Hayden looks like a big bodied middle 6 guy but they already have the Power Forward presence on that line and 8-19-14 were absolutely unstoppable together.

Dr. Rosen-enzo reviewing Anisimov's chart:


- Hank_Greenberg

100% speculation on my part, as I said. I am simply thinking back to when I had a Grade 1 sprain of my MCL and the level of pain was nowhere near what 15 showed in Montreal. Time will tell and lets hope for the best.

I hope Hayden can keep it up. He has looked good and should only improve as he gets more comfortable. I like him with Toews. I liked Schmaltz there more though. That line was great. If Hayden proves he can contribute there it gives you some decisions to make. Schmaltz at center would be nice if he can do well at the dot is the only big question. Faceoffs arent everything but they help.

Hayden/Schmaltz-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Hartman-Kruger/Schmaltz-Hossa
Hayden/Jurco-Kero/Kruger-Hino,Tootoo, Desi,Kero, Ras...You have options for whoever works for it

BTW, it looks like barring a collapse Pan is going to get his bonus money. he is tied for 9th in Assists and 10th for pts but he is 3 points up on the next Forward in PTS so that is the one that looks like a lock IMO. Unless a few guys get hot and he doesn't.

Dr. Rosen-enzo reviewing Anisimov's chart:


- Hank_Greenberg

No, he never scores, he has no other value.

Seriously, yes, as has been said here many times, his defensive ability is why he's on the ice and on the team. And is there value to such thing as a purely defensive forward (especially a center)? Most NHL GMs would tell you, yes. If not all of them.

Is he worth $3 million in that role? That is open for valid debate.
- John Jaeckel

Every time we start this "Is Freddie worth his $3m salary", I need to provide the context. His salary for debate purposes is $2.65m. Recall he helped out the team by taking a $1.5m contract in 2015/16. Helped the Hawks out of a jamb getting under the cap for 2015 start of season. He took great risk, as an injury would have cost him millions. Then he was rewarded with a 3 year, $9+m deal. His true contract, absent the nice thing he did for Hawks, was 4 years, $10.5m. $2.6m average. Don't penalize him for having taken one for the team in 2015/16.

Actually, feeling great. Thanks.

Not sure there's a debate about Kruger. Pretty sure EVERYONE agrees we'd feel better if he were paid less.

My actual response to what you actually said was about the declaration that Hanzal and Duchene (especially) are losers.

And pointing out that the same GM who gathered all the cost-controlled talent also had a more than passing interest in those guys you called losers.

So maybe I didn't make that quite clear enough . . . or you didn't get enough sleep(?)

Like I said before, I can talk about that all day.

- John Jaeckel

Players signed by Stan Bowman that I believe should be paid about $1m less than their current salary:
Toews
Kane
Seabrook
Crawford
Kruger
Runblad

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-helped-build-blackhawks/

Thank you Toronto.

Listen, I like Schmaltz, but more for what he will be in the next couple of years than for what he is today. Is he better centering that line than AA? I don't think so. And AA has lots of intangibles Schmaltz doesn't come playoff time (size, experience, etc)
- John Jaeckel

Agreed. Hopefully AA is back and 100% by the playoffs and I would put him right back between Panarin and Kane.

Then, depending on if Hayden is still playing well enough with Toews to keep him there, Q has a couple nice options where he can put Schmaltz back up with Toews or maybe have him center Hartman and Hossa on the 3rd line.