Podcast with Laz about the life as a Hawks beat writer

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Team USA must be short in guys with no heart.

Nick Schmaltz will play for Team USA at the World Championships. He joins Trevor van Riemsdyk on the roster. #Blackhawks

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 27, 2017

- DarthKane

He'll probably rip apart that locker room too.

He'll probably rip apart that locker room too.
- HawkintheD

You really think he has had a significant detrimental effect on the locker room this year?

You really think he has had a significant detrimental effect on the locker room this year?
- pdx2ord

I feel like I missed the boat on Smaltz locker room stuff - please elaborate

Eh. What's the big deal? Depth signing for AHL. Routine non-event. Every move (especially now when the playoffs are still going) doesn't need to be a home run sure fire top line second coming of Gretzky. Teams need these kinds of players too. Maybe the scouts see something we don't or can't. I really can't get worked up about it or slam Stan for it.
- Marlowe

It's not a big deal, in fact it's a small deal...very small.

I feel like I missed the boat on Smaltz locker room stuff - please elaborate
- riozzo

I think you mean "speculate"...not elaborate.

Silly season has started early this year...unfortunately.

That is a bit of a simplistic view. Changing the lines is the most visible change that he likes to make, but the coaches do more than that in terms of in game adjustments. Q wouldn't be where he is today if that was all he did.
- breadbag

I agree that it's simplistic (and that I am still in mourning over the complete blow out against the Preds). I just get the sense Q is extremely stubborn. He was gifted with studs and now with all the roster changes throughout the last few years (plus aging core) it just doesn't look to me that he accounted for that in this series. In my untrained eye we were out played and out coached. Just an aggregate of issues (favoritism, stale PP, passive PK, 7 D for an elimination game). Thanks for your perspective. I'm probably being over critical (but I still won't let go of last years decision to skate 53 for half the season including a playoff game).

It's not a big deal, in fact it's a small deal...very small.
- ArlingtonRob

How does signing an AHL-bound euro-smurf help turn around this franchise? Stan is wasting time and resources on insignificant moves when there are massive holds in the roster that need to be addressed.

I think you mean "speculate"...not elaborate.

Silly season has started early this year...unfortunately.
- ArlingtonRob

Nope, I meant elaborate as in what facts am I missing.

How does signing an AHL-bound euro-smurf help turn around this franchise? Stan is wasting time and resources on insignificant moves when there are massive holds in the roster that need to be addressed.
- DarthKane

Is there anyway a Toews and Schmaltz for Sid deal can be done right now?

I agree that it's simplistic (and that I am still in mourning over the complete blow out against the Preds). I just get the sense Q is extremely stubborn. He was gifted with studs and now with all the roster changes throughout the last few years (plus aging core) it just doesn't look to me that he accounted for that in this series. In my untrained eye we were out played and out coached. Just an aggregate of issues (favoritism, stale PP, passive PK, 7 D for an elimination game). Thanks for your perspective. I'm probably being over critical (but I still won't let go of last years decision to skate 53 for half the season including a playoff game).
- 17SEC

Yeah, that's my question, too. And, since I am not the hockey expert that most on this board seem to be, I can't tell if he is actually adjusting his line combinations/pairings, set plays, and schemes to best utilize the skills he has on the roster today. It feels like he keeps trying the same things (based on PK and PP and keeping Hammer/Keith together, for example), but I don't know.

Do get the sense that he is under scrutiny to see if he can and will adapt going forward.

Is there anyway a Toews and Schmaltz for Sid deal can be done right now?
- HawkintheD

I would love to see that if only to witness the whiplash that the Penguins fans would get switching from "Crosby is lightyears better than Toews" to "Toews is so much better - he is a great leader."

Yeah, that's my question, too. And, since I am not the hockey expert that most on this board seem to be, I can't tell if he is actually adjusting his line combinations/pairings, set plays, and schemes to best utilize the skills he has on the roster today. It feels like he keeps trying the same things (based on PK and PP and keeping Hammer/Keith together, for example), but I don't know.

Do get the sense that he is under scrutiny to see if he can and will adapt going forward.
- pdx2ord

Nothing will change. Just lots of bla bla now. First, the team has cap constraints and can only fill lines 3 and 4 with rookies and old players. Do you really think any core are moving? Get use to seeing the same hockey next season as SB and Q will be doing their same song and dance. As you see: SB doesn't have a plan, or he would not be in this position.

What you are going to see, new defensive pairings and maybe a new pp. But again the season is different than the playoffs. That is the lesson learned.

Is there anyway a Toews and Schmaltz for Sid deal can be done right now?
- HawkintheD

I am sure red font is implied because Sid is in the playoff's

I agree that it's simplistic (and that I am still in mourning over the complete blow out against the Preds). I just get the sense Q is extremely stubborn. He was gifted with studs and now with all the roster changes throughout the last few years (plus aging core) it just doesn't look to me that he accounted for that in this series. In my untrained eye we were out played and out coached. Just an aggregate of issues (favoritism, stale PP, passive PK, 7 D for an elimination game). Thanks for your perspective. I'm probably being over critical (but I still won't let go of last years decision to skate 53 for half the season including a playoff game).
- 17SEC

While a little anger can help, I am now worried that this becomes a measuring contest. God help us if Q relates the water is cold and StanBo thinks its deep as well...

Panarin for OEL. Hjalmarsson for Tomas Tatar. just a thought.
- arps714

NO........... Panarin, Anisimov, and Keith for Victor Hedman and Jonathan Drouin...... Hjalmarsson, Forsling, and Schmaltz for Duchene, Tyson Barry and their #1.
Now that's dreaming !!

So do the Hawks get the 17th pick or 18th pick in the draft? Calgary also got swept so do they get #17 bc of a worse RS Record? Anybody?

Dallas Green
- StLBravesFan

Larry Himes.

So do the Hawks get the 17th pick or 18th pick in the draft? Calgary also got swept so do they get #17 bc of a worse RS Record? Anybody?
- EnzoD

You said anybody . I don't think we move up at all ,we will be around 28th or 27 I believe .Only the cup champ drops to the back of the line ..

So do the Hawks get the 17th pick or 18th pick in the draft? Calgary also got swept so do they get #17 bc of a worse RS Record? Anybody?
- EnzoD

I think 22nd. The 14 non qualifiers go first then the 8 who were bounced first be accending record. Since the Hocks had the best record of that bunch - 14 + 8 = 22nd.

Edit, 23rd, Vegas picks no worse than 3

You said anybody . I don't think we move up at all ,we will be around 28th or 27 I believe .Only the cup champ drops to the back of the line ..
- oldduffman

The Cup finalists will draft 30th and 31st. Pittsburgh or Washington will be out next round, which one that is will draft 29th. As you mentioned the Hawks will draft 27th or 28th depending on one of Pitt/Wash making the final.

The Cup finalists will draft 30th and 31st. Pittsburgh or Washington will be out next round, which one that is will draft 29th. As you mentioned the Hawks will draft 27th or 28th depending on one of Pitt/Wash making the final.
- DarthKane

Here is the official rule:

Entry Draft Order
The order of selection among the Member Clubs in each season shall be determined in the following manner:
A composite of all Member Clubs shall be prepared by placing:
i) First the Clubs which failed to qualify for the preceding playoffs in the order of points earned by each of them in the regular schedule of the preceding season starting with the Club having the lowest points total and followed by the Club having the next lowest points total, and so forth.
ii) The Clubs which participated in the preceding playoffs (but had not been ranked first in their respective Divisions and had not won the Stanley Cup that season) in order of points earned by each of them in the regular schedule of the preceding season starting with the Club having the lowest total points and followed by the Club having the next lowest total points, and so forth.
iii) The Clubs which had been ranked first in their Divisions during the next preceding season (but had not won the Stanley Cup that season) in the order of points earned by each of them in the regular schedule of the preceding season starting with the Club having the lowest total points and followed by the Club having the next lowest total points, and so forth.
iv) The Stanley Cup winner shall select last, thus, positioning all Clubs on the list.
In the event of a tie for any position, such tie shall be resolved by application of the rules governing the determination of final League standings. The resulting list shall constitute the order of selection.

I think 22nd. The 14 non qualifiers go first then the 8 who were bounced first be accending record. Since the Hocks had the best record of that bunch - 14 + 8 = 22nd.

Edit, 23rd, Vegas picks no worse than 3
- riozzo

Edit #2 - I'm wrong - See Darth's post

I would love to see that if only to witness the whiplash that the Penguins fans would get switching from "Crosby is lightyears better than Toews" to "Toews is so much better - he is a great leader."
- pdx2ord

Red font was defnitely implyied on my post but your scenario would be interesting.

I fail to see how this helps the team. Stan is wasting more time and not addressing the actual problems the team has.

2016 #NHLDraft pick Nathan Noel has been signed to a three-year deal that begins next season and runs through 2019-20. pic.twitter.com/s2jkFbTNWI

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 27, 2017