My guess is that the expansion draft and entry trade could be holding up any player decisions.
- DarthKane

Well, they didn't on Darling.

If an opportunity presents itself, I think Bowman will go after it. It just probably won't because the bulk of teams are in a holding pattern.

Did you just break your sarcasm rule?
- riozzo

I did, my apologies. I was being serious, it will never happen again.

Well, they didn't on Darling.

If an opportunity presents itself, I think Bowman will go after it. It just probably won't because the bulk of teams are in a holding pattern.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed, but I don't think there will be too many teams eager to jump into a deal while the playoffs are ongoing and the two drafts are still pending.

Just to add to my previous post. The Hawks highest goal producing D (Keith) with 6 goals was tied for 45th among Dmen in goals. That is with Seabrook being 9th in terms of D cap hit in the NHL and Keith 24th.

Goal scoring is just a small part of the job description and not the top of the list for Q, but they have to be better in generating offense from the back end as a team. This just puts more pressure on the forwards.

I think that overall grade and individual Dman grade was overly generous John.

The hawks give up way too many shots. That's not entirely on the blueliners, but I didn't grade guys like Seabrook and Campbell so nicely.

Agreed, but I don't think there will be too many teams eager to jump into a deal while the playoffs are ongoing and the two drafts are still pending.
- DarthKane

I think a team might if they have a conversation with McPhee (or catch wind of whats hes lookong for) and are in a "trade this guy or lose him for nothing" scenario.

The cup final to the expansion draft will be about 10 days (if that) apart. Teams will be looking out for #1 and I suspect there's more chatter than most years because of the expansion draft circumstances.

Should be a fun June to watch. Let's hope Stan comes out on top.

Kempny must be re-signed and given the minutes to develop. He showed enough already, IMHO, to be in the 'Hawks 6 man rotation.
I also hope Forsling plays his way into their rotation next season.
And it would be awesome if Gufstafson develops there also.
2, 4, 7 and the three above is a very nice mix of youth and top-shelf NHL D.

Hjalmarsson a B? A cornerstone?

He bled shots against all season. He definitely can't play any type of offensive role. The only thing he shutdown all season was Keith.

This is the 2nd season he has been brutal. He needs to go and now before whatever value he has falls off the cliff.

Campbell and Oduya are done. Let them sign somewhere else. Go young, puck movers who are allowed to clear the crease and cross check. Need to play the game the way its being called these days.

I think a team might if they have a conversation with McPhee (or catch wind of whats hes lookong for) and are in a "trade this guy or lose him for nothing" scenario.

The cup final to the expansion draft will be about 10 days (if that) apart. Teams will be looking out for #1 and I suspect there's more chatter than most years because of the expansion draft circumstances.

Should be a fun June to watch. Let's hope Stan comes out on top.
- TyCamScore

Anything is possible, I just think it's more likely that Stan makes a deal later in June versus anytime soon.

Kempny must be re-signed and given the minutes to develop. He showed enough already, IMHO, to be in the 'Hawks 6 man rotation.
I also hope Forsling plays his way into their rotation next season.
And it would be awesome if Gufstafson develops there also.
2, 4, 7 and the three above is a very nice mix of youth and top-shelf NHL D.
- 35Tony0

Hopefully, Kempny can be developed into an Ian Cole or Chris Tanev type defenseman. A guy who can anchor the #4 spot.

Get Forsling to skate and learn from Hjalmarsson and his defensive game for a month+ before the season. If need be, put them together.

"Stop collapsing. Cover and pursue the point men..."

Opposing point men are the wingers' job to manage. I must have read this the wrong way.

Just to add to my previous post. The Hawks highest goal producing D (Keith) with 6 goals was tied for 45th among Dmen in goals. That is with Seabrook being 9th in terms of D cap hit in the NHL and Keith 24th.

Goal scoring is just a small part of the job description and not the top of the list for Q, but they have to be better in generating offense from the back end as a team. This just puts more pressure on the forwards.
- breadbag

What would the assists count as, then? Didn't they result in goals? If a guy gets me 6 goals and what 47 something assists - that actually -is- generating offence.

I remember reading something on another board several years ago when someone was going off on one of the Hawks players because most of his assists were second assists and he was doing it on purpose. Gobsmacking stuff, really.

Hjalmarsson a B? A cornerstone?

He bled shots against all season. He definitely can't play any type of offensive role. The only thing he shutdown all season was Keith.

This is the 2nd season he has been brutal. He needs to go and now before whatever value he has falls off the cliff.

Campbell and Oduya are done. Let them sign somewhere else. Go young, puck movers who are allowed to clear the crease and cross check. Need to play the game the way its being called these days.
- TTtime

4 is not a top pair guy. Q's miscasting of players and their roles on the blue line set the whole squad back a lot.

Too many left hand shots on D. Imbalance there means at least one guy plays out of position. Should have kept 2/7 together at minimum.

Darling cashes in - good for him


Darling's contract with the #Hurricanes is four years with a $4.15-million cap hit.

Darling cashes in - good for him


Darling's contract with the #Hurricanes is four years with a $4.15-million cap hit.
- pdx2ord

IF Darling signed for $4 mil in Carolina I think it's highly likely he wouldve taken $3mil in his hometown....

IF Darling signed for $4 mil in Carolina I think it's highly likely he wouldve taken $3mil in his hometown....
- EnzoD

Maybe but he'd have wanted longer term in that case I think.

Blues can't score on 5 on 3. They're toast!

IF Darling signed for $4 mil in Carolina I think it's highly likely he wouldve taken $3mil in his hometown....
- EnzoD

Now we can see why Darling was traded. I am happy he was able to cash in with a big contract, he deserves it.

Watching Preds & Blues

Tell me we're not going back to Size , Dump, Smash and Chase

Clutch,Slash and win 1-0

Seems we are.

What would the assists count as, then? Didn't they result in goals? If a guy gets me 6 goals and what 47 something assists - that actually -is- generating offence.

I remember reading something on another board several years ago when someone was going off on one of the Hawks players because most of his assists were second assists and he was doing it on purpose. Gobsmacking stuff, really.
- steve-hist-sdc

Of course is counts but touching the puck, making a pass (some routine and some nice breakouts) and getting assist is fine, but #2/#7 with the PP time they get should be putting a few more into the net.

Seabrook more so. For nearly 7 million per year he needs to contribute more than 3 goals. Getting 200+ PP minutes and playing a lot with the top offensive line on the ice. Seabrook put less shots on goal than he has in last number of full seasons. As I said up front, it isn't the #1 priority of the D to score the goals, but the top guys should be better. It wouldn't be a big deal is Seabrook was also playing elite defensive hockey, but that side of his game has declined. The Hawks managed his minutes a bit with the extra D depth and he played about 10% less time overall, but what good did that do? He had an awful playoff series along with many of his teammates.

Look at the last two series for him 11 game - 2 points and a -5.

Again, 45th and 111th in goal scoring (Dmen only) from the elite (paid) offensive D on the Hawks ain't great. It might be time to give those PP minutes to someone else.

IF Darling signed for $4 mil in Carolina I think it's highly likely he wouldve taken $3mil in his hometown....
- EnzoD

I kinda doubt it. An extra 4 million dollars (over the 4 years) is a lot of $$$. He isn't a guy who has made a ton of cash over a long career. If he was asking 4 million, than I'm glad they traded him.

I kinda doubt it. An extra 4 million dollars (over the 4 years) is a lot of $$$. He isn't a guy who has made a ton of cash over a long career. If he was asking 4 million, than I'm glad they traded him.
- breadbag

If Crawford effectively put the kibosh on any trade at all, they probably didn't even get to that point in the discussion. No reasonable amount was going to work.

If Crawford effectively put the kibosh on any trade at all, they probably didn't even get to that point in the discussion. No reasonable amount was going to work.
- pdx2ord

We don't know that. It could be exactly what happened or the Hawks could have decided Crawford was their guy all along. Or something entirely different happened.

We don't know that. It could be exactly what happened or the Hawks could have decided Crawford was their guy all along. Or something entirely different happened.
- DarthKane

True, hence the use of the word "if."

I kinda doubt it. An extra 4 million dollars (over the 4 years) is a lot of $$$. He isn't a guy who has made a ton of cash over a long career. If he was asking 4 million, than I'm glad they traded him.
- breadbag

Pure speculation but he is a Chicago guy through and through. I'd definitely see him taking $3.5mil to be the starting goalie in his hometown. The guy has a Chicago dedicated full arm tattoo, he loves the city.