"Bowman’s “big” moves over the last year were the trades of Andrew Shaw, Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen (jury’s out on that as the return was draft picks)"

We have part of the answer on the first pick, "second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2017 draft." We'll have to wait to see what this year's third round pick yields.

http://bsndenver.com/nhl-...ct-profile-artur-kayumov/

"Bowman’s “big” moves over the last year were the trades of Andrew Shaw, Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen (jury’s out on that as the return was draft picks)"

We have part of the answer on the first pick, "second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2017 draft." We'll have to wait to see what this year's third round pick yields.

http://bsndenver.com/nhl-...ct-profile-artur-kayumov/
- walleyeb1

Stan's top priority over the past few seasons has always been getting cap compliant for the upcoming season. That has been the price of success as the young players who were counted on for depth developed into more (i.e. Shaw and Saad). While Stan always needs to be mindful of the salary cap I think this is the first off season in a while where the Hawks need to make a trade for true hockey purposes.

"Bowman’s “big” moves over the last year were the trades of Andrew Shaw, Bryan Bickell and Teuvo Teravainen (jury’s out on that as the return was draft picks)"

We have part of the answer on the first pick, "second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2017 draft." We'll have to wait to see what this year's third round pick yields.

http://bsndenver.com/nhl-...ct-profile-artur-kayumov/
- walleyeb1

Kayumov it too tall and too heavy for the hawks game...

Kayumov it too tall and too heavy for the hawks game...
- riozzo

Stan should deal him to Colorado for Rocco Grimladi.

Kayumov it too tall and too heavy for the hawks game...
- riozzo

Exactly that was my point, you have to wonder about what philosophy is going into making these picks.

JJ, great blog. Curious your thoughts on, one, dealing 72? His return value may never be higher and his contract term will make him more appealing. Two, with some good centers going in the top 5 of the draft, any chance CHI makes a hometown draft splash to move up?

Very curious to see how the next 53 days play out.

Especially at the draft. What is even more interesting is LeBruns notes about Vegas being able to negotiate with pending UFAs and RFAs starting around 6/21 AND clubs getting zero compensations if they are signed. So guys like Kempny, Rasmussen, Jurco, Panik come to mind.

I have no idea what bowman is or isn't up to. All reports are that this summer/off season will be crazy as you have stagnant (slightly up) cap, expansion, and lots of names out there.

For me, watching this 2nd round, it's evident to me that the Hawks had no chance to go deep. Edmonton is fast and skilled. Pittsburgh/Washington would wipe them clean, and the team that beat them.....may not be done next round either.

Even losing Darling, and adding in bonus overages to players hitting the cap next year, and then seeing the RFAs above that have to be signed AND fitting holes left by veteran D men......AND getting younger and faster....I have to wonder how this all plays out.

IT's going to take more then just Marcus Kruger to free up money and even then....I'm not so sure they can make the bold moves necessary to continue to be a legit threat because Nashville and Edmonton aren't going away any time soon.....

Exactly that was my point, you have to wonder about what philosophy is going into making these picks.
- walleyeb1

"Who is the best available prospect left in the pool (either for our own system or as a trade chip), by the time we finally get to pick? Did I create a gap that pissed off my coach (e.g. Shaw) that I need to fill? What are my eyes, coaches, or players telling me we need?" etc. etc.

(at least I'd hope it's some set of questions like these)

As far as Hossa goes....as long as he's productive and injury free, I think he will continue to play beyond just next year.

Hawks only have to pay him 1 million in actual salary starting next year and the remaining 4 years.....so while his cap hit is 5.275, his actual salary to a smaller market team is only 1 million and that may be something to look at.

I know the recapture comes to play but somebody other then Kruger will have to go.

JJ, great blog. Curious your thoughts on, one, dealing 72? His return value may never be higher and his contract term will make him more appealing. Two, with some good centers going in the top 5 of the draft, any chance CHI makes a hometown draft splash to move up?
- acmidd28

I keep reading this draft class is down and next year's is way up.

I wouldn't put anything past McDonough who is now up to 10 picks in the draft he's hosting.

he will need a big splash to combat the fact his brand is quickly getting buried in the local media coverage.

Very curious to see how the next 53 days play out.

Especially at the draft. What is even more interesting is LeBruns notes about Vegas being able to negotiate with pending UFAs and RFAs starting around 6/21 AND clubs getting zero compensations if they are signed. So guys like Kempny, Rasmussen, Jurco, Panik come to mind.

I have no idea what bowman is or isn't up to. All reports are that this summer/off season will be crazy as you have stagnant (slightly up) cap, expansion, and lots of names out there.

For me, watching this 2nd round, it's evident to me that the Hawks had no chance to go deep. Edmonton is fast and skilled. Pittsburgh/Washington would wipe them clean, and the team that beat them.....may not be done next round either.

Even losing Darling, and adding in bonus overages to players hitting the cap next year, and then seeing the RFAs above that have to be signed AND fitting holes left by veteran D men......AND getting younger and faster....I have to wonder how this all plays out.

IT's going to take more then just Marcus Kruger to free up money and even then....I'm not so sure they can make the bold moves necessary to continue to be a legit threat because Nashville and Edmonton aren't going away any time soon.....
- SteveRain

Panik is the only guy worth worrying about, even then I wouldn't expect he'd leave unless Vegas made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

John your article is all over the map. You don't give someone credit for "targeting". It is like saying well I thought about taking the garbage out. "Do or do not there is no try" is how many describe it. It is a no-brainer to think well it would be nice to have Duchene.

The coaching staff was abominable. Q talks about "playing the right way" and "playing with pace" but then doesn't allow thd team to actually play that way. There was a time when the team came in waves and predictably out-shot the opposition by a large margin, game after game. Even back then Q would stumble and I'd beg for him to get out of the team's way. How this manifests itself is the Hawks never build on leads, seem to always let other teams back into games and have trouble turning the offensive switch on when needed. With players that are highly skilled offensively let them control the puck in the offensive zone. The other team cannot score from there so it is actually the best defence.

Anisimov destroys Kane snd Panarin. Playing him between them is ludicrous. Kane and Panarin are puck possession magicians but never get the puck as Anisimov can't win a face-off. This is awful all over the ice but especially in the offensive zone. Kane and Panarin line up then immedietely skate back to their own zone. Awful.

Speaking of Anisimov the Saad trade was a disaster. Hawks got Anisimov and Dano. Q immedietely hated Dano of course. Remember Dano was the centre-piece of the trade for the Hawks. Dano gets traded along with the Hawks First Round Draft Choice for Ladd in another disastrous trade. So the trade turns out to be Anisimov for Saad and a savings of only a few million as Anisimov is for some reason paid a lot of money too.

The Hawks' young prospects are good players but Q isn't the guy. How Motte went from leading the youth pack to being buried in Rockford is but one example. Probably one of the things Dineen complained about.

Q has many MANY failings but if he has a leading failing it is this - he cannot comprehend how game scores work. He has the belief that unless scoring comes from many lines you can't win a game. For example if Toews centers Kane and Panarin winning face-offs and creating incredible puck possession that is a thing to be frowned upon. The rational is that it is not a true 5-0 win if all 5 goals came from one line.

Another Q failing is that salary dictates playing time. There are times when the goalies behind Crawford have actually outplayed Crawford but 6M Crawford plays. I remember Raanta said he wasn't just in Chicago to be the back-up but to fight for #1. This, of course, got him traded to the Rangers, for a bag of used pucks, where he has actually played ahead of future Hall of Famer Lundquist for stetches. Crawford is no future Hall of Famer. The aforementioned Anisimov certainly fits in this category. I see no reason Anisimov slots as the #2 Centre based on merit. What kind of Centre can't win a face-off? More importantly what kind of Coach keeps playing him in key situations. See Nashville Series.

Bowman traded Sharp for nothing - he took the approach that he didn't want draft picks and got nothing. Bowman then traded the players he got for Sharp also for nothing. Super valuable Saad for Anisimov. Awful. Ladd trade a Disaster. Is Z-Minus a Grade?

Q and Bowman arguably should both go if one analyses them objectively.

JJ, great blog. Curious your thoughts on, one, dealing 72? His return value may never be higher and his contract term will make him more appealing. Two, with some good centers going in the top 5 of the draft, any chance CHI makes a hometown draft splash to move up?
- acmidd28

I'd try to work something out with Colorado. Panarin is making 6 million for the next two years but then after that he will outprice what the Hawks can afford. Duchene on the other hand fills a need for the Hawks at C or W with speed but his salary could come off the books after the 18/19 season.

Something like:
Blackhawks: Panarin + Mott
for
Colorado: Duchene and JT Compher

Very curious to see how the next 53 days play out.

Especially at the draft. What is even more interesting is LeBruns notes about Vegas being able to negotiate with pending UFAs and RFAs starting around 6/21 AND clubs getting zero compensations if they are signed. So guys like Kempny, Rasmussen, Jurco, Panik come to mind.

I have no idea what bowman is or isn't up to. All reports are that this summer/off season will be crazy as you have stagnant (slightly up) cap, expansion, and lots of names out there.

For me, watching this 2nd round, it's evident to me that the Hawks had no chance to go deep. Edmonton is fast and skilled. Pittsburgh/Washington would wipe them clean, and the team that beat them.....may not be done next round either.

Even losing Darling, and adding in bonus overages to players hitting the cap next year, and then seeing the RFAs above that have to be signed AND fitting holes left by veteran D men......AND getting younger and faster....I have to wonder how this all plays out.

IT's going to take more then just Marcus Kruger to free up money and even then....I'm not so sure they can make the bold moves necessary to continue to be a legit threat because Nashville and Edmonton aren't going away any time soon.....
- SteveRain

We are not watching the same games. Hawks beat every team from the East. if Hawks play Oilers Hawks dominate them. A sweep causes an extreme reaction - an emotional reaction. You forget what you objectively watched. Hawks should've won Game 1. Hawks should've won Game 3. If Crawford doesn't suck Hawks have a chance in Games 2 and 4 too. Rinne totally outplays Crawford. Crawford even admits this. This leaves Hawks no chance to win as Q won't go to Darling as any non-Moron would do.

"Who is the best available prospect left in the pool (either for our own system or as a trade chip), by the time we finally get to pick? Did I create a gap that pissed off my coach (e.g. Shaw) that I need to fill? What are my eyes, coaches, or players telling me we need?" etc. etc.

(at least I'd hope it's some set of questions like these)
- pdx2ord

So why not go with a player like this instead of that, taken eight spots back:

http://www.dobberprospects.com/taylor-raddysh/

IMO, Hossa is about 85-90% now of what he once was. But THAT at a $5 million annual cap hit is still a relative bargain.

This is just a hunch, but I think this upcoming season will be his last. And after a year in the AHL, deBrincat replaces him at one of the (actual) top 6 RW spots.

Oh and BTW, I have not seen deBrincat play a lot, but enough to say I don't think he is the elite speed winger the Hawks need right now, FWIW.
- John Jaeckel

DeBrincat doesn't have elite speed.

Fortin might.

DeBrincat doesn't have elite speed.

Fortin might.
- EbonyRaptor

So what makes this kid effective? He's not big, he's not fast then what is he?

We are not watching the same games. Hawks beat every team from the East. if Hawks play Oilers Hawks dominate them. A sweep causes an extreme reaction - an emotional reaction. You forget what you objectively watched. Hawks should've won Game 1. Hawks should've won Game 3. If Crawford doesn't suck Hawks have a chance in Games 2 and 4 too. Rinne totally outplays Crawford. Crawford even admits this. This leaves Hawks no chance to win as Q won't go to Darling as any non-Moron would do.
- Z3Hawk

This has to be a joke, not funny! We should have won game one????, how when we didn't score even one goal. When you score three goals in four games you deserve to lose and it has nothing to do with the goalie.

We are not watching the same games. Hawks beat every team from the East. if Hawks play Oilers Hawks dominate them. A sweep causes an extreme reaction - an emotional reaction. You forget what you objectively watched. Hawks should've won Game 1. Hawks should've won Game 3. If Crawford doesn't suck Hawks have a chance in Games 2 and 4 too. Rinne totally outplays Crawford. Crawford even admits this. This leaves Hawks no chance to win as Q won't go to Darling as any non-Moron would do.
- Z3Hawk

You're right. No changes needed. Roll with what you got, you really didn't get swept by the Preds, it was all just very lucky.

Did you know you paid Toews $215, 500 a point last year? 5 points buys quite a house, even in Chicago. 15 points and the average man could retire. I know you pay him for his defense but -5 in 4 games.

I wonder who we get in Round 3?

We are not watching the same games. Hawks beat every team from the East. if Hawks play Oilers Hawks dominate them. A sweep causes an extreme reaction - an emotional reaction. You forget what you objectively watched. Hawks should've won Game 1. Hawks should've won Game 3. If Crawford doesn't suck Hawks have a chance in Games 2 and 4 too. Rinne totally outplays Crawford. Crawford even admits this. This leaves Hawks no chance to win as Q won't go to Darling as any non-Moron would do.
- Z3Hawk

HA......

You are wrong. Nashville played a perfect road game in game 1 and came out victorious. Hawks players and coaches never adapted.

Regular season means nothing, just ask a Capital fan.

hawks are not just a guy away....they have some major concerns and need to get faster and bigger.

Hawks went 1-2 vs Edmonton
Hawks went 1-2 vs Anaheim
Hawks went 2-0 vs Pittsburgh
Hawks went 0-2 vs Washington
hawks went 1-1 vs Ottawa and NYR

So this illusion of dominating the east.....is not valid. .500 is mediocre.

For those of you wanting to jettison this guy (to possibly fill and immediately open another gap on the LW):

@MarkLazerus
Artemi Panarin leads the #IIHFWorlds with nine points (3G, 6A) in three games. Schmaltz has 2A in two games. Kruger has 1A in one game.

He did say he is enjoying being back on the bigger ice.

Panik is the only guy worth worrying about, even then I wouldn't expect he'd leave unless Vegas made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
- DarthKane

Agreed but point is McPhee doesn't have to overpay as Hawks are right up against the number.....If they don't lock in Kempny and/or Panik prior to 6/21 wouldn't be shocking to see Vegas go after both and make life on Bowman difficult.

Bottom line there is a lot to question right now and how Bowman improves his team with minimal cap space and financial flexibility remains to be seen.

Really beginning to wonder if #4 or #15 or even #81 (if the right place was found) might also move because moving just #16 doesn't add up in the end....

So what makes this kid effective? He's not big, he's not fast then what is he?
- Bjm84

It's tough to quantify, other than to say that certain players are "scorers". They have an innate ability to put the puck in the net. Not always the fastest, strongest, best shot, best hands, etc. but t the end of the day they always seem to have scored or created a goal.

There are a lot of facets that go into being a scorer, some can be worked on and "tuned", like the way Kane has worked to improve something every year, whether it be his shot, his positioning, or whatever and other facets are just "there". Knowing or sensing where to be when and understanding where others should or shouldn't be .

Take a guy like Gretzky (and this doesn't mean I am in any way comparing DeBrincat to Gretzky). He was never the fastest, biggest, hardest shot, best passer or any of the other measurables, but when the game was done he would be all over the scoresheet. You can look at individual skills and say, yeah he can shoot/pass/skate/hit but never be able to put a scale or number on the intangibles that make certain players consistent scorers

For those of you wanting to jettison this guy (to possibly fill and immediately open another gap on the LW):

@MarkLazerus
Artemi Panarin leads the #IIHFWorlds with nine points (3G, 6A) in three games. Schmaltz has 2A in two games. Kruger has 1A in one game.

He did say he is enjoying being back on the bigger ice.
- pdx2ord

I don't care about the worlds.....that production means nothing to the improvement in Chicago. Just hoping whoever went over don't sustain any LT injuries.

JJ, great blog. Curious your thoughts on, one, dealing 72? His return value may never be higher and his contract term will make him more appealing. Two, with some good centers going in the top 5 of the draft, any chance CHI makes a hometown draft splash to move up?
- acmidd28

First question (dealing Panarin) all depends on what you can get back.

second question (trading up). So the question becomes, what do you have to give up for a proven NHL pivot like, say, Duchene versus a 17 year old who might need 2-3 years development before he is able to contribute regularly as an NHL center man.

Understand, Bowman's job is probably riding on the Hawks having a bit of a resurgence next year. So that said, how do you think he's gonna play it? Short term or long term return?

I am betting short term, especially because he played it sort of "long-term" last year (or at least said that's what he was doing). And it didn't work out come playoff time.