Rain man

Do you think Q is against physical hockey?
- Maggie

First off glad to see you back....I'm not as consistent posting either as I used to be.

Great question.....I think he is in his own zone. Hawks always look to be looking to blocking shots and at times their positioning by the D men is absurb standing off to the side and allowing opponents to get in position.

IMO, everyone needs to adapt to what they have vs what they would like to have and give the current roster the best chance to win.

I was under the impression in February it would be revisited again after the season.
- John Jaeckel

would be a nice fit with this group. also depends on who goes back the other way, but there are only a select few I would hold on to over moving to get him.

out of curiosity, if Hossa were to retire after next season, what is the penalty the hawks would face with the cap until his contract is up?

If I'm understanding the draft correctly, if the Penguins beat the Caps advancing to the Conference finals we end up picking 26th.

Panarin for Duchene ? Whatever extra pieces make it work for both sides.

would be a nice fit with this group. also depends on who goes back the other way, but there are only a select few I would hold on to over moving to get him.

out of curiosity, if Hossa were to retire after next season, what is the penalty the hawks would face with the cap until his contract is up?
- frafra

I was told there would be no math.

(in other words, not sure)

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.
- John Jaeckel

Good stuff. Hopefully, Duchene is realistic. I agree that I would rather have him than a younger player.

I was told there would be no math.

(in other words, not sure)
- John Jaeckel

If he retires after:

2016-17: 4 years X $4.275 (presumably, he'll still play here next year, tho)

2017-18: 3 X $4.275

2018-19: 2 X $4,275

2019-20: 1 X $4.275

My questions are two-fold: (1) how long will he be interested in the rigors of preparing for - and then playing in - NHL hockey? Especially if traded out of Chicago, or especially if he's on a team (here or elsewhere) that is not in true contention for a Cup.

And (b) can they realistically LTIR him if he DOES decide to stay home in Slovakia with his wife and family?

would be a nice fit with this group. also depends on who goes back the other way, but there are only a select few I would hold on to over moving to get him.

out of curiosity, if Hossa were to retire after next season, what is the penalty the hawks would face with the cap until his contract is up?
- frafra

According to this old article its about 4.2/yr

http://www.secondcityhock...lackhawks-retirement-ltir

Hawks and Drouin - if the deal was truly Drouin for Teravainen and Rasmussen, why would Bowman turn it down only to effectively move Teravainen (yes, plus Bickel) for $4MM cap space only weeks / months later? My guess (only a guess) is that Yzerman wanted much more than those to coming back.

My gripe with Bowman is really not being able to pull the trigger on moving Leddy, then Sharp, then Shaw earlier when (and, again, only a guess) the return would have been better, whether for draft picks or more cap space or more than Pokka and Daley coming back)?

I think he loses markets that may exist for players by waiting until mid- or late-summer, after other teams have already solved their player problems earlier.

According to this old article its about 4.2/yr

http://www.secondcityhock...lackhawks-retirement-ltir
- riozzo

Yeah, that's where I got my information from.

[quote=SteveRain]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.

Is this true ? Wow if I were Vegas I'd be on the phone with Drastila(Edmonton , not sure of spelling)
The second the season ends . Think he will be restricted free agent

Yeah, that's where I got my information from.
- StLBravesFan

You type faster than I do...

Here is another related article that has my two favorite hockey terms in the last sentence, sleazy and circumvent... Prongers name comes to mind.

http://wildxtra.com/artic...p-recapture-penalty-r1498

He doesn't like guys getting out of position to make a hit/finish a check and he will have d-men use their stick before taking the body in a lot of instances.
- John Jaeckel

Obviously that doesn't work in today NHL

I don't buy it that it's Stan's fault that the Hawks didn't gameplan well and their vets didn't execute. Complacency killed the Hawks this year. The kids did ok all things considered. This steamer is in Q's stall

You type faster than I do...

Here is another related article that has my two favorite hockey terms in the last sentence, sleazy and circumvent... Prongers name comes to mind.

http://wildxtra.com/artic...p-recapture-penalty-r1498
- riozzo

I agree - LTIR is a "sleazy" way to "circumvent" the cap.

But - no "sleazier" than the league deciding to - in an "ex post facto way" - punish the Blackhawks (and, presumably, the Wild) for signing contracts that were legal at the time and were accepted by the league at the time.

I agree - LTIR is a "sleazy" way to "circumvent" the cap.

But - no "sleazier" than the league deciding to - in an "ex post facto way" - punish the Blackhawks (and, presumably, the Wild) for signing contracts that were legal at the time and were accepted by the league at the time.
- StLBravesFan

Oh I do Agree, and often wondered how that would stand up in court...

The wild are in much worse shape than the Hawks in this regard. They have the possibility of twice the pain for a longer period. I personally beleive both Suter and Parise will be a drag come age 35-36. Parise in particular is taking a pounding and responding slower and slower each day.

I worked up there for a few years one season removed form the signing and was able to attend about 40 games in total. The fans in the stands are not there to be seen licking their soft serve or gazing into their iphone, more highly knowledgeable fans. More often than not chatter centered around the term of the contracts and the pain at the end...

Oh I do Agree, and often wondered how that would stand up in court...

The wild are in much worse shape than the Hawks in this regard. They have the possibility of twice the pain for a longer period. I personally beleive both Suter and Parise will be a drag come age 35-36. Parise in particular is taking a pounding and responding slower and slower each day.

I worked up there for a few years one season removed form the signing and was able to attend about 40 games in total. The fans in the stands are not there to be seen licking their soft serve or gazing into their iphone, more highly knowledgeable fans. More often than not chatter centered around the term of the contracts and the pain at the end...
- riozzo

I think they would stand up in court because (again, I think) the penalties are part of the new CBA, which the Wirtz franchised signed on to - in other words, the Blackhawks agreed to the penalty clause affecting them.

Grrr

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...d-swedish-center-ejdsell/

Grrr

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/...d-swedish-center-ejdsell/
- walleyeb1

The bloom seems to be long off the rose.

Even with a crying need for big, tough, two way centers - even with several Swedes on the team - even in a home city with a large Swedish population (how many Swedes could there be in Nashville?) - the Blackhawks lose out to Music City.

Oh, well....

It just dawned on me that StanBow deserved a little bit of credit for not landing Nails Yakapov. even thought the names that were involved (Pokka and McNeill) are not breathtaking..

The game has transitioned from physically centered play, to speed and skill oriented play, and now to needing a group of guys who check both boxes. People who think the teams succeeding in this years playoffs are merely fast skaters are not watching the games closely enough.

Good teams now chip/dump to an area, chase HARD to the puck, and work HARD on the boards to keep it in the offensive zone. They even send extra guys down low (admittedly at some risk if the puck goes the other way) to provide more muscle and outlet support. On defense, these teams clog the neutral zone to block passing lanes and obstruct speedsters from skating through.

I think it is safe to say the Hawks have exactly ZERO current roster players who fit the contemporary mold of a player who is skilled/fast and physical. No one except potentially lower six F or bottom pair D exist in Rockford, and even that crop has big question marks.

As another poster mentioned a blog or two ago, the team needs an identity for the style of game they want to play going forward before they can climb the mountain again. Only then can you identify the right players to build a roster to support that vision.

Thinking they can go back to a game where Keith can wait to skate/pass it out until the other four guys are in front of him and in stride would be an exercise in doing the same thing=insanity.

The rest of the world is passing/has passed that style of play by.

Obviously that doesn't work in today NHL
- Maggie

People said literally the same thing in 2013 and 2015, when the Hawks were last in the league in hits.

Did the game change dramatically since then?

JJ if the Hawks are still interested in Boedker I'm sure they could get him from San Jose for a used skate blade and box of kraft dinner.
Hawks need speed , size and nastiness and i just don't see how that will accomplish ed this off season. .

It just dawned on me that StanBow deserved a little bit of credit for not landing Nails Yakapov. even thought the names that were involved (Pokka and McNeill) are not breathtaking..
- riozzo

Sometimes the best move is the one you don't make.

I know Boedker and Hansal were targets over the past couple of seasons and I'm glad Stan didn't do after them. Boedker was an absolute mess this San Jose and Hansal didn't help Minny at all.

JJ if the Hawks are still interested in Boedker I'm sure they could get him from San Jose for a used skate blade and box of kraft dinner.
Hawks need speed , size and nastiness and i just don't see how that will accomplish ed this off season. .
- HamiltonHawk

He was terrible last year.....$4 million/year for another 3 seasons. Pass.