So in essence the Blackhawks are hosting a snooze fest and should keep all capital available to the trade market?
- riozzo

Depends on what you mean by "snooze fest". This isn't the NFL. The reality of the NHL draft is that the average fan knows nothing about any of the guys drafted, except maybe a few of the top 1-5 picks. They may have heard about McDavid, Matthews, Laine, Eichel before the draft, but are clueless on the rest. Maybe they know of a Teravianen because they happened to watch the World Jr's that year, but for the most part, they wouldn't know a Jesse Puljujarvi from a Olli Juolevi if they were sitting next to them.

If you are looking to the draft to get an immediate impact player, you probably need to be in the top 5 this year, and none of those players grade out anywhere near as high as the players I mentioned above. So, if you are looking at the draft for an immediate answer, then yes, the Hawks will be hosting a snooze fest. If you are a fan of Jr. Hockey or College Hockey and know a little of whom the players are, then maybe it won't be a snooze fest and you can enjoy the speculation and festivities.

Here is Wiz's site with mock drafts and scouting reports:
https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2017/
- jt19

Interesting, but I don't think the Canes leave Petterson on the board if he's available.

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2017/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Urho-Vaakanainen
- walleyeb1

I have the Hockey News draft preview and I got a chuckle out of his review.

Vaakainen (who rhymes with Teravainen) is Finnish and has been over hyped by many. In Vaakainen it's because he played in the more senior Finnish league as a kid. The Hockey News just references him being over hyped, I drew the name and nationality comparison to TT, but it's still funny.

Interesting, but I don't think the Canes leave Petterson on the board if he's available.
- BINGO!

The Canes will trade their first round pick to Chicago....for Kruger and Rozsival.

There are arguments that would make moving any of the Hawks big contracts difficult or the repercussions too penal. Ignoring the NTC/NMC's and assuming you can find a trade partner. You have the following:

Seabrook - $'s and term make finding a partner difficult
Keith - recapture penalty means he stays a Hawk
Hossa - recapture penalty means he stays a Hawk
Toews - salary and expected return make find a partner difficult
Kane - would return the most in assets but return can likely never replace what he provides
Hjarlmarsson - Doesn't provide the cap relief you need in relation to the return you would get. In other words he is worth way more than his $4mil cap hit
Anisimov - Candidate
Panarin - Candidate, though he would leave a huge hole in the offense. (no NMC)
Crawford - no replacement on the roster anymore, any cap savings would be offset by having to find/trade/sign a #1 goalie.
- TheTrob

Thoughts on Kruger?
(is he gone yet?)

The Canes will trade their first round pick to Chicago....for Kruger and Rozsival.
- DarthKane

- BINGO!

If the cap stays at $73 million your Murphy and a 2nd offer for Anisimov may become a reality.

The Canes will trade their first round pick to Chicago....for Kruger and Rozsival.
- DarthKane

Both, really?

Both, really?
- riozzo

Neither. Come on.

If the cap stays at $73 million your Murphy and a 2nd offer for Anisimov may become a reality.


- DarthKane

I can't see it not going up by at least a couple million, but yeah, if it stays flat that could be real bad news for you guys.

The AA to the Habs talk and rumors of the Habs not happy with Patch's playoff performance makes me think that a trade could happen. A top line of Patch 19 and 14 aint bad. Then we can work on a C for 72 and 88. I think priority has to be to find a LW to help out 19. Unless its Galchenyuk on the block.

Thoughts on Kruger?
(is he gone yet?)
- matt_ahrens

Krugers future with the club depends on other moves (or the lack thereof). If Anisimov and/or others are moved first then it is possible that Kruger stays. Regardless of what his Cap number is, a player line Kruger is valuable to a lot of teams in this league, and if not for Cap constraints, movment off the Hawks wouldn't even be considered.

I can't see it not going up by at least a couple million, but yeah, if it stays flat that could be real bad news for you guys.
- BINGO!

Last year there was talk of no cap growth either, hopefully it goes up to at least $75 million this year. If not we'll lose a couple solid guys.

The AA to the Habs talk and rumors of the Habs not happy with Patch's playoff performance makes me think that a trade could happen. A top line of Patch 19 and 14 aint bad. Then we can work on a C for 72 and 88. I think priority has to be to find a LW to help out 19. Unless its Galchenyuk on the block.
- z1990z

There's no way Montreal trade Pacioretty for Anisimov straight up.

That would be madness.

Last year there was talk of no cap growth either, hopefully it goes up to at least $75 million this year. If not we'll lose a couple solid guys.
- DarthKane

The NHLPA can push it up to $77 million if they use their inflator, but there's some doubt that they'll do it, considering it also will boost escrow payments and they're getting another 20+ contracts next year with the team in Vegas.

The AA to the Habs talk and rumors of the Habs not happy with Patch's playoff performance makes me think that a trade could happen. A top line of Patch 19 and 14 aint bad. Then we can work on a C for 72 and 88. I think priority has to be to find a LW to help out 19. Unless its Galchenyuk on the block.
- z1990z

Anisimov for Pacioretty would be a good trade, but essential the team is filling one void (1LW) by creating another (2C). If the club feels they can plug the hole at 2C better than 1LW with their current roster than might prompt a move.

Maybe the club feels Schmaltz can centre Panarin and Kane?

Disclaimer:

My comments about Schmaltz are in no way an endorsement for him as 2C. This was simply a comment on what the Hawks management/coaching staff may think. I am not drinking kool aid nor am I hyping up the young talent on the roster.

There's no way Montreal trade Pacioretty for Anisimov straight up.

That would be madness.
- BINGO!

Could see other pieces in play, but AA for Patch is a doable thing. Both teams need shake ups. Who knows.

I have the Hockey News draft preview and I got a chuckle out of his review.

Vaakainen (who rhymes with Teravainen) is Finnish and has been over hyped by many. In Vaakainen it's because he played in the more senior Finnish league as a kid. The Hockey News just references him being over hyped, I drew the name and nationality comparison to TT, but it's still funny.
- DarthKane

Think you have him confused with Kristian Vesalainen.

Think you have him confused with Kristian Vesalainen.
- walleyeb1

Maybe, either way I had a good laugh and that's what matters most.

Could see other pieces in play, but AA for Patch is a doable thing. Both teams need shake ups. Who knows.
- z1990z

Bergevin is kinda dumb, but a team starving for offense probably isn't trading it's best scorer.

Anisimov for Pacioretty would be a good trade, but essential the team is filling one void (1LW) by creating another (2C). If the club feels they can plug the hole at 2C better than 1LW with their current roster than might prompt a move.

Maybe the club feels Schmaltz can centre Panarin and Kane?

Disclaimer:

My comments about Schmaltz are in no way an endorsement for him as 2C. This was simply a comment on what the Hawks management/coaching staff may think. I am not drinking kool aid nor am I hyping up the young talent on the roster.
- DarthKane

I was thinking the same thing. If Anisimov gets traded for Pacioretty and there are no other deals for a top-6 center, then I would think Schmaltz centers Kane and Panarin. I'd rather have Schmaltz centering them than Kero.

And to respond to Bingo's comment, I don't think an Anisimov-Pacioretty trade would be 1 for 1. Additional assets would have to be included, most likely on the Hawks end to send over to the Habs. I believe their salaries wash out, though, at $4MM each.

Don't forget the annual Crain article shining that bright light on Wirtz for taking "significant losses" to make the Hawks a contender, which is such crap it's laughable. Been through that debate on this blog way too many times, but I would expect that article to surface in the early fall......

McDonough and company have 3 events to make a splash and get back in the general sports buzz of this town, because as of now......and speaking with tons of casual fans I encounter on a daily basis, the Hawks are trending downwards very quickly and those discretionary dollars will start to be invested somewhere else with a higher "bang for the buck"

Your 3 events are....

1. the draft....which they are trying to pimp as hard as possible. With as bad as the Wi-Fi sucks on game days in the UC and even a regular signal, any in depth hockey fan will probably stay home so he/she can keep tabs on rumors/trades as you enter in all those teams, all those eimployees at each table, all the media, agents, how good is that signal going to be for Joe fan? I'd say pretty, pretty bad.

I keep envisioning McDonough ocherstrating a Jerry Jones trade up in the top 3 to make a splash and have a new kid to pimp....I wake up sweating each time that goes down........

2. July 1st.....UFA day.....will they have money to lure a decent player with a fix for NOW on to this team? Or will they be left looking at bargain shopping again?

3. The convention...will they have a new piece(s) to pimp on that Friday evening in the Hilton or more of a hold the course, etc etc?

Hawks will be battling with the Bulls to reintroduce positive winter news in the summer with draft moves, free agency signings, etc. Then they have to overcome the juggernaut of the Bears because regardless of good, bad or indifferent the NFL still reigns supreme......and that's before the new love child of winning is even thought of....the Cubs.....

Very good chance when most casual sports fans awaken from their Cubs slumber sometime in October, and the Bears are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, where will this team lie and what will the make up of personnel look like?
- SteveRain

You say a lot and you say it the way it is.

I was thinking the same thing. If Anisimov gets traded for Pacioretty and there are no other deals for a top-6 center, then I would think Schmaltz centers Kane and Panarin. I'd rather have Schmaltz centering them than Kero.

And to respond to Bingo's comment, I don't think an Anisimov-Pacioretty trade would be 1 for 1. Additional assets would have to be included, most likely on the Hawks end to send over to the Habs. I believe their salaries wash out, though, at $4MM each.
- AEL_Fox

Not sure what you have that the Habs want, though.

Not sure what you have that the Habs want, though.
- BINGO!

I was thinking along the lines of prospects and/or draft picks, not current roster players

I was thinking along the lines of prospects and/or draft picks, not current roster players
- AEL_Fox

Therein lies the problem, I think. As the Habs are going to try and capitalize on the time they still have with Carey Price.

Stupid? Probably. But that's the path they seem to be on.