Question for all; if you were g.m. and your only constraint was a 75 mill. cap, what would your roster look like? (Any trade is possible. What roster wins the cup?)

When I watched him, I saw that he moves really well for guy that big, and he is got some agility.

But remember, these profiles were written with me trying to temper my negativity and play to the players strengths.
I do get lucky and actually hit the nail on the head sometimes - read these profiles, written in their draft year or the year before, and you would think I deserved to get paid for watching:
https://www.draftsite.com...r/viktor-arvidsson/16947/
https://www.draftsite.com...layer/pontus-aberg/17512/
https://www.draftsite.com...yer/colton-sissons/17671/
https://www.draftsite.com...er/miikka-salomaki/14853/
- wiz1901

Hey Wiz, good call on these guys.

Question for all; if you were g.m. and your only constraint was a 75 mill. cap, what would your roster look like? (Any trade is possible. What roster wins the cup?)
- hocktock

I'll keep it simple. Tweak the current Hawks roster by trading Towes and Anisimov for McDavid and Draisaitl, then use the money saved to sign Cam Fowler, Roman Josi and William Nylander.

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

Don't know a thing about Petterson but have seen Tolvenen live 3 times and online many more. I like Wiz' scouting report but will add this kid can and will hit. His hits stop people in their tracks as he plays with leverage and with his IQ to read a play and skating he gets into position to make big hits.

He's a plus skater, is very skilled and being offensively elite he is a determined 3 zone player.

Add all that to what is by any measure an already NHL shot. The thing sizzles and bites like a major league fastball, is accurate and off in the blink of an eye. Can score from anywhere on the ice and can create or work from being fed.

Saw him in the Finals live take a 40 ft flip pass from his blueline at the opposing blueline over his shoulder in stride with his back turned to it, get his blade on it in midair that softened the fall allowing him to get it flat in a stride or two culminating in beating a 20 yr old 4th round Wild pick, Ales Stezka, 5 hole to tie the game with under 3 minutes left with his club facing elimination.

This kid has a shot, skill and IQ to score 30 in the NHL. Whether that happens or not is another story but his willingness to play 3 zones with his skillset makes his floor high.

Question for all; if you were g.m. and your only constraint was a 75 mill. cap, what would your roster look like? (Any trade is possible. What roster wins the cup?)
- hocktock

rules are too loose
any trade possible

Rozval for Saad - 6.0 as the theme
McDavid .925
Eckiel .925
Kucherov 4.766
Beregeron 6.875
Kane 10.5
Pearson 3.750
Seguin 5.750
Larkin.925
Roussel 2.0
Matthews .925
Sissons .612

Josi 4.0
Gostisberre RFA - .925
Troubs 2.8
KArlsson 6.5
Nurse .863
Doughtery7.0

Dubnyk 4.3

leves me 5.0 fo fill in a few spare parts...

I recall reading somewhere that Sam Bennett could be available. If the Hawks need to undergo some major changes due to the cap is Better worth a look? What would be the cost? The Flames acquired Lazar for a second and a prospect. Would the cost be relatively the same, maybe a bit higher?

rules are too loose
any trade possible

Rozval for Saad - 6.0 as the theme
McDavid .925
Eckiel .925
Kucherov 4.766
Beregeron 6.875
Kane 10.5
Pearson 3.750
Seguin 5.750
Larkin.925
Roussel 2.0
Matthews .925
Sissons .612

Josi 4.0
Gostisberre RFA - .925
Troubs 2.8
KArlsson 6.5
Nurse .863
Doughtery7.0

Dubnyk 4.3

leves me 5.0 fo fill in a few spare parts...
- riozzo

So, the hocks only have one piece to your puzzle. Interesting. Still no guarantee they wins the cup. Look at the rosters that are in the final. Thanks for playing.

So, the hocks only have one piece to your puzzle. Interesting. Still no guarantee they wins the cup. Look at the rosters that are in the final. Thanks for playing.
- hocktock

I might keep Rass for a fourth line depth center

Edit: No guarantees in life

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

That would be madness.
- BINGO!

Aa and Kruger for Paych

I might keep Rass for a fourth line depth center

Edit: No guarantees in life
- riozzo

I'd like to keep Rasmussen around as the 4C too, he's been decent and keeps improving.

I guess I want to belive he has the chops but I would have to see him scoring a lot in preseason, and showing he can play in nhl battle zones.

I guess my first impressions last year in the bigs had me seeing a Eric Daze-type who needs more edge to endure the stuff scorers take to make plays where they expect them to.

There is no doubt in my mind the hawks are looking to improve scoring so that they can attack from three solid lines and sandwich lunch-pail scorers around in the final 12, that can move up an down through the Toews third and checking line personal.
- wiz1901

I agree with this, including in some ways the Daze comparison—they're both French left wings with speed and kind of came out of nowhere in the QMJHL. All that said, I dunno if Fortin has Daze's shot but also Fortin can maybe make plays at top speed that Daze couldn't.

But agreed, you want to see Fortin produce when the games count against full NHL rosters, as opposed to camp phenom/preseason game work.

Big camp for him because in some ways, his toolset fits what the Hawks need right now more so than DeBrincat

Haha, yeah....on this site you have to put a disclaimer as guys will get on you about it. But I knew exactly what you were saying before you put the disclaimer. At some point some of these young guys have to play...and play on the top two lines. We did not draft first and second rounders like Schmaltz, Hartman and Debrincat to stew on the third and fourth lines. They were not drafted to be fourth line guys. They either cut it on top three lines or don't cut it at all. That said, looking forward to Fortin at this years camp. I think he can produce.
- onehundredlevel

FWIW, I actually think Schmaltz could step in at 2C this year. Could.

Up to him and if he has gained some strength on his skates and confidence along the wall and down low.

He has a playmaker's gift and high-end instincts as a center from the blue line in.

FWIW, I actually think Schmaltz could step in at 2C this year. Could.

Up to him and if he has gained some strength on his skates and confidence along the wall and down low.

He has a playmaker's gift and high-end instincts as a center from the blue line in.
- John Jaeckel

What about from the other blue line back to his goalie?

Does he have the defensive "ability" (which means [to me] more of a mind set than a skill) to be an effective top-6 center there?

JJ Like you said smaltz could be the second line center does that mean then move AA to lw with towes or in my opinion if AA is not traded and kruger goes to vegas he becomes are third line center then try and get a nate Thomson for example to center are fourth line. If AA is traded what would the hawks be looking for in return besides cap space maybe AA to rangers for jt miller or to buffalo for folingo and Deslauries type deal or maybe a young d man like bealiu from montreal. In any case I think the most important moves are a top 6 lw and centers that win faceoffs at or above 50% rass is depth forward but more an ahl player along with kero who my turn into a kruger type player and if kero is centering your second line next year then bowman should be fired he didn t do his job and the hawks are out in the 1st round or miss the playoffs.

the hawks PR machine has been quiet these past few days... i would expect some sort of announcement in the next day or two... just to keep the hawks somewhere in the sports section news. (no offense to the athletic, which has at least 1 hawk story per day - and is well worth the fee to sign up).

the hawks PR machine has been quiet these past few days... i would expect some sort of announcement in the next day or two... just to keep the hawks somewhere in the sports section news. (no offense to the athletic, which has at least 1 hawk story per day - and is well worth the fee to sign up).
- jt19

I think as long as long as the Cubs are playing the way they are right now, there is no pressure to make a big PR move.

the hawks PR machine has been quiet these past few days... i would expect some sort of announcement in the next day or two... just to keep the hawks somewhere in the sports section news. (no offense to the athletic, which has at least 1 hawk story per day - and is well worth the fee to sign up).
- jt19

The lovable losers 5 game skid has all panic on the north side right now. If I were Mc Donut, i'd have something in the pocket positive when the news cycle swings, not before as there is no need other than the fateful JJ readers.

I recall reading somewhere that Sam Bennett could be available. If the Hawks need to undergo some major changes due to the cap is Better worth a look? What would be the cost? The Flames acquired Lazar for a second and a prospect. Would the cost be relatively the same, maybe a bit higher?
- DarthKane

A lot higher.

Bennett is a 4th overall with 63 career points at 20 years old.

Lazar was a 17th overall with 39 career points at 22 years old.

As curious as I am to what the Hawks intend to do, to be Cap pliant, I have issues with all the comments about the big three and the slow defense against Nashville.

I thought the lack of backside pressure and no scoring from the chosen and promising ones was what impacted the Hawks fate.

Did you all see something I missed that makes the dissolution of the big three defenders the move for improving towards next playoff?

If the Hawks are gonna unload one is Duncan Keith the subtraction based on return and contract?
I just don't see it happening for a year...

And just, as much as I like Hartman, don't you think the refs are gonna being looking at him much closer, as his victim act is catching up on him and the cheap shot on Nashvilles Smith are an intentional attempt to injure...he is gonna be targeted.
- wiz1901

I do recall us debating back in the fall about the 16-17 Hawks cup chances as the roster constructed. As far as your Nashville comment goes, I saw a very quick Nashville team that was relentless on the fore check and came in waves. So much so that their team speed caught the Hawks off guard and had some Hawks defenders retreating back below the circles on zone entries. Were they instructed to avoid being beaten high? Unsure, but the Nasvhille team speed was evident.

The Hawks unwillingness to engage in 50/50 battles also was a defining detriment.

My best guess is a cap around 75.2 million. That is a 3% escalator with the NHLPA included, as I dont' see them raising it a full 5% just like they didn't last year.

Point to all these postings is very simple......to get cap compliant AND change a few things up you will be essentially from one strength to plug a weakness, but in doing so you are creating another weakness. You trade a Hammer or Seabrook to plug a 1 lw, you create a hole on your back end.....and I respectfully disagree any solution to plugging those new holes resides in the organization. Kempny is a project, TVR at best is a #4 in the nHL, and the Hawks young bucks still have a ways to go to provide the necessary depth options this team needs to be legit cup contenders.

I agree 100% on Hartman. That's only going to get worse, and out of all the rookies in the playoffs, he was by far the most disappointing.

I think as long as long as the Cubs are playing the way they are right now, there is no pressure to make a big PR move.
- powerenforcer

Good or bad just like the Bears it takes talking points, air time away from the Hawks.

I don't see any sports radio host commenting on the NHL draft to any extensive coverage other then a brief mentioning in passing during an "update" between segments. The beat guys will be there, but regardless of being here in Chicago it will be treated as the usual with limited coverage.

Gotta assume that cap number is out before June 19th so Vegas knows what it's floor/ceiling looks like as they construct their roster.

Go preds.

They could move Panarin for Patches straight up and I don't think that would make anyone upset. It would also save 1.5 mildo in cap space. And they can still have two NHL centers and put who ever on AA's left.

They could move Panarin for Patches straight up and I don't think that would make anyone upset. It would also save 1.5 mildo in cap space. And they can still have two NHL centers and put who ever on AA's left.
- fattybeef

It is still in the same vain as addition by subtraction. They need a few blockbuster 2 for 1 deals.

They could move Panarin for Patches straight up and I don't think that would make anyone upset. It would also save 1.5 mildo in cap space. And they can still have two NHL centers and put who ever on AA's left.
- fattybeef

I don't see any upside to trading Panarin. Seriously....I need help understanding this concept as to how the Hawks get better dealing him......

I don't see any upside to trading Panarin. Seriously....I need help understanding this concept as to how the Hawks get better dealing him......
- SteveRain

If he could bring back a top flight young defenseman, I would certainly consider trading him to a team that needed offensive production, and has an excess of good young defensemen (Philly or Carolina or the Islanders for example). He is a cost-controlled 30 goal scorer. I think some team might be willing to make that hockey deal. Throw in a draft pick or a swap of picks in a round. Deal on.

If he could bring back a top flight young defenseman, I would certainly consider trading him to a team that needed offensive production, and has an excess of good young defensemen (Philly or Carolina or the Islanders for example). He is a cost-controlled 30 goal scorer. I think some team might be willing to make that hockey deal. Throw in a draft pick or a swap of picks in a round. Deal on.
- hpk90

and who picks up his goal scoring production?