How come they call the team VGK, (Vegas Golden Knights) ? I thought the city was called LasVegas. That's like saying the Angeles Kings or the York Rangers. Yea, I know who cares?

I cares. Dagnabbit.
- hocktock

or the Frisco 49ers. Yeah, not good. Use the whole name.

Shout out to Sharp still being top 15 in volume shooters over the last 3 years.

Baertschi is one of DK's crushes.
- L_B_R

Did somebody mention Baertschi????

The problem is that Panik is also much less effective on the left side and did not pair well with Kane (when with Toews).
- L_B_R

Not really a problem so much as it is a consequence of the trade. Maybe the team traded the problem on to 88. It is a bit of a tough one.

Too many RW's - don't want Schmaltz playing 3rd line ... not that the kid is the second coming of Stever Larmer - but guys playing 3rd line tend to die there and never go much further. Would rather Panik there than Schmaltz to start with -because I think 8 has more upside than 14 (who I think probably peaked last season).

Are there no players out there than can play both their natural and offside wings effectively any more? (rhetorical question).

Did somebody mention Baertschi????
- DarthKane

Sven.

Sven.
- Beaver-Warrior

You like Sven too.

Love Hayden
Don't understand why Moose wasn't signed and Tootoo is still here
- Colbyboy

Tootoo was signed back when the Hawks needed to provide two eligible forwards for the expansion draft.

Moose wasn't signed because the Hawks soured on him at the end of the season after he refused their efforts for a contract extension.

Tootoo is not on the roster as a replacement for anybody, much less Moose. If anyone is intended to take his place it would be someone like Dauphin, Hayden or Wingels.

I thought Hayden played wing almost exclusively at Yale? I know Hedger has mentioned it on his podcast, and says it in passing about his senior year here: http://chicago.suntimes.c...awks-pass-on-free-agency/

My issue with Hayden was his skating. Can his hockey IQ make up for his lack of speed when the NHL game is all about that? Maybe in a lower line, offensive role where he can work on his skating.
- L_B_R

Thanks for this link and info, LBR. I don't see as much NCAA hockey as I'd like and the Ivy league is tough to find most of the time. I used to sit near an 18 yr old kid at Steel games and he was my guy for my horrid memory. Typical kid with a steel trap memory. Couple years back we got to talking about the Hawks and if Hayden would sign with the Hawks or go free agency. I asked if he knew if Hayden was still playing center at Yale and he said he thought he was.

Guess that may have been his junior year or the kid was off, but I doubt that he was. ..... I saw him play center with the NTDP and at Yale at some point. Doesn't make sense though that he would play center as a freshman or sophomore then wing as a senior. Would like to know for sure.

No doubt his skating was average at best for a guy his size. But to my eye he showed good balance, especially in tight spaces. Remember him coming off the wall from behind the net, take it to the front and shelf it? Like many his size they get gawky in open ice. And yes IMO as we so often see with wily vets like a Sopel or a Gaustad or even an AA that experience or IQ negates some of their skating shortcomings. ......Jury is still out on Hayden in that regard as his skating may still improve but today I see some solid balance which is a good foundation to work from. I do feel obligated however LBR to mention I'm still probably the only guy who likes Svedberg's feet.

Not really a problem so much as it is a consequence of the trade. Maybe the team traded the problem on to 88. It is a bit of a tough one.

Too many RW's - don't want Schmaltz playing 3rd line ... not that the kid is the second coming of Stever Larmer - but guys playing 3rd line tend to die there and never go much further. Would rather Panik there than Schmaltz to start with -because I think 8 has more upside than 14 (who I think probably peaked last season).

Are there no players out there than can play both their natural and offside wings effectively any more? (rhetorical question).
- steve-hist-sdc

The problem of having only one proven legit top 6 LW would have existed with or without the Panarin-Saad trade since the Hawks haven't had two legit top 6 LW since Sharp was there in 2014. Versteeg plugged in fine across from Kane, but he was like many guys who played with Kane over the years - being elevated by him. Kane even found a way to produce at a PPG level when he wasn't clicking with his linemates int he 12 games span last season. Kane will be alright.

As for LW, Schmalz can probably stay there and be fine - he actually played LW pretty well, about .81 PPG, during the time frame he was on the top line. His underlying numbers and micro stats during that time are also solid. He might be even better as a RW, since that's more natural, but he's been more than fine on his offside in the relative small sample we've seen of him there. I don't know if he'll work with Kane as LW (Pan-Schmaltz-Kane were barely above the water when together in terms of shot metric possession) but it might be the most viable option currently.

Tootoo was signed back when the Hawks needed to provide two eligible forwards for the expansion draft.

Moose wasn't signed because the Hawks soured on him at the end of the season after he refused their efforts for a contract extension.

Tootoo is not on the roster as a replacement for anybody, much less Moose. If anyone is intended to take his place it would be someone like Dauphin, Hayden or Wingels.
- 4_in_7

Good explanation
Thx

The only one who wouldn't take Saad over Panarin any day is the rest of the league including the Columbus GM who had to give up an additional player, a goalie in order to get Panarin and thanking his lucky stars he could obtain the second highest scoring left wing in the entire league. It's only here on this board that Saad is the best of that particular deal.
- Savoy

Doesn't sound like you have Sirius radio but if you'd have flipped it on around the time of the trade you'd have heard opinions both ways. Also, most of the analysts seemed to think it was a good trade for both clubs.

Good explanation
Thx
- Colbyboy

You're welcome!

Dudes! Jeremy Morin is available!!! RH shot that plays LW!!!!

Or maybe we could trade him again. That's always worked out well.

Dudes! Jeremy Morin is available!!! RH shot that plays LW!!!!

Or maybe we could trade him again. That's always worked out well.
- hocktock

#MorinIsFree?

Never change my friend! (You always make me laugh. Thank you!)

He's certainly not invincible. I enjoyed this exchange. Thanks.

- Larsson_fan

Understand I'm not knocking McDavid or the Oilers, I ain't one of those guys, just an observation of the one time I've seen the kid live. Glad the Hawks shut him down but would have liked to see the kid hit high gear a time or two.

Hockey Buzz Eklund‏ @Eklund 17m17 minutes ago
Could be a trade. Not definite if it happens today, but signs are there. Will have more shortly.

Hockey Buzz Eklund‏ @Eklund 47m47 minutes ago
Something brewing. Hold tight hockey world.

any guesses what he's talking about?

new blog up

Understand I'm not knocking McDavid or the Oilers, I ain't one of those guys, just an observation of the one time I've seen the kid live. Glad the Hawks shut him down but would have liked to see the kid hit high gear a time or two.
- Mr Ricochet

Well, if you want to see the Oilers and McDavid dominate you have to watch them against pooptier teams