Interesting read:

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman: ‘Excellent’ Relationship With Joel Quenneville, Page Turned On Mike Kitchen Firing


http://chicago.cbslocal.c...Chicago+%28CBS+Chicago%29

Yeah, if they want Schmaltz to be a C down the road, I agree, leave him there. He could do a lot worse than Hartman and Sharp for wings. I would love if Hayden showed enough to be a legit 2LW with size.
- JRoenick97

Same here, but does he have the speed to keep up with Kane so he's not getting double teamed all the time? If not, I'd love to see that trade mentioned awhile back of Hossa/pick/prospect to Buffalo for EK rather than the Carolina deal. Cap his for Hossa and EK are nearly identical, in fact Hawks would save $50k which I believe Capfriendly currently has the Hawks over the cap by $35k

Interesting read:

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman: ‘Excellent’ Relationship With Joel Quenneville, Page Turned On Mike Kitchen Firing


http://chicago.cbslocal.c...Chicago+%28CBS+Chicago%29
- walleyeb1

I would hope so. These guys are getting paid big money to ice a competetive hockey team. Derailing that with a school yard grudge would be silly and likely get one, or both, canned.

Couldn't be further from the truth. Look up the success rate of 1st round baseball picks getting to a meaningful professional career. "meaningful" to me means something like 5+ years as a starter in the league. Against other sports.

My guesses:
Football: 70%
Basketball: 80% (looking at top 1/2 of 1st round only, as roster size is 12)
Hockey: 50%+
Baseball: less than 50%
- Cmonalready

Further proof that I know nothing.

Hate to be negative this morning, but if Bowman does not upgrade the bottom 3 defense, the Hawks better score 3 or more goals per game. Kempny-Seabrook was NOT a good pair last year and Forsling-Rosival or Forsling-Rutta is an EXTREMELY scary thought. Bowman needs a legit NHL depth dman to make Forsling and Rutta earn their playing time and to keep 48 yr old Rosival off the ice.
- EnzoD

I'm with you.....Bowman was on the score this morning and mentioned Kempny and Forsling as guys he expects to take the next step........So you have 5 guys slotted somewhere, unless Forsling just has an AWFUL training camp.

From there, he has mntioned Opkka, Rutta, as others to compete as 6th D man and then you have Grandpa Rozi who should be serving as Campbell's assistant right about now.

I have to think all these guys, even Frankenstein, may get a decent look, and Bowman may take that Hossa space and look to add a lowered paired veteran D guy who can slot from 4-6.

Bowman was also very high on Captain American after working with him with Team USA. I hope he pans out, because if he bombs out and becomes a problem.......3-7th is a monster nightmare.

I wonder if Crawford is waking up in a cold sweat every night around 2 am imaging all the grade A chances he will face.......

I figured that, but the option given had Sharp at 3LW with Schmaltz at C. Those are 2 guys I see given 2LW shots.
- JRoenick97

Maybe try Hayden there he's big could open even more space for kane

- walleyeb1

Oops.

Maybe try Hayden there he's big could open even more space for kane
- Abadseed

I think he is too slow. AA is already not a blazer. The reality is every game you might pick has a issue. Shmaltz needs a shooter and kane is a passer. sharp is old, Hartman is more of a grinder, Jurco is probably just not good enough not consistent. fortin needs to prove his a NHL player but does have the speed.

Also why is everybody down on Rutta? He was very good in the worlds. He is 26 and he is righty. 6-3 200 lbs

“He’s a steady defenseman with size, and he had strong finish of the season,” one NHL scout said. “He was very good in the playoffs and played his best at the Worlds.”

Another NHL scout said, “He looks like a late bloomer. He became a big player the last couple of years. He’s a big guy, a right-handed shot who can skate for a big guy. He sees the ice well. He’s pretty good on the power play in the Czech league at every level. He’s got a pretty good shot. I think he can play in the NHL depending on what team it is. I will say most teams will use him as a depth defenseman.”

Scott Powers‏ @ByScottPowers 1h1 hour ago
Patrick Kane training with some other pros, including Brandon Bollig & Brandon Pirri, at Johnny's.

Scott Powers‏ @ByScottPowers 1h1 hour ago
Luc Snuggerud was kept out of the scrimmage because there were too many defensemen and they already know his ability.

- walleyeb1

son of a bee sting, on the shelf with sharpie

I think he is too slow. AA is already not a blazer. The reality is every game you might pick has a issue. Shmaltz needs a shooter and kane is a passer. sharp is old, Hartman is more of a grinder, Jurco is probably just not good enough not consistent. fortin needs to prove his a NHL player but does have the speed.

Also why is everybody down on Rutta? He was very good in the worlds. He is 26 and he is righty. 6-3 200 lbs

“He’s a steady defenseman with size, and he had strong finish of the season,” one NHL scout said. “He was very good in the playoffs and played his best at the Worlds.”

Another NHL scout said, “He looks like a late bloomer. He became a big player the last couple of years. He’s a big guy, a right-handed shot who can skate for a big guy. He sees the ice well. He’s pretty good on the power play in the Czech league at every level. He’s got a pretty good shot. I think he can play in the NHL depending on what team it is. I will say most teams will use him as a depth defenseman.”
- kmw4631

I don't think anyone is down on Ruuta, but he's never played a single NHL game.

I don't think anyone is down on Ruuta, but he's never played a single NHL game.
- JRoenick97

There's also the reality of how Q will play Rutta (or not play him) as he did with Kempny last season.

Yeah, if they want Schmaltz to be a C down the road, I agree, leave him there. He could do a lot worse than Hartman and Sharp for wings. I would love if Hayden showed enough to be a legit 2LW with size.
- JRoenick97

That's what I was thinking. They need more balance, and that 3rd line of Sharp/Schmaltz/Hartman would give them 3 scoring lines and a pretty decent checking 4th line. I'm one who think Kane makes everyone better.

Balance, balance, balance. Missing it the last few years.

Understand this requires a flyer at 2LW, but someone will step up, Q's blender may not give anyone long enough to prove himself though.

I don't think anyone is down on Ruuta, but he's never played a single NHL game.
- JRoenick97

I saw JJ said no way on the bottom pairing being forsling and Rutta. Forsling looked solid last year I thought. not great but not bad for his age. Rutta has size speed and is 26. I think he should be a very viable option for #3RD. My preference would to put kempny with Rutta and Seabs with Forsling. Seabs is not a 25 a min night player. we need to be 25-20-15. and not 25-23-12.

That's what I was thinking. They need more balance, and that 3rd line of Sharp/Schmaltz/Hartman would give them 3 scoring lines and a pretty decent checking 4th line. I'm one who think Kane makes everyone better.

Balance, balance, balance. Missing it the last few years.

Understand this requires a flyer at 2LW, but someone will step up, Q's blender may not give anyone long enough to prove himself though.
- vabeachbear

every guy at 2LW I have thought about has a hole in there game. He needs to have speed and needs to shoot. Wait EK does both!!!!

I saw JJ said no way on the bottom pairing being forsling and Rutta. Forsling looked solid last year I thought. not great but not bad for his age. Rutta has size speed and is 26. I think he should be a very viable option for #3RD. My preference would to put kempny with Rutta and Seabs with Forsling. Seabs is not a 25 a min night player. we need to be 25-20-15. and not 25-23-12.
- kmw4631

Seabs can play 25 minutes a night, but not with a young kid. He'd need an established, responsible D partner for that.

I saw JJ said no way on the bottom pairing being forsling and Rutta. Forsling looked solid last year I thought. not great but not bad for his age. Rutta has size speed and is 26. I think he should be a very viable option for #3RD. My preference would to put kempny with Rutta and Seabs with Forsling. Seabs is not a 25 a min night player. we need to be 25-20-15. and not 25-23-12.
- kmw4631

Those pairings are what I would go with if no experienced top-4 defenseman is picked up this summer or after the Hossa LTIR decision.

Keith - Murphy
Forsling - Seabrook
Kempny - Rutta
(Roszival)

Other options: Oesterle and Gustafsson, maybe Svedberg and Pokka

There's also the reality of how Q will play Rutta (or not play him) as he did with Kempny last season.
- AEL_Fox

I'm thinking that's where things could get interesting this year. How much say will Ulf have, the interview Stan did earlier on how great their relationship is was interesting. As was his comments about Ulf and Don and new ideas.

Seabs can play 25 minutes a night, but not with a young kid. He'd need an established, responsible D partner for that.
- JRoenick97

Seabs can play 25 per night in the playoffs. he did 22 last year and looked tired. I think 20 is good AVG for him at 31 years old. Seabs was bad on his own last year. Slow getting back and slow getting into position. or Maybe he is not that good unless he has Keith covering for him.

Seabs can play 25 per night in the playoffs. he did 22 last year and looked tired. I think 20 is good AVG for him at 31 years old. Seabs was bad on his own last year. Slow getting back and slow getting into position. or Maybe he is not that good unless he has Keith covering for him.
- kmw4631

That's what I meant by an established D-man. Seabs is not the guy to cover for a young guys mistakes. He's not fast. He's never been fast.

#Blackhawks' Tommy Wingels out 6-8 weeks with a foot fracture https://t.co/OvEVUwapBY pic.twitter.com/Kv6PSBMN0M

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 21, 2017

I'm with you.....Bowman was on the score this morning and mentioned Kempny and Forsling as guys he expects to take the next step........So you have 5 guys slotted somewhere, unless Forsling just has an AWFUL training camp.

From there, he has mntioned Opkka, Rutta, as others to compete as 6th D man and then you have Grandpa Rozi who should be serving as Campbell's assistant right about now.

I have to think all these guys, even Frankenstein, may get a decent look, and Bowman may take that Hossa space and look to add a lowered paired veteran D guy who can slot from 4-6.

Bowman was also very high on Captain American after working with him with Team USA. I hope he pans out, because if he bombs out and becomes a problem.......3-7th is a monster nightmare.

I wonder if Crawford is waking up in a cold sweat every night around 2 am imaging all the grade A chances he will face.......
- SteveRain

If Murphy bombs then the Hawks are an 8 seed (at best). I have high hopes for the Keith-Murphy pair. Two guys whose playing styles can compliment each other and FINALLY a Left-Right shot setup. I love Hammer, but Murphy looks to be the crease clearing physical presence that can move the puck up the ice with a direct breakout pass. How many times did Hammer toss a backhand off the high glass because he was playing on his off side?

The forward group will be just fine, IMO. Kane, Saad, Toews, Anisimov, Hartman, and Schmaltz are all very talented players. Hartman and Schmaltz had better thane expected Rookie REGULAR seasons so I expect them to be at their same level of production, if not better. I love the Sharp and Wingels signings for depth with talent and a backbone.

The defense group.....just WAY too many question marks at this point to not be concerned.

#Blackhawks' Tommy Wingels out 6-8 weeks with a foot fracture https://t.co/OvEVUwapBY pic.twitter.com/Kv6PSBMN0M

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 21, 2017

- DarthKane

Mother franker.....better now than during the season I guess....

Mother franker.....better now than during the season I guess....
- EnzoD

Yeah at least he'll be good by training camp.