Tanner is busy lamenting the fact the Caps didn't acquire the "far superior Cody Franson". If Stan had any type of negotiating skill it should have been Kempny and Franson for both Caps' 3rd rounders.
- Rota's Rooter

There's still time...Franson for a 2nd.

When the Hartman trade rumors started to circulate a while back, I was very much against it. Back then, he brought a physical edge that was mixed with skill. I thought he was a younger, cheaper and more talented Shaw and the Hawks needed that.

Fast forward to this year and Hartman is a very different player. He was a ghost for most of season. It felt like his physicality and skill both fell off. In my opinion, he now shows sporadic flashes of his former game and what he could be--it's just not consistent.

I guess if you can move him and get a young Defensemen or maybe a better skilled forward, then they should do it.

When the Hartman trade rumors started to circulate a while back, I was very much against it. Back then, he brought a physical edge that was mixed with skill. I thought he was a younger, cheaper and more talented Shaw and the Hawks needed that.

Fast forward to this year and Hartman is a very different player. He was a ghost for most of season. It felt like his physicality and skill both fell off. In my opinion, he now shows sporadic flashes of his former game and what he could be--it's just not consistent.

I guess if you can move him and get a young Defensemen or maybe a better skilled forward, then they should do it.
- Hank3Henshaw

Sounds like the whole team

Sounds like the whole team
- JRoenick97

Haha. Very true!

Hawks are funny. Get embarrassed by the Yotes, have like an eight game losing streak, then pound the Caps--one of the best teams in the league.

Right away I thought, if a third 2018 for Kempny, what is a reasonable expectation for other third pair calibre dmen like Gustafsson and Oesterle in particular

I tend to want to retain Rutta only because I think he could be effective on a third pair with a responsible tough partner, like Murphy. Although Rutta is not physical, I would keep him as depth over Oesterle. While I like the offensive instinct and his game, overall from defensive point of view, Oesterle just seems too clueless. Maybe it is just that he is more natural or comfortable if he is not paired with an offensive dman who likes to take chances at both ends of the ice, namely, Keith

Gustafsson an AHL all star but just not enough special ability to offset his frail frame. You can actually find a nice skill within skill set for Oesterle, Gustafsson, or Dahlstrom. None ever likely to be anything beyond depth or third pair. So whomever Bowman finds a take for, all is well with the transaction.

The other point worth noting comes to pass after Justin mentions heavily scouting Europe/Sweden.

You can bet our scouts have a very firm line on two of our drafts, Carlsson and Tuulola. Could both have a higher ceiling than the third pair type Bowman has been showcasing? Maybe. Don't know yet enough about Tuolola development but am encouraged after Mr Richochet provided that nice link recently. And Carlsson, pegged a possible shutdown defender who can skate like crazy, sounds like a player you want to see asap.

You probably see them in rookies camp in July. The Blackhawks, with Samuelson still here, will likely get a good idea of their capability in his push the puck, quick reaction at speed, keep movement into offensive zone. That and good stick. Everyone of course is big on gap control; Blackhawks have also been adamant about how playing off correct side in one on one engagement.

If you noticed that I omitted three names, there are reasons why. Murphy should stay and see if he can establish himself as a third pair. I would like to see that happen but Q has to go. Really says a lot if one season after acquisition Murphy is moved. He is the only physical guy beside Seabrook!

Mitchell, Hillman and Krys are very green. Kyrs needs to work on things, as does Snuggerud. Mitchell and Hillman only freshmen collegiate so should not rush them.
- jhawk59

I personally wouldn't mind if Rutta got traded for draft pick(s) like Kempny.

Amongst the trio of Oesterle, Gustafsson, and Dahlstrom, the Hawks are best off if only one is a starter next season. They all bring the same skill set and lack there of, just at varying levels of proficiency due to experience. Having 2 or all 3 in the lineup is a recipe for the same mediocrity.

Carlsson is a strong defender and has good positioning but I wouldn't say he can skate like crazy. He's not particularly fast.

Also, Hillman is a junior, not a freshman like teammate Mitchell. Regardless, Hillman would likely be a shutdown defender if he ever makes it. Mitchell has impressed right away as a first year in the NCAA and could live up to Keith-lite billing if he can add significant strength.

And yes, Krys is still underwhelming as far as defense. Like Mitchell, he needs to add strength but his defensive awareness is much more deficient. Hopefully he's working on improving that this year at BU.

Eh, we knew him plenty. He was fine.
- JRoenick97

Thats what we said about Trevor Daley too. And then he was a big part of Pens cup winning team.

When the Hartman trade rumors started to circulate a while back, I was very much against it. Back then, he brought a physical edge that was mixed with skill. I thought he was a younger, cheaper and more talented Shaw and the Hawks needed that.

Fast forward to this year and Hartman is a very different player. He was a ghost for most of season. It felt like his physicality and skill both fell off. In my opinion, he now shows sporadic flashes of his former game and what he could be--it's just not consistent.

I guess if you can move him and get a young Defensemen or maybe a better skilled forward, then they should do it.
- Hank3Henshaw

That's my hope, too, if someone like Hartman or say Hinostroza is being shopped. Don't know if Bowman can pull off a deal like this or if he'll under-sell and get a sub-par return.

Just curious, but for those of you who happen to know which teams have scouts at each game (and how many scouts), where do you get this info from? And is this the same source for knowing which scouts are at AHL games?

Thats what we said about Trevor Daley too. And then he was a big part of Pens cup winning team.
- onehundredlevel

Daley was established in the league before. Kempny is what he is. Maybe they will use him better.

When the Hartman trade rumors started to circulate a while back, I was very much against it. Back then, he brought a physical edge that was mixed with skill. I thought he was a younger, cheaper and more talented Shaw and the Hawks needed that.

Fast forward to this year and Hartman is a very different player. He was a ghost for most of season. It felt like his physicality and skill both fell off. In my opinion, he now shows sporadic flashes of his former game and what he could be--it's just not consistent.

I guess if you can move him and get a young Defensemen or maybe a better skilled forward, then they should do it.
- Hank3Henshaw

I would consider Hartman and Jokiharju or some other prospect just to exchange first round picks. I want Dahlin or Tkachuk

That's my hope, too, if someone like Hartman or say Hinostroza is being shopped. Don't know if Bowman can pull off a deal like this or if he'll under-sell and get a sub-par return.
- AEL_Fox

I'd hate to see Hino go. I feel like him, Osterle, Cat and Hayden are who you work to keep.

Ideally, I'd like to see Wingels and Bouma back next season, too--they provide the grit and simplified game.

I would consider Hartman and Jokiharju or some other prospect just to exchange first round picks. I want Dahlin or Tkachuk
- jhawk59

Good luck. Those are top 1 and top 5 guys.

Can anyone provide more insight to Tkachuk?

A lot of hype around him and I'm curious if anyone has seen him play or knows what kind of player he is.

He clearly has the bloodline, but I'd love to hear some more insight on him.

Somewhere out there, JJ is in agony. He was a big supporter of Kruger and Kempny...and both have proven to be less than stellar.

I'd hate to see Hino go. I feel like him, Osterle, Cat and Hayden are who you work to keep.

Ideally, I'd like to see Wingels and Bouma back next season, too--they provide the grit and simplified game.
- Hank3Henshaw

I hope the Hawks build around Hartman, Hinostroza, Hayden, DeBrincat, Kampf, and Sikura at forward and Forsling and Murphy at defense. I wouldn't mind Oesterle as long as it's just him in the starting 6 and not him plus Gustafsson and Dahlstrom.

If Murphy can be traded and his starting slot can be upgraded somehow into a top 4 blueliner, then I'm all for it. But that's not easy to do.

I'm with you, too, on seeing if Wingels and Bouma can be retained. That would be fine to trade them by the TDL for draft picks or whatever, but then have a handshake deal in place to re-sign them this summer on affordable deals. At least Wingels, I should say; Bouma would be nice but if other options are available in the off season, then explore those first.

I hope the Hawks build around Hartman, Hinostroza, Hayden, DeBrincat, Kampf, and Sikura at forward and Forsling and Murphy at defense. I wouldn't mind Oesterle as long as it's just him in the starting 6 and not him plus Gustafsson and Dahlstrom.

If Murphy can be traded and his starting slot can be upgraded somehow into a top 4 blueliner, then I'm all for it. But that's not easy to do.

I'm with you, too, on seeing if Wingels and Bouma can be retained. That would be fine to trade them by the TDL for draft picks or whatever, but then have a handshake deal in place to re-sign them this summer on affordable deals. At least Wingels, I should say; Bouma would be nice but if other options are available in the off season, then explore those first.
- AEL_Fox

I assume you want to add Schmaltz in there.

But - you're building around a bunch of so-far-proven-bottom-sixers with only 2 somewhat proven top liners and a college player, and two or three so-far-proven-to-be bottom pairing defensemen.

I think Kempny is under rated. With 8 Dmen this year it probably took playing time from all 3. Plus the fact that because of the 8 Dmen they were always playing with a different partner. Usually the partner they were playing with had very little experience in the NHL. They were still learning. It would have been much better to go with 7 Dmen with the 7th being an experienced shut down type mainly sitting in the press box (like Brookbank, Sopel, Rosival of a few years ago). Maybe that was their plan for Franson. Then they could have let the younger or less experienced Dmen figure it out in Rockford with Colliton.

My prediction is that Kempny signs somewhere in the offseason for about $1.5 mil per year for 2 years and he turns into a decent 2nd pair defender. Whoever he signs with will be very happy with the value he brings to the team.

Just curious, but for those of you who happen to know which teams have scouts at each game (and how many scouts), where do you get this info from? And is this the same source for knowing which scouts are at AHL games?
- AEL_Fox

Scott Powers regularly reports this on his Twitter

Just curious, but for those of you who happen to know which teams have scouts at each game (and how many scouts), where do you get this info from? And is this the same source for knowing which scouts are at AHL games?
- AEL_Fox

Twitter here’s a couple I follow Mark Easson @myNHLTradeRumor and Lyle Richardson @SpectorsHockey not sure about AHL.

Somewhere out there, JJ is in agony. He was a big supporter of Kruger and Kempny...and both have proven to be less than stellar.
- onehundredlevel

His ripping of Debrincat also another thing JJ did far too much.

I hope the Hawks build around Hartman, Hinostroza, Hayden, DeBrincat, Kampf, and Sikura at forward and Forsling and Murphy at defense. I wouldn't mind Oesterle as long as it's just him in the starting 6 and not him plus Gustafsson and Dahlstrom.

If Murphy can be traded and his starting slot can be upgraded somehow into a top 4 blueliner, then I'm all for it. But that's not easy to do.

I'm with you, too, on seeing if Wingels and Bouma can be retained. That would be fine to trade them by the TDL for draft picks or whatever, but then have a handshake deal in place to re-sign them this summer on affordable deals. At least Wingels, I should say; Bouma would be nice but if other options are available in the off season, then explore those first.
- AEL_Fox

I wouldn't mind seeing Wingels back at all but would be fine if they move on from Bouma. He's not horrible but I'd rather see someone else there. No Schmaltz in your players you're building around or just an omission? Right now he's the primary guy I'd build around of the current Utes.

His ripping of Debrincat also another thing JJ did far too much.
- kwolf68

Schmaltz too for that matter.

Schmaltz too for that matter.
- HawkintheD

Yea indeed. For a while there I was calling JJ's blogs the "ADB wet blanket blogs"....lots went wrong for the Hawks this year, but Schmatlz and ADB were not one of those things. I like JJ a lot, but he really missed on those two players.

I wouldn't mind seeing Wingels back at all but would be fine if they move on from Bouma. He's not horrible but I'd rather see someone else there. No Schmaltz in your players you're building around or just an omission? Right now he's the primary guy I'd build around of the current Utes.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, brain fart on my part to omit Schmaltz. He and DeBrincat are the two primary youth to build around.