John Jaeckel: Picture clears a bit; Team not improved

FIRST

Yup not many options.

I hope we're not hoping for another cup anytime soon cause that ship has sailed baring any major changes.....FO and coaching included.

I guess they're not trading CC after all.

There's not many options due in part because of all the NMC handed out by Bowman. Everybody thought Crawford was getting moved until he said not so fast. Why should the player agree to a trade unless it was in their best interest just to help the Hawks salary cap issues?

The Hawks are exactly what they were constructed to be - a high priced core of elite players supplemented with inexpensive depth players - either cheap vets or young ELC players. That model gets harder to maintain when the core players get more expensive and less effective, which is what has happened. Everyone of the core players except Keith, Hjalmarsson and Hossa (Toews, Kane, Anisimov, Seabrook, Kruger, Crawford) got a raise over the last 2-3 years, or will get a raise next season (Panarin) and as a group, the effectiveness of their play has slipped, most notably Toews.

I don't think tinkering is going to fix their situation - a complete demolition, maybe, in time, but not trading a Kruger/Hjalmarsson/Panarin. It comes down to the core of the core players - Toews, Kane and Keith and when only one of those guys is playing at the top of his game (Kane), it doesn't matter where the other deck chairs are rearranged to.

The time from the end of the playoffs until June 21st (Las Vegas expansion draft) is going to be absolutely crazy as all 30 teams try to remake their rosters, and the 31st begins operation.

And June 22, 23, 24 are going to be a complete feeding frenzy for all 31, unlike anything we've ever seen.

Think about teams like WPG, CLG, COL as they try to move up. Teams like the Hawks as they try to get younger, faster, and maybe tougher.

I expect more trades this June than any other month in NHL history.

Biggest positioning concerns (forward group):
1) LW (esp w/ Toews not knowing who he is going to play with each game)
2) Centers who can play wing and transition
3) #2 leads to faceoffs... it killed us in the playoffs
4) Size and speed (Team can use Jay Beagle/Colin Wilson-type players)

I guess they're not trading CC after all.
- Beaver-Warrior

Kruger and or Anisimov... but that GUTS the center ice position. Looks like a defenseman MAY need to be the option.

Thanks for the quality write up (as always,) JJ.

Sounds like the one player that StanBo wanted to move basically said F(rank) off.

Moving Darling had to be done in that case being they need to shed any cap that they can and also get "something" in return. They can't just throw away players for free.

Only other big name guy on the Hawks that I would hope they would maybe attempt to move is (gulp,) Seebs.

You can't move 88,19,2, or 4 based on either overall skill set, cap hit, or value. Seabrook is the only guy who could bring a possible decent return and not totally demolish the core.

I would love to see Anisimov go for I have said from the get go that he is not worth his contract after watching him play for years, but that contract clearly proves that he could not be moved.

Hands in the air, folks.

I think trading panarin is cutting your nose in spite of your face. If anyone needs to go it is anismov as I do not think he is a important factor for the Hawks. After seeing him injured and watching Kane and panarin put up good numbers with tanner kero playing between them, it made me question anismov's importance. If kero played fine between PK then why can't krueger? I believe anyone with some skill and defensive realiability can play between them. It is not that anismov is bad, it is that I don't think PK need a 4.5 million dollar player playing between them.

Lets be clear with AA. Outside of his struggles at the dot, the guy is a workhorse and one of the few who will pay the price in front of the net. He was clearly playing on one good leg in the playoffs. For all the skill 72 has, the guy simply does not want to get after it when it matters most. He is a perimeter player who looks for Kane all game long. Don't know what the answer is, but 72 now has the most trade value.

Q could move the lines around a bit. 72 19 14. And then roll a second line of 15 67 and 88. Yes I would move AA to the wing. He still has tremendous value as a road grader and opens up room for 88 to roam.

John Jaeckel: Picture clears a bit; Team not improved
- John Jaeckel

you guys will sign cal petersen in august, don't worry

Some mother-trucker GMs think their team's ass is gonna age like fine wine...

Thoughts about moving Panarin to the Avs for Duchene?

You could then trade Anisimov and lose Kruger in the expansion draft and not be too weak at center. Still leaves the defense in need of a new part or two.

If they could move Seabrook somehow that would be a huge deal because he's going to continue to get slower and that contract is going to become more of an anchor every year.

Thoughts about moving Panarin to the Avs for Duchene?

You could then trade Anisimov and lose Kruger in the expansion draft and not be too weak at center. Still leaves the defense in need of a new part or two.

If they could move Seabrook somehow that would be a huge deal because he's going to continue to get slower and that contract is going to become more of an anchor every year.
- blackhawks30

Would have made that trade yesterday.

Stan gets a lot of crap here (and in many cases, deservedly so), but one has to give him credit for turning a pending free agent -- whom JJ reports was going to test the market anyway -- into a third round draft pick.

The move is not a game-changer by any stretch of the imagination, but it's better than losing 33 for nothing, and it's possible a third-rounder could add value.

What does the defense look as it stands today?

Keith - Hammer
Seabs - Kempny
TVR - Rosy
Forsling (AHL/NHL)

Oduya and Soupy not returning, is this right?

So basically Crawford is a baby..... he screwed us now and will continue to drive this team down in shambles for the next three years......

So basically Crawford is a baby..... he screwed us now and will continue to drive this team down in shambles for the next three years......

Kruger and or Anisimov... but that GUTS the center ice position. Looks like a defenseman MAY need to be the option.
- 93Joe

I think it's both Russians going or no Russians going. Honestly, we're going to have to wait till after the expansion draft to see how this all shakes out. IMHO

So basically Crawford is a baby..... he screwed us now and will continue to drive this team down in shambles for the next three years......
- bigfly46

He earned that contract and has every right to say no to a trade. Solve that issue by not handing out contracts like that. 50 was the MVP for the playoffs hands down. Had the rest of the millionaire core showed up for the playoffs, we would still be playing.

There's not many options due in part because of all the NMC handed out by Bowman. Everybody thought Crawford was getting moved until he said not so fast. Why should the player agree to a trade unless it was in their best interest just to help the Hawks salary cap issues?
- jhawk159

Yep........... So let's all get ready and understand that Stan Bowman is going to make this team considerably weaker every day from here on forward. He will lose on every trade he makes. The Darling and Crawford dilemma is just the tip of the iceberg because of his own darn deficiencies as a GM. We don't have to go over them repeatedly but they are obvious. EVERY single move he makes from here on forward will make us all scratch our heads in disbelief. If he were to come out ahead on 1 DEAL, I will be astonished....but as I've posted before... It's HIS mess, he created it !!
Sorry to be negative but it's going to happen.

Yep........... So let's all get ready and understand that Stan Bowman is going to make this team considerably weaker every day from here on forward. He will lose on every trade he makes. The Darling and Crawford dilemma is just the tip of the iceberg because of his own darn deficiencies as a GM. We don't have to go over them repeatedly but they are obvious. EVERY single move he makes from here on forward will make us all scratch our heads in disbelief. If he were to come out ahead on 1 DEAL, I will be astonished....but as I've posted before... It's HIS mess, he created it !!
Sorry to be negative but it's going to happen.
- Hawkytalk

We are DOOMED.....

He earned that contract and has every right to say no to a trade. Solve that issue by not handing out contracts like that. 50 was the MVP for the playoffs hands down. Had the rest of the millionaire core showed up for the playoffs, we would still be playing.
- z1990z

That's a bingo.

Here's an idea that I'm not sure if anyone has thought of.

If the Hawks really want to bring Darling back, as the Habs about Crawford. Yes, they would need to move Price (who has 1 year left on his deal) but he is WASTING AWAY in Montreal. Price could potentially be moved for a younger, proven offensive asset (s), which would open up the goalie slot in Montreal. I'm sure Crawford would waive to go home.

How Bergevin could spin it would be "we love Carey Price but we have gotten X players from X team and a two time Stanley Cup winning goalie in Corey Crawford."